American Revolution

Glynn County, Georgia

"I have the happiness to inform you that about 10 o'clock this forenoon, the Brigantine Hinchinbrooke, the Sloop Rebecca, and a Prize Brig, all struck the British Tyrant's colours and surrendered to the American arms. "- Colonel Samuel Elbert

Sloop

(Rebecca - Capt. Mowbray)

The Rebecca was a sloop, a single-masted, fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel, with a crew of 15 sailors and 35 marines, and armed with 10 cannons. The Rebecca was owned by her Captain, John Mowbray, a former Royal Navy officer, and leased to Florida for the service of Governor Patrick Tonyn.

Brigantine

(Hinchinbrook - Capt. Ellis)

The HMS Hinchinbrook was a brigantine, a two-masted vessel with her foremast fully square rigged and her mainmast rigged with both a fore-and-aft mainsail and square topsails. It was commanded by Royal Navy Lieutenant Alexander Ellis with a crew of 74 sailors, and armed with 16 four-pound cannons.

Prize Brig

(Hatter)

The third ship, which Col. Elbert called "a Prize Brig" was also a brigantine, but was frequently shortened to "brig". It had previously been an American ship, called the Hatter, which had been captured near Charleston in 1777. During the April 1778 Engagement at St. Simons, the Hatter was used to supply the Hinchinbrook,Rebecca and Galatea with water and wood for cooking.

Six to seven miles distant, the 20-gun HMS Frigate Galatea was awaiting them in St. Simons Sound, and all who escaped made it safely on board.

(HMS Galatea - Capt. Thomas Jordan)

The HMS Galatea was a frigate, armed with 44 cannons and carrying a crew of over 200, a formidable man-of-war. Since arriving in America, the Galetea had captured over thirty American ships. The Galatea was commanded by Royal Navy Captain Thomas Jordan, who also was in overall command of the British naval forces during the April 1778 Engagement at St. Simons.