Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-21


certainty were over. IIers was his
chance to retrieve past errors and to
win renoWn.
In January, 1776, Commodore Eek.
Hopkins arrived in Philadelphia, and
escorted by an eager throng of citizens
went down to the Delaware, where lay
eight ships of the new fleet. On his
boarding the Alfred, Capt. Saltonstall
gave the signal and Lieut.. Jones pulled
up to the masthead the first American
naval flag. This was not the banner
with 13 stripes, but a rectangle of yell
low silk bearing picture of rattle
snake and the legend Don't Tread on
Me-" This device had been previously
used by the Culpeper Riflemen of Vir-
ginia.
At that moment the colonies were in
fever of excitement about the burn
Ing of Norfolk, Va, by the British. On
New Year day Lord Dunmore, after a
bombardment by his vessels, had land
ed troops in the town, then numbering
about 5000 people, and set fire to a
row OF houses suspected of harboring
rebels.
COMMODORE HOPKINS was direct
ed to go down and attack Lord
to use his best Judgment about the
direction of his cruises. The commo-
dore, whose experience on the sea had
been gained as a commander of land
militia and on the deck of few trading
vessels, could not get ready. 1t was
February IT before he could push
through the ice in the Delaware.
He then sailed. not to Norfolk, but
to the Bahama Islands, with the inten-
ton of capturing British stores of poW-
der, which the colonists urgently need
ed. His fleet sailed directly up to the
Island Of Abaco in daylight, thus giving
the commanders of the forts due warn
Ing, and enabling them to hide or send
away their powder
That the expedition did not fail en-
tirely was due to Jones, if we may be-
lieve the journal which he afterward
to land his Marines on the west side
Of the island and attack the town of
New Providence from the land. But
Jones, having become familiar with
these islands during his West Indian
voyages, proposed that the fleet be
anchored at key leagues distant
and that the attack then be made
by the eastern, or shorter, road.
Two captured pilots were available,
but Hopkins was afraid to trust them,
so Jones, taking pilot with him to the
masthead Of the Alfred, took the ships
into the keys harbor himself. The Ma
rines were then loaded on two schooners
and landed miles from Fort Montague.
They easily captured New Providence
(NassauD, and sailed away on March II
with hundred cannon and the British
governor aboard. All hands congratu-
lated each other on this first successful
venture, and Jones wrote to Hewes that
the commander n-chief Is respected
through the fleet"
And then. on their return, they en-
countered of Block Island the British
man-of-war Glasgow. Both the Cabot
and the Alfred attacked her, the lower
deck guns of the latter being directed by
Lieut.. Jones. The Glasgow tried to es-
cape, and victory looked certain, when
Hopkins lost his nerve and ordered the
chase to cease for fear of running into
the British fleet lowering off Rhode
Island. AT once the Glasgow rounded
to, turned on her foes and, gave both
American ships severe pounding. Hop
k1nS made sail to New London, Conn.
There hurricane of criticism smote
the new Navy for its ineffective show
ing with the Glasgow. This increased
when it was found the ship was full of
diseased men. Capt. Whipple was tried
and acquitted. Capt. Hazard was con-
victed of cowardice and broke" Even
Jones was included in the public uproar.
He wrote to HeWeS Of his having been
hurt as an individual by the censures
that have been unfortunately thrown
out-for although my station confined
me to the Alfred's lower gun deck,
where I commanded during the action,
and though the commodores letter
which hath been published says: All of
the officers in the Alfred behaved well,
yet still the public blanes me, among
others, for not taking the enemy"
The sensitive lieutenant was soon
Modified, for, on Capt. Hazard being re-
moved from the Providence, Hopkins
gave his command to Jones.
Jones was now ordered to do convoy
duty for ships carrying supplies for the
defense of New York. To do this, he
had to pass through the widespread
fleet OF Lord Howe, which was blocking
the Northern ports. He got himself
chased several times, beat off the British
frigate CerberuS, which attacked him
near Block Island, and saved the supply
ship Hispaniola from threatened cap
ture.
WHEN he returned he received an
w unlimited order for a free-lance
cruise to last six weeks or two or three
months"
1t may be imagined with what eager
ness Jones fastened down to the Della
ware to break this news to his cheering
crew. They loaded stores at once, and
on August 81, 1776, aboard the little
Providence, carrying only IL long-four
guns and 10 men, sailed for the Ber-
mudas on the first extensive open-Sea
cruise ever undertaken by lone Ameri-
can warship. One of Jones' first acts
was to fling overheard the whip. After
Tobago, no more floggings for him. He
rapidly took three briggs, which he man
ned and sent home, and then on Sep
TENDER he ran into serious danger. He
encountered a ship conveying merchants
men, and Jones was almost upon her
before he made her out to be the British
frigate Solebay, with 20 guns. She
promptly opened fire, and Jones ran for
safety. The Solebay was very fast, and
after a four-hour chase, got within
muSket shot of the Providence, which,
however. her gunners were unable to
hit.
Seeing the danger Jones escaped
through one of his featS of Seamanship
A squall coming up, he set his light
sails, and, putting his helm sharply
over, was off before the wind unframed.
leaving the enemy helplessly trying to
box about. His description of his es-
cape as "saucy" reveals his high salts
faction with the exploit.
The next saucy incident occurred off
Sable Island after ha =