Continental Navy Jack

The Continental Navy was authorized by the Continental Congress on October 13, 1775. Image File history File links Naval_Jack_of_the_United_States. ... Image File history File links Naval_Jack_of_the_United_States. ... The Continental Congress is the label given to three successive bodies of representatives: The First Continental Congress met from September 5, 1774 to October 26, 1774. ... October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years). ... 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Congressional Oversight of Construction

John Adams, who took an active role in the formation of the navy and the drafting of suitable operational regulations.

The original intent was to intercept the supply of arms and provisions to British soldiers, who had placed Boston under martial law. George Washington had already informed Congress that he had assumed command of several ships for this purpose, and individual governments of various colonies had outfitted their own warships. The first formal movement for a navy came from Rhode Island, whose State Assembly passed on August 26, 1775, a resolution instructing its delegates to Congress to introduce legislation calling "for building at the Continental expense a fleet of sufficient force, for the protection of these colonies, and for employing them in such a manner and places as will most effectively annoy our enemies..." The measure in the Continental Congress was met with much derision, especially on the part of Maryland delegate Samuel Chase who exclaimed it to be "the maddest idea in the world." John Adams later recalled, "The opposition...was very loud and vehement. It was...represented as the most wild, visionary, mad project that had ever been imagined. It was an infant taking a mad bull by his horns." John Adams by John Trumbull. ... John Adams by John Trumbull. ... Boston is a town and small port c. ... Martial law is the system of rules that takes effect (usually after a formal declaration) when a military authority takes control of the normal administration of justice. ... This article is the current U.S. Collaboration of the Week. ... Samuel Chase painting by John Beale Bordley (1836). ... John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was the first (1789–1797) Vice President of the United States, and the second President of the United States, whose term lasted from 1797 to 1801. ...

But during this time, the issue arose of Quebec-bound British supply ships carrying desperately needed provisions that could otherwise benefit the Continental Army. The Continental Congress appointed John Adams, Silas Deane, and John Langdon to draft a plan to seize ships from the convoy in question. Silas Deane (December 24, 1737 - September 23, 1789), was a delegate to the American Continental Congress and later a diplomat. ... John Langdon John Langdon (June 26, 1741—September 18, 1819) was an American politician and one of the first two U.S. Senators from New Hampshire. ...

The Continental Navy is Born

John Paul Jones, the Continental Navy's first seaman to be appointed the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

On October 13, 1775, Congress authorized the building of the first vessels of the Continental Navy, literally the birth of the US Navy as it is considered officially. Download high resolution version (610x846, 492 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (610x846, 492 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

By the end of October, Congress authorized the purchase and outfitting of four armed vessels. Soon a Naval Committee was formed which quickly purchased merchantmen and oversaw their proper outfitting and readying for combat. Regulations were drafted by John Adams and adopted November 28, 1775. When it came to selecting commanders for ships, Congress tended to be split evenly between merit and patronage. Among those who were selected for political reasons were Esek Hopkins, Dudley Saltonstall, and Esek Hopkins' son, John Burroughs Hopkins. However, Abraham Whipple, Nicholas Biddle, and John Paul Jones managed to be appointed with backgrounds in marine warfare. French portrait of Commodore Esek Hopkins Esek Hopkins (26 April 1718 – 26 February 1802), was Commander in Chief of the Fleet throughout the American Revolutionary War. ... Dudley Saltonstall was commander of the Penobscot Expedition in 1779 against a British army fort in Maine, during the Revolutionary War, which is generally acknowledged as the worst naval defeat in United States history. ... Abraham Whipple (26 September 1733–27 May 1819) was an American revolutionary naval commander. ... Nicholas Biddle (1750-1778) was an officer in the Continental Navy. ... John Paul Jones John Paul Jones (July 6, 1747–July 18, 1792) was Americas first well-known naval hero in the American Revolutionary War. ...

On December 3, the Alfred (24), Andrew Doria (14), Cabot (14), and Columbus (24) were commissioned. On December 22, 1775, Esek Hopkins was appointed the naval commander-in-chief, and officers of the navy were commissioned. With this small fleet, complemented by the Providence (12), and Wasp (8), and Hornet (10), Hopkins led the first major naval action of the Continental Navy, in early March 1776, against Nassau, Bahamas, where stores of much-needed gunpowder were seized for the use of the Continental Army. However, success was diluted with the appearance of disease spreading from ship to ship. On 6 April 1776 the squadron, with the addition of the Fly (8) unsuccessfully encountered the 20-gun HMS Glasgow in the first major sea battle of the Continental Navy. Hopkins failed to give any substantive orders other than the order to recall the fleet from the engagement, a move which Captain Nicholas Biddle described as, "away we all went helter, skelter, one flying here, another there." December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... USS Alfred was a man-of-war in the Continental Navy of the United States. ... USS Andrew Doria was purchased by the Continental Congress in October of 1775. ... The first USS Cabot of the United States was a 14-gun brig, one of the first ships of the Continental Navy, and the first to be captured in the American Revolutionary War. ... The first USS Columbus was a ship in the Continental Navy. ... December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Scorpion, a merchant schooner built at Baltimore, was purchased by the Continental Navy late in 1775 and renamed USS Wasp —the first of that name. ... Eight ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Hornet, after the stinging insect. ... Map of the Bahamas The Battle of Nassau (March 2 – March 3, 1776) was a naval action and amphibious assault by American forces against British-occupied Nassau, The Bahamas during the American Revolutionary War. ... For other uses, see Nassau (disambiguation). ... Illustration depicting uniforms and weapons used during the 1779 to 1783 period of the American Revolution by showing four soldiers standing in an informal group General George Washington, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775. ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... This article is about the year 1776. ... Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Glasgow after the city in Scotland. ...

The Thirteen Frigates

Continental frigates Hancock and Boston capturing British frigate Fox, 7 June, 1777

By December 13th, 1775 Congress had authorized the addition of 13 frigates to the fleet, which were constructed as warships, rather than refitted merchantmen. Of the eight frigates that made it to sea - five were destroyed to prevent capture before carrying out any missions - all were captured or sunk. Image File history File links Hancock_Boston_Fox. ... Image File history File links Hancock_Boston_Fox. ... Frigate is a name which has been used for several distinct types of warships at different times. ...

Guarding American commerce and raiding British commerce and supply were the principal duties of the Continental Navy. Much of its accomplishments is recorded as prizes taken in commerce raiding, which, as was the practice of the time, brought personal gain to officers and crew. Commerce raiding or guerre de course is a naval strategy of attacking an opponents commercial shipping rather than contending for control of the seas with its naval forces. ...

Most of the thirteen frigates took multiple prizes and had semi-successful cruises before their captures, however there were exceptions. On 27 September 1775, Delaware participated in a delaying action on the Delaware River against the British army pursuing George Washington's forces. The ebb tide arrived and left the Delaware stranded, leading to her capture. The first USS Delaware of the United States Navy was a 28-gun sailing frigate that had a short career in the American Revolutionary War. ... Delaware River Watershed The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. ... This article is the current U.S. Collaboration of the Week. ...

Hancock managed to capture two merchantmen as well as the Royal Navy vessel Fox. Later on 8 July 1777, however, the Hancock was captured by HMS Rainbow of a pursuing squadron. The second USS Hancock was one of the first 13 frigates of the Continental Navy authorized by resolution of the Continental Congress 13 December 1775. ...

Randolph took five prizes in her early cruises. In early 1778, she was escorting a convoy of merchantmen when the British 64-gun ship Yarmouth bore down on the convoy. Randolph, under the command of Captain Nicholas Biddle came to the defense of the merchantmen and engaged the heavily superior foe. In the ensuing engagement, the two ships were both severely manhandled but in the course of the action, the magazine of the Randolph exploded causing the destruction of the entire vessel. The falling debris from the explosion severely damaged the Yarmouth enough that she could no longer pursue the American ships. The first USS Randolph was a frigate in the Continental Navy named for Peyton Randolph. ... Nicholas Biddle (September 10, 1750 - March 7, 1777) was one of the first five captains of the Continental Navy, being assigned to the Andrew Doria. ...

Virginia made a number of unsuccessful attempts to break through the blockade of Chesapeake Bay. On 31 March, 1778, in another attempt, she was run aground near Hampton Roads. Shortly after, Emerald and Conqueror appeared on the scene to accept her surrender. The first USS Virginia was a 28-gun sailing frigate of the Continental Navy, a ship with a short and unfortunate career. ... Chesapeake Bay - Landsat photo Chesapeake Bay where the Susquehanna River empties into it. ... Hampton Roads, from state map of pre-civil war Virginia circa 1858 Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the United States. ...

Raleigh captured three prizes before being run aground in action on 27 September, 1778. Her crew scuttled her, but she was raised by the British who refloated her for further use in the name of the Crown. USS Raleigh was one of thirteen ships that the Continental Congress authorized for the United States Navy in 1775. ...

Providence had captured 14 prizes in earlier cruises. However she (along with the Boston who had taken 17 prizes in her own service) was captured in the fall of Charleston, South Carolina on 12 May, 1780. The second USS Boston was a 24-gun frigate, launched 3 June 1776 by Stephen and Ralph Cross, Newburyport, Massachusetts, and completed the following year with Captain H. McNeill in command. ... For more related articles, see alternate spelling Charlestown Charleston is the name of a dance and of several villages, towns and cities in New Zealand, the United States and Scotland. ... Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq. ...

The final frigate to meet her end of Continental service was the Trumbull. Trumbull had gained acclaim in bloody action against the Letter of Marque Watt. On 28 August, 1781, she met HMS Iris and General Monk and engaged. In the action, Trumbull was forced to surrender. Ironically, the Iris was the former Continental frigate Hancock while the General Monk was the captured General Washington. The second Trumbull -- one of the 13 frigates authorized by the Continental Congress on 13 December 1775 -- was probably laid down in March or April 1776 at Chatham, Connecticut, by John Cotton and was launched on 5 September 1776. ...

French Naval Collaboration

Before the Franco-American Alliance, the royalist French government attempted to maintain a state of respectful neutrality during the Revolutionary War. That being said, the nation maintained neutrality at face value, often openly harboring Continental vessels and supplying to their needs.

With the presence of American diplomats Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane, the Continental Navy gained a permanent link to French affairs. Through Franklin and likeminded agents, Continental officers were afforded the ability to receive commissions, survey, and purchase prospective ships for military use. Benjamin Franklin by Jean-Baptiste Greuze 1777 Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most prominent of the Founders and early political figures and statesmen of the United States. ...

Early in the conflict, Captains Lambert Wickes and Gustavus Conyngham operated out of various French ports for the purpose of commerce raiding. The French did attempt to enforce her neutrality by seizing Dolphin and Surprise. However, with the commencement of the official alliance in 1778, ports were officially open to Continental ships. Lambert Wickes (1735 - 1 October 1777) was a Captain in the Continental Navy. ... Gustavus Conyngham (about 1744 – 27 November 1819) was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and was a merchant sea captain, officer in the Continental Navy and a privateer. ... The first Dolphin was a cutter in the Continental Navy. ...

The most prominent Continental officer to operate out of France was Captain John Paul Jones. Jones had been preying upon British commerce aboard the Ranger but only now saw the opportunity for higher command. The French loaned Jones the merchantman, Duc de Duras, which Jones refitted and renamed Bonhomme Richard as a more powerful replacement for the Ranger. In August 1779, Jones was given command of a squadron of vessels of both American and French ownership. The goal was not only to harrass British commerce but also to prospectively land 1500 French regulars in the lightly guarded western regions of Britain. Unfortunately for the ambitious Jones, the French pulled out of the agreement pertaining to an invasion force, but the French did manage to uphold the plan regarding his command of the naval squadron. Sailing in a clockwise fashion around Ireland and down the east coast of Britain, the squadron captured a number of merchantmen. The French commander Landais decided early on in the expedition to retain control of the French ships, thereby often leaving and rejoining the effort when he felt it was fortuitous. John Paul Jones John Paul Jones (July 6, 1747–July 18, 1792) was Americas first well-known naval hero in the American Revolutionary War. ... The first USS Ranger was a sloop-of-war in the Continental Navy and received the first official salute at sea by a foreign power. ... Ships Named Bonhomme Richard Three ships of the United States Navy have borne the name Bonhomme Richard or Bon Homme Richard (pronounced BOHN-uhm REE-shard), the French language equivalent of Goodman Richard, in honor of Benjamin Franklin the US Ambassador to France at the time. ...

The Franco-American squadron closely engages the pair of English frigates on 23 September, 1779.

On 23 September, 1779, Jone's squadron was off Flamborough Head when the British men-of-war Countess of Scarborough and Serapis bore down on the Franco-American force. The lone Continental frigate, Bonhomme Richard engaged the Serapis. In a particularly bloody, destructive fight, the English captain called out to inquire if the Bonhomme Richard had struck her colors. Jones cried out, "I have not yet begun to fight!" Upon raking the Serapis, the crew of the Bonhomme Richard led by Jones boarded the English ship and captured her. Likewise, the French frigate Pallas captured her prize the Countess of Scarborough. Two days later, the Bonhomme Richard sank from the overwhelming amount of shock she took from the struggle. Image File history File links Serapis_and_Bonhomme_Richard. ... Image File history File links Serapis_and_Bonhomme_Richard. ... The chalk tower near Flamborough Head. ... HMS Serapis was a British frigate launched by the Royal Navy in 1779. ...

The action stuck out as an embarrassing defeat for the Royal Navy, who suffered the capture of two of her vessels in her own home waters.

In a like fashion, the French loaned the Continental Navy the use of the corvette Ariel. The one ship of the line built for service in the Continental Navy, the 74-gun America, was instead offered to France as compensation for the loss of its Le Magnifique, lost in service to the American Revolution. Ships of the line were 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... The third USS America was the first ship of the line built for the United States Navy, but she never saw service there, being given to France after launching. ... The American Revolution was a revolution that ended two centuries of rule in Thirteen Colonies of North America by the British Empire and created the modern United States of America. ...

The End of the Continental Navy

With the close of the war, Congress was desperate for funds to run the new, fledgling nation. In response to the financial crisis, Congress considered ending the Continental Navy's existence. One of the justifying factors was the insistence that an extended US Navy would only serve to involve America in conflicts it had no service in being a part of. Furthermore, the cost of maintaining a standing navy in additon to operating costs severely drained what little funds the Congress had to begin with.

On 1 August, 1785, the financially strapped Congress auctioned off the last remaining Continental Navy vessel, USS Alliance for $26,000. The first USS Alliance of the United States Navy was a 36 gun sailing frigate of the American Revolutionary War, notable for having fired the last shot of the war. ...

The Continental Navy saw defeat in almost every venture it undertook. Of all of its vessels, only a handful made it through the war without having been destroyed, sunk, or captured. The Continental Navy posed no significant threat to Royal Navy supremacy and did little to alter the course of the war.

The Continental Navy did, however, keep American morale and spirit up as the war progressed, adding to the hope that one day the 13 Colonies would emerge successful from their struggle.

See also

• Continental Marines
• Continental Army
• United States Navy

The Continental Marines were the colonial Marine force of the American Revolutionary War. ... Illustration depicting uniforms and weapons used during the 1779 to 1783 period of the American Revolution by showing four soldiers standing in an informal group General George Washington, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army on June 15, 1775. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ...

References

• William M. Fowler, Rebels Under Sail (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1976)
• Nathan Miller, The US Navy: An Illustrated History (New York: American Heritage, 1977)
• Naval Documents of the American Revolution (Government Printing Office, 1964-). 10 volumes of primary sources.