Pallas fr

Pallas
(Fr: a. 26 9-pdrs., 6 4-pdrs.)

Soon after she had been completed, Pallas, a privateer built in France in 1778, commanded by Capitaine de Brul6t Cottineau de Kerloguen, made one voyage carrying military stores to North Carolina. While awaiting a return cargo, her crew helped the state to fortify a position on Point Lookout named Fort Hancock. Returning to France, Pallas fared so well in a brush with HMS La Brune that the ship, captain, and crew were taken into the French Navy.

In the spring of 1779 Pallas was one of several ships turned over to American commissioners at Paris to form a squadron commanded by Captain John Paul Jones. Taken into the Continental Navy, Palk" departed Groix Roads, near L'Orient, France, 19 June 1779, with Jones' squadron to escort French merchantmen to Bordeaux and other ports on the Bay of Bisesy.

The ships returned to L'Orient 1 July, but Pall~, Vengence, and Cerf soon got underway again eruising off Belle-lle to protect Allied shipping from British privateers. Returning from this assignment, she prepared for a longer cruise under Jones.

The American fleet departed Groix Roads before dawn 14 August to begin the cruise around the British Isles. Four days later Monsieur, a French privateer which had started the cruise with the American squadron, captured a ship but left with her prize the next day. A large ship outran Jones 1~ 20 August; but on the 21st Mayfl~ower, a brigantine heading toward Liverpool laden with provisions from London, struck her colors, and was sent to L'Orient.

The little squadron was scattered by a storm on the night of the 26th, but reassembled on the night of 1-2 September. The following afternoon they took an Irish brigantine returning from Norwav. On the 15th they captured two colliers from Leith headed for Riga. Two days later, contrary winds frustrated an attempt to attack the port of Leith.

Returning toward France on the 23rd, the Americans encountered a large convoy off Flamborough Head escorted by the British frigate HMS Serapis and sloop of war Counte~' of Scarborough. In the ensuing battle, while Jones in Bon Nomme Richard won undying fame defeating Serapis despite tremendous odds, Pallas captured Counteae of Scarborough after an hour's action. Then, besides manning their prize, Pallas's crew labored to save Bon Homme Richard until the battered frigate sank in the forenoon o£ the 25th.

After the war, Pallas was returned to France.