March 20, 1779 at Abercorn Creek, Georgia – On March 20, the armed sloop HMS Greenwich and a British galley was sighted a little above Abercorn Creek, near Purysburgh. The South Carolina galleys Congress and Lee, and a sloop, were sent from Purysburgh to investigate the sighting of the British ships. The South Carolina galleys left after midnight, under the command of Capt. Robert Campbell.
The British saw the Patriots coming and reinforced themselves with an armed flatboat, and had erected a battery on the south side of the Savannah River. At 10:00 A.M., the naval battle begand and lasted for 3 hours, until 1:00 P.M. After Campbell was killed, the Patriots decided to abandon the attack against the British.
Conclusion: British Victory
June 26, 1779 at Stono River, South Carolina – On June 26, the brigs USS Notre Dame, USS Bellona, brigatine USS Beaufort, and 4 South Carolina Navy armed ships attacked 7 British ships that were bringing supplies to Gibbe’s Plantation. Of the British fleet, 2 ships were captured, 1 was blown up, and the remainder of them fled the area.
Conclusion: American Victory
June 29, 1779 at Outer Banks, North Carolina (USS Impertinent vs. HMS Harlem) – On June 29, the Impertinent spotted the sloop HMS Harlem and gave chase. As the Impertinent was about to pull up along side the harlem, the captain and crew tried to escape by launching a boat. The boat was soon overturned, drowning all of the people in it.
Conclusion: American Victory
September 6, 1779 at Savannah, Georgia – On September 6, the sloop HMS Polly was captured by the French ship-of-the-line Magnifique, commanded by Brigadier de Brach. A prize crew sailed the ship up the Georgia coast, not knowing where they were.
Once the ship was anchored at the mouth of the Savannah River, the local British forces was able to recapture the Polly.
September 11, 1779 at Charlestown Bar, State (l’Amazone vs. HMS Ariel) – On September 11, the frigate HMS Ariel was captured by the French frigate l’Amazone, commanded by Lt. Count de La Perouse. The naval battle lasted for about an hour.
Conclusion: French Victory
September 23, 1779 at Flamborough Head, England (USS Bonhomme Richard vs. HMS Serapis) – On September 23, 1779, they encountered the Baltic Fleet of 41 sail under convoy of HMS Serapis (44) and Countess of Scarborough (22) near Flamborough Head. After 18:00 Bonhomme Richard engaged Serapis and a bitter engagement, the Battle of Flamborough Head, ensued during the next four hours that cost the lives of nearly half the American and British crews. At first, a British victory seemed inevitable as the more heavily armed Serapis used its superior firepower to rake Bonhomme Richard with devastating effect, killing Americans by the score. However, Jones eventually succeeded in lashing the two ships together, nullifying his opponent’s greater manoeuverability. An attempt by the Americans to board Serapis was repulsed, as was an attempt by the British to board Bonhomme Richard. Finally, after another of Jones’s squadron joined in the fight (uncaringly causing serious collateral damage aboard the Richard) the British captain surrendered at about 10.30pm. Bonhomme Richard, shattered, on fire, and leaking badly defied all efforts to save her and sank at 11:00 on September 25, 1779. John Paul Jones sailed the captured Serapis to the United Provinces for repairs.
Conclusion: American Victory
September 24, 1779 at Hilton Head, South Carolina – The Man of War HMS Experiment, commanded by Capt. Sir James Wallace, lost its masts and bowspirit in a gale and became stranded. In the same area, the French frigate Lively learned that the British ships had seperated from the Experiment during the storm. Three French ships were dispatched to find the Experiment.
On September 24, the Experiment was near Hilton Head where she met up with the store ship HMS Cartel Champion and a victualer HMS Myrtle. At 3:45 P.M., the Experiment spotted the 3 French ships and tried to put as much distance between them. At 4:30 P.M., 2 more French ships were spotted by the Experiment. At 8:00 P.M., the 2 ships hoisted French colors and closed with the Experiment. The French ship Sagittair, commanded by Capt. d’Albert de Rions, fired two broadsides at the Experiment. The Experiment managed to put some distance between the ships. At 8:30 P.M., Wallace decided to fight back and re-entered the combat area. After firing a few shots at the French, the mast of the Experiment was shot off. This forced the Experiment to surrender.
Conclusion: French Victory
October 26, 1779 at Georgoa coast, Georgia (Betsy Captured) – On October 26, the frigate HMS Guadeloupe and the HMS Roebuck captured the privateer Betsy.
Conclusion: British Victory
