[4] On 1 May 1799 she, and USS George Washington recaptured American brig "Francis", captured by a French privateer.

[9] Pickering fought a notable engagement with the French privateer L'Egypte Conquise on 18 October 1799.

A few days earlier she had a running battle with a French lugger that escaped due to springing of the Pickering's masts.

[12][13] Pickering continued to cruise in the West Indies, and before her return to the United States had captured four French privateers, including Atalanta, L'Active(sometime before 24 April),[14] and Fly,.

[16][17] On 2 February 1800 she recaptured armed merchant ship "Portland" in the Sale Rock Passage, she had been captured by a privateer on 25 January (21°50′N 59°30′W / 21.833°N 59.500°W / 21.833; -59.500).

[22] Ordered to join Commodore Thomas Truxton's squadron on the Guadeloupe Station in the West Indies, she sailed from New Castle, Delaware on 20 August, and was never heard from again.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.