Rev250-076 Continental Navy Returns

5 min

•Apr 3, 2026about 2 months ago

Summary

This Revolution 250 bonus episode chronicles the Continental Navy's first mission in 1776, when Commodore Esec Hopkins led a fleet to raid the Bahamas for military supplies and returned to New London on April 8th. During the return voyage, the fleet captured several British vessels including the Hawk, Bolton, and Edward, though the larger Glasgow escaped after a costly battle that resulted in 10 American deaths and 14 wounded.

Insights

Early military organizations often struggle with unclear strategic objectives and poor execution accountability, as evidenced by Hopkins receiving 'ridiculous orders' to destroy the entire British Navy but instead pursuing a more limited raid strategy
Supply chain disruption and logistics challenges plagued early American military efforts, with sailors going unpaid and hundreds returning with smallpox after the mission
Leadership accountability mechanisms existed even in nascent military structures, with court-martials and censuring used to address perceived failures in command decisions
Naval warfare in this period involved significant casualties relative to engagement size, with the Glasgow battle producing 24 total casualties across both sides despite being a brief encounter
Blockade tactics proved highly effective in limiting military mobility, as the British Navy successfully bottled up the Continental fleet after its return, preventing further Atlantic operations

Trends

Early organizational dysfunction in newly formed military institutions and the challenges of establishing effective command structuresSupply chain vulnerabilities and logistics failures as critical constraints on military capabilityAsymmetric naval engagement outcomes where numerical advantage did not guarantee victory or capture of enemy vesselsDisease and health crises as significant operational challenges alongside combat casualtiesPolitical-military friction between civilian oversight bodies and military commanders regarding strategic objectives and accountability

Topics

Continental Navy Formation and Early Operations Naval Warfare Tactics in the American Revolution Military Supply Chain and Logistics (1776)Bahamas Raid Operations (March 1776)British Naval Blockade Strategies Court-Martial and Military Accountability Smallpox and Disease in Revolutionary Forces Ship Capture and Prize Law Commodore Esec Hopkins Leadership Continental Congress Military Oversight Naval Casualties and Combat Losses Atlantic Naval Engagements (April 1776)Sailor Compensation and Morale Issues British Warship Classes and Armaments New London Connecticut as Naval Base

People

Esec Hopkins

Commander of the Continental Navy fleet on its first mission to the Bahamas and return voyage in 1776.

Abraham Whipple

Captain of the Columbus who seized the British ship Hawk as the first prize taken by the Continental Navy.

John Barry

Commander of the Lexington who captured the British tender ship Edward on April 7th, 1776.

Hopkins

Son of Commodore Hopkins, captain of the Cabot who was seriously wounded in the Glasgow battle with 4 crew killed.

Quotes

"In late 1775, the Continental Congress cobbled together a small Continental Navy, converting a few merchant ships into warships."

Host•Early in episode

"Instead Hopkins took his fleet out to the Atlantic in February of 1776 and sailed down to the Bahamas to raid that island for gunpowder and other military stores."

Host•Mid-episode

"This was the first British warship taken by the Continental Navy."

Host•Describing the Hawk capture

"After their return, things did not go well for the fleet. The British Navy bottled up the Americans so that they were unable to sail out into the Atlantic again."

Host•Post-mission analysis

Full Transcript

You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast. Hello, and thanks for joining Revolution 250. This is where we remember events that took place 250 years ago this week. It's a short bonus episode from the American Revolution podcast to remember these important 250th anniversaries from the Revolutionary War. This week, the Continental Navy returns from its first mission to the Bahamas, returning to New London, Connecticut on April 8th, 1776. When it comes to hay fever, you may not only need to treat sneezes, but maybe a blocked nose. Ugh, so bugged up. Or itchy eyes as well. Ugh, can't stop rubbing them. Boots pharmacists can help you understand your symptoms and find the right combination of products from tablets to nasal sprays for complete relief. Shop now and deliveru and get the right relief for all your symptoms. Boots with you for life. 10% service fee, 2.99 cap, 3 pound fee on orders under 15 pounds delivery applies. In late 1775, the Continental Congress cobbled together a small Continental Navy, converting a few merchant ships into warships. It named Esec Hopkins as commander of the fleet and gave him quite frankly ridiculous orders to sail out and pretty much destroy the entire British Navy. Instead Hopkins took his fleet out to the Atlantic in February of 1776 and sailed down to the Bahamas to raid that island for gunpowder and other military stores. That raid which took place in early March was successful, but the British defenders were able to hide many of their supplies from the Continentals. The fleet then took weeks returning home. When they got back to the American coast, they began to encounter British warships. On April 4th, as the fleet passed the coast of Long Island, New York, they encountered a British Navy ship, the Hawk, a small six gun tender ship which surrendered without a fight. Captain Abraham Whipple aboard the Columbus seized the ship as a prize. This was the first British warship taken by the Continental Navy. The next day, April 5th, they encountered another ship, the Bolton. This one had eight guns, but they captured it as well. The day after that, April 6th, they sighted an even larger ship, the 20 gun Glasgow, along with a smaller tender ship that was accompanying it. The ships opened fire on each other, leading to a battle that lasted several hours. The captain of the Glasgow, realizing that he was outnumbered and outgunned, eventually made a run for it and escaped capture, leaving only the smaller tender ship as a prize. The fight with the Glasgow resulted in several casualties among the fleet. Captain Hopkins of the Cabot, who was Commodore Hopkins' son, was seriously wounded along with seven others on his ship. Four men on the Cabot died in that battle. The Cabot, which had been the first ship in the assault, took the brunt of the casualties. The Alfred also saw action, but had its rudder disabled early in the fight. Overall, the fleet suffered 10 killed and 14 wounded, with only one killed and three wounded on the British Glasgow. The following day, April 7th, Captain John Barry, commanding the Lexington, encountered a smaller tender ship called the Edward. That British ship put up a fight, but after more than an hour surrendered, and Barry brought that captured ship back to Philadelphia. The rest of the fleet, under Commodore Hopkins, arrived in New London, Connecticut. The following day, April 8th. After their return, things did not go well for the fleet. The British Navy bottled up the Americans so that they were unable to sail out into the Atlantic again. Sailors went unpaid after Continental Congress claimed they didn't have the money to pay them. Hundreds of them also came back with smallpox. Several ships captains were court-martialed for allowing the Glasgow to escape. This was also generally unhappy with Hopkins, because he didn't follow their orders to go out and destroy the British fleet. They held hearings in Philadelphia and ended up censoring the Commodore. Hopkins would never sail out with the fleet again, and would resign from the Navy in 1778. I hope you've enjoyed this Revolution 250 moment. To learn more on the Continental Navy, check out Episode 84 at blog.amrevpodcast.com. You can also learn much more about the Revolution by subscribing for free on whatever podcast platform you like. Thanks again for listening to this Revolution 250 moment on the American Revolution Podcast.