Info. 1776 court martial Abraham Whipple
June 20th, 2009 @ 14:19
Posted by: By Email
Mr. Snell:
I refer you to Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Vol. 4 (1969) 1328-29 and 1419-21 and Vo.. 5, 1970, 512, 530-1 for details on Abraham Whipple’s Court Martial. John Paul Jones was not a member of the court and Whipple’s lieutenants did not make the charge of cowardice.
The Glasgow Incident which let to a court-martial.
The first group of naval captains were all seasoned and brave fighting men: most, like Abe Whipple, had long experience as privateers. But as privateers they had engaged the enemy as individuals, doing things in their own way in their own time, and were totally unused to group action or acting under a single command. This weakness became painfully evident on April 6, 1776.
Naval Commander-in-Chief Esek Hopkins was leading his little fleet (Dudley Saltonstall in the flagship Alfred, Abe in the Columbus, John B. Hopkins in the Cabot, Nicholas Biddle in the Andrew Doria, and John Hazard in the Providence) including several prizes taken during the cruise back to New London from its successful capture of Fort Nassau on the Island of New Providence in the Bahamas. At 1 a.m. on April 6, approximately 20 miles southeast of Block Island and heading into a northerly wind, they were spotted by Capt. Tyringham Howe of H.M.S. Glascow, a ship of only 20 guns and a 150 men carrying British dispatches to Charleston. Not realizing they were the enemy, it changed tack and stood in towards Hopkin’s ship, the Cabot.
Esek Hopkins had adequate time to react but made no attempt to form any kind of battle line, nor during the ensuing engagement did he issue any commands, leaving each captain to take his own action, “helter-skelter” as Biddle wryly said later. As the Glasgow bore down on the Cabot, an overzealous marine aboard hurled a hand grenade at the Glasgow, which belatedly realized it was an enemy and the battle was one.
The Cabot’s 6 pounders were no match for the Glasgow’s 9 pounders, and two broadsides from the British ship disable it, killled several of the crew, and wounded its captain and seven others. Hopkins had enough presence of mind to sheer off, leaving the battle for Saltonstall in the Alfred, the biggest and most heavily armed ship with its 24 big guns. But in his haste, Saltonstall allowed the Alfred to fall off enough that a shot from the Glasgow carried away the lines that held the tiller and wheelblock and before these could be fixed, it fell broadside to the wind and the Glascow raked it stem to stern, killling six, wouding six, and effectively putting it out of action until the steering could be fixed.
Meanwhile Biddle in the Andrew Doria was trying to get into the fight but had to tack to avoid the crippled Cabot and then to alter course again to avoid crashing into the Alfred. It was 2:15 a.m. before he could get off any shots at the Glascow and by that time Hazard in the Providence was coming about to cross her stern but was not firing. Abe was having a terrible time getting the Columbus into action because the other ships kept blanketing him and his sails would not draw.
In a letter dated April 30 to Esek Hopkins, Abe gave his account of what happened: “The Night that we fell in with the Glasgow Man-of-War, 2 of my Lieutaenants and 14 of the Best Seamen, was on board the 2 Prizes when we was running down on the Ship getting in order to Engage, and Quartering the Men in the Places of the others that was out, the Glasgow suddenly hauling to the northward brought me to the south of her and brought her right in your and Captain Hopkin’s wake. I hauled up for her and made all sail with my 3 Top Gallants, then Captain Hopkins began her fire, and the Glasgow returning the same and my being in her wake and as to leeward as she, it instantly killed all the Wind, which put it out of my Power to get up with her. I strove all in my Power, but in vain, before that I had got close enough for a Close Engagement the Glasgow
Caption Howe, acknowledging the odds took advantage of a wind shift to the northwest and broke off the engagement at 3 a.m Abe’s letter continues: “I continued Chace under all sail that I had, except Steering Sails, and the Wind being before the Beam, she firing her 2 stern Chase guns into me as fast as possible, and my keeping up a Fire with my Bow guns, and now and then a Broadside put it out of Power to get near enough to have a close Engagement. I continued this Chace [until] you thought it proper to hoist a Signal to return into the Fleet. A accordingly obeyed the signal. . .”
The Continental fleet with its prizes sailed into the harbour in New London April 8 and were hailed for its “victory.” The Continental Congress send a note on the success but when it was learned there were 10 dead and 14 wounded (one on the Columbus) ugly rumors were circulated and Abe was accused of cowardice. In his letter of the 30th to Esek Hopkins, Abe denounced these accusations: “. . . at our arrival in New London I found that the report was from the Alfred and the Cabot that I was a Coward and many other ill-natured things which I say was a false report. If I did not do my Duty it was not out of Cowardice but for want of Judgment. I say all the people of New London look on me with Contempt, and here [Providence] like a Man not Serving the Country in my Station. Therefore, I having a family of children to be upbraided with the mark of Cowardice and my own character Scandalised thro” the whole 13 United Colonies, it is a thing I cannot bear, and if I am a Coward I have no business in the Service of this Country. Therefore I desire that there may be, at my own request, a Court-Martial be called on me, and Tried by my Brother Officers of the Fleet, and either acquitted with Honor or Broke, for I want no favor, then if I am Broke the Publick will have a right to despise me and relfect on me and my Family. . .”
Abe was so determined to be court-martialed, he informed Esek, “If I have not satisfaction that way, I will return you my Commission and thanka the Congress for the service, and Curse them that made the False Report. I have never opened my mouth to anyBody concerning the matter.” He then reminded Esek about an earlier incident where the old Commodore had prevented him (Abe) fron taking aggressive action. “If your Honor had let me come to Newport when the [Vritish] Scarboro Man-of-War lay there as I desired, I would have convinced the world that I was not a Coward, but now it is out of my power.
The charges against Abe came from the Cabot and the Alfred and according to rumors, the Alfred crew member was lieutenant John Paul Jones who was unabashedly ambitious for his own command was was not above a little backstabbing to effect his goal.
The court-martial, held in the cabin of the Alfred May 6, was presided over by Captain Dudley Saltonstall and included 12 members: three captains anf five lieutenants of line and two captains and two lieutenants of Marines.
The Court heard Abe’s testimony and “sundry evidences of those who were present in different vessels during the engagement” and concluded that his mode of attack on the Glasgow “proceeded from error of judgment and not from cowardice.”
Abe got what he wanted: exoneration in the eyes of his peers and his neighbors. A full account was published in the Providence Gazette May 18.
Captains Whipple and Saltonstall were summoned ti appear in the Continental Congress in July and the whole Glasgow affair was gone over again at great length. On July 11, 1776, it was noted in the Journals of the Continental Congress that the Marine Committee in pursuance of the orders of Congress reported that they have called before them divers of the inferior ofricers belonging to the ships Alfred and Columbus, and having heard their complaints against the Captains Saltonstall and Whipple in their presence, are of the opinion that the charge against Captain Saltonstall does not appear to be well-founded, and that the charge against Captain Whipple amounts to nothing more than a rough, indelicate mode of behaviour to his marine officers. . .”
JOE SNELL. NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY. WHAT MOTIVATED YOUR INTEREST IN CAPTAIN WHIPPLE’S COURT MARTIAL?
Blaine Whipple
Visit my Web Page: http://www.blainewhipple.com
had made all sail, for the Harbour of Newport.. .”
— On Thu, 6/18/09, Joseph Snell
From: Joseph Snell
Subject: Info. 1776 court martial Abraham Whipple
To: blaine.whipple@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009, 7:44 PM
Hello, My name is Joe Snell. I am attempting to gain information about the 10 May 1776 court martial of Captain Abraham Whipple.
It is my current understanding Captain Nicholas Biddel and Lieutenant John Paul Jones sat on the court.
Captain Whipple requested the court martial, to answer the charge of cowardice made by his Lieutenants, during the battle with HMS Glasgow.
Any additional information would be appreciated.
Thank you, Joe
