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South Carolina Privateer Sloop Vixen |
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| Vixen | Commander Downham Newton |
| Armed Sloop | 16 February 1777- |
| South Carolina Privateer Sloop |
| Commissioned/First Date: | 16 February 1777 |
| Out of Service/Cause: |
| Owners: |
| Tonnage: |
| Battery: | Date Reported: July 1777 Number/Caliber Weight Broadside 12/ Total: 12 cannon/ Broadside: 6 cannon/ Swivels: |
| Crew: |
| Description: |
| Officers: | (1) Lieutenant George Farragut, 16 February 1777-; (2) Prize Master Thomas Marting, 16 February 1777-22 July 1777 |
| Cruises: | (1) Charleston, South Carolina to New Providence, Bahamas, [7] May 1777-1 June 1777, with South Carolina Privateer Sloop Swift
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| Prizes: | (1) Sloop Polly (Henderson), off Havana, Cuba, 13 June 1777
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| Actions: | (1) Action at New Providence, 1 June 1777 |
Comments:
On 16 February 1777, Commander Downham Newton was commissioned to the South Carolina Privateer Sloop Vixen.1 Newton was reported to be a native of Providence, Rhode Island.2 George Farragut served aboard the Vixen as a Lieutenant. He had arrived at Charleston in 1776.3 Vixen was reported to be armed with twelve cannon in July 1777.4 About 7 May the Vixen sailed from Charleston,5 probably in company with South Carolina Privateer Sloop Swift (Commander Andrew Groundwater).
About 15 May 17776 HM Schooner7 Tender Comet,8 ten guns (formerly McDonogh's packet)9 arrived at New Providence, Bahama Islands. The tender began making a nuisance of itself, capturing a French sloop which had put into New Providence in distress, a ship from New London loading with salt at Harbor Island, and a local schooner, the Industry (Jonathan Spooner), suspected of being American owned but registered in New Providence.10 Newton and Commander Andrew Groundwater (South Carolina Privateer Sloop Swift), learned that the tender had arrived about a week later.11 On 1 June 177712 the two privateers raided the harbor in an attempt to cut out the Comet. The Comet's crew anchored the tender under the guns of the fort,13 then got into the fort and opened fire on the privateers.14 The two commanders exchanged shots with the fort, but what appeared to be a 16-gun warship15 was seen off the island, coming up,16 so they broke off the action and sailed.17 In reality, it was the 32-gun HM Frigate Aeolus (Captain Christopher Atkins) coming up, an even better reason to make off.18 The prizes were to sail for Jamaica on 10 June19, but left with the Comet on 17 June. After patrolling around the islands, Aeolus sailed to the north at the same time.20 Soon after leaving New Providence, Vixen was in company with the Swift near the Bahama Banks. A gale blew up and Swift ran onto a rock or reef. The heavy surf began to break her up, but Groundwater and his crew got aboard the Vixen, which continued the cruise with a double crew.21
Vixen put into Havana on 10 June for supplies and provisions. Newton declared to the Spanish that he had been out five weeks and had come to intercept the homeward-bound Jamaica convoy off Cape San Antonio. After receiving the supplies and provisions he immediately sailed the next day.22 On 13 June Vixen overhauled and captured the sloop Polly (Henderson), bound from the Mississippi River to Dublin with a cargo of barrel staves. Polly was taken just off Havana and ordered into Charleston.23 Polly arrived there on 27 June.24
By 30 June Newton and Groundwater had met the South Carolina Privateer Sloop General Washington (Commander Hezekiah Anthony) and had begin cruising together. On that day the two privateers took the sloop Sally, from Jamaica bound for New Providence, with a cargo of rum. The Sally was kept with the privateers for the time being.25
On 1 July the two commanders encountered the sought-for Jamaica convoy. There were over 100 sail of merchant vessels, escorted by HMS Solebay, Kent, Lively, and Porcupine. The privateers dogged the convoy looking for stragglers. Finally, on 5 July,26 the two picked off a straggler.27 The prize was ship28 Nancy29 (John Lowrie),30 bound from Old Harbor, Jamaica31 to her home port32 of London.33 Nancy had a valuable cargo of rum, sugar, and wine aboard.34 Commander Andrew Groundwater (former skipper of the South Carolina Privateer Sloop Swift, who had been rescued by Vixen when his vessel foundered) was assigned as prizemaster, with a prize crew of about nine men.35 On 8 July the two privateers quit following the convoy. They watched it split up, part heading for New York and the remainder steering for Bermuda. Both Solebay and Porcupine chased the General Washington at different times.36
On 9 July, HM Frigates Brune, Perseus, and Galatea were patrolling off the entrance to Charleston harbor. At 0400 a two sail were sighted in the northeast, one of which was the Nancy.37 Both Brune38 and Perseus gave chase,39 Perseus being close enough to open fire at 0600. Nancy surrendered immediately and her prize crew was removed to the Perseus. By 1100 the frigates made sail again, keeping the Nancy with them.40 On 18 July41 she was sent off for New York, where she arrived on 29 August 1777.42 The American prize crew was kept prisoners aboard the Perseus. Several weeks later they either escaped or were released in Chesapeake Bay. Groundwater arrived in Charleston on 28 September 1777.43
At the same time HM Frigate Galatea was chasing the General Washington and prize Sally into an inlet near Charleston.44
Vixen continued to patrol. Schooner Betsey (Thomas Muir),45 40 tons,46 was bound from Antigua to New York when,47 on 16 July 1777,48 she was captured by Vixen at 34o52'N, 67oW.49 Newton put a small prize crew under Prize Master Thomas Marting on the schooner50 and left Muir aboard, which was a mistake. Muir began propagandizing the prize crew and won three of them over. On 22 July, with their help, he recaptured the schooner. On 27 July Betsey arrived at New York with the prize crew as prisoners.51
Vixen was cruising off New Providence Island late in 1777. She returned from this cruise about December 1777. Newton furnished intelligence to Captain John Peck Rathbun of Continental Navy Sloop Providence which helped launch a daring raid on Nassau.52
1 NDAR, "Declaration of Don Rafael Jose de la Luz," IX, 113 and note
2 NDAR, "New-York Gazette, Monday, August 4, 1777," IX, 703-704
3 Coker, Charleston’s Maritime Heritage, 101. This was the father of the future admiral.
4 NDAR, "New-York Gazette, Monday, August 4, 1777," IX, 703-704
5 NDAR, "Declaration of Don Rafael Jose de la Luz," IX, 113 and note
6 NDAR, "South Carolina and American General Gazette, Thursday, June 19, 1777," IX, 146 and note
7 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 23, 1777," IX, 159-161
8 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 30, 1777," IX, 192-195
9 NDAR, "South Carolina and American General Gazette, Thursday, June 1IX, 1777," IX, 146 and note
10 NDAR, "South Carolina and American General Gazette, Thursday, June 19, 1777," IX, 146 and note; Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 23, 1777," IX, 159-161. The ship was the Adventure, with a cargo of salt; the French sloop was either the Hornett (salt and rum) or the Numbrell (salt), and the schooner might have been the Dolphin. Industry appears to have been released by the British. NDAR, “A List of Rebel Vessels, Taken by the Squadron, of His Majesty’s Ships & Vessels, under my Command at Jamaica, between the 21st day of December 1775 and the 26th day of February 1778.—,” XI, 448-453
11 NDAR, "South Carolina and American General Gazette, Thursday, June 19, 1777," IX, 146 and note
12 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 23, 1777," IX, 159-161
13 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 23, 1777," IX, 159-161
14 NDAR, "South Carolina and American General Gazette, Thursday, June 19, 1777," IX, 146 and note
15 NDAR, "South Carolina and American General Gazette, Thursday, June 19, 1777," IX, 146 and note
16 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 30, 1777," IX, 192-195
17 NDAR, "South Carolina and American General Gazette, Thursday, June 19, 1777," IX, 146 and note
18 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 30, 1777," IX, 192-195
19 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 23, 1777," IX, 159-161
20 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 30, 1777," IX, 192-195
21 NDAR, "South Carolina and American General Gazette, Thursday, June 19, 1777," IX, 146 and note; Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 23, 1777," IX, 159-161
22 NDAR, "Declaration of Don Rafael Jose de la Luz," IX, 113 and note
23 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 30, 1777," IX, 192-195
24 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, June 30, 1777," IX, 192-195
25 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, July 14, 1777," IX, 287-288
26 NDAR, "Journal of H.M.S. Perseus, Captain George Keith Elphinstone," IX, 252-253 and 253 note; Gazette of the State of South-Carolina," Monday, July 14, 1777," IX, 287-288
27 NDAR, "Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in Charlestown, to his Friend at Newbern, dated, July 20, 1777," IX, 303. The letter writer noted she was a bad sailer.
28 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina," Monday, July 14, 1777," IX, 287-288
29 NDAR, "Journal of H.M.S. Brune, Captain James Ferguson," IX, 252 and note; "Journal of H.M.S. Perseus, Captain George Keith Elphinstone," IX, 252-253 and 253 note; "Gazette of the State of South-Carolina," Monday, July 14, 1777," IX, 287-288
30 NDAR, "Journal of H.M.S. Brune, Captain James Ferguson," IX, 252 and note; "Journal of H.M.S. Perseus, Captain George Keith Elphinstone," IX, 252-253 and 253 note
31 NDAR, "Journal of H.M.S. Perseus, Captain George Keith Elphinstone," IX, 252-253 and 253 note; "Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, July 21, 1777," IX, 310-311 and 311 note
32 NDAR, "Journal of H.M.S. Brune, Captain James Ferguson," IX, 252 and note
33 NDAR, "Journal of H.M.S. Perseus, Captain George Keith Elphinstone," IX, 252-253 and 253 note; "Gazette of the State of South-Carolina," Monday, July 14, 1777," IX, 287-288
34 NDAR, "Journal of H.M.S. Brune, Captain James Ferguson," IX, 252 and note; "Gazette of the State of South-Carolina," Monday, July 14, 1777," IX, 287-288
35 Coker, Charleston’s Maritime Heritage, 88
36 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, July 14, 1777," IX, 287-288
37 NDAR, "Journal of H.M.S. Brune, Captain James Ferguson," IX, 252 and note; "Journal of H.M.S. Perseus, Captain George Keith Elphinstone," IX, 252-253 and 253 note
38 NDAR, "Journal of H.M.S. Brune, Captain James Ferguson," IX, 252 and note
39 NDAR, "Journal of H.M.S. Perseus, Captain George Keith Elphinstone," IX, 252-253 and 253 note
40 NDAR, "Journal of H.M.S. Brune, Captain James Ferguson," IX, 252 and note; "Journal of H.M.S. Perseus, Captain George Keith Elphinstone," IX, 252-253 and 253 note
41 NDAR, "Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in Charlestown, to his Friend at Newbern, dated, July 20, 1777," IX, 303; "Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, July 21, 1777," IX, 310-311 and 311 note
42 NDAR, "New-York Gazette, Monday, August 4, 1777," IX, 703-704
43 Coker, Charleston’s Maritime Heritage, 88
44 NDAR, Gazette of the State of South-Carolina, Monday, July 14, 1777," IX, 287-288
45 NDAR, "New-York Gazette, Monday, August 4, 1777," IX, 703-704
46 NDAR, "New-York Gazette, Monday, September 22, 1777," IX, 950-951
47 NDAR, "New-York Gazette, Monday, August 4, 1777," IX, 703-704
48 NDAR, "New-York Gazette, Monday, September 22, 1777," IX, 950-951
49 NDAR, "New-York Gazette, Monday, August 4, 1777," IX, 703-704
50 NDAR, "New-York Gazette, Monday, September 22, 1777," IX, 950-951
51 NDAR, "New-York Gazette, Monday, August 4, 1777," IX, 703-704
52 NDAR, “Journal of Marine Captain John Trevett November-December 1777,” XI, 1169-1170 and 1170 note
| Posted 7 May 2010 |
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