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MARYLAND'S NAVY. 203
About daylight in the morning, however^ she struck on the middle ground
between the capes; over which she beat with the loss of her rudder, and then
cast anchor. At daylight, on the 1st of April, two British frigates were seen
a short distance off, and upon the approach of the frigate Emerald, Captain
Caldwell, Captain Nicholson escaped with his papers in the ship's barge, but
Lieutenant Joshua Barney, with his brother William, who was an officer of
the marines,, and the rest of the crew fell into the hands of the enemy.
Congress instituted an inquiry, but acquitted Captain Nicholson of all blame.
He subsequently fought two of the most remarkable combats of the war.
While the United Colonies were fitting out their infant navy, Maryland
was exerting herself to equip cruisers of her own. In 1775 and 1776, the
Chesapeake was much infested by barges and small cruisers of the enemy,
which not unfrequently made prizes of vessels belonging to the merchants of
Baltimore, besides molesting the people who dwelt near the water. With the
view to keep the navigation open against these marauders at least, the Council of Safety and the Committee of Observation at Baltimore determined to
fit out a cruiser, at the expence of the State, and with such material as could
be hastily collected. With this object early in the spring of 1776, a ship
called the Defence, was purchased, armed and equipped. She mounted
twenty-two six-pounders besides swivels, and was commanded by Captain
James Nicholson.1
The Defence was a successful cruiser, both at sea and in the Chesapeake,
and made many captures ; but becoming old she was finally ordered to Baltimore, dismantled and sold.
During the Revolution, Maryland's little navy did excellent service; and
in addition to the few already mentioned, we shall add, from the best authorities, the accounts of one or two of their actions, before giving an outline of
the service performed by the private armed cruisers.
In addition to those already spoken of, Maryland armed and equipped as
light cruisers, the brigs Friendship and Amelia, and the Sloop of War Hebe
1 He was born at Chestertown, Maryland, in tenant with Paul Jones in the battle between
1737, and chose the sea as a profession. He the Bon Homme Richard and Serapis ; was made
assisted at the capture of Havana, in 1762. a captain September 17th, 1779; and early in
On the 6th of June, 1776, was appointed to the 1782, commanded the frigate Beane of thirty-
command of the Virginia, and on the 10th of two guns, in which he cruised successfully,
October following, was put at the head of the taking among other prizes, three sloops of war,
list of captains of the continental navy, a place with an aggregate of forty-four guns. Corn-
he held until the close of the war. He after- missioned captain on the reorganization of the
wards commanded the Trumbull, of thirty-eight navy, June 10, 1794, and was the first com-
guns; and June 2,1780, had a severe action of mander of the frigate Constitution. Another
three hours with The Wyatt, losing thirty men brother of this distinguished naval family was
before the ships separated: In August, 1781, commissioned lieutenant in the navy, August
the Trumbull was captured off the Capes of 17th, 1776, and captain, September 17, 1779.
Delaware by The Iris and General Monk, after a The third generation of this family are now
gallant resistance, being completely dismantled. holding high places in the United States navy.
After the war he resided in New York, where The three daughters of Commodore James
he was, in 1801-4, United States commissioner Nicholson, were marriel to Albert Gallatin
of loans. He died September 2, 1804. His (ex-Secretary of the Treasury), Wm. Few, and
brother Samuel was born in Maryland, in 1743, John Montgomery (ex-member of Congress and
and died December 29, 1811. He was a lieu- Mayor of Baltimore).—Drake's Biog. Lict. p. 659.
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000232 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | MARYLAND'S NAVY. 203 About daylight in the morning, however^ she struck on the middle ground between the capes; over which she beat with the loss of her rudder, and then cast anchor. At daylight, on the 1st of April, two British frigates were seen a short distance off, and upon the approach of the frigate Emerald, Captain Caldwell, Captain Nicholson escaped with his papers in the ship's barge, but Lieutenant Joshua Barney, with his brother William, who was an officer of the marines,, and the rest of the crew fell into the hands of the enemy. Congress instituted an inquiry, but acquitted Captain Nicholson of all blame. He subsequently fought two of the most remarkable combats of the war. While the United Colonies were fitting out their infant navy, Maryland was exerting herself to equip cruisers of her own. In 1775 and 1776, the Chesapeake was much infested by barges and small cruisers of the enemy, which not unfrequently made prizes of vessels belonging to the merchants of Baltimore, besides molesting the people who dwelt near the water. With the view to keep the navigation open against these marauders at least, the Council of Safety and the Committee of Observation at Baltimore determined to fit out a cruiser, at the expence of the State, and with such material as could be hastily collected. With this object early in the spring of 1776, a ship called the Defence, was purchased, armed and equipped. She mounted twenty-two six-pounders besides swivels, and was commanded by Captain James Nicholson.1 The Defence was a successful cruiser, both at sea and in the Chesapeake, and made many captures ; but becoming old she was finally ordered to Baltimore, dismantled and sold. During the Revolution, Maryland's little navy did excellent service; and in addition to the few already mentioned, we shall add, from the best authorities, the accounts of one or two of their actions, before giving an outline of the service performed by the private armed cruisers. In addition to those already spoken of, Maryland armed and equipped as light cruisers, the brigs Friendship and Amelia, and the Sloop of War Hebe 1 He was born at Chestertown, Maryland, in tenant with Paul Jones in the battle between 1737, and chose the sea as a profession. He the Bon Homme Richard and Serapis ; was made assisted at the capture of Havana, in 1762. a captain September 17th, 1779; and early in On the 6th of June, 1776, was appointed to the 1782, commanded the frigate Beane of thirty- command of the Virginia, and on the 10th of two guns, in which he cruised successfully, October following, was put at the head of the taking among other prizes, three sloops of war, list of captains of the continental navy, a place with an aggregate of forty-four guns. Corn- he held until the close of the war. He after- missioned captain on the reorganization of the wards commanded the Trumbull, of thirty-eight navy, June 10, 1794, and was the first com- guns; and June 2,1780, had a severe action of mander of the frigate Constitution. Another three hours with The Wyatt, losing thirty men brother of this distinguished naval family was before the ships separated: In August, 1781, commissioned lieutenant in the navy, August the Trumbull was captured off the Capes of 17th, 1776, and captain, September 17, 1779. Delaware by The Iris and General Monk, after a The third generation of this family are now gallant resistance, being completely dismantled. holding high places in the United States navy. After the war he resided in New York, where The three daughters of Commodore James he was, in 1801-4, United States commissioner Nicholson, were marriel to Albert Gallatin of loans. He died September 2, 1804. His (ex-Secretary of the Treasury), Wm. Few, and brother Samuel was born in Maryland, in 1743, John Montgomery (ex-member of Congress and and died December 29, 1811. He was a lieu- Mayor of Baltimore).—Drake's Biog. Lict. p. 659. |
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