A History of American Privateers

An 1899 account of the role of privateers in winning the American War of Independence and building the American Navy.

Edgar Stanton Maclay (Author)

9781108026284, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 3 February 2011

594 pages, 33 b/w illus. 4 maps
21.6 x 14 x 3.4 cm, 0.75 kg

American privateers played a significant role during the American War of Independence and the Anglo-American war of 1812, as the American regular navy was very small. Reinforcement by privateers sailing under the government's jurisdiction carrying Letters of Marque was essential, and in fact both sides made use of privateers, capturing each other's merchant ships as prizes. Many successful sailors began their careers as privateers before taking up commissions in the regular navy. The stories of some of these men are individually explored in this 1899 book by Edgar Stanton Maclay, who two years later was at the centre of a controversy arising from remarks in his History of the United States Navy. Maclay here includes accounts from sailors of all ranks about their experiences during the conflicts and as prisoners of war. The actions of some notorious British privateers are also documented in this fascinating work of maritime history.

Preface
Part I. The War of the Revolution: 1. Privateers and privateersmen
2. Dangers peculiar to privateering
3. Colonial privateers
4. Beginning hostilities
5. First two years
6. Navy officers in privateers
7. Captain Silas Talbot
8. Rapid growth of privateering
9. A boy privateersman
10. The work of 1779
11. Jonathan Haraden
12. An escape from Old Mill Prison
13. Cruise of Dr. Solomon Drowne
14. Career of the General Washington
15. Captain John Manly
16. Closing years of the war
Part II. The War of 1812: 1. First ventures
2. British licenses and revenue cutters
3. Captains Maffitt and Shaler
4. Privateers of Rhode Island
5. Captain Thomas Boyle
6. A distinguished privateersman
7. Decatur-Dominica fight
8. Southern privateers
9. Career of the America
10. A typical privateersman
11. An escape from Gibraltar
12. In British prisons
13. The Prince de Neuchâtel
14. Cruises of the Grand Turk
15. Escape of the Ida
16. Privateers of Salem
17. Some typical cruises
18. Privateers against privateers
19. New York privateers
20. Privateers versus packet ships
21. Battles with the king's ships
22. Privateers of Baltimore
23. Guy R. Champlin
24. Battle of Fayal
24. Conclusion
Index.

Subject Areas: Military history [HBW]