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The First Continental Flagship 1775-1778

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The First Continental Flagship 1775-1778 THE FIRST CONTINENTAL FLAGSHIP 1775-1778 John J. McCusker SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS / CITY OF WASHINGTON / 1973 SERIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION The emphasis upon publications as a means of diffusing knowledge was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. In his formal plan for the Insti­ tution, Joseph Henry articulated a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This keynote of basic research has been adhered to over the years in the issuance of thousands of titles in serial publications under the Smithsonian imprint, com­ mencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Annals of Flight Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes original articles and monographs dealing with the research and collections of its several museums and offices and of profes­ sional colleagues at other institutions of learning. These papers report newly acquired facts, synoptic interpretations of data, or original theory in specialized fields. These publications are distributed by mailing lists to libraries, laboratories, and other in­ terested institutions and specialists throughout the world. Individual copies may be obtained from the Smithsonian Institution Press as long as stocks are available. S. DILLON RIPLEY Secretary Smithsonian Institution NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN *j,, Bahama Islands *Y^>. &* 0» _ — " - - » e> — p Barbados 0 500 1000 1500 2000 ==\ I I Scale of Miles Frontispiece.—Map showing the route of the three cruises of Continental ship Alfred, 1776-1778. SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY NUMBER 20 THE FIRST CONTINENTAL FLAGSHIP 1775-1778 John J. McCusker SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS / CITY OF WASHINGTON / 1973 COVER.—Continental Ship Alfred, 1775-1778. Alfred, Captain Elisha Hinman, is shown off the coast of France in December 1777 in this painting by Colonel Phillips Melville, USAF (Ret.) (Copyrighted © 1968, John J. McCusker; see "Note on Alfred Paintings" on page 19.) Official publication date is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and and recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data McCusker, John J. Alfred: the first Continental flagship, 1775-1778. (Smithsonian studies in history and technology, no. 20.) SUMMARY: Chronicles the career of the Alfred, a converted merchantman, that participated in the American Revolution. Includes bibliographical references. 1. Alfred (Ship). 2. United States-History, Naval-To 1900. [1. Alfred (Ship). 2. United States- History-Revolution-Naval operations. 3. United States-History, Naval-To 1900] I. Title. II. Series: Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian studies in history and technology, no. 20. E271.M17 973.3'5 72-8652 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price: 50 cents domestic postpaid, or 40 cents GPO Bookstore Stock Number 4700-0231 THE FIRST CONTINENTAL FLAGSHIP 1775-1778 Alfred, as one of the first ships of the Continental Navy of the United Colonies, as the flagship of the first American fleet, as the first ship to hoist the Grand Union Flag of the United Colonies, and the first command ship of an American amphibious invasion of enemy territory, played no small role in the winning of independence for the United States. Her place is secure in our national heritage. The Author: John J. McCusker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History of the University of Maryland and is currently (1971-1973) on leave as a Fellow at the Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia. In October 1775 the Continental Congress of the One of the first ships purchased by the Naval United Colonies, meeting in Philadelphia, took a Committee of Congress was Black Prince. Built at strategic step in the direction of independence. To the Philadelphia in the fall of 1774, this 300-ton merchant­ north the struggle for Boston was at a stalemate. General man belonged to Willing, Morris and Company of that Washington in command of the American forces had lain city and had just returned from her second voyage to siege to that city, and upon the outcome of the siege England. She measured some ninety-two feet long on her hinged the bargaining position of the Colonies with the main deck, had a breadth of about twenty-seven feet, Mother Country. If George Washington's troops could and drew eighteen feet of water.2 A full-rigged, three- hold their own, perhaps Great Britain would consent to masted vessel, her performance greatly pleased her some of the colonists' demands. But reinforcements for skipper Captain John Barry, who pronounced her "the General Thomas Gage and Admiral Samuel Graves were finest ship ... in America."3 Renamed Alfred, after the on their way from England, with soldiers and supplies ninth-century West Saxon king who had founded the for Canada as well as for Boston. The threat was coming English navy,4 "the finest ship . in America" soon by sea and it had to be met at sea. The colonists needed became the first flagship in the United States navy a naval force to capture the supply ships. On 13 October (cover illustration and Figure 2). The chronicle of her the Continental Congress established the Naval Com­ three cruises under Continental colors constitutes a mittee-forerunner of the Department of the Navy-and classic chapter in the history of the naval war of the authorized the purchase of two vessels. Two weeks later, American Revolution (Frontispiece). on 30 October, it ordered the fitting out of two more It took more than a mere rechristening to convert ships "for the protection and defense of the united Alfred into a warship. The workmen of the Wharton and 1 Colonies." Thus began the navy of the United States. Humphrey shipyard labored throughout November and 1 Figure 1. John Paul Jones (1747-1792). This bust, a copy of an original which was sculpted in 1780 by Jean-Antoine Houdon, is in the Museum of the United States Naval Academy. (Courtesy United States Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis, Maryland.) December 1775 to complete the necessary alterations. and generally peaceful appearance.5 The additional When they were done, the Alfred mounted thirty weight of timbering and cannon did affect her sailing cannon-ten six-pound guns on her main deck and qualities, however, making her top-heavy. She was ever twenty nine-pounders below-and four small swivel guns after known as "crank" and "tender-sided." Still, the in her tops. Her internal structure had been strengthened good seaman could captain her well and John Paul Jones to bear the weight of her guns and ports had been cut in as her commander reported her "capable of giving her side to allow them access to an enemy, but little else excellent service."6 It was Jones (Figure 1), in fact, who had been changed. A close observer could later remark as her First Lieutenant saw her commissioned in early that she had "very little of the ship of war" about her. December 1775. The way he told it, Jones himself raised With gunports closed she retained her merchantman lines the Grand Union Flag (Figure 3) over her quarterdeck. Extract from Entick's Naval Hiftory. nimous Prince preiently intufed new fpirits and better hopes into his bleeding fubje&s. He represented to them the ini­ quity of thofe councils in former reigns, which preferred a HE Saxons, after the death of Egbert, changing their land to a fea war, and engaged then, as the bell fecurity T i'yftem of politics, let their navy drop; and by a fata­ againft" invafions, to build fhips of a proper conftruclion to lity, to which none but a people referved for punifhment by defend the coail againlt the naval force of their enemies ; an overruling providence would have yielded, refolved to leave and, in coniequence of this advice, we find they immedir their coafts naked, to fortify their cities, and to fight the ene- ately fet about a reftoration of their naval affairs, and to build jny after they fhouli land. This fatal miitake, permitting fhips of a new conftrudtion, devifed by the King himfelf, ca­ the enemy to' land without interruption, enabled the Danes pable of holding fixty rowers,, and in all relpecls double to to unite their forces ; and at laft to drive the inhabitants from the largeft. Ihips then in ufe. Wnen this navy was complet­ the coafts, and to gain fettlements for themfelves. In one of ed, Aifred took fpecial care to have it manned with expe­ their expeditions, they failed up the Thames with three hun- rienced failors, and commanded by officers of untainted cou­ dred and fifty veffels, BURNT ALL THE TOWNS ON rage and fidelity, and ordered them to put to fea, with an THE SHORE, landed their men, and laid the country, for exprefs prohibition neither to receive or give quarter. By many miles within land, walie with fire and fword. It is which he releafed himielf from the incumbrance and hazard true that Ethelwoif did at lail force them to retire, but they which arife from a number of prifoners on board of a fhip, returned, and landed in the weft, with a more powerful fleet, and intended to ftrike terror into thofe rovers who, as they and committed fuch outrages, that when ALFRED afcended kept no faith in their treaties, he thereby declared were un­ the throne of England, the country lay defolate, the cities worthy of mercy.
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