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FIRST BATTLE ACTION FOR UNITED STATES NAVY
WAS OFF PALM-FRINGED BEACHES OF NEVIS

The late 1700's were a time when one third of all United States exports went to the Caribbean, and the value of the trade was increasing annually. In 1799 the United States found itself involved in an undeclared war against its former ally, and at the time a substantial colonial power in the Caribbean, France.

French warships began attacking and capturing American merchant vessels both in American waters and in the West Indies. The American Navy in 1799 consisted of only three medium-sized frigates, but President John Adams believed the situation in the West Indies was serious enough to dispatch one of them, the 38-gun frigate USS Constellation. At that time, not only had the US Navy never won a victory, it had never even been engaged in a high seas battle. The waters off Nevis would prove to be the site of the first conflict for the US Navy.

On February 9, 1799 the Constellation, under the command of Captain Thomas Truxtun sighted another warship. Unknown to Truxtun at that moment, he was about to face the 40-gun French frigate L'Insurgente, the most dangerous and daring of the French commerce raiders. The L'Insurgente carried 419 men, the Constellation carried only 321, and although her guns were slightly heavier, they numbered two fewer, making sure the Constellation's first encounter a true test of the ability of the US Navy.

The two ships raised their flags, identifying themselves as enemies, then the French vessel fired a shot, daring it's enemy to attack. However, despite his brazen actions, the French captain upon seeing no sign of retreat or surrender from his enemy hastily changed his course of direction away from the Constellation, which quickly set off in pursuit. After two hours of chase a heavy rain squall struck the vessels, and the L'Insurgente lost its main topmast, allowing the Constellation to close in even faster then it had been.

The Constellation would finally overtake the L'Insurgente three and a half hours after their initial contact, now they were one and a half miles off the southeast coast of Nevis. Truxtun ordered his gunners to double shot the guns and aim for the hull. Loading with double shot decreased the balls velocity, keeping it from making a clean break through the hull, and consequently shattering the timbers, hurling splinter-like shrapnel inside the vessel.

The L'Insurgente immediately returned fire, aiming for the Constellation's rigging.

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