Beschreibung:

Manuscript Document Signed ("John Hancock Presidt") as President of the Continental Congress, 1 p, folio, "In Congress," July 11, 1776, acquittal for Captains Dudley Saltonstall and Abraham Whipple, in the hand of Continental Congress Secretary CHARLES THOMSON and also signed by him, loss near fold of a few words and touching the flourish in Hancock's signature. Exoneration for Saltonstall and another officer for their actions in the New Providence Expedition of 1776. In part: "The marine committee in pursuance of the order of Congress reported that they have called before them divers of the inferior officers belonging to the ships Alfred & Columbia & having heard their complaints against the captains Saltonstall & Whipple in their presence are of opinion that the charge against capt Saltonstall does not appear to be well founded [&] that the charge against captain Whipple amounts to nothing more than a rough indelicate mode of behaviour to his marine officers." Whipple was a successful but irascible seaman who was the first American officer to sink a British ship in the Revolutionary War. Saltonstall, however, is now best-remembered for his disastrous inaction at Penobscot Bay in 1779. Congress missed their chance to demote him and chose instead to censure Commodore Esek Hopkins. Even though the raid at New Providence was successful and introduced the actions of John Paul Jones, Hopkins had overreached his command. See illustration.