hs of the stars and stripes upon the waves.

CHAPTER XIV.

WORK OF THE PRIVATEERS. -- THE "GEN. HANCOCK" AND THE
"LEVANT." -- EXPLOITS OF THE "PICKERING." -- THE "REVENGE."
-- THE "HOLKAR." -- THE "CONGRESS" AND THE "SAVAGE." -- THE
"HYDER ALI" AND THE "GEN. MONK." -- THE WHALE-BOAT
HOSTILITIES. -- THE OLD JERSEY PRISON-SHIP.

To chronicle in full the myriad exploits and experiences of the
privateers and armed cruisers in the service of individual states
during the Revolution, would require a volume thrice the size of this.
Moreover, it is difficult and well-nigh impossible to obtain authentic
information regarding the movements of this class of armed craft. An
immense number of anecdotes of their prowess is current, and some few
such narratives will be repeated in this chapter; but, as a rule, they
are based only upon tradition, or the imperfect and often incorrect
reports in the newspapers of the day.

The loss inflicted upon Great Britain by the activity of American
privateers was colossal. For the first year of the war the Continental
Congress was unwilling to take so belligerent a step as to encourage
privateering; but, in the summer of 1776, the issuing of letters of
marque and reprisal was begun, and in a short time all New England had
gone to privateering. The ocean fairly swarmed with trim Yankee
schooners and brigs, and in the two years that followed nearly eight
hundred merchantmen were taken.

Discipline on the privateers was lax, and the profits of a successful
cruise were enormous. Often a new speedy craft paid her whole cost of
construction on her first cruise. The sailors fairly revelled in money
at the close of such a cruise; and, like true jack-tars, they made
their money fly as soon as they got ashore. A few days would generally
suffice to squander all the earnings of a two-months' cruise; and,
penniless but happy, Jack would ship for another bout with fortune.

A volume could be written dealing with the exploits of the privateers,
but for our purpose a few instances of their dash and spirit will be
enough. Though the purpose of the privateers was purely mercenary,
their chief end and aim being to capture defenceless merchantmen, yet
they were always ready to fight when fighting was necessary, and more
than once made a good showing against stronger and better disciplined
naval forces. In many cases audacity and dash more than made up for
the lack of strength.