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John Randolph Spears’s four‑volume work is a comprehensive chronicle of the United States Navy from its embryonic conception in the revolutionary era through the close of the nineteenth century. The opening pages set the author’s purpose: to preserve the memory of naval heroes whose “sole incentive was patriotism” and to draw lessons for future readers. Spears promises an “accurate, interesting, and useful” account, acknowledging the occasional error as his own fault. The book proceeds chapter by chapter, beginning with the “Curious Chain of Events” that led to the first national sea power, then moving through early cruises, battles on Lake Champlain, privateer exploits, and the development of a modern fleet, all illustrated with period engravings and maps.
Written in a nineteenth‑century scholarly voice, the narrative blends detailed episode recounting with occasional moral reflection, reflecting the era’s patriotic tone. Readers who relish exhaustive naval histories, maritime enthusiasts, and students of early American military affairs will appreciate Spears’s exhaustive detail, extensive primary‑source illustrations, and the earnest, if sometimes didactic, style that characterizes late‑Victorian historiography.
The opening · free to read
This work is to tell the story of the American navy from the time when the fathers of the nation first conceived the idea of sending warships to sea “at the expense of the Continent” down to this year of our Lord 1897. It seems to me that the memory of what the naval heroes of the nation have done is worth preserving if only as a mark of gratitude--gratitude to the men whose sole incentive was patriotism and whose only greed was for honor. It seems worth while to tell anew the story of these men who had a noble ambition. It may help to prevent their race becoming extinct. But if that appeal does not secure the attention of the reader, let me say that self-interest demands that he heed the lessons in the story of the navy.
Because naval officers and their friends are very properly jealous of their rights in the matter of titles and rank, it is necessary to explain that officers have very often held one rank on the naval list while entitled to a higher one by courtesy. Farragut was a midshipman under Porter, and yet, for a time, while in command of a captured ship, was by courtesy called captain. Lieutenant Macdonough was entitled to the title of commodore while in command on Lake Champlain. I have in nearly all instances used the title which courtesy demanded, but, for reasons which I hope will be apparent, the title of actual rank seemed proper at times.
To sum it all up, I am bound to say I have tried to tell the story accurately, interestingly, and usefully. If there are errors, they are unpardonable blunders; if the story lacks interest or usefulness, the fault is entirely with the writer. Any story of the navy--even this one--should rouse the enthusiasm of the patriot because of the stirring character of the deeds that must be described; and I believe that when the reader has considered it well, he will conclude, as I do, that because of the growth of civilization and the spread of the pure doctrines of Christianity throughout the world, and the progress in the arts of making guns and armor-plate in the United States, we shall continue to pursue, for many years, our daily vocations in peace.
J. R. S.
The Curious Chain of Events that Led to the Creation of a National Sea Power--The Gaspé Captured by Men Armed with Paving-stones--Tea Destroyed in Boston--The Battle of Lexington and the Attack of the Machias Haymakers on the _Margaretta_--British Vengeance on Defenceless Portland and its Effect on the Continental Congress--The “Colonial Navy” Distinguished from the Temporary Cruisers--The First Officers and the First Ships of the American Navy--John Paul Jones and the First Naval Ensign--The Significant “Don’t Tread on me”--Putting the First American Naval Ships in Commission.
CHAPTER II. FIRST CRUISE OF THE YANKEE SQUADRON 48
A Fairly Successful Raid on New Providence, but they Let a British Sloop-of-war Escape--Character of the First Naval Commander-in-chief and of the Material with which he had to Work--Esek Hopkins, and his Record as Commander of the Fleet--Crews Untrained and Devoid of _Esprit de Corps_--Good Courage, but a Woeful Lack of other Needed Qualities--Hopkins Dismissed for Disobedience of Orders.
Brilliant Deeds by the First Heroes of the American Navy--Why Nicholas Biddle Entered Port with but Five of the Original Crew of the _Andrea Doria_--Richard Dale on the sleek _Lexington_--The Racehorse Captured in an even Fight--Captain Lambert Wickes in the Reprisal Beats off a Large Vessel--John Paul Jones in his Earlier Commands--A Smart Race with the Frigate _Solebay_--Sixteen Prizes in Forty-seven Days in Cape Breton Region--Poking Fun at the Frigate _Milford_--The Valuable _Mellish_--An Able Fighter who Lacked Political Influence.
CHAPTER IV. HE SAW “THE COUNTENANCE OF THE ENEMY” 84
The Story of Arnold’s Extraordinary Fight against Overwhelming Odds on Lake Champlain--A Thousand Sailors, of whom Seven-tenths were Picked Men, Armed with the Heaviest Guns, were Pitted under a Courageous Leader against 700 Yankees, chiefly Haymakers, Poorly Armed and with Insufficient Ammunition--Savages with Scalping Knives Aided the British--A Desperate Struggle at the End--The Best All-around Fighter under Washington.
CHAPTER V. UNDER THE CRAGS OF THE “TIGHT LITTLE ISLE” 112
The Saucy Yankee Cruisers in British Waters--When Franklin Sailed for France--Wickes in the Reprisal on the Irish Coast--Narrow Escape from a Liner--A Plucky English Lieutenant--Harsh Fate of the Americans in the British Prison--Starved by Act of Parliament--Deeds of the Gallant Connyngham--Well-named Cruisers--A Surprise at a Breakfast Table--Taking Prizes Daily--Why Forty French Ships Loaded in the Thames--Insurance Rates never before Known.
CHAPTER VI. JOHN PAUL JONES AND THE RANGER 134
The First Ship that Carried the Stars and Stripes--Dash at a Convoy that Failed--When the Dutch were Browbeaten--The Ranger Sent on a Cruise in English Waters--A Ship Taken off Dublin--The Raid on Whitehaven--When one Brave Man Cowed more than a Thousand--The Whole Truth about Lord Selkirk’s Silverware, with the Noble Lord’s Expression of Gratitude when he Got it Back--How Captain Jones Missed the Drake at First, but Got her Later on in a Fair and Well-fought Battle.
CHAPTER VII. THE FIRST SUBMARINE WARSHIP 157
It was Small and Ineffective, but it Contained the Germ of a Mighty Power that is as yet Undeveloped--When Nicholas Biddle Died--He was a Man of the Spirit of an Ideal American Naval Officer--Fought the Ship against Overwhelming Odds till Blown out of the Water--The Loss of the _Hancock_--An American Captain Dismissed for a Good Reason--Captain Rathburne at New Providence--Loss of the _Virginia_--Captain Barry’s Notable Exploit--With Twenty-seven Men to Help him, he Captured a Schooner of Ten Guns by Boarding from Small Boats in Broad Daylight, although the Schooner was Manned by 116 Sailors and Soldiers.
CHAPTER VIII. PRIVATEERS OF THE REVOLUTION 196
A Tale of the American Patriots who Went Afloat outside of the Regular Navy--Their Part in Driving the British from Boston--Remarkable Work of the _Lee_--Truxton as a Privateer--Daring Capt. John Foster Williams--When Capt. Daniel Waters, with the Thorn of Sixteen Guns, Whipped Two Ships that Carried Thirty-four Guns between them--Great was Joshua Barney--The Story of the most Famous State Cruisers of the Revolution--Won against Greater Odds than were Encountered by any Successful Sea Captain of the War--British Account of the Work of American Privateers--The Horrors of the Jersey Prison Ship.
CHAPTER IX. JOHN PAUL JONES AND THE BONHOMME RICHARD 227
A Condemned Indiaman, Ill-shaped and Rotten, Fitted as a Man-o’-war--A Disheartening Cruise with Incapable and Mutinous Associates--Attempt to Take Leith, and the Scotch Parson’s Prayer--Meeting the _Serapis_--When John Paul Jones had “not yet Begun to Fight”; when he had “Got her now”; when he would not “Surrender to a Drop of Water”--Ready Wit of Richard Dale--Work of a Bright Marine--A Battle Won by Sheer Pluck and Persistence.
CHAPTER X. AFTER THE SERAPIS SURRENDERED 260
Richard Dale too Bright for the British Lieutenant--A Fair Estimate of Captain Pearson of the _Serapis_--The Treachery of Landais--Remarkable Escape from Texel--Honors for the Victor--“The Fame of the Brave Outlives him; his Portion is Immortality.”
CHAPTER XI. THE YEAR 1779 IN AMERICAN WATERS 280
Lucky Raids of British Transports and Merchantmen--Disastrous Expedition to the Penobscot--The Trumbull’s Good Fight with the _Watt_--The First Yankee Line-of-battle-ship--When Nicholson, with a Wrecked Ship and Fifty Men, Fought for an Hour against Two Frigates, each of which was Superior to the Yankee Ship--Captain Barry’s Exasperating Predicament in a Calm--The Last Naval Battle of the Revolution.
When England, in her Efforts to Wrest Commerce from the Americans, Incited the Pirates of Africa to Activity, she Compelled the Building of the Fleet that was, in the End, to Bring her Humility of which she had never Dreamed--Deeds of the Barbary Corsairs--American Naval Policy as Laid down by Joshua Humphreys--The Wonderful New Frigates--Troubles with the French Cruisers on the American Coasts--Trick of a Yankee Captain to Save a Ship--A Midshipman who Died at his Post--Capture of the _Insurgent_--A Long Watch over the French Prisoners--Escape of a Twice-beaten Ship--The Valiant Senez--Story of Isaac Hull and the Lucky Enterprise.
CHAPTER XIII. WAR WITH BARBARY PIRATES 333
A Squadron under Richard Dale Sent to the Mediterranean--The Dey of Algiers became Friendly, but the Bashaw of Tripoli Showed Fight--Fierce Battle between the Schooner Enterprise and the Treacherous Crew of the Polacre _Tripoli_--Slaughter of the Pirates--Tripoli Blockaded--Grounding and Loss of the Philadelphia.
CHAPTER XIV. DECATUR AND THE PHILADELPHIA 345
Story of the Brave Men who Disguised a Ketch as a Merchantman and Sailed into the Harbor of Tripoli by Night, Drew up alongside the Captured Philadelphia, and then, to the Order “Boarders Away!” Climbed over the Rail and through the Ports, and with Cutlass and Pike Drove the Pirates into the Sea or to a Worse Fate--“The most Bold and Daring Act of the Age.”
CHAPTER XV. HAND-TO-HAND WITH THE PIRATES 359
A Fight against Odds of Three Gunboats to One--Decatur and Macdonough Leading the Boarders--Cold-blooded Murder and the Vengeance that Followed--When Reuben James Won Fame--Eleven against Forty-three in a Hand-to-hand Struggle, and the Remarkable Result--The Handy _Constitution_--Fired their Gun as the Boat Sank under them--When Somers and his Mates Went to their Death in a Fireship--End of the War with the Pirates.
A Stirring Tale of the Outrages Perpetrated on American Citizens by the Press-gangs of the British Navy--Horrors of Life on Ships where the Officers Found Pleasure in the Use of the Cat--Doomed to Slavery for Life--Impressed from the _Baltimore_--A British Seaman’s Joke and its Ghastly Result--The British Admiralty’s Way of Dealing with Deliberate Murder in American Waters--Assault of the Leopard on the Chesapeake to Compel American Seamen to Return to the Slavery they had Escaped--Building Harbor-defence Boats to Protect American Seamen from Outrage on the High Seas--Other Good Reasons for Going to War.
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