USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -"I have not yet begun to fight!” This was the immortal retort of Captain John Paul Jones to a request to surrender as he and his crew engaged in a desperate battle with a British frigate off the northern coast of England during the American Revolution.

Detailed explanation-2: -Words attributed to the eighteenth-century naval hero John Paul Jones. He was doing battle with a British ship when his own ship was badly damaged, and the British commander called over to ask whether Jones had surrendered. He answered, “I have not yet begun to fight.” He and his crew then captured the British ship.

Detailed explanation-3: -From his disabled ship, Jones replied, “I have not yet begun to fight, ” and after three more hours of furious fighting it was the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough that surrendered. After the victory, the Americans transferred to the Serapis from the Bonhomme Richard, which sank the following day.

Detailed explanation-4: -During the early stages of a gruelling 3 1/2-hour gun battle, Jones answered an enemy challenge to surrender with the memorable words, “I have not yet begun to fight!” He won a stunning victory, though with a heavy loss of life, when the Serapis surrendered and was boarded by Jones and his crew.

Detailed explanation-5: -Legend has it that when the British asked if Jones was ready to surrender, he famously responded: “I have not yet begun to fight!”