Editing William Bainbridge (section)

===Quasi-War===
With the organization of the United States Navy in 1798, Bainbridge was included in the naval officer corps and in September 1798 was appointed commanding Lieutenant of the schooner {{USS|Retaliation|1798|6}}. He was ordered to patrol the waters in the [[West Indies]] along with Captain Williams of USS ''Norfolk'', both of whom were under the command of Murray, who was in command of the frigate USS ''Montezuma''.<ref>[[#Harris|Harris, 1837]] p.25</ref> On November 20, 1798, Lt. Bainbridge surrendered ''Retaliation'' without resistance to two French frigates, ''Volontier'', with 44 guns and ''l'Insurgente'' bearing 40 guns, after he mistook them for British warships and approached them without identifying them.<ref>[[#Barnes1897|Barnes, 1897]] pp. 45–46</ref> Bainbridge and his crew were taken aboard ''Volontier'' where the two French frigates continued in their pursuit of other nearby American vessels. During the flight to capture the Americans, Bainbridge offered words of caution to the French commander of ''L' Insurgente'', Captain St. Laurent, about American strength; this made St. Laurent wait for his consorts far behind him.<ref>[[#Cooper2|Cooper, 1846]] pp. 15–17</ref>

''Retaliation'' was the first ship in the nascent [[United States Navy]] to be surrendered.  Bainbridge was not disciplined for this action.

In March 1799, Bainbridge was appointed Master Commandant of the [[brig]] {{USS|Norfolk|1798|6}} of 18 guns and ordered to cruise against the French.<ref>[[#Barnes1897|Barnes, 1897]] page 54</ref><ref>[[#Harris|Harris, 1837]] pages 36-37</ref>{{clear}}