USS Enterprise vs Flambeau

USS ''Enterprise'' vs ''Flambeau'' was a single ship action fought in October 1800 during the Quasi-War, and the final battle between French and American forces. During the action, defeated the French brig ''Flambeau'' off the leeward side of the island of Dominica in the Caribbean Sea. Although ''Enterprise'' was outgunned by ''Flambeau'', she was still able to take her as a prize after a short battle. The battle helped bring to fame ''Enterprise''s commanding officer, John Shaw, who added the capture of ''Flambeau'' to his already long list of French prizes.

''Enterprise'' continued patrolling the Caribbean, chasing down and capturing French vessel ''Pauline'', and later ''Guadaloupeenne''. Chronic illness forced Shaw to transfer command of ''Enterprise'' to Lieutenant Andrew Sterett, who continued the patrol and took several more French prizes before returning home.

Background

During the Quasi-War American merchant ships often became the target of French privateers who seized them in large quantities. In an effort to stem these depredations against American shipping several United States Navy warships were dispatched to hunt down French privateers. One such vessel was , an American naval schooner under the command of Lieutenant John Shaw. ''Enterprise'' had been sent out to the Caribbean Sea in March 1800 with orders to cruise against French shipping in the region. ''Enterprise'' had already previously engaged and defeated several French privateers when on the night of 24 October she sighted the privateer ''Flambeau'' off the leeward side of Dominica.

The French letter of marque ''Flambeau'' was a brig that was slightly more powerful than ''Enterprise'', having twelve cannon as compared to the American schooner's dozen guns. The French privateer also had more crew than the American vessel, 110 opposed to ''Enterprise''s 83. With a broadside of to ''Enterprise''s and with a larger crew, ''Flambeau'' had an advantage over ''Enterprise''. Nonetheless, Shaw decided to engage ''Flambeau''. ''Enterprise'' could not catch up to ''Flambeau'' but when morning came ''Flambeau'' found herself becalmed. Her captain then used sweeps to close with ''Enterprise''.

Action

Eventually a wind came and the two ships managed to maneuver towards each other until they were within musket range. After engaging with small arms for a while, Lieutenant Shaw eventually veered his schooner away and ''Flambeau'' opened up on the Americans with a broadside of roundshot. ''Enterprise'' replied with her own broadside and the two vessels engaged each other with cannon for twenty minutes. ''Flambeau'' was beginning to receive heavy damage when her captain decided to disengage and maneuvered away from ''Enterprise''. However, ''Enterprise'' pursued the French brig and continued to engage her.

''Flambeau''s foretopmast was in danger of being dismasted from damage it had received from ''Enterprise'', so the French captain sent men aloft to try to repair it. However after a sudden gust of wind the mast flew off the ship carrying six French sailors with it. ''Enterprise'' ceased her attacks upon ''Flambeau'' and sent out a boat to rescue the French sailors adrift on the topmast. After rescuing the French topmen, ''Enterprise'' caught up with the French brig and came alongside. Before the action could continue the French captain struck her colours as ''Flambeau''s medicine chest had been destroyed and the hull compromised multiple times.

Aftermath

The entire action lasted about forty minutes. The French were much worse off than the Americans in terms of casualties, with 7 Frenchmen killed and 33 wounded compared to 3 Americans killed and 7 wounded. A prize crew from ''Enterprise'' was sent aboard ''Flambeau'' and sailed her to Saint Kitts where she was condemned. The proceeds from the sale of ''Flambeau'' were adjudicated to the crew of ''Enterprise''.

The capture of ''Flambeau'' brought further acclaim to Shaw, who had already defeated several other French privateers and taken them as prizes. ''Enterprise'' continued her cruise, next chasing down and capturing ''Pauline'' and later ''Guadaloupeenne''. Shortly afterward, chronic illness forced Shaw to transfer command of the vessel to Lieutenant Andrew Sterett. Sterret continued to cruise the Caribbean, taking several more prizes before returning home. Upon Shaw's return home the president and other public officials personally thanked him for his service. Shaw later continued his naval career, serving with distinction during the War of 1812.

Citations

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:USS Enterprise vs Flambeau
Naval battles of the Quasi-War
Conflicts in 1800
1800 in France
1800 in the United States