Combat· Quasi-War with France
Constellation vs La Vengeance
A year after taking L'Insurgente, Truxtun's Constellation fought the larger French frigate La Vengeance in a punishing night action southwest of Guadeloupe.
The two ships hammered each other at close range for hours; the Marines, under Lieutenant Bartholomew Clinch, were stationed on the quarterdeck and kept up a steady fire throughout. La Vengeance was so badly battered she could barely reach Curaçao, and her captain afterward thought he had fought a ship of the line. Neither ship was captured: with victory nearly in hand, the Constellation's mainmast went over the side, and she limped into Jamaica. The Constellation lost 20 killed and 40 wounded; six of these were Marines, including Private Christian McCormick killed outright and Private Kader Branton, who died of his wounds. Much of the ship's credit was given to Clinch and his Marines.
Podcast episodes on Quasi-War with France
Record no. 77