THE MAJOR OPERATIONS OF THE NAVIES IN THE WAR OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
BY
A.T. MAHAN, D.C.L., LL.D.
CAPTAIN, U.S. NAVY
AUTHOR OF 'THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON HISTORY,1660-1783,' 'THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON THEFRENCH REVOLUTION AND EMPIRE, 1783-1812,' 'THE RELATIONS OF SEA POWER TO THEWAR OF 1812,' 'NAVAL STRATEGY' ETC.
WITH PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND BATTLE PLANS
LONDON
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY, LIMITED
Overy House, 100 Southwark Street, S.E.
Remains of the Revenge, one of Benedict Arnold's Schooners onLake Champlain in 1776. Now in Fort Ticonderoga.PREFACE
The contents of this volume were first contributed as achapter, under the title of "Major Operations, 1762-1783,"to the "History of the Royal Navy," in seven volumes, publishedby Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston, and Company,under the general editorship of the late Sir William LairdClowes. For permission to republish now in this separateform, the author has to express his thanks to the publishers of that work.
In the Introduction following this Preface, the author hassummarized the general lesson to be derived from the courseof this War of American Independence, as distinct from theparticular discussion and narration of the several eventswhich constitute the body of the treatment. These lessonshe conceives to carry admonition for the present and futurebased upon the surest foundations; namely, upon the experienceof the past as applicable to present conditions. Theessential similarity between the two is evident in a commondependence upon naval strength.
There has been a careful rereading and revision of thewhole text; but the changes found necessary to be made aremuch fewer than might have been anticipated after thelapse of fifteen years. Numerous footnotes in the History,specifying the names of ships in fleets, and of their commandersin various battles, have been omitted, as not necessaryto the present purpose, though eminently proper andindeed indispensable to an extensive work of general referenceand of encyclopædic scope, such as the History is.Certain notes retained with the initials W.L.C. are due tothe editor of that work.
December, 1912.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
THE TENDENCY OF WARS TO SPREAD
Macaulay quoted on the action of Frederick the Great 1
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