T8+-+6.4B

T8 - 6.4B Cory Klinger, Jack Regelbrugge, Brian Kingure (Fighting at Sea)

The War at Sea

In 1776, war broke out between our new country and Great Britain over our Declaration of Independance. Great Britain did not want to gve up America so easily, at least, not without a fight. It is now 1783, a year after the war has ended, but we remember.

We are starting to slowly to win the war. At the start of the war, the British had hundreds upon hundreds of ships. We mainly had about forty of so, after seeing what our Navy is capable of though, the Navy is adding fifty to sixty ships so that we can take control of this war over the sea. The British are not so great anymore; the shoe is on the other foot. The Continental Navy was made by the Continental Congress. We must thank Commodore Esek Adkins who led us through this long war at sea. Although he is not the only captain, he is the war commander and the chief of the Continental Navy. We must thank him for all of the successful raids that have got us weapons and supplies that helped us thus far. On one of the raids, he took eight ships and raided New Province, the Bahamas, and Rhode Island. We, as the colonists, rely on the Continental Navy to suppress the trading that is going on. We must thank John Adams, our patron, for constructing the Continental Navy, along with the Continental Congress. It was on December 3, 1775 that we had the first of the ships commissioned to the battle field. That was a very extraordinary day.

In December 3rd 1775 we sailed to the Massachusetts Bay. Our ship was spotted the British Frigate //the HMS Fowey.// As soon as we were spotted the Fowey chased us around the bay. When the ship finally came into shooting range it fired a warning shot. After this incident we later heard that Washington was found unsuited for British sea voyages. The British Navy was very large and the most experienced navy at sea. The navy was full of many frigates and warships that carried over 100guns aboard. Unfortunately these larger ships were not the only problem; much of the smaller ships could have been used for carrying supplies from England or spying. The spying was something we had to keep a close eye on for we did not want any of our plans leading back to the British Navy. Even though the British Navy was such a threat to us we have had many victories so far. Many of the ships we have captured had made such prizes. One of the greatest victories is the battle at Flamborough Head.

John Paul Jones was the most brilliant naval officer of the Revolution. John Paul Jones was born on July 6, 1747. John Paul Jones was one of the founders of the US Navy. On December 7, 1775, John Paul Jones was commissioned as First Lieutenant of the Continental Navy. As First lieutenant, John Paul Jones first served on Esek Hopkin’s flagship, the Alfred. John Paul Jones was the 1st to hoist the Grand Union Flag on The Alfred. In December 1779, the King of France gave Jones an old East Indian ship, the Duc de Duras. He repaired his new ship and renamed it the Bon Homme Richard. On September 23, 1779, John Paul Jones ship engaged the HMS Serapis in the North Sea near Famborough Head. When Captain Richard Peterson, Captain of the HMS Serapis, asked John Paul Jones if he surrendered, John Replied “I have not yet begun to fight.” John Paul Jones did win the battle as his ship was sinking. John Paul Jones and his crew had no choice but to board the enemy ship, as theirs was sinking. John Paul Jones died on July 18, 1792 apparently due to natural causes.

The American Revolution was mostly fought on land, but was won at sea. We are thankful for the brave souls that gave their lives to protect our new found country.