American Privateers-- Part 5: The Chasseur's Battle With the HMS St. Lawrence

Once, the resourceful Thomas Boyle threw ten cannons overboard and his spare sails to lighten his ship to escape a British trap.  Then he moved two of his cannons aft, sawed away the back rails to give his guns  freedom of fire.

On February 15, 1815, near Havana, Boyle met a schooner  that only appeared to have three guns.  As he got within boarding range,it was another British trick.  The schooner, which turned out to be the HMS St. Lawrence, unloosed a hidden broadside of ten guns.  But the Chasseur's deadly return fire  found its mark and the British ship  was captured in fifteen minutes.

--Brock-Perry