Chapter I: The Naval Committee

The need in 1775 for an army and for a navy 31

Agitation for a navy outside of Congress 32

Agitation for a navy in Congress 34

The first naval legislation 35

Appointment of the Naval Committee 38

First work of the Naval Committee 38

Reconstitution of the Naval Committee 38

John Adams’s description of the Naval Committee 39

The organization and decline of the Naval Committee 40

Growth in Congress of naval sentiment 41

Naval legislation under the Naval Committee 42

The procuring of a fleet 51

The appointment of officers 52

The first naval expedition 55

_Résumé_ of the work of the Naval Committee 60