text: what did john paul jones do in the american revolution?   during the american revolution, john paul jones was an officer aboard the uss alfred in 1776.  the uss alfred was part of 6-vessel fleet that attacked english merchant vessels in new providence.  jones raised the first american flag over a u.s. naval vessel aboard the alfred.  his first command was the frigate uss providence. over a period of six weeks, his ship captured 16 enemy vessels along the coast of nova scotia.  in november of 1776, he proposed a mission plan to destroy the british coal fleet and free american prisoners held at isle royal.  he was assigned command of the uss alfred and successfully completed this mission, including the capture of a british ship carrying winter clothing for british troops in canada.  this is believed to have contributed to the success of the continental army at trenton by providing them with fresh winter clothes.  in june of 1777, he was given command of the uss ranger and was sent to france to help benjamin franklin and the american contingent there with strategic recommendations.  after france signed a treaty with america in 1778, the uss ranger sailed for england and captured the british naval ship, hms drake.  in 1779, he assumed command of the uss bonhomme richard.  a five ship squadron, including the bonhomme richard, attacked a british merchant convoy off the coast of yorkshire.  a pair of british vessels attacked the american squadron.  two of the vessels fled while the bonhomme richard and two other naval ships attacked the british warships.  the hms serapis severely damaged the bonhomme richard, shooting off her flag during the attack.  the british commander, asked if jones had struck his colors in surrender.  in response, jones issued his famous quotation, "i have not yet begun to fight."  he then rammed his sinking ship into the serapis, tied up to it, boarded and captured the ship.