Name of Vessel:

Compte D’Estaing [Count D’Estaing]

Master of Vessel:

Master Richard James

Rig of Vessel:

Brig [Brigantine]

Date of Capture:

27 June 1777

Place of Capture:

Cape Cod Harbor, Massachusetts

Captor:

HM Frigates Juno and Amazon

Home Port:

Boston, Massachusetts

From What Port:

Martinique, French West Indies

To What Port:

Boston, Massachusetts

Cargo:

Salt, gunpowder, small arms, sail cloth

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

[Massachusetts Board of War]

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Into What Port:

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

Date Sold:

Action:

No

Recaptured:

No

Comments: Massachusetts Navy Trading Brig [Brigantine] Compte D’Estaing (Count D’Estaing) (Master Richard James), on 16 June 1777, was off Cape Cod in the darkness of night, trying to get back into Boston or some nearby port. She was en route from Martinique, French West Indies, with a cargo of salt. About 0000 (Midnight) 17 June a patrolling British cruiser came along and drove the brig ashore near Truro, Massachusetts. The crew escaped and got ashore and the British sent in boats and captured the brig. Fortunately for the Americans the tide was at ebb, and the Compte d'Estaing remained stuck on the beach. In the early morning the local militia mustered on the beach, but, having no cannon, the militia could do little. About a half hour before high water a cannon was finally gotten on the beach, which precipitated a hasty British retreat from the brig. James and the Compte d'Estaing's crew went back aboard and, when the high water floated the brig, ran her further up on the beach. Her cargo of powder, small arms and duck cloth was unloaded and sent to Truro for safekeeping. The townsfolk thought the brig was now safe, but in the afternoon three British cruisers showed up, anchored in a battle line three quarters of a mile offshore, and lowered and manned boats. Only a strong wind setting in from the shore prevented the raid. By dawn on the 18th the British were a mile and a half away. More cargo was being unloaded, in an effort to lighten the Compte d'Estaing enough to get her into harbor. James suggested to the Board of War that a small fast vessel of 50 tons be sent over to pick up the most valuable cargo.

Despite every effort the Compte d'Estaing was still stuck on the beach on 23 June. Meanwhile the Board had hired James Soule and his sloop (at 40s per day) to go over to Truro and tranship the cargo. Soule had arrived by 27 June, and the brig had finally been floated on that day, when the British showed up again. HM Frigates Juno and Amazon worked into Cape Cod Harbor, reporting that a brig and sloop were in sight at 1300. Both were run ashore as the frigates came into the harbor. At 1400 the Amazon signaled for a landing party and the boats were dispatched. The American militia gathered and brought down two cannon to protect the sloop. Juno fired several shots at the militia party. The British easily got aboard the Compte d'Estaing, which was floated at 1500. Juno put two men aboard and took her in tow. The capture was credited to the Amazon by Admiral Howe.

[NDAR, IX, 136, 154-156 and 156 note, 183 and note; “The following is a List of Vessels seized as Prizes, and of Recaptures made, by the American Squadron, between the 27^th of May and 24^th of October, 1777, according to the Returns received by Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Howe,” in The London Chronicle, Tuesday, December 2, to Saturday, December 6, 1777]