The Naval History of the United States

Abbot's fighting history of the American navy — privateers and frigates, the Bon Homme Richard and the Constitution, told battle by battle with the smoke still in the rigging.

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English Channel. the Descent Upon

WHITEHAVEN. - W E HAVE already spoken of the farcical affair between the fleet under Ezekiel Hopkins and the English frigate "Glasgow," in which the English vessel, by superior seamanship, and taking advantage of the blunders of the Americans, escaped capture. The primary result of this battle was to cause the dismissal from the service of Hopkins. But his dismissal led to the advancement of a young naval officer, whose name became one of the most glorious in American naval annals, and whose fame as a skilful seaman has not been tarnished by the hand of time.

At the time of the escape of the "Glasgow," there was serving upon the "Alfred" a young lieutenant, by name John Paul Jones. Jones was a Scotchman. His rightful name was John Paul; but for some reason, never fully understood, he had assumed the surname of Jones, and his record under the name of Paul Jones forms one of the most glorious chapters of American naval history. When given a lieutenant's commission in the colonial navy, Jones was twenty-nine years old. From the day when a lad of thirteen years he shipped for his first voyage, he had spent

LISH." - EXPLOITS WITH THE "ALFRED." - IN
LISH." - EXPLOITS WITH THE "ALFRED." - IN
← CHAPTER V: JasperAt White Haven, Scotland, Nov., 1777 →