The Pennsylvania Navy Part 1 (Ep21)

Did you know that, during the American War for Independence, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had a navy? Let that sink in. It’s true. The Pennsylvania Navy was established in 1775, six months before the U.S. Navy. Its job was to police and protect the capital city Philadelphia and the surrounding region. It played a prominent role in two major revolutionary war battles: the Battle of Fort Mercer and the Battle of Fort Mifflin, the second of which was the scene of the largest bombardment in North America prior to the US Civil War. Not only did Pennsylvania have its own navy, but many of the most prominent of Pennsylvania’s revolutionary leaders – including Ben Franklin, Robert Morris, John Dickinson –had a hand in its formation. This episode covers the founding and building of the Pennsylvania Navy by the Pennsylvania Assembly’s Committee on Safety; the creation of Forts Mud Island, Mercer and Billingsport; and the installation of the famous river defenses known as “chevaux de frise”. The episode ends during British Occupation of Philadelphia, when British General Howe, desperate to resupply his troops because the British Navy was blocked from the reaching the city, targets the destruction of the Pennsylvania Navy, the forts, and the other river defenses. Timestamps for major events/discussions: [04:17] – The Pennsylvania Assembly creates a Committee on Safety [07:20] – Building Fort Mud Island [09:22] – The chevaux de frise – underwater obstacles to British naval ships [12:33] – Congress passes a resolution calling for each colony to create its own navy [14:22] – The ships of the Pennsylvania Navy [19:53] – Building Fort Mercer [23:21] – The British Navy arrives in May, 1776 [28:07] – The British Invasion of 1777 [31:16] – The Occupation of Philadelphia begins [39:18] – The British military strategy Books to read: • Fighting for Philadelphia: Forts Mercer and Mifflin, the Battle of Whitemarsh, and the Road to Valley Forge, October 5, 1777 - December 19, 1777 by Michael C. Harris, Savas Beatie LLC, 2025 • The Pennsylvania Navy, 1775-1781, the Defense of the Delaware by John W. Jackson, Rutgers University Press, 1974 – which is sadly out of print • Robert Morris: Financier of the Revolution by Charles Rappleye, Simon & Schuster, 2010 Places to visit mentioned in this episode: • Fort Mifflin (the renamed Fort Mud Island) – a terrific Revolutionary War and early American historical site, located in the City of Philadelphia right off the grounds of Philadelphia International Airport. • Remnants of Fort Mercer – visit Red Bank Battlefield Park, where the fort once stood and where, as the name suggests, the battle of Red Bank was fought. The park is owned by Gloucester County, New Jersey. Note: dogs are not allowed in this park. Calls to action: • Follow us on Instagram to learn when new episodes drop or to be a part of our chat community IG: pennsylmaniapod • Join our email list to receive news on the podcast by emailing us at producer@pennsylmania.com or signing up at our website • Provide feedback on this episode, or give us ideas for new episodes, by emailing us at producer@pennsylmania.com Link to website: www.pennsylmania.com