Posted on Oct 8, 2015
Something for you Navy folks: Commodore Esek Hopkins, first commander of the US flotilla
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Imagine being the first Commander of the US navy, going off to war against the most powerful navy in the world in nothing more than some convert merchant ships? Now imagine a shocking raid, and than being blasted by Congress, betrayed by fellow officers, and finally relieved. That was short career as Commander of the flotilla.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esek_Hopkins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esek_Hopkins
Posted in these groups: 
Military History
American History
Military History American History
Posted 9 y ago
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Commodore Dudley Saltonstall of MA was also relieved of duty during the American Revolution, but based on what I've read, he got off lightly. Saltonstall was responsible for the worst Naval disaster in US history prior to Pearl Harbor. He was Fleet Commander of the Penobscot Bay Expedition in 1779. Hundreds of men and 42 vessels were lost, and even the artillery officer, Colonel Paul Revere, was court-martialed. Very little has been written about it, and even less taught.
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