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The historical battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts sparked the beginning of the American War for Independence on 19 April 1775; soon after, the rest of the thirteen American colonies were pulled into the conflict. Many of the leaders in the rebellion recognized that a naval engagement against the British was the primary option to prevent the British from restoring Crown rule by military occupation. ==Arnold's flotilla== On 9 May 1775, sailors and mariner-militiamen aboard a flotilla under the command of Colonel Benedict Arnold captured a British sloop-of-war on Lake Champlain. The ship was renamed ''Liberty'' to honor the patriot cause. Two days later on 11 May, ''Liberty'' collaborates in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga from the British. Then on 18 May, Benedict's forces captured another British sloop ''George'', and renamed it the ''Interprise.'' The new ship was reinforced with 18 Massachusetts militiamen, serving as marines; first known officer listed on the payroll, was Lt. James Watson. The first recorded narrative of American marines were described during when the Connecticut Committee Public Safety sent £500 to Colonel Arnold in late-May, the shipment was escorted by eight colonial marines;〔 although they were actually seamen.〔Journal of the Continental Congress (9–10 Nov 1775), ''Committee on Nova Scotia: Proposals''; NDAR, II: 972, 957–958.''〕 They are often referred to as the "Original Eight".〔 From 11–13 October 1776, the colonial marines attached to Arnold's fleet participated in the battle for Valcour Island. Although defeated in the Lake Champlain assault, they delayed a British invasion until the following year.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「American colonial marines」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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