OPINION:
The naval history of the American Revolution receives scant attention from most historians. That is unfortunate for two reasons: First, because the war at sea contributed enormously to the winning of our independence, and second, because it’s a cracking good yarn that needs telling.
When the revolution broke out, Britain was the world’s leading naval power, with over 250 vessels of all sizes. The American colonies’ navy, in contrast, never had more than eight ships at sea at any one time during the war. But U.S. strength at sea was not limited to the size of our navy. It was augmented by thousands of privateers who, throughout the conflict, were furiously raiding British ships on both sides of the Atlantic.
A “privateer” was a captain who had a letter of marque or license from his government to plunder enemy ships. The fledgling United States may not have had much of a navy, but it did have numerous merchant vessels, whalers and fishing boats — manned by skilled sailors — that could be converted into warships.
The Continental Congress was quick to tap this source of potential naval strength. In March 1776, four months before the Declaration of Independence was signed, our lawmakers gave permission to private citizens “to fit out armed vessels to cruise on the Enemies of these United Colonies.”
The chance to get rich by raiding British commerce was a strong incentive for American mariners to turn privateers. Congress made the incentive even stronger.
When a privateer captured an enemy ship, the usual practice was for the officers and crew to divide the spoils, with a share going to the government that had issued the letter of marque. Instead, Congress allowed American privateers to keep all their loot.
The reaction was electrifying. John Adams wrote at the time that “thousands of schemes for privateering are afloat in American imaginations.”
According to the National Park Service, Congress issued some 1,700 letters of marque during the Revolution. State governments issued hundreds more.
The proliferation of privateers brought immediate and substantial economic pressure on Britain. Maritime insurance rates rose dramatically, as did the cost of imported goods.
As the British economy suffered, the American economy was invigorated by the influx of prize money and captured goods. These goods included military supplies that were badly needed by Washington’s army.
Privateering also put diplomatic pressure on Britain. In Paris, a commission headed by Benjamin Franklin was lobbying to obtain French support for the American cause — ideally, to get France to enter the war on the American side.
The privateers strengthened the commissioners’ hand by demonstrating to the French that the American cause was worth backing. “That which makes the greatest impression in our favor here,” the commissioners wrote to Congress, “is the prodigious success of our armed ships and privateers.”
Franklin took full advantage of this sentiment. He persuaded the French foreign minister, the Comte de Vergennes, to allow American ships to use French ports and even to allow him to secretly commission privateers.
When the British government protested, Vergennes feigned innocence. But the British, who had an extensive spy network, were not deceived. So between British bluster and bland French denials, tensions between the two countries were exacerbated — which was exactly what Franklin wanted.
Soon, the French dropped all pretense of neutrality and signed a formal treaty of alliance with the United States in February 1778. Within weeks, France entered the war, and with that, American independence was assured.
What had the privateers accomplished?
America’s young navy captured nearly 200 ships as prizes during the Revolution; the privateers captured more than 10 times that number. In the process, they turned public opinion in Britain against the war.
Beyond that, they helped to offset Britain’s overwhelming advantage at sea. By raiding British commerce on both sides of the Atlantic, they forced the Royal Navy to divide its forces instead of concentrating them on the American theater.
Finally, the privateers gave valuable experience to the men who would become America’s future naval leaders.
All this was not without cost. Because Britain did not recognize American independence until the end of the Revolution, our privateers were regarded as pirates. American seamen unlucky enough to be taken prisoner by the British were confined in rotting prison hulks under appalling conditions — without trial and without the possibility of exchange. Some 12,000 died.
But their sacrifice helped to make us a nation. John Lehman, secretary of the navy under President Ronald Reagan, put it best: “It has been said that the battles of the American Revolution were fought on land, and independence was won at sea. For this we have the enormous success of American privateers to thank, even more than the Continental Navy.”
• Thomas Stewart is a retired New York investment banker and a former naval officer.
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