The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-12-13
10th Birthday
Of Uncle Sans
Naval Organization

"A bigger and better navy" now
the slogan Of the Navy. League and
the supporters Of preparedness ;
throughout the United states, was
when he urged upon the Continental
Congress the Importance of fitting out
naval vessels for the protection Of the
coast. As a. result Of the agitation
started by esthe father Of his country
the United States navy was born. This
may be said to be the 140th birthday
Of Uncle Sans naval organization,
for it was on December 13, 1775, that
the Con grsss resolved to build q navy
of thirteen frigates On the same
day marine committees was form
ed, to include one member from each
colony represented in the Congress.
Even before that memorable De-
cember 18TH the Congress had au-
thorized the purchase of several sail
ing ships, which had been fitted with
gums. and sent out to harass British
store ships and transports. These were
and accomp1ishedsl little.
That the ssthirteer'' superstiti on
had no standing in the Continental
Congress was evidenced by the fact
that it was on the thirteenth of the
month that the delegates from the
struction of thirteen frtgates-the first
war vessels ever built by the United
States, The superstitfous may attri-
butte the misfortunes of these thirteen
vessels to the triple hoodoo''' under
which they were Initiated It was or
dered that the nigates-five of thir-
ty-two gums, five Of twenty eight and
three of thirteen guns each-be
ready for sea by the first of March
following Construction was COM
menced Immediately, committee re-
porting that the cost Of the ships
would be about $685. each, and that
materials for their building and equip
nent might All be obtained in the coli.
onies. with the exception Of cannon
and gunpowder.
The close of the revolution found
the infant navy practically annihilat-
ed OF the thirteen frigates which
comprised Uncle Sans first venture
in building naval vessels, two were
destroy ed. on the Hudson river and
three on the Delaware, without ever
receiving their baptism of salt water.
The remaining eight, together with
nearly all or the purchased and con-
verted vessels, were captured by the
British, some at Charleston, some at
Penobscot, and others on the seas.
During the war 500 vessels Of all
classes were made prizes, but in the
process nearly all the American war
vessels were captured and destroyed.
Several spirited battles were fought,
but the exploit of Paul Jones, in the
Bon Honme Richard was the only
brilliant victory OF the infant navy,
Of Uncle Sam I.
The stmarine committee constitute
ed by the Congress lao years ago to-
day was also comparative failure.
The lack Of protest. onal knowledge
caused numerous and vexatious blum
ders, and it was not until the Congress
had selected three persons having a
thorough knowledge of marine aft
fairs as continental navy board
that real results were achieved Be-.
fore that the business of the marine.
committeez had been conducted in a.
haphazard way everybedy's business
being nobody's business After the
war the navy was practically extinct
until the depredations of the Barbary,
pirates led washin gton. to announce
a new naval program. .sf we desire
to avoid insult, . he declared, I'VE must
be able to repel 1t; if we desire to.
secure peace, one of the most power.
f1l instruments Of our prosperity, it.
must be known that we are at all
times ready for war Congress then
appropriated 100000 for creating a
new navy.