USS Wild Cat (1822)

USS Wildcat was a two masted schooner of 48 tons[1] and was part of a U.S. naval fleet, and part of the West Indies Squadron, that sailed to the Caribbean to subdue the occurrence of pirate raids on merchant ships that had increased to almost 3,000 by the early 1820s. She was armed with three guns and had a crew of 31.[2] Wildcat was commanded by Lieutenant Legare' who sailed her to Washington with a dispatch regarding the disposition of the squadron and other matters concerning the war against piracy in the Caribbean.[3] On 28 October 1824 Wildcat was lost in a gale with all hands while sailing between Cuba and Thompson's Island, West Indies. Approximately 31 drowned.[4][5][6]

Map of early 1800s West Indies

History
United States
Name:	USS Wild Cat (1822)
Laid down:	date unknown
Fate:	was lost in a gale with all hands, 28 October 1824
General characteristics
Type:	Schooner
Tonnage:	48 [1]
Sail plan:	Schooner
Complement:	31 [2]
Armament:	3 guns [2]

See also

• USS Ferret (1822) Ship that was also part of the same fleet as Wildcat
• List of historical schooners
• Piracy in the Caribbean
• West Indies Anti-Piracy Operations of the United States
• Alternative map of early 1800s West Indies
• Bibliography of early American naval history

References

1. Bradlee, 1923 p.34
2. Porter, 1875 p.281
3. Porter, 1875 pp.292-293
4. U.S. Naval Historical Center, USS Ferret: Page article
5. U.S. Naval Historical Center, West Indian Pirates: Page article
6. Boot, 2007 p.41

Bibliography

• Boot, Max (2007). The Savage Wars Of Peace: Small Wars And The Rise Of American Power.
  Basic Books. p. 428. ISBN 9780465004706., Book

• Bradlee, Francis Boardman Crowninshield (1923). Piracy in the West Indies and Its Suppression.
  Essex Institute. pp. 220., Url

• Dept U.S.Navy (1996). "U.S. Navy Ships Lost in Selected Storm/Weather Related Incidents".
  Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of Navy - Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 28 May 2013.

• —— (2008). Piracy: The Complete History. Osprey Publishing. p. 336. ISBN 9781846032400. Url

• Mahan, Alfred Thayer (1892). Admiral Farragut.
  D. Appleton and company, New York. pp. 333. E'Book

• Porter, David Dixon (1875). Memoir of Commodore David Porter: of the United States Navy.
  J. Munsel, publishers, New York. p. 427. E'Book (Primary source)

Further reading

• Carey, Thomas (1834). The History of the Pirates
  Henry Benton, Hartford, Conn. p. 283, E'Book
• Dept U.S.Navy. "USS Ferret".
  Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Department of Navy - Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 28 May 2013.

• Wombwell, James A. (2010) The Long War Against Piracy: Historical Trends
  Combat Studies Institute, p. 204, ISBN 9781907521454, Book