Existing comment:
The Quasi-War with France
1798-1801
The years of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars were filled with rich opportunities and dangers for the United States. As a neutral, America's trade benefitted, but Old World powers challenged her position. France, our former ally, applied political, diplomatic, and military pressure to force the United States into a pro-French alignment. French seizure of over 300 ships led the Americans to respond with force in 1798. During the next two and half years an undeclared naval war was fought primarily in the West Indies. American warships, by defeating their equals and capturing more than 80 French vessels, gave the world a convincing demonstration that the US Navy was a professional fighting force.
Thomas Truxtun was named captain, the highest rank in the US Navy, because of his service during the Revolutionary War. He supervised the building and launching of the Constellation at Baltimore and fought the most successful engagements of the Quasi War. On 9 February 1799, Constellation's lookouts sighted a French frigate. The French fled and the determined Americans pursued. The well trimmed Constellation weathered a sudden squall, but L'Insurgent lost her main topmast. Unable to escape, she turned to fight, but Constellation made short work of the man-of-war. An hour after the action had begun. L'Insurgent's trilcolor flag was struck. |