Topics: Military

The U. S. Navy dates its origins back to 1775. It began with an August 26, 1775 instruction from Rhode Island to their representatives in the Continental Congress to call for the establishment of a navy, explaining that “every principle, Divine and human, require us to obey that great and fundamental Law of Nature — self preservation — until peace shall be restored upon constitutional principles.”

The Continental Congress, not in session at that time, took up the issue when it returned and on October 13, 1775, the Continental Navy was created. By the end of the War for Independence, the Navy peaked at 31 ships and was disbanded when the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783.

This action, however, left American commercial ships in the Mediterranean unprotected. So in 1784, five Muslim nations began attacking American ships and killing and enslaving sailors. With no Navy to deter these terrorists, the United States government’s only recourse was to make huge extortion payments to the terrorists in exchange for their promise to limit future attacks. President George Washington, infuriated by this policy, requested that Congress rebuild the Navy. Congress agreed and President John Adams executed that plan. President Thomas Jefferson then used the Navy to launch America’s first war on Muslim terrorists, defeating them and ending their attacks against American citizens and interests.

Following this, the Navy slowly shrank in size until it numbered only 40 ships by the beginning of the Civil War (the Confederates had none). The War resulted in a naval build up on both sides, with several major naval battles. (Pictured on the right, is the Battle of Hampton Roads, the first encounter between ironclad armored ships.)

After the War, the Navy once again shrank, but during WWII, it was rebuilt. By the end of 1945, the U. S. Navy consisted of over 1,300 major combat ships (such as battleships, cruisers, aircraft carriers, destroyers, and submarines), 90,000 mine laying ships and landing craft, with over 3.3 million naval personnel.

Military cutbacks under the Obama administration once again dramatically reduced the size of the Navy, leaving only 275 ships and 330,000 active duty naval personnel, with 100,000 reserves.

The pattern is clear: when we dramatically cut the military, we invite outside attacks. This historical pattern is something the present administration seems to have recognized, and Trump has pledged to rebuilding the U.S. Navy back to over 300 deployable vessels.

So today, while remembering the origins of the U. S. Navy, let’s pray for all those that serve in that branch — and indeed, for those who serve in all branches of our Armed Forces to keep Americans safe around the world!

Other notable chaplains in the War for Independence included Benjamin Trumbull, who in one battle sat on his horse in full view of the enemy, firing his musket and ducking behind the horse’s neck if ever a bullet came close.

Samuel Spring was another courageous chaplain, serving as part of the 1775 expedition into Quebec with Arnold’s army. Before deploying, he preached a sermon to the troops from Exodus 33:15: “Lord if your Spirit does not go with us, then do not send us.” Spring starved along with the rest of the army on the mission, and they all rejoiced when a moose was finally shot to help relieve their extreme hunger.

The Rev. William Emerson was at the Battle of Concord in 1775 to help spiritually encourage those fighting the British. Dressed in his black clerical robes, and with his musket in hand, he exhorted the others, “Let us stand our ground! If we die, let us die here!” Encouraging a frightened 18-year-old, he told him, “Stand your ground, Harry! Your cause is just, and God will bless you!”
Timothy Dwight (pictured on the left), who had read the Bible by age 4 and began a self study of Latin at age 6, volunteered for the Continental Army when his college was threatened by the British. He once preached a sermon to the troops that was so relevant to what was specifically occurring at that time that American General Israel Putnam actually questioned whether his text was in the Bible or whether he had invented it; it was indeed from the Bible.

There are numerous other notable chaplains in the Revolution, including signer of the Declaration, Robert Treat Paine. You can read some of their sermons in WallBuilders’ library as well as learn more about their astounding lives and deeds.
An ardent champion of military chaplains was George Washington. One of the first things he did as a young officer in the French and Indian War was to petition Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie to provide a chaplain for the troops. When Dinwiddie refused, Washington himself filled that role. When he became Commander-in-Chief during the Revolution, he issued several general orders respecting chaplains — such as this one from 1777 referencing a Day of Thanksgiving declared by the Continental Congress.

America has a long, proud history of military chaplains, but today they are under attack (see many examples here). On the week of the anniversary of the Battle of Bennington, let’s remember the long history of our military chaplains and pray for and support those chaplains that serve our Armed Forces today.