Some of the events that take place off the water show exactly the character and standards held by Jones. After hearing that he was only 18th on the seniority list in the Navy, Jones was disappointed and probably hurt his pride a little. His honor and his abilities were in question he felt. Jones could never understand the reasoning behind congress promoting men from their own particular region. He did not understand that the reason for this was so they could recruit and generate more local support. However this still did not sit well with Jones, even though when one …show more content…
Definitely a boost of confidence for Jones that the commissioners were actually supportive of his earlier strategic pleading. In a letter to the commissioners Jones wrote “ I have always since have had been persuaded that small squadrons could be deployed to far better advantage on private expeditions and would distress the enemy infinitely more than the same force could do by either cruising either separately or jointly, were strict secrecy observed on our part the enemy have many important places in such a defenseless situation that they might be effectually surprised and attacked with no considerable force, We cannot yet fight their navy as their numbers and force is so far superior to ours, therefore it seems to be our most natural province to surprise their defenseless places and thereby divide their attention and draw it off from our coast”. Jones strongly believed that without risk there would no reward. Jones strategy was advocating for a type of guerilla warfare on the sea. As a merchant ship raider and prize collector this method was placing his own self interest on the back burner and placed American Interest first. As Patriotic as this was it did not sit well with Jones’ crew that Jones was volunteering for the more high risk