USS Alfred

Launched in the autumn of 1774 as relations between the colonies and the mother country grew increasingly tense, the Black Prince was fitted out quickly so that she could load and sail to Bristol on the last day of 1774.While the ship had been abroad, the Battle of Bunker Hill had been fought, the other colonies acting in Congress had pledged to support Massachusetts in its struggle for freedom, and George Washington had taken command of the American Army besieging British-occupied Boston.Moreover, private correspondence, between shipowner Morris, and his trading partner, Richard Champion of Bristol, was brought from England on Black Prince to members of the Continental Congress.This intelligence prompted Congress on October 13 to authorize the fitting out of two American warships,[1] one of 10 guns and the other of an unspecified size, to attempt to capture these ships and divert their invaluable cargoes to the ill-equipped soldiers of Washington's army.Her former master, John Barry, was placed in charge of her rerigging; Joshua Humphreys was selected to superintend changes strengthening her hull, timbers, and bulwarks as well as opening gunports; and Nathaniel Falconer was made responsible for her ordnance and provisions.[3] The new fleet dropped down the Delaware on January 4, 1776; but a cold snap froze the river and the bay, checking its progress at Reedy Island for some six weeks.At the outset of the fray, fire from her cannon cut Alfred's tiller ropes, leaving Hopkins' flagship unable to maneuver or to pursue effectively.The American ships did attempt to chase their fleeing enemy, but after dawn Glasgow disappeared over the horizon and safely reached Newport, Rhode Island.She departed Providence, Rhode Island, on October 26, 1776, in company with Hampden, but that vessel struck a "sunken rock" before they could leave Narragansett Bay and returned to Newport.On November 22 boats from Alfred raided Canso, Nova Scotia, where their crews burned a transport bound for Canada with provisions, and a warehouse full of whale oil, besides capturing a small schooner to replace Providence.They proceeded via the coast of Africa, where they took a small sloop, and then headed for the West Indies, hoping to add to their score before turning northward for home.
W. Nowland Van PowellJohn Paul Jonesfirst American flagPrince Edward, Duke of CornwallPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaAlfred of WessexJohn BarryDudley SaltonstallBattle of NassauBattle of Block IslandContinental Navy9th centuryfrigateAmerican Revolutionary Warnaval operationsbattles of NassauBlock IslandRoyal NavyLondonJamaicaThomas WillingRobert Morriscoloniesmother countryBristolBattle of LexingtonThamesBattle of Bunker HillCongressMassachusettsGeorge WashingtonAmerican ArmyBostonman-of-warJoshua HumphreysColumbusAndrew DoriaProvidenceEsek HopkinsRhode Islandflagship"Flag of America"U.S. flagensignDelawareReedy IslandMarine CommitteeHampton RoadsVirginiaCharleston, South CarolinaChesapeakeWest IndiesNew ProvidenceBahamasDelaware capesNassauContinental MarinesSamuel NicholasMontfort BrowneFort NassauSt. Augustine, FloridaSt. Patrick's DayschoonerGlasgowa fierce and skillful fightNewport, Rhode IslandNew London, ConnecticutProvidence, Rhode IslandHampdenNarragansett BayCape Breton IslandbrigantineLiverpoolHalifaxQuebecGaspéBarbadosCanso, Nova ScotiacolliersLouisburgNova ScotiaNew Yorkletter-of-marqueHMS MilfordRaleighL'OrientHMS CeresList of ships captured in the 18th centurypublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting ShipsFrancis WhartonThe London Gazette