Browsing: Papers of John Adams, Volume 6

5. Vernon's account of the loss of the frigates Virginia, Capt. James Nicholson; Randolph, Capt. Nicholas Biddle; Alfred, Capt. Elisha Hinman; and the Washington and Effingham, both uncompleted and burned by the British in early May, is substantially correct. So too is his description of the conduct of Capt. Thomas Thompson of the Raleigh, who was later court martialed and dismissed from the navy (Samuel Tucker to JA, 9 May, note 3, above; Allen, Naval Hist. of the Amer. Revolution , 1:296–299,301–304,310–311; compare Vernon's account here with that by William Ellery in his letter to Vernon of 25 April, “Vernon Naval Papers,” p. 237–239; see also letters to the Commissioners from Samuel Tucker and William Bingham of 27 and 29 May, respectively, both below).