Sold – August 1776: Newly Independent Nation Moves to Compete with the British on the Seas

On July 2, 1776, Congress voted for American independence. Two days later, the 4th of July, it approved the Declaration of Independence and announced the news to the public. However, an engrossed copy suitable for signing was not produced for some weeks, so the Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4, but on August 2. John Hancock placed the first bold signature on the document and ensured his place in history.

For hundreds of years, the Royal Navy had been a dominant force on the high seas. And although Americans had declared their independence, securing it meant not only meant the necessity of developing a strong army but also a viable navy to compete in the escalating war.  The Continental Navy, the forerunner of the US Navy, was established by Congress in October 1775 and on December 22 the Marine Committee selected Esek Hopkins as Commander-in-Chief. Four captains were named to serve under Hopkins – Dudley Saltonstall, Abraham Whipple, Nicholas Biddle, John B. Hopkins. John Paul Jones and four other men were chosen to be first lieutenants, five men became second lieutenants, and three third lieutenants, including Thomas Vaughan. Saltonstall received command of the ship Alfred, and on this ship the American colors were first raised on a U.S. ship of war.

In the summer of 1776, Congress obtained as an eighth ship for the Navy the frigate Washington, selecting Thomas Read as captain. It then proceeded to transfer Vaughan, an experienced officer serving Saltonstall on the Alfred, to the new frigate, giving him a promotion to second lieutenant at the same time. John Hancock, as President of Congress, wrote to Saltonstall with instructions for the transfer.

Autograph Letter Signed, Philadelphia, August 14, 1776, to Capt. Saltonstall. “The Congress having this day appointed Mr. Thomas Vaughan, second mate of the Ship Alfred, third lieutenant  of the Washington Frigate, you will therefore discharge Mr. Vaughan & direct him to proceed to this city immediately.”  With Free Frank.

With this tiny force of 8 ships, the commander-in-chief was ordered to proceed directly to Chesapeake Bay to attack the British fleet of Lord Dunmore; then, if successful, he was to proceed to the Carolinas and attack the British force there, and thence he was to sail to Rhode Island and "attack, take, and destroy all the enemy's naval force that you may find there." This was the gigantic task of a small fleet carrying just 110 guns, and manned by landsmen or, at least, men without naval discipline. To oppose this force, the British had in American waters, or on the way, 78 men-of-war mounting 2078 guns.

Letters of Hancock from the magic months of July and August 1776 are very uncommon; a search of auction records shows just two appearing over the past decade. Neither of the two was an ALS, making this an extraordinary rarity.