Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Firefly (I)

Brig:
  • Built as the brig Volant, date and location unknown
  • Purchased by Captain David Porter at New York, 8 December 1814
  • Fitted out as flagship of Captain Porters's five ship squadron to cruise in the West Indies to destroy enemy commerce
  • A peace treaty with Britain, however, obviated the mission
  • War with Algiers found Firefly, Lieutenant G. W. Rodgers in command, sailing from New York, 20 May 1815, to join Commodore Stephen Decatur's squadron in the the Mediterranean
  • Damaged by a heavy gale Firefly was forced to return to port for repairs.
  • Following repairs Firefly again sailed for the Mediterranean, 18 July 1815 where she joined Commodore William Bainbridge's squadron to spend the next several months enforcing the peace concluded with Algiers
  • The Brig arrived with the squadron at Newport, R.I., 15 November 1815
  • She proceeded to New York where she was laid up at the navy yard
  • Sold at public auction at New York, 3 April 1816
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 333 t.
    Length 109'
    Beam 39' 4"
    Draft unknown
    Depth of Hold 11'
    Speed unknown
    Complement 100
    Armament
    4 long 18-pdrs
    10 18-pdr carronades
    Propulsion sail
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Firefly
    098655101    		 382k Engraving of the brig USS Firefly in a gale, 18 May 1815.
    Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 53983    		 Robert Hurst
    Guerriere 111k COMO.. Stephen Decatur squadron off Algiers comprised of the frigates;
    USF Guerriere, the flagship with 44 guns, commanded by Captain William Lewis,
    USF Constellation with 36 guns, commanded by Captain Charles Gordon;
    USF Macedonia with 38 guns, under the command of Captain Jacob Jones;
    the sloops-of-war USS Eperyie, commanded by Captain John Downes,
    and USS Ontario with 16 guns, commanded by Captain Jesse D. Elliott;
    the brigs USS Firefly,
    USS Spark and
    USS Flambeau, each with 14 guns, commanded by Lieutenants George W. Kodgers, Thomas Gamble, and John B. Nicholson;
    and the schooners USS Torch
    and USS Spitfire, both with 12 guns, commanded by Lieutenants Wolcott Chauncey and Alexander J. Dallas.
    Gardner Weld Allen (1856-1944) - "Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs".    		 Tommy Trampp
    Macedonian
    098654913    		 112k Print by George G.Smith (1795-1878) engraver George Girdler Smith of the United States squadron under Com. Bainbridge returning triumphant from the Mediterranean in 1815, The print shows the American squadron at sea, includes, on the left;
    USS Macedonian (I),
    USS Firefly (I),
    USS Torch,
    USS Boxer (I), at center,
    USS Independence,
    USS Spark (I),
    USS Saranac (I)
    USS Enterprise (III),
    USS Lynx (i), and on the right,
    USS Congress (III)
    USS Chippewa (II),
    USS Spitfire (III) and
    USS Flambeau.
    United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3a47975    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Firefly (I)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Old Navy" Steam and Sail Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 13 May 2022