CHAPTER II. FIRST CRUISE OF THE YANKEE SQUADRON 48✦

A Fairly Successful Raid on New Providence, but they Let a British Sloop-of-war Escape--Character of the First Naval Commander-in-chief and of the Material with which he had to Work--Esek Hopkins, and his Record as Commander of the Fleet--Crews Untrained and Devoid of Esprit de Corps--Good Courage, but a Woeful Lack of other Needed Qualities--Hopkins Dismissed for Disobedience of Orders.

CHAPTER III. ALONG SHORE IN 1776 63✦

Brilliant Deeds by the First Heroes of the American Navy--Why Nicholas Biddle Entered Port with but Five of the Original Crew of the Andrea Doria--Richard Dale on the sleek Lexington--The Racehorse Captured in an even Fight--Captain Lambert Wickes in the Reprisal Beats off a Large Vessel--John Paul Jones in his Earlier Commands--A Smart Race with the Frigate Solebay--Sixteen Prizes in Forty-seven Days in Cape Breton Region--Poking Fun at the Frigate Milford--The Valuable Mellish--An Able Fighter who Lacked Political Influence.

CHAPTER IV. HE SAW “THE COUNTENANCE OF THE ENEMY” 84✦

The Story of Arnold’s Extraordinary Fight against Overwhelming Odds on Lake Champlain--A Thousand Sailors, of whom Seven-tenths were Picked Men, Armed with the Heaviest Guns, were Pitted under a Courageous Leader against 700 Yankees, chiefly Haymakers, Poorly Armed and with Insufficient Ammunition--Savages with Scalping Knives Aided the British--A Desperate Struggle at the End--The Best All-around Fighter under Washington.