In early November 1822, the schooner USS Alligator, under the command of Lieutenant Allen, put into Matanzas, Cuba, intending to patrol the area as part of the United States Navy's West Indian Anti-Piracy Campaign.

[1] Upon arriving at the port, Allen discovered two Americans attempting to raise $7,000 in order to pay a ransom to pirates that had captured their vessels.

Learning from these men that the pirates were located some 15 leagues away, Allen took the civilians aboard, deciding to attempt to recover their ship.

These were the ship rigged vessel William Henry from New York, the brigs Iris and Sarah Morril from Boston, and a pair of merchant schooners, one hailing from Rochester, Massachusetts, and the other from Salem.

[5] Though Alligator's draft was too deep to chase pirate craft inshore, she could send her cutter, gig, and launch out with boarding parties.

[6] As Revenge was the nearest of the three pirate vessels, Allen ordered Alligator's boats lowered to run inshore and attack her.

[7] After the American boats had rowed about 10 miles (16 km), the pirate schooner made an about-face and raised a red flag.

With their commander mortally wounded and their crew taking heavy casualties, the American boats withdrew, thus allowing the second pirate schooner, as well as a third that had not been engaged, to escape.