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From The Marine Corps Story, by Robert Moskin, 1992: "...The two battalions were never raised; but on November 28, the Congress commissioned thirty-two year old Capt. Samuel Nicholas, a Philadelphia Quaker, an innkeeper and a blacksmith's son, as the first Marine officer. A hundred volunteers, recruited in Rhode Island, arrived at Philadelphia by December 5...probably signed up in Robert Mullan's Tun Tavern." |
Samuel Nicholas
At the outbreak of war against England in 1775, many colonies raised units of Marines. General Washington, who had formed a fleet of 4 warships in the Boston area, recruited a regiment of the Massachusetts militia, known as the Marblehead Regiment, comprised of New England Mariners, who provided crews for Washington's navy. A detachment from Connecticut (known as the Original Eight), helped Benedict Arnold to hold the Finger Lakes, making it able for Fort Ticonderoga to be taken.
Although not always divided between sailors and Marines, when they were differentiated, it was as they were as far back as the Phoenicians, Romans and Greeks: the Marines were aboard for the express purpose of fighting, as opposed to those who actually sail the ships, or navigate them. This difference was delineated when Pennsylvania formed a state navy to protect the Delaware.
Upon a request for assistance from Rhode Island, the Continental Congress came to realize the viability to form a national force. The Congress had technically already been in control of a Marine force. On June 10, 1775, the Continental Congress took control of all military forces on Lake Champlain, which included 17 Massachusetts Marines under Lieutenant Watson, part of the ship Enterprise. But at this point they were hoping to get by with just Washington's and Arnold's forces. Furthermore, they were intimidated by the massive British force, as well as their own financial limitations. However, the plan to invade Canada made it viable, if not necessary, to form a national force for the Nova Scotia expedition, but as long as the effort was being made, to form one with a permanence.
Resolved: That two Battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one Colonel, two Lieutenant Colonels, two Majors & other Officers as usual in other regiments, that they consist of an equal number of privates with other battalions; that particular care be taken that no person be appointed to office or inlisted into said Battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage by sea, when required. That they be inlisted and commissioned for and during the present war between Great Britain and the colonies, unless dismissed by order of Congress. That they be distinguished by the names of the first & second battalions of American Marines, and that they be considered a part of the number, which the continental Army before Boston is ordered to consist of.Ironically, although this is the celebrated birthday of the Marine Corps, the two Battalions resolved to be formed never were. There is also no evidence to suggest that any Marine ever rose above a rank of major. However, Marine guard detachments were quite quickly recruited and assigned aboard ships. John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress, appointed Captain Samuel Nicholas, the son of pacifist Quakers, the first commandant of the corps. [It was surely an irony, for Quakers, or Friends, were the unlikeliest church to produce a warrior, a fighting man. See QUAKERS.] Nichols set up headquarters at the Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, and began to recruit Marines with the help of the tavern's proprietor, who received a commission as a captain.
The Penobscot Expedition in July 1779 however, where the Marines stormed the beaches at Banks Island two days earlier, proved to be a military and financial disaster. In Charleston S.C. in 1780, British overrunning of the Charleston fort caused General Benjamin Lincoln to surrender 3400 men, including 200 Marines under the command of Abraham Whipple. This led to the rest of the war being one of short supplies and limited opportunity for the Navy and Marines. In 1785, the Continental Army and Marines were disbanded for economic reasons.
War in Europe in 1793 caused danger for American merchant ships. Seizure of American ships began to number in the hundreds, and allowed the Barbary pirates to make demands of extortion, protection money, and even ransoms for British seamen. As a result, the British Royal Navy began to impress men from American merchant vessels. Not powerful enough to stop the British or French in these matters (see The Constitution Vs. The Guerri�re: The Birth of American Naval Power), they could put up a battle against the Barbary pirates, and in 1794, voted to build a protection fleet of 6 frigates, and ordered Marines aboard each vessel.
The United States Marine Corps War Memorial is located a few hundred yards north of Arlington National Cemetery, and commemorates the Battle of Iwo Jima. Dedicated on November 10, 1954, the bronze statue depicts the famous photograph by Joe Rosenthal of the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima.
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