Capture of HMS Savage
Encyclopedia
The Capture of HMS Savage refers to a naval battle of the Revolutionary War
involving an American
privateer
and a British
sloop-of-war
. It occurred in September of 1781 off South Carolina
and is considered one of the hardest fought single ship actions of the war.
were raiding the American coast by means of boat expeditions. One commander involved in the operations was Captain
Charles Sterling of the sloop HMS Savage
, armed with sixteen 6-pounders. Sterling is noted for having plundered Mount Vernon
, the estate of General
George Washington
who was the overall commander of the Continental Army
and the first American president. Shortly after, Captain Sterling sailed his ship south in search of other homes to raid. In the early morning of September 6, the Savage fell in with the sloop-of-war named Congress, ten leagues from Charleston
. She was under the command of Captain George Geddes
of Philadelphia, armed with twenty 12-pounders and four 6-pounders, with a complement of 215 officers and men. When Sterling first saw the Congress he chose to make an escape but by 10:30 am the Americans came within range and opened fire with their bow chasers. By 11:00 the Congress had closed the distance and her crew engaged with muskets and pistols to which the British replied with "energy". At this point Captain Geddes observed that his ship was faster than that of the enemy so he maneuvered ahead of the Savage until almost abreast, in preparation for a broadside attack.
A duel then commenced at extreme close range, during which both ships were heavily damaged. Sailors on both sides were also burned by the flashes of their enemy's cannon. The rigging of Congress was torn to shreds during the exchange which compelled the Americans to stand off for quick repairs. After doing so, the chase was resumed and the privateer was swiftly alongside the Savage again when another duel began. For about an hour the Americand and British fought and by the end HMS Savage was in ruins. The quarter deck and the forecastle had been completely cleared of resistance, the mizzenmast was blown away and the mainmast was nearly gone as well. Geddes felt this was an opportune time to board the enemy but just as he was moving his ship in, a boatswain
appeared on the Savages forecastle, waving his hat as a sign of surrender. British forces suffered the loss of eight men killed and twenty-six wounded and the Americans eleven killed and around thirty wounded. Among the dead was Captain Sterling who was reported as having fought with a determined bravery over the course of a three hour battle. Unfortunately for the Americans; they never made it back to port and were captured by British frigate
and taken to Charleston, South Carolina.
was waiting to take on the American prisoners. Twenty men were killed in the incident though the survivors eventually made it to Placentia
where the Americans were put aboard the ship sloop HMS Fairy
and taken to Old Mill Prison in England
.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
involving an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
and a British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
. It occurred in September of 1781 off South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and is considered one of the hardest fought single ship actions of the war.
Capture
By 1781 the smaller British vessels blockading Chesapeake BayChesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
were raiding the American coast by means of boat expeditions. One commander involved in the operations was Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Charles Sterling of the sloop HMS Savage
HMS Savage
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Savage: was a 14-gun sloop purchased in 1748 and wrecked later that year. was an 8-gun sloop launched in 1750 and wrecked in 1776. was a 14-gun sloop launched in 1778, hulked in 1804 and sold in 1815. was a 16-gun brig-sloop launched in 1805 and...
, armed with sixteen 6-pounders. Sterling is noted for having plundered Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
, the estate of General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
who was the overall commander of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
and the first American president. Shortly after, Captain Sterling sailed his ship south in search of other homes to raid. In the early morning of September 6, the Savage fell in with the sloop-of-war named Congress, ten leagues from Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. She was under the command of Captain George Geddes
George Geddes
George Geddes was a prominent engineer and agricultural expert, and a New York state senator. He was born at Fairmount, New York on February 14, 1809. He died there October 8, 1883. He was the son of engineer, surveyor and U.S. Congressman James Geddes....
of Philadelphia, armed with twenty 12-pounders and four 6-pounders, with a complement of 215 officers and men. When Sterling first saw the Congress he chose to make an escape but by 10:30 am the Americans came within range and opened fire with their bow chasers. By 11:00 the Congress had closed the distance and her crew engaged with muskets and pistols to which the British replied with "energy". At this point Captain Geddes observed that his ship was faster than that of the enemy so he maneuvered ahead of the Savage until almost abreast, in preparation for a broadside attack.
A duel then commenced at extreme close range, during which both ships were heavily damaged. Sailors on both sides were also burned by the flashes of their enemy's cannon. The rigging of Congress was torn to shreds during the exchange which compelled the Americans to stand off for quick repairs. After doing so, the chase was resumed and the privateer was swiftly alongside the Savage again when another duel began. For about an hour the Americand and British fought and by the end HMS Savage was in ruins. The quarter deck and the forecastle had been completely cleared of resistance, the mizzenmast was blown away and the mainmast was nearly gone as well. Geddes felt this was an opportune time to board the enemy but just as he was moving his ship in, a boatswain
Boatswain
A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
appeared on the Savages forecastle, waving his hat as a sign of surrender. British forces suffered the loss of eight men killed and twenty-six wounded and the Americans eleven killed and around thirty wounded. Among the dead was Captain Sterling who was reported as having fought with a determined bravery over the course of a three hour battle. Unfortunately for the Americans; they never made it back to port and were captured by British frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
and taken to Charleston, South Carolina.
Aftermath
The Congress became HMS Dutchess of Cumberland but shortly afterwards wrecked on September 19, during the passage to Newfoundland where a prison shipPrison ship
A prison ship, historically sometimes called a prison hulk, is a vessel used as a prison, often to hold convicts awaiting transportation to penal colonies. This practice was popular with the British government in the 18th and 19th centuries....
was waiting to take on the American prisoners. Twenty men were killed in the incident though the survivors eventually made it to Placentia
Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador
Placentia is a town on the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador, consisting of the amalgamated communities of Jerseyside, Townside, Freshwater, Dunville and Argentia...
where the Americans were put aboard the ship sloop HMS Fairy
HMS Fairy
Several ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Fairy:, a 16-gun Swan class ship sloop, built in 1778 at Sheerness, and broken up in 1811., an 18-gun , built in 1812 at Bideford and broken up in 1821., a 10-gun , built in 1826 at Chatham, and lost in 1840., a built by Fairfields, launched on...
and taken to Old Mill Prison in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.