Changes

Congress decided that [[General Washington]] needed those arms more than [[General Howe]]. A plan was hatched to capture the British cargo ships. They authorized the creation of a Continental Navy, starting with four ships. The frigate that carried the information from England, the Black Prince, was one of the four. It was purchased, converted to a man-of-war, and renamed to Alfred. To accompany the Navy on their first mission, Congress also authorized the mustering of five companies of Marines. The Alfred and its sailors and marines went on to achieve some of the most notable victories of the [[American Revolution]].  

Congress decided that [[General Washington]] needed those arms more than [[General Howe]]. A plan was hatched to capture the British cargo ships. They authorized the creation of a Continental Navy, starting with four ships. The frigate that carried the information from England, the Black Prince, was one of the four. It was purchased, converted to a man-of-war, and renamed to Alfred. To accompany the Navy on their first mission, Congress also authorized the mustering of five companies of Marines. The Alfred and its sailors and marines went on to achieve some of the most notable victories of the [[American Revolution]].  

What's most patriotic about this story is of the symbols some of the Marines were seen with before and during these crucial battles: the [[Gadsden Flag]]. The symbol of this flag serves as a warning and sign, first seen against an overbearing - and increasingly hostile - Federal government. By 1775, the snake symbol wasn't just being printed in newspapers. It was appearing all over the colonies; it appeared on uniform buttons, on paper money, and of course, on banners and flags. At the birth of the [[U.S. Navy]] and the U.S. Marine Corps, what's particularly interesting for American history, is that some of the Marines that enlisted the very first month in Philadelphia were carrying drums painted yellow, emblazoned with a fierce rattlesnake, coiled and ready to strike, with thirteen rattles, and sporting the motto "Don't Tread on Me."<ref>Chris Whitten. [http://www.foundingfathers.info/stories/gadsden.html#birth The birth of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps], FoundingFathers.info, July 05, 2001, updated September 2002.</ref><ref>http://www.worldwar2history.info/Marines/</ref><ref>[http://www.gadsden.info/history.html Gadsden Flag History]</ref>

What's most patriotic about this story is of the symbols some of the Marines were seen with before and during these crucial battles: the [[Gadsden Flag]]. The symbol of this flag serves as a warning and sign, first seen against an overbearing - and increasingly hostile - Federal government. By 1775, the snake symbol wasn't just being printed in newspapers. It was appearing all over the colonies; it appeared on uniform buttons, on paper money, and of course, on banners and flags. At the birth of the [[U.S. Navy]] and the U.S. Marine Corps, what's particularly interesting for American history, is that some of the Marines that enlisted the very first month in Philadelphia were carrying drums painted yellow, emblazoned with a fierce rattlesnake, coiled and ready to strike, with thirteen rattles, and sporting the motto "Don't Tread on Me."<ref>Chris Whitten. [http://www.foundingfathers.info/stories/gadsden.html#birth The birth of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps], FoundingFathers.info, July 05, 2001, updated September 2002.</ref><ref>http://www.worldwar2history.info/Marines/</ref><ref>[http://www.gadsden.info/history.html Gadsden Flag History]</ref><ref>Diane Macedo. [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/30/dont-tread-license-plates-growing-trend/ 'Don't Tread on Me' License Plates Become a Growing Trend in the U.S.], FoxNews.com, Published November 30, 2010.</ref>

=== Famous Battles ===

=== Famous Battles ===