New Providence Raid at 250
We would be remiss for not marking the recent 250th anniversary of the first amphibious maritime force raid by the Continental Marines, the March 3–4, 1776 landing on Nassau in the British colony of the Bahamas, putting 284 Sailors and Marines on the surfline of New Providence Island.
The landing force was led by Captain Samuel Nicholas, at the time the sitting Commandant of the budding Corps, which had only been formed some four months prior.
“New Providence Raid, March 1776,” Oil painting on canvas by V. Zveg, 1973, depicting Continental Sailors and Marines landing on New Providence Island, Bahamas, on 3 March 1776. Their initial objective, Fort Montagu, is in the distance on the left. Close offshore are the small vessels used to transport the landing force to the vicinity of the beach. They are (from left to right): two captured sloops, the schooner Wasp, and the sloop Providence. The other ships of the American squadron are visible in the distance. Commodore Esek Hopkins commanded the operation—courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C., U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Catalog #: NH 79419-KN
They successfully captured Fort Montague, seizing 88 canons, 15 mortars, and 24 casks of much-needed gunpowder for the Continental forces– a cache even larger than Benedict Arnold’s seizure at Fort Ticonderoga the previous year. Task force commander, Commodore Esek Hopkins (the Navy’s first man to hold the rank) made good his withdrawal without loss, even carrying away the governor of the colony.
John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, wrote Hopkins: “I beg leave to congratulate you on the success of your Expedition. Your account of the spirit and bravery shown by the men affords them [Congress] the greatest satisfaction . . .”
From the sea, right?