The Irish standard., 1910-06-11
FIRST NAVAL HERO
OF The REVOLUTION
jeremiah O'Brien was Hero of First
Naval Battle of Revolution
ary War.
Historians and Biographers Rarely
Mention the Name of This
Irish Hero
OBrien Captured Vessel Armed With
Sixteen SWivels and Four
Founders.

The hero of the first naval engage
ment of the American Revolution, Jer-
emiah O'Brien, came Of a race that
has made itself felt in the world in
various ways, says the New York
Freeman's Journal. 1t has made splen-
did pages in history, has evolved myr-
lad noble names. produced liter
ature tingling with life. and a type Of
character that will be admired as long
as the world endures.
So swiftly does history lengthen and
so many are the modern demands up
on the memory that the world usually
shrugs it's shoulders at its heroes and
buries their memories. This has been
the case with Jeremiah O'Brien, who
was practically the organizer and Gre
ator of what might, with justice, be
called the American navy. Search
through history and biographical
works and we very rarely find his
name. Therein we read Of Hosea Bal
lou. Lott Carey, Stephen Olin and hun
dreds Of other Eminent Americans"
but nothing of jeremiah O'Brien, who
fought the first naval battle Of the
American Revolution-the capture of
the Margaretta, an armed English
cruiser.
Readers of history are familiar with
the story Of the marauding expedi-
tions sent out along the Eastern coast
after the battle of Concord in 1775
One of the armed vessels engaged in
these expeditions was the Margaretta,
which put into Machias Bay. Maine
early in May, 1775. About this time
the three hundred citizens had erect
ed liberty pole. The British cap
tain ordered it to be taken down. un-
der threat of firing upon the town. A
meeting was held, and voted with
great spirit that the liberty pole should
stand. The British captain being sore
ly in want of supplies, did not carry
out his threat, but made preparations
for carrying 1t out when his ship
should be supplied. In the meantime
the patriots were not idle, and pre-
pared means for defense and resist
ance.
On Sunday May IL, while the Brit
ish officers were attending services,
the patriots were preparing to capture
them. They had brought their guns
and secreted them outside the build
ing. John O'Brien says he had his
gun under board, and took a seat
behind Capt. Moor, ready to seize him
at the first alarm. Unfortunately Il
negro servant got sight Of the armed
men crossing bridge, and giving an
outcry, leaped out Of the window. The
British officers followed his example,
and by the time the patriots had
reached the meeting house they had
reached their vessel. Capt. Moor
weighed anchor at once and proceed
ed down the river. y Bflen lncll
seized tie sloop Unity. and during the
rest of the day, mustered a crew OF
forty volunteers, while some others
went to East River to get schoon-
er there and volunteer crew to join in
the enterprise.
Early on the next morning they
proceeded down the river from both
villages The East River vessel got
aground and had no share in the bat
tie. or the party on board the Unity
only half had muskets, and for these
there were only three rounds Of am
munition. The rest armed themselves
with pitchforks and narrow axes
jeremiah O'Brien, the older Of the
six brothers, was made captain. and
, knowing they had no powder to waste
in long shots. they determined to bea:
down upon the enemy, board her and
decide the contest at once upon hel
r deck.
, Where was the East River schooner
and her brave commander? They die
3 not know: thay did not wait for her
! Forty undisciplined men are in chas'
t Of a vessel armed with sixteen swiv
! els and four Founders, with com
. plement of men, without any though