At the reduction of Charlestown[1] Captain Elphinstone commanded a detachment of seamen on shore; and his brave and spirited efforts obtained him honourable mention in the official letter of the Commander of the land forces, General .Sir Henry Clinton. He was also present at the attack on Mud Island, Nov. 15, 1777.
On his return to England, with Admiral Arbuthnot’s despatches, our officer was appointed to the Warwick, of 50 guns. In the month of January, 1781, he captured, after a smart action, the Rotterdam, Dutch ship of war, of 50 guns and 300 men. During the remainder of the war, Captain Elphinstone was employed on the American station under Admiral Digby. While there, H.R.H. Prince William Henry, (now Duke of Clarence) then a Midshipman in the Prince George, being desirous of a more active life than he spent at New York, requested permission to go to sea, in order that he might get practical experience; and added to this reasonable request, his wish to cruise in the Warwick; the Admiral acquiesced, and Captain Elphinstone had the honour of the Prince’s company till he was transferred to the care of Sir Samuel Hood[2]. On the 11th Sept. 1782, the Warwick, in company with the Lion, Vestal, and Bonetta, captured l’Aigle, a French frigate, of 40 guns, 24-pounders on the main deck, and 600 men, commanded by the Count de la Touche, who made his escape on shore with the Baron Viominil, Commander-in-Chief of the French army in America, M. de la Montmorency, Due de Lausan, Vicomte de Fleury, and some other officers of rank; they took in the boat with them a great quantity of specie; two small casks, and two boxes, however, fell into the hands of the captors. La Gloire, another frigate, which was in company with l’Aigle, from drawing less water, made her escape. La Sophie, armed vessel, of 22 guns and 104 men, was also taken, the Terrier sloop of war recaptured, and two brigs destroyed.
At the general election in 1786, Captain Elphinstone was chosen representative in parliament for Stirlingshire; he had previously sat for Dumbarton, in which county his family possesses considerable property and influence.
