| In the autumn of 1775, the Rhode Island General Assembly 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, protecting
the colony's shipping, carrying troops, and covering foraging parties seeking
supplies. |
| In July, the galleys were sent to New York to join the tiny flotilla
George Washington was fitting out on the Hudson River and apparently came
under Continental control. On the afternoon of 3 August, Washington
served as flagship for Lt. Col. Benjamin Tupper as that officer led an attack
on the Royal Navy's warships Phoenix and Rose. As the galleys
approached, Phoenix opened fire on the American boats to begin an
action at grapeshot 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. |
| After the British captured Manhattan Island late in the summer,
Washington and her sister galleys vanished in the mists of unrecorded
history. |
Complement, 60; Armament, one 18-pdr. |
|
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