British frigates in the Hudson River, by means of
fire-ships, obtained permission to lead an expedition for the capture
of the "Pigot." Accordingly, with sixty picked men, he set sail from
Providence in the sloop "Hawk," mounting three three-pounders. When
within a few miles of the "Pigot," he landed, and, borrowing a horse,
rode down and reconnoitred the battery. When the night set in, he
returned to the sloop, and at once weighed anchor and made for the
enemy. As the "Hawk" drew near the "Pigot," the British sentinels
challenged her, and receiving no reply, fired a volley of musketry,
which injured no one. On came the "Hawk," under a full spread of
canvas. A kedge-anchor had been lashed to the end of her bowsprit;
and, before the British could reload, this crashed through the
boarding-nettings of the "Pigot," and caught in the shrouds. The two
vessels being fast, the Americans, with ringing cheers, ran along the
bowsprit, and dropped on the deck of the "Pigot." The surprise was
complete. The British captain rushed on deck, clad only in his shirt
and drawers, and strove manfully to rally his crew. But as the
Americans, cutlass and pistol in hand, swarmed over the taffrail, the
surprised British lost heart, and fled to the hold, until at last the
captain found himself alone upon the deck. Nothing was left for him
but to surrender with the best grace possible; and soon Talbot was on
his way back to Providence, with his prize and a shipful of prisoners.

But perhaps the greatest naval event of 1778 in American waters was
the arrival of the fleet sent by France to co-operate with the
American forces. Not that any thing of importance was ever
accomplished by this naval force: the French officers seemed to find
their greatest satisfaction in manoeuvring, reconnoitring, and
performing in the most exact and admirable manner all the
preliminaries to a battle. Having done this, they would sail away,
never firing a gun. The Yankees were prone to disregard the nice
points of naval tactics. Their plan was to lay their ships alongside
the enemy, and pound away until one side or the other had to yield or
sink. But the French allies were strong on tactics, and somewhat weak
in dash; and, as a result, there is not one actual combat in which
they figured to be recorded.

It was a noble fleet that France sent to the aid of the struggling
Americans,--twelve ships-of-the-line and three frigates. What dashing
Paul Jones would have done, h