The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-11

menis of like character, which came in
To existence in many of the colonies dur
ing the war OF independence. He refer,
incidentally to one only, that OF Mlssa
chusetts, and then dismisses the subject
with the remark, " that many small YES
sells were fitted Out by thai ~ well a
other colonies. 1t is therefore proposed
in the succeeding pages, to supply in par
this omission. so far AT least, as regards
the Colony of Virginia. The naval force.
Of the State bore no unimpOrtant part in
the struggle for national ind pendence.
Early in the war the convention which
was in session at Richmond had been
appealed to by the people who lived along
is shores for protection Of the Chesa-
peake and It's tributaries.
This. they represented, was necessary,
not only against the attacks OF a power
fIl and relentless foreign enemy but "a
well from the forays of swarm, OF Tories
who Infested that bay from the head Of
Elk 10 the waters Of Carolina The
Convention, therefore. by an luminous
vote early in l716 instructed the Com
mittee of Safety TO procure at once such
a force Of armed vessels. by purchase or
otherwise, as should meet this impera-
tive demand. \ provision 20 this effect
was embodied December /. l77j. in an
ordinance passed on that day looking TO
the public defense. They were at The
same time invested with authority 10
appoint. and put into commission, suita
bic officers to establish their relative
grades and compensation; and 10 enlist
the necessary complement Of seamen,
marines, and others, in order 10 perfect
a. sOJn as practicable the details Of the
new military organization.
Upon call for volunteers by the con
mittee such members came forward Is at
once assured the success of this addition
TO the defenses Of the colony. Among
these were many Of the best young men
Of the community, whose experience in
tine colonial merchant marine gave earnest
OF their capacity as future commanders.
As a consequence Of this unexpected
success vessels were az once purchased
from private citizens for active service.
Ship carpenters and all other necessary
operatives were duly enlisted. These
were organized into companies subject 10
military law, and were at once employed
in the construction Of vessels. As early
as November. t716. 1.-TWO frigates 10
carry thirty twelye-pounder guns, two
galleys TO carry four twenty. f~Ourpcunder
guns, and fourteen nine-pOunder guns"
were ordered 20 be Immediately built. By
the same order -four additional companies
Of marines were 10 be raised. To give
expedition TO this work dock yards were
erected al convenient localities GOspOrt,
Suffolk, Fredericksburg, and Newcastle,
On the Pamuuky river, were some Of
these. The State acquired by purchase a
body Of timbered land On the Chicka-
hOminy about twelve miles from where it
into the James, for the SIM pur
pose. This sOOn became the chief depot
Of naval construction, on account Of its
favorable location. 1t was destroyed by
he traitor, Arnot, in the spring Of the
year 1881, but, as will be seen hereafter,
rot until man noted and efficient vessels
Iad been launched from its ways
The infant State navy had in this wise
its sudden but vigorous growth.
the meantime the affairs Of the country
II large were assuming a grayer import
nee. The continued demands of the
public service. outside, more perhaps {
han within the limits OF Virginia, alb {
orbed the attention of the Committee s
y Safety. Large accessiOns 10 the |
.nemy's naval forces appeared IN the {
chesapeake about this time. Under
over of his guns troops were landed, j
nd a series of predatory expeditions were &
n|augurated against the defenseleSs in
Iabitanis. 1t became apparent that the
Ommittee could not attend TO their more
messing antics and at he sane time di-
ect the affairs Of the growing lit,le navy. ?
accordingly they found il necessary 10 z
ppoint a Board Of Commissioners into Il
those hands was assigned lis supreme .
ontrol. Thomas Whiting, John Hutch d
lgs. Champion Travis, who afterwards 7
imselt commanded = war vessel. Thom1s ]
ieWtOn, jr, and George Webb composed %
Ic board. The first named presided a
yer their deliberations and WIS called u
First Commissioner. No member 0ftlis
lice under the Government The
cation OK this body impaired new energy /,
the affairs Of the navy. Additions % ~
list Of vessels were being constantly
AIDE, and in due time ships. br-,. .i
..hooncrs, and glllcys had b.eI ol't. d.
AIMED, and equipped D.ao's ot %
)re., rOpe-Wtl ks for the mlulfa..usc d"
corlage were established The most
lporttut ot these va, at d place c.icl "
arwics, about four miles be.JN l,iel- "
ond, and a short distance alDv. Fort w.,
On Dr-wy'7 B.u.f.' o spot ~.
ade famous during the la'c civil wlr. vi
ot "a ;e-tige " thes. WORKS NOW rcmiju. =,
) proof OF what sort Of work Vas =.
me then. we fiud many ORDER, .s.loi i-
r the fitting out Of vessels In NJ
me Of these the following items wil
the kind OF work done "ilree
o inches, two Of ten each. and 700 VI
thoms 3 ! inch rope, with rallinc. MARINE. %
e. Al the rigging was to be supplied J.
i'm rogGes'-yarn in il, that II may ever nO
be distinguished from The mer- III
ant rope, as also all the other rope that ID
all be made hereafter for the navy Of 81
is State A rogues' yarn was a single be
read, colored red or blue, twisted into di
e cordage, 50 that it might thereby he
shall now describe more particular
the material Of which our growing lit
navy was composed. With the excep
m of q few well known officers the