USS Experiment (1799)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Experiment.
Experiment fights off several Haitian barges with her convoy and the island of Gonâve in the background
A sketch of the action between Experiment and picaroons on 1 January 1800
History
United States
NameUSS Experiment
Laid down1799
LaunchedNovember 1799
FateSold, October 1801
General characteristics
TypeSchooner
Tonnage135
Length84 ft 7 in (25.78 m) Keel: 60 feet[1]
Beam22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Draft9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
PropulsionSail
Complement70 officers and enlisted
Armament12 × 6-pounder (3 kg) guns

USS Experiment was a schooner in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France.

Experiment was built in 1799 at Baltimore, Maryland; and first put to sea late in November 1799, Lieutenant William Maley in command.

Experiment joined the squadron commanded by Captain Silas Talbot on the Santo Domingo station, and for seven months, cruised against French privateers in the Caribbean, taking a number of valuable prizes. Action of 1 January 1800:On 1 January 1800, while becalmed in the Bight of Leogane with a convoy of four merchantmen, they were attacked by 11 armed pirate barges, flying French flags, manned by about four or five hundred buccaneers. In the seven hours of fighting that followed, the pirates boarded one of the merchantmen, killing her captain, and towed off two other ships of the convoy after their crews had abandoned them. But Experiment sank two of the attacking craft, and killed and wounded many of the pirates, suffering only one man wounded.[2] On 12 January captured schooner "Anne' (or Anna).[3] She was sent to Philadelphia where the ship was released by the Court in July.[4] On 2 February she captured a sloop.[5] On 4 February she captured schooner "Amphitheater".[6] "Ampitheatre" was made an armed tender for USS Constitution at the end of February, 1800.[7] She also took on the 4th a Danish flagged schooner loaded with André Rigaud's troops and ammo. Also captured one of André Rigaud's privateers, a sloop. The sloop and troops were disarmed, the ship ransomed and sent to shore with the prisoners.[8] Also on the 4th about 11 PM she had a brief engagement with an unknown vessel that escaped due to low manning from having so many prizes captured.[9] On 14 February she captured Spanish brigantine "Los Amigos", she was sent to Philadelphia where charges were dropped by the Court in September.[10] On 18 February, 1800 she captured French armed schooner L'Legere.[11] On 29 March she captured Spanish brig "St. Michael".[12] On 8 April she captured Spanish schooner "El Carmine" for not having papers.[13] On 15 May she captured schooner Mercator.[14] On 25 June she captured American slave sloop "Betsy" off Cuba.[15]

Arriving in the Delaware River early in July 1800, Experiment refitted, and returned to the West Indies under new commander, Lieutenant Charles Stewart Jr, Lt. Maley having been dismissed from the Service.[16] On 1 September she captured privateer schooner "Les Deux Amis".[17]. On 1 October she captured French Navy schooner "La Diana" with General André Rigaud on board.[18] Again successful in her patrols against the French, she captured several armed vessels. On 16 November she fought a four hour battle with an unknown vessel, after they struck it was discovered to be the British schooner "Louisa Bridges". The only casualty of the battle was Experiment's Boatswain was killed.[19] On 14 December she recaptured brig "Zebra", captured the day before by privateer schooner "La Flambeau".[20] On 26 December recaptured brig "Dove", and sloop "Lucy", both captured by privateer schooner "Patriot".[21] She also recaptured a number of American merchantmen, and 0n 19 January 1801 rescued 60 women and children and 7 crewmen, Spaniards, from the ship Eliza, wrecked on a reef off the island of Saona.[22]

Experiment returned to Norfolk early on, or just before, 4 February 1801.[23] In a letter dated 20 February to Josiah Parker, chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, Navy Secretary Stoddert recommended selling her.[24] She was laid up there until August, when she sailed to Baltimore. She was sold there in October, 1801 for $7,350.[25]

  1. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 366. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  2. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 1 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, Front Matter January Pg. 4" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 1 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, Front Matter January Pg. 71" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, February, 1800-March, 1800 Pg. 217-218" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, February, 1800-March, 1800 Pg. 180" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, February, 1800-March, 1800 Pg. 183" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, February, 1800-March, 1800 Pg. 263-264" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, February, 1800-March, 1800 Pg. 194" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, February, 1800-March, 1800 Pg. 185-189" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, February, 1800-March, 1800 Pg. 218-220" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, February, 1800-March, 1800 Pg. 229" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 2 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, February, 1800-March, 1800 Pg. 360" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 398" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume Part 3 of 4 Naval Operations January to May, 1800, April 1800-May 1800 Pg. 522" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France Volume 6 Part 1 of 4 Naval Operations June to November, 1800, June 1800 Pg. 85-86" (PDF). U.S. Government printing office via Imbiblio. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  16. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July-August 1800. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 548. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  17. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July-August 1800. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 334. Retrieved 29 August 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  18. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July-August 1800. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 422, 427. Retrieved 5 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  19. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VI Part 2 of 4: Naval Operations June to November 1800, July-August 1800. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 533–534. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  20. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 99. Retrieved 19 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  21. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 99. Retrieved 19 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  22. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 99–100. Retrieved 19 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  23. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 122. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  24. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 126. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.
  25. ^ Naval Documents related to the Quasi-War Between the United States and France (PDF). Vol. VII Part 1 of 4: Naval Operations December 1800-December 1801, December 1800-March 1801. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 302. Retrieved 29 September 2024 – via Ibiblio.