March 16, 1781 at Chesapeake Bay, Virginia (First Battle of the Virginia Capes, also Cape Henry, Chesapeake Bay) – On March 8, Adm. Charles-Rene-Dominique Gochet Destouches led the French naval squadron from Newport, Rhode Island during the evening and sailed for the Chesapeake Bay. He was to bring naval support for Gen. Marquis Lafayette’s expedition against Gen. Benedict Arnold. Adm. Marriot Arbuthnot discovered the movement of the French squadron while at Gardiner’s Bay. The bay was located at the eastern end of Long Island. On March 10, Arbuthnot left Gardiner’s Bay and started a pursuit after Destouches’ fleet in the morning. The British fleet was 36 hours behind the French fleet but because of superior ships, the British caught up with the French by the time they both had reached Chesapeake Bay. On March 16, the battle began. Both sides had 8 ships apiece. The British had the overall advantage in that they had better weapons The British and French engaged in a naval battle that lasted for over an hour, leaving both fleets badly damaged. Destouches withdrew from the engagement and headed back to Newport. Arbuthnot moved his fleet into Chesapeake Bay and established contact with Gen. Benedict Arnold.
By Destouches losing the battle and fleeing the area, he made a huge strategic failure. First of all, he abandoned Lafayette and left him without any naval protection in his expedition against Arnold. Secondly, Destouches left the sea open for the British to send Gen. Schuyler Phillips with sizable reinforcements to ravage Virginia. Destouches afterwards returned to Rhode Island. Ships Engaged:
| BRITISH:Vice Admiral Marriot Arbuthnot (all coppered) | FRENCH:Admiral Charles Chevalier Destouches |
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April 14, 1781 at the Great Ogeechee River, South Carolina (Britannia captured ) – On April 14, the British ship Britannia was anchored in the mouth of the Great Ogeechee River. During the night, Capt. John Howell and Capt. John McCleur towed their privateers alongside the Britannia. Springing upon deck, they demanded and received a quick surrender of the ship.
June 1781 – at Edenton Harbor, South Carolina (HMS General Arnold captured ) – In June, the row galley HMS General Arnold, commanded by Capt. Michael Quinn, had been burning ships up the Chowan River. When it entered the Edenton Harbor, the ship ran aground. The local militia managed to capture it afetr it was not able to free itself.
Conclusion: American Victory
August 5, 1781 at Dogger Bank, North Sea (Dogger Bank) – On August 5, a naval battle between a British naval squadron, under Vice Adm. Sir Hyde Parker, and the Dutch naval squadron, under Vice Adm. John Zoutman, took place in the North Sea. Both of which were escorting convoys when they ran into each other. During the fight, neither side managed to gain any advantage. Eventually after some bloody fighting, both the British and Dutch drew off. Afterwards, the Dutch fleet returned home with their convoy. Parker considered that he had not been properly equipped for his task, and insisted on resigning his command. The battle had no real impact on the general course of the war.
Conclusion: British Victory
Casualties: Dutch: 140 killed, 400 wounded; British: 108 killed, 339 wounded
September 6, 1781 off the coast of Charlestown, South Carolina (USS Congress vs. HMS Savage) – On September 6, the British naval sloop, HMS Savage, was cruising off the coast of Charleston. The Savage was commanded by Capt. Charles Stirling. He noticed an approaching ship that they thought was a privateer. He let the ship get close to the Savage. By the time he realized what the ship was, it was too late. The supposed privateer was actually the USS Congress. The Congress was a Philadelphia privateer, commanded by Capt. George Geddes, which contained 20 12-lb. cannon on the main deck and 4 6-lb. cannon above. The Savage began the naval battle. The fierce battle lasted over 4 hours before the Savage was forced into submission. The Savage had hermizenmast shot away, the main mast was torn, and the ship was on fire in several places. The crew of the Congress boarded the Savage in 3 different places with only 40 British sailors on deck to defend against the Congress. Around 2:45 P.M., Stirling had no choice but to surrender the Savage to Geddes and the Congress. Not too much later, the Savage was captured by the Britsh frigate, HMS Solebay.
Conclusion: American Victory
Casualties: American: 11 killed. 30 wounded; British: 8 killed, 6 wounded
September 8, 1781 off the Shetland Islands, Scotland (USS South Carolina vs. Alexander) – On September 6, off the Shetland Islands of Scotland, the South Carolina State Navy frigate, USS South Carolina, sighted a brigatine, the Alexander, and gave chase. On September 8, after 2 days of giving chase, the Alexander was captured. The South Carolina’s crew took a week stripping down the Alexander of its weapons, powder, and sails. Gillon placed 29 Marines aboard the Alexander to sail it to France. Within hours of setting sail for France, a British warship, the HMS Heart of Oak, recaptured the Alexander and the Marines aboard.
Conclusion: American Victory
December 12, 1781 at Ushant, West Indies (British Fleet vs French fleet) – On December 10, a French convoy had sailed from Brest, France. The ships contained reinforcements and stores for the East and West Indies. The convoy was protected by a fleet of 19 French warships, commanded by Adm. Comte de Guichen. A British naval squadron of 13 warships, commanded by Rear Adm. Richard Kempenfelt in his command ship HMS Victory, had been ordered to take his fleet and intercept the expected French convoy.
On December 12, the Victory caught up with and intercepted the French fleet. Before the French warships could intervene, the British had managed to capture 15 convoy ships.. The French convoy was later dispersed in a gale and most of the ships forced to return to port.
Conclusion: British Victory
