Governor Trumbull was commissioned on 18 November 1778 under Commander Henry Billings of Norwich, Connecticut, and fitted out at New London.

On 17 December the Connecticut privateer sloop American Revenue, Captain William Leeds, arrived at New London with sails, rigging, and stores from the British transport Marquis of Rockingham, which had wrecked on Gardiners Island on 13 December on a voyage from Newport, Rhode Island, to New York City.

They established a small emplacement that they armed with two carriage and some swivel guns, and then the bulk of the force moved inland.

[1] Clark regrouped and a second attack forced the Americans to quit their emplacement and return to General Trumbull.

[1] On 5 March Governor Trumbull encountered two British warships, HMS Venus and Ariadne towards the north end of St Bartholomew's.

[1] A British listing of prizes taken in the West Indies described Governor Trumbull as being of 20 guns and 150 men.

[3] The Royal Navy took Governor Trumbull into service as HMS Tobago, and commissioned her under Commander Butchart.

An inconclusive engagement developed between Sibyl and Alliance that proved to be the last battle of the American Revolutionary War.