Mike Parker: In October 250 years ago, American Navy was born
Although the American Revolution was still in its fledgling stages in 1775, several important events took place. A number of skirmishes and battles demonstrated the resolve of the colonies to resist what they saw as British oppression.
Perhaps one of the most notable developments occurred in October of 1775. Prior to the onset of the American Revolution, the original 13 colonies had no real naval force. What the colonist lacked in military vessels, it more than made up for with an abundance of merchant vessels engaged in domestic and foreign trade.
The colonial merchant service had vast experience both with the open sea and with warfare under the British flag. Some of that experience included British naval expeditions against Cartagena, Spain, and Nova Scotia during the nine years of The French and Indian War.
Colonials recognized the importance of naval power was early in the conflict with Great Britain. On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the creation of the Continental Navy. Less than a month later, on November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress established the U.S. Marine Corps.
By 1776, the colonies had 27 warships. That figure contrasted heavily when set against the powerful Royal British Navy, which had about 270 warships – a 10 to one advantage. Since the Navy was such a recent creation, American commanders often confronted sailors and Marines who had not been adequately trained and who lacked any semblance of military discipline.
Despite the overwhelming odds, the Continental Navy had some early successes. On February 17, 1776, an American fleet under Commodore Esek Hopkins attacked a British colony in the Bahamas. During the raid, the Americans captured a large supply of guns and ammunition. They also took the governor and lieutenant governor prisoner. This action marked the first amphibious assault by U.S. Marines and sailors. The fleet also captured two British vessels.
Other Continental Navy captains, such as Lambert Wickes, Gustavus Conyngham, and John Barry, also enjoyed successes against the British. John Paul Jones was an especially notable commander. As captain of the Ranger, Jones captured the British man-of-war, Drake. As captain of Bonhomme Richard, he and his crew defeated the British frigate Serapis in one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the American Revolution.
The most damaging aspect of the naval war for the British was attacks perpetrated by American privateers on British shipping. Before the war, colonial ships traveled the seas armed to protect themselves against pirates. When the revolutionary war broke out, considerable numbers of merchant vessels converted into armed privateers. The practice continued until the war ended.
Although records are incomplete, over the course of the war, an estimated 2,000 privately armed vessels carrying more than 18,000 guns and crews totaling 70,000 men fought for the American cause.
In addition, several of the colonies organized state navies to prey on British commerce. Together with the few Continental Navy ships, they constituted the only sustained American naval pressure brought to bear on the British.
Yet, by the end of 1777, American ships had taken more than 500 British vessels. By the end of the war, that number had grown to 1,500 vessels seized. More than 12,000 British sailors were taken as prisoners of war.
Because of the success of the fledgling colonial navy, British marine insurance rates rose to unprecedented levels, and British coastal populations feared attacks by American naval forces. Once the colonies formed alliances with the French, Spanish, and Dutch, fear of invasions rose among British loyalists. By 1781, British merchants appealed to the Crown for an end to hostilities.
Today, the United States is the premiere naval power in the world – sort of a tree of liberty grown from the seeds of the American Revolution.
Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.
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