USS Spitfire (1776)

USS Spitfire was a row galley authorized and constructed by Rhode Island during the American Revolution, and was placed in service in 1776. During this age of sail, row galleys were highly maneuverable compared to sailing ships whose movements were dependent on the wind. Spitfire had a reportedly successful career, helping to capture British cargo ships and engaging in the fight against British warships.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Spitfire.
This article is about the galley built in 1776. For the gundalow built in 1776, see USS Spitfire (1776 gunboat).

History
United States
Name: USS Spitfire
Owner: General Assembly of Rhode Island
Ordered: Late in 1775
Laid down: unknown
Completed: 1776
In service: Circa January 1776 in Narragansett Bay
Captured: 25 May 1778 (by British during Mount Hope Bay raids)
General characteristics
Type: Row galley
Propulsion: Oars
Complement: 60 crew
Armament: One 18-pounder gun

Ordered by Rhode Island

Late in 1775, the General Assembly of Rhode Island ordered the construction of two galleys, Washington and Spitfire. In January 1776, the General Assembly appointed John Grimes Commodore of the galleys and, presumably soon thereafter, they were placed in service in Narragansett Bay.

Capturing British cargo ships

They cruised in defense of American shipping, acted as transports, and assisted landing parties seeking forage and supplies. On 11 April 1776, they recaptured the brigantine Georgia Packet and sloop Speedwell which HMS Scarborough had captured and brought into the bay, braving the fire of Scarborough's guns as they took the prizes from under her stern.

In July 1776, the galleys were ordered to New York City to help protect the Hudson River, and they reached New York harbor on 1 August. There they cooperated with a flotilla created by George Washington.

Attacking British warships

On the afternoon of 3 August, Spitfire joined Lady Washington and Washington in an attack on HMS Phoenix and HMS Rose and engaged the British warships for over two hours before retiring. One man on Spitfire was killed and two were badly wounded. Her hull and rigging sustained much damage.

The two galleys returned to Providence, Rhode Island, late in the month. In mid-September, libels were filed in court on

three large cables and two large anchors, which late belonged to the British Ship-of-War, called the Scarborough; which … were captured … by … the Row-Galley called the Spitfire.

Little is known about the curious action which resulted in this litigation in Admiralty court-not even when it occurred.

Swashbuckling

The quotation above does suggest that Spitfire, on at least one more occasion, continued her swashbuckling. Few records have survived to fill out the galley's subsequent career. She was apparently sent to New London, Connecticut, early in October 1776 "to strengthen the naval force as much as possible."

Capture by British

By 7 May 1778, Spitfire was in Lees River near Mount Hope, under the command of Capt. Joseph Crandall of the Rhode Island Navy, with the log stating:[1]

May 1778 Thursday 7th Remarks at, Lees River 1778 " ... at the Mount , bound for Diton , pass from Col Carary Brought Two Charles Church, in a small Ceader Boat, his pass sign by Joseph Durfee.Cap at Fall River.

On the morning of 25 May 1778, Spitfire was anchored near the entrance to the Taunton River.[2] During the Mount Hope Bay raids by the British on that day, a group of British vessels under the command of Captain Samuel Reeve proceeded from Aquidneck Island to Mount Hope Bay via Bristol Ferry. Lieutenant Kempthorn then led one of the vessels of the group, HMS Nonsuch, to seize control of Spitfire by surprise. The crew of 13 to 16 men, including the captain, did not resist and were taken as prisoners.[3][4][5][6]

The captured Spitfire galley may have been used (under the same name) by the British in the subsequent Battle of Rhode Island.[7]

References and notes
  1. Naval Documents of the American Revolution Volume 12, American Theater, April 1, 1778-May 31, 1778; European Theater, April 1, 1778- May 31, 1778. 14 July 2014. ISBN 9780945274728.
  2. The American account (from Major General John Sullivan) places the galley at Gardners Neck, while one British account has the ship in the vicinity of "Fall River".
  3. Journal of HM frigate Venus, Captain William P. Williams, 25 May 1778 (dated 24 May in original), transcribed in "Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Volume 12", p. 440-441
  4. Diary of Frederick Mackenzie, British Army, Continental Army, 25 May 1778, transcribed in "Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Volume 12", p. 442-445
  5. Letter from Major General John Sullivan, Continental Army, to Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress, 26 May 1778, transcribed in "Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Volume 12", p. 456-457
  6. Pigot, Robert (1779) [1778]. "Copy of a letter from Major-general Pigot to General Sir Henry Clinton, dated Newport, May 27, 1778". The Remembrancer. 7: 23–25.
  7. Abbass, D. K. (2009). "The Forgotten Ships of the Battle of Rhode Island" (PDF). The Rhode Island Historical Society. p. 28. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
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