Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/80

64 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

MONG the noted war ships of the olden day, the Ranger, built at Portsmouth, N. H., upon what is known as Badger's Island, and launched in May, 1777, is one of the most conspicuous. This ship carried eighteen six-pounders, and a crew of one hundred and fifty men. The Ranger first bore the American flag to Europe, and there is little doubt that the stars and stripes first floated over the waves from its mast head. At the mast of this New Hampshire ship, the flag, which has since commanded the respect of the world, received its first salute from any power. This was from a French fleet, in February, 1778. M. de LaFayette was on board the French fleet and witnessed this first salute.

June 14, 1777, Congress passed the following resolution: —

Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.

Resolved, That Capt. Paul Jones be appointed to command the Ranger. Ship of War, &c.

Jones took command, and sailed from Portsmouth, December 2, 1777, for France. On the 10th of April, 1778, he sailed on a cruise in the Irish Channel, and took several prizes. The last engagement of the Ranger, while under command of Jones, was with the sloop of war Drake, a vessel larger than her antagonist, with two more guns and a stronger crew. After one of the fiercest naval engagements on record the Drake surrendered. During the contest of one hour and five minutes, the Drake lost in killed and wounded, forty men, including Capt. Burden and the First Lieutenant; Jones lost Lieut. Wallingford and one man killed, and six wounded. About this time 1st Lieut. Simpson was ordered to command the Ranger, and Capt. Jones was transferred to another vessel. After returning to Portsmouth, and refitting, the vessel made several cruises, and was finally captured at Charleston, in 1780, by the British. The Providence, Queen of France, and the Boston, also fell into the hands of the enemy at the same time. One hundred years have passed since the sturdy old ship was captured, and now an interesting relic, the Log of the Ranger, from Monday, August 18, 1778, to Wednesday, May 10, 1880 (which I think was the time of the capture of the vessel), has accidentally fallen into my hands. It was discovered among rags, which had been picked up in different sections of New Hampshire, in a remarkably good condition. It contains two hundred and forty-eight large and well filled pages. The record of every day is complete.

, Aug. 24, 1778. 3d day out. The first part of this twenty-four hours fair and pleasant, light winds E. B. N.; at 4. fresh breeze and cloudy; at 8, fired a gun to bring too a Dutch-man. The middle part cloudy, the wind N. N. E. At day light saw a sail on our lee bow, gave chase, and at 6 spoke her. She proved to be a brig from London to Pensacola, loaded with provisions for the garrison there, called the Sally, Capt. Ward. The Commodore manned and ordered her to America. At 8, spoke a Swedish Snow and a Dutch ship. The latter part of this twenty-four hours hazy weather and wind from the N. B. W.

, Aug. 25, 1778. Beginning with fresh winds and hazy weather; at 1, Commodore brought too a sloop from Carolina, bound to Nantes. The Boston gave chase to a ship, and 6