USS Delaware, originally a merchant ship called Hamburgh Packet, had been purchased by the United States Navy on May 5, 1798.
With a complement of one hundred and eighty men and twenty mounted long guns—sixteen nine-pounders (four point one kilograms) and four six-pounders (two point seven kilograms), she had been given to Captain Stephen Decatur, Sr. to command.
Delaware sets sail from Delaware Bay on July 6 with instructions to join USS United States and USS Ganges and patrol the section of the Atlantic Coast between Long Island and Cape Henry.
On July 7, the day after her first sail, USS Delaware happens upon the American merchant vessel Alexander Hamilton, which had been carrying wine and brandy from New York City to Baltimore when she was stopped by a French privateer who ransacked her.
She had been reduced to limping across the Great Egg Harbor Bay.
When Captain Decatur hears these reports from Alexander Hamilton's crew, he begins scouting the bay for a potentially culpable French vessel.
An attack by a French privateer on an American merchantman is not unheard of at this time.
Tensions between the United States and France have been rising in the past months, and the United States Congress has instructed all American warships in the newly-formed United States Navy to "capture any French vessel found near the coast preying upon American commerce.
Congress has also commissioned one thousand privateers to combat against the French hostilities of the day.
Captain Decatur, who had distinguished himself as a privateer during the American Revolutionary War, is now looking to make the most of the opportunity to command Delaware.
In the midst of her search for the French privateers, Delaware spots four sails on the horizon.
Under Decatur's orders, the sloop's crew has her pretend to be a merchant vessel.
The act is convincing enough to draw the attention and pursuit of the French privateer schooner La Croyable.
It is not long before the captain of the French vessel discovers that Delaware is a warship and tries to reverse course.
After a lengthy chase, La Croyable finds herself pinned against the shore of Great Egg Harbor Bay.
She surrenders after only a few cannon shots.
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