The following is an installment of “On This Day,” a series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary by following the actions of Gen. George Washington, the Continental Congress, and the men and women whose bravery and sacrifice led up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Jan. 28, 1776
Gen. George Washington writes to Capt. John Manley of Marblehead to congratulate him for capturing British transports off Plymouth and praise him for his boldness. According to the U.S. Naval Institute, Manley’s first connection with the Navy came from his use of a schooner named Hannah, which was fitted and commanded by Nicholas Broughton, who was commissioned by Washington.
Manley’s schooner was chartered along with others in the fall of 1775. This too was at Washington’s initiative. Manley was paid $1.00 per ton per month for the use of his ship. Washington undertook this effort in the name of the “United Colonies of North America.”
On Jan. 25, Manley was cruising off Boston when he sighted the ship Happy Return. Giving chase, he took it in full sight of the English fleet at anchor in Nantasket Roads. Manley then placed a prize crew on the Happy Return and started to convoy it to Plymouth. But off Cohasset, he sighted a Boston-bound brig. As Manley bore down on her, she struck her colors to him, proving to be the Norfolk. He then placed a prize crew on the Norfolk and set off with his two prizes, only to then spot a British armed schooner and a convoy of two small provision vessels coming rapidly toward him.
The schooner was more heavily armed and full of men. By then, Manley had depleted his crew to man his captured ships, leaving only two officers and 16 men, along with numerous prisoners. Manley moved his ship and waited for the enemy.
A sharp battle ensued. To Manley’s great surprise, the prisoners “lent great support” to him and his men and “did as much as they dared do in such circumstances.”
The British fled to Boston while Manley made what speed he could for Plymouth. His casualties were slight. When he arrived that evening, he reported only one man wounded along with some slightly damaged rigging.
George Washington to Capt. John Manley, Jan. 28, 1776
Cambridge, Massachusetts
I received your agreeable Letter of the 26th instant giveing an account of your haveing taken & Carried into Plymouth two of the Enemys transports. Your Conduct in engageing the eight Gun Schooner, with So few hands as you went out with, your attention in Secureing Your prizes, & your general good behavior since you first engaged in the Service, merits mine & your Countrys thanks.
You may be assured that every attention will be paid to any reasonable request of yours, & that you shall have the Comand of a Stronger vessell of War, but as it will take up Some time before Such a one Can be fitted out, my desire is, that You Continue in the Hancock, until the end [of the] Cruize—When that is out you will Come to Head qrs & we will Confer together on the subject of the other ship[.] I wish you Coud engage men at Plymouth to make your Complement at least 40 Strong it woud enable you to encounter the small tenders that may fall in your way—tho I woud rather have you avoid an engagement untill you have a ship that will place you upon a more equall footing with your enemy—I need not reccommend to you to proceed again & pursue your good fortune, I wish you Coud inspire the Captains of the other Armed schooners under your Command with Some of your activity & Industry—Cannot You appoint Such Stations for them—where they may have the best Chance of intercepting Supplies Going to the enemy[.] they dare not disobey your orders, as it is mentioned in the instructions I have given to each of them, that they are to be under your Comand, as Comodore & as Such I desire that you will give them Such Instructions in writeing as to you will appear proper for the good of the Service.
I am Sir wishing You a Continuance of Success.
ON THIS DAY: WASHINGTON DEEPLY SKEPTICAL OF MOHAWK LEADERS
GW
When Manley was made commander of the Lee, he flew the new Pine Tree flag, a precursor of Betsy Ross’s famed flag, and the one most favored by privateers in the first part of the American Revolution.