[5] Despite the raid's success, George Washington immediately freed senior colonial officials the privateers had brought back as prisoners to Cambridge, Massachusetts.

[6][7][8][9][10] During the American Revolution, rebels and later French privateers frequently attacked Nova Scotia, damaging its maritime economy by raiding coastal communities including Liverpool and Annapolis Royal.

[2][14] Instead of following orders into a risky naval battle, the two privateers sought more convenient, easier quarry off Cape Canso, taking five prizes of dubious legality.

[17] Washington sent Selman with Nicholson Broughton to lead an expedition off Nova Scotia to interrupt two British ships full of armaments bound for Quebec.

[24] Selman and Broughton also searched unsuccessfully for the wives of Callbeck and senior naval commander Captain David Higgins, both daughters of prominent Boston loyalists.

Callbeck's wife was the daughter of Nathaniel Coffin Jr., who a few months earlier had ordered the felling of the Liberty Tree on the Boston Common.

Washington, who wanted colonies to rebel freely rather than by intimidation, censured the privateers for imprisoning government officials without permission and freed them.

[39] While George Washington censored Selman and Broughton, John Adams (who was on the committee to establish the navy[40]) supported the privateers stating that they may “deserve censure for going counter to [their] orders, but I think in justice to ourselves we ought to seize every [Loyalist] officer in the service of Government wherever they may be found.

"[32] When Selman was retired years later, the Vice President of the United States Elbridge Gerry favourably re-evaluated his contribution to the war effort and signed his letter, "with much esteem and respect, E.

[45] The privateers pillaged the property of Wellwood Waugh and he was forced to move from Charlottetown to Pictou, Nova Scotia, the following year.