The Continental Navy ’ s Shakedown Cruise
from the Continental Congress rather than following them directly and adopted his plan : the squadron conducted an amphibious raid on the British colony of New Providence in early March , weathered an outbreak of disease at sea , and fought an unsuccessful engagement with the 20-gun HMS Glasgow before arriving at New London , Connecticut on 8 April . While the Continental Congress initially praised the squadron ’ s performance , Hopkins was eventually censured and relieved of his command for violating his orders and other perceived shortcomings . However , by disregarding his orders , Commodore Hopkins provided the Continental Navy with a valuable initial experience that demonstrated its viability without risking its early destruction . This paper demonstrates the above thesis by examining Hopkins ’ s orders and the squadron ’ s resources at his disposal and then analyzing British naval strength in Virginia as of spring 1776 , the squadron ’ s performance at Nassau and against Glasgow , and the immediate aftermath of their expedition .
Esek Hopkins , Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet of the United Colonies , 1775 – 1777 . Citation : Painting by Orlando S . Lagman after a nineteenth-century engraving by J . C . Buttre , Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph Collection , NH 85750-KN .
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