[Pamphlets. American history]

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DIARY OF DR. EZRA GREEN,
SURGEON DURING THE CRUISE OF THE CONTINENTAL SHIP OF WAR RANGER,1 FROM
Nov. 1, 1777, TO SEPT. 27, 1778.
Portsmouth Road, Nov. lst, 1777. Saturday.-Between the
hours of 8 & 9 this morning weigh'd anchor and proceeded to Sea
with a moderate breeze, before night lost sightof the American shore.
Sunday, Nov. 2nd.-A very fine morning and a favorable wind,
all well on board-except some few who are a little Seasick.
Friiday, Nov. 7th.-A strong gale at Northwest which carrys us
10 knots.
Thursday, Nov. 13th. —About seven this morning saw a sail on
our lee Bow distant about 2 Leagues, gave chase and spoke her about
12 o'clock, a Brig from Carolina bound for Bordeaux with several
Tory Passengers on Board, among whom were Hartley the Organist & his wife.
Friday, 1ov. 14th.-This Morning at 5 o'clock came up a severe
Thunder Storm from the southwest.
Saturday, 15th.-Last evening came on a gale of wind which
increas'd till about 3 this morning when it began to abate, in the
hight of the gale a sail was seen under our lee Quarter, hove too
till she came up, ca Schooner from St. Peters bound to Bordeaux.
Sunday, 16th.-A fresh Breeze, and high Sea from the late
Gale, about 10 o'clock our tiller Rope broke by which we were in
great Dancer of the Consequences of the Ship's broaching to.
Wednesday, 19th.-About six this morning saw a Sail under our
lee Quarter, gave Chase or rather bore away till we came within
I The Ranger 18, was built 1777, on Langdon's Island, Portsmouth Harbor, by order of
Congress, under the direction of Colonel James Hackett.
On the 14th of J une, 1777, Congress Resolved, That Capt. John Paul Jones be appointed
to command the ship Ranger, and under date Philadelphia, June 18, 1777, the marine
committee write to him,' You are appointed to the command of the Ranger, lately built at
Portsmouth. Col. Whipple, the bearer of this, carries with him the resolves of Congress
appointing you to this command, and authorizing him, Col. Langdon, and you to appoint
the other commissioned as well as warrant officers necessary for this ship, and he has with
him blank commissions and warrants for this purpose."
Though great diligence was used by Jones in equipping the Ranger, she was not ready
to proceed on her destination until the middle of October. Twenty-six guns had been provided for the ship, but Jones exercised great judgment in mounting only eighteen on her,
as he considered from her size and slight construction, that she would be more serviceable
with eighteen than with a greater number. The following extracts from his letter to the
marine committee, dated Oct. 29, 1777, two days before sailing, gives a lively idea of the
difficulties he had to contend with, and the poverty of our resources. " With all my industry I could not get a single suit of sails completed until the 20th current. Since that time
winds and weather have laid me under the necessity of continuing in port. At this time
it blows a very heavy gale from the northeast. The ship with difficulty rides it out, with
yards and topmasts struck and whole cables ahead. When it clears up I expect the wind
from the northwest, find shall not fail to embrace it, although I have not now a spare sail
nor materials to make one. Some of those I have are made of hissings. I never before
had such disagreeable service to perform, as that which I have now accomplished and of
which another will claim the credit as well as the profit. However, in doing my utmost I
am sensible that I have done no more than my duty."
Thus imperfectly equipped, having a very good crew, but " only thirty gallons of rum,"
as Jones laments, for them to drink on the passage, the Ranger sailed from Portsmouth
on the 1st of November, 1777.-Mackenzie's Life of Paul Jones.
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