A large French corvette, the Prony went ashore inside of the breakers off Ocracoke, North Carolina, 5 November 1861. Her crew hastened to throw overboard several cannon, cutlasses, and other ordnance and then proceeded to blow up the stranded vessel when salvage became impossible on 7 November 1861. The ship took on water and became grounded after reportedly striking a submerged wreck (UFS), opening her hull. The wreck should still reside within the offshore bar close to shore.