The Story of John Paul JonesFraser, Chelsea Curtis
History
The Story of John Paul Jones
Fraser, Chelsea Curtis
Jones, John Paul, 1747-1792
The fighting was kept up until daybreak. The _Glasgow_ was hulled a
number of times, her mainmast was deeply scarred, her sails and rigging
well riddled with shot. But she had disabled the little _Cabot_ at the
second broadside from her big guns, and had then concentrated her
attention on the _Alfred_ with such good marksmanship that the
wheelblock of the American was carried away and she came helplessly up
into the wind in such a position that the enemy poured in several
disastrous broadsides before her head could be regained. In this
maneuver such poor seamanship was displayed on the part of Commodore
Hopkins and Captain Saltonstall that Paul Jones fairly boiled within
himself; but he could only hold his peace at the time. Later on, in
letters to his friends, he gave full vent to his disgust at the way the
American ships were handled; for only one commanding officer--Captain
Biddle, of the _Andrew Doria_, who gave futile but heroic chase to the
_Glasgow_--did he have particular praise.
When, with the coming of morning, the British ship retired, she was
suffered to get away by Commodore Hopkins. He seemed to be glad that she
had not stayed to do them worse damage. The brave American seamen fumed
in the privacy of the fo'c'sl' on that voyage in. Old Bill Putters
cursed at every breath whenever he was out of an officer's sight.
The Government held two courts-martial following the _Glasgow_ affair.
As a result Captain Hazard, of the _Providence_, was dishonorably
dismissed from service, and numerous other officers censured, among them
Commodore Hopkins. Undoubtedly the latter would have met with dismissal
except for powerful political influences brought to bear in his behalf.
VIII
THE YOUNG CAPTAIN
Although there was a subtle estrangement between Commodore Hopkins and
Paul Jones, each respected the other's character. At the close of the
inglorious expedition which we have dealt with, the senior officer came
to the conclusion that it would be far less embarrassing to both
concerned were the first-lieutenant of the _Alfred_ placed on some ship
other than that occupied by the chief of the squadron himself.
Therefore, with more adroitness than he had displayed in meeting the
enemy, Commodore Hopkins managed to induce Congress to offer the
energetic Scotchman a berth as commander of the _Providence_, in the
place of the dismissed Captain Hazard. He also permitted him to take
with him a few of his favorite men, among this number Wannashego, the
young Indian. The latter's joy knew no bounds at this turn of events.
His stoical Indian nature prevented any marked display of his
satisfaction, but his demeanor could not wholly hide it from the
attention of his Scotch friend.
"Now," declared Wannashego, with shining eyes, "I sure we will see some
heap big fighting. If I stay on that other ship, _Alfred_, one day
longer I sure run away to the whaler-ship or my people. That _Alfred_ no
brave-ship; just squaw-ship--'fraid to fight!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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