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The Action of 9 November 1822 was a naval battle fought between the American schooner USS Alligator and a squadron of three piratatical schooners off the coast of Cuba during the United States's West Indian Anti-Piracy Camapaign. 15 leagues from Matanzas, Cuba a large band of pirates captured several vessels and held them for ransom. Upon hearing of the pirate attacks, the Alligator under Lieutenant William Allen rushed to the scene to rescue the vessels and sieze the pirates.
Action of 9 November 1822 | |||||||
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Part of Operations Against West Indian Pirates 1822-1830s | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United States | Pirates | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
William Allen † | unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1 schooner 3 boats |
3 schooners 125 men | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
4 killed 3 wounded |
1 schooner captured ~14 killed many wounded | ||||||
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Upon arriving at the bay where the pirates were said to be, the Alligator dispatched boats to engage the enemy vessels since the water there was to shallow for the American schooner to engage them herself. With Allen personally commanding one of the boats, the Americans assaulted the pirate ship Revenge. Although the Americans were able to force the pirates into abandoning the Revenge, the buccaneers managed to fight their way out of the bay and inflicted heavy casualties on the Americans. With their commander killed, the Americans ceased pursuit of the pirates but managed to recover the prizes that had been held in the bay.