Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-20
ON CONTINENTAL NAVY
ADDRESS BY REPRESENTATIVE
GEORGE EDMUND Foss.


Of the Sons Of the American Revolution, an
address on 1.-THE Continental Navy was
delivered by George Edmund Foss, chair
man Of the House naval committee. After
the usual routine business had been trans
acted the names Of the following newly
elected members were presented: Myron
Jermain Jones, Robert H. McNeill Ed
win Kessler, John Holmes Magruder,
Edgerton Chester Garvin and Henry
Welsh Wells. Mr.. Foss was then intro
duced by the president Of the society, Capt.
John H. Moore.
The speaker pointed out that Gen. WASH
ington, September 2, 1775 after assuming
command at Cambridge, Mass. issued
commissions to officers to command YES
sells to cruise for the intercepting of British
supply vessels, and that October Is, 1775,
Congress passed the first act providing for
a continental navy. and directed that two
vessels, to carry ten and fourteen guns,
respectively, be procured and fitted out.
At the same time marine committee of
three members, chosen from representatives
In Congress. was established. The mem
bers were John Adams, John Langdon and
Sllas Deane. Adams was soon thereafter
replaced by Christopher Gadsden of South
Carolina. The committee underwent sew
eral changes, both in members and num-
Der, until it finally consisted of repre-
sentative for each of the thirteen colonies.
Representative Foss tod of the fitting out
Of additional ships and how they were
equipped; what they did, and by whom
differed, John Paul Jones being the first on
the list Of captains.
First Vessel Captured.
The first capture of an armed vessel, it
was explained, was when Captain John
Barry, commanding the Lexington, took
the Edward, off the coast Of Virginia, after
q fight in, u,bic l, fbo
almost to pieces
MI. F'oss spoke of the achievements of
John Paul Jones and Capt. wickes and
other captains during the revolutionary
war. At the close of the war; 17S3 there
remained in the service only one Of the
vessels of the continental navy, the ALI
ance. The number of continental vessels
lost or destroyed during the war was "a,
carrying in all 40 guns. The British lost
TO-, CARRYING 2,620 guns. About 800 vessels
OF all kinds were captured by American
cruisers. privateers and private armed yes
sells. England had in commission at the
commencement Of war 112 vessels, IS Of
which were on the coast of North America.
Mr.. Foss recalled the record of the navy
In succeeding wars, down to the present
time, and spoke of our new navy and its
sp endid achievements
Key Rufus w. Clark, president of the
Michigan State Society, s. A. R., also ad-
dressed the meeting, giving an account of
the work of the Michigan society. He also
spoke of the opposition which taxation for
naval purposes evoked in the good old
times" illustrating it by humorous anec-
dotes.
Those in Attendance.
The following named members were pres
ent: Capt. John H. Moore U. s. N; Rev.
]. L. French, w. II. Somervell, H. w.
Wells NJ. L. Dawkins. F. Moses, f. E..
Grice, 7. B. Sergeant, w. L. Marsh, Col.
E. w. Foster, John s. Bukey, R. II. Faxon,
Charles Lyman. NJ. H. Paxton, w. N. Pax
ton, J. D. Biddis, Charles S. Bradley. Col.
c. w. Coombs. w. R. HOLSTER R. b.
Tuley, ]. B. Albright, A Howard Clark,
DR.. c. T. Caldwell DR.. H. C. Caldwell, c..
c. Magruder, F. H. Parsons, w. D. Groes-
H. P. Holden, R. V. Barry, Rev. R. w.
Clark, president Michigan State Society;
w. R. Hillyer, ]. Med. Steward, Judge T.
H. Anderson, H. H. Roberts. H. L. Bryant,
Pruden, L. A. Dent. A. B. Spangler, Chas
Stewart. A. P. Clark. jr., DR.. w. Pulsfer.
s. J. Besselievre, Philip Walker, w. L.
Chamberlin, F. J. Lewis, Dr. Ira w. Denni-
son, w. H. Bayly, E. S. Henry, H. H. Van
Deusen. A. ]. Gore. P. F. Larner, Admiral
a. S. Barker, Claude N. Bennett, Edwin A.
Hill, Admiral T. F. Jewell, Admiral c. NJ.
Chester, w. X. Stevens, R. P. Halves, J. G.
A. Jack. Major H. NJ. Kendall, r. A. Clark,
Judge E. B. Deane, c. S. Davis, n. L. Col
lamer. B. H. Warner, A. B. Bennett, H. B.
Polkinhorn, ]. G. Greenawalt 7. l.. Cole,
H. P. Gerald, Pickering Dodge, c. NJ.
Lewis. H. A. Lewis, c. P. Jacobs DR.. w.
Donnaly, Dr. C. w. Needham, LII. D.. DR..
L. D. Carman, DR.. o. ]. Eddy. DR.. F. A.
Swartwout, DR.. Chas. Bowker, DR.. A. S.
Johns. LII. D., F. w. NJ. Graham, w. H.
Pearce, Dr. S. E. Watkins. G. c. Maynard,
H. W. Samson, W. j. Rich, E. D. Sewell,
DR.. Wallace Neff, NJ l.. Croxall, Caldwell
Tyler, DR.. H. H. Donnally, Edison Phillips,
Leonard A. Merritt. Admiral G. w. Baird
VIM. A. De Caindry.
The original sword of John Paul Jones'
in its old scabbard, was shown to the men,
bers by Mr.. ChaS. Stewart. it having been
loaned for the occasion by the owner Com
mander R. +. Nicholson. The sword was
given by Paul Jones to Theodos.a Burr
and by her to DR.. Ducochet of Philadel-
phia. Thence 1t was passed to the
Nicholson family.