Saw Land from mast Head at 10 in the morning, with fine weather.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1, 1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 18
Showing posts with label USS Ranger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Ranger. Show all posts
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Tuesday, December 2, 1777
Ran in for the Land with a fine moderate Breeze, narrowly escap’d running on a Sand through want of a Pilot and arrived all in good spirits at Peanbeauf on the River Loire and came to anchor in the evening.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1, 1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 18
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Wednesday, December 3, 1777
Wrote a Letter to Capt. Shackford at L’Orient and inclos’d
one to my very good friend Cooper—favour’d by Capt. Mutchemore.1
_______________
1 The letter to his friend Cooper is given in the Memoir.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1, 1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 18
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Saturday, December 6, 1777
Went to the Tragedy but it was to me in an unknown Tongue, was not much pleased or entertained, however the Musick was good.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1, 1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 19
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green,* Saturday, November 1, 1777
Between the hours of
8 & 9 this morning weigh’d anchor and proceeded to Sea with a moderate
breeze, before night lost sight of the American shore.
_______________
* Surgeon during the
Cruise of the Continental Ship of “War Ranger,” from Nov. 1, 1777, to Sept. 27,
1778.
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 June,
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, and 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. How'ever, 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.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 17
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Sunday, November 2, 1777
A very fine morning
and a favorable wind, all well on board—except some few who are a little
Seasick.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 17
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Friday, November 7, 1777
A strong gale at
Northwest which carrys us 10 knots.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 17
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Thursday, November 13, 1777
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.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 17
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Friday, November 14, 1777
This Morning at 5
o’clock came up a severe Thunder Storm from the southwest.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 17
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Saturday, November 15, 1777
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, a Schooner from St. Peters bound to Bordeaux.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 17
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Sunday, November 16, 1777
A fresh Breeze, and
high Sea from the late Gale, about 10 o’clock our tiller Rope broke by which we
were in great Danger of the Consequences of the Ship’s broaching to.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 17
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Wednesday, November 19, 1777
About six this
morning saw a Sail under our lee Quarter, gave Chase or rather bore away till
we came within about a mile of Her found Her to be a large Ship standing Our
course clued up Our Courses and bawl’d Our wind—got ready for Action she
standing on her course close to the wind, wore Ship when it was too late,
continued the chase till night and lost Her.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, pp. 17-8
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Saturday, November 22, 1777
At nine o’clock this
morning saw a Sail on our weather Beam—little wind; One of Our People fell from
the Chains but was saved by a Rope’s End handed Him.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 18
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Sunday, November 23, 1777
Early in the morning
saw a Sail supposed to be the same we saw yesterday, came up with and made a
Prize of—about 8 o’clock, a Brig laden with fruit and wine from Malaga bound to
Yarmouth, Riches Commr .—She is called the Mary—there are no less than six sail
in sight at this Time.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 18
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Monday, November 24, 1777
Spoke a Schooner
from Malaga bound to Liverpool vessel and Cargo owned by a Portugal Mercht.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 18
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Tuesday, November 25, 1777
Last night spoke a
Ship & Snow bound to France,—and are now chasing a vessel under Our lee
Bow, at 11 at night came up with & made a Prize of the Brig George from
Malaga bound to London laden with fruit and wine, she was commanded by
Bulfinch.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 18
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Wednesday, November 26, 1777
Early in the morning
gave chase to a Brig under our lee Bow, but were obliged to give over Chase on
seeing a very large Ship to windward with several other Sail in Company she
appeared to be standing athwart us, about 2 she hove too with a Fleet of 13
Sail of Ships & Brigs at 2 Leagues Distance, clewed up Our Courses &
stopp’d our Ship’s way expecting every minute when she would come down upon us
about 4 she stood on her Course, we made sail close to the wind with a design
to cut off a Brig which could not keep up with the Convoy, lost her in the
night.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 18
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Thursday, November 27, 1777
A fresh gale from
the S. W. in the afternoon vear’d a Barrel of Beef astern for the Brig, Sea
running High she carelessly ran upon our Larboard Quarter but did no other
Damage than breaking our Driver Boom—at 10 at Night saw several Sail spoke one
of them found them all to be Dutch Daugers.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 18
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Saturday, November 29, 1777
A very heavy gale,
hove too at night in the Bay of Biscay 60 Leagues distant from Land.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 18
Diary of Dr. Ezra Green, Sunday, November 30, 1777
Fine weather and a
strong wind in the night hove too and sounded in 80 Fathom water.
SOURCE: Dr. Ezra
Green, Diary of Ezra Green, M.D., Surgeon
on Board the Continental Ship “Ranger,” Under John Paul Jones, from November 1,
1777 to September 27, 1778, p. 18
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