Chandler's Watch

John Paul Jones- An American Naval Hero

Written by Marc Stockwell-Moniz

Friday, 22 February 2008

Captain John Paul Jones

In In the late eighteenth century, British school children would read about the tales of the “pirate” John Paul who terrorized the British sea coast. John Paul Jones did terrorize the British sea coast, but he wasn’t a pirate. Jones was the commanding officer aboard a commissioned privateer ship of The United States of America. In the late eighteenth century, British school children would read about the tales of the “pirate” John Paul who terrorized the British sea coast. John Paul Jones did terrorize the British sea coast, but he wasn’t a pirate. Jones was the commanding officer aboard a commissioned privateer ship of The United States of America.
Jones was born in 1747, in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. In 1773, he fled to America. He had killed the mutinous ring-leader of a ship he was captain of while sailing in the West Indies. The victim had impaled himself on Jones’ sword as he ran toward him during a fight. While in Virginia, John Paul took the last name of Jones to conceal his true identity.
After the American Revolutionary War began, Jones was ready to join the rebellion against Britain. Jones received his Naval Commission on December 7, 1775. In May of 1776, Jones was promoted to captain and took command of the sloop named The Providence. Jones quickly had his first victories as he took sixteen ships as prizes for the Americans.
By 1777, the Congress had ordered Jones to go to France to take command of a warship. Before Jones arrived in France, however, the American delegation in Paris had decided to give the Dutch-built ship to France as a gesture of friendship. So Jones continued his command of The Ranger. On April of 1778, Jones sailed from France and started to raid the British coast. Jones and his courageous men wanted to show the British that they too were vulnerable to attack on their soil. These daring American-raiders attacked St. Mary’s Isle to kidnap The Earl of Selkirk and ransom his freedom for Americans being held prisoner. Jones didn’t find The Earl, as he was not in town at the time. However, Jones and his men were able to spike some cannons in the town and escape back to sea, leaving the British community dazed at the audacity of their actions.
Jones then sailed across the Irish Sea. He was seeking a large “bounty” to take back to France. A strange, surreal event occurred as he calmly sailed into the harbor at Belfast, Ireland. Just a short distance away at anchor was the man-o-war, H.M.S. Drake. The Drake was about to set sail. The captain of The Drake, curious about the unknown ship, sent an investigation party over to The Ranger. Jones was incognito. Jones had yet to unfurl the flag of The United States. He greeted the British boarding party wearing a British officers’ uniform. Jones was trying to keep up the appearance of a merchant-ship. His ruse worked. The British sailors were promptly made prisoners of war and sent down into the hull of the ship.
The Ranger started to make her way out to sea. She struck the colors of The United States. The Drake quickly followed. The two warships then sailed far into the open sea. The pending battle would be the ultimate test for Captain Jones and the crew of The Ranger. An American warship had never defeated a British warship. The Rangers’ eighteen guns were all six-pounders. The Drake had twenty guns, with smaller four-pounders. However, The Drake had many more men on board. After a day-long chase, the swifter Ranger allowed The Drake to come within range of her. Jones wanted to keep a safe distance but be close enough so that The Rangers’ firepower could defeat the enemy. When the battle commenced, the American gunners fired a devastating volley of chain-shot and grape-shot. This firepower ripped the sails from the masts of The Drake. The American Marine-sharpshooters, stationed up in the masts of The Ranger, rained down destruction upon the British officers on the deck of The Drake. A British sailor cried out; “Quarter, Quarter!” The British then surrendered their ship and the fierce battle was over in little more than an hour. Jones had his prize. He sailed back to France with The Drake and a stunning victory over the British Royal Navy.
Jones continued to use deception, as he often flew the British Union Jack on the high-seas. The flying of the enemy flag was a common naval ploy in the eighteenth century. By now, all of Britain was aware of the man they called, John Paul the pirate. He was cruising in British waters at will. To the British, Jones was just a rebel Scotsman. If captured alive, he would have been hung as a traitor to the British crown.
In August of 1779, Jones and a crew of 380 men on board his new ship, The Bonhomme Richard, set sail for the British Isles from France. His sailors were from several nations. He had French Marines, sailors from Scotland and Ireland, Portuguese fishermen as well as some disgruntled Englishmen who supported The United States. The British ever vigilant and on-the-watch for Jones, were sailing along their coast. On September 23, 1779, the British found what they had been looking for. After being spotted, Jones was now using another ruse. The captain of H.M.S. Serapis demanded that Jones identify himself. Jones gave him no answer. Jones was flying no colors. Suddenly, the American flag was hoisted high above the mast of The Bonhomme Richard. The legendary battle was about to begin.
The two warships maneuvered into battle-ready position. Shots were fired. The Bonhomme Richard was hit, but incredibly the shots were not fired from the enemy ship Serapis. The allied French warship, The Alliance had fired on Jones! The captain of The Alliance, the Frenchman Landais, who was believed to be crazy at the time, turned on Jones. Landais’ treachery was not over! Jones was now in trouble of being sunk so he moved his ship alongside The Serapis.
During the first wayward blasts from Landais, the American flag had been ripped from its’ mast. British Captain Preston of The Serapis yelled out to Jones to surrender. Jones then answered with the famous words, “I have not yet begun to fight.” And fight he did. A four-hour battle ensued. Marines from both ships were firing upon each other. Broadsides were exchanged over and over again. American Marines started to board The Serapis. One of the Americans threw a grenade into the powder magazine of The Serapis. The grenade blast caused extensive damage to The Serapis. Pearson, with mercy for his men, eventually struck his colors and surrendered to Captain John Paul Jones. The Bonhomme Richard was in such bad shape, that Jones had to abandon her. Amazingly, most of the damage to the ship came from the insane Frenchman Landais. Jones took The Serapis as a prize and sailed to Holland for repairs. The United States had won a great battle on the high seas by defeating a large British warship near her homeland.
Captain John Paul Jones returned to France after the war. He died there in 1792. It would be one-hundred years until his remains were brought home to The United States in 1905. His body now rests in peace and honor in the chapel of The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

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