cutlasses were used with deadly
effect. The colonists strove to board their enemy, but were repeatedly
beaten back. If any had thought that Capt. Moore's continued efforts
to avoid a conflict were signs of cowardice, they were quickly
undeceived; for that officer fought like a tiger, standing on the
quarter-deck rail, cheering on his men, and hurling hand-grenades down
upon his assailants, until a shot brought him down. The fall of their
captain disheartened the British; and the Americans quickly swarmed
over the sides of the "Margaretta," and drove her crew below.

This victory was no mean achievement for the colonists. The
"Margaretta" was vastly the superior, both in metal and in the
strength of her crew. She was ably officered by trained and courageous
seamen; while the Yankees had no leaders save one Jeremiah O'Brien,
whom they had elected, by acclamation, captain. That the Americans had
so quickly brought their more powerful foe to terms, spoke volumes for
their pluck and determination. Nor were they content to rest with the
capture of the schooner. Transferring her armament to the sloop,
O'Brien set out in search of prizes, and soon fell in with, and
captured, two small British cruisers. These he took to Watertown,
where the Massachusetts Legislature was then in session. The news of
his victory was received with vast enthusiasm; and the Legislature
conferred upon him the rank of captain, and ordered him to set out on
another cruise, and particularly watch out for British vessels
bringing over provisions or munitions of war to the king's troops in
America.

But by this time Great Britain was aroused. The king saw all America
up in arms against his authority, and he determined to punish the
rebellious colonists. A naval expedition was therefore sent against
Falmouth, and that unfortunate town was given to the flames. The
Legislature of Massachusetts then passed a law granting commissions to
privateers, and directing the seizure of British ships. Thereafter the
hostilities on the ocean, which had been previously unauthorized and
somewhat piratical, had the stamp of legislative authority.

Petty hostilities along the coast were very active during the first
few months of the war. The exploits of Capt. O'Brien stirred up seamen
from Maine to the Carolinas, and luckless indeed was the British
vessel that fell into their clutches. At Providence two armed American
vessels re-took a Yankee brig and sloop that had been c