The Continental Navy ’ s Shakedown Cruise
Continental forces land at New Providence on 3 March 1776 . Oil on canvas by V . Zveg , 1973 . US Navy Art Collection , Washington , DC . US Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 79419 .
cording to the letter published later by Nicholas , a messenger from the Royal Governor of the Bahamas approached the Americans to ask their intentions . When Nicholas declared his intent to seize all the Crown ’ s military stores on the island and advanced on the fort , the defenders opened fire with three 12-pound shot . Even though the Americans had escaped damage once again , Captain Nicholas called a halt and sent a messenger to Fort Montague , who insisted the Americans would only seize military resources and promised not to take any private property or harm the inhabitants except in self-defense . The defenders promptly sabotaged the guns and retreated to Fort Nassau within the town itself . After capturing and easily repairing seventeen 32- , 18- , and 12-pound cannon , Nicholas raised American colors and had his men camp at Fort Montague for the night . 17
Meanwhile , in anticipation of an advance on Fort Nassau on the morning of 4 March , Commodore Hopkins sent the following manifesto to the inhabitants of the Island of New Providence :
The Reasons of my Landing an armed force on the Island is in Order to take Possession of the Powder and Warlike Stores belonging to the Crown , and if I am not Opposed in putting my design in Execution the Persons and Property of the Inhabitants Shall be Safe , Neither shall they
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