This is the first one:
“I HAVE NOT YET BEGUN
TO FIGHT!”
Chris Jones
When I was in my teens, I lived in the little fishing
village of Flamborough on the east coast of Yorkshire. It is located on a headland that juts 6 miles
out into the North Sea. Little did I
know then that I would end up becoming an American citizen and living in
Southern California.
Something else I didn’t know then was
that in September of 1779 there was a major naval battle during the American
War of Independence fought just 3 miles off our headland known as the Battle of
Flamborough Head. The battle was between
John Paul Jones on the Bonhomme Richard and
the captain of the British frigate, Serapis
.
.
The fierce battle lasted many hours, and
could be clearly seen by the local population from the cliff tops on that bright
moonlight night. John Paul Jones’ ship
took debilitating fire and it is said that the captain of the Serapis relayed a message to Jones
asking if he was ready to strike his colors and give up. Jones’ feisty reply, with shattered timbers and burning
sailcloth falling around him was, “Give up?
I have not yet begun to fight!
”
”
Eventually it was the Serapis who had to surrender having lost large numbers of men. Jones made an attempt to tow the Serapis over to Holland as his bounty, but his own
ship was so devastated by the battle that his men had to board the Serapis and allow the Bonhomme Richard to sink somewhere
off Flamborough Head and Filey Bay.
In recent years, there have been a
number of attempts to find her, but the sea floor is littered with so many wrecks off the headland,
that there has not been any success.
Jones was originally a Scotsman but
ended up fighting for the Americans after he had joined his brother who owned a
plantation in Virginia. He developed an intense aversion to slavery so with his
sharp mind and head for strategy the
military made sense for his future.
Brought up in Scotland, he had a good education and a strong sense of
duty and integrity, although like any hero of yesteryear he has had his share
of criticism from the history revisionists.
Even so, having read his records of
various naval activities and his account of the Battle of Flamborough Head, I’m
inclined to consider him the father of the American Navy as many do today.
So while enjoying the fireworks on
July 4th, spare a thought for John Paul Jones and the Battle of
Flamborough Head, without whom America would not likely be as she is today.
******
In addition to writing articles I have done a little art work. As usual, when I haven't done a lot of
drawing I nearly always start again with some form of doodle or tangle.
MAPLE LEAF
PIN WHEEL
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!
7 comments:
An interesting artcle, I had no idea about that event. I knew that JOhn Paul Jones had attacked Whitehaven on the West coast with the intention of setting fire to England's coal berges moored there, but it rained so much they could not get them to burn and ended up in the local pub. The English version is they got drunk before the attemt but the American version is that they simply took shelter from the rain after failing to set the fires.
Great article about a period of history I am interested in, and the sea battles of the time were often hard fought between two ships and two captains. I like the Patrick Obrian series set in 1800, realistic fiction with lots of sea battles.
The wonder of world wide blogging is that I discover an interesting facet of the history of my own county reading a blog which was written halfway around the world.
Your talents in the arts have such a wide range of skills. Whether you are investigating the fascinating life of John Paul Jones (imagining that scene, just 3 miles from your birthplace, must have been quite an experience for you) or recording the colours in your mind through doodles, you leave us with the feeling of having been enriched by spending time at your blog.
I always love your tangles and thank you for reposting your history. I find it fascinating.
Have a wonderful weekend Chris.
Very interesting, Chris - I had never heard of the Battle of Flamborough Head.
I really like your colourful, detailed illustrations. Some author 'out there' is looking for your work I'm sure.
This is my first visit to your blog and I was wondering where is Flamborough Head? So now I know and I learned a little history as well.
Cheers,
Susan
ps I love your art work!
Post a Comment