At 11 p.m. on this day in 1778, Commander John Paul Jones leads a small detachment of two boats from his ship, the USS Ranger, to raid the shallow port at Whitehaven, England, where, by his own account, 400 British merchant ships are anchored. Jones was hoping to reach the port at midnight, when ebb tide would leave the ships at their most vulnerable.

Jones and his 30 volunteers had greater difficulty than anticipated rowing to the port, which was protected by two forts. They did not arrive until dawn. Jones boat successfully took the southern fort, disabling its cannon, but the other boat returned without attempting an attack on the northern fort, after the sailors claimed to have been frightened away by a noise. To compensate, Jones set fire to the southern fort, which subsequently engulfed the entire town...............

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...ehaven-england

Originally Posted by Chukpike

At 11 p.m. on this day in 1778, Commander John Paul Jones leads a small detachment of two boats from his ship, the USS Ranger, to raid the shallow port at Whitehaven, England, where, by his own account, 400 British merchant ships are anchored. Jones was hoping to reach the port at midnight, when ebb tide would leave the ships at their most vulnerable.

Jones and his 30 volunteers had greater difficulty than anticipated rowing to the port, which was protected by two forts. They did not arrive until dawn. Jones boat successfully took the southern fort, disabling its cannon, but the other boat returned without attempting an attack on the northern fort, after the sailors claimed to have been frightened away by a noise. To compensate, Jones set fire to the southern fort, which subsequently engulfed the entire town...............

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...ehaven-england

He didn't burn the town down, while daring the raid itself was a fairly muddled affair
http://www.whitehavenandwesternlakel...jones/raid.htm

Originally Posted by redcoat

He didn't burn the town down, while daring the raid itself was a fairly muddled affair
http://www.whitehavenandwesternlakel...jones/raid.htm

Yes, but capturing one of the forts and burning it was made possible because an attack from America at that time, was probably thought impossible.

Captain Jones was more successful against the HMS Serpis.

Originally Posted by Chukpike

Yes, but capturing one of the forts and burning it was made possible because an attack from America at that time, was probably thought impossible.

He didn't burn a fort ( they were made out of thick stone, not wood) he captured it and spiked its guns.

Captain Jones was more successful against the HMS Serpis.

Indeed.
Don't get me wrong, John Paul Jones was a brave and daring man who fully deserves his place amongst American hero's. I'm just correcting the folk-lore surrounding this incident

Special Ops! 1778 style.

Originally Posted by redcoat

He didn't burn a fort ( they were made out of thick stone, not wood) he captured it and spiked its guns.
Indeed.
Don't get me wrong, John Paul Jones was a brave and daring man who fully deserves his place amongst American hero's. I'm just correcting the folk-lore surrounding this incident

Actually, it was a surprizing raid for the time. I think the descrption from the History channel link I gave might be more accurate. But anyway yours seems to romantize it better. And Jones is credited in doing the Brittish a favor:


"So ended the attack on Whitehaven of 1778. In truth, despite being audacious, having the advantage of surprise and Jones’s inside knowledge, the attack had been a bungled failure. This seems to have been due largely to the American crew’s reluctance to "destroy poor peoples property" as Wallingford had put it. However, the shock waves, that it sent throughout the country were completely out of proportion with the mere few hundred pounds worth of damage actually caused and turned John Paul Jones into an infamous pirate. Importantly, it awakened everyone to the threat of invasion. The defences of not only Whitehaven but also the entire British coast were improved and more volunteers joined the militias. In short, John Paul Jones did Britain a favour because his actions probably prevented a full-scale French invasion."

Originally Posted by Chukpike

I think the descrption from the History channel link I gave might be more accurate.

History Channel = accurate
The History Channel may be many things, but accurate is seldom one of them

Originally Posted by redcoat

History Channel = accurate
The History Channel may be many things, but accurate is seldom one of them

I agree.

Originally Posted by redcoat

History Channel = accurate
The History Channel may be many things, but accurate is seldom one of them

Probably as good as the tourist pamphlet you supplied? Had to find some way of putting an English twist to it.

You might say England got caught with there knickers down.

It is OK, as I believe England has kept the US from invading since. But you never know what those Yanks's might do.
Maybe buy a soccer team?

Originally Posted by Chukpike

Probably as good as the tourist pamphlet you supplied? Had to find some way of putting an English twist to it.

If you don't want to believe a British article on the raid try this US one
http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com...pauljones.aspx