Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Volume 7, Part 1
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Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 7 AMERICAN THEATRE: Nov. 1, 1776–Dec. 31, 1776 EUROPEAN THEATRE: Oct. 6, 1776–Dec. 31, 1776 AMERICAN THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1777–Feb. 28, 1777 Part 1 of 9 United States Government Printing Office Washington, 1976 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. NAVAL DOCUMENTS The American Revolution NAVAL DOCUMENTS OF * I The American Revolution VOLUME 7 AMERICAN THEATRE: Nov. 1, 1776-Dec. 31, 1776 EUROPEAN THEATRE: Oct. 6, 1776-Dec. 31, 1776 AMERICAN THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1777-Feb. 28, 1777 WILLIAM JA.MES MORGAN, Editor With a Foreword by PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD And an Introduction by VICE ADMIRAL ENIN B. HOOPER, USN (Ret.) Director of Naval History NAVAL HISTORY DIVISION DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON: 1976 L.C. Card No. 64-60087 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price $21 Stock Number 008-046-00066-2 / Catalog Number D207.12: 7 Each volume of this series is a reminder of the key role played by the late William Bell Clark, initial editor. Drawing upon his deep knowledge of the Navy in the American Revolution, his initial selections and arrangements of materials compiled over a devoted lifetime provided a framework on which subsequent eflorts have continued to build. SECRETARY OF THE NAVY'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NAVAL HISTORY Whitfield J. Bell, Jr. John H, Kemble Francis L. Berkeley, Jr. Richard W. Leopold Caryl P. Haskins Elting E. Morison Jim Dan Hill Howard H. Peckham Donald D. Jackson Forrest C. Pogue Elmer L. Kayser Gordon B. Turner Wal~erMuir Whitehill THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON January 8, 1976 F ORE WORD Two centuries have passed since our nation was forged in the crucible of a long and hard conflict against over- whelming odds. The Bicentennial has stimulated renewed, and widespread, interest in the meaning and ideals of the American Revolution from which inspiration for the pres- ent and future can be drawn. Scholars and writers are reexamining and reevaluating all facets of the struggle which had such a profound impact on the course of modern history throughout the world. The stirring and familiar words which close the Declaration of Independence -- "we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor" proclaimed a united resolve to gain national freedom and liberty. But, in the months immediately following the Declaration, only the most optimistic could foresee that far distant day when inde- pendence declared would be independence won. General Washington's memorable victory at Trenton was a ray of light in an otherwise grim military situation con- fronting his army. This was indeed a critical period for the patriotic cause; one of many others to follow. Yet, as we read these documents', we cannot but be impressed by the bold determination of American seamen as they engaged the world's most powerful naval force. With characteristic courage and perseverance, American sailors took their ships to sea in ever increasing numbers to raid enemy ship- ping and to bring back war materiel and other supplies so desperately needed if the flame of resistence was to be kept alive. What is offered here in Volume VII, as in previously pub- lished volumes in this continuing series, is not interpre - tive history, but rather the words, thoughts and actions of those who shaped naval affairs and those who fought the Revolutionary War on the seas. Certainly there is no better way to arrive at an understanding of this grand epoch than througb the eyes of the participants. The crucial influence of naval and maritime operations on the outcome of the American Revolution has generally been overlooked in written history. Through this documentary publication, the Department of the Navy is correcting the deficiency. I extend congratulations, and the Navy's high- est words of praise, "Well Done. " INTRODUCTION This, the seventh volume of the series, encompasses the closing months of 1776 and the first two of 1777. The Continental Army had been forced out of the New York area and was retreating through New Jersey. Henceforth New York and its harbor would be the main British base for naval operations off the coast and for the projection of military power by sea to other areas and up inland waters. The British could now take fuller advantage of the elements of mobility and sur- prise made possible by their naval superiority. Being late fall and winter, the weather along the American coast was severe. Nevertheless, British warships kept blockading stations with marked vigilance off Delaware and Chesapeake Bays and important ports. Although many colonial merchantmen escaped through thcir net, others were taken into New York or Halifax as prizes of the enemy cruisers. Late in November 1776 intelligence was received of embarkation of troops on British transports and shortly thereafter over 100 ships and some 7,000 men departed from New York, their destination unknown. Concerned over the possi- bility of Philadelphia being attacked from two sides, by the troops pursuing Washington from New York and by forces transported up the Delaware River, the Continental Congress moved to Baltimore. Washington's stunning victory at Trenton then eased the immediate British threat to Philadelphia. The actual objective of the British amphibious force proved to be elsewhere. The expedition, meeting little resistance, occupied Newport on Rhode Island. They now had another base for their Navy and could prevent the flow of supplies in and out of Narragansett Bay. One of the consequences was the bottling up of the Continental Navy ships under Commodore Hopkins as his fleet retired up the Providence River. Some Continental Navy vessels were, however, still operating at sea. John Paul Jones commanding the ship Alfred, in company with the sloop Providence, captured _Mellish, a large supply- vessel carrying thousands of uniforms for the British Army in Canada. This timely prize cargo would instead warm Continental troops. In the West Indies, Andrew Doria, Captain Isaiah Robinson, exchanged gun salutes with the Dutch fort on the island of St. Eustatius. This foreign recognition accorded the American Grand Union flag sparked strong diplomatic protests from Britain. The scarcity of cannon and the difficulties of obtaining crews had been delay- ing the fitting out of additional Continental Navy ships. However, one powerful frigate, Randolph, finally put to sea under the command of Captain Nicholas Biddle. By the end of 1776 American privateers were taking an increasingly heavy toll in their attacks on British commerce in the Western Atlantic and West Indies. Additional privateer commissions were being issued by the states and by the Con- gress. Use of French. and Spanish ports by American ships, a cause of deepening concern in official London, facilitated privateer operations in the Eastern Atlantic. The mounting count of captures made by "rebel pirates" moved the Admiralty to order expanded convoy protection and patrol duty. Benjamin Franklin, distinguished scholar and diplomat, arrived in France to join Silas Deane as an American Commissioner. Franklin made his ocean passage in the Continental brig Reprisal, Captain Lambert Wickes. Reprisal would remain to cruise in European waters, and Lambert Wickes was destined to become a scourge to British shipping. Through these and other naval and quasi-naval activities and actions on both sides of the Atlantic, sea power was exercising its pervasive influence on the Rev- olutionary War. Documents selected for publication in Volume 7 include those from several depositories not previously represented in the series. This fact highlights the contin- uing and expanding support accorded the Naval Documents of the American Reuolution project through the years. Without such cooperation, coming from widely scattered areas and for which our gratitude is unlimited, this undertaking could not move forward. Unpublished Crown copyright-material in the Public Record Office, London, is reproduced by permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Among other publication assignments and responsibilities, preparation of Naval Documents volumes is centered in the Historical Research Branch of the Naval History Division. The editor's knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated colleagues in this Branch made indispensable contributions to manuscript and illustration collection efforts and to the finished product-Mr. Robert L. Scheina and his successor Miss Mary F. Loughlin, Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Scheffenacker, Mr. Robert I. Campbell, Mr. E. Gordon Bowen-Hassell, Lieutenant (junior grade) David C. Russell relieved by Ensign Dorothy Apple, Mrs. Paulette Smith succeeded by Miss Joye Leonhart, Yeoman Third Class Mary K. Gagnon, and on Naval Reserve duty during the summer Master Chief Petty Officer George K. McCuistion. In the Naval History Division's Curator Branch, Mrs. Agnes Hoover gave her efficient and cheerful help with illustrations. , Maps and charts in this volume, as in those previously published, were collected by the Navy Department Librarian, Mr. W. Bart Greenwood, aided by Miss Mary Pickens of the Library staff. Under the guidance of Mr. Greenwood, the Naval History Division has compiled and published an American Revolution Atlas of contemporary 18th century maps and charts which complement the Naval Documents series. Manuscript research and other invaluable assistance by two outstanding authorities in the field came from abroad-Commander W. E. May, R.N. (Ret) in London and Madame Ulane Bonnel in Paris. Foreign document review and excellent translations were provided by Commander Canio Di Cairano, USNR (Ret). Lastly, but most certainly not least, the constant encouragement and sound advice offered by the distinguished members of the Secretary of the Navy's Ad- visory Committee on Naval History were, as always, welcome and deeply appreciated. A void has been left by the death of Marion V.