It would take a great many pages to give a complete bibliography of the subject of the American navy. I must content myself with mentioning only a few of the more prominent works.
There were two navies: that of the Revolution, which disappeared wholly in 1785; and that of to-day, which had its origin in 1794. The two most complete works regarding the former are those of Gardner W. Allen, “A Naval History of the Revolution,” 2 vols., Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1913, and Oscar Charles Paullin, “The Navy of the American Revolution: Its Administration, Its Policy, and Its Achievements,” Cleveland, The Burrows Brothers Company, 1906. This latter deals chiefly with the legislative action respecting the navy and its administration; it is the only one of its class. To these two authors, Dr. Allen and Dr. Paullin, I desire to express my special obligations.
The naval classic, J. Fenimore Cooper, “The Navy of the United States of America,” a book which fascinated the author of the present volume as a boy, carries one from 1775 through the War of 1812 only.
The publications of the Naval History Society, Vol. 1, being the logs of the Serapis, Alliance, and Ariel under the command of John Paul Jones, ed. by John S. Barnes, 1911. Vol. 2 is “Fanning’s Narrative,” also edited by Mr. Barnes, 1912. Fanning’s account of the capture of the Serapis by the Bonhomme Richard is the best existent. There are other volumes, all of much interest.
Robert Beatson, “Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain from 1727 to 1783,” by far the best work of its period on the subject.
Wm. Laird Clowes, “The Royal Navy,” a monumental work in which Admiral Mahan, U. S. N., and Colonel Theodore Roosevelt had part, covers in vols. 3-6 our Revolution and the War of 1812. It is a work of the highest value.
The same should be said of Admiral Mahan’s books, “The Influence of Sea Power upon History,” and “Sea Power in its Relations to the War of 1812,” Boston, Little, Brown & Company, 1905. All his works are important.
G. Lacour-Gayet, “La Marine Militaire de la France sous le Règne de Louis XVI,” Paris, Honorè Champion, 9 Quai Voltaire, 1905, is the best French history of the naval events of the time.
Henri Doniol, “Histoire de la Participation de la France à l’Établissement des États-Unis d’Amérique,” 6 vols., Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1892. This monumental work was prepared for the universal exhibition of 1889 and is of highest value to the student.
Charlemagne Tower, “The Marquis de la Fayette in the American Revolution.” A valuable work.