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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive
General Gates
Brigantine:
Laid down in 1764 as the brigantine Industrious Bee at Bristol England for Clapman & Co.
Launched, date unknown
Captured 29 August 1777 by Captain John Skimmer in Continental schooner Lee while bound from Gibraltar for Newfoundland;
Purchased 19 December by the Navy Board at Boston
Fitted out with 18 guns; and renamed General Gates, CAPT. John Skimmer in command
General Gates sailed from Marblehead 24 May 1778, joining privateer brigantine Hawk off Cape Ann to cruise on the Newfoundland Banks
The two ships captured the ship Jenny and brigantines Thomas and Nancy
On her own General Gates captured schooner Polly, 3 August 1778 she intercepted brigantine Montague
The engagement between General Gates and Montague was an epic 5 hour engagement in which Montague, CAPT. Nelson, after expending her ammunition resorted to firing
"every piece of iron of all kinds that could be rammed into the tube of the cannon," including jack knives, crowbars, and even the captain's speaking tube.
During the engagement CAPT Skimmer was killer but it would be two more hours before CAPT. Nelson in Montague would strike his colors.
On 31 August 1778 General Gates returned to Boston Harbor with prizes Polly and Montague
General Gates departed Boston 14 November in company with Providence for Nova Scotian waters
She captured schooner Friendship off Casco 4 December and 2 days later, parted by a gale from Providence
Cruising in West Indian waters she captured schooner General Leslie off Bermuda in the first part of February 1779
Joining Hazard at Martinique, together they captured brigs Active, 16 March and Union the following day.
General Gates returned to Boston, 13 April 1779
Because of her poor condition she was ordered sold, 2 June 1779
In August she was loaned by the Navy Board to the Deputy Commissary of Prisoners at Boston to convey prisoners to New York
On completion of this mission, she was sold
Final Disposition, fate unknown
Specifications:
Displacement unknown
Length unknown
Beam 24' 8"
Depth of Hold unknown
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement unknown
Armament 18 guns
Propulsion sail
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General Gates
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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Last Updated 27 May 2022