Work was immediately commenced on this fleet; but as the builders demanded six months' time to complete them, Congress passed a law to purchase and arm suitable merchant-ships for immediate service. It cannot fail to interest the reader to give the names of the first vessels of the American navy. Among the many merchant-ships lying idle in the Eastern and Southern ports the following fourteen were selected by a committee, and, after being purchased, were armed with the number of guns set opposite their respective names: Ships—Alfred, 24; Columbus, 24. Brigs—Lexington, 16; Cabot, 16, Reprisal, 16; Andrea Doria, 14; Hampden, 14; Providence, 12. Schooners—Wasp, 8; Fly, 8. Sloops—Hornet, 10; Independence, 10; Sachem, 10, and Mosquito, 4.
Had the guns with which these vessels were armed been of uniform and suitable calibre, the odds in favor of the English men-of-war would still have been enormous; but when it is considered that the batteries of the ships were made up of every description of ordnance, from the antiquated Dutch cannon brought over by Peter Stuyvesant, to the ridiculously small and obsolete saluting-guns that had been preserved as relics on the public greens in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and other cities, the wonder grows that with such implements, served by men green to naval warfare, and mounted within lumbering merchant-ships, the stateliest frigates of the enemy were again and again beaten and captured, and the proud white ensign of old England lowered repeatedly to the flag whose motto was "Don't tread on me!"
The difficulty encountered by Congress in equipping, officering, and manning the little American fleet in the absence of arsenals and dock-yards, and when men trained to the service were not obtainable, finds only one parallel in history, when Alfred the Sailor King fitted out and conducted a fleet against the Danes one thousand years and more ago. But if system and order were at first lacking, patriotism compensated, and the old guns were served by men whose love of liberty breathed in the shot they hurled against their foes.
On December 22, 1775, Congress appointed Ezekiel Hopkins as commodore and commander-in-chief of the navy, and the following officers, all drawn from the merchant marine of the colonies, to serve as captains: Dudley Saltonstall, Abraham Whipple, Nicholas Biddle, and J. B. Hopkins. Leading the list of first lieutenants appointed on the same day, we find the immortal name of John Paul Jones, and in succession those of Rhodes Arnold, James Stanbury, Haysted Hacker, and Jonathan Pitcher. Next, under the head of second lieutenants, the records preserved in the Navy Department in Washington show the names of Benjamin Seabury, Joseph Olney, Elisha Warner, Thomas Weaver, and James McDougal, while the three third lieutenants appointed were John Fanning, Ezekiel Burroughs, and Daniel Vaughn.
Immediately after assuming command, Commodore Hopkins sailed, with the Alfred as his flag-ship, for a descent upon the English possession known as New Providence, and was accompanied to the West Indies by the Columbus, Cabot, Andrea Doria, Providence, Wasp, Fly, and Hornet. The expedition was successful, and the ships of the little flying squadron were loaded with captured stores and one hundred cannon, which latter were afterwards mounted on the American men-of-war under construction at the time. The commodore returned north, carrying back with him the English Governor of New Providence, and several other high officials of that colony. When within view of the Long Island shore three of the leading American vessels sighted and later on engaged the English frigate Glasgow and two brigs-of-war. After a spirited contest the latter surrendered, but the former escaped by a great display of seamanship.
The entire fleet with its prizes arrived safely at New London on April-fool day, 1776. This was the first and last naval command that Commodore Hopkins enjoyed; for, not acting with sufficient energy in refitting his fleet, Congress dropped him from the naval service.
In June, 1776, a marine corps was established, and Samuel Nichols was appointed to command it, with the rank of major. The junior officers consisted of nine captains, ten first and seven second lieutenants.
At the time that the Declaration of Independence was signed the thirteen vessels ordered to be constructed during the previous year were reported finished, and Congress assigned officers to them, as well as to other ships that had been captured from the enemy. The standing of the American navy when the Liberty Bell in the City of Brotherly Love pealed out the anthem of the free on July 4, 1776, is shown in the following, and the numerals attached to the names signify the number of guns with which they were armed: Washington, 32; Virginia, 28; Boston, 24; Warren, 32; Trumbull, 28; Randolph, 32; Raleigh, 32; Congress, 28; Effingham, 28; Delaware, 24; Reprisal, 16; Montgomery, 24; Lexington, 16; Hampden, 14; Andrea Doria, 14; Providence, 28; Providence (2d), 12; Alfred, 24; Cabot, 14; Sachem, 10; Independence, 10, and Fly, 8.
To the command of some of these vessels were ordered men who proved themselves heroes in many a notable encounter, and whose names will endure as long as this great republic lasts; but the two most prominent figures in the historical group are those of John Paul Jones, promoted to the rank of captain for bravery in battle and for services rendered to his country, and Nicholas Biddle, the brave old sea-lion, who recognized no odds, but who would engage a vastly superior enemy with the same readiness and confidence that he laid his vessel alongside of a sure prize.
A few words concerning four of these vessels will be found not to be devoid of unusual interest.