On the morning of September 5, 1781, a line of 19 British warships appeared off this cape, headed for Chesapeake Bay. Surprised at anchor in the mouth of the bay, the crews of 24 French warships scrambled out to challenge them. Both fleets sailed southward together in parallel "lines of battle," passing out of view of the cape. Then the cannonade began. For two hours, their broadsides could be heard on shore. By nightfall, the shore was quiet again; the two fleets had dueled to a stand-off.
The French blockade of the Chesapeake had held, and the British troops of General Charles Cornwallis were denied supplies and reinforcements at Yorktown. On October 19, 1781, General Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington, assuring America victory in the Revolutionary War.
"If the enemy remain only a few Weeks superior at sea, our insular and detached situation will become very critical," Sir Henry Clinton, Commander in chief of British forces in North America, September, June 9, 1781.
[Background image of ships in line taken from the Second Battle of the Virginia Capes painting by Wladimir Zveguintzoff, aka V. Zveg, U.S. Naval Historical Center, Washington, DC.]
[Time line, with a chart of the waters off Cape Henry showing the relative positions of the French and British fleets on October 5, 1781.]
"A Line of Battle:"
November 5, 1781
9:30 a.m. The British lookout ship Solebay sites the French at anchor at the mouth of the Chesapeake.
11:00 a.m. The French identify the British.
12:00 noon. With 1,900 sailors still unloading troops and supplies on the James River, the French put to sea short-handed.
2:00 p.m. As the British approach the shoals of the Middle Ground, Admiral Graves orders the fleet to turn in unison, maintaining a line of battle parallel to the British.
2:30 p.m. From mid-formation Graves signals for the front of his line to angle towards the French.
4:03 p.m. Graves signals attack, and veers his flagship London toward the French.
4:15 p.m. The leading ships of both fleets open fire.
4:15 to 6:30 p. m. Before the British can bring their cannon to bear, French seaman gunners fire diagonally into their masts and rigging. The French Diademe, fourth in line nearly succeeds in boarding the British Princess but is repelled. The captain of the French Reflechi, fifth in line, dies in a broadside. The British Terrible is damaged beyond repair.
6:30 p.m. With the rear squadrons still too far apart to exchange fire, the cannonade ends.
September 6-9, 1781
The fleets feint southward without further battle. French Admiral de Grasse slips from the British and heads back north to the Chesapeake.
September 13, 1781
The British fleet returns to the Chesapeake to find it blocked by the French. Admiral Graves orders a return to New York.
[Portrait of de Grasse.] Admiral Comte de Grasse sails north in aid of the Americans at Yorktown with cash, ground troops, and the entire fleet of the French West Indies.
[Portrait of Graves.] Rear Admiral Charles Graves passed up chances to attack the French at anchor and waited for both fleets to get into position before beginning the battle.
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