USS ''Independence'' (1776 sloop) was a
sloop
A sloop is a sailboat with a single mast typically having only one headsail in front of the mast and one mainsail aft of (behind) the mast. Such an arrangement is called a fore-and-aft rig, and can be rigged as a Bermuda rig with triangular sa ...
in the
Continental Navy
The Continental Navy was the navy of the United States during the American Revolutionary War and was founded October 13, 1775. The fleet cumulatively became relatively substantial through the efforts of the Continental Navy's patron John Adams ...
. Acting as a
dispatch boat, she was sent to
France on a diplomatic mission – carrying important dispatches. While there,
John Paul Jones embarked on her, and she received additional salutes to the American Republic from the French.
Continental Navy service
''Independence'' was a Continental sloop built in
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was d ...
,
Maryland, and purchased and fitted out by the Marine Committee.
In September 1776 she cruised under Captain
John Young along the
Atlantic Ocean coast to the
Caribbean Sea to guard American merchant trade in the
West Indies.
In mid-1777 she sailed for
France, arriving at
Lorient in late September with important diplomatic dispatches. She captured two prizes en route and disposed of these in France before the
Royal Navy could interfere.
She was in
Quiberon Bay 14 February 1778 when
John Paul Jones in
''Ranger'' received the first national salute to the flag—the first official recognition of the American Republic by a foreign power. The following morning, Jones embarked in ''Independence'' and again exchanged salutes.
Wrecked on the bar
''Independence'' soon sailed for the United States. She was wrecked on the bar 24 April 1778 while attempting to enter
Ocracoke Inlet,
North Carolina. The wreck was heavily salvaged, including her guns, cargo and ship's bell.
See also
*
Continental Navy
The Continental Navy was the navy of the United States during the American Revolutionary War and was founded October 13, 1775. The fleet cumulatively became relatively substantial through the efforts of the Continental Navy's patron John Adams ...
*
American Revolution
References
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Independence (1776)
Ships built in Baltimore
Ships of the Continental Navy
Dispatch boats of the United States Navy
Sloops of the United States Navy
Maritime incidents in 1778
1776 ships