![]() Naval History and Heritage Command, NH 53103. USS INDEPENDENCE as a receiving ship at Mare Island Navy Yard A month after its launching, a massive windstorm unceremoniously destroyed the ship house where Independence was constructed, signaling an uncertain future for the United States' first ship-of-the-line. The massive 90-gun ship stayed in Boston Harbor for the remainder of the war to defend the city. This attack failed and the Navy finally, after several failed attempts, launched USS Independence on June 22, 1814. They even attempted to launch the blazing ship into Independence. Two weeks later, Marines from HMS Nymph slipped into Boston Harbor and burned a sloop within a mile of the Navy Yard. The Navy quickly armed the nearly finished Independence in the event of British attack. On June 1, 1814, HMS Shannon captured USS Chesapeake just outside of Boston Harbor, leaving the Navy Yard vulnerable. Constructing a ship of this size was a challenge for the Navy Yard, and this was made more difficult due to the near constant threat of attack USS Independence faced from British ships. To assist with the construction of the ship during inclement weather, Bainbridge ordered workers to build the Navy Yard’s first ship house, which they completed in 1813. Under Barker, USS Independence took form as Bainbridge envisioned it. Naval History and Heritage Command, USN 902802. ![]() Depiction of HMS Nymph's attack on USS INDEPENDENCE
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