It was not until February, 1776, that what may be termed a strictly naval event took form in the sailing of the little fleet in command of Commodore Esek Hopkins, under orders which were sufficiently explicit in primary meaning, viz.: to proceed to Chesapeake Bay and destroy the powerful flotilla which the royal governor of Virginia had gathered together and with which he was harassing the Chesapeake shores. Hopkins was then to proceed to the Carolinas and act in like manner against the enemy’s forces, after which he was to go to Rhode Island. A final phrase, however, left a loophole for other action: “if bad winds or stormy weather” or any other accident should prevent, he was to use his own judgment. Hopkins flew his broad-pennant in the _Alfred_, in which also was then hoisted by the hands of Lieutenant John Paul Jones a Continental flag which bore a rattlesnake and a motto, “Don’t tread on me,” on a yellow ground. The exact date of this incident is unknown. The other vessels of the squadron were the ship _Columbus_, 20; the brig _Andrew Doria_, 14; brig _Cabot_, 14; brig _Providence_, 12; sloop _Hornet_, 10; schooner _Wasp_, 8; schooner _Fly_, 8. The number of men was about 880. Hopkins, instead of going to the Chesapeake, directed his course, on the plea of bad weather, to New Providence in the Bahamas, where there were considerable stores of powder and cannon of which the newly formed Continental army was in utmost need. Though blamed later by enemies, Hopkins took the wiser course. His advent there on March 3d was a complete surprise: 250 men were landed and possession taken of the little town and forts without resistance. Two weeks was spent in getting aboard the guns, of which there were seventy-one, from 9 to 32 pounders. There were also fifteen brass mortars and twenty-four barrels of powder. The governor, unfortunately, had succeeded in sending away 150 of the latter. The guns, however, were an extremely important prize, and to carry these and other public property seized, a sloop was impressed. Hopkins sailed north on March 17th, carrying the governor, lieutenant-governor, and another official. By this time Newport, Rhode Island, was occupied by a British force, and New London was selected instead as a port of return. When off Block Island the British man-of-war _Glasgow_, of 20 guns and 150 men, was sighted, and a running action took place, in which the _Glasgow_, though much injured, escaped into Newport. The explanation of the American commander was that the firing must bring aid from Newport to the _Glasgow’s_ rescue, and in fact two vessels in the harbor did get under way to go out. The force in Newport, however, which was only the small frigate _Rose_, of 20 guns, the _Nautilus_ and _Swan_, of 16 each, and several tenders, was no more than an equal match for our own. As far as one can read into this event, there was not the energy shown by our people which should have been.