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The Quasi War may have been a “Quasi” War for most Americans, but for the men of US Navy it was a war in every sense of the word. Nearly 90 French privateers and other vessels were captured by the American Navy during the war. There were also a number of major sea battles that have gone down in the annals of sea warfare. The most famous was the victory of the Constellation over the L'Insurgent, supposedly the fastest frigate in the French fleet. Further, there was the battle of the Constellation with the La Vengeance a ship that was larger than the Constellation, but which the Constellation bested in battle. That battle ended when the La Vengeance managed to crawl away, but it later had to be abandoned.

There is also the story of the American Schooner Retaliation captured by the French and its crew thrown in jail. If there was any question as to whether this was a war or not, one just need read the circular letter of instruction to American Navy vessels (in this section).

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