The world book; (electronic resource) organized knowledge in story and picture (1917) (14761804841)

Identifier: worldbookorganiz07oshe (find matches)
Title: The world book; (electronic resource) organized knowledge in story and picture
Year: 1917 (1910s)
Authors: O'Shea, M. V. (Michael Vincent), 1866-1932, ed Foster, Ellsworth D., ed Locke, George Herbert, 1870-1937, ed
Subjects: Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Publisher: Chicago, New York (etc.) Hanson-Roach-Fowler Co.
Contributing Library: Internet Archive
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive



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War, and con-sisted of a few small vessels armed and mannedby New England seamen. Its first service con-sisted in blockading the port of Boston andcapturing a number of British ships. A navalcommission was appointed by Congress thesame year, and the government immediatelybegan the construction of ships of war. At theclose of the Revolution, the American navyconsisted of sixty-four vessels carrying 1,242guns, besides nearly 800 privateers. The ships built by the colonies were the equal of any war-ships of the time. After the Revolution thenavy was allowed to decline, but interest in itwas revived in 1794, and the construction ofseveral men-of-war was ordered. Among thesewas the Constitution which became one of themost famous of American ships (see Consti-tution, The). In the commerce war with France and thewar with the Barbary pirates, the navy won thefavorable recognition of European nations andgained for the new republic considerable dis-tinction. Nevertheless Congress again returned
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JNAVY 4Uy7 JNAVY ;o its policy of neglect and at the close of Jef-ersons administration the country was prac-jcally defenseless against a sea power. Theipproaching trouble with Great Britain causedenewed interest in providing the country withsea power, and during the War of 1812 the navy.von world-wide distinction, owing chiefly to thesuperior skill of the gunners. The War of Secession. Between 1815 andI860 steam power replaced sails on all the im-portant warships and the screw propeller finallyeplaced the paddle wheel. There was also im-provement in ordnance and other equipment.A.t the beginning of the War of Secession theaavy comprised ninety vessels, only forty-twoDf which were of service. The personnel con-sisted of 1,457 officers and 7,600 men. At the3lose of the war it included 7,500 officers and51,500 men; 208 additional vessels were con-structed and 418 were purchased. The devel-opment during this war which revolutionizednaval construction was that of the ironclad shipof the M