The section quoted below is the opening of the first book I ever wrote. It was exactly four years ago and was released on September 5, 2013. It is still number number 117 best seller on Amazon’s specialist list “Kindle Store > Kindle Short Reads > 45 minutes (22-32 pages) > History.” That is a high ranking among the thousands of stories in the category. In only about 25 pages it tells the story of the Continental Navy’s first battle against a British warship.

Continental Navy’s First Battle

April 5, 1776 – The Delaware Capes

There was no moon, but the stars were twinkling brightly over the brigantine Lexington as she slipped along through the warm summer water of the Delaware Bay. Soot from the galley funnel had been rubbed onto the double-reefed main and fore topsails. One of the warships recently commissioned by the fledgling continental congress, she had to first slip past the British blockade of the coastline before she could strike any blow for American freedom. The master’s mate standing by the binnacle was born and raised a fisherman on Cape May and knew these waters blindfolded. This was good because he was essentially conning her through the capes blind. Staying as close to Cape May as possible, with only half of the sails showing, and covered with soot, Captain John Barry prayed that she would be invisible to the two British frigates known to be blockading the mouth of the bay.

“Captain,” the starboard lookout was posted on deck at night, just forward of the shrouds that supported the tall main mast. “I can hear somethin’ t’ starboard. Don’t sound like open ocean . . . more like wind blowin’ through the riggin’ . . . . ‘pears to be comin’ from well forward of the beam,” he spoke in what he believed passed for a loud whisper. Everyone on the quarterdeck strained their eyes and ears, in fact, all the senses they believed one could strain.

The guns were loaded but not run out through the gun ports . . .

Who Won the Battle?

You can find out here (for ninety-nine cents).