USS Mosquito (1775)

Last updated
USS Fly and USS Mosquito, by William Nowland Van Powell.jpg
Painting by William Nowland Van Powell of USS Fly and USS Mosquito. Even though portrayed as a sloop, Mosquito was most likely a schooner like the Fly.
History
US flag 13 stars.svgUnited States
NameMosquito
Namesake Mosquito
Acquired1775
Out of serviceOctober 1777
FateDestroyed by October 1777, most likely 7 July 1777
Notesoften identified also as a sloop in later sources
General characteristics
Type Schooner
PropulsionSail
Armament4 × guns, later upgraded to 6 guns w/ 4 swivel guns

The first USS Mosquito was believed to have been purchased at Philadelphia late in 1775 for the new Continental Navy. She patrolled the Delaware River until destroyed during the British capture of Philadelphia led by the Howe brothers and completed by them in October 1777. [1] The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) has identified this ship as a sloop, yet records from the period which are believed to refer to the ship have consistently identified her as being a schooner. These records also provide a bit more detail of her fate, indicating she was burned after capture in July 1777 during Royal Navy operations along the Delaware River.

Contents

Confusion concerning the ship's actual type

It is possible that there was a second ship with the same or similar name operating in American waters at the same time that has led to confusion. However, the government records described in detail below indicate that the ship with this name (often referred to with different spellings to include Musquito, or Musqueto, or Muskeito yet always with Lieutenant Albertson in command) was the only one with this name in Continental service at that time. Only later records, starting at least with the 1850 The Navy of the United States, From the Commencement, 1775 to 1853 [2] is the ship in Continental service specifically referred to as a "sloop" and her destruction along with other elements of the fleet in October 1777 stated (and then with the word "supposed".) The statements and descriptions concerning the ship in this text are carried over almost exactly into the DANFS entry and in Silverstone's work. Emmons's 1850 book does make mention of a ship under the name "Musketo" later and names her a schooner under the command of Albertson. [3] Given Albertson's listing on the Marine Committee's formal list of ranks and precedence, it is clear this is the vessel in Continental service with that name.

Summary of known available materials

On 1 October 1776, the Continental Marine Committee ordered Lieutenant Thomas Albertson to sail the schooner Muskeito to North Carolina with letters, and to bring back such naval stores as he could gather. [4] Then on 10 October the Marine Committee formally established the ranks and precedence of the commanders of vessels in the Continental Navy. Lieutenant Thomas Albertson, as commander of the smallest vessel, Musquito, of four guns, ranked 26th out of 26. [5]

The next (implicit) mention of Mosquito occurs on 20 December 1776 when Robert Morris lists the schooner Musquito among the ships that are in public service in a letter to Silas Deane. It is interesting to note that in this same listing, the Fly is listed as a sloop while in most other records she is referred to as a schooner, indicating that Mosquito is not the only ship for which her type may be in question. [6]

Mosquito is again mentioned by name by being station in Delaware Bay with Fly watching six British ships that have effectively bottled up the fleet in a letter dated 30 December 1776. [7]

Next on 22 April 1777 the Navy Board of the Middle Department asked to borrow 70 shot for 2-pounder guns. Thomas Albertson carried the request, which he needed for his vessel, which was almost ready for sea. [8]

On 6 July 1777 Captain John Linzee, of HMS Pearl, sent the schooner Endeavour, a longboat, and a sloop and yawl, prizes to Camilla, up Duck Creek, which empties into Delaware Bay, some five to six miles SEE from Bombay Hook. The expedition was under the command of Pearl's sailing master. [9]

The expedition returned the next day. The British captured Mosquitto, Captain Thomas Albertson, at 3 in the morning, without any opposition as the only people aboard were her master and gunner. She was armed with six 3-pounder guns and four swivel guns; the expedition burned her after taking their two prisoners off. Later that day Linzee had the prize sloop burnt. [9]

As with many ships and actions of the period of the American Revolution, there is some question as to the true nature of this vessel and its history. At the time of the Emmons's work and the DANFS entry, the volumes of the Naval Documents of the American Revolution that mention her later history were not yet compiled. Even after their compilation, until the work of organizations like archive.org, their availability was rather limited. The identification of a ship or ships with the same name in service at the same time in the same area yet of different types has added to the confusion. With DANFS being the best available authority at the time, William Nowland Van Powell's 1974 painting of the ship with USS Fly shows her as a sloop rather than a schooner as this is how DANFS has identified her. As more records come to light and are more thoroughly examined, the true nature of the situation will become more clear and defined.

Citations

  1. ↑ Silverstone (2001), p. 15.
  2. ↑ Emmons (1853), p. 1.
  3. ↑ Emmons (1853), p. 153.
  4. ↑ Clarke (1964), pp. 1092, & 1119–20.
  5. ↑ Clarke (1964), p. 1201.
  6. ↑ Morgan (1976), p. 532.
  7. ↑ Lincoln (1906), p. 33.
  8. ↑ Morgan (1980), p. 402.
  9. 1 2 Morgan (1986), pp. 232–3.

Related Research Articles

The first USS Hornet was a merchant sloop chartered from Captain William Stone in December 1775 to serve under Stone as a unit of Esek Hopkins' Fleet. The voyage would be the first military action for master's mate Joshua Barney. The vessel was damaged while sailing with the fleet and returned to base. Hornet patrolled Delaware Bay until being captured on 27 April 1777 by the Royal Navy. Hornet was taken to Jamaica, where the ship was found to be leaking and was condemned.

USS <i>Ranger</i> (1777) American ship during the American revolution

USS Ranger was a sloop-of-war in the Continental Navy, serving from 1777–1780 and the first to bear her name. Built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Badger's Island in Kittery, Maine, she is famed for the solo raiding campaign carried out by her first captain, John Paul Jones, during naval operations of the American Revolutionary War. In six months spent primarily in British waters, she captured five prizes, staged a single failed attack on the English mainland at Whitehaven, and caused Royal Navy ships to be dispatched against her in the Irish Sea.

USS <i>Alfred</i> 18th-century British merchant vessel

Alfred was the merchant vessel Black Prince, named for Edward, the Black Prince, and launched in 1774. The Continental Navy of what would become the United States Navy acquired her in 1775, renamed her Alfred after 9th century English monarch Alfred the Great, and commissioned her as a warship. She participated in two major actions, the battle of Nassau, and the action of 6 April 1776. The Royal Navy captured her in 1778, took her into service as HMS Alfred, and sold her in 1782. She then became the merchantman Alfred, and sailed between London and Jamaica.

<i>Andrew Doria</i> (1775 brig)

Andrew Doria was a brig purchased by the Continental Congress in November 1775. She is most famous for her participation in the Battle of Nassau—the first amphibious engagement by the Continental Navy and the Continental Marines—and for being the first United States vessel to receive a salute from a foreign power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hazelwood</span> Commodore in the Pennsylvania Navy and Continental Navy

John Hazelwood served as a Commodore in the Pennsylvania Navy and Continental Navy and was among the most noted naval officers during the American Revolutionary War. Born in England about 1726, he became a mariner and settled in Philadelphia early in life, became married and had several children. Promoted to Commodore during the Philadelphia campaign, he also became commander of Fort Mifflin while it was under siege by the British. Throughout the campaign Hazelwood and General Washington were in frequent communication with letters. During the weeks spent engaging the British navy on the Delaware River Hazelwood innovated many naval tactics, kept the British navy at bay for weeks and played a major role in the development of riverine warfare for the American navies. Recommended by Washington and his council, Hazelwood was chosen to lead a large fleet of American ships and riverboats up river to safety. For his bravery and distinguished service Congress awarded him with a ceremonial military sword, while the famous presidential artist Charles Peale found Hazelwood worthy enough to paint his portrait. After the Revolution Hazelwood lived out his remaining years in Philadelphia.

USS <i>Raleigh</i> (1776)

USS Raleigh was one of thirteen ships that the Continental Congress authorized for the Continental Navy in 1775. Following her capture in 1778, she served in the Royal Navy as HMS Raleigh. The ship is featured on the flag and seal of New Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Manley (naval officer)</span>

John Manley (c.1733–1793) was an officer in the Continental Navy and the United States Navy. Manley was appointed commodore of "George Washington's fleet."

USS <i>Hannah</i>

The schooner Hannah was the first armed American naval vessel of the American Revolution, authorized by the Continental Congress and operated by the Continental Army, and is considered by some the first vessel of the United States Navy. She was a fishing schooner owned by John Glover of Marblehead, Massachusetts and was named for his daughter, Hannah Glover. The crew was drawn largely from the town of Marblehead, with much of the ships ammunition being stored in Glover's warehouse now located at Glover's Square in Marblehead before being relocated to Beverly, Massachusetts.

Twelve ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Mosquito, or the archaic HMS Musquito, after the tropical insect, the Mosquito:

USS <i>Fly</i> Sloops-of-war of the United States Navy

USS Fly was an eight-gun sloop in the Continental Navy. She was part of a squadron that raided the port of Nassau and engaged the 20-gun HMS Glasgow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Gloucester (1775)</span> Skirmish in the American Revolutionary War at Gloucester, Massachusetts

The Battle of Gloucester was a skirmish fought early in the American Revolutionary War at Gloucester, Massachusetts on August 8 or 9, 1775. Royal Navy Captain John Linzee, commanding the sloop-of-war HMS Falcon, spotted two schooners that were returning from the West Indies. After capturing one schooner, Linzee chased the second one into Gloucester Harbor, where it was grounded. The townspeople called out their militia, captured British seamen sent to seize the grounded schooner, and recovered the captured ship as well.

HMS Glasgow was a 20-gun sixth-rate post ship of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1757 and took part in the American Revolutionary War. While under command of Capt. William Maltby she ran onto rocks at Cohasset, Massachusetts on 10 December 1774. Refloated and arrived in Boston on the 15th for repairs. Capt. Maltby was relieved of command at a Court Martial and replaced by Tyringham Howe some time between 8–15 January 1775. She is most famous for her encounter with the maiden voyage of the Continental Navy off Block Island on 6 April 1776. In that action, Glasgow engaged a squadron of 6 ships of the Continental Navy, managing to escape intact. Under the command of Tho. Pasley she captured sloop Juliana on 1 April, 1777. She captured sloop Unity on 2 April, 1777. She captured the sloop Betsy & Ann on 4 April. She captured sloop Volante on 5 April. She captured the brig Aurora on 10 April. She captured sloop Sally on 16 April. She captured American privateer sloop Henry on 19 April. She captured schooner Providence on 2 May. She captured schooner Nancy, probably in early May. She captured schooner Betsy 27 June. She captured brig Dolphin on unknown date. She captured sloop Rover on 24 July. She captured sloop Antonio on 21 July. She captured sloop Tryall on 25 July. She captured an unknown schooner on an unknown date. She captured schooner Gen. Thompson on an unknown date. She captured sloop Industry at an unknown date. She captured schooner Betsy & Ann on 4 November. She captured brig Sally on 8 December. She captured sloop Defiance and schooner Success on 9 December. She captured brig Minerva on 19 December. She captured schooner Happy Return on 22 December, 1777. On 28 February, 1778 she captured sloop Abigale 5 leagues east north east of the Tiburon Peninsula. On 9 March, 1778 she captured schooner Nancy 6 leagues off Mayaguana, Bahamas. She captured sloop Lucy on 12 March off the south east end of Mayaguana. She captured a prize in April, 1778, but it sprang a leak and sank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American colonial marines</span> Early Marine force of the American revolutionary forces

American colonial marines were various naval infantry units which served during the Revolutionary War on the Patriot side. After the conflict broke out in 1775, nine of the rebelling Thirteen Colonies established state navies to carry out naval operations. Accordingly, several marine units were raised to serve as an infantry component aboard the ships of these navies. The marines, along with the navies they served in, were intended initially as a stopgap measure to provide the Patriots with naval capabilities before the Continental Navy reached a significant level of strength. After its establishment, state navies, and the marines serving in them, participated in several operations alongside the Continental Navy and its marines.

HMS <i>Kingfisher</i> (1770) Sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Kingfisher was the second ship in the 14-gun Swan class of ship sloops, to which design 25 vessels were built in the 1760s and 1770s. She was launched on 13 July 1770 at Chatham Dockyard, and completed there on 21 November 1770. She took part in the American Revolutionary War, enforcing the blockade of the Delaware Bay, and served in the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet, near Cape May, New Jersey. While under the temporary command of Lieutenant Hugh Christian, she was burnt by her own crew to avoid capture on 7 August 1778 in Narragansett Bay during the Battle of Rhode Island.

Two vessels of the Royal Navy have borne the name, HM galley Pigot. Both were acquired in 1778 during the American Revolutionary War, and both were lost that year; her crew destroyed the first to avoid her capture, and the Americans captured the second. Both were named for General Sir Robert Pigot, the general commanding the British Army at Newport, Rhode Island, during their service there.

HMS Diligent was a brig the Royal Navy purchased in 1777. The Continental Navy captured her in May 1779 and took her into service as the USS Diligent. She then participated in the disastrous Penobscot Expedition where her crew had to scuttle her in August to prevent her capture.

Much of the information concerning the Continental schooner Mosquito comes from her capture and destruction in July 1777. Even the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) has nothing about the vessel.

HMS Plumper was launched in 1807. She captured three small American privateers early in the War of 1812 but was wrecked in December 1812.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raid on Charlottetown (1775)</span>

The Raid on Charlottetown of 17–18 November 1775, early in the American Revolutionary War, involved two American privateers of the Marblehead Regiment attacking and pillaging Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, then known as St. John's Island. The raid motivated Nova Scotia Governor Francis Legge to declare martial law. Despite the raid's success, George Washington immediately freed senior colonial officials the privateers had brought back as prisoners to Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The second USS Asp, was a three-gun schooner that the US Navy purchased on 17 February 1813 at Alexandria, D.C.. She cruised the Chesapeake Bay until in July the Royal Navy captured her. The British failed to scuttle her and her crew was able to recover her. The US Navy sold her in 1826.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.