September 19th

[Anav]

On 19 September 1777, during the American Revolution, the British Cutter HMS Alert captured the Continental Brig Lexington. In the ensuing engagement, Lexington's rigging was seriously damaged precluding flight. When the American Brig ran out of powder, Captain Henry Johnson reluctantly struck his colors. Lexington’s crew were then put into prison at Plymouth, though many including Lieutenant Richard Dale later escaped.
Read more about Richard Dale:
www.history.navy.mil/bios/dale_richard.htm --
Read more about the Continental Brig Lexington:
www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l/lexington.htm --

[csadn]

I recall reading somewhere: Brigs were particularly hard-hit by rigging damage -- losing a topmast was a death-sentence. I wonder why they were so drastically affected.