Capture of HMS Savage The Capture of HMS " Savage " refers to a naval battle of the Revolutionary War involving the American privateer " Congress " and the British sloop - of - war . It occurred in September 1781 off South Carolina and is considered one of the hardest fought single ship action s of the war . Capture . By 1781 the smaller British vessels blockading Chesapeake Bay were raiding the American coast by means of boat expeditions . One commander involved in the operations was Captain Charles Stirling of the sloop " Savage " , armed with sixteen 6 - pounders . Stirling is noted for having plundered Mount Vernon , the estate of General George Washington , who was the overall commander of the Continental Army and later the first American president . Shortly after , Captain Stirling sailed his ship south . In the early morning of September 6 , " Savage " was escorting a convoy when she encountered the sloop - of - war " Congress " , ten leagues from Charleston . " Congress " was under the command of Captain George Geddes of Philadelphia , armed with twenty 12 - pounders and four 6 - pounders , with a complement of 215 officers and men . Stirling placed " Savage " between the merchant vessels and the stranger . When Stirling first saw the " Congress " he sailed towards her , in the hope that she was a privateer of twenty 9 - pounder guns , that had been raiding in the area . However , when he got closer and saw that she was significantly stronger even than the privateer he though she might be , Stirling chose to attempt an escape . However , by 10 : 30 am the Americans came within range and opened fire with their bow chasers . By 11 : 00 " Congress " had closed the distance and her crew engaged with muskets and pistols to which the British replied with " energy " . At this point Captain Geddes observed that his ship was faster than that of the enemy so he maneuvered ahead of " Savage " until almost abreast , in preparation for a broadside attack . A duel then commenced at extreme close range , during which both ships were heavily damaged . Sailors on both sides were also burned by the flashes of their enemy ' s cannon . The rigging of " Congress " was torn to shreds during the exchange which compelled the Americans to stand off for quick repairs . After doing so , the chase was resumed and the privateer was swiftly alongside the " Savage " again when another duel began . For about an hour the Americans and British fought and by the end " Savage " was in ruins . The quarter deck and the forecastle had been completely cleared of resistance , the mizzenmast was blown away and the mainmast was nearly gone as well . Geddes felt this was an opportune time to board the enemy but just as he was moving his ship in , a boatswain appeared on the " Savage " s forecastle , waving his hat as a sign of surrender . British forces suffered the loss of eight men killed and 34 wounded , including Captain Stirling ; the Americans 11 killed and around 30 wounded . In his letter reporting on the action , Captain Stirling noted that after he and his men became prisoners , the Americans had treated them " with great Humanity . " Aftermath . Unfortunately for the Americans , they never made it back to port . The frigate captured " Savage " on 12 September . When she was captured , " Savage " had a prize crew of 30 men aboard her . Maclay states that the same frigate captured " Congress " and recaptured " Savage " . ( The " London Gazette " mentions the recapture of " Savage " , but not the capture of her captor " Congress " . )