Battle of the Capes 1781

In September 1781, a naval engagement between French and British fleets denied British forces access to the Chesapeake Bay and trapped Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, helping end British domination in America. After six years of war, the colonies seemed far from independence, the young nation was almost bankrupt, and the army seemed to be disintegrating, making a decisive victory essential to survival. General Washington, camped outside New York City, knew that victory depended on cooperation among his small force of Continental soldiers, the French Army under General Rochambeau, and the French Navy under Admiral De Grasse. On July 28, De Grasse informed Washington from the West Indies that his fleet would sail for the Chesapeake Bay, and Washington moved his army south in hopes of capturing Cornwallis, who was fortifying Yorktown. On August 30, the French fleet of 24 ships of the line sailed past Cape Henry into the bay with reinforcements and supplies for the American forces near Yorktown. The British fleet of 19 ships under Admiral Graves sailed from New York on September 1, and by 9:30 a.m. on September 5 the French were sighted within the bay. The British had the advantage of wind and tide while the French had not yet formed their line of battle, but Graves followed Royal Navy fighting instructions and did not disrupt the French fleet's emerging line. For six and one-half hours the fleets maneuvered for position, with the French gradually moving out past Cape Henry into the Atlantic, and at 4:15 p.m. the leading ships opened fire. An indecisive but vigorous cannonade continued until 6:30 p.m., with the forward British ships heavily engaged and suffering losses in masts and rigging. The fleets then sailed on parallel course for four days, and on the evening of September 9 the French slipped away and returned to the Chesapeake Bay, where they were joined by an additional French squadron from Rhode Island. Graves decided that his ships were too badly damaged to continue fighting, and on September 13 he returned to New York for repairs. Though no Americans participated and few men or ships were lost, this action gave America the opportunity it needed for independence. On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered his army to Washington, and English rule that had begun at Jamestown in 1607 was effectively ended at Yorktown in 1781, with Cape Henry strategically involved in both events.

Virginia Beach, Virginia · United States