USS ''Washington'' was a 1-gun
row galley
A row galley was a term used by the early United States Navy for an armed watercraft that used oars rather than sails as a means of propulsion. During the age of sail, row galleys had the advantage of propulsion while sail boats might be stopped or ...
of the
Rhode Island State Navy. With a rowing crew of 60, she was placed into service under the control of the
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a series of legislature, legislative bodies, with some executive function, for the Thirteen Colonies of British America, Great Britain in North America, and the newly declared United States before, during, and after ...
in 1776. During this age of sail, row galleys were highly maneuverable compared to sailing ships whose movements were dependent on the wind. ''Washington''s war record consisted of an attack on several British warships, and, after finding itself on the losing side of the battle, the row galley rowed away, out of danger. There is no further report of her efforts for the Rhode Island navy.
Authorized by Rhode Island
In the autumn of 1775, the
Rhode Island General Assembly
The State of Rhode Island General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. A bicameral body, it is composed of the lower Rhode Island House of Representatives with 75 representatives, and the upper Rhode Island Se ...
ordered the construction of two row galleys, ''Washington'' and
''Spitfire'', and in January 1776 appointed John Grimes commodore of galleys. During the winter and spring of 1776, these galleys operated in
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound covering , of which is in Rhode Island. The bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor and includes a small archipelago. S ...
, protecting the colony's shipping, carrying troops, and covering foraging parties seeking supplies.
The General Assembly voted and resolved that;
Seeking battle with the British
In July, the galleys were sent to
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
to join the tiny flotilla
George Washington
George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...
was fitting out on the
Hudson River
The Hudson River, historically the North River, is a river that flows from north to south largely through eastern New York (state), New York state. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains at Henderson Lake (New York), Henderson Lake in the ...
and apparently came under Continental control.
On the afternoon of 3 August, ''Washington'' served as ''flagship'' for Lieutenant Colonel
Benjamin Tupper
Benjamin Tupper (March 11, 1738 – June 7, 1792) was an American soldier in the French and Indian War, and an officer of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, achieving the rank of brevet brigadier general. Subsequently ...
as that officer led an attack on the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
's warships
''Phoenix'' and
''Rose''. As the galleys approached, ''Phoenix'' opened fire on the American boats to begin an action at
grapeshot
In artillery, a grapeshot is a type of ammunition that consists of a collection of smaller-caliber round shots packed tightly in a canvas bag and separated from the gunpowder charge by a metal wadding, rather than being a single solid projectile ...
range which lasted some two hours before the Americans retired to Dobb's Ferry. During the engagement, four Americans were killed, and 14 others were wounded. On the British side, ''Phoenix'' was hulled twice and suffered substantial damage.
Fate
There is no record of ''Washington'' and her sister galleys after the British captured
Manhattan Island
Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the smallest county by area in the U.S. state of New York. Located almost entire ...
late in the summer.
See also
*
Captain Abraham Godwin, Captain of Marines
References
Sources
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington (1776 row galley)
Ships of the Rhode Island State Navy
Ships built in Rhode Island
1776 ships