In December 1775, South Carolina purchased a shallow-draft, coasting schooner and re-rigged her as a brigantine that they named Comet.

[4] On 14 December 1777, shortly before her capture, a landing party from Comet, Captain "James Pine", landed on the west end of the island of Grand Caimanes and plundered the inhabitants, killed their livestock, and carried off two Negroes and a quantity of supplies, including rum and wine.

[5] On 22 December 1777 HMS Daphne captured the snow Comet, of 16 guns, off Grand Camanes without firing a shot.

[6] The mention in the London Gazette of Comet's capture describes her as being on a cruise from South Carolina, armed for war, and under the command of James Pyne.

[7] Another report refers to Comet as a privateer, of 18 guns and 84 or 87 men, and states that Daphne captured her off the Isle of Pines.

[1] On 19 September, as Charles-Marie de Trolong du Rumain moved his squadron up the river, he exchanged fire with Comet, Thunder, Savannah, and Venus.

Rose was leaking badly so the next day the British scuttled her just below the town to impede the French vessels from progressing further.

Comet and Thunder had the mission of opposing any attempt by the South Carolinian galleys to bombard the town.

Over the next few days British shore batteries assisted Comet and Thunder in engagements with two South Carolinian galleys; during one of these they severely damaged Revenge.

The Americans had built a redoubt on Haddrell's Point to control access to the channel, and Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot needed to neutralize it if he was to move his vessels into the Cooper River to support General Sir Henry Clinton's planned attack on the Charles Town neck.