The Quasi War's USS Merrimack-- Part 3: Cooperating With the USS Patapsco

The USS Merrimack, along with the USS Ganges and USS Pickering recaptured the American schooner John on the 15th of August after it had been captured the day before.

On June 6, 1800, it freed the American brig which had been captured a few days earlier.

In 22 September 1800, the ship arrived at Curacao, in the Netherlands Antilles and found sixteen French ships and 1400 men besieging it.  The Merrimack and USS Patapsco forced them to leave.

20 October 1800, it captured the French privateer Phoenix.

The Merrimack was stripped of its naval equipment and sold in 1801, later in the merchant service as  the Monticello and sank off Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

--Brock-Perry

The Quasi War's USS Merrimack-- Part 2: Battling the French in the Caribbean

The newly commissioned USS Merrimack left Boston on 3 January 1799 for the Windward islands in the Caribbean to protect American merchant ships during the Quasi War with France.

On June 28, 1799, it took a prize, the L'Magicienne, the former U.S. Navy schooner Retaliation which had been captured by the French in 1798.  The Merrimack then captured the French privateer Bonaparte 7 August.

With the USS Ganges and USS Pickering, she recaptured the American schooner John on the 15th after that ship had been captured the day before.

This Is Called Close Action With the Enemy.  --Brock-Perry

The Quasi War's USS Merrimack-- Part 1: Presented to U.S. Navy

From Wikipedia.

While writing about the USS Chesapeake whose name was changed to USS Patapsco in 1799, this ship, along with the USS Merrimack, fought off a French attack on Curacao in 1800.  I, of course, knew about the USS Merrimack that later was turned into the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia in 1862, but knew nothing about this ship.

The USS Merrimack was launched by the Association of Newburyport Shipwrights 12 October 1798, and presented to the U.S. Navy where it saw action in the Quasi War with France.

It was 460 tons, has a crew of 220 and mounted 28 guns (twenty 9-pdrs. and eight 6-pdr. guns).

--Brock-Perry

Other U.S.N. Ships Named Chesapeake-- Part 2: The USS Patapsco

This one was only temporarily named the USS Chesapeake.  Most likely its name was changed so that the new frigate could have it.

The Patapsco is the name of a river by Baltimore, Maryland.

USS Chesapeake/USS Patapsco, sloop.  During the time the Patapsco spent in the West Indies, it captured two French ships and aided the USS Merrimack, 28 guns, (a ship launched by the Association of Newburyport Shipwrights in 1798 and saw action in the U.S. Navy until it was sold in 1801) in defeating a French invasion of Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles..  A British frigate was also

The Quasi War with France resulted in a number of U.S. navy ships which were in service for just a short time, like the Patapsco.

Afterwards, the Patapsco returned to Philadelphia where it was sold in 1801.

So much for the first USS Chesapeake/Patapsco.

U.S. Navy "Subscription" Ships-- Part 4: Patapsco and Philadelphia

USS PATAPSCO-- 20-gun sloop launched in 1799 as the Chesapeake but name changed for the frigate Chesapeake. In 1800, it and the USS Merrimack aided the British frigate HMS Nereide in defending Curacao in the Netherland Antilles from French attack.

Captured two ships during Quasi War. Sold in 1801.

USS PHILADELPHIA-- 36-gun frigate subscribed by the citizens of Philadelphia and commissioned in 1800 with Captain Stephen Decatur, Sr. in command. Participated in the Quasi War and First Barbary War.
While commanded by William Bainbridge, it was captured in the First Barbary War and later destroyed in 1804 by a daring expedition led by the first commander's son, Stephen Decatur, Jr.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Navy "Subscription" Ships-- Part 1: Most Had Short Careers

These were ships that evidently added to the U.S. Navy through subscriptions by the states and in some instances, cities, even private interests. Evidently the Act of June 30, 1798 allowed this. Most were only in service for a few years and mostly built because of the so-called Quasi War with France (our former ally during the American Revolution).

USS MARYLAND, 26-gun sloop built by public subscription in Baltimore. Commissioned in 1799 and sold in 1801.

USS MERRIMACK, 28 GUNS, Launched by the Association of Newburyport Shipwrights and presented to the Navy in 1798. Saw service during the Quasi War and sold in 1801.

USS BOSTON, Third ship with the name. A 32-gun frigate built by public subscription in Boston. Commissioned 1799. Fought in the Quasi War and First Barbary War. Burned at Washington Navy Yard 24 August 1814 during the War of 1812 to prevent capture by British (as was the USS New York).

Never Heard of These Ships. --Brock-Perry