The Saber and Scroll
to the rest of the British squadron and broke off the chase . The sloop Providence had never attempted to engage the enemy . By mid-morning , Glasgow was safely in Newport with extensive damage to her masts and rigging . The British crew suffered only a single death and three men wounded , all from musket fire from Captain Nicholas ’ s Continental Marines . 27
The battered Continental squadron arrived at New London , Connecticut , on 7 April 1776 and were greeted by the local population as conquering heroes , their two hundred sick and wounded notwithstanding . When Hopkins ’ s official report reached Philadelphia , the Continental Congress was ecstatic with the expedition ’ s results . While the squadron had not traveled to any of the destinations in Hopkins ’ s orders , they had certainly proven “ most useful to the American cause ” and “ distressed the Enemy ” as Congress had enjoined . President Hancock wrote to the Commodore :
I beg Leave to congratulate you on the Success of your Expedition . Your Account of the Spirit and Bravery shown by the Men , affords them the greatest Satisfaction ; and encourages them to expect similar Exertions of Courage on every future Occasion . Though it is to be regretted , that the Glasgow Man of War made her Escape , yet as it was not thro ’ any Misconduct , the Praise due to You and the other Officers , is undoubtedly the same . 28
During this first expedition of the Continental Navy , the leadership of Commodore Hopkins was certainly not without its flaws . On 2 March 1776 , for example , Hopkins failed to enforce the provisions of his plans when the entire squadron accompanied the landing force to attack Fort Nassau , giving the inhabitants time to prepare their defenses and plan the removal of the majority of their gunpowder . Just over one month later , he never issued instructions or made a single signal that could have possibly resulted in the capture of HMS Glasgow . Once the initial glow of the squadron ’ s arrival at New London had faded , criticisms of the battle soon made their way through letters and newspapers . Captain Nicholas Biddle wrote that “ a More imprudent ill conducted Affair never happened .... And yet I do not see how the Admiral can be Blamd [ sic ] for whether it was against his judgement or not he could not help the Action being brought on .” Biddle was nonetheless so soured on the idea of sailing under Hopkins ’ s command that he “ had Rather have Dawson ’ s Pilot Boat to Cruise where I please than be even in the A . Doria and follow the fleet .” 29
Soon after his arrival , Commodore Hopkins wrote to the governors of Connecticut and Rhode Island , offering some of his captured cannons and ammunition for the defense of their colonies , despite having no authority from Congress to distribute any Continental stores . 30 He would also soon be criticized for failing to see that the squadron ’ s officers and men were paid promptly and an apparent inability to
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