HMS San Domingo was a 74-gun third-rate

Third-rate

In the British Royal Navy, a third rate was a ship of the line which from the 1720s mounted between 64 and 80 guns, typically built with two gun decks . Years of experience proved that the third rate ships embodied the best compromise between sailing ability , firepower, and cost...

 ship of the line

Ship of the line

A ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear...

 of the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

, launched on 3 March 1809 at Woolwich

Woolwich

Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...

.

On 13 April 1813, Sir John Borlase Warren

John Borlase Warren

Sir John Borlase Warren, 1st Baronet , was an English admiral, politician and diplomat. Born in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, he was the son and heir of John Borlase Warren of Stapleford and Little Marlow...

's squadron, consisting of his flagship, San Domingo, and , , , , Mohawk

USS Viper (1806)

USS Viper – commissioned as USS Ferret – was a brig serving the United States Navy during the early days of the republic. Viper was assigned to enforce the Embargo Act of 1807 along the U.S. East Coast. During the War of 1812, while cruising in the Caribbean, she was captured by the more heavily...

, and pursued four schooners into the Rappahannock

Rappahannock

-Military:*Battle of Rappahannock Station I, a battle in the American Civil War*Battle of Rappahannock Station II, a battle in the American Civil War-Places:*Rappahannock River, a river in eastern Virginia...

. The British sent boats 15 miles upriver before capturing their prey.

• Arab, of seven guns and 45 men, was run aground and boarded by two boats from Marlborough.
• Lynx, of six guns and 40 men, hauled down her colours when Borlase went alongside her in San Domingos pinnace.
• Racer, of six guns and 38 men, was boarded and carried, after a sharp, resistance, by the San Domingos pinnace.
• Dolphin, of 12 guns and 98 men surrendered after Racers guns were turned on her. Dolphin resisted for two hours but then was boarded by men from Statiras large cutter and Maidstones launch.

The British lost two men killed and 11 wounded. The Americans lost six killed and 10 wounded.

The British took three of the schooners into service. The Chesapeake schooner Lynx became . Of the three Baltimore schooners, the Racer became ; retained her name; lastly, it is not clear what became of Arab.