PAUL JONES, the bravest of Naval Commanders, was born at Selkirk,
Scotland, 1730, and came to America about 1770, to fight the battles
of Liberty and Independence. He was styled “The Washington of the
Seas,” “The deadliest foe of Cowards.” Lieutenant Paul Jones and Mrs.
Elizabeth Ross, of Philadelphia, became intimate friends and neighbors,
well known as the most zealous patriots in the cause of Independence,
doing battle against tyrants and oppressors, and Thomas Jefferson, Dr.
Franklin, John Adams, Dr. Rittenhouse and Robert Morris were their
truest and most steadfast friends and patrons. Mrs. Ross designed and
made the Flag that Lieutenant Jones hoisted upon the Flagship of War,
in the Delaware bay. During the month of December, 1775, by the request
and explicit orders of Dr. Franklin, Col. George Ross and Robert
Morris, the three members of a Secret Committee of Congress, Lieutenant
Jones was supplied with one of Mrs. Ross’ first and best Flags, the red
white and blue emblem of Liberty, for which Congress paid. Afterward,
for Jones’ brave honoring of that Flag, Congress awarded him $25,000
and a golden medal, and he was further complimented by an invitation
to Paris, where the cross of military merit and a sword of honor were
presented to him by the King of France, at the written request of our
Congress, for his dauntless courage and his triumphant victory as the
Captain of the “RICHARD,” with the first Flag of the Union, over the
British Flag of the “SERAPIS.”
In January 1776, the following vessels were fitted out.
The “ALFRED,” of thirty guns and three hundred men, Dudley Saltonstall,
Captain, bearing the Pine Tree Flag, presented by the colony of
Connecticut.
The “COLUMBUS,” of twenty-eight guns and three hundred men, Abraham
Whipple, Captain, bearing the Flag of the Red Cross of Saint George,
presented by the Colony of Vermont.
The “ANDREW DORIA,” of eighteen guns and two hundred men, Nicholas
Biddle, Captain, bearing the Flag of the White Cross of Saint Andrew,
presented by the Philadelphians.
The “CABOT,” of fourteen guns and two hundred men, John W. Hopkins,
Captain, bearing the Pine Tree white silk Flag from Connecticut.
The “PROVIDENCE,” of twelve guns, bearing the Flag with the Cross of
Saint Andrew, presented by Rhode Island.
The “HORNET,” of fourteen guns, bearing the yellow silk Flag of
Virginia, with Rattlesnake.
The “WASP,” eight guns, bearing the yellow silk Flag of South Carolina,
with a Crescent, a Beaver and a Rattlesnake, with the motto, “Don’t
tread on me.”
The Dispatch vessel “FLY,” bearing a blue Flag with Red Cross of Saint
George.
E. HOPKINS, was Commander-in-chief of the fleet, and JOHN PAUL
JONES first lieutenant. JONES was offered the command of the sloop
“PROVIDENCE,” which he declined, declaring that he preferred to
be “CHEVALIER BANNARET,” to hoist and carry the bald eagle, with
glittering stars and stripes, on the flagship “ALFRED,” and when the
Commander-in-chief, E. Hopkins, came on board of her, January 1, 1776,
Jones hoisted the American Union Flag, with his own hands, which was
the first time it was ever displayed on a man-of-war, and waving his
navy cap swiftly overhead, shouted “THREE CHEERS FOR THE RED, WHITE AND
BLUE! THE HAUGHTIEST OF MONARCHS SHALL BOW BEFORE THAT FLAG!!!” “Again,
THREE CHEERS FOR OUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AND THE AMERICAN NAVY!!!” And
thus he boldly evinced his lofty and chivalrous character, bravely
assuming the responsibility, and his achievement of glorious deeds
aided in the recognition of our INDEPENDENCE.
On the 14th day of February, 1778, the United States Flag was, for the
first time, recognized in the fullest and completest manner by the Flag
of France. Lieutenant Paul Jones, on board the brig “INDEPENDENCE,”
at the entrance of Quiberon bay, sailed through the French fleet,
commanded by Admiral La Motte Piquet, (who was keeping the coast of
France clear of British cruisers,) and our NATIONAL EMBLEM was most
courteously complimented and saluted by nine guns. The American Flag
was first carried around the world in 1789, by the “COLUMBIA,” Captain
Gray, of Boston, AND SALUTED IN EVERY PORT.