American privateers played a significant role during the American War of Independence and the Anglo-American war of 1812, as the American regular navy was very small. Reinforcement by privateers sailing under the government's jurisdiction carrying Letters of Marque was essential, and in fact both sides made use of privateers, capturing each other's merchant ships as prizes. Many successful sailors began their careers as privateers before taking up commissions in the regular navy. The stories of some of these men are individually explored in this 1899 book by Edgar Stanton Maclay, who two years later was at the centre of a controversy arising from remarks in his History of the United States Navy. Maclay here includes accounts from sailors of all ranks about their experiences during the conflicts and as prisoners of war. The actions of some notorious British privateers are also documented in this fascinating work of maritime history.
By:
Edgar Stanton Maclay Imprint: Cambridge University Press Country of Publication: United Kingdom Dimensions:
Height: 216mm,
Width: 140mm,
Spine: 34mm
Weight: 750g ISBN:9781108026284 ISBN 10: 1108026281 Series:Cambridge Library Collection - Naval and Military History Pages: 594 Publication Date:03 February 2011 Audience:
College/higher education
,
Further / Higher Education
Format:Paperback Publisher's Status: Active
Preface; Part I. The War of the Revolution: 1. Privateers and privateersmen; 2. Dangers peculiar to privateering; 3. Colonial privateers; 4. Beginning hostilities; 5. First two years; 6. Navy officers in privateers; 7. Captain Silas Talbot; 8. Rapid growth of privateering; 9. A boy privateersman; 10. The work of 1779; 11. Jonathan Haraden; 12. An escape from Old Mill Prison; 13. Cruise of Dr. Solomon Drowne; 14. Career of the General Washington; 15. Captain John Manly; 16. Closing years of the war; Part II. The War of 1812: 1. First ventures; 2. British licenses and revenue cutters; 3. Captains Maffitt and Shaler; 4. Privateers of Rhode Island; 5. Captain Thomas Boyle; 6. A distinguished privateersman; 7. Decatur-Dominica fight; 8. Southern privateers; 9. Career of the America; 10. A typical privateersman; 11. An escape from Gibraltar; 12. In British prisons; 13. The Prince de Neuchâtel; 14. Cruises of the Grand Turk; 15. Escape of the Ida; 16. Privateers of Salem; 17. Some typical cruises; 18. Privateers against privateers; 19. New York privateers; 20. Privateers versus packet ships; 21. Battles with the king's ships; 22. Privateers of Baltimore; 23. Guy R. Champlin; 24. Battle of Fayal; 24. Conclusion; Index.
