The USS Firefly was a brig with two masts, square-rigged, formerly named Volant and originally built as a schooner for use as a privateer.

In 1814, during the War of 1812, Firefly became the flagship of a squadron of five small ships which, under the command of Captain David Porter, were preparing for a mission to the West Indies to capture or destroy enemy commerce.

[1] On 20 May 1815, during the Second Barbary War, command of the Firefly was given to Lieutenant George W. Rodgers who departed from New York for the Mediterranean to join the squadron of Commodore Stephen Decatur.

After a few days at sea Rodgers' squadron encountered a heavy gale and Firefly sprung a mast, forcing her to return to port for repairs.

[1][2] After repairs were completed Firefly set sail again for the Mediterranean on 18 July where she joined Commodore William Bainbridge's and Decatur's squadrons at Carthagena where preparations for the mission at Algiers were being made.