greatest reputation, are those of Manly, Mugford, Jones, Barry, Barney,
Waters, Young, Tucker, Talbot, Nicholson, Williams, Biddle, Hopkins,
Robinson, Wickes, Rathburne, and Hacket. Besides these, there were many
others, either in the service of one of the state sovereignties, at that
time, or of congress, who were equally worthy of notice, but who have
been neglected, because they were only commanders of privateers.
It cannot be doubted that, considering the great number of privateers
that swarmed upon the ocean during the war, there were sometimes
cruelties practiced, and scenes enacted, disgraceful to the
perpetrators. The contrary was not to be expected. But generally, the
commanders of these privateers were men of principle and humanity.
Indeed, instances of the most magnanimous conduct among them might be
given. In several cases of capture, when they understood that the
owners were friendly to the cause of America, both the vessel and the
crew were suffered to depart without losing a particle of property.
And still further, the officers of vessels, captured by privateers, as
well as by public armed ships, were never deprived of their baggage,
and often not of their _adventures_, when they had any.
From the preceding account of the capture of British vessels, during
the Revolution, by American privateers and regular ships of war, it
can easily be credited that the ocean must have been the scene of many
thrilling and adventurous exploits. The American seamen were fired
with a patriotism, not less pure and impulsive than the soldiers on
the land. But the story of their bravery, the hardships they endured,
the zeal and courage with which they fought, unlike that of their
compatriots, were left in a great measure unrecorded; or, if noticed
in the papers of the day, were told without those circumstantial
details, from which the chief interest of a naval engagement often
arises. Some privateersmen probably had not the ability to draw up
such accounts, and others who had, not being obliged to report to the
government an account of their engagements, lacked the inclination,
amid the stirring scenes in which they were engaged. Hence, but few
well-authenticated and circumstantial accounts of the operations of
this species of force have descended to the present time.
The records of engagements by the regular marine are more abundant,
but far from being as copious and circumstantial as those of the
American navy, during the late war with Great Britain. Enough of
interest, however, exists and more than sufficient for the space which
we can allow to the subject. Indeed, we must leave unnoticed several
as full of interest and as evincive of prowess, as those which find a
place in this volume.
1. RANDOLPH AND YARMOUTH
The Randolph, a frigate of thirty-two guns, was launched at
Philadelphia in 1776, and sailed on her first cruise in 1777, being
one of the first, if not the very first, of the new vessels built
under the resolution of congress of October, 1775, that proceeded to
sea. She was commanded by Nicholas Biddle, a man combining all the
distinguishing qualifications of a great naval commander.
After having been at sea a few days, a defect in his masts, and a
disposition to mutiny discovered in his crew, induced him to put into
Charleston. On again sailing, he soon fell in with and captured four
Jamaica-men, one of which, the True-Briton, had an armament of
twenty-guns. With these prizes, he returned to Charleston. The
citizens of that place, pleased with the character and enterprise of
Captain Biddle, placed four small vessels of their own under his care;
with these and the Randolph he proceeded to sea, in search of several
British vessels which had been seen cruising off Charleston for some
time. No traces of them, however, were discovered.
Nothing more was heard from this squadron for some time. But, at
length, intelligence was received of the most distressing nature. It
was contained in a letter of Captain Vincent, of his Britannic
majesty's ship Yarmouth, sixty-four, dated March 17th, 1778.
On the 7th of that month, the Yarmouth, while cruising to the east of
Barbadoes, discovered six sail bearing south-east, and standing on a
wind. On getting nearer, they were discovered to be two ships, three
brigs, and a schooner. At nine o'clock P. M., the Yarmouth succeeded
in ranging up on the weather-quarter of the largest and leading
vessel--the ship, next in size, being astern to leeward. Here,
displaying her colors, the Yarmouth ordered the Randolph (for so she
proved to be) to show her ensign. At this moment the American flag was
run up, and a whole broadside poured in upon the Yarmouth. A spirited
action immediately ensued, and for twenty minutes was maintained by
both ships with great energy--when on a sudden the Randolph blew up.
So near were the ships at the time, that portions of the flying wreck
struck the Yarmouth, and even the American ensign fell upon her
forecastle. It was rolled up, and not even singed.
Immediately following this catastrophe, the Yarmouth went in pursuit of
the other vessels, which, meanwhile, were attempting to escape. But he
was unable to come up with them, his own sails having been so injured
during the short action had with the Randolph. The chase, therefore, was
relinquished, and the Yarmouth continued to cruise in the neighborhood.
She was still ignorant of the name of the ill-fated vessel, which she
had engaged, nor was there now any prospect of her ever learning it.
But at length, on the 12th, while passing near to the theatre of the
engagement, signals of distress were discovered proceeding from persons
at a short distance. On reaching them, they proved to be four men, on a
piece of wreck. On being taken on board of the Yarmouth, they reported
themselves as having belonged to the Randolph, thirty-two, Captain
Biddle, blown up in an action with an English frigate on the night of
the 7th. They had been floating on the wreck on which they were
discovered, without sustenance, since the time of explosion.
[Illustration: The Randolph and Yarmouth.]
These men reported, that, soon after the action commenced, Captain
Biddle was severely wounded in the thigh. Being taken below, and
seated in a chair, the surgeon was proceeding to examine his wound,
when the explosion occurred, by which the vessel was blown into
fragments, and the whole crew, officers and men, with the exception of
the four named, were in a moment killed. The Yarmouth, in the brief
time the action lasted, lost five killed and twelve wounded.
What would have been the result, had not this catastrophe occurred, no
one can say. Captain Biddle was fighting at fearful odds. But he was
young, ardent, ambitious; and, while we can scarcely refrain from
thinking him presumptuous, it is quite apparent, from his actually
entering the lists, that he contemplated a victory over his powerful
antagonist as an achievement quite possible. He was only twenty-seven
years of age. His untimely fate caused a deep sensation in all
quarters; the navy was felt to have lost a true friend, and the
country a zealous patriot.
2. RALEIGH AND DRUID.
Under the law of 1775, the Raleigh was constructed in New Hampshire.
She was a fine twelve-pounder frigate, commanded by Captain Thompson.
In the latter part of August, 1777, for the first time, she went to
sea. She was accompanied by the Alfred, twenty-four, Captain Hinman.
Both vessels were bound to France for military stores.
During the first few days, while running off the coast, they captured
several small vessels; and, on the 2d of September, fell in with and
captured a scow, called the Nancy, belonging to the outward-bound
windward fleet. Learning the direction of this fleet, which was in the
advance of the Nancy, Captain Thompson went in chase. On the 3d, the
convoy of the fleet was descried. It consisted of the Camel, Druid,
Weasel, and Grasshopper, which had under their protection sixty
merchantmen. At sunset, Captain Thompson spoke the Alfred, and
signified his intention of running in among the fleet, and, if
possible, engaging the commodore.
By means of the officers of the Nancy, he had obtained the signals of
the fleet, and by means of these he was able to pass for one of the
convoy. The Alfred proving unable to carry the requisite sail, Captain
Thompson left her, and passed on into the midst of the fleet. His guns
being housed and his ports lowered, she showed no signs of preparation
for an attack. Added to this, making use of the commodore's signals,
he was able to give several of the merchantmen direction how to steer.
Thus he avoided suspicion, and was able to run the Raleigh alongside
of the vessel of war, and "when within pistol-shot, she hauled up her
courses, run out her guns, set her ensign, and commanded the enemy to
strike." This was a bold movement. Taken by surprise, the British
commander was at an utter loss how to act. The confusion was general.
The sails got aback. Taking advantage of the perturbation on board the
Druid, (for so she proved,) Captain Thompson poured in upon her a
broadside. This was followed by a second, third--twelve broadsides in
twenty minutes, scarcely receiving a shot in return.
[Illustration: The Raleigh and Druid.]
While thus engaged, a sudden and violent squall came on, which, in a
measure, slackened the engagement, and rendered the aim uncertain. As
the squall ceased, it was discovered that the convoy had scattered in
all directions, and were doing their utmost to escape. The other armed
vessels now hastened to the assistance of their crippled companion.
Yet the Raleigh continued to deal out her thunder, nor did she haul
off until the other vessels were almost within gun-shot of her. Thus
compelled, she ran to leeward, and joined the Alfred. Hoping, however,
that the commodore might be induced to renew the engagement, she
shortened sail, thus giving her antagonist an opportunity to restore
his wounded honor; but, instead of this, he hauled in among his
convoy. For several following days the American ships continued to
follow the fleet, but they were not so fortunate as to receive the
respects of any of the vessels of war.
The Druid, which was of twenty guns, was so much disabled as to be
obliged immediately to return to England. Her loss was six killed and
twenty-six wounded; among the latter, was her commander, Captain
Carteret. Five of the wounded subsequently died. The Raleigh had three
men killed and wounded.
3. SUB-MARINE WARFARE
During the year 1777, David Bushnell, a native of Connecticut, made
several attempts to blow up the ships of the enemy by means of
_torpedoes_. This mode of warfare had employed his thoughts during his
collegiate course, so that on graduating in 1775, his plans were in a
good degree matured. An account of some of his early plans he gave to
the world himself. The following is a description of his celebrated
torpedo: "It bore a resemblance to two upper tortoise shells of equal
sizes, placed in contact, leaving, at that part which represents the
head of the animal, a flue or opening sufficiently capacious to
contain the operator, and air to support him thirty minutes. At the
bottom, opposite to the entrance, was placed a quantity of lead for
ballast. The operator sat upright, and held an oar for rowing forward
or backward, and was furnished with a rudder for steering. An aperture
at the bottom with its valves admitted water for the purpose of
descending, and two brass forcing-pumps served to eject the water
within, when necessary for ascending. The vessel was made completely
water-tight, furnished with glass windows for the admission of light,
with ventilators and air-pipes, and was so ballasted with lead fixed
on the bottom as to render it solid, and obviate all danger of
oversetting. Behind the sub-marine vessel was a place above the rudder
for carrying a large powder magazine; this was made of two pieces of
oak timber, large enough, when hollowed out, to contain one hundred
and fifty pounds of powder, with the apparatus used for firing it, and
was secured in its place by a screw turned by the operator. It was
lighter than water, so that he might rise against the object to which
it was intended to be fastened.
"Within the magazine was an apparatus constructed to run any proposed
period under twelve hours; when it had run out its time, it unpinioned
a strong lock, resembling a gun-lock, which gave fire to the powder.
This apparatus was so pinioned, that it could not possibly move,
until, by casting off the magazine from the vessel, it was set in
motion. The skillful operator could swim so low on the surface of the
water, as to approach very near the ship in the night, without fear of
being discovered, and might, if he chose, approach the stem or stern
above water, with very little danger. He could sink very quickly, keep
at any necessary depth, and row a great distance in any direction he
desired, without coming to the surface. When he rose to the top, he
could soon obtain a fresh supply of air, and, if necessary, descend
again and pursue his course."
With a torpedo of the above construction, Bushnell made an experiment
on the Eagle, a sixty-gun ship, then lying in the harbor of New York,
and under command of Lord Howe. A sergeant of one of the Connecticut
regiments conducted the operation. General Putnam, standing on the
wharf, was a witness of the proceeding.
The sergeant, having under cover of night proceeded to the ship,
attempted to fasten the torpedo to her bottom by means of a screw. But
in this he failed, striking, as he supposed, a bar or bolt of iron,
which resisted the screw. In attempting to move to another place, he
passed from under the ship, and soon rose to the surface. By this
time, daylight had so far advanced as to make any further experiments
hazardous. He therefore concluded to return to New York. On passing
Governor's island, supposing himself discovered by the British
stationed there, he cast off his magazine, and proceeded without it.
The internal apparatus was set to run one hour; at the expiration of
which, it blew up, in a tremendous explosion, throwing a vast column
of water to a great height, to the no small wonder of the enemy.
This experiment was followed in the course of the year by an attempt
from a whaling-boat against the frigate Cerebus, off New London. The
expedient adopted in this case was to draw a machine, loaded with
powder, against her side by means of a line, to be exploded by a
gun-lock. But failing to attach itself as intended, against the
frigate, it became attached to a schooner, at anchor astern of the
frigate, which, on exploding, it demolished.
In a letter addressed to Sir Peter Parker, by Commodore Simmons, at the
time of the explosion on board the Cerebus, he gave an account of this
singular disaster. Being at anchor to the westward of the town with a
schooner which he had taken, about eleven o'clock in the evening he
discovered a line towing astern from the bows. He believed some person
had been veered away by it, and immediately began to haul in. A sailor
belonging to the schooner taking it for a fishing-line, laid hold of it,
and drew it in about fifteen fathoms. It was buoyed up by small pieces
tied to it at regular distances. At the end of the rope a machine was
fastened, too heavy for one man to pull up, for it exceeded one hundred
pounds in weight. The other people of the schooner coming to his
assistance, they drew it upon deck. While the men, to gratify their
curiosity, were examining the machine, it exploded, blew the vessel into
pieces, and set her on fire. Three men were killed, and a fourth blown
into the water, very much injured. On subsequent examination, the other
part of the line was discovered buoyed up in the same manner; this the
commodore ordered to be instantly cut away, for fear (as he termed it)
of hauling up another of the "_infernals_!"
The above mode of warfare cannot but be considered too shocking and
inhuman to be encouraged by civilized nations, and we do not regret
that the experiment of Bushnell, and the more recent experiments of
Fulton, failed. But it is said that the failure of his efforts cast a
deep and permanent gloom over the mind of Bushnell.
4. LE BON HOMME RICHARD AND SERAPIS.
On the 10th of April, 1778, the celebrated John Paul Jones sailed on a
cruise from France, having the Ranger placed under his command by the
American commissioners, Franklin, Deane, and Lee. In consideration of
his previous valuable services, he was allowed to cruise wherever he
pleased. Accordingly, he directed his course along the British coast,
and for a time kept the people of the maritime part of Scotland, and
part of England, in a state of great alarm and excitement.
Among his exploits on this cruise, previous to that in which he
engaged the Serapis, his descent upon Whitehaven was of the boldest
character. Two forts, with thirty pieces of cannon, guarded this port,
in which, at the time, were a hundred vessels at anchor.
"Two parties landed in the night; the forts were seized and the guns
spiked; the few look-outs that were in the works being confined. In
effecting this duty, Captain Jones was foremost in person; for, having
once sailed out of that port, he was familiar with the situation of the
place. An accident, common to both the parties into which the expedition
had been divided, came near defeating the enterprise in the outset. They
had brought candles in lanterns, for the double purpose of lights and
torches, and, now that they were about to be used as the latter, it was
found that they were all consumed. As the day was appearing, the party
under Mr. Wallingford, one of the lieutenants, took to its boat without
effecting any thing, while Captain Jones sent to a detached building,
and obtained a candle. He boarded a large ship, kindled a fire in her
steerage, and by placing a barrel of tar over the spot, soon had the
vessel in flames. This ship lay in the midst of more than a hundred
others, high and dry, the tide being out; Captain Jones took to his
boats, and pulled towards his ship. Some guns were fired on the retiring
boats without effect; but the people of the place succeeded in
extinguishing the flames before the mischief became very extensive."
[Illustration: Jones setting Fire to the Ships at Whitehaven.]
During this cruise, another bold enterprise was undertaken. This was an
attempt to seize the Earl of Selkirk, who had a seat on St. Mary's Isle,
near the point, where the Dee flows into the channel. Jones was well
acquainted with the place, his father having been gardener to the earl,
but he was not himself immediately engaged in the attempt, that being
entrusted to a subordinate officer. The party landed, demanded and took
possession of the house, but, to their great disappointment, the duke
himself was absent. One unauthorized act of the party, Captain Jones
condemned, viz: the seizure of about one hundred pounds value of plate.
This, however, he afterwards purchased of the crew, and returned to
Lady Selkirk, with a letter expressive of his regrets at the occurrence.
He next steered towards the coast of Ireland, where he encountered the
Drake, twenty, a ship which he had a sincere desire to meet. On
approaching the Ranger, the Drake hailed, and received the name of her
antagonist, by way of challenge, with a request to come on. As the two
ships were standing on in this manner, the Drake a little to leeward
and astern, the Ranger put her helm up, a manœuvre that the enemy
imitated, and the former gave the first broadside. The wind admitted
of but few changes, but the battle was fought running fire, under easy
canvas. It lasted an hour and four minutes, when the Drake called for
quarter, her ensign being already cut down.
The English ship was much cut up, both in her hull and aloft, and
Captain Jones computed her loss at about forty men. Her captain and
lieutenant were both desperately wounded, and died shortly after the
engagement. The Ranger suffered much less, having Lieutenant
Wallingford and one man killed, and six wounded. The Drake was not
only a heavier ship, but she had a much stronger crew than her
antagonist. She had also two guns the most.
With this prize, Jones returned to Brest, where for a time he remained
in hope of receiving a more important command, and which had brought
him to Europe.
After many delays, the king of France purchased for him the Duras, an
old Indiaman, which name Jones exchanged for Le Bon Homme Richard.[51]
To this were, added by order of the French ministry, the Pallas,
Cerf, and Vengeance, and, by Dr. Franklin, commissioner, the Alliance,
thirty-two, then in France. The Cerf and Alliance were the only
vessels of the squadron fitted for war.
[Illustration: Paul Jones.]
With this squadron, Commodore Jones, on the 19th of June, 1779, sailed
from the anchorage under the Isle of Groix, off l'Orient, bound
southward; but, finding it necessary to return, he left the anchorage
a second time, on the 14th of August. About the 23d of September, he
fell in with a fleet of merchantmen, of more than forty sail, under
convoy of the Serapis, forty-four, Captain Richard Pearson, and the
Countess of Seaborough, twenty-two.
The Serapis was a new ship, mounting on her lower gun-deck, twenty
eighteen-pound guns, on her upper gun deck, twenty nine-pound guns,
and on her quarter-deck and forecastle, ten six-pound guns; making an
armament of fifty guns in the whole. Her crew consisted of three
hundred and twenty men. The Bon Homme Richard was a single-decked
ship, with six old eighteen-pounders mounted in the gun-room below,
and twenty-eight twelve-pounders on her main or proper gun-deck, with
eight nines on her quarter-deck forecastle, and six in the gangways,
making in all a mixed, or rather light amount of forty-two guns. Her
crew consisted of three hundred and eighty men, of whom one hundred
and thirty-seven were marines or soldiers.
Our narrative will be confined to the action between the Richard and
the Serapis, which proved one of the most terrible and hotly-contested
engagements recorded in the annals of naval warfare.
[Illustration: Le Bon Homme Richard and Serapis.]
About half-past seven in the evening, the Richard came up with the
Serapis. Captain Pearson hailed. The answer of Commodore Jones was
designedly equivocal, and, in a moment after, both ships delivered their
entire broadsides. A sad and destructive catastrophe befel the Richard.
Two of her eighteen guns burst, blowing up the deck above, and killing
or wounding a large proportion of the people stationed below. This
disaster caused all the heavy guns to be deserted, the men having no
longer sufficient confidence in them to use them. The loss of these
reduced the Richard one-third below that of her rival; in short, it
became a contest between a twelve-pounder and an eighteen pounder, a
species of contest in which it has been said the former has never been
known to prevail. Captain Jones, however, more than most men, was fitted
for desperate circumstances, and in a moment determined to make up in
rëdoubled activity what was wanting in power of metal.
Nearly an hour was consumed in different manœuvres--shifting,
firing--each endeavoring to obtain the advantage of position; till, at
length, the vessels came close together, but not in a manner which
permitted either party to board. The firing ceased for a few minutes.
Captain Pearson, imagining the enemy had surrendered, demanded, "Have
you struck your colors?" "I have not yet begun to fight!" vociferated
the intrepid Jones.
The ships again separated, and the firing was renewed. Again they fell
upon each other, and in the moment of collision, Captain Jones, with his
own hands, lashed the enemy's head-gear to his mizen-mast. This brought
them more entirely side by side, and it being desirable on the part of
Captain Jones to retain the enemy in that position, additional lashings
were employed to effect that object. This was a disappointment to
Captain Pearson, but he determined to be first in boarding, and now made
a vigorous attempt with that object in view, but was repulsed.