One of the consorts captured an English war vessel in the latter part of June, but was compelled to abandon her on the appearance of a superior force of the enemy, and the squadron put into L’Orient for repairs.  A piece of good fortune came to the Bonhomme Richard while in this port.  About a hundred exchanged American prisoners volunteered and did a great deal to improve the discipline and strengthen the crew of Jones’s ship.

The valiant American, however, met with difficulties that were of the most exasperating nature.  A boat’s crew deserted and spread the news of the arrival of the squadron off the English coast.  Captain Landais, commander of the Alliance, refused to obey the signals of the flagship, and conducted himself so outrageously that Jones more than suspected his brain was askew.  The Bonhomme Richard was old and in bad condition, but Jones told Benjamin Franklin in a letter that he meant to do something with her that would induce his Government to provide him with a better ship.  He sailed almost completely around Great Britain, during which he captured seventeen vessels, most of which were destroyed though the more valuable were sent into port in charge of prize crews.

This depletion of his crew so weakened it that Captain Jones wisely refrained from remaining long in one place.  Doubling Flamborough Head, he came up with his companions, the Pallas and the Alliance, the latter having been out of his company for a fortnight.

This was on September 23, 1779.  It was near noon, while the American squadron was chasing a British brigantine and was approaching Flamborough Head from the south, that a large sail was discovered, rounding that promontory from the south.  Another and another followed, the astonished Americans counting them until the number had mounted up to forty-two.

It was a startling sight, for if these vessels were ships of war nothing could save the American squadron, or, if most of them were merchantmen, under a strong escort, the peril of Captain Jones and his crews would be almost as great.  The commander studied the fleet through his glass, allowing it to come closer and closer and holding himself ready to flee, should it be necessary to do so.  Finally, after a long scrutiny, Jones’s face lit up with exultation.  There were only two vessels of war in the fleet, and he immediately gave the signal for pursuit.

The Serapis, commanded by Captain Pearson, knew that he was confronted by the redoubtable Paul Jones, and he welcomed a fight with him, for the British captain was one of the bravest of men.  He signalled for the merchantmen to scatter, and they did so with the utmost haste, while the frigate with her consort, the Countess of Scarborough, boldly advanced to engage the American squadron.

It was at this critical moment that the captain of the Alliance once more showed his insubordination.  He refused to obey Jones’s signal to fall to the rear of the Bonhomme Richard and the Pallas for a time was equally disobedient.  Soon, however, she changed her conduct and gallantly advanced to engage the Countess of Scarborough.  Captain Landais, however, sullenly kept out of the battle, and, as we shall presently learn, did even worse than that.