National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-26


bers, and directing them to fit out two swift sail
ing vessels-the one of ten and the other of four
teen guns-to cruise to the eastward to interceI
the supplies and transports intended for the Brit
ish army at Boston" Under this resolution tw
vessels were equipped, one named the Lex
ington and the other the Providence; one il
commemoration of that hallowed spot where mel
first died for American liberty, and the other il
deyout recognition of that high power which rule
the fate of nations. The Lexington and the Provi
dence! They were the first to ride the waves b.
American authority, and the Lexington was tn
first to carry the American flag in a sea fight t.
victory. The marine committee was afterwart
increased to thirteen members-one from eacl
colony-and additional ships of war were ordered
to be built. In October, 1779, Board of Admi
ralty" was established, which superseded the ma
rine committee, and consisted of five commits
sioners, two members of Congress, and three whC
" ere not. Major General Alexander McDougall
of the army, became the first Secretary of tht
Marine " in February, 17S1, and in August of the
same year the system was again changed by the
appointment of an Agent of Marine, who assumed
full control of the whole service In the mean
time few small vessels crept out from blockade6
harbors, and constituted the navy of
THE INFANT GOVERNMENT.
As nearly as can be ascertained there never were
more than one hundred and fifty guns afoat al
any one time, under the American flag, during
the revolution. On the other hand. in order thai
England's claim to be mistress of the sea should
continue to be upheld, there were in the service
of the crown, according to her own account, an
average Of over 26,O0O seamen employed against
her reyoled colonies as long hostilties existed
In the midst, however, of the vast English arma-
ment, holding the keys of every outlet on the At
lantic coast, and standing guard, it were, ovel
an imprisoned people, the American cruiser of the
revolution fitted to and fro and often struck its
quarry like daring bird of prey. 1t is astonish-
ing to the modern reader, whose idea of the
war for American independence is that of q
land fight from Lexington to Yorktown, 70 find
recorded in an English work of credit a list Of
342 English vessel captured in the single year OF
17T6 by American ships of war. There are names
also in connection with this early period of the
navy of the United States which call for mention
wherever patriots and heroes are honored Hop
kins, styled commander-in- chief, by act of Con-
gresS, December %, 1775; Barron, Wickes, Nichol-
son, Hazlewood, Barry, Conyngham, Biddle, Saltin-
stall, Whipple, and others filled the morning OF
our naval history with brilliant and unfading
light. But there is another name belonging to that
galaxy which, like the most luminous star in the
armament, deserves to be pointed out alone. In
the latter part of December, 1775 the first ensign
every displayed by regular American man-of-
war was hoisted in the Delaware, on board the AL
fred, by
JOHN PAUL JONES.
This celebrated officer then twenty eight years
old, and the youngest senior lieutenant ever regu-
larly commissioned in the naval service OF the
United States. From the opening to the close of
his career upon the ocean it was one of unbroken
triumph and splendor. Though not native born,
yet no American spirit was ever more fierce or
vehement for American independence than that
which animated his breast. His cruise of the sum-
mer and autumn of 1779 in the most familiar and
fequented waters of Great Britain and in sight of
the shores of England, Scotland, and Ireland
started the civilized world with the capacity and
courage of American seamanship. Sailing the Bon
Homme Richard, not superior ship, nor well
armed, and accompanied by two unreliable vessels,
he captured and destroyed twenty five ships ofthe
enemy, and threw the inhabitants of the three
kingdoms into a panic. Macaulay has recorded
the fact that the guns of the Holland feet were
heard at the Tower of London during the reign of
Charles the Second; and the statement, therefore,
of James Fennimore Cooper, in his history of the
United States navy touching the presence of these
three American armed ships in British waters is a
most striking one. He says: Perhaps no vessels
Of war had ever before excited so much local
alarm on the coast of Great Britain" Where in all
history, before since, was ever such tribute of
fear paid by brave and powerful people to force
80 small and comparatively Insignificant? And
yet he who reads afresh the details of that awful
leath- -grapple in the night time between
THE RICHARD AND THE SCRAPS,
N hearing of the firesides of English villages will
lot wonder that CONSERVATION pervaded the bor-
iers of that country. In all the annals of the sea
more unfaltering and devoted courage was never
NI,.,
1t was replete also with those Incl
tents of heroic daring which seized the admira-
ion of the world and have held it ever since. The
answer of the commander of the Richard to the
lail of his adversary in the midst of the conflict
will never be lost. An hour of destruction and
bloody work at close range in the dark had passed
y when the British captain demanded, L" Have
'ou struck your colors?" The answer from the
launtless soul of the American came prompt
nd startling on the night air., 81 have not
et begun to fight" And then, lashing himself
asst to his antagonist, with a desper-
tie determination for victory or death the American
ought on until each ship was charnel house. and
he gallant Englishman at last pulled down his
ag. The Richard went TO the bottom soon after
yard from the injuries received in this terrible
Engagement with a vessel one-third superior in
ffeCtiye armament. We need not wonder, there
ore when we read in the histories of that period
hat great interest was excited throughout Europe
7hen the victor arrived in Holland with his re-
1arkable prize and the circumstances of her cap
ure became known. 1t appears that the British
overnment was deeply mortified and bitterly in
ensed. A demand was at once made upon the
'utch government for the release af all the Eng
sh prisoners and for the delivery of the great
.merican sea captain as
PIRATE.
ritish pride was hurt and thirsted for an ignoble
eyenge. This foul scheme was thwarted and in !
ebruary 17S1 after an absence of more than three
ears, the commander of the Bon Homme Richard |
Inded in Philadelphia covered with imperishable !
onor. love this great, heroic character and |
ave dwelt upon it here because the fact is too |
ften forgotten that under his command a battle |
as fought on the ocean in support of American |
berty, which impressed the mind of the world as
rongly the battle of Bunker Hill or of Saratoga
have dwelt upon it also in order to remind the |
merican people that the American navy, how
yer diminished its resources, has in every crisis
our history, from the very beginning, not |
My met every duty, but astoniShed the world |
ith its brilliant and bloody exploits The officers
the navy by whom am surrounded day can
ok proudly back through the achievements of |
eir profession to the very first, finding nothing
r shame, nothing for wall nor humiliation
hose who have sealed their devotion to their
'untry with their blood, who haye passed away
smoke and flame under the flag atsea, had their
res fixed upon examples of heroic duty as illus
iOus .aS any in the history of the ages. The
irit of the navy was high and fearless from the
Dur of its creation and it has ever since remained
theatre for the development of all
anIy virtues.
ADMIRAL FAEEAGUT
as born on the 5th day of July 1901, within
Tenty years of the close of the revolution, and
thin twelve years after the formation of the Gov
nment. He was bora amidst the associations of
e great struggle for liberty and he listened in
: infancy to the then recent glories of the war
r American independence. His father was a
ldier of 1776. and he heard from him, in childish
Onder, the thrilling deeds of our ancestors by
nd and sea. 1t is true that the navy of the revo-
ton had ceased to exist, but its memory was still
esh 1t is a strange fact that during period of