In October, a merchant ship called The Black Prince returned to Philadelphia from a voyage to England. On board were private letters to the Second Continental Congress that informed them that the British government was sending two ships to America loaded with arms and gunpowder for the British troops.
Congress decided that General Washington needed those arms more than General Howe. A plan was hatched to capture the British cargo ships. They authorized the creation of a Continental Navy, starting with four ships.
To accompany the Navy on their first mission, Congress also authorized the mustering of five companies of Marines.
What's particularly interesting for us is that some of the Marines that enlisted that month in Philadelphia were carrying drums painted yellow, emblazoned with a fierce rattlesnake, coiled and ready to strike, with thirteen rattles, and sporting the motto "Don't Tread on Me."
Watch Root sum 9 or 7
009 027 045 099 117 126 135 189 225
234 279 288 369 459 477 558 567 999
007 025 079 115 124 169 178 223 259 268
277 349 358 367 457 466 556 799 889