Privateers of the Revolution: War on the New Jersey Coast, 1775-1783

by Donald Grady Shomette

Overview

A revelatory narrative of the 538 Pennsylvania and New Jersey privateers, privately owned ships of war some called pirates. Manned by over 18,000 men, these privateers influenced the fight for American independence. From the halls of Congress to the rough waterfronts of Delaware River and Bay to the remote privateering ports of the New Jersey coast and into the Atlantic, a stirring portrait emerges of seaborne raiders, battles, and derring-do, as well as incredible escapes from the great British prison ships “vulgarly called Hell,” where more than 11,000 men perished. A work 40 years in the making extracted from archives in both Europe and America, it is a tale unrivaled by any Hollywood fiction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764350337
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
Publication date:	07/28/2016
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	483,130
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

Donald Grady Shomette has for more than two decades worked as an author, cultural resources consultant, and marine archaeologist. He is twice winner of the prestigious John Lyman Book Award and holds an honorary PhD from the University of Baltimore.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 8

Introduction 9

Part 1 Resolved

I A Justifiable Piracy 16

II Blue Mountain Valley 33

III The Privateering Resolves 41

IV First Patrol 50

V Chance and Congress 59

VI Citizen Warships 67

VII Coast Watchers 74

VIII Courts and Ports 81

IX Egg Harbor 89

X O You Damned Rebel 100

XI A Solemn Mockery 111

Part 2 Depredations upon the Trade

XII Riches Beyond Expectations 127

XIII Skulking Banditti 147

XIV No Quarter Be Given 158

XV Sixteen Strong 167

XVI The Cruise on Clover 181

XVII Strike, You Damned Rebels 191

XVIII Whaleboats and Refugees 203

XIX By the Rule of Contrary 216

XX Up Goes Huddy 231

XXI The Villain and the Victim 243

Part 3 Iron Despotism

XXII Vulgarly Called Hell 259

XXIII Where Peace and Rest Can Never Dwell 276

XXIV A Forlorn Hope 285

XXV Cartel 295

XXVI Taps 310

Appendices

Appendix A Privateers of Pennsylvania, 1776-1782 324

Appendix B New York Loyalist Privateers at Sea as of February 27,1779 362

Appendix C Privateer Tables

Table 1 Known Continental Commissioned Letters of Marque and Reprisal By State and Year 365

Table 2 Known Continental Commissioned Letters of Marque and Reprisal Carriage Guns 365

Table 3 Known Continental Commissioned Letters of Marque and Reprisal Crewmen 366

Notes 367

Bibliography 425

Index 432