On this day 8 April - the Battle of Delaware Bay

[7eat51]

On the 8th of April 1782, ships of the U.S. Continental Navy and Great Britain fought with each other in what is known as the Battle of Delaware Bay. Three privateer sloops, the Hyder Ally (16), under the command of Lieutenant Joshua Barney, the Charming Sally (10), and the General Greene (12) were commissioned to escort a convoy of five merchants to the Delaware Bay. The American ships anchored in Cape May on the evening of the 7th due to calm winds. The HMS Quebec, a 32-gun frigate under the command of Captain Christopher Mason, and the HMS General Monk, a 24-gun sloop-of-war under the command of Captain Josiah Rodgers, spotted the American vessels and prepared to attack come morning. During the night, the British force was strengthened with the addition of the privateer brig Fair American, formerly known as the General Washington until her capture by the British. On the morning of the 8th, having spotted the British ships, Lieutenant Barney ordered the convoy and the two other escorts to sail into the Delaware Bay while he and his ship would stay and fight their attackers. The General Greene refused to leave, and the Charming Sally ran aground. While the HMS Quebec took up position to deny the Americans from fleeing into the Atlantic, the Fair American and the HMS General Monk proceeded to attack. Lieutenant Barney feigned a retreat to bait the General Monk into following her. The General Greene followed suit but ran aground. While the General Monk pursued the Hyder Ally, the Fair American grounded while sailing after the General Greene. When the Monk came within pistol range of the Hyder Ally, Rodgers ordered the American privateer to surrender. The 16-gun sloop responded with a raking broadside of grape, canister, and round shot. Having maneuvered for another broadside, the Americans fired, damaging the British sloop-of-war's masts, rigging, and sails. Unfortunately for the Monk, her guns were loaded with oversized balls, and when finally she was able to fire her broadside, the guns flipped over. Barney attempted to trick the British a second time by ordering his ship to port, knowing the British could hear him and would do the same. As the British turned left, Barney ordered a starboard turn, running his ship into his pursuer. The Americans fastened the two ships together and unleashed a starboard broadside into the General Monk while American marines rained musket fire from on high. Barney gave orders for the port-side guns to be moved into position to fire upon his attacker, and having engaged the British for 26 minutes of close-quarter fighting, the Americans secured victory having wounded Captain Rodgers and killing all of the British officers save a midshipman. The HMS Quebec fled.

Joshua Barney:



The Battle:






For more information on today’s event:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Delaware_Bay

[Cmmdre]

That is the kind of close quarter river engagement I was thinking of in our discussion over at the "what do you want to see on mats' . Thank you for the informative post Eric. This would be a good launching point for a quick one off.

[Beowulf03809]

That was a wicked cool write up. Thanks!

All these historical write-ups are making me want sloops more and more...I feel like I need to re-read some Nelson actions to get stoked up for Sols again!

[DeRuyter]

Yes bring on the sloops, brigs and schooners!! Second wave for 2014 LOL! Much more exciting that long lines of lumbering SoL !

Eric