Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-07-09

Colonies would be divided Two wedges
were to be driven into this natural
barrier, one from the south, from New
York, the other from Canada, by way
of Champlain.
Benedict Arnold with his little fleet
of three schooners, sloop, and five
1gondolas," in 1776 delayed prepara-
ton and advance from Canada SO long
that Carleton from that end could not
gain a position from which to cooperate
with Howe, and their experimentation
was postponed for a year; a delay
which proved fatal, and thus the river
was never allowed to divide the
Colonies.
Meanwhile Revolutionary scourings
of the seas contributed greatly in the
success Of Washington's siege of Boston
in l775-1776. So many supply ships
heading for the British garrison at
Boston were captured, and their
precious cargoes diverted to the hard
pressed Colonial troops, that discour-
agement may easily have helped to
wear down the British morale.
On June %, 1776, occurred the first
battle of the Revolution in which ships
engaged This was the attempt of the
British to take Fort Moultrie at
Charleston, South Carolina According
to Admiral Mahans account, it was
Bunker Hill transferred to the sea,
except that it was a more clear-out
success for the Americans. No British
ships were sunk, but neither was the
fortress taken Instead the British fleet
sailed away good deal damaged, its
commander persuaded that the Yankee
prize was not worth the heavy price
to be paid for its capture.
The real glory of the Revolutionary
naval history belongs to the privateers
that roved the sea in great numbers. a
great page in our record remains to
be written, says the United States
George Washington Bicentennial Com
mission. That page will deal with the
important work of these privateers, and
the adventurous conditions under
which they operated.
Massachusetts, alone put into COM
mission more than 1000 of these pri-
vately owned and operated war yes
sells. And to most Americans their mis-
sion has been misinterpreted These
privateers were not pirate ships. They
were duly commissioned by the gov
ernments Of the Colonies. Their COM
manders were put under heavy bond
to maintain the customs OF the seas as
defined by international law They
British merchantmen, but only after
humane treatment had been accorded
to the crews. John Hancock later signed
the commissions Of the Massachusetts
priyateersmen, and those Of other
Colonies did their work under equally
good authority.
During the eight years OF the
Revolution, privateers were responsible
for the capture Of 3,057 British ships,
all with valuable prize cargoes. In fact,
ii became difficult to recruit seamen
for the real Navy of the Colonies, be-
cause of this profitable business OF pri-
watering. 1t was not unusual for a
common seaman to receive $50 pounds
as his share of the prize money of a
successful cruise. and the commanding
officers shared accordingly. 1t was good
business mixed with patriotism, And
the embarrassment caused the British
by these privateers was indeed great
The smaller privateers confined their
operations to the West Indies or to
our own coastal waters, but larger pri-
Watering vessels roamed in foreign seas
to such good effect that one report
from Banff, Scotland, in 1777, COM
plains of the time as so troublesome
and our seas so full of American pri-
vateers, that nothing can be trusted
upon this defenseless coast"