USS Columbus (1774)

The first USS Columbus of the US Navy was a 24-gun armed ship built at Philadelphia in 1774 as Sally, displacing 200 tons. She was purchased for the Continental Navy[?] in November 1775, Captain A. Whipple[?] in command, armed with 18 9-pounder guns, 10 6-pounder guns, and a crew of 220 to work them.

Between 17 February and 8 April 1776, in company with the other ships of Commodore E. Hopkins[?]' squadron, Columbus took part in the expedition to New Providence[?], Bahamas, where the first Navy-Marine amphibious operation[?] seized essential military supplies. On the return passage, the squadron captured the British schooner, Hawk, on 4 April, and brig Bolton on the 5th. On 6 April the squadron engaged HMS Glasgow (20). After 3 hours the action was broken off and Glasgow escaped, leaving her tender[?] to be captured. Later in 1776 Columbus cruised off the New England coast taking five prizes. Chased ashore on Point Judith[?], Rhode Island, 27 March 1778 by a British squadron, Columbus was stripped of her sails, most of her rigging, and other usable material by her crew before being abandoned. She was burned by the enemy.