The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-12
STORY OF OUR FIRST NAVY.
Fifteen Vessels, With Ezekiel Hop
kins As the First Commander.

| Boston Transcript: The outbreak of
the revolutionary war found the patri-
OTIS without a navy. Congress had to
create one Four merchantmen were
| first purchased, hastily equipped with
| guns, and sent to sea as cruisers; put
| their defects as war vessels soon De-
came so apparent that congress deter
mined at once to set about the DulIdlng
! of a navy On Oct 3, 1Ii5, congress
ordered two cruisers built, and on Dec.
! IL the order was increased to i've -
gun ships. FIVE 2S-gun ships and three
! 24-gun ships. They were to be ready
for sea by the following April. The
names given the 13 vessels were BoS-
ton. Congress, Effingham, Delaware,
Hancock, Montgomery, Providence, RAJ
leigh. Trumbull, Virginia, Warren,
Washington and Randolph. These were
the first war vessels constructed in the
United States.
The first omniander-in- chief was
Ezekiel Hopkins of Rhode Island, a
younger brother of Congressman Ste
phen Hopkins. He was appointed to
this high office on Dec. p, 1775.
At the time of his appointment Eze-
kiel Hopkins was a brigadier general in
command of the Rhode Island troops,
acting under commission from the
governor He had spent part of his life
on board merchant ships, and had also
been a shipbuilder; consequently ne
was fitted, both by experience and
ability, to fill the important office given
to him. In a short time a fleet of four
ships and three sloops were ready, and
with these Admiral Hopkins set out to
win glory for himself and country.
Among his lieutenants was the famous
John Paul Jones, who was probably
the most brilliant and daring naval
officer of the wars with England.
The Bahama Islands, in the West In
dies, were then an English colony, with
New Providence as their principal sea-
port and seat of government; and
hither the new admiral sailed the new
navy. He attacked the city, captured
the harbor, fort and town, and brought
back with him to America the English
governor as a prisoner, so cannon and
large quantity OF ammunition and other
military stores. This brilliant achieve
ment was godsend to the disheartened
and impoverished patriots. 1t renewed
their courage and replenished their
stores. Admiral Hopkins was the hero
of the hour. and received a vote OF
thanks from congress for his great
deeds, which had redeemed the glory
and advantage of his country.
Shortly after his return from the Ba-
hamas he met two English ships off
Block Island and captured both OF
them. Two days later he had an en-
gagement with the English 29gun ship
Glasgow, but did not succeed in captur-
ing it. The public severely censured
his conduct of this battle, and in June,
1776, he was ordered to appear before
the congressional committee. After
hearing had been given him the COM
mittee sent favorable report of his
actions to congress, which the latter
body approved, SO the admiral was eX-
onerated from all blame.
He was now placed in charge of a
large number of war vessels, which
congress was having built. The task
was difficult one. Money and ma
English fleet blockaded the harbors and
prevented the sailing of some of his
ships when completed. The people be-
came impatient. The press accused him
of slowness. of being a laggard in his
country's services. His temper was
never of the best, and he emphatically
resented the clanor of complaints.
Again he was summoned to appear be-
fore congress for investigation. Then
the testy old sailor lost his temper en-
tirely, and sent a point blank refusal
to congress, couched in vigorous. but
undiplomatic, English. The result of
all this was that he was dismissed from
the service on Jan. g 1777.
Ezekiel Hopkins at once equipped a
fast and powerful privateer and again
went to sea- He sailed to the East In
dies, where his daring and skill found
rich rewards. During one cruise he
captured sufficient number of rich
English merchantmen to cause his
profits to foot up over $l,000,00O. AT an