Virginia II

Virginia II

(Sch.: t. 187; 1. 60' on keel; b. 18'10"; dph. 8'6"; cpl.
70; a. 6 6-pdrs., 8 4-pdrs.)

The second Virginia—a schooner built in 1797 for the United States Revenue Cutter Service at Portsmouth, Va.—was transferred to the Navy for use in the undeclared naval war against France in the early summer of 1798; and was commissioned on 25 June, Capt. Francis Bright in command.

In August 1798, Virginia received orders to join the frigate Constitution off the eastern seaboard of the United States for operations against suspected French warships and merchantmen. She remained on this station until December, when she was assigned identical duty in the West Indies between St. Christopher Island and Puerto Rico as part of the squadron commanded by Commodore Thomas Truxtun. While helping to defend American interests in the Caribbean, Virginia, assisted by Richmond and Eagle, captured the armed French schooner Louis and her cargo on 26 April 1799. Despite this success, in the following June, the fragile vessel was declared unfit for further naval service and was returned to the Revenue Cutter Service.