80 FISHEEMBK OF THE UNITED STATES. 



shut by act of Parliament, they tendered to their suffering brethren of the capital the use of their 

 wharves and storehouses free of charge. The first actual avowal of offensive hostility against 

 England which is to be found in the revolutionary annals, is an act passed by the Provincial Con- 

 gress of Massachusetts in November, 1775. It was framed by Elbridge Gerry, a merchant of Mar- 

 blehead, whose business depended upon the fisheries. It authorized captures upon the sea. 

 With its preamble it was printed in the London Magazine as a political curiosity, and John Adams 

 calls it 'one of the most important documents in the history of the Eevolution.' Who 'hoisted the 

 first American flagf and to whom 'the first British flag was struck?' are questions iu dispute be- 

 tween the friends of different claimants; but Mr. Adams confers both honors upon John Manly, 

 of Marblehead, who captured a transport having on board a mortar, which, transferred to Dor- 

 chester heights, ' drove the English army from Boston, and the navy from the -harbor.' The fish- 

 ermen of this town appear to be entitled to the same precedence in naval affairs under commissions 

 authorized by the Continental Congress, since it is stated that John Selman and Nicholas Brough- 

 ton were the first commanders appointed by Washington after he assumed the direction of affairs. 

 Another commander of merit was Mugford, who took a powder ship early in the war, and perished 

 in the enterprise. And still another was Samuel Tucker, who, successful beyond his compeers, is 

 said to have captured more British guns and British seamen than Paul Jones, or any other captain 

 in the service of the thirteen States. Of the exploits of individuals of humbler rank, two examples 

 must suffice. In 1783 'three lads' were put on board of a brig at Quebec to be sent prisoners to 

 England; on the passage they gained possession of the vessel and carried her safely to Marble- 

 head, their native town. The same year three other young fishermen — all minors — ^prisoners in 

 the British ship Lively, conceived the plan of capturing her, and, inducing ten other prisoners 

 to join them, were successful; and, conducting their prize to Havana, made sale of her for a large 

 sum. 



' ' For service in the field Marblehead raised one entire regiment. It has been remarked of these 

 'fishermen soldiers' that, inured to fatigue and hardship, they were not reduced by sickness or 

 camp diseases during the war. This regiment composed a part of the force of the illustrious com- 

 mander-in-chief in his retreat through New Jersey, and in the crisis of the Whig cause. The 

 American army, composed of regulars and militia, hardly three thousand in number, almost desti- 

 tute of tents and utensils for cooking, badly armed, nearly naked and barefooted, dispirited by 

 losses and worn down by sufferings, were pursued, in November and December, to the northerly bank 

 of the Delaware, by the well-appointed army of the enemy, flushed by success, and panting for a 

 last decisive victory. For a moment the destruction of Washington, either from the waters in 

 front or from the royal troops in rear, seemed certain. The heroic daring of the men who, perhaps, 

 saved him, and with him their country, is nowhere related in history. But Henry Knox, the chief 

 of artillery, whose own services on the occasion will ever be remembered and excite admiration, 

 has done them justice. After the peace, and while General Knox was a member of the legislature 

 of Massachusetts, an application was made by citizens of Marblehead for the charter of a bank. 

 Their petition was opposed. He rose and stated their claims. 'lam surprised,' he said, 'that 

 Marblehead should ask so small a privilege as that of banking, and that there should be opposi- 

 tion to it. Sir, I wish the members of this body knew the people of Marblehead as well as I do. 

 I could wish that they had stood on the banks of the Delaware Eiver in 1777, in that bitter night 

 when the commander-in-chief had drawn up his little army to cross it, and had seen the powerful 

 current bearing onward the floating masses of ice which threatened destruction to whosoever 

 should venture upon its bosom. I wish, that when this occurrence threatened to defeat the enter- 

 prise, they could have heard that distinguished warrior demand, 'Who will lead us on?' and seen 



