Patriot Pirates: The Privateer War for Freedom and Fortune in the American Revolution

by Robert H. Patton

In this lively narrative history, Robert H. Patton, grandson of the World War II battlefield legend, tells a sweeping tale of courage, capitalism, naval warfare, and international political intrigue set on the high seas during the American Revolution. Patriot Pirates highlights the obscure but pivotal role played by colonial privateers in defeating Britain in the American Revolution. American privateering-essentially legalized piracy-began with a ragtag squadron of New England schooners in 1775. It quickly erupted into a massive seaborne insurgency involving thousands of money-mad patriots plundering Britain's maritime trade throughout Atlantic. Patton's extensive research brings to life the extraordinary adventures of privateers as they hammered the British economy, infuriated the Royal Navy, and humiliated the crown.

Genres: History, American Revolution, Nonfiction, American History, Pirates, War, Military History

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Evan Brandt · Rating 2 out of 5]

So the book had interesting tid-bits, but was organized in a bit of a haphazard manner.
But my god, the story it told of two people you never hear about, who got screwed over by someone else you've never heard of.
Sever hear of a guy named Silas Deane?
Probably not, but he was nearly as important as Franklin in getting the French on board. Fronted his own money to ship supplies to the U.S. that ultimately resulted in us winning the crucial battle of Saratoga.
But a jerk named Arthur Lee, brother of Richard Henry Lee, mounted a smear campaign against Deane because of his financing of privateeers (who helped us win the war by the way) and Congress stiffed him.
Deane also had the misfortunte of befriending a British spy, who undercut him, befrended him and may well have murdered him.
Deane is buried in England in an un-marked grave.
Then there was Gustovus Conyngham, a bold sea captin who took multiple, multiple British prizes and terrified the coast of England.
But because sometimes he was in the Navy and othertimes a privateer, again Congress stiffed him.
And then there was poor Gen. Nathanael Greene, the best general Washington had, whose personal fortune was sunk by poor luck when investing in privateer voyages.
Having almost single handedly driven the British from the south, forcing Cornwalis to his defeat at Yorktown, his army was starving because, you guessed it, Congress stiffed them.
Greene fronted the money to feed his men and Congress refused to pay him back.
He died young from the stress of his financial woes.
The lesson here is, even back then, Congress was comprised of mean-spirited, cheap-ass sons of bitches....

[Paul Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was pretty conv0luted and kept one's concentration cap on and pulled down tight, but the subject matter was very interesting. Private v. public in wartime; something that wasn't mentioned in history classes.

"In the interim, France reaped consequences of supporting American liberty that were as contrary to its expectations as those that befell Beaumarchais. Debt incurred in the war broke the French treasury. Meanwhile Britain remained America's main trading partner and so retained its prewar power. Vergennes died knowing his machinations had bankrupted his country, while Louis XVI died on the guillotine knowing that the citizens howling for his head were inspired by the distant revolution he'd financed."

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Golden Age of Piracy had mostly ended by the time of the American Revolution. Despite that, an armada of privateers, many New England merchants who turned their vessels into warships, were licensed by the Continental Congress. While not decisive, their raids hurt the British economy and helped the rebels to win their independence. This band of homegrown buccaneers sold the cargoes of the British ships they seized, creating a network of agents who sold the goods and made the sailors to make better money than they ever did on the old merchant vessels. Patton's book details the rise of American privateering and the speculators who helped make it possible. After reading this account I agree with the statement that "the great battles of the American Revolution were fought on land, but independence was won at sea."

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This combines two things I love -- the American Revolution, and private military forces. The US made pretty extensive use of private naval forces (privateers, armed merchantmen, and borderline pirates). This hasn't been extensively reported in history, rather the limited "regular" naval forces have gotten most of the ink in history (especially John Paul Jones, who was indeed a hero, and who disliked privateers due to competing for personnel). Prison ships and other horrors of the time are also described. What was particularly interesting to me was how privateering operations happened in Europe, and the political/economic aspects of handling prizes (prize courts), shadowy front companies financing operations in France, etc.

The book could have been more comprehensive (an overall analysis of the supplies brought by the British and how significant the privateering operations were.

[Riq Hoelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had searched hard for a big picture view of Revolutionary privateering, but this wasn't it. Besides concentrating on individual incidents, it continually wandered off into side topics such as the Deane-Lee controversy, the career of Nathanael Greene and others that really are much better dealt with elsewhere.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating! I loved all the Maine info.....Machias and Pembrook. Fun to read and lots of great insight into "Pirates"

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read which delves deep into the causes and challenges which faced American Privateers during the revolutionary war. One area that I found very interesting was how the Continental Congress sent these men out to sea but had no ability to pay them, but they had to rely on the sale of any prize vessels they may have captured. Interesting story with some deeper information on several our founding fathers which I enjoyed.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and thoroughly researched , Patton provides a solid history of continental privateers, and does a good job weaving in related topics like the international intrigue between Britain, the colonies, and the European powers.

Patton shows that those in Congress were usually in favor of the practice of privateering (often supporting it financially while condemning it in speech) and it was their shady activities that helped privateering be so profitable. A side argument is that it was privateering that made it so that a man of simple means, even poor, might become rich, unlike the system in Great Britain where you had to be an aristocrat to become rich. Privateering was usually successful, mainly due to the ineptitude of the British admiralty.

Patton also delves into some of the origins of the Revolution as they related to maritime trade. The Massachusetts colonists, for example, were more concerned about money and their own financial interests than any grand, high-minded ideals of liberty, freedom, and independence. The British navigation acts restricted colonial trade and punished smugglers. When the colonists were able to dodge these regulations, they rarely complained about them. But when the British cracked down on smuggling, the colonists immediately invoked “liberty” and “freedom”, ideals that were actually not very common in America at the time. For the colonists, “liberty” meant their own selfish interests. British tariffs and taxes weren’t even that high, but the colonists still made a fuss.

Oddly, the last few chapters of the book had little to do with privateering, and feels more like padding put in to add length to the book. Also, not all of the quotes in the book are cited.

Also, despite, the interesting subject matter, the narrative is pretty colorless and dry, although well documented.

[Michael Dean Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patton provides thee reader with a good overview of mercantile-privateer patriots during the American Revolutionary War. While the title and the description prepare readers for journeys through exploits of America’s revolutionary privateers, whaat they get instead is a thoughtful review of the politics and financial risks and effects of private raiders in service to thee American cause. The bibliography at the end provides useful references, but could benefit from more primary sources, as they become more available, or to more references from state historical societies. I would encourage Pwriters to continue this work, particularly since historical documents are being digitized at a pace that will no doubt demand regular updates to what we think we know about privateering during thee American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. As an introduction to the mercantile privateers of the period, readers will find time well invested by reading through this highly useful tome.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of the complexity surrounding the American Revolution. The conflict wasn't limited to the 13 Colonies, but extended to the Caribbean, the British Isles and other areas where British merchantmen sailed, making them vulnerable to privateers. Nearly every nation engaged in privateering during this time, making the seas unsafe almost anyone except the grandest of warship convoys. While not all risked their lives solely out of patriotic duty, the privateers' efforts sapped English resolve and thwarted resupply to their land forces. The conflict between private sector interests and those of the fledgling American navy reminds me of the continuing struggle between the lure of higher-paying corporate positions and lower-paying public service jobs today (ex-cabinet officials and congressmen becoming lobbyists, veterans becoming military contractors, etc.). The improvisational nature of America's naval war, taking on the mighty British navy, reminded me of America's air strategy in WWII, which allowed us to take the fight to the enemy quickly, undaunted by the reputation of the Luftwaffe or Japanese Zeroes. The hit-and-run tactics of privateers, including the boobytrapping of abandoned ships, reminded me of our own experiences with insurgencies in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Like the British, we have had trouble in recognizing the extent and depth of nationalist fervor among those we have sought to dominate by military force.

[Kyle Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book, Patriot Pirates as an introduction to the topic of American Privateering. I am planning to use research material from this book in my senior thesis on Privateering and this book helps to provide a good picture of the motives and effects of privateering. This book discusses the business of American privateering throughout the Revolutionary War. The author, Robert H. Patton presents his historical interpretation of the events in an academic yet narrative manner that makes this book very intriguing. Patton’s scholarly research is evident in his bibliographic information that provides numerous references that are used throughout the book. This book provides examples of several different men who were involved in privateering during the Revolution, which includes Silas Dean, Robert Morris, and even Benjamin Franklin. This book also provides a unique perspective not only on privateering, but the war for independence in general. Patton delivers several stories and accounts of American privateers and their perilous interference with British and loyalist supply lines. Patriot Pirates illustrates with great accuracy the important role that American privateering played in the war and drives the theme that these privateers were often motivated more by quick fortune than patriotism. This book is an excellent read and insight into privateering and it’s importance in American history.

[Jrohde · Rating 4 out of 5]

well written history of the role of privateers in the US history - I had not imagined the important role private initiative (and greed) played in the vistory over the British in the revolution. Without this amazing fleet of brave - often reckless - men we'd have lost the war. A fun read and informative. reflects a lot on the role of Robert Morris the financier of the Revolution - who is an ancestor of Candy - an added interest.

[David R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patton does a remarkable job of researching and organizing material on the little-remembered privateer force employed by the rebelling American colonies. While the material is thought provoking the writing is a bit dry at times. Patton does breath some life into various players, and a good deal of attention is paid to Silas Deane and the New England mercantile establishment. A must-read for students of the Revolution.

[Kory Klimoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Revolutionary War period. This book provides a fairly detailed history of how the Americans conducted naval warfare and Privateer operations during the war. The author goes in to great detail about operations and how they affected the outcome of the war. He told the story from all sides, Naval commanders, The British and the Allies that were supporting America. Very well written and thought out.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned things about Benjamin Franklin, the Lee family and the Adams family that I never knew.

[Wanda]

19 JUN 2014 -- cover love -- positively!

[James M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an easy read, but a very informative read. The Revolutionary war was so much more complicated the just one army against the other and privateering was one of the added dimensions.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a surprisingly poignant one for a variety of reasons.  Although the United States has long dealt with civilian involvement in military matters in various fashions [1], the fate of the privateer has been a rather lonely one in history.  Few people write books glorifying the bravery of privateers, and no one knows how many died in ship-to-ship combat with the British or wasting away in prison hulks in New York's harbor or in Britain.  While the concern of impressment in 1812 and of blockade runners in the Civil War is something that is known at least by those who are casually aware of the naval history of those wars, the fate of privateers in the American Revolution is not a topic that has drawn a great deal of interest by many writers, some of whom are actively apologetic when writing about the matter.  This book, though, does a good job at taking an area of history that is obscure and often neglected and shining a light on it that makes it easier to comprehend even if it ends up being far darker than one might think initially.

This book has an intriguing and somewhat unconventional design that corresponds with its somewhat unconventional subject matter.  Namely, the book consists of twelve chapters that look at the war more or less chronologically from the time before active war actually began but where New England's penchant for combining anti-imperial protests and smuggling efforts were combined in the early 1770's.  This chronological story of America's efforts at privateering, the more or less willing partners they found in France, Spain, the Netherlands and their imperial possessions in the Caribbean, and the lure of patriotism and profit in the behavior of many famous and obscure founding fathers are intercut by twelve vignettes looking at a small piece of the war in a particular place and time, like Machias, Maine in 1775 or Penobscot, Maine in 1779 or Newfoundland in 1780, and so on.  We see accounts of diplomats trying to engage in skullduggery, of complaints and divisions within the revolutionaries as well as the European nations they were dealing with, and we have poignant accounts of relatively ordinary people caught between the desire to live safely and in peace with the irresistible lure of profits from blockade running, piracy, and slave trading, all of which served to corrupt the legal order of the United States itself as well as the other nations they were involved with.

Indeed, this was a particularly poignant book for a variety of reasons.  It puts stories and information behind the massive losses suffered by the seafaring communities of New England during the Revolutionary War years.  It shows the general unfaithfulness of Congress towards its debts of honor and financial remuneration to its own diplomats (like Silas Deane), its own soldiers and officers (like Nathaniel Greene), and to foreign idealists (like de Beaumarchais) who had loaned to the American cause.  The author does a good job as well looking at the opaque nature of privateering in that the people funding operations often did so indirectly or through shell companies to avoid the criticism that would come from ordinary people complaining about the mixture of public and private business at the highest levels of government.  Indeed, this book is a particularly cynical one when it looks at the behavior of all the parties involved, all of whom were seeking to grab their main chance in the uncertainties of war, and most of whom ended up worse off because of death (including at least one likely murder) or being disabled or imprisoned or suffering loss by dealing with unfaithful people who did not fulfill their side of the bargain.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

II.

This book is one I have read before, but it forms a poignant part of a much longer story.  After all, this book talks about the importance of privateering to the American war effort in the Revolutionary War.  It also speaks movingly about the price that was paid by many privateers who were captured by the British and spent time in horrible brigs, many of them dying in terrible conditions.  Yet there is something incomplete about this book.  To be sure, the privateers of the American Revolution had plenty of foreign help in places like St. Eustatius and France, but there is more to this story than this book covers.  This is not to say anything bad about the book, because it does a very good job at showing how the privateer war was of the highest importance in providing for American trade during the American Revolution.  It is just that there is a great deal more to the story, because smuggling and privateering and generally living in violation of the restrictions and laws of other nations when it came to their naval policy was a fundamental aspect of American policy.

This particular book is strangely but compellingly organized as a series of twelve chapters that tell a chronological tale of the American Revolution and how it was shaped by American disregard for the laws of England that apparently were meant to govern its trade, and even the rules involving obtaining gunpowder and other key war material from neutral powers that are interspersed with various vignettes in different cities over the time from 1775 to 1783 over the course of almost 250 pages.  For example, the book covers scenes in Macias (Maine), Boston (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island), Brooklyn (New York), Barbados (West Indies), Penobscot (Maine), New London (Connecticut), Newfoundland (Canada), Portsmouth (England), Guadeloupe (West Indies), and Brooklyn and Providence again as it details the story of privateers and of the various political leaders who had ambivalent relationships concerning their behavior and who used them to gain necessary material that could not be produced in the colonies and that was vitally necessary to resist the British.  The book shows how privateers were vital for logistics and how America's need for trade and willingness to skirt the law provided plenty of people willing to deal with them on mutually acceptable terms.

Again, though, this book leaves a sense of melancholy with the reader.  For example, one reads about the death of tens of thousands of largely unaccounted for men from New England who went on ships seeking glory and money while serving patriotic interests and found themselves wounded, imprisoned, and often put to death in terrible circumstances.  Britain's cruelty to these men ended up leading to a great deal of dissatisfaction in England when it was realized how much alike the English commoner was to these suffering American prisoners.  Likewise, the book details how sloppy accounts on the part of one Silas Deane led to his dismissal and destitution and how he was likely killed by the double agent who felt threatened by his return to the US and the discovery of the double agent's own deeds.  Whether one looks at the nature of smuggling, of the lack of honor of the American side towards those who had sacrificed much for the cause of liberty in its most vulnerable days, or at the human cost of America's war for independence, this book is a stark reminder that warfare, and certainly American warfare, is not as idealistic as the history books would often wish to paint it.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Patriot Pirates: The Privateer War for Freedom and Fortune in the American Revolution is an interesting examination of the role played by legal, semi-legal, and flagrantly illegal attacks on british shipping during the Revolutionary War, both to the advantage (pirates and privateers did more to disrupt british trade than did the actual american navy) and disadvantage (the american navy and army had a huge problem getting sailors/soldiers to sign up because those men well knew they could make more money at less risk by joining a privateer vessel instead) of the new american government. The book, however, is dry as dust and tends to skip around a bit. It was okay for a book that I borrowed, but I will not reread it and probably won't recommend it anyone either.

[Poet Felon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book deals mostly with the economic and political impact privateering had on the Revolutionary War. Those looking for dramatic, detailed stories of privateering actions during the war will be solely dissapointed.

[Graham Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A detailed look at a critical economic and military aspect of the Revolution. Boring at times and unfocused at others, but by the end it paints a thorough picture of the role played by privateers during and after the war.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The organization of this book is what limited it to three stars. It did not lack in content, which I found both interesting and enjoyable.

[Deedee]

Dewey 973.35

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, though this book did not have a happy ending. Of course, history tends to go that way. I would suggest reading this book during July.

[Jo Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and well-researched. Indispensable if you are writing about piracy in this period.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
The role of privateering during the Revolutionary War - Such an enticing topic! Unfortunately, this CD—for I chose to listen to the audio version—failed to deliver.

Yes, when I was able to force myself to pay attention, I did learn new things: how and why privateering arose (greed), who chose to engage in it, and the reason they often toggled back and forth between it and the Continental Navy (arbitrary and conflicting rules on reimbursement and consequences of their actions, duplicity and again greed). Key players included Rhode Islanders who often did not play nice, and sailors and merchants from Newburyport, MA and Portsmouth, NH. I did not know that their waters extended far into Europe nor of the interrelationships among England, France, Spain and Holland. I now know more about the practice of impressment of sailors and the importance of the West Indies to the Continental cause. Finally, my interest was piqued to learn more about Gen Nathaniel Greene and the Sherburnes of Strawberry Banke’s Sherburne House.

But I wonder how much I missed. I was often distracted/or annoyed by the narrator and the book’s structure. My mind would stray until I heard a familiar name and I would think, “Wait, wasn’t he involved a couple of CD discs back?” I replayed a lot. I just couldn’t seem to follow it.

To compound matters —1 GR star at best – was the narrator’s style. The back of the CD case states that he has narrated over 100 audiobooks and been nominated multiple times for his narration skills. Was the text checked for quality and listenability before it was distributed? Mispronunciation of geographic names: The Battle of Machias and Penobscot Bay were nail-across-the-blackboard grating. No, they are most certainly NOT pronounced Me-KEY-us or Pen-noooooooob-scot. And the French names? So very pretentious as he “fwa-fwa-fwa’ed” the names that I could not decipher the actual names to look them up on my own.

Others’ comments indicate that they gave up. Life is too short. Let me recommend two things: One, read the book; don’t listen to the audio. That will enable you to get accurate information and it’s much easier to stop and re-read than re-tracking a CD; and, two, pick it up at the end, specifically the last two discs. (I’m not sure offhand how they correspond to chapters.) There was most interesting follow-up biographical information on several of the men featured as well as the relationship between Post-Revolutionary New England privateering and slavery.

[Liberté · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patton's history of the American privateers during the American Revolution is gripping and humanizing, offering a glimpse of life between the great histories into the lives of actual privateers. He did distance this reader, however, by disclosing his disinterest in the Revolution at the start of the book. His contention that the Revolution does not seem composed of real people smacks of someone who has not spent much time learning about the Revolution, in books or otherwise, and instead of recognizing this constraint has leaned on it as a crutch. Out of this perspective comes some high-horse judgement about the men who led the Revolution and how many tried to get rich through privateering. Patton shows a clear disdain for money-making during wartime activity, despite the fact that Congress, the military and the Navy all seem to have been financed by this private money-making -- often at a ruinous loss, as Patton himself admits. Nathaniel Greene, the great general, became so extended in his efforts to manage both his personal finances and keep his army outfitted that he died in deep debt - to Congress, of all entities. A serious shortcoming of the book is that it does not mention any women privateers. While it is possible that there is no record of women privateers, given how many women participated in the revolution (see Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts), it is strange that Patton does not ever mention their involvement. He expound on Franklin, Green, Deane, Bingham and traitors within but not a page of women in the Revolution is included (except as wives and daughters). A mere acknowledgement that life at sea was discouraged for women would have been been minimally enough, but given that lady pirates and lady revolutionaries are certainly not historical anachronisms but real people, it is a real failing of Patton's to not include any consideration of them. Otherwise, an enjoyable and thrilling nautical read (and certainly not one put out by a Tea Party sympathizer, as one might expect from a book on the Revolution, for those curious).

[Dale · Rating 1 out of 5]

A tedious listen.

9 CDs
10.5 hours
Read by Alan Sklar

I am an avid reader of history. I also enjoy listening to histories as part of my daily commute. I thought Patriot Pirates would be a fantastic diversion since I knew relatively little about the naval history of the Revolutionary War besides the story of Bonhomme Richard and the fact that there were privateers.

Unfortunately, Patton's dry, overly wordy text coupled with Alan Sklar's (the narrator) ironic, almost mocking tone made me both both bored and irritated at the same time. If it can be said in 50 words, Patton uses 500. He tells the same stories over and over again. After listening to 5 of 9 discs I refused to force myself to slog through another chapter - partially because it was so poorly narrated, partially because I was becoming a public safety hazard - I was literally nodding off. I listen to CDs to make my drive more interesting but there was nothing there to keep my attention.

Patton freely admits that he is not really a devotee of the Revolutionary War which may have contributed to the dry tone of the book. The battle scenes are described to great effect but the rest of it is just not told in an interesting way. I have no problem with the facts presented, but this book is even less interesting than the history textbooks that this history teacher despises.

[Jack Hwang · Rating 3 out of 5]

After finishing this book, the readers cannot help but wondering how America could have possibly come out victorious in the American Revolution War. Everything was done haphazardly. The elites of the colonies put the self-interest before the public interest and no one really blamed them. For the few people trying to advance the cause, they faced jealousy, blackmails, and smear, that lead to the impairment of their reputations.

From all the collected anecdotes, I can say the author has done a very detailed research -- not on the American privateers during the Revolution, but on the key personalities behind the enterprising of the privateers. It would have been a very good read but for the fundamental structural and organizational problem of the book.

In essence, the book needs to be re-written or critically re-edited by a good editor. In addition to some expressions that are hard to grasp, the structure of the narrative is so poor that I got lost several times trying to finish this book. The narrative jumps back and forth numerous times and the readers hardly could catch up.

Furthermore, it would be even more beneficial to the readers if there had been some pages devoted to the background knowledge about how the privateers operated.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patriot Pirates could have been an excellent book with some editing, and an organizational structure. It covers an aspect of the Revolutionary War that I knew little about—the use of privateers to acquire war material, influence international opinion, and make congress some much needed money. The fights between various American diplomats and historical figures outshine the fights at sea (although there are plenty of those as well) and overall, this book is certainly worthwhile. The main problem is that there is no organizational structure evident in the work. Chapters (and even parts of chapters) jump around chronologically, thematically and geographically in ways that are downright strange. You may get the first half of someone’s life story, followed by some updates on what was happening in France two years earlier, followed by the second half of a discussion on ship’s technology that occurred 50 pages back, followed by a summary of some land battles that don’t really seem connected to anything… The whole thing is downright bizarre. I’m not sure why someone didn’t bring this up prior to publication.