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The '''Battle of the Chesapeake''', also known as the '''Battle of the Virginia Capes''' or '''Battle of the Capes''', was a naval battle in the [[American Revolutionary War]]. |
The '''Battle of the Chesapeake''', also known as the '''Battle of the Virginia Capes''' or '''Battle of the Capes''', was a naval battle in the [[American Revolutionary War]]. |
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| − | The battle took place near [[Chesapeake Bay]] on 5 September 1781, and saw the combined forces of the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ships|vessel]] ''[[Aquila]]'' and the [[French Navy]] under [[François-Joseph Paul de Grasse]] fight against a [[Royal Navy|British fleet]] under {{Wiki|Thomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves|Sir Thomas Graves}}. When the Battle of Chesapeake Bay began, General [[Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette|Marquis de Lafayette]] requested the ''Aquila'' give support in the battle. The French Admiral de Grasse believed that he would receive a large fleet and experienced [[Captains|captains]], but instead he received only the ''Aquila'' and her captain [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]]. |
+ | The battle took place near [[Chesapeake Bay]] on 5 September 1781, and saw the combined forces of the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Ships|vessel]] ''[[Aquila]]'' and the [[French Navy]] under [[François-Joseph Paul de Grasse]] fight against a [[Royal Navy|British fleet]] under {{Wiki|Thomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves|Sir Thomas Graves}}. When the Battle of Chesapeake Bay began, General [[Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette|Marquis de Lafayette]] requested the ''Aquila'' give support in the battle. The [[France|French]] Admiral de Grasse believed that he would receive a large fleet and experienced [[Captains|captains]], but instead he received only the ''Aquila'' and her captain [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]]. |
| − | While irritated at the concept, de Grasse gave Connor two [[frigate]]s for assistance, the ''Marsellois'' and the ''Saint-Esprit'', and asked them to engage the encroaching fleet while he and the main armada of |
+ | While irritated at the concept, de Grasse gave Connor two [[frigate]]s for assistance, the ''Marsellois'' and the ''Saint-Esprit'', and asked them to engage the encroaching fleet while he and the main armada of French ships led by the [[Man O' War]], ''Ville de Paris'', attacked the bulk of the [[United Kingdom|British]] force. During the battle, the trio of ships sank several [[Gunboat|gunboat]]s and at least four [[England|English]] frigates, before the ''Marsellois'' was destroyed by an English vessel midway through the battle. |
| − | Once all the English frigates had been destroyed, [[Man O' War|HMS ''Barfleur'']] sailed into the battle and sank the ''Saint Espirit'', before she managed to disable the ''Aquila'''s guns. Due to lacking any other means of attack, Connor decided to destroy HMS ''Barfleur'' by ramming her, getting on board in hand-to-hand combat, and killing her captain. Ultimately proving successful, the battle ended with the French as the victors. |
+ | Once all the English frigates had been destroyed, [[Man O' War|HMS ''Barfleur'']] sailed into the battle and sank the ''Saint Espirit'', before she managed to disable the ''Aquila'''s [[Cannon|guns]]. Due to lacking any other means of attack, Connor decided to destroy HMS ''Barfleur'' by ramming her, getting on board in [[Fist|hand-to-hand]] combat, and killing her captain. Ultimately proving successful, the battle ended with the French as the victors. |
| − | Often considered the war's most decisive battle, it not only broke the British blockade of the Colonies, but also reversed Cornwallis' plan to trap Washington and Lafayette at Yorktown. His reinforcements never arrived due to the French victory in the Chesapeake, and as such, Washington was victorious at Yorktown, capturing Cornwallis and ending major conflict in the Colonies up until the Treaty of Paris. |
+ | Often considered the war's most decisive battle, it not only broke the British blockade of the [[United States|Colonies]], but also reversed Cornwallis' plan to trap Washington and Lafayette at Yorktown. His reinforcements never arrived due to the French victory in the Chesapeake, and as such, Washington was victorious at Yorktown, capturing Cornwallis and ending major conflict in the Colonies up until the Treaty of Paris. |
The Battle also acted as a huge bolster to French naval pride, leading to a brief string of decisive French naval victories during the [[French Revolutionary Wars]]. |
The Battle also acted as a huge bolster to French naval pride, leading to a brief string of decisive French naval victories during the [[French Revolutionary Wars]]. |
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Revision as of 04:42, 2 October 2018
| This article is about the battle itself. You may be looking for the memory of the same name. |
The Battle of the Chesapeake, also known as the Battle of the Virginia Capes or Battle of the Capes, was a naval battle in the American Revolutionary War.
The battle took place near Chesapeake Bay on 5 September 1781, and saw the combined forces of the Assassin vessel Aquila and the French Navy under François-Joseph Paul de Grasse fight against a British fleet under Sir Thomas Graves. When the Battle of Chesapeake Bay began, General Marquis de Lafayette requested the Aquila give support in the battle. The French Admiral de Grasse believed that he would receive a large fleet and experienced captains, but instead he received only the Aquila and her captain Connor.
While irritated at the concept, de Grasse gave Connor two frigates for assistance, the Marsellois and the Saint-Esprit, and asked them to engage the encroaching fleet while he and the main armada of French ships led by the Man O' War, Ville de Paris, attacked the bulk of the British force. During the battle, the trio of ships sank several gunboats and at least four English frigates, before the Marsellois was destroyed by an English vessel midway through the battle.
Once all the English frigates had been destroyed, HMS Barfleur sailed into the battle and sank the Saint Espirit, before she managed to disable the Aquila's guns. Due to lacking any other means of attack, Connor decided to destroy HMS Barfleur by ramming her, getting on board in hand-to-hand combat, and killing her captain. Ultimately proving successful, the battle ended with the French as the victors.
Often considered the war's most decisive battle, it not only broke the British blockade of the Colonies, but also reversed Cornwallis' plan to trap Washington and Lafayette at Yorktown. His reinforcements never arrived due to the French victory in the Chesapeake, and as such, Washington was victorious at Yorktown, capturing Cornwallis and ending major conflict in the Colonies up until the Treaty of Paris.
The Battle also acted as a huge bolster to French naval pride, leading to a brief string of decisive French naval victories during the French Revolutionary Wars.
Reference
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