The Navy Surprises

"Free ships make free goods. This is bold language to utter to a nation who's seamen have successfully beaten every power in Europe into a confession of their superiority--a nation whose fleets have beaten in succession, those of Spain, Holland, France, Russia and Denmark. Our maritime superiority is, in fact, part of the law of nations....Is Great Britain to be driven from the proud eminance, which the blood and treasure of her sons have attained for her among the nations, by a piece of striped bunting flying at the mastheads of a few fir-built frigates, manned by a handful of bastards and outlaws?" London Evening Post, 1812.

The first ships built for war by the US dominated the sea. For our independence and respect as an independent nation, we cut our teeth against the most dominant force in the world. It took a lot of guts, sweat, blood and conviction.