naval fights ever known. These were the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough. The conflict occurred in the evening, off Flamborough Head, on the east coast of Scotland. Jones's ship was the Bonhomme Richard, which had been fitted out in France. After much maneuvering, the Serapis and SAWWXPNS Richard came alongside of each other, their rigging intermingling, and in this position they poured heavy broadsides from their respective guns. Three times both ships were on fire, and their destruction appeared inevitable. A part of the time the belligerents were fighting hand to hand upon the decks. Finally, the commander of the Serapis was obliged to yield, and ten minutes afterward, the Countess of Scarborough, which had been fighting with another vessel of Jones's little fleet, struck her colors. The Richard was a perfect wreck, and was fast sinking when the conflict ended; and sixteen hours afterward, she went dern into the deep waters of the North Sea, off Bridlington Bay. Jones, with his prizes, sailed for Holland, having, during that single cruise, captured property to the value of two hundred thousand dollars.' The naval operations during the war for Independence, do not occupy a conspicuous place in history, yet they were by no means insignificant. The Continental Congress took action on the subject of an armed marine, in the autumn of 1775. Already Washington had fitted out some armed vessels at Boston, and constructed some gun-boats for use in the waters around that city. These were propelled by oars, and covered. In November, the government of Massachusetts established a Board of Admiralty. A committee on naval affairs, of which Silas Deane [page 266] was chairman, was appointed by the Continental Congress in Octo A GUN-BOAT AT BOSTON. |