Name of Vessel:

Union

Master of Vessel:

Alexander Bell

Rig of Vessel:

Brig [Brigantine, Snow]

Date of Capture:

14 June 1777

Place of Capture:

Nine miles south of Charleston Lighthouse, Charleston, South Carolina

Captor:

HM Frigates Perseus and Galatea

Home Port:

From What Port:

Mississippi River

To What Port:

Ireland [Jamaica]

Cargo:

Staves, lumber

Tonnage:

Battery:

Crew:

Owners:

Prize master:

Prize crew:

Ordered Into:

Into What Port:

Date Arrived:

Date Tried:

[destroyed]

Date Sold:

Action:

Yes

Recaptured:

No

Comments: On 14 June 1777 HM Frigates Perseus (Captain George Keith Elphinstone) and Galatea (Captain Thomas Jordan) were patrolling about twenty-four miles southeast of Charleston Lighthouse, Charleston, South Carolina. In company with the frigates was a prize. At 1300 the frigates stood in for the land and, at 1400, saw a sail, a snow or brig, inshore. Both frigates gave chase. The chase was the brigantine or brig Union (Alexander Bell), bound from the Mississippi River to Ireland (or Jamaica)with a cargo of staves and lumber. She had been captured by Pennsylvania Privateer Brig Lively (Commander Woolman Sutton), on 5 June, off Havana. About 1700 the chase ran ashore, the frigates then being about nine to twelve miles from the lighthouse. Perseus and Galatea sent off the boats, along with the prize schooner, after the Americans. At 1830 the grounded vessel was seen to fire several shots at Perseus’s boats. The Americans then got out their boat and escaped ashore. The British boats soon got aboard the snow, about 2000. At 2100 Elphinstone ordered them to return, setting fire to the prize and her cargo of lumber. The boats returned at 0100 on 15 June. She was still burning three hours later.

[NDAR, IX, 119, 120 and note, 124-125, 159-161, 192-195]