Although I prefer the ground combat in "total war", I have high hopes for this game. Like the OP, I too am a Virginian with extensive knowledge of revolutionary war era technology.
I really hope this game (the american campaign) can incorporate state navies and the original 13 Continental navy frigates. It would seem it the plan to leap to the 1797 re-establishment Navy (USS Constitution, etc) and ignore the Continental navy altogether.
If the game dev's would like, I would be more than happy to lay out all of the current information available on the Continental Navy including line drawings and service history in a dedicated thread.