The raid involved American Continental Navy captain John Paul Jones attacking Canso, Nova Scotia (now part of Canada) and the surrounding fishing villages.

There he recruited men to fill the vacancies created by manning his prizes, burned a British fishing schooner, sank a second, and captured a third besides a shallop which he used as a tender.

Jones destroyed John Robin’s fishing business when they plundered and razed the entire establishment.

Boats from Alfred took a raiding party ashore; his crews burned a transport bound for Canada with provisions, and a warehouse full of whale oil, besides capturing a small schooner.

[11] Captain Jones then went on to present-day Sydney, Nova Scotia to free 300 Americans imprisoned in the British coalmines.