Capture of USS Retaliation

On November 20, 1798, a pair of French frigates, the L'insurgente and Volontaire, with some 80 guns in combined strength, captured an American 14-gun schooner, USS Retaliation. The ship was later recaptured on June 28, 1799, and the L'insurgente was captured the following month as well. The Retaliation was the only American warship captured during the war.[2]

Capture of USS Retaliation
Part of the Quasi War
Date November 20, 1798 Location Unknown Result French victory
Belligerents
United States	French First Republic
Commanders and leaders
William Bainbridge	Michel-Pierre Barreaut
Strength
1 schooner: USS Retaliation–14 guns, 76 to 87 enlisted and officers[1]	2 frigates: L'insurgente–40 guns, 278+ enlisted and officers Volontaire–40 guns, unknown crew
Casualties and losses
1 warship captured	Unknown

References

1. Winfield and Roberts (2015), p.247.
2. American History Central–Quasi War, 1798-1800, retrieved November 20, 2020