HM galley Comet (1777) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 South Carolina |
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| Name | Comet |
| Acquired | 1775 by purchase |
| Captured | 22 December 1777 |
 Great Britain |
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| Name | HM galley Comet |
| Acquired | 22 December 1777 by capture |
| Fate | Destroyed 29 April 1780 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type |
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| Tons burthen | est. 120 (bm) |
| Propulsion | Sails, then oars and sails after conversion to a galley |
| Complement |
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| Armament |
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HM galley Comet was a ship that played a part in the American Revolutionary War. She started as a brigantine owned by the South Carolina Navy in 1775. Later, the British Royal Navy captured her in 1777. The Comet was eventually destroyed in 1780 after running aground.
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In December 1775, the state of South Carolina bought a ship. It was a schooner, which is a type of sailing ship. They changed it into a brigantine and named it Comet.
The Comet then sailed against British ships. She had some success in her missions. People who escaped from Charlestown told the British about the ships in the harbor. One of these was a brig with 14 guns, which the Comet had captured.
On November 2, 1777, Captain Pyne sailed the Comet from Charleston. They went on a mission to patrol the seas.
On December 14, 1777, a group from the Comet landed on Grand Caimanes island. They took supplies from the people living there. They also took some livestock and two enslaved people.
Comet's Capture by the British
On December 22, 1777, a British ship called HMS Daphne captured the Comet. The Comet was a snow, another type of sailing ship, and had 16 guns. She was captured near Grand Caimanes without a fight.
The British newspaper, the London Gazette, reported the capture. It said the Comet was on a mission from South Carolina. It also mentioned she was armed for war and commanded by James Pyne. The newspaper stated that "Congress" owned the ship.
The Daphne sent the Comet to New York. Another report said the Comet was a privateer, meaning a privately owned warship. It had 18 guns and about 84 men. This report stated that Daphne captured her near the Isle of Pines.
The Daphne dropped off the captured crew at Pensacola. A few of them managed to escape. Afterward, Daphne and Comet, with a British crew, patrolled near Charlestown. The Comet arrived in New York on March 7, 1778.
The British Royal Navy then took the Comet into its service. At some point, the Navy changed her into a galley. A galley is a ship that uses both sails and oars.
HMS Fowey then towed the Comet to Savannah, Georgia. From there, she would operate in the area.
Battles and Engagements
On April 16, 1779, the Comet joined other British ships. These included the sloop HMS Greenwich and two other galleys, Thunder and Hornet. They captured two Georgia navy galleys, Lee and Congress. This happened near Yamasee Bluff on the Savannah River.
The Congress was a strong ship. She had an 18-pounder and a 12-pounder gun at her front. She also had four other guns and 100 men. The British renamed her HM galley Scourge.
The Lee had a 12-pounder and a 9-pounder gun at her front. She also had four smaller guns and 130 Frenchmen. The British renamed her HM galley Vindictive.
The Comet and another galley, Snake, might have helped protect a British retreat. This allowed Lieutenant Colonel John Maitland and his troops to reach Savannah. They arrived just in time to help defend the city.
Defending Savannah
To protect Savannah, the Royal Navy used two older frigates. These were Fowey and HMS Rose. Their guns and most of their crew were moved to help the land forces. The British also used armed ships like Keppel and Germaine.
The galleys Comet and Thunder were also part of the defense. Two merchant ships, Savannah and Venus, were also armed.
On September 19, a French fleet moved up the river. The Comet, Thunder, Savannah, and Venus exchanged fire with them. The Rose was sinking, so the British sank her the next day. They placed her in a narrow part of the channel to block the French ships.
They also burned the Savannah and Venus. By blocking the channel, the British stopped the French fleet. This meant the French could not help the American attack on Savannah.
The Germaine took a position to protect the north side of Savannah's defenses. The Comet and Thunder were tasked with stopping any attacks from South Carolinian galleys. Over the next few days, British shore batteries helped Comet and Thunder. They fought two South Carolinian galleys and severely damaged one called Revenge. On October 17, the French and American forces gave up their attack.
The Comet also took part in the Siege of Charleston in 1780. Lieutenant Samuel McKinley was her commander.
The End of the Comet
On April 29, 1780, the Comet ran aground. This happened at the entrance to the Hog Island Channel. The Americans had built a fort there to control the channel.
Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot needed to take this fort. He wanted to move his ships into the Cooper River. This would help General Henry Clinton's plan to attack Charles Town.
The Comet attacked the fort. However, she became stuck and could not escape. The Americans were then able to destroy her.
Major Patrick Ferguson and 60 men from his American Volunteers captured the fort on May 2. The American soldiers defending it, about 20 men, withdrew after a short fight.
