The SAR MAGAZINE is the official quarterly publication of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution published quarterly.
Issue link: http://sar.epubxp.com/i/258013
By Bryan Habashi, Bristow, Va. W ith the exception of John Paul Jones' famous cry, "I have not yet begun to fight!" and the Battle of the Chesapeake during the siege of Yorktown, we do not hear much about naval warfare during the American Revolution. American naval actions, however, did play an important role during the Revolution. In fact, naval warfare turned out to be so important that one naval historian said, "The great battles of the American Revolution were fought on land, but independence was won at sea." 1 As you will see, this naval historian was correct. The origin of the Continental Navy dates to July 1774, when Gen. George Washington commanded Colonial forces surrounding British forces in Boston. Washington believed that two major problems—American scarcity of supplies and British abundance of supplies—could be solved by using naval forces. Under his direction, five small sloops and schooners were obtained and sailors from seaport communities were recruited. Washington's experiment was successful and before long, equipment from captured British ships was used to feed, clothe and arm the Continental Army. 2 In 1775, when the Revolution officially began, the British Royal Navy was the most powerful navy in the world. The British had 270 ships in service, including 131 of the largest ships ("ships of the line"). 3,4,5 An American Navy was desperately needed. On Oct. 13, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized purchasing, arming and outfitting two warships; however, Congress had not fully committed to a Continental Navy. 6 There was disagreement over costs, whether a Navy could withstand the Royal Navy, and southern representatives were concerned the Navy would be used only to protect northern interests. 7,8 On Oct. 19, 1775, John Adams wrote a letter to James Warren, president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, promoting an "American Fleet." Adams wrote, "I don't mean 100 ships of the line," but he did want a small force. 9,10 The views expressed by Adams supporting a permanent Navy eventually were accepted. On Oct. 30, 1775, the Congress authorized the purchase of two additional warships—and, most importantly, adopted a resolution creating a seven-man committee to manage the four-ship fleet. According to historian Gardner Allen, the vote on Oct. 30 made Congress "fully committed to the policy of maintaining a naval armament." By year's end, additional measures were passed regarding manning, pay, discipline and ship construction that finalized the establishment of the Navy. 11 The Continental Congress recognized the immediate need for ships and authorized converting merchant ships to warships. 12 Even so, Congress realized the need for real warships, because the merchant ships had limited ability and authorized $866,666.67 to construct and outfit 13 frigates, beginning in January 1776. 13,14 In total, 100 vessels of all sizes saw service in the Continental Navy during the war, but most of them did not survive. 15,16 At its height, the Navy strength was about one-quarter of the strength of the Royal Navy. 17 Individual colonies wanted navies, each for its own reasons. The Continental Congress, on July 18, 1775, resolved: "Each colony, at their own expense, make such provision by armed vessels or otherwise … for the protection of their harbours and navigation of their sea coasts, against all unlawful invasion, attacks and depredations, from cutters and ships of war." 18,19 All colonies—except New Jersey and Delaware—authorized their own navies. 20 The colonial navies were of different strength. Georgia, for example, had small forces. In contrast, the Massachusetts and South Carolina navies had strength rivaling the Continental Navy. 21 The Continental Congress authorized privately owned and manned ships—called privateers—on April 3, 1776, to attack British ships transporting supplies to troops in America. 22 18 SAR MAGAZINE 2013 Knight Essay Contest Winner Naval C ontributions to American In de pendence President General Stephen Leishman, right, and Rev. Stan DeLong presented the Knight Essay Contest certificate to Bryan Habashi at the 2013 Congress. WINTER_14_sar18-25.indd 18 2/4/14 11:07 AM