| Show U S marines set sail years ago on first overseas commando raid mx L tun tavern in philadelphia first recruiting place of continental marines Marl nea NE hundred and sixty seven 0 ONE years ago the united states marines began their first overseas expedition and under command of their leader captain samuel nicholas pro promptly mp aly brought it to a suo finish it was the 1778 version of a commando raid but ended with the bloodless surrender by a small british garrison in the bahama stands ot of a great store of supplies including 71 cannons 16 mortars and a quantity of at gun gan powder the continental congress Con gresa auth authorized 0 r iced the recruiting of a force of M marines ar I 1 nes on november 10 2776 after it t became apparent that defensive warfare by the revolting american colonies was not enough it was VM decided to form a small well trained fighting force tor for foreign landing operations the marines were recruited at the famous tuns auns tavern in philadelphia during november and december 1776 and robert mullan the doughty innkeeper was commissioned a captain and served as ajo recruiting officer and as commander of one of the companies he was both a famous host and an outstanding patriot and the foaming mugs of beer and ale which he dispensed to wash down the bounteous rations of the recruits quickly filled the ranks of the first force of men who were organized i and anci trained so rapidly that they were aar harln J n 1 to go by new years day 1776 6 esek hopkins lna commiss commissioned commissioner ionea as the naval comm commander ander had merm derm while outfitted a squadron of two two brigs brige two wo sloops sloop and t two 0 schooners ners at philadelphia the marines ua were put aboard and the expedition vidi tion sit set forth with secret orders on january they were joined by two ships from baltimore and on march ard 3rd eight of the ships arrived at now new providence in the bahama islands fired a few broadsides broad sides loaded all of the marines into the sloop cabot and the first commando raid in our history was under way captain nicholas put marines ashore assisted by EO 60 sailors under lieutenant weaver he offered honorable terms was invited to a parley and the surrender was accomplished without bloodshed on the following day the captured guns gune and stores were loaded loa eded the governor and a number of other british officials were taken aboard as an captives and the raiding force departed for home on march tuns auns tavern remained as a patriotic shrine tor for many years but eventually was razed A historical tablet marks its location on old water street there to Is no exact record of the first marines authorized dally daily ia rations though it to la believed they included when obtainable a pound of beef or three fourth pound of pork or one pound of salt fish one pound of bread or flour vege tables milk beer and elder cider butter vinegar and rice or meal but when they were in philadelphia doughty old robert mullan always saw to it that they had bad the best of tare fare that tuns auns tavern could pro vide vida them from its ita bounteous table tab and a foamy draught to wash it down domi v |
