Alfred. The original painting by W. Nowland Van Powell is at the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. The first American warship, she is depicted here as Lieutenant John Paul Jones raises the Grand Union flag at her commissioning in Philadelphia on December 3, 1775. Commanded by Captain Dudley Saltonstall, Alfred was flagship of Commodore Esek Hopkins Continental Navy flotilla during the remainder of 1775 and the first four months of 1776.