Escape of the Enterprise

Enterprise was originally built as a schooner in 1799 at a cost of $16,240 (~$ 435,989 in April 2026 dollars). She was small, only 84 feet 7 inches long, 22 feet 6 inches at the beam, and displaced only 135 tons. Initial armament was twelve 6-pounders.

When she was built, Enterprise was a member of a class of schooners that included Wasp, Argus, Vixen, and Hornet. While Wasp, Argus, and Vixen had successful careers, they were all captured by the Royal Navy. Hornet spent the War of 1812 blockaded in New York.

When built, Enterprise was fast and maneuverable. When commissioned, she was sent to the Caribbean to capture French privateers during the Quasi-War. During her first cruise, the schooner recaptured American merchant ships  Victory and Androscoggin. The second cruise was much more successful. Under LT John Shaw, Enterprise captured six French privateers (l’ Aigle, le Flambeau, Citoyen, le Cigne, La Pauline, and Guadaloupian) and recaptured the American merchant ship Washington.

With the Quasi-War over, Enterprise was placed in ordinary and put up for sale. When Jefferson decided to send a fleet to the Mediterranean to teach the  Barbary Pirates a lesson, Enterprise was still on the market. As an available hull, the ship was sent to the Mediterranean, where, under the command of LT Andrew Sterret, Enterprise fought a bloody battle with the Tripolitan ship Tripoli, which, once repaired and refitted, became the Intrepid. Enterprise spent the winter in Venice, where she was rebuilt to repair the damage caused by Tripoli.

Once the Barbary Pirates were defeated, Enterprise was placed back in ordinary where she remained until 1811. With war clouds on the horizon, Enterprise was brought back into service. Her rig was changed, and additional timbers were added to support the carronades installed to supplement her 6-pounders. The result was that the fast, maneuverable Enterprise was now heavy and slow.

Paired with Rattlesnake, Enterprise, now under the command of LT John Renshaw, was tasked with protecting U.S. merchant ships. Off Florida, which at the time was a territory of Spain, they captured the British privateer Mars and two merchant ships.

Ranging north, the American ships were spotted by a Royal Navy frigate, which immediately gave chase. Rattlesnake and Enterprise split, and the British captain decided to attempt to capture Enterprise. Renshaw quickly realized he could not outrun or outmaneuver the Royal Navy frigate, which actually got within range of its two bow chasers.

Mother Nature was on the American side. The winds died, and Renshaw launched his boats to pull the brig away from the Royal Navy frigate. Its cannons were thrown overboard along with naval stores, some food, and water. The wind picked up slightly, and Enterprise slowly managed to sail away from the British ship.

While she made it to Wilmington, NC, Enterprise was sent to Charleston, SC, where she remained as a guardship for the rest of the war. At the end of the war, Enterprise was brought back to the Washington Navy Yard and extensively modified. When she emerged, Enterprise was a brig and part of the U.S. Navy until, in 1823, she ran aground and broke up on Little Curaçao in the Dutch Antilles.

Beugan etching of Enterprise in 1812 rigged as a brigantine.