Combat· American Revolutionary War
Ranger's Irish Sea Cruise
In April 1778 the Continental sloop Ranger, under Captain John Paul Jones, cruised into the Irish Sea, raided two places on the British coast and captured a British sloop-of-war.
Jones intended to destroy merchant shipping and to take a hostage for the exchange of American prisoners. On the night of April 22, two boats carrying 30 volunteers rowed to Whitehaven, Jones commanding one and Marine Lieutenant Samuel Wallingford the other. Jones spiked the southern battery's guns and had a fire built in one collier. That same morning Jones, Wallingford and a dozen sailors and Marines landed on St. Mary's Isle to seize the Earl of Selkirk, found him absent and took the family silver. On April 24 the Ranger fought the 20-gun sloop-of-war Drake off Carrickfergus for an hour and four minutes, until the Drake called for quarters. Wallingford was killed by a musket ball in the head, and Sergeant of Marines John Ricker took charge of the detachment. The Ranger and her prize reached Brest on May 8.
Engagements in this conflict (3)
Record no. 167