No. 115

SEA HISTORY

SUMMER 2006

CONTENTS FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE 8 Battle Off Flamborough Head: A Pivotal Victory for American Independence, by Joseph F. Callo j ohn Paul Jones may be one ofour greatest naval heroes, but the impact of his victory over HMS Serapis in USS Bonhomme Richard has gone Largely unrecognized as a major factor in the outcome of the Revolutionary Wtir. Rear Admiral Callo examines the details ofthe engagement and exp lains how "it changed everything. " 8

12 Black Hands, Blwe Seas: Paul Cuffe and his Maritime Mission, by Elysa Engelman O ur new series, in conjunction with Mystic Seaport, celebrates the contributions ofAfrican American mariners in our nation's history. This first installment takes a Look at Paul Cuffe, a free black who prosp ered as a master mariner and used his financial and societal clout to advance the abolitionist cause at the turn of the 18th century.

14 Wisconsin Maritime Museum, by W illiam Thiesen 14

Former curator of WMA1, William Thiesen gives a tour ofthis Great Lakes Maritime Museum in lvfanitowoc, host of this year's NASOH conference.

18 Historic Ships on a Lee Shore: USS Slater, by Tim Rizzuto 26 The Rediscovery of the Sea, by John Rousm aniere From Charles II to J oshua Slocum to today's amateur yachtsmen, the idea of the sea as a p layground, not just a setting for military and commercial enterprise, has taken hold ofanyone able to secure a berth on a boat and a p lace to sail.

31 Maritime H istory on the Internet: Sea Music, by Peter McCracken Cover: Fetching the Mark by John Mecray (22" x 24") ?his j ohn Mecray painting ofthe yacht Wescward crossing tacks with King George Vs Britannia in the mid-1920s embodies the spirit ofyachting and the idea ofthe sea as a playground. See j ohn ~'iiiiii~ Rousmaniere's essay (pp 26-29, "lhe Rediscovery ofthe Sea") for a reflection on the development ofthat concept from the days when the sea was usually thought of only as a setting for commercial =-- --= and military pursuits.

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DEPARTMENTS 2 D ECK Lo G & L ETTERS 6 NMH S : A CAUSE IN MOTION 20 Sea History FOR Kms 32 M ARINE ART NEWS

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SHI P NOTES, SEAPORT & M USEUM NEWS CALENDAR REVIEWS

Sea H istory and the National Maritime Historical Society Sea Histo ry e-mail: edirn rial@seahistory. org; N MHS e-mail: nmhs@seahistory.o rg; Web site: www.seahistory.org. Ph: 9 14 737-7878; 800 22 1-NMHS MEMBERSHIP is in vited. Afterguard $ 10,000; Benefactor $5 ,000; Plankowner $2,500; Sponsor $ 1,000; Donor $500; Parton $250; Friend $ 100; Contributor $75;

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SEA HISTORY (issn 0 146-9312) is published quarte rly by rhe National Maritime Histo rical Society, 5 John Walsh Blvd., PO Box 68, Peekskill NY 10566. Periodicals postage paid at Peekskill NY 10566 and add'l mailing offices. COPYRIGH T Š 2006 by the National Maririme H istorical Society. Tel: 914-737-7878. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sea History, PO Box 68, Peekskill NY 10566.

NATIONAL MARITIME H ISTORICAL SOCIETY