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HMS ''Diligent'' was a brig the Royal Navy purchased in 1777. The Continental Navy captured her in May 1779 and took her into service as the USS ''Diligent''. She then participated in the disastrous Penobscot Expedition where her crew her crew had to scuttled her in August to prevent the British from capturing her. ==HMS ''Diligent''== The Royal Navy commissioned commissioned ''Diligent'' under Lieutenant Thomas Farnham in August 1777. The Navy then purchased her on 25 October 1777 for £420 4s 0d.〔Winfield (2007), p.317.〕 Lieutenant Thomas Walbeoff was appointed in January 1778 to replace Farnham.〔 In May, Walbeoff took commanded of ,〔 which the French captured on 19 July.〔Hepper (1994), p,52.〕 Farnham was in command of ''Diligent'' on 26 April when at about 4p.m. she fired two shots at a rebel (American) schooner near Matinecoock Point, Long Island, and chased her into a creek that was too shallow for ''Diligent'' to enter. After firing another 60 shots, Farnham sent in his boats, but they were unable to retrieve the schooner. ''Diligent'' then sailed at 7p.m. and by 9p.m. had anchored at Hempstead, New York.〔''Naval Documents of The American Revolution'' (1980) Vol. 12, p.188.〕 The next day, ''Diligent'' sent two boats in to cut off some rebel whaleboats that had landed at Loyds Neck. and ''Raven'' also sent in boats. However, an American galley fired on the boats, which withdrew.〔''Naval Documents of The American Revolution'' (1980) Vol. 12, p.200.〕 On 6 May Farnham sent his boats to intercept an American boat. The British boats returned after they had destroyed the American boat, whose crew had escaped on shore.〔''Naval Documents of The American Revolution'' (1980) Vol. 12, p.275.〕 Ten days later, boats from ''Diligent'', ''Cerberus'', and , together with an un-named tender, cut out a brig from Newfield Harbour.〔''Naval Documents of The American Revolution'' (1980) Vol. 12, p.366.〕 On 21 October 1778, ''Diligent'' and stopped the brig ''Recovery'' at . ''Recovery'' was sailing from Portsmouth to Charles Town with a cargo of lumber, and her captors sent her into New York. In February 1779, ''Diligent'' was under the command of Lieutenant (eventually Admiral) Thomas Macnamara Russell when she captured four small vessels: *Brig ''Lady Washington'', of 150 tons, six guns, and 22 men. Her owners were Norton & Co. of Baltimore, and she had been sailing from Lorient to Baltimore with a cargo of tea and other India goods when ''Diligent'' stopped her at sea on 11 February and sent her into New York. *Schooner ''Dolphin'', of 60 tons, two guns, and eight men. ''Dolphin'', of Baltimore, had been sailing from Curacoa to Baltimore with a cargo of gin and dry goods when ''Diligent'' stopped her at sea on 20 February and sent her into New York.〔 *Schooner ''Polly'', of 60 tons and six men. Her owner was D. Rogers of Newbury, and she was sailing from Williamsburg to Boston with flour and tobacco when ''Diligent'' stopped her at sea on 20 February and sent her into New York.〔 *Sloop ''Ranger'', of 15 tons and six men. Her owner was John Donaldson of Philadelphia. She was sailing from Delaware to Eustatia with a cargo of tobacco when ''Diligent'' captured her at sea on 25 February and sent her into New York.〔 These captures took place during a cruise off Chesapeake Bay. Russell stated that ''Lady Washington'' was armed with 16 guns and that she fought until ''Diligent;'' closed and prepared to board, at which point ''Lady Washington'' surrendered. Her crew consisted of Americans and French. ''Lady Washington'' was sold for £26,000, of which, as captain, Russell was entitled to two-eighths in prize money.〔''Naval Chronicle'', Vol. 17, pp.441-3.〕 Some time thereafter, ''Diligent'' chased two large enemy brigs of 18 guns each that were escorting a convoy. The two brigs passed ''Diligent'' on different tacks, and under English colours. One, which stated that she was the ''Rose-in-June'', Captain Duncan, fired a broadside into ''Diligent'', at which point the other brig also fired a broadside. Both then sailed off. ''Diligent'' followed, but lost them in the night. She was able, however, to capture on of the vessels in the convoy that was carrying flour and tobacco. In all, in five weeks ''Diligent'' and Russell captured eight ships, inclusive of the four listed above.〔 Lieutenant Thomas Wabeoff assumed command of ''Diligent'' in April 1779, and she was under his command and cruising off the coast of Delaware in May 1779, looking for American privateers. She had captured one American vessel when at daybreak on 7 May Walbeoff sighted a strange sail. He sailed towards the vessel, which turned out to be the Continental Navy's sloop ''Providence''.〔 The three-hour engagement began with a broadside and volley of small arms fire from ''Providence''. Eventually, Walbeoff struck. ''Diligent'' had lost 11 men dead and 19 wounded;〔 ''Providence'' had four killed and 10 wounded.〔James (1817), p.46.〕 The subsequent court martial acquitted Walbeoff, his officers, and men of the loss of ''Diligent'', and praised Walbeoff's conduct.〔Hepper (1994), p. 55.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「HMS Diligent (1777)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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