This work is to tell the story of the American navy from the time when the fathers of the nation first conceived the idea of sending warships to sea “at the expense of the Continent” down to this year of our Lord 1897. It seems to me that the memory of what the naval heroes of the nation have done is worth preserving if only as a mark of gratitude—gratitude to the men whose sole incentive was patriotism and whose only greed was for honor. It seems worth while to tell anew the story of these men who had a noble ambition. It may help to prevent their race becoming extinct. But if that appeal does not secure the attention of the reader, let me say that self-interest demands that he heed the lessons in the story of the navy.
Because naval officers and their friends are very properly jealous of their rights in the matter of titles and rank, it is necessary to explain that officers have very often held one rank on the naval list while entitled to a higher one by courtesy. Farragut was a midshipman under Porter, and yet, for a time, while in command of a captured ship, was by courtesy called captain. Lieutenant Macdonough was entitled to the title of commodore while in command on Lake Champlain. I have in nearly all instances used the title which courtesy demanded, but, for reasons which I hope will be apparent, the title of actual rank seemed proper at times.
To sum it all up, I am bound to say I have tried to tell the story accurately, interestingly, and usefully. If there are errors, they are unpardonable blunders; if the story lacks interest or usefulness, the fault is entirely with the writer. Any story of the navy—even this one—should rouse the enthusiasm of the patriot because of the stirring character of the deeds that must be described; and I believe that when the reader has considered it well, he will conclude, as I do, that because of the growth of civilization and the spread of the pure doctrines of Christianity throughout the world, and the progress in the arts of making guns and armor-plate in the United States, we shall continue to pursue, for many years, our daily vocations in peace.
J. R. S.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| Chapter I. Origin of the American Navy | [1] |
| The Curious Chain of Events that Led to the Creation of a National Sea Power—The Gaspé Captured by Men Armed with Paving-stones—Tea Destroyed in Boston—The Battle of Lexington and the Attack of the Machias Haymakers on the Margaretta—British Vengeance on Defenceless Portland and its Effect on the Continental Congress—The “Colonial Navy” Distinguished from the Temporary Cruisers—The First Officers and the First Ships of the American Navy—John Paul Jones and the First Naval Ensign—The Significant “Don’t Tread on me”—Putting the First American Naval Ships in Commission. | |
| Chapter II. First Cruise of the Yankee Squadron | [48] |
| A Fairly Successful Raid on New Providence, but they Let a British Sloop-of-war Escape—Character of the First Naval Commander-in-chief and of the Material with which he had to Work—Esek Hopkins, and his Record as Commander of the Fleet—Crews Untrained and Devoid of Esprit de Corps—Good Courage, but a Woeful Lack of other Needed Qualities—Hopkins Dismissed for Disobedience of Orders. | |
| Chapter III. Along Shore in 1776 | [63] |
| Brilliant Deeds by the First Heroes of the American Navy—Why Nicholas Biddle Entered Port with but Five of the Original Crew of the Andrea Doria—Richard Dale on the sleek Lexington—The Racehorse Captured in an even Fight—Captain Lambert Wickes in the Reprisal Beats off a Large Vessel—John Paul Jones in his Earlier Commands—A Smart Race with the Frigate Solebay—Sixteen Prizes in Forty-seven Days in Cape Breton Region—Poking Fun at the Frigate Milford—The Valuable Mellish—An Able Fighter who Lacked Political Influence. | |
| Chapter IV. He Saw “the Countenance of the Enemy” | [84] |
| The Story of Arnold’s Extraordinary Fight against Overwhelming Odds on Lake Champlain—A Thousand Sailors, of whom Seven-tenths were Picked Men, Armed with the Heaviest Guns, were Pitted under a Courageous Leader against 700 Yankees, chiefly Haymakers, Poorly Armed and with Insufficient Ammunition—Savages with Scalping Knives Aided the British—A Desperate Struggle at the End—The Best All-around Fighter under Washington. | |
| Chapter V. Under the Crags of the “Tight Little Isle” | [112] |
| The Saucy Yankee Cruisers in British Waters—When Franklin Sailed for France—Wickes in the Reprisal on the Irish Coast—Narrow Escape from a Liner—A Plucky English Lieutenant—Harsh Fate of the Americans in the British Prison—Starved by Act of Parliament—Deeds of the Gallant Connyngham—Well-named Cruisers—A Surprise at a Breakfast Table—Taking Prizes Daily—Why Forty French Ships Loaded in the Thames—Insurance Rates never before Known. | |
| Chapter VI. John Paul Jones and the Ranger | [134] |
| The First Ship that Carried the Stars and Stripes—Dash at a Convoy that Failed—When the Dutch were Browbeaten—The Ranger Sent on a Cruise in English Waters—A Ship Taken off Dublin—The Raid on Whitehaven—When one Brave Man Cowed more than a Thousand—The Whole Truth about Lord Selkirk’s Silverware, with the Noble Lord’s Expression of Gratitude when he Got it Back—How Captain Jones Missed the Drake at First, but Got her Later on in a Fair and Well-fought Battle. | |
| Chapter VII. The First Submarine Warship | [157] |
| It was Small and Ineffective, but it Contained the Germ of a Mighty Power that is as yet Undeveloped—When Nicholas Biddle Died—He was a Man of the Spirit of an Ideal American Naval Officer—Fought the Ship against Overwhelming Odds till Blown out of the Water—The Loss of the Hancock—An American Captain Dismissed for a Good Reason—Captain Rathburne at New Providence—Loss of the Virginia—Captain Barry’s Notable Exploit—With Twenty-seven Men to Help him, he Captured a Schooner of Ten Guns by Boarding from Small Boats in Broad Daylight, although the Schooner was Manned by 116 Sailors and Soldiers. | |
| Chapter VIII. Privateers of the Revolution | [196] |
| A Tale of the American Patriots who Went Afloat outside of the Regular Navy—Their Part in Driving the British from Boston—Remarkable Work of the Lee—Truxton as a Privateer—Daring Capt. John Foster Williams—When Capt. Daniel Waters, with the Thorn of Sixteen Guns, Whipped Two Ships that Carried Thirty-four Guns between them—Great was Joshua Barney—The Story of the most Famous State Cruisers of the Revolution—Won against Greater Odds than were Encountered by any Successful Sea Captain of the War—British Account of the Work of American Privateers—The Horrors of the Jersey Prison Ship. | |
| Chapter IX. John Paul Jones and the Bonhomme Richard | [227] |
| A Condemned Indiaman, Ill-shaped and Rotten, Fitted as a Man-o’-war—A Disheartening Cruise with Incapable and Mutinous Associates—Attempt to Take Leith, and the Scotch Parson’s Prayer—Meeting the Serapis—When John Paul Jones had “not yet Begun to Fight”; when he had “Got her now”; when he would not “Surrender to a Drop of Water”—Ready Wit of Richard Dale—Work of a Bright Marine—A Battle Won by Sheer Pluck and Persistence. | |
| Chapter X. After the Serapis Surrendered | [260] |
| Richard Dale too Bright for the British Lieutenant—A Fair Estimate of Captain Pearson of the Serapis—The Treachery of Landais—Remarkable Escape from Texel—Honors for the Victor—“The Fame of the Brave Outlives him; his Portion is Immortality.” | |
| Chapter XI. The Year 1779 in American Waters | [280] |
| Lucky Raids of British Transports and Merchantmen—Disastrous Expedition to the Penobscot—The Trumbull’s Good Fight with the Watt—The First Yankee Line-of-battle-ship—When Nicholson, with a Wrecked Ship and Fifty Men, Fought for an Hour against Two Frigates, each of which was Superior to the Yankee Ship—Captain Barry’s Exasperating Predicament in a Calm—The Last Naval Battle of the Revolution. | |
| Chapter XII. Building a New Navy | [303] |
| When England, in her Efforts to Wrest Commerce from the Americans, Incited the Pirates of Africa to Activity, she Compelled the Building of the Fleet that was, in the End, to Bring her Humility of which she had never Dreamed—Deeds of the Barbary Corsairs—American Naval Policy as Laid down by Joshua Humphreys—The Wonderful New Frigates—Troubles with the French Cruisers on the American Coasts—Trick of a Yankee Captain to Save a Ship—A Midshipman who Died at his Post—Capture of the Insurgent—A Long Watch over the French Prisoners—Escape of a Twice-beaten Ship—The Valiant Senez—Story of Isaac Hull and the Lucky Enterprise. | |
| Chapter XIII. War with Barbary Pirates | [333] |
| A Squadron under Richard Dale Sent to the Mediterranean—The Dey of Algiers became Friendly, but the Bashaw of Tripoli Showed Fight—Fierce Battle between the Schooner Enterprise and the Treacherous Crew of the Polacre Tripoli—Slaughter of the Pirates—Tripoli Blockaded—Grounding and Loss of the Philadelphia. | |
| Chapter XIV. Decatur and the Philadelphia | [345] |
| Story of the Brave Men who Disguised a Ketch as a Merchantman and Sailed into the Harbor of Tripoli by Night, Drew up alongside the Captured Philadelphia, and then, to the Order “Boarders Away!” Climbed over the Rail and through the Ports, and with Cutlass and Pike Drove the Pirates into the Sea or to a Worse Fate—“The most Bold and Daring Act of the Age.” | |
| Chapter XV. Hand-to-hand with the Pirates | [359] |
| A Fight against Odds of Three Gunboats to One—Decatur and Macdonough Leading the Boarders—Cold-blooded Murder and the Vengeance that Followed—When Reuben James Won Fame—Eleven against Forty-three in a Hand-to-hand Struggle, and the Remarkable Result—The Handy Constitution—Fired their Gun as the Boat Sank under them—When Somers and his Mates Went to their Death in a Fireship—End of the War with the Pirates. | |
| Chapter XVI. Why We Fought in 1812 | [383] |
| A Stirring Tale of the Outrages Perpetrated on American Citizens by the Press-gangs of the British Navy—Horrors of Life on Ships where the Officers Found Pleasure in the Use of the Cat—Doomed to Slavery for Life—Impressed from the Baltimore—A British Seaman’s Joke and its Ghastly Result—The British Admiralty’s Way of Dealing with Deliberate Murder in American Waters—Assault of the Leopard on the Chesapeake to Compel American Seamen to Return to the Slavery they had Escaped—Building Harbor-defence Boats to Protect American Seamen from Outrage on the High Seas—Other Good Reasons for Going to War. | |
| Appendix | [415] |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| PAGE | |
| John Paul Jones. (From a mezzotint of the painting by Notté), [Frontispiece] | |
| An Early American Floating Battery, | [1] |
| Commodore Esek Hopkins. (From a French engraving of the portrait by Wilkinson), | [3] |
| The First Naval Flags, | [4] |
| Destruction of the Schooner Gaspé, 1772. (From an engraving by Rogers of the painting by McNevin), | [7] |
| The State House at Newport, Showing the Gaspé Affair. (From an engraving in Hinton’s “History of the United States”), | [10] |
| The “Boston Tea-Party.” (From an old engraving), | [13] |
| A British Armed Sloop. (From a very rare engraving, showing the first lighthouse erected in the United States—on Little Brewster Island, Boston Harbor), | [19] |
| A Brig of War Lowering a Boat. (From a picture drawn and engraved by Baugean), | [29] |
| The Admiralty Seal, | [33] |
| The Founders of the American Navy. (Drawn by I. W. Taber—the portraits from engravings), | [37] |
| Vessel of War Saluting, with the Yards Manned. (From an old French engraving), | [40] |
| Facsimile of a Letter from Abraham Whipple to General Lincoln during the Siege of Charleston. (From the original at the Lenox Library), | [42] |
| Nicholas Biddle. (From an engraving by Edwin), | [45] |
| A Frigate Chasing a Small Boat. (From an old French engraving), | [48] |
| A Letter from Esek Hopkins. (From the original at the Lenox Library), | [50] |
| A Corvette. (From an old French engraving), | [52] |
| Commodore Esek Hopkins. (From a very rare English engraving), | [55] |
| An English “Seventy-four” and a Frigate Coming to Anchor. (From an old engraving), | [59] |
| John Barry. (From an engraving of the portrait by Chappel), | [65] |
| Facsimile of Account between Dudley Saltonstall and Elisha Hinman. (From the original at the Lenox Library), | [67] |
| St. Pierre, Martinique. (From an old engraving), | [70] |
| John Paul Jones. (From an engraving by Longacre of the portrait by C. W. Peale), | [75] |
| Burlington Bay on Lake Champlain. (From an old engraving in the collection of Mr. W. C. Crane), | [83] |
| Sir Guy Carleton. (From an engraving by A. H. Ritchie), | [86] |
| Gen. Benedict Arnold. (Drawn from life at Philadelphia by Du Simitier), | [88] |
| The Royal Savage. (After an old painting), | [90] |
| The Battle of Lake Champlain, | [92] |
| Plan of the Action of October 12, 1776, | [93] |
| Map of the Fight on Lake Champlain, 1776, | [94] |
| The Fight on Lake Champlain, October 13, 1776. (From a contemporary English engraving), | [97] |
| A View on Lake Champlain, Showing the Fight of 1776. (From Hinton’s “History of the United States”), | [101] |
| Broadside Describing the Engagement on Lake Champlain. (From a copy at the Lenox Library), | [106–109] |
| The Phœnix and the Rose Engaging the Fireships on the Hudson River. (From a lithograph of the painting by Serres after a sketch by Sir James Wallace), | [115] |
| John Bazeley. (From an engraving by Ridley of a miniature by Langdon), | [120] |
| John Paul Jones’s Commission, | [136] |
| Map of the British Isles. (Showing Captain Jones’s two voyages and the route of the Reprisal), | [139] |
| An English Caricature of John Paul Jones. (Published in London, October 22, 1779), | [143] |
| “Paul Jones the Pirate.” (From an old engraving in the collection of Mr. W. C. Crane), | [149] |
| Map of the American Coast, | [161] |
| Signatures of John Manly and Hector McNeil, | [181] |
| Facsimile of a Letter from Thomas Thompson to Captain McNeil. (From the original at the Lenox Library), | [183–4] |
| A Typical Nassau Fort—Fort Fincastle. (From a photograph by Rau), | [187] |
| An English Frigate of Forty Guns. (From an engraving by Verico), | [191] |
| “A Proclamation.” (From the copy at the Lenox Library), | [198] |
| “An Ordinance Ascertaining what Captures on Water shall be Lawful.” (From the copy at the Lenox Library), | [202] |
| Alexander Murray. (From an engraving by Edwin of the painting by Wood), | [208] |
| Joshua Barney. (From an engraving by Gross after a miniature by Isabey), | [210] |
| Fight of the Hyder Ali with the General Monk, 1782. (From a painting by Crépin at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), | [213] |
| A Relic of Two Revolutionary Captains—Bill of Lading for John Barry Signed by Joshua Barney. (From the original at the Lenox Library), | [216] |
| “The Howes Asleep in Philadelphia”—A Caricature Drawn forth by the Doings of Revolutionary Privateers, | [219] |
| The British Prison Ship Jersey. (From an old wood-cut), | [221] |
| A Permit to Visit One of the Prison Ships. (From the original at the Lenox Library), | [223] |
| Map of the Wale Bogt and its Vicinity, | [225] |
| A Relic of the Prison Ships: Entrance to the Vault of the Martyrs. (From an old wood-cut), | [226] |
| Richard Dale. (From an engraving by Dodson after the portrait by Wood), | [231] |
| Pierre Landais. (From a copy, at the Lenox Library, of a miniature), | [236] |
| Leith Pier and Harbor. (From an old engraving), | [239] |
| John Paul Jones. (From an engraving by Guttenberg, after a drawing by Notté, in the collection of Mr. W. C. Crane), | [242] |
| The Engagement between the Bonhomme Richard and Serapis. (From an engraving by Hamilton of a drawing by Collier), | [246] |
| Diagram of the Serapis-Bonhomme Richard Battle, | [249] |
| The Serapis and the Bonhomme Richard. (From an engraving by Lerpinière after a drawing by Fitler), | [252] |
| Paul Jones Capturing the Serapis. (From an engraving of the picture by Chappel), | [258] |
| Capt. Sir Richard Pearson. (From an engraving by Cook), | [261] |
| John Paul Jones. (After a rare engraving), | [263] |
| Signature of Richard Dale. (From a letter at the Lenox Library), | [266] |
| A Letter from Pierre Landais. (From the original at the Lenox Library), | [268] |
| John Paul Jones. (From a miniature recently found [1897] in a cellar at the Naval Academy), | [269] |
| John Paul Jones (in Cocked Hat). (From a very rare engraving at the Navy Department, Washington), | [271] |
| John Paul Jones. (From an engraving by Chapman in the collection of Mr. W. C. Crane), | [273] |
| John Paul Jones’s Medal, | [276] |
| John Paul Jones and the Serapis Fight. (From an engraving in the collection of Mr. W. C. Crane), | [278] |
| A Letter from John Paul Jones to Thomas Jefferson. (From the original at the Lenox Library), | [279] |
| Signature of Hoysted Hacker. (From a letter at the Lenox Library), | [283] |
| Sir George Collier’s Victory in Penobscot Bay, 1779. (From a very rare engraving at the Lenox Library), | [285] |
| Map of the Attack on the Penobscot Fort. (From a contemporary map at the Lenox Library), | [288–9] |
| Signature of Samuel Nicholson. (From a letter at the Lenox Library), | [290] |
| James Nicholson. (After a miniature in the possession of Miss Josephine L. Stevens), | [296] |
| An Old Naval Order. (From the original at the Lenox Library), | [301] |
| A Mediterranean Corsair Anchoring. (From a picture drawn and engraved by Baugean), | [306] |
| John Barry’s Commission as Commander of the United States. (From the original at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), | [313] |
| A French Vessel of 118 Guns, a Century Ago. (From an engraving by Canali), | [318] |
| Diagram of the Insurgent-Constellation Battle, | [321] |
| A French Vessel of 120 Guns. (From an engraving by Orio), | [322] |
| Medal Awarded to Thomas Truxton, | [325] |
| Portrait of Truxton and President Adams’s Letter to him. (From a lithograph at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), | [326] |
| Truxton’s Medal and the Congressional Resolution Awarding it to him, | [327] |
| The Sally Attacked by a Sea-Serpent off the Shore of Long Island. (From a French engraving), | [331] |
| A French Cutter of 16 Guns. (From an engraving by Merlo), | [332] |
| Benjamin Stoddert. (From a painting at the Navy Department, Washington), | [334] |
| “Captain Sterrett in the Enterprise, Paying Tribute to Tripoli.” (From an old wood-cut), | [337] |
| A Schooner-of-War, Like the Enterprise. (From a wood-cut in the “Kedge Anchor”), | [339] |
| Map of the Mediterranean Sea, | [340] |
| William Bainbridge. (From an engraving by Edwin), | [341] |
| Stephen Decatur. (From an engraving by Osborn of the portrait by White), | [347] |
| Burning of the Frigate Philadelphia by Decatur. (From an old wood-cut), | [352] |
| The Blowing up of the Frigate Philadelphia. (From an engraving in Waldo’s “Decatur”), | [355] |
| A Piece of the Philadelphia’s Stern. (From the original piece at the Naval Institute, Annapolis), | [358] |
| Edward Preble. (From an engraving by Kelly of the picture in Faneuil Hall, Boston), | [360] |
| Decatur Avenging the Murder of his Brother. (From an engraving in Waldo’s “Decatur”), | [363] |
| Reuben James Saving Decatur’s Life. (From an engraving of the picture by Chappel), | [365] |
| John Trippe. (After a French engraving), | [367] |
| The Battle of Tripoli, August 3, 1804. (From the painting by Corné, 1805, at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), | [369] |
| Map of the Harbor of Tripoli, | [372] |
| The Explosion of the Intrepid. (From an old engraving), | [375] |
| Preble’s Medal, | [379] |
| “The Press-Gang Impressing a Young Waterman on his Marriage Day.” (From an English engraving, illustrating an old song), | [386] |
| Another View of the “Young Waterman” and the Press-Gang. (From an English engraving), | [388] |
| A Flogging Scene. (“The Point of Honor.” A sailor about to be flogged is saved by a comrade’s confession.) (From a drawing by George Cruikshank), | [391] |
| The United States Frigate Essex. (From a lithograph at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), | [393] |
| Capt. Henry Whitby, R. N. (From an engraving by Page), | [405] |
| Capt. Salusbury Pryce Humphreys, R. N. (From an English engraving), | [411] |
| Taking Deserters from the Chesapeake, | [413] |
An Early American Floating Battery.