The Major Operations of the Navies in the War of American Independence

Major Operations of the Navies
in the War of American
Independence, The

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Title: The Major Operations of the Navies in the War of American
Independence
Author: A. T. Mahan
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Language: English
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THE MAJOR OPERATIONS OF THE NAVIES IN THE WAR OF
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
BY
A.T. MAHAN, D.C.L., LL.D.
CAPTAIN, U.S. NAVY
AUTHOR OF 'THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON
HISTORY, 1660-1783,' 'THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND EMPIRE, 1783-1812,' 'THE
RELATIONS OF SEA POWER TO THE WAR OF 1812,' 'NAVAL
STRATEGY' ETC.
_WITH PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND BATTLE PLANS_
LONDON SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY, LIMITED
OVERY HOUSE, 100 SOUTHWARK STREET, S.E.
[Illustration: (frontispiece)]
_Copyright, 1913_, By A.T. MAHAN
All rights reserved
Published, October, 1913
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, MASS., U.S.A.

PREFACE
The contents of this volume were first contributed as a chapter, under
the title of "Major Operations, 1762-1783," to the "History of the Royal
Navy," in seven volumes, published by Messrs. Sampson Low,
Marston, and Company, under the general editorship of the late Sir

William Laird Clowes. For permission to republish now in this separate
form, the author has to express his thanks to the publishers of that
work.
In the Introduction following this Preface, the author has summarized
the general lesson to be derived from the course of this War of
American Independence, as distinct from the particular discussion and
narration of the several events which constitute the body of the
treatment. These lessons he conceives to carry admonition for the
present and future based upon the surest foundations; namely, upon the
experience of the past as applicable to present conditions. The essential
similarity between the two is evident in a common dependence upon
naval strength.
There has been a careful rereading and revision of the whole text; but
the changes found necessary to be made are much fewer than might
have been anticipated after the lapse of fifteen years. Numerous
footnotes in the History, specifying the names of ships in fleets, and of
their commanders in various battles, have been omitted, as not
necessary to the present purpose, though eminently proper and indeed
indispensable to an extensive work of general reference and of
encyclopædic scope, such as the History is. Certain notes retained with
the initials W.L.C. are due to the editor of that work.
A.T. MAHAN.
DECEMBER, 1912.

CONTENTS
PAGE
PREFACE v
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xix
LIST OF MAPS xxi

LIST OF BATTLE-PLANS xxiii
INTRODUCTION
THE TENDENCY OF WARS TO SPREAD
Macaulay quoted on the action of Frederick the Great 1
Illustration from Conditions of the Turkish Empire 2
Lesson from the Recent War in the Balkans, 1912-1913 2
The War of American Independence a striking example of the
Tendency of Wars to Spread 3
Origin and Train of Events in that War, Traced 3
Inference as to possible Train of Future Events in the History of the
United States 4
The Monroe Doctrine Simply a Formulated Precaution against the
Tendency of Wars to Spread 4
National Policy as to Asiatic Immigration 4
Necessity of an Adequate Navy if these two National Policies are to be
sustained 4
Dependence on Navy Illustrated in the Two Great National Crises; in
the War of Independence and in the War of Secession 4
The United States not great in Population in proportion to Territory 5
Nor Wealthy in Proportion to exposed Coast-Line 5
Special Fitness of a Navy to meet these particular conditions 5
The Pacific a great World Problem, dependent mainly on Naval Power
5

CHAPTER I
THE NAVAL CAMPAIGN ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN
1775-1776
Preponderant effect of Control of the Water upon the Struggle for
American Independence 6
Deducible then from Reason and from Experience 6
Consequent Necessity to the Americans of a Counterpoise to British
Navy 6
This obtained through Burgoyne's Surrender 6
The Surrender of Burgoyne traceable directly to the Naval Campaigns
on Lake Champlain, 1775, 1776 7
The subsequent Course of the War in all Quarters of the world due to
that decisive Campaign 7
The Strategic Problem of Lake Champlain familiar to Americans from
the Wars between France and Great Britain prior to 1775 8
Consequent prompt Initiative by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold 8
Energetic Pursuit of first Successes