Norwich bulletin., 1921-05-18
ODD INCIDENTS IN AhERIcAS
 HISTORY
FIRST NAVAL ENLARGEMENT oI
THE REVOLUTION


 When the news of the battle of Lexing- ton and Concord reached the isolated hamlet of Mschias, Me, the people were thoroughly aroused, and under the lead ership of Capt. Jeremiah O'Brien they at once took their position with those who oppesed the mother country. The arrIF- al of the British armed vessel Margarttta early in June; 1775, brought matters to an issue. The plan to kidnap Capt. Moore of the Margaretta having failed, the residents determined on a bolder move
 Hardly ha d&he Margaretta been taken down the river when group Of men gathered on the wharf, and one of them suggested they take the slSpp Unity, one of the lumber vessels conveyed to Ma ehias by the Margaretta, and go out and capture the British armed schooner. The proposition was instantly aceeptsd by a little band of strohg hearted men, and they went out and hoarAea the Unity and brought it to the wharf:
 Their cheering brought others in huF- " to the wharf, among them Jeremiah O'Brien. It took but & moment to ex- plain the proposition. My boys, we can do it." exclaimed o'Brien, and almost in an instant thirty-hve volunteers had tum- bled over the sides into the little lumber
 
 the craft went in pursuit of the enemy.
 In that crew of thirty-hSe men were Jeremiah O'Brien and his five brothers. The lumber slaop Unity of eighty tons, thus became the first vessel to fight for the country in the war of the Revolu- ton. There was ne forma4ity of putting the craft into commission. The equip ment of the vessel was twenty muskets, one wall piece, sixty bullets sixty charg- es of powder, thirteen pitehferks and twelve axes With these supplies the first American warship started out to do battle. Fer provisions they had a few pieces of pork, one-half barrel of sugar and some bread.
 The expedition had been carried out in such haste that no commanding officer had been selected. On the way down the river the crew he'd a meeting and elect ed Jeremiah 0'BFien captain. When they started O'BEien gave an aaportuni- ty for anyone whe wished to go ashore, and three embraced it 0'Bren then made an address to the crew: Now my brave fellows, having got rid of those white-livered towards, our first business will be to get alongside of the schooner wonder. and the first. man who boards her shall be entitled to the palm of hon or"
 Capt. Moore was not slow in dis covering the. designs of the hostile sloop. and he made all haste to avoid a clash. He tried to get away, but his schooner was a slow sailer at the best and under skilful handling of oBrien the Unity overhauled the Margaretta. Tn AHerica's name I demand your surrend- er shouted O+Brien. Tn reply Moore threatened to fire From the pursuing craft the reply came Fire and be damn Cd"
 A shet was fired. One man fell dead and another was wounded on the Unity. But the young n1o9sk-huntet On the Unity eeely picked dR thk Aelr.sraah on the MafkArktta. Htithaut a helnasnnan the Margaretta Kfdathsd to under the brow of the Unity. whose bewsprit tore into the nainsaii of the schooner,
 JoAn o'Brien iln1hed on board and as the vessels seaaFated he was left alone. Fortunately the Engiish bullets fired at him missed their marlz and to prevent be- ing bayenetted he jumped everbeard He | then swan te the Unity. HS now brought 1 that vessel alongside the Margaretta and 1 the plqcky haynakers of Machiaa FfamRtiY lashed the two vessels togeth- CT. The men who had been crouching behind niles of lumber on the Unity watching Capt. o'Brien got the word :: Follow me 70 Armed with @pitchferks ard axes they junnea sver the rail to the | deck of the Margaretta. There was a desperate hapaste4hand conflict. and Capt. Moore fell mortally wounded.
 It would seem an unequal struggle De- 1 tween Hien uhtFainea in the art of war. armed almost entiFley with farmers 1 toeis but the Maehias haymakers were | fighting with never thought of glory. never as thought of money. and they won. ThA light lasted fully an hour, Only one American was killed. one more was mortally wounded but several others were injured, Cant. Moore, the British commander. died the next day. Cant. oRrlen haul tssieWn the British ensign the first Britah hae hauled-down fin the Revolution. The feht has been aptiy called ''t4'e Lexingt;l' of the sea" snd Vas the first klew struck after the war had actually begun
 (Tonlorrew-Wsshinsten as a Farmer, 1 l