and some of the other Mason crew members on Sunday morning in Harlem. The rendezvous poinrwas the lobbyofa YMCA, where we had a most productive meeting. I again saw DuFau, James Graham , and others at a book party held at South Street Seaport on 14 June 1973. After nearly thirty years, I saw them again last year at the keel laying of the new Mason here in Bath, Maine. Unril I look in the mirror, it all seems like yesterday. CHARLES DANA GIBSON Camden, Maine
We have already accomplished much on a limited budget-we've built a following of nearly 200 members, conducted extensive research, interviewed maritime experts from around the world, identified and conracted potential designers and boat builders, and garnered the support oflocal and state leaders in New Hampshire. For additional information on rhe Ranger Foundation, conracr us at PO Box 6578, Portsmouth N H 03802-65 78; 603 433-3221; e-mail: info@rangerfoundarion .org; web sire: www.rangerfoundarion.org.
Just Driving a Boat-Indeed! I was so pleased to read the great letter in Sea History 97 by Walter Cro nkite extolling the wartime service of the American merchanr marine. Over the past sixty years I had never really thought about the war. Now at 82, with the 60th anniversary of our first graduating class of 1942 from the US Merchanr Marine Academy at Kings Point coming up this year, all of a sudden the memories seem to be important. I had command of two Liberty ships during the war in enemy action, but nothing compared to some. W hile playing golf recently, my babyboomer oppo nent, having seen the movie Saving Private Ryan, commented: "We sure owe those fellows a lot." When I said, "You are welcome!" his response was: "Hell , the only thing yo u ever did in war was drive a boat. "
The Ranger Foundation, Inc. Portsmouth, New Hampshire
TOM COCCHIARO, Chair
Capt. Lambert Wickes Preceded Jones Dennis Conrad's article on] ohn Paul] ones (SH lOO) was an excellent discussion of Jones's actions against the British. However, whereas] ones' s most remarkable cruise occurred in Apri l and May 1778, Capt. Lambert Wickes (referred to briefly in the article) carried our a similar devastating attack on British shipping in the Irish Sea nearly a year earlier, in ] une 1777. Between 18 and 25] une, Wickes and his ship Reprisal took eighteen prizes, disrupted the linen trade between England and Ireland, caused marine insurance rates to increase subsranrially, and raised pressure on the Royal Navy to divert ships to the area. Yer more imporranr, since the prizes were sent into French ports, and Reprisal ended the cruise in St. Malo, the tension between
Britain and France was significan tly increased, as the Mari ne and Secret Committees of the Continental Congress wanted, ultimately leading to France's entry into the American Revolution on America's side. W ickes and Reprisal also carried Benjamin Franklin to France, landing in December 1776. En route, two prizes were taken, leading Frankl in to write ofWickes: "I was much pleas' d with what I saw of [Wickes's] Conduct as an Officer, when ... we made Preparation for Engagement, the good Order & Readiness with which it was done, being far beyond my expectation, and I believe equal to any thing of the kind in the best ships of the King's Fleet." NORMAN H. PLUMM ER Easton, Maryland
Bowditch Showed the Way The man who deserves more credit than anyo ne for the growth of US sea power in 1800-1850 has been shamefully neglected in US history! When Nathaniel Bowditch gave American seamen The American Practical Navigator (better know as "Bowditch") he did more than any sea captain, or gro up of them, to advance US shipping. He deserves more than the three-and-a-half pages devoted to him in current revisions of his book. May I suggest that Sea History give us a good article on Nat Bowditch to help correct this shameful neglect of our first great mathematician? FRANK TURBERVILLE, JR.
Milton, North Carolina
CAPTAIN NICHOLAS ]. CRAIG
Southwest H arbo r, Maine Ranger to Sail Again! I am writing on behalf of T he Ranger Fo undation to fo llow up on the lead article on John PaulJones's Ranger in yo ur Sprin g 2002 issue. Whi le we were thrilled to see an article on a subject near and dear to our hearts, we were disappointed that there was no mention of our organization and its effort to recreate this fa mous Revolutionary War ship. Members of the Foundation have been working diligently over the past two years to lay the gro undwork for building this historic replica. T he new Ranger will serve as a bright beacon th ro ugh which we will tell the story of our fl edglin g American navy's assault on the mightiest naval power in the world.
SEA HISTORY 101 , SUMMER 2002
Join Us for a Voyage into History Our seafaring heritage comes alive in the pages of Sea History, from the ancient mariners of Greece to Portuguese navigators opening up the ocean world to the heroic efforts of seamen in thi s century's conflicts . Each iss ue brings new insights and new discoveries. If you love the sea, rivers, lakes,
and bays-if you love the legacy of those who sail in deep water and their workaday craft, then you belong with us. Join today! Mail in the form below, phone:
1 800 221-NMHS (6647) or visit us at: www.seahistory.org.
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Return to: National Maritime Historical Society, PO Box 68, Peekskill NY I 0566
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