Vulture is perhaps best known for being the warship to which Benedict Arnold fled on the Hudson River in 1780 after unsuccessfully trying to surrender the Continental Army fort at West Point, New York to the British.

[2] General Gates was a Massachusetts privateer brig or schooner of eight guns and 40 men, under the command of Captain William Carleton.

After dark, Collier sent Vulture and the galley Cornwallis further up the river past Fort Lafayette to prevent the Americans from escaping by water, in which task the British were successful.

[4] Vulture shared with Iris, Galatea, and Delight in the proceeds from the capture on 21 April 1780 of the American privateer General Reed.

[7] The French severely damaged Charlestown, which lost her mainmast and a number of her officers, including Captain Francis Evans.

But it also brought British spy Major Andre to Haverstraw Bay and later abandoned him there due to an exchange of fire with two American soldiers, John "Jack" Peterson and Moses "George" Sherwood[10][11] The engagement took place at a spot called Teller's Point, known today as Croton Point, on September 21 and 22.

[13] On 21 April 1782, Narcissus, Vulture, and Savage captured the Virginia privateer brig Grand Turk, of 12 guns and 75 men.

The Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy offered the "Vulture, 304 Tons, laying at Portsmouth" for sale on 11 August 1802.