The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-03
TnE FIRsr AMrRCAN ADMIRAL
Argument Thst lie was EseK Hopkins
Cf Rhtde Island.


To THE EurTon or THE suN SIR A jun
bled controXeraY seems to have been beEun
a. 70 who was the first American Admiral.
The Board OF Aldermen recently adopted res
onutlon euloRizlhg John Paul Jones as the frBt
Admiral OF the American navy. Tho SbrtHg-
6eid Repubicdn says the honor Of the title ID
claimed for John Barry Of philadelphia. IL
would seem there are abundant records and
facts 10 satisfy the most doubling that Esek
Hopkins OF Rhode Island was the first com
mlasioned Admiral or Commander-in-Chief
Of the American navy.
For nearly forty years he had followed the
sea a. merchant captain and as commander
Of prlvsteers. as well e. In the Colonial SER
vice during tho French and Indian wars, and
be was the best known sea captain In the Col
onies. He was many times elected member
OF the Legislature or Assembly OF Rhode
Island-a leading man In the Affairs Of the
state. He was appointed 10 command the
battery at Fox Hin By vote Of the town OF
Providence. Aug. 20 ITS. on Oct. Z. l77S,
he was commissioned By the committee called
the Recess Committee (Which had authority
10 act during the time when the General As
sembly was not In session.. and this com
mission appointed him commander-ln-Chief
with tie rank OF BrtEadier-Gensral II was
signed by the Deputy Governor. Nicholas
Cooke. and oounterSgned By Henry Ward,
Secretary.
He soon established himself with a force
Of about six hundred men at Middletown.
q. L., adjoining Newport. Wallace. COM
mander Of the Britlsh feet, had made demon
STATIONS and demands upon the inhabitants
Of Newport. Much OF the correspondence
between Hopkins and Wallace. which secured
the raising Of the blockade and the estab-
lishment Of . truce, IL on record to-day. In
conducting these negotiations Hopkins
showed sagacity, quiet hrmness and dieeTe-
tion-ln fine, q character very different from
the IrascIble. irresponsible man his enemies
later represented him az being.
On Monday. Aug. q. i775, the General
Assembly convened at Providence, ana et
this session the arSt El EgsstiSn for the Sstado e
Prom this subsection the American navy
dates its ORIGIN. The Continental Conqees
was petitioned by the Rhode Island Assembly
The importance Of e9uiPplnE an American
heet was set forth. A divided opinion was
expressed and 9 lang and sPJT nS6 dsS45s
and Robert Treat Paine OF MASSACHUSETTS,,
Eiphalet Dyer and silas pesne Of C0Hnscti-
taking part The decision OF The CONGRESS
was for securing a. once available ships and
eQuipping them for the Profession an and de
Tense Of the United Colonies as the Congress
rs nov S s. 1875. the work Of procuring and
fitting out the vessels ordered had proGT eBsed
so far that the committee Of the 6ontiheDtal
Con GEess selected Esek Hopkins Of Rhode
Island as oemmandeT OF ne meet; CONGRESS
also appointed the following Ofioers for the
several vessels
Nicholas Blddle. John Burroughs Hopkins.
John Paul yonss. Rh9des Arnold. =,
Pitcher, first Lleutensnts.
Benjamin sesburx' Joseph olney. Elisha
Warner. Thomas Weaver. - MoDouEan'
John Fa5pinS, EEetIel Burroughs. Daniel
V5Ishan. Third laeutsnanns 80. ,,..,a.d
to oorrespond IN the navy TO that held by
Gen. wsShin Eton IN the army =, Tns we
SeStSTse ob 3. Sss a. nI Commodore
OOrrespondepoe from The pLssIdent q Con-
titles were given 70 him. a. well as the fun
title named In the resolution Of Congress
sppoin ting him-Commander-in-Chief OF the
Hopkins. aftof his appointment. went 70
Philadelphia TO assume his ccpmand. EiEht
from the available merchAntuen. The
shir selected a. the iagshlp Vas formerly a
meTchentmAn named BLACK Prince, Nh tsi
stout vessel Of her class, and was renamed
fins gained the deck Of HE fsgship- Dudley
Saltonstall gave a signal, and First Lleuten-
ant John Paul Jones holsted a yellow SIR
flag bearing IA lively representation Of Tattle-
snake and the motto, Don't Tread on Me"
Cold weather and Ice held Hopkins and his
-
lT7a, n the Naval Committee expressing his
anxiety TO set sail. The following orders from
HOPKINS 10 his several Captains were Issued
prior 10 sailing from the capes Of Delaware.
| February, i77o:
str, You are hereby ordered 70 keep Company
with me, n possible and truly observe the signals
| given By the ship am In; but IN case YOU should
| Be separated In a gale Of wind or Otherwise you
are 70 USE all possible means 70 Join The Fleet a.
soon A. possible, but n you cannot In four days
alter you leave the Fleet you are 70 make the beat
OF your way 20 the southern pan Of AbAoeo lone
| OF the bahama ltlHndsl and there wait TOT the
Fleet fourteen days hut n the Fleet docs not Join
you IN that time. you are 70 cruise In such places
| a. you think will most annoy the enemy, ana you
are 10 send into port for Ta all British veasels OF
nruperty or Other vessels with any supplies for the
| Ministerial Forces who you may make yourself
| master OF 20 such places a. you may think beet
within the United Colonies. In case you are IN very
| great danger Of being taken you arr 20 destroy
| 6ess orders and your slgnAls EsHE HoPEISa
COMMANDMENT Chief.
Conclusive. II would seem. as 70 who was
| the first American Admiral, and that John
| Paul Jones was his First Ileutensnt
SUYFIup, Conn. May /.