Key Facts
- Date
- 1 February 1800
- Theater
- Lesser Antilles, near Guadeloupe
- French colors struck
- Twice, but La Vengeance escaped
- US ship fate
- Main mast fell; sailed to Jamaica for repairs
- French ship fate
- Escaped to Curaçao with severe damage
Strategic Narrative Overview
On 1 February 1800, Constellation encountered the French frigate La Vengeance, commanded by François Marie Pitot, near Guadeloupe. Despite Pitot's attempts to flee, Constellation forced a prolonged and destructive engagement. The French frigate struck her colors twice in apparent surrender, but Truxton's crew could not secure her as a prize. The action ended when Constellation's main mast collapsed, allowing La Vengeance to disengage.
01 / The Origins
In 1798, France began seizing American merchant vessels, triggering an undeclared conflict known as the Quasi-War. To deter French aggression in the Caribbean, the United States dispatched naval squadrons to the Lesser Antilles. Commodore Thomas Truxton, commanding the frigate USS Constellation as flagship, sailed toward Guadeloupe after intelligence indicated regular French naval forces were operating in the region.
03 / The Outcome
La Vengeance escaped to Curaçao in a badly damaged state and with severe casualties among her crew. Constellation, unable to pursue, sailed to Jamaica for repairs. Truxton returned home to a hero's reception despite failing to capture the French frigate. The engagement demonstrated both the fighting capability of the nascent U.S. Navy and the difficulties of converting a hard-won tactical advantage into a decisive result.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Thomas Truxton.
Side B
1 belligerent
François Marie Pitot.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.