Douglas Karr, Petty Officer Second Class, United States Navy Veteran
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Happy 234th Birthday, Navy
On October 13, 1775, Continental Congress approved the procurement, staffing and arming of two ships that would attempt to stop the British Army from receiving ammunition and other supplies. The two vessels commissioned by the CC cruised the waters off the shore of what we now call America, but was then known as the Colonies. These two ships were the first vessels of the Continental Navy [1775-1783] and by the conclusion of the Revolutionary War the Continental Navy fleet consisted of about fifty vessels, including approximately twenty warships.
To gain a better understanding of why the CC decided to acquire and arm two ships, one must understand what was happening between Britain and the Colonies – if you’re a history buff, pardon the mini-history lesson. 1775 was a year of rebellion for the Colonies, and the CC decided to take control – they created the Continental Army, began issuing paper currency, and even created a committee that would be responsible for interactions with other countries. While the Colonies were getting their business in order, Britain was dominating the sea, creating a range of problems for the Colonies [from destroying colonial communities close to the shores to attempts to block ships from entering colonial ports with imports].
Fed up with Britain’s attempts, a few of the Colonies commissioned sparse fleets to defend their seaside communities. Their argument was that the fleets would allow the colonists to protect themselves, but some members of the CC were concerned that this might jeopardize any hope for future reconciliation with Britain. John Adams was not one of these men – Adams [who was from Massachusetts] had been lobbying his fellow CC members for the creation of a naval force that would not only defend colonial towns on the coast from British vessels, but would also aid in the protection of sea trade and the establishment of relationships with other neutral world countries. Many CC members from southern colonies thought that the creation of a navy would only benefit the colonies in the New England region, while others were too afraid that establishing a navy would offend Britain and imply that the colonies were completely sovereign [which, in the end, was achieved by the Revolutionary War].
Finally, on October 3rd, 1775, CC members from Rhode Island presented a plan to their fellow delegates that would create a colonial fleet immediately. The proposal was debated on the floor of the CC, and Maryland delegate Samuel Chase has been quoted throughout history as calling the proposal “the maddest idea in the world.” The Rhode Island delegates left the floor of CC without the support of their fellow delegates, but two days later, with word that at least two unarmed British ships were carrying ammunition to Quebec, their proposal was once again up for debate.
A committee of delegates from MA, RI, and CT was formed almost at once [this could be considered the earliest form of the Dept. of the Navy] and armed ships were ordered out to wait for the British munitions vessels. The CC then approved the release of two additional armed ships that would cruise eastern waters and prohibit all British ships from delivering ammunition, supplies, or goods for trade to the British Army. This plan was “on the table” until this day, 234 years ago, when General George Washington sent a letter to the CC. The letter reported that Washington had procured three schooners and positioned them off the coast of MA to stop British supply ships. General Washington believed that his was an important first step in establishing a fleet that would protect the independence and progress of the colonial states. There were already three armed ships patrolling the waters – could the CC approve the release of two more? Yes, they could.
Then things got moving – a group within the CC known as the Naval Committee began approving the release of armed ships, drafted legislation, outlined rules and regulations, and appointed administrators. This, my friends, was the birth of the Navy.
When the war ended, the CC put the fleet up for sale, and all officers and crew were discharged. This was not the end of the Navy, however. Upon the ratification of the Constitution of the United States in 1789 Congress began the process of establishing a new navy, and in 1794 the construction of six new frigates was approved. The Department of the Navy was not formed until the end of April, 1798, so up until that time the new navy was managed by the Department of War and the Naval Committee.
The 13th of October was not officially known as the birthday of the Navy until 1972, when Chief of Naval Ops [CNO] Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt declared it to be the “official Navy Birthday.” The “Navy Birthday” is not to be confused with “Navy Day,” which commemorates the founding of the Department of the Navy [April 30, 1798].
The “Navy Birthday” is a day for members of the Navy – and old Navy veterans like me, too – to recognize how far the Navy has come, and to appreciate what the Navy has given us. And it’s certainly a day to look back on the amazing history of this country and our military. Think about the meeting in Philadelphia on that Friday 234 years ago: when the decision to outfit two new vessels with carriage and swivel guns and a crew of less than one hundred [arguably inexperienced] men was put to a vote, the Continental Congress had no idea how sophisticated the Navy would one day become.
Today is an important day in American history, not only for the thousands who have served within the Navy since its inception but for all American people. The Navy today assists in the protection of our independence, just like it did during the Revolutionary War.
Happy birthday, Navy.
To view images of Colonial-era ships, check out colonialnavy.org. And please visit our Twitter page – twitter.com/veteransblog – to connect with our veteran-focused Twitter friends.
