Wilkinson returned "Pearl" to North America in April to fight in the American Revolutionary War, bringing a convoy of troopships from Ireland to Quebec, with the sixth-rate frigate , before escorting transports along the Hudson River to take part in the landings at Kip's Bay, New York, in September. On the evening of 13 September, the British began moving into position. Six troopships with three fifth-rates, , and , and the smaller "Carysfort", moved up the East River and anchored in Bushwick Creek, opposite Kip's Bay. At the same time, "Pearl", the fourth-rate, 50-gun and fifth-rate, 32-gun , were sent up the North River as a diversion. On the day of the landings, 15 September, the small squadron passed the enemy batteries without incident and anchored at Bloomingdale, upstream of New York. The following night the Americans sent fireships but these caused no damage other than the inconvenience to the British of having to move their ships.