USS Merrimack (1798)

The first "USS Merrimack", was a ship launched by an Association of Newburyport Shipwrights and presented to the Navy in 1798. She was the first ship of the Navy to be named for the Merrimack River. She saw action in the Quasi-War.

History

"Capt. Moses Brown commanded "USS Merrimack" when she was placed in service in December 1798. She departed Boston 3 January 1799 for the Windward Islands to protect American merchantmen in the Caribbean during the naval war with France. She arrived Prince Rupert Bay on the 20th, and, for the next 2 years, cruised in the West Indies and escorted convoys to the United States. On 28 June 1799, she took her first prize "L’Magicienne", the former American naval schooner "Retaliation", captured 20 November 1798 and taken into the French Navy. She took French letter‑of‑marque schooner "Bonaparte" 7 August and, with Ganges and Pickering, recaptured American schooner "John" on the 15th, after that ship had struck her colors to French privateer "Revelleiu" the day before.

"Merrimack" freed American brig Ceres, 6 June 1800, after it had been taken by "L’Hazard" 18 May 1800. On arriving off Curaçao, 22 September, she found that a French force of 16 Ships from Guaduloupe was besieging the city with 1,400 men. That evening, with Patapsco, Merrimack stood into the harbor through heavy fire from French cannon and muskets. The American gunners replied with great spirit driving the enemy troops from their guns; but from time to time, during the night, the French soldiers renewed the cannonade. The next morning, the French troops reembarked in confusion and fled.

"Merrimack" captured French privateer sloop "Phoenix" 20 October and later in the year took French brig "Brilliant." A list of American prizes credits "Merrimack" with racapturing English schooner "Godfrey" but gives no details about the action."

She was stripped of naval equipment and sold in 1801. Subsequently, while operating in merchant service under the name "Monticello", the ship was lost off Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

References

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m9/merrimack-i.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships - Dept. of the Navy] (Public Domain)

"This article is about a specific ship or boat of the United States.