The United States' Naval Chronicle

Front matter

THE WITED STATED NAVAL CHRONICLE. <f Suatentans et sustentatus." BY CHARLES W. GOLDSBOROUGH. Vol. I. WASHINGTON CITY: PRINTED BY JAMES WILSON. 1884. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, to Hit: BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the tenth Uav of January in the v ******** year os our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty -sour, and of the &*• I r S I dependence of the United Statis of America, the forty-eighth, Charles W. f * J Goldsborough, of the said district, hath deposited in the office ofthe Clerk of ********* the District Court for the District of Columbia, the title of a book, the right whereof he claim? as author and proprietor, in tb e words following1, to wit: — United States' Naval Chronicle " Sustentans, et Sustentatus," by Charles W. Goldsbo rough, vol. 1, 1824. In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled « An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing, the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the limes therein mentioned" — and aiso to the act entitled w An act supplementary to an act entitled * an act for the en couragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned,' and extending the ben- Vtits thereof to the arts us designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints.1* IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the public seal of my office, the day and year aforesaid.

EDMUND I. LEE, Clerk ofthe District Court for the District of Cdlujpbiai The chronologist owes to the world a true and impartial account of ihe events he proposes to record. While the country of his birth may justly claim his inviolable fidelity and his undivided love, truth commands. him to feel that he is a member of the great community of man, and that his record, to be useful, must be true. If, per chance, it should disclose errors on the part of his government, or of his fellow citizens, it will afford the opportunity of manifesting their wisdom, by a change of policy or measures. If, on the contrary, it should proclaim the wisdom of those who rule, or the prowess of those who meet in the field of bat lie, it will be viewed with complacency, if not with pride, and excite a spirit of emulation, fruitful in patriotism and heroic daring.

We advert with a filial fondness to those pages of our own history, which denote the wisdom of our forefathers, the energy of their arms, and the invincibility of their virtues. The recollection of these cannot fail to inspire their descendants with a sentiment, as holy as it is true, that, as exertions and sacrifices gained our triumphant battle for the liberties of our country, so they still re main as the corner stone and arch to the perpetuation of national glory. In every age wisdom and valor have founded empires, and imbecility and want of energy have marked their decline. To trace the early periods in which nations first developed their character, the steps by which they arrested the attention of the world; to describe faithfully she actors who displayed the most prominent figures in the drapery of the times, is a task os' great labor and difficul ty; the more remote the period, the more laborious is the task, and the more difficult the acquisition of records entitled to confidence, until at length all becomes impenetrable darkness, and fable and poetry supply the place of chronology.

Chapter I

Civil Administration — Officers of the Revolutionary Navy — Their rank and command — Their relative rank with the army — Their pay and allowances: — Resolution respecting the appointment of Surgeons and Surgeons' Mates — Pendants, private vessels not permitted to wear them — Vessels of war authorized to be built or purchased — Their employment — General letters of Reprisal — Expedition to New Providence— Commodore Hopkin3 — Naval achievements— Advantages possessed by Great Britain — Arrival of a French fleet — Value of captures by our cruisers — Effects upon the British — Vessels finally disposed of — Virginia permitted to keep two smasi vessels of war. DURING the Revolutionary War, the superintending direction of the Navy was committed, in the first instance, to a committee of three members of Congress, viz: Messrs. Deane, Langdon, and Gadsden, who were, in October. 1775, required to sit out two swift sailing vessels, the one of 10, the other of 14 guns, and a proportionate number of swivels and men, to cruize " eastward," for the purpose of intercepting such transports as might be laden with munitions of war, and other supplies for the British, then in possession of the town of Boston, and for such other purposes as Congress might direct.

Having resolved to fit out two more vessels, (30th October,) viz: one of 20, the other of 36 guns, four members, Messrs. Hopkins, Hewes, R. H. Lee. and J. Adams, were added to the committee; and when Congress, by resolution of 13th December, 1775, determined to build thirteen additional vessels of war, they increased the number of the naval com mittee, so as to make it consist of one member from each colony, to be appointed by ballot; and on the 14th December the following gentlemen were accordingly thus appointed:-*- Messrs. Bartlett, Hancock, Hopkins, Deane, Lewis, Crane, R. Morris, Read, Chase, R. H. Lee, Hewes, Gadsden, and Houston. To this committee Naval subjects were generally refer red, with an instruction to examine and report thereon* for the final decision of the House. Congress reserved to themselves the power of appointing all commission officers, as low as, and including third lieutenants, and gave to the committee the power of appointing all officers, of subordinate rank.

The committee were authorized to give such instructions for the employment of the ships as might appear to them "most conducive to the defence of the United Colonies, and to the distress of the enemy's naval forces and vessels bringing supplies to their fleets and armies." In performing the duties assigned to them, the committee experienced great inconvenience for want of professional prac tical information, and upon the subject being brought before Congress, they resolved, (November 6, 1776,) " that three persons, well skilled in maritime affairs, should be immediately appointed to execute the business of the Navy, under the direction of the Marine Committee, and allowed to each a salary of 1,500 dollars, per annum; and, on the 13th Novem ber, John Nixon, John Wharton, and F. Hopkinson, Esqrs. were appointed.

They were styled in the resolutions of Con gress, "The Continental Navy Board, or Board of Assistants to the Marine Committee," and sometimes, "Board of the Mid dle District." There was also an "Eastern Board," consisting of three persons, who executed the instructions of the Com mittee in their district. This system of administering the civil department of the Navy, continued, it is believed, till October, 1779, when Con gress, by resolution, (28th,) decided that a Board of Admiral ty should be established, "to consist of three Commissioners, not members of Congress, and two members of Congress; any three to form a Board for the despatch of business." Early in 1781, (January llth,) we find that James Reed, Esqr. was, by resolution of Congress, invested with full power to conduct the business of the Navy Board in the "Middle Department;" and soon after this, (February 27th,) Major General Alexander M'Dougall was elected Secretary of Marine.

In the same year, (August 29th,) it was resolved, that an "Agent of Marine'* should be appointed, "w'lth authority to direct, fit out, equip, and employ, the ships and vessels of war belonging to the United States, according to such instructions as he shall, from time to time receive from Congress;" and "that, as soon as the said Agent shall enter into the execution of his office, the functions and appointments of the Board of Admiralty, the several Navy Boards, and all civil officers appointed under them," should cease. In September, (6th,) a resolution was passed, by which the duties prescribed to the "Agent of Marine," until he should be appointed, devolved on the Superintendent of Finance, Ro bert Morris, who indeed appears to have had the chief a°-'ency in the civil administration of the Navy, during the greate° part of the revolutionary war.

In the earliest periods, we find that -the orders to the commanders generally, bear his signature, and continue to be most frequently signed"by him, until a Board of Admiralty was established, when the correspond n~e was con ducted under the superintending direction of the Board, by Mr John Brown, their secretary. After the Board of Admiralty was abolished, we again find the chief duties of the department devolving upon Mr. Morris. It would, indeed seem, that the nation could not conveniently have conducted either its naval or its fiscal operations, without the agency of this distinguished patriot. As chief of the naval committees, of the secret com mittees, and of the financial department, his great intelligence, his probity, his liberality, his love of country, zeal in her ser vice, and unwearied industry, commanded the universal confi dence of that age, and rendered him probably the most fit man that could have been selected for the discharge of the important confidential duties entrusted to him.

FROM the Journals of Congress and other sources, we find Officers were appointed by that the following Commission them during the War. MARINES. Samuel Nichols, Major — Appointed 25th June, 1776. Captains and 'OMMAXDERS. Captains and i-OMNANDEIlS. When sipp-d. Fames. IV hen App'd. Nantes. t775— Dec 22. 1776— April 17. - — — June 6. Aug. 13. Oct. 10. Ezekiel Hopkins, Dudley Saltonstall, Abraham Whipple, Nicholas Biddle, John B. Hopkins, William Manly, Isaac Cozneau, Thomas Thompson, Samuel Tomkins, Christr. Miller, John Barry, Thonias Read, Charles Alexander, James Nichoison, Hector McNiel, Thos. Grennall, Eiisha Hinnian, John Hodge, John Manly, Lambert Wickes, William Hallock, Hoysted Hacker, Isaiah Robinson, John Paul Jones, James Josiah, Joseph Olney, James Robinson, John Young, Elisha Warner, Lt.

Comd't. J. Baldwin, Thos. Albertson, Henry Johnson, Daniel Waters, Samuel Tucker, William Burke, Peter Landais, Seth Harding, Silas Talbot. Saml. Nicholson, John Nicholson, 1775— Dec. 22. 1776— June 6. Henry Skinner, Benj. Dunn, Saml. Chew. LIEUTENANTS. John Paul Jones, Isr. Rhodes Arnold, Stansbury, Hoysted Hacker, Jonathan Pitcher, .. Benj. Seabury, 2d. Jos< nh Olney, Eiisna Warner, Thomas Weaver, McDougall, John fanning-, 3d. Ezekeil Burroughs, .. Daniel Vaughan, Israel Turner, 1st. Joseph Doble, 2d. Mark Dennet, 3d, Peter Shores, John Wheelright, Josiah Shack&rd, .. William Barnts, 1st. 1 homas Vaughan, 3d* Jonathan Ma.tby, 1st. David Phipps, 2d. Wilson, 1st. John Nicholson, 2, 1. Elijah Boweii. 1st. John Rodeg, 2d. William Molleston. 3d. Richard Dale, ' ., Alexander Murray, .. Plunkett, Joshua Barney, >, Isaac Buck, John Stevens, Aquilla Johns, July 22.

Aug. 17. 22. 1777— Feb. 5. i Mar. 15. 1777— Feb. 5. Aug. 6. 12. 1781— July 20. 1778— May l. June 18. Sept. 25. 1779— Sept. 17. When App'd. CAPTAINS. When App'd. LIEUTENANTS. 1776— June 25. Andrew Porter, Joseph Hardy, Samuel Shaw, Benj. Deane, Robert Mullin, John Stewart, George J. Osborne, Richd. Palmer, William Nicholson, Franklin Reed. Peregrine Brown, .. James McClure, 2d. William Gilmorc, .. Abel Morgan, „ Hugh Montgomery .. Thomas Pownal, 1st. Richard Harrison 2d. Stephen Meade, 1st* Nathl. Thwing, 2d. Benj. Thompson, Alpheus Rice, 1st. Abraham Vandyke, .. William Nicholson, .. Louii de la Valet w. ..- July 22. 1781— Sept: 6. 1776— July 22. 1J76— June 25. Lieutenants. Daniel Henderson, 1st. David Love; ,♦, Aug. 24. 1779- July 24. 1787— July 17. Sept. 6. These Lists of Officers, appointed during the revolutionary ■war, are obviously very imperfect; they are, however, as complete as the information in our possession will enable usto make them.

The frequent changes in the administration of the civil de partment of the Navy, the occasional resolutions of Congress, conferring sometimes upon one of the' Boards the power of ap pointing; at others, giving to individual members, in conjunc tion with commanders, authority to appoint subalterns, the des truction of papers by fires, and other causes, have involved this branch of the subject in great uncertainty; and it is believed to be impossible, at this day, to present a perfect List of the Officers. Were the information attainable, it would be par ticularly gratifying to show, not only the names of those who were serving in the continental navy, but of those, also, who served on board the ships, fitted out at the expense of the respective Colonies, and on board privateers. The great er portion of them are now no more; but we owe reverence to their memory, for the services they performed, in assist ing, as they did essentially, in the emancipation of the Co lonies.

With respect to the relative rank of the officers, Congress, by resolution of the 17th April, 1776, decided, that "the nomi nation or appointment of Captains or Commanders," should not "establish rank." It was to be settled by Congress, be fore the commissions should be granted; and we find, that by a resolution of the 10th October, 1776, Congress established the rank and command of the Captains, as follows: 1 James Nicholson, 2 John Manly, Virginia, 28 guns. Hancock, 32 — Boston, 24 — Trumbull, 28 — Randolph, 32 — Raleigh, 32 — Effinhgam, 28 — Washington, 32 — Congress, 28 — Delaware, 24 -4- Reprisal, 16 — Providence, 28 — Warren, 32 -*- Montgomery, 24 -r— Lexington, 16 — Hamden « — — Andrew Doria, 14 — Providence, 12 —- Alfred, 28 — Cabot, 16 — Sachem, 10 •— 3 Hector McNiel, 4 Dudley Saltonstall, 5 Nicholas Biddle, 6 Thomas Thompson., 7 John*Barry, 8 Thomas Reed, 9 Thomas Grennall, 10 Charles Alexander, 11 Lambert Wickes, 12 Abraham Whipple, 13 John B. Hopkins, 14 John Hodge, 15 William Hallock, 16 Hoysted Hacker, 17 Isaiah Robinson, 18 John Paul Jones, 19 James Josiah, 20 Elisha Hinman, 21 Joseph Olney, 22 James Robinson, John Young, 24 Elisha Warner, Independence, 10 guns.

Fly, Wasp, 8 — Musqueto, 4 — Lieut. John Baldwin, Lieut. Thos. Albertson, And the Marine Committee were empowered to regulate the rank of Lieuten**"**"1'7 It is presumed that the commanders appointed after the 10th October, 1776, ranked according to the dates of their respec tive appointments. On referring to the list of captains and commanders, and comparing it with the above, it will be seen, that Congress, in arranging the rank, did not include the names of Ez. Hopkins, William Manly, Isaac Cozneau, Samuel Tomkins, or Christopher Miller. Having established the relative rank of commanders in the Navy, with each other, Congress, on the 15th November following, resolved, that the rank of naval officers, to the rank of officers in the land service, should be, Admiral, as a General. Vice Admiral, " Rear Admiral, " Commodore, " Lt.

General. Major General. Brigadier General. El Captain of a ship of 40 guns and upwards, Colonel. Captain of a ship of 20 to 40 guns, Lieut. Colonel. Captain of a ship of 10 to 20 guns, Major. Lieutenant, " Captain, And at the same date, the following was fixed as the pay of the officers of the Navy: — Ships of 20 guns and upwards. Ships of 10 to 20 guns. Captains, per month, g60 - - g48 Lieutenant, - 30 - - 24 Master, - - 30 - - 24 Surgeon, - - 25 - - - 21 2-S Midshipman, - - 12 - - lg Gunner, - - 15 - - - 13 Chaplain, - - 20 - - None. Seamen, - - 8 - - - 8 And that vessels, under 10 guns, should be commanded by Lieutenants, and that the pay in such vessels should be, Lieu tenant, g30; Mate, $15; Boatswain, Gunner, &c. g 12; and the following allowances were, on the 25th July, 1777, established, viz: Commanders of vessels of 10 guns, and upwards, g5 1-3 per week, for subsistence; Under 10 guns, - - g4 Cabin expenses — Commanders of 10 guns, and upwards, g2 2-3 per week, whilst at sea.

Lieutenants, Surgeons, Captains of Marines, and Chaplains, g4 per week subsistence, in domestic ports, when the ships should not be in a condition to receive them. J^ The pay of the Commander in Chief was fixed, (22d Decem ber, 1775,) at §125 per month, and the pay of Surgeons was increased, (16th July, 1777,) so as to be equal to that of Lieu tenants. On the 30th September, 1776, Congress "Resolved, that it be recommended to the legislatures of the United States, to appoint gentlemen in their respective states, skilful in physic and surgery, to examine those who offer to serve as surgeons, or surgeon's mates, in the army or navy; and that no surgeon or mate shall hereafter receive a commission or warrant, to act as such, in the army or navy, who shall not produce a certificate from some one of the examiners, so to be appointed, to prove that he is qualified to execute his office.'** On the 29th October, it was " Resolved, that no private ship or vessel of war, merchant ship or other vessels, belonging to the subjects of these states, be permitted to wear pendants, when in company with continental ships or vessels of war, without leave from the commanding officer thereof."

" That if any merchant ship or vessel, shall wear pendants, in company with continental ships or vessels of war, without leave from the commander thereof, such commander be autho rised to take away the pendant from the offender." " That if private ships or vessels of war, refuse to pay the respect due to the continental ships or vessels of war, the cap tain or commander, so refusing, shall lose his coinmission."t During the war, Congress authorised the purchasing, or building and equipping, as cruizers, the following description of vessels: 1775, October 13, 2 vessels of 10 and 14 guns. 30, 2 do. 20 36 December 13, 13 — 5 of 32, 5 of 28, and 3 of 24 guns. 1776, October 3, 3 — viz. 1 frigate and 2 cutters. November 9, 10 — viz. 3 of 74 guns, 5 of 36, 1 of 18, and 1 packet. 1777, January 23, 2 — viz. 1 of 36, and 1 of 18 guns.

Eight prize vessels were, during the years 1776 and 1777, directed to be purchased and fitted out; and in the course *It appears to us, a subject of regret, that similar provisions do not at this day exist in the navy of the United States. Medical appointments are more important than they are generally considered in our service. The lives of our officers and seamen, are surely too valuable to be com mitted to the hands of unskilful physicians. — A rule, requiringthat every applicant, for a medical appointment, should exhibit unquestionable testimonials of professional qualification, would, we should think, greatly improve this department of the service. -f* A national ship, may be considered as representing the sovereignty of the state to which she belongs; and as such, is surely entitled to distinguished respect from vessels, armed or unarmed, belonging to the citizens of such state.

It is to be hoped, that these salutary provisions will be revived in eur service. of the war, a number of cutters, despatch boats, gallies, and fire-ships, were, from time to time, authorised. The cutters and despatch boats were generally under the direction of a se cret committee, one of whose duties was to procure munitions of war; and who, for that purpose, were authorised to export certain articles of provisions to the West Indies. The gallies and fire-ships were for the defence of our waters, within land locked navigation and the lakes. The thirteen ships authorized, on the 13th December, 1775, were directed to be built, one in New Hampshire, two in Massachusetts Bay, one in Connecticut, two in Rhode Is land, two in New York, four in Pennsylvania, and one in Ma ryland; and by resolution of 6th June, 1776, their names were* fixed, viz: The Congress, Randolph, Hancock, Washington, Trumbull, Raleigh, Effingham, Montgomery, Wa,rren, Boston, Virginia, Providence and Delaware, Among those authorized, and subsequent to 13th December, 1775, and not heretofore mentioned by name, we find the Colum bus, twenty-eight, the Queen of France twenty-eight, the Ranger eighteen, the Alliance thirty-two, built at Salisbury, Massachu setts, the Hornet, brig Gen. Gates, frigates Confederacy, Deane, (afterwards changed to Hague,) and Ariel, sloop Sarato ga, Due de Lauzun, and the America, 74.

With respecj; to the employment of the Navy, the object in providing the four vessels in October 1775, as avowed bv Con gress, was to intercept transports laden with munitions of war and other supplies for the army and navy of Great Britain, then within the united colonies. This was an object of vast importance to the colonies, as they were greatly deficient in every description of arms, ammunition and clothing. It was in deed a measure considered essential to the preservation of the army, and to a successful prosecution of the defensive war in which the colonies were engaged. The cruisers of Great Britain had captured a number of our merchant vessels, which had cleared out at the respective custom houses agreeably to the regulations established by acts of the British Parliament; they had burnt and destroyed Fal mouth,* a flourishing village on the sea coast of Massachusetts: they had fired upon and injured several other towns within the colonies, and dispersed, at a late season of the year, hundreds of helpless women and children "a mode of warfare long exploded amongst civilized nations."

They were acting under in structions to treat every town or place accessible to them, where any troops should have been raised or military works erected, «' as in a state of actual rebellion," when Congress, participating in the indignant feelings entertained by the patriotic people of Massachusetts, and the neighbouring colonies, authorized, on the 25th November, 1775, the capture of any armed vessel •Now Portland, employed against the colonies, and of any transpprt, or other vessel, engaged in carrying munitions of war, provisions or other necessaries to the British Army or Navy, within the United Colonies; at the same time, they authorized the fitting out of privateers, and established judicial tribunals, to take cognizance of prizes; adopting for their government the general principles of national law, and granting an appeal in all cases to their own body.

Several small cruisers had previously been fitted out, under the authority, and by the direction, of General Washing ton, and Congress declared that the captures made by them " were justifiable." Some captures had indeed been made, without any authority either from Congress, the colonies, or any military chief, but in retaliation for the wrongs and in dignities practiced towards us by the British arms. One of these cases, the first that occurred, and the first instance, it is believed, of a flag being taken on the water, duringthe revolu tionary war, will be particularly mentioned hereafter. Im mediately, upon authority being given by Congress, our coasts " soon swarmed with the privateers of New England." Those of Massachusetts were " particularly successful, and the enemy, who seem to have been under no apprehensions of an attack, on what was deemed their peculiar element, smarted se verely under these first essays of the colonies in maritime war."

Three days after authorizing these measures, Congress esta blished rules for the government of the Navy. Congress had not yet gone so far as to grant general letters of reprisal; but they had probably gone to the utmost verge they could go, consistently with allegiance to the King of Great Britain, which had not then been disavowed, and which, at that period, there was scarcely any disposition openly manifested, in any individual, to disavow. General letters of reprisal were however authorized on the 23d March, 1776, and thenceforth the public and private cruisers of the united colonies were at liberty to capture all vessels, armed or unarmed, belonging to the crown, or to the inhabi tants of Great Britain. Vessels bringing settlers, arms, ammunition, or warlike stores, to and for the use of the colonies, or any of the inhabitants thereof, who were friends to the Ameri can cause, and such warlike stores and the effects of such set tlers, were alone exempted from capture.

Late in the month of December, 1 775, a small squadron, con sisting of the Alfred, commodore Ezekiel Hopkins, ot 28 guns; the Columbus, captain A. Whipple, 28 guns; the Andrew Doria, captain Nicholas Biddle, of 14 guns; the Sebastian Cabot, capt. John D. Hopkins, of 16 guns; and the Providence, Hazard, of 12 guns, with the Falcon, Scorpion, and Cruiser, which were to join them at Cape Fear, were ordered to New Providence, ■for the purpose of seizing and transporting to the colonies, a large quantity of ammunition, which it was understood was deposited in the Royal magazines on that island. After landing, there was some unaccountable delay, arid the Governor heard of Commodore Hopkins' approach, in time to remove the powder, before he reached the town. Thus the expedition failed, as to the principal object; the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, with about forty cannon, a quantity of shot and siiells, and a few brass mortars, were taken, and were the only trophies of an expedition which had been confidently calculated on fora liberal supply of powder, of which we stood in great need.

A bomb brig of 8 guns, and a schooner of 6 guns, were taken by the squadron on its return home. Commodore Hopkins' conduct was inquired into by Con gress, and it was found that he had not paid due regard to the tenor of his instructions, which "directed him to annoy the enemy's ships upon the coasts of the southern states." — The reasons he assigned for not going from Providence to the Carolinas, were not satisfactory; and on the 16th August, 1776, Congress passed a vote of censure upon him. Three days after wards, he was ordered to Newport, to take "command of the fleet formerly put under his care." It is found, however, that Congress, in arranging the rank of the officers, on the 10th Oc tober following, omitted his name. It is not in our power to afford particular information as to the movements of our national ships, during the revolutionary war.

It is indeed, believed, that such information is not within the reach of any individual. We have in vain consulted all the books and papers in our possession; no where could we find the materials to justify our undertaking any thing like a connected series of events. We content ourselves, therefore, upon this point, and we hope our readers will be satisfied, with giving a description of some of the most brilliant achievements that occurred during that eventful period. ■»■ CAPTAIN JAMES NICHOLSON Was first appointed to the Virginia, of 28 guns. She was lost in the Chesapeake Bay, in the year 1778. An inquiry was instituted by Congress, 18th April, and the result attached n > degree of censure to captain Nicholson. In the year 1780, we find captain Nicholson in command of the Trumbull, of 28 <mns.

On the 2d June, he had an action with the Watt, a "letter of marque, supposed to be fully a match for one of our heaviest frigates. She was greatly superior in guns, and innumber of men, to the Trumbull. The action was within pistol shot, was main tained with great gallantry on both sides, and it lasted, it is said, nearly three hours, when captain Nicholson, havinolost his main and mizen masts, and the foremast being badly wounded, was re luctantly constrained to discontinue the contest, an event which , it is presumed, was not displeasing to the commander of tlia Watt, whose loss has been stated at ninety men, killed and wounded. The Trumbull's loss, in killed and wounded, was (29,) less than a third of that number. On the 8th August, 1781, the Trumbull, with a very reduced crew, estimated at one hundred and eighty men only, sailed from the Delaware : she had scarcely cleared the capes, when three enemy's ships were descried in the east, with their top gallant-sails out.

The Trumbull's foretopmast and maintopgal lantmast were carried away, and she could steer only directly before the wind — She had not cleared away the wreck of her foretopmast, &c. when one of the ships, the British frigate Iris, came alongside, the other two being* in sight. An action was commenced with the Iris, and was continued for more than an hour, and rather to the advantage of the Trumbull, when another of the ships, (a frigate also,) came up and fired into the Trumbull. A contest against such odds, could not be main tained with any prospect of success, neither could captain Ni cholson escape, his vessel being a perfect wreck, not having a mast standing. The colors were therefore struck. Alexan der Murray, who had recently been appointed a lieutenant in the navy by Congress, was a volunteer on board the Trumbull, and displayed great gallantry in the action.

CAPTAIN JOHN MANLY. In command of the schooner Lee, captain Manly, acting.it is believed, under the authority of General Washington, in November, 1775, captured the transport, Nancy, loaded with munitions of war, and bound to Boston, for the use of the British army; thus transferring the ownership and use of the cargo from the British to the American army. The event was announced, in a letter from General Washington to Congress, of 30th November, as one of great importance, furnishing our army with many essential articles of which it had been in great want. While in this command, captain Manly made other valuable captures. His zeal and enterprize, attracted the attention of Congress, and that body, on the 17th April, 1776, appointed him a captain in the Navy, and gave him the command of the frigate then building in Massachusetts Bay, afterwards called the Hancock, of 32 guns.