The Naval History of the United States

The Naval History of the United
States, by

Willis J. Abbot This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no
cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give
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Title: The Naval History of the United States Volume 1 (of 2)
Author: Willis J. Abbot
Release Date: August 13, 2007 [EBook #22305]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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other inconsistencies are as in the original. Author's spelling has been
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[Illustration: Spilling Grog on the "Constitution" before Going into
Action.]

THE NAVAL HISTORY
OF THE
UNITED STATES
BY
WILLIS J. ABBOT
With Many Illustrations

VOLUME ONE

NEW YORK: PETER FENELON COLLIER, PUBLISHER.

Copyright, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1890 By Dodd, Mead and Company
All rights reserved

CONTENTS.
THE NAVAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
PART I.
BLUE JACKETS OF '76.

CHAPTER I.
Early Exploits upon the Water. -- Gallop's Battle with the Indians. --
Buccaneers and Pirates. -- Morgan and Blackbeard. -- Capt. Kidd turns
Pirate. -- Downfall of the Buccaneers' Power.
CHAPTER II.
Expeditions against Neighboring Colonies. -- Romantic Career of Sir
William Phipps. -- Quelling a Mutiny. -- Expeditions against Quebec.
CHAPTER III.
Opening of the American Revolution. -- The Affair of the Schooner "St.
John." -- The Press-gang and its Work. -- The Sloop "Liberty." --
Destruction of the "Gaspee." -- The Boston Tea-party.
CHAPTER IV.
The Beginning of the Navy. -- Lexington and Concord. -- A Blow
Struck in Maine. -- Capture of the "Margaretta." -- Gen. Washington
and the Navy. -- Work of Capt. Manly.
CHAPTER V.
Events of 1776. -- The First Cruise of the Regular Navy. -- The
"Lexington" and the "Edward." -- Mugford's Brave Fight. -- Loss of the
"Yankee Hero." -- Capt. Manly, and the "Defence." -- American
Vessels in European Waters. -- Good Work of the "Lexington" and the
"Reprisal." -- the British defeated at Charleston.
CHAPTER VI.
The Career of Paul Jones. -- In Command of the "Providence." --
Capture of the "Mellish." -- Exploits with the "Alfred." -- In Command
of the "Ranger." -- Sweeping the English Channel. -- The Descent upon
Whitehaven.

CHAPTER VII.
Career of Paul Jones Continued. -- His Descent upon the Castle of Lord
Selkirk. -- The Affair of the Plate. -- The Descent upon Whitehaven. --
The Battle with the "Drake." -- Lieut. Simpson's Perfidy.
CHAPTER VIII.
Career of Paul Jones Continued. -- His Search for a Ship. -- Given
Command of the "Bon Homme Richard." -- Landais and his Character.
-- The Frustrated Mutiny. -- Landais quarrels with Jones. -- Edinburgh
and Leith threatened. -- The Dominie's Prayer.
CHAPTER IX.
Career of Paul Jones Concluded. -- The Battle between the "Bon
Homme Richard" and the "Serapis." -- Treachery of Landais. -- Jones's
Great Victory. -- Landais steals the "Alliance." -- Jones in Command of
the "Ariel." -- The "Ariel" in the Storm. -- Arrival in America.
CHAPTER X.
Career of Nicholas Biddle. -- His Exploit at Lewiston Jail. -- Cruise in
the "Randolph." -- Battle with the "Yarmouth." -- The Fatal Explosion.
-- Samuel Tucker. -- His Boyhood. -- Encounter with Corsairs. --
Cruising in the "Franklin." -- In Command of the "Boston." --
Anecdotes of Capt. Tucker.
CHAPTER XI.
Hostilities in 1777. -- American Reverses. -- The British in
Philadelphia. -- The Attack upon Fort Mifflin. -- Cruise of the
"Raleigh" and the "Alfred." -- Torpedo Warfare. -- The Battle of the
Kegs.
CHAPTER XII.

Naval Events of 1778. -- Recruiting for the Navy. -- The Descent upon
New Providence. -- Operations on the Delaware. -- Capt. Barry's
Exploits. -- Destruction of the American Frigates. -- American
Reverses. -- The Capture of the "Pigot." -- French Naval Exploits.
CHAPTER XIII.
Last Years of the War. -- Disastrous Expedition to the Penobscot. --
Wholesale Captures on the Newfoundland Banks. -- French Ships in
American Waters. -- Taking of Charleston. -- The "Trumbull's" Victory
and Defeat. -- Capt. Barry and the "Alliance." -- Close of the War.
CHAPTER XIV.
Work of the Privateers. -- The "Gen. Hancock" and the "Levant." --
Exploits of the "Pickering" -- the "Revenge." -- the "Holkar." -- The
"Congress" and the "Savage." -- The "Hyder Ali" and the "Gen. Monk."
-- The Whale-Boat Hostilities. -- The "Old Jersey" Prison-Ship.
CHAPTER XV.
The Navy Disbanded. -- Aggressions of Barbary Corsairs. -- A
Disgraceful Tribute. -- Bainbridge and the Dey. -- Gen. Eaton at Tunis.