Combat· American Revolutionary War
Ranger vs HMS Drake
On April 24, 1778, the Continental ship Ranger, under Captain John Paul Jones, captured the British 20-gun sloop-of-war Drake off Carrickfergus, the entrance to Belfast Lough.
Before the fight the Drake's captain sent a boat to investigate, and its lieutenant and crew were made prisoners. Jones drew the Drake into the channel and, little more than an hour before sunset, crossed her bow and fired a broadside of grape. The action lasted an hour and four minutes. The Drake then called for quarters with her captain and four others dead and her lieutenant and 19 others wounded. The Ranger lost three men killed and five wounded. Among the dead was her only Marine officer, Lieutenant Samuel Wallingford, who received a musket ball in the head. McClellan states that the small-arms fire of the Marines had a decisive effect on the result. Sergeant of Marines John Ricker was given charge of the detachment until a replacement could be found. The Ranger and her prize arrived at Brest on May 8.
Record no. 140