The Coolidge examiner., 1935-10-18

ty-EunpoWder!
IN June i555. when the Battle og Bunker I'M
jusi mlsscd being a decisive victory for the pa.
trlef forces because their supply of powder ran
out. the necessity Tor 40 ample supply ~ Il be.
came apparent snd that need became more urgen;
during the succeedlng mouths There werc not
enough powder mills In the colonies 70 provide
them with adequate amount bur there was
source ~ supply at hand II they had the means
for securing 81. That source was the supply
ships for the British forces In America FyhIclL
because England was the Mistress of the Seas
were accustomed 10 come TO Boston and other
ports on the Atlantic coast unarmed and without
conveys
soon after the opening of hosiiiliIes the sea.
farinE men of New England began 10 ~ out
privateers 10 prey upon British merchantmen
and their exploits not only pointed the way 20
a method % securing the much.necded gunpow-
der from the supplies anoat OF their coasts. but
they also suggested the advisability 81 establish
ing q colonial navy. on August ~. 1875 the two
houses of the Rhode Island legislature concurred
In ordering their representatives IN the Cont
mental Congress sitting In Philadelphia 90 pro-
pose the establishment ot such a navy "at the
expense of the continent
But when one % the Rhode Island delegates on
October 2 called the attention Of congress 10
the proposal of the legislature. Il encountered
such opposition among some OF the cautious rep
resentatiyes from other colonies that. after n
brief consideration. action on the proposal was
postponed until a later time. In the meantime
congress had received certain intelligence OF
the sailing OF two north country built brigs. OF
no force. from England on the eleventh % August
last loaded with arms. powder and other stores
Tor Quebec without convoy"
1T being OF importance 10 intercept these"
resolution passed on October ; requesting
General Washington. commander-in.c chief OF the
colonial forces az Cambridge. TO apply 10 the
Council Of Massachusetts Bay for the two armed
vessels In their service and 20 send them "ai
the expense OF the continent" after the hrigs
Furthermore. he was Informed that "the Rhode
Island and Connecticut vessels OF force viii be
sent directly 10 their assistance" and u was also
resolved that "the general be directed to employ
the said vessels and others. IL he Judge neceS
sary"
That was Important step In the develop
ment Of our navy but more were TO follow. on
Friday, October 13, another resolution was
passed that "A swift vessel 10 carry 10 carriage
guns and a proportlonable number OF swivels
with eight men, be fitted out with all possible
despatch for cruise OF three months and also
that another vessel be Fitted out for the same
purpose" AT this time marine committee"
composed OF Silas Deane Of Connecticut John
Gadsden OF North Carolina was appointed TO
look after the fitting out OF the vessels
ON October % this committee reported a reso
luton outlining program OF ships 10 be pnr-
chased and converted into men-of-war Hereto
fore the action taken by congress had only pro
vided temporary means for obtaining supplies
But this action by the marine committee was
definite step toward the establishment OF a co
ionial navy. For that reason. many years later.
October ~ was chosen as the date for the cele-
hration Of Navy day. An additional reason for
the selestion vas that II was also the birthday
of Theodore Roosevelt. who played such an i'm
portant part in the 'nodernization OF our navy
AMI in It's eventual growth into one OF the great
est IN the world.
On October - the marine committee" was
succeeded by a naval committee" of six men,
bers-John Adams. Sas Deane John Langdon
stephen Hopkins, Ioseph Hewes and Richard
Henry Lee. From the beginning Adams had been
an enthusiastic supporter of the project to ere
ate navy but, because Of other duties. he was