Battle of the Capes

On the morning of September 5, 1781, 19 British warships appeared off the cape headed for Chesapeake Bay, and 24 French warships, surprised at anchor at the mouth of the bay, hurried out to meet them. The two fleets sailed southward together in parallel lines of battle and exchanged broadsides for two hours before fighting to a stand-off by nightfall. The French blockade of the Chesapeake held, denying General Charles Cornwallis's troops at Yorktown supplies and reinforcements. On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington, helping assure American victory in the Revolutionary War. During the battle, the French put to sea short-handed while many sailors were still unloading troops and supplies on the James River, Admiral Graves maneuvered the British fleet into line, the leading ships opened fire in late afternoon, French gunners raked British masts and rigging, the French Diademe nearly boarded the British Princess but was repelled, the captain of the French Reflechi was killed, and the British Terrible was damaged beyond repair. After several days of feinting southward without another battle, Admiral de Grasse returned north to the Chesapeake, and on September 13 the British fleet found the bay blocked by the French and withdrew to New York.

Virginia Beach, Virginia · United States