Washington’s Cruisers: An Appeal to Heaven

FirstNavyFlag_Liberty_Logo2The auspicious beginning of our nation may have begun with rebellion and war; however, the events that led to the birth of our freedom would not have been successful without a unified belief that the colonists were fighting for a righteous cause. George Washington believed in this cause and used every tactic and all his wits to win.

Even before the city of Boston was under siege, Washington had planned to impact the supply lines and hit the British where it hurt. The opportunity presented itself when the standoff in Boston was at a stalemate. Washington had the idea that, by creating a fleet of cruisers (small schooners) to essentially sneak up and take command of British ships, pillaging their supplies, it would serve three purposes.

First, it would weaken the British. They were relying on provisions taken from American vessels, and Washington knew of these difficulties. The vessels had no chance of fighting back, but perhaps he could counter their influence by doing the same thing.

By taking the British supplies, he could reinforce the troops surrounding the city, while simultaneously attacking the red coats from the sea. With all the problems the British were encountering while cornered and surrounded in Boston, Washington’s decision to exploit those weaknesses from every angle possible.

Lastly, creating the nation’s first naval force would help turn the tide of battle to the Americans. Washington needed seasoned seamen, ones who he could trust to not only fight for the cause, but who knew how to navigate the dangerous Atlantic Ocean, known for its stormy seas.

Because the Continental Congress was hesitant to commission a formal navy, Washington took it upon himself to pay for small schooners to be converted into cruisers. Thus, Washington’s Cruisers was born, and this necessary step allowed Washington to attack the British on land and sea. He looked to the north shore of Massachusetts for veteran sea captains to begin outfitting the first of seven cruisers, recruiting from the township of Marblehead.

On the recommendation of Colonel John Glover, Washington promoted Captain Nicholas Broughton to command the ship, Hannah, the first small schooner that was converted into a cruiser and named after Colonel Glover’s wife. The Hannah was the first cruiser of the fleet in Washington’s Cruisers.

According to www.awiatsea.com/Narrative.html, Washington issued sailing orders to Broughton on September 2, 1777:

“Washington was detailed and specific: Broughton was to sail at once against “such vessels as may be found on the High Seas or elsewhere, bound inward and outward to and from Boston, in the service of the ministerial Army, and to take and seize all such vessels … ” Any prizes were to be sent into a port near the Army, under a careful prize master who was to immediately notify Washington. Broughton was to diligently search for enemy mall, and to forward any found which might give warning of enemy intentions to Washington. Prisoners were to be treated kindly, nor were their private goods to be seized, and all prisoners were to be turned over to headquarters when port was made. Engagement with the enemy was to be avoided, for “the Design of this Enterprize, being to intercept the Supplies of the Enemy … will be defeated by your running into unnecessary engagements.” Broughton was strictly charged to be “extremely careful and frugal” with his ammunition, which was very scarce.

Each one of the cruisers flew the standard that became known as the Washington Cruiser’s Flag. With a white field and a large pine tree in the center, the idea came from Colonel Joseph Reed, Washington’s aide. The pine tree had become a popular symbol for freedom in the colonies, and is often referred to as the Liberty Tree. Other flags, such as the Bunker Hill flag and the Continental flag, had the Liberty Tree symbol incorporated in their designs, as well.

At the top of the flag, the words “Appeal to Heaven” were written, essentially expressing their trust in God that they would win their freedom from the tyranny of British rule. The phrase is said to come from Second Treatise on Government by John Locke. After the battles at Lexington and Concord, a letter from Dr. John Warren, which included the same phrase, was sent to the citizens of England, denoting the barbarousness of the British forces:

“…to the persecution and tyranny of his cruel ministry, we will not tamely submit; appealing to Heaven for the justice of our cause, “we determine to die, or be free.”

The Hannah ran aground early in her commission, but six more ships were already being outfitted or on mission. The other ships, Franklin, Hancock, Lynch, Washington, Lee, and Harrison, all wreaked havoc on British supply ships over the course of the next year. In addition to these cruisers, Washington had batteries built on the Charles River that could be floated down into the middle of the city, attacking with their muskets and larger guns. On October 26, 1775, the batteries attacked Boston, causing damage and instilling fear.

The Washington Cruiser flag began to have a reputation for instilling fear in the British soldiers. With a righteous cause to fight for, and the blessings of God, the militia kept their momentum going until they won or died for their cause. If you are interested in owning this flag, you can find it at www.americanflags.com, where they sell flags made in America by Americans. They have many rare flags from our illustrious nation’s history, all with the same quality and attention to detail as the originals.

With the benefit of hindsight, we now know how truly brilliant a general Washington was, with his decisive and calculated risk-taking strategies, that led us to the freedom we have today in our beloved United States of America. Flags unite people for a cause, for patriotism, and for an overall sense of belonging to something bigger than we are. The Washington Cruiser flag’s message apparently reached the ears of Heaven.

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