Sea Raiders of the American Revolution; The Continental Navy in European Waters
Washington DC: Department of the Navy, Navy Historical Center, 2003. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Wraps. Format is approximately 8.5 inches by 11 inches. ix, [1], 73, [1] plus covers. Illustrated covers have wear. Contains chapters on Lambert Wickes, Gustavus Conyngham, and John Paul Jones as well as a Glossary, Suggested Reading. Principal Original Sources. and Illustration Credits. Cover has some wear and soiling. The Navy of the United States, like the nation itself, was born in the midst of the bloody conflict for independence known as the American Revolution. The Continental Navy, as it was called then, shaped and was shaped by this difficult struggle for freedom that lasted from 1775 to 1783. During the war, the sailors of the young navy, seamen and officers alike, established the proud traditions of honor, courage, and commitment shared by today's servicemen in the United States Navy. It is important for the American people, especially those who wear the uniform, to understand the significant role that the Continental Navy played in the nation's beginnings. This book is about three captains of the Continental Navy: Lambert Wickes, Gustavus Conyngham, and John Paul Jones. In recounting the stories of their lives and examining the roles they played in the Navy's early years, it highlights the difficult circumstances that each man faced operating in seas dominated by the British Navy and emphasizes that the outcome of the War for Independence was far from certain. The book also illustrates the humanity of these Revolutionary War heroes, revealing their weaknesses as well as their strengths. They exhibited frustration, pettiness, and egotism as well as courage, initiative, and sound judgment. Lambert Wickes (1735 – October 1, 1777) was a captain in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War. Reprisal, under Wickes' sterling seamanship, captured a number of prizes in the West Indies and had a sharp engagement with HMS Shark, beating her off and escaping into port. In April 1777, the Continental vessels Lexington and Dolphin joined Reprisal and constituted a squadron under Wickes' command. Setting sail from St. Auzeau on May 28, the ships cruised around Ireland in June, July, and August; during one phase of the voyage, the three ships captured 15 ships in five days. On September 14, Wickes left France in Reprisal, in company with Dolphin, bound for home. Around October 1, Reprisal foundered off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, with the loss of all hands except the cook. Gustavus Conyngham (about 1747 – 27 November 1819) was an Irish-born American merchant sea captain, an officer in the Continental Navy and a privateer. As a commissioned captain fighting the British in the American Revolutionary War, he captured 24 ships in the eastern Atlantic between May 1777 and May 1778, bringing the expenses associated with British shipping to a then all-time high. He has been called "the most successful of all Continental Navy captains". During the Quasi-War with the French, he captained the Maria, an armed merchant vessel, bringing much needed supplies to the front lines. Towards the end of his life, he was elected to the Common Council of Philadelphia, and managed to raise thirty thousand dollars in loans from the population in order to defend the city during the War of 1812. He never allowed his quarrels with politicians to come between his commitment to his country. John Paul Jones (born John Paul; July 6, 1747 – July 18, 1792) was the United States' first well-known naval commander in the American Revolutionary War. He made many friends among U.S political elites (including John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin), as well as enemies (who accused him of piracy), and his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to this day. As such, he is sometimes referred to as the "Father of the American Navy" (a sobriquet he shares with John Barry and John Adams). Jones was born and raised in Scotland, became a sailor, and served as commander of several merchantmen. He left England for the Colony of Virginia and around 1775 joined the newly founded Continental Navy in their fight against the Kingdom of Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War. He commanded U.S. Navy ships stationed in France, led one failed assault on Britain, and several attacks on British merchant ships. Left without a command in 1787, he joined the Imperial Russian Navy and obtained the rank of rear admiral. Condition: Good.
Keywords: Lambert Wickes, Gustavus Conyngham, John Paul Jones, American Revolution, Sea Raiders, Continental Navy, Warship, Naval Operations
ISBN: 0945274491
[Book #82085]
Price: $45.00