The story of the United States navy; for boys

Preface

This little work was prepared at the suggestion of Captain S. B. Luce, U.S.N., the commander of the training-ship Minnesota. Desirous of having it correct in every particular, I submitted the manuscript to the Navy Department. It was returned to me with a letter from Commodore Earl English, U.S.IN^., chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Kecruiting, to whom it was referred, in which he wrote :

" I am much pleased with your beautiful and instructive ' Story of the l^avy,' and I congratulate you on having performed a labor which will contribute so much to the pleasure and instruction of the youth of our country. Such a bright - spirited work will refresh the memory of the noble deeds of our departed naval heroes in the minds of the people."

Lieutenant-commander B. P. Lamberton, U.S.N., kindly consented to read the proof-sheets and correct any errors in the use of nautical terms to which a layman might be liable ; and so has been secured for the book that which is most desirable, truthfulness in narrative and correctness in expression.

The same care has been used in the choice of illustrations. They are correct pictures of men and things. These, with the narrative, form a comprehensive outline vi PREFACE.

history of the navy and its work, by which may be estimated the importance of its services in achieving our independence, in establishing the nation, in maintaining the Union, and in preserving our free institutions.

I ^ hope this book may serve to stimulate my young countrymen, who are to be the future guardians of the Republic, to a more extended perusal of our national history and the biographies of the principal actors in it ; and by so enlarging their knowledge of men and events conspicuous in that history, have their love for their country deepened, their reverence for its institutions strengthened, and be made to feel more and more the value of the precious privilegt^ of an American citizen.

-Benson J. Losslng.

ILLUSTRATIONS,

PA.OE

Farragut in Mobile Bay — Frontispiece

George III 3

A Stamp 4

Boston Tea-party 6

David Kinnison 1

Jonathan Harrington 8

Floating Battery, 1775 13

Admiralty Seal 15

Esek Hopkins 16

Hoisting First Naval Flag 17

Dr. Franklin on his way to France. . 21

Benedict Arnold 24

Nicholas Biddle 28

Count de Vergennes 81

Monument to Hinman 33

Count D'Estaing 35

Captain Silas Talbot 36

Dr. Franklin 39

John Paul Jones 42

Jones's Medal 47

Commodore Whipple 50

Joshua Barney 51

William Barton 59

Richard Dale 66

Fight between the Constellation and

La Vengeance 71

Truxtuu's Medal 73

Naval Pitcher 74

Truxtuu's Monument 74

Algiers in 1800 77

Naval Monument 85

Preble's Medal 86

Lynn Haven Bay 92

James Barron 93

Gun-boats 95

Escape of the Constitution, 105

Isaac Hull 109

Hull's Medal 112

Constitution and Gtterriere . „ 114

General Brown's Gold Box 118

James Dacres 117

Hull's Monument 119

Jacob Jones 120

Jones's Medal 122

A Wasp on a Frolic 123

The Biddle Urn 124

Decatur's Medal 129

William Bainbridge 131

Bainbridge's Medal 132

James Lawrence 135

Lawrence's Medal 136

Hornet and Peacock 137

Fac-simile of Lawrence's Letter 139

The Chesapeake and Shannon entering the Harbor of Halifax 143

Broke's Silver Plate 146

William Henry Alien 14T

Graves of Burrows, Blyth, and Waters 150

Burrows's Medal 151

David Porter 153

Porter's Fleet at Nooaheeva 160

The Essex fighting the Phoebe and

Cherub 165

Porter's Monument 168

John .Rodgers 172

Sackett's Harbor in 1814 176

Isaac Chauncey 178

Jesse D. Elliott 180

Buffalo Harbor, 1812 181

Oliver H. Perry 184

Mouth of Cascade Creek in 1860. ... 185

VIU

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

PQt-ii>bay 187

Perry's Battle-flag 190

Fac-simile of Perry's Despatch 192

John Bull and Queen Charlotte 193

Perry's Statue at Cleveland 195

York m 1S13 198

Powder Magazine at the Water's

Edge 199

Queenstown in 1812 201

Destruction at Sodus Bay 202

Light-house on Horse Island 203

Tornado on Lake Ontario 20G

Thomas Macdonough 209

Sir James Lucas Yeo 212

Place of Battle at Big Sandy Creek. 214

View from Cumberland Head 218

Macdonough's Medal 220

Fulton the First 222

Section of Floating Battery 223

Chauncey's Monument 224

Chesapeake Bay , 227

Remains of Fortifications on Craney

Island 228

Entrance to Bonaventure 229

New London in 1813 231

Crosby's Wharf 233

Charles Morris 234

Mouth of the Penobscot 235

Morris's Monument 236

Johnston Blakeley 237

Blakeley's Medal. 233

Lewis Warrington 240

Warrington's Medal 241

Barney's Spring 243

Ruins of the Capitol after the Fire. 244

Ruins of the President's House 245

Charles Stewart at the Age of

Eighty-six 247

Stewart's Medal 250

The Constitution, 1860 251

Stephen Decatur 253

PAOK

James Biddle 255

Riddle's Medal 256

Clipper-built Privateer 260

Samuel C. Reid 274

Peace Medal. 279

Kalorama. 280

Decatur's Monument 281

Matthew C. Perry 285

Japanese Government Boat 286

Visit of the Japanese Officials to

Commodore Perry , 287

Star of the West 289

Dix's Famous Order 292

Hiram Paulding 294

A. H. Foote 298

Iron-clad Gun-boat, 1814 299

S. F. Dupont 300

Charles Wilkes 303

Mortar-boats ou the Mississippi .... 305

D. D. Porter 309

The Hartford 311

D. G. Farragut 314

Tiieodore R. Timbey 316

Fight between the Monitor and Mer-

rimac 319

The Sumter 323

The A lahama 324

Sinking of the Alabama 325

Porter's Gun -boat Ram 329

The Indianola 330

Bird's-eye View of Charleston 335

The Xew Ironsides 339

Porter's Gun-boats passing the Rapids 343

Destruction of the Tecumseh 347

Medal of Himor 351

A Blockade-runner 360

Destruction of the Dorothea 364

Robert Fulton 306

Torpedo Buried in the Sand 369

Naval Apprentices 381

STORY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

CHAPTER L

My Young Countrymen, — I am going to tell you a plain, straightforward story about the career of one of the navies which belong to the people of the United States; for you must remember that there are two kinds of navies.

One is a mercantile navy — a navy of peace — carrying on the trade and commerce of our country at home and abroad ; the other is a protective navy — a navy for war — always ready to protect the mercantile navy in its beneficent labors and pursuits, whether in our own waters or in distant seas. It is ever willing to sustain the honor of the American flag, to assert the rights of American citizens, and to support the dignity of our Republic.

It is the story of the protective navy, or Navy for War, which I am now to relate — not in minute detail. I shall give you only an outline sketch of its more important achievements, which you may fill in by extended reading as you grow to the full stature of American citizens.

The story is told, not for your amusement only, but for your instruction and inspiration as well. You may learn from it what a strong right arm of power for good is an efficient protective navy in the hands of a righteous people, preventing war bv being prepared for war. You may also learn with \ what bravery, skill, fortitude, and unselfish devotion your countrymen have given their best energies to the task of achieving our independence, and in establishing, supporting, and preserving our free government and its dearest interests, by their valor and wisdom on the sea.

I hope this lesson will help to inspire you to emulate their zeal and patriotism in whatever sphere of public life in which you may be called to act, whether on the land or on the sea, that each of you may justly bear the honorable name of a good American Citizen.

Before we enter upon the story of the Navy of the United States, let us first observe

HOW THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAME INTO EXISTENCE.

The young Prince George William Frederick, son of the deceased Prince of Wales, was riding on horseback near the palace of Kew one fine morning in October, 1760, when a messenger rode up to him in haste and saluted him as monarch of Great Britain. His grandfather, the old king, had just been found dead in a private room in St. James's Palace ; and as "the king never dies," according to the English Constitution, the young prince, heir to the throne, was proclaimed sovereign.

George, as usual, was accompanied by his tutor, the Earl of Bute, a gay Scotch courtier, and a favorite of the young king's mother. He had unbounded influence over the prince, and now exercised it when the latter had become king.

William Pitt, the great " Commoner of England," was the old king's prime -minister, but George discarded him, and put Bute in his place. At the helm of the Ship of State, the Scotchman started on a perilous voyage of rash measures, and was running her blindly among reefs and shoals, when her guidance was intrusted to more competent hands.

But the new pilot was not much wiser, politically, than Bute. The king was a virtuous, easy, p-ood-natured soul, not over-

GEORGE THE THIRD. 8

burdened with wit or even with common-sense, and, like a majority of such men, he was sometimes very stubborn. But he was honest. His money-chest had been emptied by the expenses of oTcat wars, and he thought well of the suggestion of his prime -minister, that money might easily be raised from the American subjects of the crown by means of taxation.

GEORGE III.

Wise men, who knew something of the spirit of the Americans, shook their heads. Others told the king plainly that such a measure would be offensive to the Americans, who were dutiful and loyal, and therefore it would be unwise and dangerous. But the king stubbornly adhered to it.

STORY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

" I have a right to tax my subjects," he said. "Not without their consent," replied the Americans. "No Englishman at home would submit to taxation without he agreed to it by his representatives in Parliament, for the Great Charter of England forbids it."

So a great quarrel was begun that continued about ten years before the parties came to blows. The Americans said : " If you tax us you must allow us representatives in Parliament" — or the National Legislature.

"No," said the king. "The Parliament has the supreme power and the undoubted right to levy taxes, and it shall be done. Willing or unwilling, you must contribute to the expenses of the government."

Parliament thereupon passed a law to compel the Americans to pay a specified tax upon every piece of paper or parchment used by them for legal purposes, such as deeds, mortgages, promissory notes, marriage licenses, etc., the amount of such tax being expressed by a stamp secured to or printed on the paper as our postage-stamps are.

The Americans resolved not to use

A IS Jl A All'.

these stamps ; and when men brought them over from England to sell them, the holders were abused, and were compelled to give up the business of " Stamp Distributers." The Americans did more ; they refused to buy goods in Great Britain so long as the Stamp Act was in force. The British merchants, feeling the loss of trade, clamored loudly for a repeal of the act, and it was done.

Then the Parliament resolved that the Americans should pay an import duty, as it vvas called (a certain percentage of the value), on many articles which they should receive from Great Britain. This taxation w.as levied without their consent, as

THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY. 5

before, and they refused to pay tlie duties. Men sent to collect them by force, if necessary, were roughly handled in Boston, and British troops were sent there to enforce the laws. Then there were lively times in the New England capital.

These troops were insolent, and greatly irritated the people. Quarrels took place almost every day. On a cold, frosty night in early March, 1770, a mob of citizens assailed the soldiers, who fired upon the crowd, and mortally wounded some of them. The excitement was very great ; and the next morning, as a measure of prudence, the soldiers were removed from the city to a fortress on an island in the harbor.

Finally, Parliament ceased to tax anything in which the Americans were concerned, excepting the luxury of tea. The tax was very small ; but the principle involved was the same, whether the burden laid was great or little. " Taxation without representation," said the Americans, " is tyranny." They resolved not only to abstain from the use of tea, but not to allow a cargo of the plant to be landed on their shores.

Two ships came into Boston harbor laden with teas, and prepared to land their cargoes. A great public meeting was held, and many citizens, disguised as Mohawk Indians, went on board the vessels, broke open sixty chests of tea and poured their contents into Boston harbor. This is known as " The Boston Tea-party." It occurred on a cold night in December, 1773. David Kinnison, one of the young men who cast the tea overboard, lived until 1852, and died in Chicago when he was 115 years of age.

The king and his ministers were very angry, and called the Bostonians " rebels." Their port was shut up against commerce, and the public offices were removed to Salem. All the other colonies sympathized with Massachusetts, of which Boston was the capital. They resolved to stand by each other. A grand committee, composed of men from each colony, met at Philadelphia early in September, 1774, to consider the state

STORY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

of public affairs and form plans for the future. This was called a Continental Congress.

One of the most important acts of that First Continental Congress was to resolve to stand by Massachusetts in its resistance to British oppression. They also petitioned the king for justice : set forth in clear and strong language the reasons

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

for their opposition to measures of Parliament, and formed an association or compact, by which it was agreed that the people of the colonies should refrain from trading with those of Great Britain, until the government should be just toward the Americans.

DAVID KINNTSON.

British troops were then in Boston to force the people to submit to obnoxious laws. The people everywhere were indignant. They resolved to maintain their rights at all hazards. Thoughtful men said, " We must fight !" The people prepared for war. In Massachusetts, they collected military stores for the purpose at Concord, a few miles from Boston, and General Gage, the military commander in that city, sent out troops to seize them.

The farmers, young and old, had formed military bands, who were ready to act at a minute's warning. These were called Minute-men. They were always wide awake. At Lexington a few of them had assembled early in the morning of April 19th, 1775, to meet the British soldiers on their way to Concord. A fight ensued, and some of the Minute-men were killed. The whole country was aroused ; and the farmers, seizing such arms as were at hand, flocked toward Concord. They soon drove the British invaders back to Boston pell-mell, slaying many of them in their flight. Jonathan Harrington,

JONATHAN HARRINGTON then a sprightly youth, who played the fife for the Minute-men on Lexington Green, lived until 1854, when he died, at the age of 95 years.

AN ARMY AT CAMBRIDGE. 9

The news of this affair spread over New England, and within three days a motley, undisciplined army of full twenty thousand men had gathered at Cambridge, before Boston. They had all sorts of arms, were dressed in all sorts of clothing, and formed a most grotesque appearance. Almost everybody assumed the right to be captain. We may imagine their call to arms and their discipline had been after the following fashion, described by one of their rhymers :

" Come out, ye Continentallers !

We're going for to go To fight the red-coat enemy, Who're very cute, you know.

" Now, shoulder arms ! Eyes right and dress ! Front ! (Dave, pull up your hose !) Step ! whoop ! That's slick ! now carry arms ! (Mike Jones, turn out your toes !)

*' Charge bagnet ! that's your sort, ray boys ! Now quick-time ! March ! That's right : Just so we'd poke the enemy If they were but in sight,

*' Bill Sneezer ! keep your canteen down.

We're going for to travel."

My shoe is full of gravel !"

But tliese men, awkward it may be, and not very learned — earnest toilers — were as earnest patriots, and beneath their linsey-woolsey jackets beat hearts as warm with love of family and country, as any in the land. They knew their rights, and knowing, dared maintain them. They were brave aud zealous, and were the kind of men who, in the field, achieved the independence of our beloved country.

This rude army became the jailers to the British troops in Boston, who dared not venture out again for some time. Finally, when more soldiers came, with distinguished generals to lead them — Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne — and it was perceived that the Americans were making preparations to drive them into the sea, they sallied out to attack the patriots, and then the severe battle of Bunker's Hill was fought. At the same time, the second Continental Congress, sitting at Philadelphia, adopted the armed multitude at Cambridge as a " Continental Army," and appointed George Washington, of Virginia, as its commander-in-chief. He took charge of the army early in July, 1775, and began the siege of Boston. In March following he drove the British troops to their ships, and they sailed away eastward to Nova Scotia.

The King and Parliament treated the Americans as rebels. They sent fleets and armies to enslave them. Despairing of justice, the Americans longed for independence ; and on the 2d of July, 1776, the Congress resolved that the United Colonies were " free and independent States." Two days afterward (July 4th) they adopted and signed a paper in which were given their reasons for such a resolution. This paper is known as The Declaration of Independence. For nearly seven years the Americans fought to secure their independence, and were successful. By their valor and wisdom they founded a national government, under the title of The United States of Ainerica — the Great Republic of the western hemisphere — our country — which- has a foremost rank among the greater nations of the earth.

Now, my young countrymen, was not that a noble and righteous struggle of a virtuous people against wrong and oppression? They had appealed to God, the wise Disposer of all human events, for the rectitude of their intentions, and, with a firm reliance on his support, they had mutually pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. But they well knew the wisdom of the old heathen saying: "Jupiter [or God] helps those who help themselves," and acted accordingly, as we shall perceive presently.

DESTRUCTION OF THE " GASPEE. ' 11

Chapter II

The British government had a large navy : the American colonies had none. In the war then begun (1775) the colonics would be powerless on the sea. British armed ships might burn and plunder their seaport towns ; land British troops, and materials for war, wherever they pleased ; destroy every American merchant- vessel which they might meet, and put an end to American commerce. The Americans had to do something to relieve themselves of their helplessness.

There were bold and skilful seamen in Rhode Island, who had already had something to do with the British navy. In 1772, an English armed schooner (the Gasi^ee) was in Narraganset Bay, to enforce obnoxious British laws. It played the tyrant so offensively, that, on a dark and stormy night in June, Captain Abraham Whipple, a veteran seaman, went down the bay from Providence, with some brother sailors, in open whale-boats, and burnt the offending vessel. The British government tried to find out who did it, but so true to each other were the actors that inquiries were in vain. Three years afterward, when the bay was blockaded by an English frigate, and her commander knew that Whipple was the leader of the offending party, he wrote to the culprit, saying :

" You, Abraham Whipple, on the ] 7th of June, 1772, burnt his Majesty's vessel the Gaspee^ and I will hang you to the yard-arm."

To this note Whipple replied :

"To Sir James Wallace.

" Sir, — Always catcli a man before you hang him.

" Abraham Whipple."

Thev British commander, irritated by this impudent note, tried hard to catch the defiant sailor ; but he never did, and W^hipple was never hanged.

The Legislature of Rhode Island fitted up two armed vessels, to drive Sir James and his obnoxious frigate out of Narraganset Bay. These vessels were placed under the command of Captain Whipple, and he had the honor of firing the first gun in the naval service of the patriots of the Revolution. So it was that in the smallest colony in America the germ of the United States Navy was first planted.

In Washington's army at Cambridge were many soldiers from Marblehead and other New England seaports, whose daily toil had been on the sea. The hint given by the government of Rhode Island caused Washington to authorize the fitting out of several vessels as privateers, and he manned them with these sailor-soldiers. They were very active ; and it was not long before they had captured several transports, filled with military supplies needed by the Americans. Captain Broughton, of Marblehead, received a naval commission from Washington, dated September 2d, 1775 — the first of the kind issued by the Continental Congress through its authorized agents. Washington also caused two floating batteries to be constructed, armed and manned, and they were placed in the Charles River.

What are privateers and transports?

Privateers are vessels belonging to one private person or more, sailing with a license from government, in time of war, to seize, plunder, and destroy the ships and other property of the enemy wherever found afloat. Transports are vessels used for carrying troops, stores, and materials for war.

Washington established rules for the division of prize-

MANLY, THE NAVAL PIONEER. 13

money among the privateers, which the Continental Congress afterward approved and made lawful. Encouragement was given to citizens to go into the business, and many did so, believing it to be just because it was lawful. Most of the officers of these early sea-rovers were inefficient. Captain John Manly, who had been on the sea nearly thirty years, was a notable exception. He was one of the skilful fishermen of Marblehead, and noted for bravery in his avocation. He, almost alone, maintained the character of a bold and expert naval commander. Washington gave him the commission of Captain. He selected a choice crew, and soon afterward they captured three British ships as they were entering Boston harbor. One of them was laden with heavy guns, mortars, and intrenching tools : just what the Americans, besieging Boston, were then in need of.

FLOATING BATTEKV, 1775.

Manly and his crew became a terror to the British, and they «ient out an armed vessel from Halifax to capture them ; but the commander was too wary and skilful a mariner to be easily caught. In his gallant little schooner Lee he roamed along the New England coasts, capturing prize after prize among the British vessels. Congress appointed him captain in the Continental Navy which was soon afterward created ; and, until he was made a prisoner himself, he performed gallant deeds for the good cause. With the frigate Hancock, carrying thirty-two guns, he captured the British man-of-war Fox; but soon afterward his vessel was seized by the English ship Rambow^ of forty guns, and Manly remained a prisoner until near the close of the war.

It was perceived at the beginning of the struggle that the colonists must have a naval force to protect their seaport towns and their little commerce ; but the Continental Congress, engaged in affairs of more immediate importance, deferred action until October, 1775, when they resolved "that a swift-sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage -guns and an appropriate number of swivels," should be fitted out for a cruise of three months for the purpose of intercepting British transports. They soon afterward ordered another vessel to be built ; and they appointed seven members of their body a committee to direct naval affairs. It was styled The Marine Committee. So was first laid the foundation of the naval system of the United States, that committee performing the duties of the Secretary of the Navy in our day.

The Marine Committee consisted of Silas Deane, John Langdon, Christopher Gadsden, Stephen Hopkins, Joseph Hewes, Richard Henry Lee, and John Adams. These seven men, from seven different colonies, afterward became distinguished in American history. Deane was a foreign ambassador; Gadsden was a leader of Revolutionary patriots in South Carolina ; Langdon was Governor of New Hampshire ; Hopkins, Hewes, Lee, and Adams were signers of the Declaration of Independence ; and Adams became the second President of the United States. In due time the Marine Committee had an Admiralty Seal for their documents, which Congress had adopted.

Later in 1775, Congress, impressed with the absolute necessity of a navy, ordered thirteen more vessels to be built. It is well to remember the names of these vessels, as determined by Congress — the first projected American war fleet — for a portion of them assisted in achieving our independence. Here they are:

}f^a5Am^tow, carrying 32 guns; Bandolph, S2 ] Effingham,

FIRST NAVAL COMMANDERS.

28 ; Delaware, 24 ; Raleigh, 32 ; Hancock, 32 ; Boston, 24 ; Warren, ^2; Providence, 2S ; Virginia, 2'^ ', Trumhidl, 2^\ Congress, 28 ; and Montgomery, 28. Other vessels were purchased and put afloat while these were a-building, some of them quite small.

Who shall command these vessels? was a serious question, somewhat difficult to answer. There were no men in the colonies trained for a war navy. There were enough men of courage and skilled seamanship ; and of these the Congress proceeded to appoint Esek Hopkins, of Rhode Island, then nearl) sixty years of age, " commander-in-chief," with Dudley Saltonstall, Abraham Whipple, Nicholas Biddle, and John B. Hopkins, captains. They also appointed a suitable number of first,

ADMIRALTY SEAL.

second, and third lieutenants. Among the first lieutenants appointed was John Paul Jones, a young Scotchman less than thirty years of age, who became a famous naval hero before the war closed. Hopkins was to be regarded as holding the same relative official rank in the navy tbftt Washington did in the army. He was sometimes called admiral, but generally commodore.

The first regular cruisers sent to sea by the new government were the sloop Hornet, 10 guns, and schooner Wasp, 8 guns. They were equipped at Baltfmore by the Marine Committee.

EBKK HOPKINS.

These, with the Lexington, commanded by Captain Barry, of Baltimore, joined the squadron under Commodore Hopkins, that left the Delaware in February, 1776, to operate against Governor Dunmore, then making war upon the inhabitants of the Virginia coast region.

Hopkins was ambitious, and, without instructions from his superiors, pushed on farther southward, seized a town on New Providence, one of the Bahama Islands, and carried off one hundred cannons and a large quantity of stores. ThcR he sailed for the New England coast with his spoils. While off the east end of Long Island, he captured two small British vessels, and

HOISTING THE FIRST NATIONAL FLAG.

1^ with his prizes entered New London harbor, in Connecticut. He had lost twenty-three men during his cruise. Congress, offended because Hopkins had departed from his instructions, and failed to capture a large English vessel which his small ones had encountered, dismissed him from the service the next year.

No "commander-inchief " of the navy was afterward appointed.

Of course each vessel of the little Continental navy bore a flag — an ensign of authority. What kind of a flag did Congress prescribe ? None whate ver. Each c o m m an d er was allowed to choose his own device. It is said that Lieutenant John Paul Jones raised, with his own hand, the first flag ever displayed at the mast-head of a regular American cruiser.

That vessel was the Alfred, Hopkins's flaghhip, and the banner was raised at Philadel- 2

phia early in February, 1776. It was composed of a white tield, with the representation of a pine-tree in the centre. Over this were the words "Liberty Tree," and nnder it, "Appeal TO God." Another flag was composed of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, indicating the union of the thirteen colonies, with a representation of a rattlesnake across it, and the words, either of petition or of warning, "Don't tread on me !"

We have seen that Captain Barry, then thirty years of age, commanded the brig Lexington^ 14 guns. He had a sharp fight for an hour, at the middle of April, off the Capes of Virginia, with the British armed tender Edward. The Lexington nearly cut her antagonist to pieces, and captured her. This was the first of any vessel of war that was captured by a regular American cruiser, and Barry was greeted with unstinted praise.

In May, John Paul Jones, having been made captain, was placed in command of the sloop Providence, 12 guns. He cruised between Boston and the Delaware, and sometimes as far south as the Bermudas. He was sometimes chased by larger British vessels, but always escaped. Finally he sailed far to the eastward, and in the waters near Canso he captured twelve fishing-vessels. With fifteen prizes he sailed into Newport harbor, and was received with joy.