Connecticut State Navy facts for kids
The Connecticut State Navy was like Connecticut's own small navy during the American Revolutionary War. It was started in 1775 to help fight against the British. Sadly, by 1779, all of its main ships were either captured or destroyed. For the rest of the war, a few smaller boats were used to try and stop illegal trading between Connecticut and Long Island, which was controlled by people loyal to the British king.
One of the most interesting things about the Connecticut Navy was a special boat called the Turtle. This was a very early submarine! It was used in 1776 in New York harbor and was the first time a submarine was ever used in a real battle.
Contents
When the American Revolutionary War began in April 1775, Connecticut decided it needed its own ships. In July, the leaders of Connecticut, including Governor Jonathan Trumbull, decided to get two armed ships.
They looked at different boats and decided to use a ship called Minerva. They also wanted a smaller, faster boat to "spy" and carry messages. This smaller boat was named Spy.
The Spy started working in October and quickly captured its first British supply ship. The Minerva also started service, but many of its crew members didn't follow orders, so it had to return to port. The crew was replaced, and the ship was later returned to its owner.
Growing the Fleet
In December 1775, Connecticut's leaders decided to get even more ships. They bought a ship called Defence, which started service in April 1776. They also decided to build a brand new warship.
This new ship was the 300-ton Oliver Cromwell, launched in June 1776. It was special because it was the first warship built specifically for Connecticut's navy. The other ships they had bought were already built.
They also planned to build four "row galleys," which were small ships that could be rowed. Only three were built: Whiting, Shark, and Crane. These were ready by July 1776.
The Turtle Submarine: A Secret Weapon
In February 1776, an inventor named David Bushnell showed his amazing invention to Connecticut's leaders. It was a small, one-person submarine called the Turtle. Its job was to sneak up to enemy ships and attach a mine (a type of underwater bomb) to them.
The Turtle was used in an attempt to attack a large British ship, HMS Eagle, in New York harbor in 1776. The attack didn't work, but it was a very important moment in history because it was the first time a submarine was used in battle. The Turtle was later sunk in 1777, but some say Bushnell found it again.
A few more ships were added later, like the Mifflin, Schuyler, and Guilford, but they didn't serve for very long.
The Governor of Connecticut had a lot of power over the navy, including making rules for the ships and sailors. They tried to make their rules similar to those of the larger Continental Navy (the navy for all the American colonies).
A rich merchant named Nathaniel Shaw helped the state by getting supplies for the ships and dealing with the captured enemy ships and goods. They also had someone in Boston to help when Connecticut's ships were in Massachusetts.
Instead of creating special courts just for navy matters, the regular state courts handled disputes about ships and prizes. People could even appeal decisions to the Continental Congress. Connecticut didn't issue its own "letters of marque" (special papers allowing private ships to attack enemy ships); instead, the Governor could issue letters from Congress.
By 1779, most of Connecticut's navy ships were lost. Even though they tried to set up a more formal way to manage the navy that year, it was too late for most of the ships. In 1780, they allowed up to twelve armed ships to try and stop smuggling, but this didn't work very well, and the permissions were taken back in 1781.
Most of Connecticut's navy ships sailed in Long Island Sound. However, some ships, like the Spy and Oliver Cromwell, traveled further. The three row galleys served in the Hudson River north of New York City, where they were eventually captured or sunk by the British.
The Spy did exactly what it was bought for: it carried important messages. It was one of the ships sent to France in 1778 with the news that America had officially agreed to an alliance with France. The Spy was the first ship to arrive in France with this news, but sadly, the British captured it on its way back home.
Overall, the Connecticut Navy captured about thirty enemy ships. However, all of its own ships were either captured or destroyed by July 1779. The Oliver Cromwell was captured after a battle near Sandy Hook, and the Guilford was captured in July of the same year.
