DOCSLIB.ORG

Racehorse Sloop [William Jones]

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Racehorse Sloop [William Jones] American Prize Detail December 1776 Name of Vessel: Racehorse Master of Vessel: Lieutenant William Jones Rig of Vessel: Sloop Date of Capture: 8 December 1776 Place of Capture: At 22 E or 23 EN, near the Turks and Caicos Islands Captor: Continental Navy Brig Andrew Doria Home Port: From What Port: Jamaica, British West Indies To What Port: Cargo: Tonnage: 98 Battery: 10x4 Crew: 60 []total Owners: Royal Navy Prize master: Prize crew: Ordered Into: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Into What Port: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Date Arrived: 25 December 1776 Date Tried: 21 February 1777 Date Sold: 25 February 1777 Action: Yes Recaptured: No Comments: Continental Navy Brig Andrew Doria (Captain Isaiah Robinson) sailed from St. Eustatius, Netherlands West Indies on 1 December 1776. Andrew Doria had been sent to St. Eustatius to pick up a cargo of munitions and clothing and return them to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On 8 December, about 22 E or 23 EN, near the Turks and Caicos Islands, Andrew Doria fell in with HM Sloop Racehorse (Commander William Jones), 98 tons, with ten 4-pounders and a crew of sixty men. Racehorse had previously taken three prizes and had a reduced crew aboard. Andrew Doria was in chase of her when Racehorse ’s last prize parted company, and brought her to action. A “very obstinate engagement” began, which lasted for two hours and forty-five minutes before Racehorse was captured. Andrew Doria had two men killed and one, or “some,” wounded. Her mainmast was shot through and there was some other damage. Racehorse had eight wounded including Jones (wounded in the right arm), and several killed, although the number was unknown. She had three shots through her mast, her sails shot up and “much damage Comment on this or any page at our ©awiatsea.com-posted December 2020 --1-- done to her.” Jones “defended her obstinately & is certainly a brave Man.” Jones was taken aboard the Andrew Doria and arrived at Philadelphia with the brig on 24 December. The Racehorse was ordered into Philadelphia. Jones was sent to the Pennsylvania Council of Safety on 24 December with a recommendation from Robert Morris that he be paroled, to reside in an inland town, until he was exchanged. Morris said that Jones “behaved very bravely during a long engagement, and appears to be a man of honor, it is a pity such Men are our Enemies . .” Jones reported his capture to Howe on 27 December. About 25 December the Racehorse got into Delaware Bay and up to the chevaux-de-frise below Philadelphia. In a letter to John Hancock, Robert Morris recommended that the Racehorse be taken into Continental service and the command be given to Lieutenant Benjamin Dunn of the Andrew Doria . On 13 January 1777 the Continental Congress ordered Racehorse purchased into the Continental Navy. The next day the Marine Committee named the sloop the Surprize and promoted Dunn to command her as Lieutenant and Commander. Racehorse was libeled on 1 February 1777 and tried on 21 February. Racehorse was sold on 25 February. [ NDAR, 7:574-576 and 576 note, 592 and note, 595-596, 600, 614-615, 631-633 and 633 note; 860 and notes, 862-863 and 863 note, 869-871, 898-901 and 901 note, 946, 954 and notes, 1083-1084 and 1084 note, 1109 and note, 1172, 1263] Comment on this or any page at our ©awiatsea.com-posted December 2020 --2--.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Chronology of the American Revolution
    INTRODUCTION One of the missions of The Friends of Valley Forge Park is the promotion of our historical heritage so that the spirit of what took place over two hundred years ago continues to inspire both current and future generations of all people. It is with great pleasure and satisfaction that we are able to offer to the public this chronology of events of The American Revolution. While a simple listing of facts, it is the hope that it will instill in some the desire to dig a little deeper into the fascinating stories underlying the events presented. The following pages were compiled over a three year period with text taken from many sources, including the internet, reference books, tapes and many other available resources. A bibliography of source material is listed at the end of the book. This publication is the result of the dedication, time and effort of Mr. Frank Resavy, a long time volunteer at Valley Forge National Historical Park and a member of The Friends of Valley Forge Park. As with most efforts of this magnitude, a little help from friends is invaluable. Frank and The Friends are enormously grateful for the generous support that he received from the staff and volunteers at Valley Forge National Park as well as the education committee of The Friends of Valley Forge Park. Don R Naimoli Chairman The Friends of Valley Forge Park ************** The Friends of Valley Forge Park, through and with its members, seeks to: Preserve…the past Conserve…for the future Enjoy…today Please join with us and help share in the stewardship of Valley Forge National Park.
    [Show full text]
  • From Themselves, the Story Is Very Dark. General Howe Is Arrived Safe at Hallifax,7 Some Say, Having Been Repulsed at New York
    216 To MANN 5 JUNE 1776 from themselves, the story is very dark. General Howe is arrived safe at Hallifax,7 some say, having been repulsed at New York. The American Admiral Hopkins,8 with three or four ships9 has been worsted and disgraced by a single frigate.10 Your Bible the Gazette will tell you more particulars,11 I suppose, for I have not yet seen it; and the Alamains of the Court have given Howe12 a victory, and Hopkins chains, which I do not believe will appear in that chronicle; however, you may certainly sing some Te Deums in your own chapel. These triumphs have come on the back of a very singular revolu­ tion13 which has happened in the penetralia, and made very great 7. 'Another account says, that General transmitted from Halifax, 25 April, was Howe is arrived at Halifax, after having published in the London Gazette No. attempted to land at New York, but was 11672, 4-8 June, sub 8 June (see also prevented by the provincials there, who Shuldham's dispatch of 19 April with were said to be 30,000 strong' (London enclosures, in Dispatches of Molyneux Chronicle, loc cit.). Howe sailed from Shuldham Vice-Admiral of the Blue, ed. Boston 27 March (ante 17 May 1776, n. 1) Neeser, New York, 1913, pp. 177-83). directly for Halifax, and dropped anchor 9. The 'rebel armed vessels' are listed in Halifax harbour 'Wednesday, April (ibid.), as the frigates Alfred, commanded 3d ... at 7 in the evening' ('Journals by Hopkins and Columbus, the brigs of Lieut.-Col.
    [Show full text]
  • Birthday Ike Commemorates Navy Birthday
    242 nd Navy Birthday IKe Commemorates Navy Birthday By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Grant Wamack For centuries now, the Navy has answered Sailors, customs and traditions. Although the freedom to be whatever we want to the nation’s call to safeguard its interests and once envisioned as a force to primarily protect be,” Information Systems Technician 3rd promote security, democracy and peace around the homeland and ensure economic prosperity, Class Tyshawn Brumfield, Automated Data the world. Since its inception on October 13, today the Fleet ensures the prosperity, peace Processing helpdesk technician. “No matter 1775, the Navy has proven itself as a model and security of all nations. the race, color, gender, we all fight for the same for progress, diversity and tradition. From From its commissioning in 1977 to 2017, reason.” humble beginnings in a time of great need, it the “Mighty Ike” has been a key component Another Sailor fights for different reasons, has risen to a fighting force that has stood the of this proud heritage and a strong forward but speaks fondly of the cohesiveness and the test of time and the crew of the USS Dwight presence for more than 40 years. Ike has vast support system in the Navy. D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) is part of that participated in several military operations “Being in the Navy means you always history, proving the Navy and its Sailors are including Operation Eagle Claw during the have a family,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate prepared to do what it takes for “sea power to Iran hostage crisis in 1980, the Gulf War in (Fuels) 3rd Class Dantrell Clark, departmental protect and promote.” the 1990s and maritime support in Iraq and supervisor.
    [Show full text]
  • •A Maritime History of the United States
    The Eagle’s Webbed Feet The Eagle’s Webbed Feet •A Maritime History ofA theMaritime United History ofStates the United States A Maritime History • The United States is a maritime nation • What does that mean? (83125 vs. 7514) • Course themes: • The United States has always depended on the navy for its power and status (or lack thereof) • The history of the Navy very much aligns with the history of the Nation. What We’re Going to Do • Revolution and the Demise of the Navy • Build a “New Navy” To Defend a New Country • More Wars & other tasks (The Civil War) • Second Demise and Creation of another “New Navy” • Transition from a Great Power to a Super Power Navy • A Super Power’s Navy in the Cold War and beyond Opening Comments • Strategy and Doctrine • Questions, Questions, Questions • Facts vs. Opinions • My apologies to: • The Marines • The Merchant Marine • The Coast Guard Your instructor is biased! Revolution and the Demise of the Navy “It follows as certain as night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive – and with it everything honorable and glorious.” “I have not yet begun to fight!” 18th Century Warships • Classification • Tactics • 44 verses 74, etc.: • The weather gage • Decks • The aim point • Rating • Raking • The Line • Guns • Frigates • Throw weight • Range • Strategy • Guerre d’escadre • Guerre de course • Letters-of-Marque Weather Gauge Raking American Maritime Advantages • Coastal trade dominated communications • Shipbuilding (1/3 of all English ships at ½ the cost) • Lots of experienced builders, sailors & captains • World wide traders, fisherman, & whalers.
    [Show full text]
  • The Maritime War: the Revolutionary War in Princess Anne County
    The Maritime War: The Revolutionary War in Princess Anne County Christopher Pieczynski A Research Study Submitted to the Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission June 30, 2020 Copyright © 2020 by Christopher Pieczynski All rights reserved. No part of this study may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. Contents Acknowledgements 2 Introduction 3 1775 - The Land War from the Sea 4 1776 – Dunmore’s Departure 10 1776 – The Pleasure House 17 1776 – Loyalists verses Patriots 19 1777 – Cape Henry and the Blockade 26 1778 – Naval Actions 32 1779 – The Collier Raids 36 1780 – Waiting on the French 40 1780 – The Leslie Expedition 42 1781 – Benedict Arnold in Virginia 44 1781 – The Battle of Cape Henry 53 1781 – The Road to Yorktown 58 1782 – The Aftermath 69 Ships Captured by the British 71 Ships Captured by the Americans and French 75 Images 76 References 78 1 Acknowledgements Many different individuals and organizations were influential in making this study possible. First and foremost, I would like to thank the Virginia Beach Historic Preservation Commission for making the research grant program available to study these little-known aspects of our area history. Jennifer Estes, Patrick Hannum, and Samuel Morrison were all critical players in an earlier study on the Skirmish at James’s Plantation. Through their efforts, we were able to identify several other parts of Princess Anne County’s role in the American Revolution – many of which found their way into this study.
    [Show full text]
  • E..Rs 1 'Te. X+E.~
    Roosevelt, Franklin D. NAVAL AND MARINE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 1731-1942 Accession Numbers: 42-134, 42-357, 43-95, 43-117, 47-15, 47-1~5, 53-3 The papers were presented to the Library by Franklin D. Roosevelt and several other donors. This material is subject to copyright res·trictions under Title 17 of the u.s. Code. Quantity: 36 feet (approximately 72,~~~ pages) Restrictions: None Related Materials: Franklin D. Roosevelt Papers pertaining to Family, Business and Personal Affairs Naval Book Collection .Naval Photograph and Print Collection \. • .... ' • . a/ 1 't.E.. , 0 e..rs X+e.~ - C.<:t.b. +'l- rt-.:Co -0-J.~ /fN-A-. ]),-.,._; r- f Group 7 Naval History Manuscripts A Abbott, Francis (Revolutionary patriot) 1 item [1784?] Adams, Henry A. (Commander, U.S.N.) 1 item (1848) Adams , John (President) (SOME OVERSIZE) 5 items (1775-1813) Albert, Johns. (Chief Engineer, USN) 1 item (1870) Alden, James (Rear Admiral) 2 items (1869, 1870) Alexander, Charles (Capt. in Continental Navy) 1 item (1765) Allen , Charles H. (Asst. Secy. of Navy) 1 item (1898) Allen, William H. (Comdg. U.S.S. Congress) 1 item (1818) Almy, John J. (Rear Admiral) 149 items (1862-73) America, u.s.s. 1 item 18 pp. (1813) American Insurance Company 3 items (1833-34) Ammen , Daniel (Rear Admiral) 2 items (1891, 1897) Anderson, P.T. (Navy Dept.) 1 item (1805) Anderson, William (Captain) 2 ~terns (1816, 1821) Andrews, Philip (Commander) 1 item (1909) Angus , Samuel (Lt.) 2 items (1813-15) (SOME OVERSIZE) Appleton, Nathaniel (Mass. patriot) 1 item (1778) Appleton, John (Actg.
    [Show full text]
  • St Eustatius As an Entrepoì‡T of Goods And
    W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 2015 Networks in Favor of Liberty: St Eustatius as an Entrepot̂ of Goods and Information during the American Revolution Sarah Marie Vlasity College of William & Mary - Arts & Sciences Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Caribbean Languages and Societies Commons, Latin American History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Vlasity, Sarah Marie, "Networks in Favor of Liberty: St Eustatius as an Entrepot̂ of Goods and Information during the American Revolution" (2015). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539626806. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21220/s2-7ds9-mj55 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Networks in Favor of Liberty: St. Eustatius as an Entrepot of Goods and Information during the American Revolution Sarah Marie Vlasity Boulder, Colorado Bachelor of Arts, University of Colorado Boulder, 2011 A Thesis presented to the Graduate Faculty of the College of William and Mary in Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Arts Lyon Gardiner Tyler Department of History The College of William and Mary January, 2015 APPROVAL PAGE This Thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts ____________ ^ 2cuud~ A iavu. ___________ Sarah Marie Vlasity Approved by the Committee, August 2014 O > ^ Committee Chair Professor Paul Mapp, History College of William and-Mary Professor Frabricio Prado, History College of William and Mary Professor Bfyfeft Rushfbtth, History College of William and Mary ABSTRACT As a free port situated in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, the Dutch colony of St.
    [Show full text]
  • The American Revolution at Sea, 1775-1776
    The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Honors College 5-2013 Taking the War to the Water: The American Revolution At Sea, 1775-1776 Sarah Kent University of Maine - Main Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors Part of the Military History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Kent, Sarah, "Taking the War to the Water: The American Revolution At Sea, 1775-1776" (2013). Honors College. 126. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/126 This Honors Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors College by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TAKING THE WAR TO THE WATER: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AT SEA, 1775-1776 by Sarah Kent A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for a Degree with Honors (History) The Honors College The University of Maine May 2013 Advisory Committee: Liam Riordan, Associate Professor of History, Advisor Richard Judd, McBride Professor of History Scott W. See, Libra Professor of History Howard Segal, Adelaide and Alan Bird Professor of History David Gross, Interim Dean, Honors College Abstract The story of the land war of the American Revolution has been told many times. However, the naval conflict remains largely ignored except for its most famous aspects, such as the voyages of John Paul Jones. When the sea battles of the Revolution have been discussed it has mostly been in the context of the end of the war when the navy had already existed for some time.
    [Show full text]
  • Ships and Seamen of the American Revolution by Terry Manning, Atlanta Chapter SAR
    Ships and Seamen of the American Revolution by Terry Manning, Atlanta Chapter SAR Source: Book by Jack Coggins (Dover Publications: Mineole, NY, 1969) Revised August 3, 2009 The Status of Sea Power Circa 1775 After the end of the Seven Years War in 1763, England’s empire greatly increased, thus diluting the Navy’s ability to provide sea power in a concentrated sense (p.17). King George III and his party did not appreciate the need for a continued or strengthened navy, thus letting the dockyards and ships in ordinary (“mothballs”) become neglected, even letting the stockpile of oak timbering grow low (pp. 17, 19), and creating a shortage of trained seamen because crews were discharged and officers pensioned after 1763 (p.19). A “ship of the line” or “men of war of the line” were the terms applied to a ship carrying 60 to 100 guns generally. Those over 80 guns were usually 3-decker ships (p.35). This class of ship is often used in comparisons of sea power for the time. (p.22) To wage full naval war in America would leave British shores unprotected since France had 75 men of war of the line at the time available or in progress with half of them ready for service (p.19). Royal Navy vessels of all types in North America in January 1775 totaled only 24 (4 of them in the southern states and Florida). By June 1775, only five small sloops had been added. So even with rumblings of problems in the Americas, Britain either didn’t see the need yet or couldn’t do much about increasing sea power in the area.
    [Show full text]
  • Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Volume 9
    Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 9 AMERICAN THEATRE: Jun. 1, 1777–Jul. 31, 1777 EUROPEAN THEATRE: Jun. 1, 1777–Sept. 30, 1777 AMERICAN THEATRE: Aug. 1, 1777– Sept. 30, 1777 United States Government Printing Office Washington, 1986 Electronically published by American Naval Records Society Bolton Landing, New York 2012 AS A WORK OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THIS PUBLICATION IS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. APPENDICES APPENDIX A [The series of sketches which comprise this appendix are by Captain Hector McNeill commanding officer of the Continental Navy frigate Boston. On July 7, 1777, Boston in company with the frigate Hancock, Captain John Manley, and a captured Royal Navy frigate, Fox, fell in with a British squadron under Captain Sir George Collier. McNeill's drawings depict ship positions at various times during the running action which ensued. Manlcy surrendered the Hancock, the Fox was retaken while the Boston ran to safety on the Maine coast. This volume contains American and British accounts of the action.] 1. MassHS. These sketches are also published in Philip Chadwick Foster Smith's book Fired by Manley zeal; A Naval Fiasco of the American Revolution (Salem, Mass., 1977). Victor Rainbow Boston sloop Hancock Flora Fox Victor Rainbow Boston sloop Flora Hancock Fox Victor Rainbow sloop Boston Hancock Fox Flora sloop Rainbow Flora Bozton Hancock Fox Rainbow Boston Hancoch Flora Fox Rainbow Boston Hancock Flora Fox Boston Hancock Rainbow Fox Flora Boston Fox Rainbow Flora Hancock Boston Fox Flora Hancock Rainbow APPENDIX I3 [This detailed and highly informative document was prepared by the Conti- nental Marine Committee and may have been carried as a "shopping list" by Benjamin Franklin when he sailed for France on board the Continental Navy brig Reprisal in the fall of 1776.
    [Show full text]
  • The J^Etters of Qaptain Zhqcholas Middle
    The J^etters of Qaptain ZhQcholas Middle «AND a mighty precious volume it is, too," the late Gaillard /\ Hunt, Chief of the Manuscript Division of the Library of JL JL Congress, wrote, in June, 1916, with a historian's appre- ciation, of a collection of letters and papers relating to Captain Nicholas Biddle, of the Continental Navy.1 The volume proved not only a precious one, but an elusive one as well. Brief quotations from a few of the letters contained in it—just enough to whet the appetite for more—were used in a short article about Captain Biddle, published in U. S. Naval Institute Proceed- ings, in September, 1917. The author, the late Edward Biddle, was a collateral descendant of the gallant and ill-fated naval officer, who perished with 300 of his crew, when his 36-gun frigate Randolph blew up in an engagement with a British 64-gun ship of the line. Edward Biddle concluded his article with a promise of a future one, using more of the Captain's letters.2 It never materialized. The years passed; Edward Biddle died, and the volume vanished. Ten years or more ago, in planning a full-length biography of Captain Nicholas Biddle, this writer precipitated a search within the family for the letters. This effort disclosed that, in 1913 and 1914, Edward Biddle and his cousin Charles Biddle had presented the public papers of Nicholas Biddle, the banker, a nephew of Captain Nicholas Biddle, to the Library of Congress. In appreciation of this gift, the Library repaired, arranged, and bound all other family papers and returned them, in July, 1916, to Edward and Charles Biddle.3 1 Gaillard Hunt to Edward Biddle, June 30, 1916.
    [Show full text]
  • Revisiting the Flag at Prospect Hill: Grand Union Or Just British?
    Revisiting the Flag at Prospect Hill: Grand Union or Just British? Byron DeLear Recent research has questioned whether the Grand Union flag (a.k.a. “Conti- nental Colors”) really flew at Prospect Hill, Boston, on 1 January 1776. Eye- witness accounts use the term “union flag” and a new interpretation theorizes this to have referred specifically to the British Union Jack and not the charac- teristic “union flag with 13 red-and-white stripes.” This paper rebuts the new interpretation and supports the conventional history through an examination of eighteenth-century linguistic standards, contextual historical trends, and additional primary and secondary sources. Introduction New Year’s Day in Boston can be a frigid affair, but on 1 January 2011 the weather was a balmy (by New England standards) 47 degrees. I was standing with a film crew in light, slushy snow on Prospect Hill located in the small Boston suburb of Somerville. Locals gathered to witness an annual commemo- rative event: the unfurling of the “first flag of America”—the Grand Union flag. (Figures 1 and 2) A man on horseback costumed as General George Washington made a speech while the distinctive banner was hoisted to top Prospect Hill’s castle-like monument. The mayor of Somerville addressed the crowd along with several community leaders and local historians. Revolutionary War re-enactors fired a few flintlock volleys to a rousing (and historically accurate) “hip, hip, huzzah!” Patriotic songs were sung, hot cider served, and a few snowballs flew through the air. Our film crew captured it all—along with several man-on-the-street type interviews with re-enactors, historians, and serendipitously, NAVA’s founding father, Dr.
    [Show full text]