Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 47387-KN:  Continental Lugger Surprise captures the Harwich packet, May 1777.  Painting by Edward Tufnell

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

Continental Lugger Surprise (1777-1777).
Name also spelled Surprize

The Continental Lugger Surprise (or Surprize) was purchased at Dover, England, in early 1777 by agents of the American Colonies. Outfitted at Dunkirk, France, she was placed under the command of Captain Gustavus Conyngham and in early May conducted a brief commerce raiding campaign in the North Sea. On 3-4 May 1777 Surprise captured the British mail packet Prince of Orange and the brig Joseph. Conyngham then sailed back to Dunkirk, but French authorities seized Surprise and her two prizes, returning the latter to their owners, in order to avoid conflict with England.

This page features all the views we have related to the Continental Lugger Surprise (1777-1777).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 47387-KN (color)

Continental Lugger Surprise captures the Harwich Packet, 3-4 May 1777

Watercolor by Edward Tufnell.
Artist's inscription in lower left cites the wrong year for this action, which actually took place in 1777.

Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. Donation of Commander Edward Tufnell, Royal Navy.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 133KB; 740 x 540 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 2086-A

Continental Lugger Surprise captures the Harwich packet
, in the North Sea, 3-4 May 1777

18th or early-19th Century Dutch engraving, reproduced in "The Cruises of Captain Conyngham".

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 182KB; 450 x 765 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

Page made 31 December 2003