-Chesapeake Bay:-

The Chesapeake Bay Blockade - Winter 1778:

“this is Now one of the worst Places . . . To get out of . . .”

Baltimore to Cape Henry

1. The British Squadron in Chesapeake Bay, January 1778

In early January 1778 the British squadron in the Chesapeake consisted of HMS St. Albans (64/500) commanded by Captain Richard Onslow, who was also in command of the squadron, and HM Frigates Phoenix (44/280), Captain Hyde Parker, Jr.; Emerald (32/220), Captain Benjamin Caldwell; and Richmond (32/220), Captain John Lewis Gidoin. HM Sloop Otter (14/125), Commander Matthew Squire completed the squadron. In addition HM Frigate Solebay (28/200), Captain Thomas Symonds, was under orders to join the squadron on 5 January, and escort two victualler transports (one was the Jane) from Newport, Rhode Island in the process.¹ Including Solebay, Onslow had six ships, 208 guns, and 1,545 men to enforce the blockade. To this should be added the ad hoc tenders, the transports, and temporary additions to the squadron.

2. The First Actions: January 1778

On 3 January HM Frigates Richmond and Emerald were anchored in the York River, Virginia, along with Emerald’s tender. About 1400 Emerald sighted² two strange sails coming down the bay. Caldwell remained an anchor for a time, to allow the potential victims to approach closer and allow daylight to get over the shoal water.³ At 1500 all three British vessels began chasing. The tender pulled ahead. At 1700 Richmond saw gun flashes ahead: the tender firing at the chase. An hour later Richmond fired two guns and stopped the tender’s prize: a French brig.⁴

The prize was L’Alexandrine (Jean François Forand), bound from the Rappahannock River, Virginia (or Baltimore, Maryland) to Dunkerque, France, but to  Martinique, French West Indies first, with a cargo of tobacco. L’Alexandrine had a crew of twelve men aboard. L’Alexandrine was captured in the Rappahannock River. She was sent to New York, New York⁵ for trial, arriving there on 16 January.⁶ Howe attributed her capture to Richmond in his prize list, but she was condemned to the Emerald at her trial on 20 February 1778.⁷

Night was coming on and the other sail had vanished, so the British anchored for the night.⁸ At dawn on 4 January Emerald, Richmond, and the tender were anchored about fifteen miles northeast of New Point Comfort, Virginia. Four sail were seen to the north and Richmond made sail at 0500 in chase.⁹ The other British  vessels, seeing her chasing a sloop and a schooner, also came to sail.¹⁰ About six miles northwest of the mouth of the Rappahannock River, at 0800, Richmond dispatched her boats after one of the four vessels being chased: a sloop,¹¹ which had run into shoal water.¹² At 1000 Richmond anchored about five miles off the north end of Gwynn’s Island, Virginia. From her anchorage Richmond saw a ship and a snow in the Rappahannock River, seven miles away to the northwest. Meanwhile, the boats had come near the sloop which fired several shots at them. Richmond recalled her boats. Emerald’s tender was still in chase, and was going in shore after the sloop. Richmond recalled her at 1130, and made sail. About noon she spoke Emerald with L’Alexandrine in company.¹³

Caldwell ordered Richmond to attend the prize,¹⁴ which was some distance astern, to protect her from the American armed vessels, which he thought were some sort of convoy. Emerald then set off in chase.¹⁵

All the British vessels set out after the two enemy vessels seen in the Rappahannock river. About 1300 they entered the mouth of the river, running north. Emerald and her tender were ahead, Richmond and the prize behind.¹⁶ The wind was coming down the river and the Emerald’s pilot was “not well enough acquainted to turn the Ship up; but fortunately one of my people, (a regular South Carolina Pilot,) took charge of the Ship, and worked her up in a masterly manner . . .”¹⁷ At 1400 Emerald made out the chase to be a ship and a snow. Both ran aground at 1600.¹⁸ By this time about six miles separated the two groups of British vessels. At 1430 ¹⁹ or 1500 Emerald and the tender anchored,²⁰ and Richmond and the prize anchored at 1700. About 1800 Richmond heard firing up the river.²¹

Carter's Creek, Virginia

No sooner had Emerald anchored off Carter’s Creek than she dispatched her barge after the ship and her cutter to the snow. The crew of the ship now abandoned ship and got ashore. The ship was quickly captured, but the snow was a different matter. Emerald’s cutter was fired on and returned to the Emerald.²² These were the shots heard by Richmond.

Men from Emerald worked on getting the ship afloat all day on 5 January. At 1600 she got unstuck. At 1700 Richmond and L’Alexandrine anchored by the Emerald. An hour later the prize ship came out and anchored nearby. The captured ship was the Dragon (Claude Bondit), bound from the Rappahannock River to Dunkerque with a cargo of tobacco aboard.²³ Among the interesting documents aboard the Dragon was a commission from the French authorities as a letter-of-marque.²⁴ Dragon was sent to New York as a prize of the Emerald. She was libeled on 28 January and condemned on 20 February 1778.²⁵

The snow was still aground and now it was time to attend to her. A small company²⁶ of Lancaster County militia under Captain Yerby²⁷ had gathered to defend her, and a Virginia Navy Galley, probably the Page (Captain James Markham), lay in a nearby creek. Caldwell ordered Richmond to warp in the next day to clear the area.²⁸ Richmond cleared for action at 0500 on 6 January and started warping in closer to shore an hour later. A party of Americans was busily stripping the snow and Richmond had to drive them off before the boats went in to shore. After four shots the Americans left the snow.²⁹ The crew of the snow abandoned ship and the galley retreated up the creek. Caldwell sent a flag of truce ashore, to “assure the people, we would not hurt their houses, or do them any kind of damage, if they would not fire upon the Boats, as they must see, both the Village and the Snow, were under the Guns . . .” This was agreed to³⁰ by Yerby.³¹ By afternoon the boats of the two frigates were lightning the prize and sending her cargo of tobacco aboard the frigates. At 1500 the snow floated free and by 1530 Richmond was back in her anchorage again. At 1700 the prize anchored near Richmond.³²

The prize was the snow L’Elegante (Collenau), bound from the Rappahannock River, Virginia to Dunkerque, France with a cargo of tobacco.³³ On 7 January the tobacco was transferred to L’Elegante and men from both frigates began re-rigging her.³⁴ Sails were removed from Dragon and L’Alexandrine to finish the job.³⁵  At 0900 boats went ashore under a flag of truce and released seven American prisoners.³⁶ The snow was rigged by 8 January and Richmond sent nine mean aboard to carry her down to Hampton Roads. On 9 January Richmond, Emerald and three prizes dropped down the Rappahannock.³⁷ She was sent into New York, New York as a prize of Emerald, and was libeled on 28 January. She was condemned on 20 February 1778 to the Richmond.³⁸ In the records of the Vice Admiralty court she was described as an American merchant vessel.³⁹

The government of Virginia was very unsatisfied with Yerby’s lack of action in the capture of L’Elegante. The Virginia House of Representatives introduced a resolution to award the owner compensation, referring to Yerby as having “most unwarrantably and traiterously delivered up” the snow on “certain Conditions, injurious to the Honour and Justice of the Commonwealth , and in Violation of the Protection which Foreigners have a Right, by the Usage of civilized Nations, to expect, while peaceably trading in its Ports . . .” Yerby was to be investigated and, if convicted, given “condign Punishment.” The resolution was delivered to the Virginia Senate on 22 January, which concurred. On 4 March 1778 the Virginia Council awarded L’Elegante’s captain £5000 in compensation.⁴⁰

Caldwell’s expedition had returned to Hampton Roads by 13 January with the three prizes. Caldwell reported to Howe that he had taken over seven hundred and fifty hogsheads of tobacco in the three French prizes.⁴¹

Emerald was back in Hampton Roads on 13 January. From here Caldwell wrote to Governor Patrick Henry of Virginia concerning the numerous runaway slaves that applied to the British for protection. Caldwell always sent them back ashore on the condition that they would not be punished or mistreated for running away. This arrangement was made at the time that their masters had come and applied for them. This arrangement was not followed and the purpose of Caldwell’s letter was to complain about their treatment. Caldwell noted that if a stop was not put to this treatment, he would, in the future, keep all that ran away to his ship. Since he had been in the bay some 400 slaves had escaped to the Emerald. Caldwell thought that the Americans believed these men were landed to save food and water on the British ships, but that was not so. Caldwell explained that they could always be sent off in prizes. The same reason was attributed to his releasing prisoners, but again, Caldwell noted that they could always be sent to New York.⁴²

3. The Continental Navy Ship Virginia, 19-20 January 1778

No less than three American navies operated in the Chesapeake Bay area while the British blockading forces were there. These navies were not necessarily opposed to the British. The Continental Navy in Chesapeake Bay at this time consisted of the Continental Navy Ship Virginia (Captain James Nicholson) and a very few smaller craft. The main concern of the men in charge of the Continental Navy was to get the Virginia out to sea past the blockade.

Virginia sailed about 19 January, accompanied by the Maryland Navy [Schooner] Amelia, a tender to the Maryland Navy Brig Defence. Amelia (Captain Henry Massey) was to serve as a scout vessel for Virginia, which was attempting to run the blockade and get out to sea. She didn’t get very far. At 1100 on 20 January Virginia and Amelia were sighted by two British frigates of the blockading force based in Hampton Roads, Emerald (Captain Benjamin Caldwell) and Richmond (Captain John Lewis Gidion). The British ships began chasing to the north and Virginia ran before them in squally weather with fresh breezes. By afternoon the British were past Cherry Stone Point. Night fell and they continued to sail north during the night.⁴³

At 0600 the next day the Emerald saw an enemy brig going in to Annapolis. Ahead of her was the Virginia. At 0800 she was seen to be running north toward Baltimore. Caldwell, the senior British captain, thought it was wiser to anchor⁴⁴ off Annapolis. Richmond noted the location as six or seven miles east by south of Rattlesnake Point.⁴⁵ Emerald’s tender had accompanied the two frigates and was put to use in the afternoon. Two small vessels were seen coming up the bay and the tender was sent after them. The tender took one, with a cargo of salt. The salt was removed and the vessel released. Richmond took the other. She was released when the skipper showed the boarding party a pass from General Howe.⁴⁶

St. Albans was moored in Hampton Roads on the morning of 30 January. Her boats were busy removing provisions from the victualler transport Jane and replacing them with empty casks and staves and hoops. HM Sloop Otter⁴⁷ and her tender, HM Brig Tender Dunmore (Lieutenant John Wright)⁴⁸ and the Armed Schooner Dasher were also anchored nearby. The wind was light in the afternoon when a ship was seen which hoisted French colors. Otter and the tender went in chase and returned at 2000 with the prize.⁴⁹

The prize was the ship Fortune (Joseph Mass [Masse]), owned by Mass, with a crew of fourteen men aboard. She was bound from Guadeloupe, French West Indies to Nantes, France with rum and  sugar. She was sent to New York as a prize of St. Albans and Otter. She was libeled on 12 March 1778 and was condemned as a re-capture on 10 April 1778. Her cargo was condemned as a lawful prize. Fortune had been captured in the West Indies by a French owned and manned privateer fitted out at Martinique, French West Indies, and with a false Continental commission. She had been taken into Guadeloupe and sold. She was appraised at £1092 on 15 April and was ordered sold.⁵⁰

The next day the Dasher and St. Albans’s pinnace were sent in chase of a sloop sighted in the northeast quarter. At 1700 they returned, having captured the sloop and set her on fire.⁵¹

4. Phoenix off Cape Henry, January 1778

Another ship of the blockading squadron in the Chesapeake was off Cape Henry on 4 January. HM Frigate Phoenix (Captain Hyde Parker, Jr.) was about sixty miles southeast of Cape Henry as the day dawned. At 0800 she chased a sail to the southwest. By 1000 three sail were in sight. At noon the frigate tacked. The afternoon weather was good with fresh breezes. About 15:30 Phoenix fired at the chase, which had raised French colors, and stopped her. She was the sloop Recovery (Ephraim Paynter), owned by P. Paynter and Sons of Bermuda, British West Indies. She was bound from Bermuda to North Carolina with a cargo of salt and rum and had a crew of five men aboard. A petty officer and six men went aboard as a prize crew and the prisoners were removed. Recovery was sent into New York, where she was condemned on 9 February 1778.⁵²

Phoenix was forty-five miles southeast of Cape Henry on 7 January. At 0630 she began chasing a sail to the north. She caught up with the chase six miles off Cape Henry. The chase was the French brig La Genevieve (Pierre Tournet [Tourounet]), bound from Guadeloupe, French West Indies to St. Pierre and Miquelon, French North America. She was owned by Casamajor & Co. of Guadeloupe. There was a crew of seventeen men aboard and four guns mounted to go with her cargo of rum and salt. A petty officer and six men went aboard as a prize crew, the prisoners were removed, and she was dispatched to New York.⁵³ Although La Genevieve did not have any letter-of-marque commission, she did have an official pass (congé).⁵⁴ She arrived at New York on 11 January.⁵⁵ She was condemned there as a re-capture (being claimed by Richard Dale and others) on 9 February 1778. The cargo was declared lawful prize.⁵⁶

On 10 January Phoenix was in her usual area to the south of Cape Henry. She made two frustrating chases that day, unable to close with either vessel. At 1930 a sail was chased at the southeast in hazy weather. About 2100 the chase was run down. She was the brig Polly (Ebenezer Jenkins), owned by Seth Jenkins & Co. of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and had a crew of seven men aboard. Polly was bound from Nantucket to North Carolina in ballast. Parker removed the prisoners and Polly’s sails, and then destroyed the prize.⁵⁷

Four days later Phoenix was eighty miles to the southeast of Cape Henry. At 0700 she chased a sloop to the northeast and captured the Sally (John Patterson) at 1130. Sally was owned by Roger McCallister of Maryland and was bound from Maryland or Virginia to St. Eustatius, Netherlands West Indies with a cargo of tobacco. The seven man crew was removed and a midshipman and six men went aboard as a prize crew. Sally was sent to New York.⁵⁸

About 6 or 7 January Phoenix met with HMS Experiment, Captain Sir James Wallace, and spoke with her. Following the meeting with Experiment and after the capture of Sally, Phoenix encountered “violent gales of wind,” which forced her to bear away for the West Indies.⁵⁹

Otter’s tender Dunmore, commanded by Lieutenant John Wright, was outside the bay on 27 January, patrolling to the north of Cape Charles. At 36°56'N she encountered and captured the brigantine Rebecca.  The American was bound from Bedford in Dartmouth, Massachusetts to North Carolina in ballast. She was sent in to New York, arriving on 1 February 1778.⁶⁰

About the same time Dunmore captured a French sloop bound from Guadeloupe, French West Indies, to Virginia with a cargo of camp equipage, wine, and dry goods. She was sent in to New York, arriving on 1 February.⁶¹ This was probably Le Hardy (Pierre Marc), which had an official pass (congè) to proceed, probably to St-Pierre and Miquelon. She was tried and condemned at New York.⁶²

Near the end of the month Solebay was coming to join the squadron. On 28 January she was anchored off Cape Henry. At 0700 a schooner was in Hampton Roads, coming out of the bay. Solebay made sail at 0800 and the schooner ran aground at 1000. Solebay anchored and sent away her boats. The boats returned at 1400, having destroyed the abandoned schooner.⁶³

5. St. Albans in Hampton Roads, February 1778

HM Sloop Otter sailed from Hampton Roads on 4 February, observed by St. Albans. In the afternoon Onslow’s men reported seeing two sloops coming out of Portsmouth. St. Albans sent off her boats under a lieutenant to run them down. The two sloops proved elusive, but the boats did capture a two gun schooner (Joshua White) in the James River with a cargo of salt. She was bound from Suffolk to Williamsburg and was owned by William Roberts of Nansemond County, Virginia. The schooner was burned and the boats returned to St. Albans at 2100.⁶⁴

Three days later St. Albans sighted a schooner anchored off the Capes. HM Brig Tender Dasher was manned, armed and sent off under a lieutenant to investigate. Dasher returned at 1800. The sail seen earlier was a French brig, L’Petit Camarade (M. Sylverieux), which had run ashore losing her rudder and mainmast. She was bound from Bordeaux, France to Saint Pierre and Miquelon Islands, French North America (or to Louisiana) with a cargo of salt, wine, tea, woolens and “all Necessarys for ye Rebels.” L’Peteit Camarade was owned by Pierre Père & Fils of Bordeaux, was armed with two guns and had a crew of seventeen men. Dasher removed some of the cargo, rescued the crew, and set her on fire.⁶⁵ This is likely to be the unknown brig mentioned in the New York papers on 8 April.⁶⁶

St. Albans was anchored in Hampton Roads, her usual station, on 14 February. At 1900 Onslow dispatched his boats with two lieutenants, and a full crew with small arms. The boats intended to cut out two vessels seen to have anchored within the bar at Hampton Creek [Hampton River].⁶⁷

The mouth of Hampton Creek, Virginia

There were actually three American vessels in the bar: Virginia Navy Sloop Shore (Captain George Rogers), a trading vessel, sloop Defiance (John Rogers), and a third sloop. Shore was armed with four guns and had a crew of nine men aboard, and was bound from the James River to Cap Français, French West Indies with a cargo of tobacco. Defiance (John Rogers) was also armed with four guns and had a crew of nine men. She was bound from the James River to Martinique, French West Indies with a cargo of tobacco and staves, and was owned by the York River Company of Williamsburg.  It seems that both sloops had run aground in trying to get out of the bay.⁶⁸ The third vessel was “a very Fine Sloop & Commanded by a Very Cleaver Fellow.”⁶⁹

Neither American skipper was ready to give up as the British boats approached. A hot little fight followed before both sloops were captured and burned. Two British sailors were “dangerously wound’d” and six cutlasses and five pistols lost in the fight. Twelve Americans were captured.⁷⁰ The third sloop got into Hampton Creek “after a Very hot Engagement attackted by 6 Barges—”⁷¹

6. Expedition to the Potomac River, 5-15 February 1778

On 5 February Richmond and Solebay were up the bay, in the Potomac River, anchored nine miles southeast of Cherryfield Point, Maryland. In moderate and hazy weather two sail were seen to the southwest. At 1500 they were chased and split up. Gidoin ordered Solebay after the one that went south. The other tried to get into the Little Wicomico River in Virginia, but ran aground. Richmond’s boats captured the sloop, with her cargo of tobacco, and burned her.⁷²

a. Capture of the Lydia, 9 February 1778

Meanwhile, the Maryland Navy Trading Ship Lydia (Captain Ignatius Fenwick) was preparing for sea up the Potomac River. Fenwick reported on the status of the Lydia on 28 January. She was then at Piscataway Creek in Maryland, where she had been frozen in the ice for six days. The ice was beginning to break up but Lydia had no pilot. Fenwick had tried to get one from St. Marys on two occasions, but no pilot had turned up yet. There were reports circulating that British ships were above the mouth of the river. Fenwick advised the Council that Conqueror had not yet arrived. He was also short two men in the crew: his sources in Alexandria had failed and those men sent by Captain Cook of the Defence had never reported. Even so, Fenwick would sail at the first favorable opportunity.⁷³

The Maryland Council, on 30 January, advised Fenwick that Maryland Navy Galley Conqueror (Captain John David) had sailed a few days before, with some requested supplies and to escort Lydia to sea.  The latest letter it had received from Fenwick was that of 18 January. The Council suggested that Lydia sail down to meet the galley. Unfortunately, no additional crew could be recruited in Annapolis. The Council hoped Fenwick could recruit them.⁷⁴

On 9 February 1778 David was in Leonard Town, Maryland, conferring with Colonel Richard Barnes, the lieutenant of St. Marys County. The Conqueror was at the mouth of Breton Bay. After the conference David left. Soon after Barnes heard the news that British ships were in the St. Marys River. The wind was fair for Lydia to sail, so Barnes sent off a courier to David, to alert him and prevent Lydia from sailing.⁷⁵ Lydia sailed down the Potomac with the fair wind, ignorant of the British shipping.

Richmond and Solebay were indeed close to the Lydia. They were in the Potomac River, off St. Marys River on 9 February 1778. Under a flag of truce Gidoin sent ashore two prisoners for exchange and a proclamation. The proclamation stated that he would not annoy the inhabitants by landing men or burning houses, provided the local people did not interfere with the British. Colonel Vernon Webb wrote to his superior, Barnes, for prisoners to exchange, but there were none.⁷⁶

The mouth of St. Mary River, Maryland

In the afternoon Richmond and Solebay were about two miles ENE of St. Georges Island in the Potomac River. At 1800 the Richmond sighted a ship coming in to St. Marys River. Both British frigates gave chase.⁷⁷ Lydia tacked and tried to run back up the Potomac to get out of sight. By the time she had come about the British were under sail. As the British closed to within three quarters of a mile, Fenwick, First Mate John Ridgely, Pilot Stephen Gough and some other men abandoned ship and got ashore,⁷⁸ taking the colors and salvaging a few items in the process.⁷⁹ At 2100 they brought her to. She was the Lydia, from Alexandria to Bordeaux, France, with tobacco. Four prisoners were removed and a Lieutenant and twelve men went aboard as a prize crew.⁸⁰ The ships moved around St. Georges Island and anchored near Piney Point. The local militia had begun to muster by now and communication with the shore was cut off.⁸¹

b. Action off the St. Marys River, 11 February 1778

There was still the Conqueror. She was also ignorant of the British presence and was proceeding to rendezvous with the Lydia. Solebay was anchored off St. George’s Point on 11 February. The day was windy and hazy in the morning, but cleared off in the afternoon. At 1300 the men on the Solebay sighted a “Rebel Galley” coming down the Potomac River through the haze.⁸² Conqueror ran within two miles of the Solebay.⁸³ Symonds raised sail and began chasing the galley. Conqueror fired a shot⁸⁴ or two at the frigate,⁸⁵ which returned fire at David’s galley. For half an hour Solebay took potshots at the elusive target,⁸⁶ with David getting off a shot every now and then. The galley always kept in shoal water and finally Conqueror slipped in the St. Marys River.⁸⁷ Unable to get closer Symonds broke off the action and returned to anchor near the Richmond at 1600. No less than sixty-five 9-pounders were fired off by Solebay with no results.⁸⁸

Colonel Barnes reported the capture to the governor on 10 February from Leonard Town.⁸⁹ The Maryland Council, under the impression that Fenwick and his crew had been captured, initiated steps to secure the release of the prisoners on 13 February, and sent orders recalling the Conqueror unless Colonel Barnes needed her as part of the local defense.⁹⁰ Lydia was sent to New York, New York, where she arrived on 10 March 1778.⁹¹ She was condemned as a re-capture on 1 April 1778, being originally owned by Rawlinson & Chorley.⁹²

HM Frigate Emerald was anchored in Tangier Sound on 23 February. In the morning Caldwell sent his tender, HM Sloop Tender Polly, in chase to the north. Around 0900 a sloop from New York. The tender was back at 1200, having captured a small sloop with a cargo of flour. The flour was transferred to Emerald and the sloop released. In the afternoon Polly captured another sloop, this one with a cargo of tobacco. She was the Friendship. On 1 March Emerald, Otter, Polly and the prize all sailed down the bay. Friendship was eventually sent to New York.⁹³

By now the blockade was becoming tight. William Lewis, in a letter to James Hunter, from Norfolk, Virginia, reported that the “Man of war at present Block up the road that there is hardly any gitting Out.”⁹⁴ In another letter to Hunter on 20 February, Lewis stated that “this is Now one of the worst Places in Virgina. To get out of for two man of war Blocks up the Place.”⁹⁵

The presence of British warships in the bay encouraged the local loyalists on the eastern shore to become more active. One John Starling [Sterling] was on the Big Annemessex River [Great Annamessick River] in Worcester County, Maryland in February 1778. Starling was recruiting Loyalists, which had come to the attention of the Maryland authorities. The governor sent off a letter with orders for Colonels Joseph Dashiell, relative to John Starling. The man carrying the letter embarked on a vessel to cross the bay. As it happened, Virginia’s tenders, Amelia and Dolphin, were active in the bay. About 22 February the man with the letter came to Colonel  and Southy Simpson, at Accomac County, Virginia. Dashiell happened to be there and saw the man. The man had been en route to Dashiell when he was chased in the bay by one of Virginia’s tenders. Thinking she was British he sank the instructions overboard. Starling had by now recruited enough Tory assistance to capture three vessels in the Sound and on the river and take them down to the British ships. Dashiell, in reporting this incident from Snow Hill on 27 February, asked the governor if he could possibly “Send a galley to that Station, she Would be of grate Use in keeping the Annemesex Gentary in order, who are Continuly Saplying the Ennemy—”⁹⁶

Emerald, Solebay, and Richmond had returned to the Hampton Roads anchorage by mid February. It was just as well as an entirely unexpected development was about to occur in the blockade.

7. The Affair of the French Ships, 21 February

Back in November and December 1777 the French government had decided to forward more supplies to the Americans. Following the decision to sign treaties of alliance and trade with the United States efforts were made to involve merchants in adventures to the American states. The French granted “defensive” letters-of-marque to certain vessels. Other vessels were probably blockade runners set up sub rosa by the French government or one of the contractors supplying the Continental Congress’s Commerce Committee or the American Commissioners in France. A great many of these vessels sailed with a common destination: the Chesapeake Bay.

a. L’Anonyme (Vicomte de Veaux)

As far back as June 1777 the American Commissioners in France had been interested in using the ship L’Anonyme for a cargo to America. She was originally intended to be used for Captain Thomas Hynson, until that un-worthy brother-in-law to Captain Lambert Wickes turned traitor. She next turns up in a very confused, and confusing, intelligence report, probably from L’Orient, about the middle of December. Here she is said to be 450 or 500 tons and to be loading at L’Orient, bound for America. Nothing further is stated about her.⁹⁷ Either just before or just after she sailed, the ship was re-named the Vicomte de Veaux,⁹⁸ after her owner, the Vicomte de Veaux of Paris.⁹⁹

Vicomte de Veaux (Pierre Donat de La Garde) was described as being armed with twenty-four guns and as having a crew of eighty-nine men aboard. De Veaux had loaded her with a cargo of salt, woolens, cordage,¹⁰⁰ and other European and East Indian goods.¹⁰¹ She sailed with a prominent passenger, the Vicomte de Sabron¹⁰² going over to America to become a Major General in the Continental Army. Obviously, Vicomte de Veaux was not your common merchant craft.

b. La Beaumont (Lyon)

La Beaumont was at L’Orient in November 1777. Her owners, Dessaudrais Sebire and Co., approached Charles Pierre Gonet, the Commissary of Marine at L’Orient, concerning the voyage of L’Beaumont. They planned to load the ship with 1100 or 1200 casks of goods and clear her out for Cadiz or the French colonies in America. The merchants had assured Gabriel de Sartine, the French Minister of Marine, that no munitions were being shipped. The cargo would be valuable and guns and a large crew would be needed. The owners wondered if Gonet could be of assistance. Gonet wrote to Sartine on 17 and 26 November for instructions.¹⁰³

Sartine answered on 2 December 1777. He instructed Gonet to make sure no munitions were loaded, but the voyage was permitted to go forward. If the defensive guns were in the hold they might be thought to be cargo, therefore it was best to mount the guns. As soon as Gonet determined that 200 men were needed in the crew, he was to allow a levy, taking care to keep the best sailors for the French naval service. The captain of La Beaumont was to be required to pledge only to go to a French colony and return to France.¹⁰⁴

The owners clearly intended L’Beaumont for America. On 19 December the sailors were paid their advance wages and were told at that time that the big ship was bound for Boston, Massachusetts. If Gonet did not hear this, British intelligence did hear it.¹⁰⁵

La Beaumont (Jean Michel¹⁰⁶ [Michell]) was a three-decked¹⁰⁷ behemoth of 1000¹⁰⁸ or 1100 tons,¹⁰⁹ an old East India ship,¹¹⁰ and mounted forty¹¹¹ or forty-four guns¹¹² and had a crew of over 200¹¹³ or 250 men.¹¹⁴ Michel carried a “defensive commission,” and a cargo of European and India goods.¹¹⁵ La Beaumont also carried a cargo of salt, forty tons of cordage, sail cloth, clothing and other items.¹¹⁶

Both La Beaumont and L’Anonyme cleared out for St. Pierre and Miquelon in French North America, but were actually bound for Chesapeake Bay.¹¹⁷ They were “determined to force a Trade, and to oppose inferior Force,” according to a British officer.¹¹⁸ Indeed, Vicomte de Veaux had a letter-of-marque commission.¹¹⁹ It is not a coincidence that these two ships dropped down the Loire River immediately after the Continental Navy Ships Raleigh (Captain Thomas Thompson) and Alfred (Captain Elisha Hinman) on 28 December 1777. Alfred and Raleigh sailed on 29 December; the two French ships were to sail the next day.¹²⁰

L’Beaumont acquired a new name about this time: the Lyon.¹²¹ The two French ships sailed on 31 December¹²² or 1 January 1778¹²³ and joined the American warships, which, apparently, were to serve as escorts out of European waters. These ships stayed with Alfred and Raleigh until about 13 January 1778.¹²⁴

c. Ferdinand

The Ferdinand was a large ship, armed with forty-four guns, and with a crew of 250 men, commanded by Denis-Nicolas Cottineau de Kerloguen.¹²⁵ Fifty of these men were volunteers from St. Malo, France. Ferdinand may have sailed from St. Malo.¹²⁶

Sailing from St. Malo, possibly with the Ferdinand, was the ship L’Hector (Charles Porée [P. Parrie]), owned by Roualt of St. Malo. She was bound for Hampton Roads, Virginia, in Chesapeake Bay with salt, bale goods,¹²⁷ cordage,¹²⁸ and other items. L’Hector was armed with fourteen guns and had a crew of forty-five men.¹²⁹

d. The Lyon and Vicomte de Veaux Make Landfall, 21-23 February 1778

At 0400 on 21 February 1778, HM Sloop Senegal (Commander Anthony J. P. Molloy) was about ninety miles east by north of Cape Henry, Virginia. Senegal was inbound to Chesapeake Bay. About 0630 her lookouts sighted land in the early morning light. At 0700 something else was sighted: two sail were made out ahead, standing in for the Virginia Capes. Senegal was running in behind them. Molloy fired two guns as a private recognition signal, which was ignored. The two strangers did display French colors. The largest ship was following the smaller and both were steering towards the James River. Molloy noted that both were armed.¹³⁰

HMS St. Albans (Captain Richard Onslow) was moored in Hampton Roads, Virginia that same morning. His lookouts sighted two sail standing in for Chesapeake Bay at 0900. By 1000 St. Albans’s men could see three sail, all ships. The two in front appeared large. The battleship made the private recognition signal, which was not answered. The two leading ships did hoist French colors and pendants. St. Albans could not get underway as there was only a small wind and the tide was coming in, so Onslow got springs on his anchor cable and prepared for action.¹³¹

By afternoon Senegal was only two or three miles from Cape Henry, with the French ships still ahead, standing in for Hampton Roads, where St. Albans waited. About 1400 the two ships tacked, followed by Senegal. Molloy expected St. Albans to come out.¹³² St. Albans, meanwhile, had partially unmoored and hauled on her spring to turn the ship. At 1430 Onslow saw the French haul to the southward and stand back out toward Cape Henry. He thought they were just east of Willoughby Shoals. Onslow noted they had a tier of guns and appeared armed.¹³³ When St. Albans did not move, Molloy tacked and Senegal stood directly for the French ships. They hauled down their colors and hoisted vanes. About 1530¹³⁴ Senegal passed within hail of the two ships.¹³⁵ The largest had forty-four guns, the smaller had twenty-four and both were “full of Men, & under Arms, & seemed prepared for Action & Tompions out . . .”¹³⁶ By 1600 Senegal was close enough to answer St. Albans’s private signal and at 1700 Senegal anchored in Hampton Roads.¹³⁷

At dawn on 22 February the two French ships were seen in the bay, under sail, from the Senegal.¹³⁸ The wind was unfavorable and the two French ships anchored in Lynnhaven Bay, Virginia.¹³⁹

The British saw the French vessels were still in Lynnhaven Bay at dawn on 23 February. The day dawned with light winds and hazy weather, but enough wind to conduct a regular chase. Onslow ordered Senegal to an anchorage below Point Comfort, Virginia to protect a victualler and several prizes anchored there. At 0900 St. Albans got underway towards the entrance to the bay,¹⁴⁰ accompanied by Senegal.¹⁴¹ At 0930 her lookouts saw two sail to the east. The French were trying to get out of the bay. St. Albans met HM Frigate Solebay (Captain Thomas Symonds) at 1000, whereupon Onslow ordered a general chase to the east.¹⁴² Solebay had been anchored off Point Comfort. Symonds came to sail at 0900, having sighted two ships “off the Cape,” that is, in the entrance and trying to get out.¹⁴³

The chase wore on into the afternoon. The weather had cleared off and the winds had picked up to a moderate breeze, according to St. Albans.¹⁴⁴ According to Solebay there was little wind. At 1630 Solebay¹⁴⁵ raised her colors¹⁴⁶ and began firing at the Vicomte de Veaux, eight shots splashing in the water.¹⁴⁷ De La Garde displayed French colors¹⁴⁸ and continued to run. About 1800 Solebay was in a little closer and fired four more shots. Vicomte de Veaux hove to and surrendered,¹⁴⁹ although “cleared and ready to engage . . .”¹⁵⁰ By 1930 Symonds had taken possession of his prize. St. Albans was still coming up to chase the Lyon. Symonds hailed Onslow as St. Albans passed, told him the French prize was from St. Malo, and that Lyon bore to the southeast.¹⁵¹

At dawn the next day Lyon was far to the southeast from Cape Henry. Her pursuer, St. Albans, was a mile and a half northeast of the cape. Onslow’s men saw the chase and raised all sail. The winds were light and even studding sails were set. For thirty miles the chase went on. At noon Onslow gave up: “it being little Wind, and no Chance of Speakg the Chace not Judging it proper to be lead off the Coast with only 35 Tons of Water on board.”¹⁵²

At dawn of 25 February, Senegal sighted two sail at anchor within Cape Henry, one with French colors. Another was seen at sea, plying back and forth. Molloy sent his tender to investigate and discovered the two ships were the Vicomte de Veaux and the Solebay. These two anchored in Lynnhaven Bay, by the Senegal, at 1100. The other ship was the St. Albans, returning from her fruitless chase, which anchored in Lynnhaven Bay at 1330.¹⁵³

Onslow examined the French crew. He was informed that he ships had cleared out for the West Indies. After sailing the names of the ships were changed and false journals and reckonings were kept, but no papers were found aboard: “Indeed they do not scruple saying, that they have destroyed their Letters and papers . . .” More ships were coming, according to Onslow’s informants, up to forty, in batches of four to six at a time.¹⁵⁴

Vicomte de Veaux was sent in to New York, New York, as a prize of the Solebay.¹⁵⁵ She arrived there on 10 March 1778 and was reported to be a 600-ton ship, armed with twenty-four guns.¹⁵⁶ She was condemned there on 10 April 1778.¹⁵⁷

Meanwhile, Lyon fled to the eastward, then steered north. On 3 March 1778 Michel saw a fleet of thirteen sail with two warships, flying the Continental colors. Michel was not to be fooled and thought they were a British fleet. Lyon arrived at New London, Connecticut on 7 March1778.¹⁵⁸

Here, Michel contacted Nathaniel Shaw, the Agent for Connecticut and the Continental Navy. On 13 March Michel went forward to Governor Trumbull, with Shaw’s brother. Shaw explained that Michel would have called on the governor before, but the bad weather had prevented traveling. Shaw had suggested that the Lyon go out on a cruise after landing her cargo and suggested that the governor so advise Michel. The Lyon was a “fine Ship mountg 40 Guns and has 220 Men and a Good Sailing Ship. If any of the goods aboard the Lyon were needed by the state Shaw recommended getting them as soon as they were landed.¹⁵⁹

Michel was well received at Lebanon, Connecticut and met with the Connecticut Council of Safety on 16 March concerning his cargo.¹⁶⁰ On 19 March Trumbull informed Shaw that the Continental Board of War would purchase all the clothing loaded on the Lyon.¹⁶¹ The Navy Board of the Eastern District was interesting in purchasing the sail cloth and forty tons of cordage in the Lyon.¹⁶²

e. Arrival of the Good Hope, 28 February 1778

The next big ship to make landfall on the Chesapeake Capes was the 700-ton¹⁶³ Danish ship Good Hope (Jurgen Lassin¹⁶⁴ [Larsen]).¹⁶⁵ HM Frigate Richmond was working into Chesapeake Bay on the afternoon of 28 February, when, at 1300 she saw a sail to the east northeast. Richmond steered toward her and an hour later¹⁶⁶ could see Danish colors flying from her.¹⁶⁷ By now Good Hope had also attracted the attention of Solebay and Senegal. With HMS St. Albans anchored within sight Lassin might well have concluded he was in trouble.¹⁶⁸ At 1600 the chase anchored. Gidoin sent his boats to the chase, which was soon revealed to be the Good Hope, bound from Cadiz, Spain to St. Thomas, Danish West Indies (but actually to Williamsburg, Virginia) with a cargo of salt¹⁶⁹ and military stores including twenty brass cannon.¹⁷⁰ Good Hope was owned by Niel Ferguson of Albany, had a crew of twenty-two men and was armed with three guns. Richmond and her prize anchored in the mouth of the Chesapeake at 2000, near Solebay and Senegal.¹⁷¹ She was sent to New York with the prizes escorted by Vicomte de Veaux and arrived on 10 March 1778.¹⁷² Good Hope was tried and condemned on 10 April 1778.¹⁷³A prize ship named Good Hope was advertised for sale on 13 April with the auction to be held on 14 April.¹⁷⁴

f. The Ferdinand at North Carolina, 26 February 1778

Ferdinand arrived at Cape Lookout, North Carolina before 26 February 1778. Cottineau intended to go into Beaufort, North Carolina, but he was forced to anchor in Bogue Sound (Cape Lookout Bay) because Ferdinand drew too much water. Since this anchorage was insecure, Cottineau sent six 12-pounder guns ashore and established a battery at the point. One of his passengers, the Chevalier de Cambray, directed the work. De Cambray was going to Washington to offer his services in the Army.¹⁷⁵

From this anchorage Cottineau wrote a letter to George Washington, announcing his arrival and enclosing a copy of the invoice of the cargo of the Ferdinand. Cottineau styled himself as “Capt. Of the Frigate Ferdinand.” The letter is filled with flattery. In in Cottineau offers his services in the “naval Service.” He also offers his ship to the “Continent.” Cottineau proposed to go into Beaufort after discharging his cargo. There he would erect another battery. He intended to name the two small forts after Washington and Hancock. The invoice itself contains a very long list of goods.¹⁷⁶

On 5 March 1778 Cottineau placed an advertisement in the North-Carolina Gazette for deserters from his ship. He promised a reward of $25 for each French sailor taken up within twelve miles of the Ferdinand and returned to the commanding officer at Beaufort. The advertisement was published on 27 March. From this we can infer that Ferdinand was still in the sound.¹⁷⁷

Meanwhile, Cottineau was landing the cargo. An advertisement for the sale of the goods appears in the 6 March issue of the North-Carolina Gazette, with a complete list of the goods to be sold. The heading is most interesting, for it describes Ferdinand (given here as Ferdenand) as a thirty-six gun ship with a crew of 200 men. Cottineau (as Gatinau) was noted as “one of the king’s officers . . .” The sale was to take place on 12 March.¹⁷⁸

Washington received Cottineau’s letter and passed it on to Congress. On 31 March the letter was read and it was resolved that the Committee of Commerce should purchase such articles of Ferdinand’s cargo as needed after conferring with the Board of War and the Marine Committee. The letter was referred to a committee of three (Duer, Chase and Francis Lightfoot Lee).¹⁷⁹

g. One More That Got Away, 1-5 March 1778

Solebay and Senegal chased another French ship on 1 March. The chase was a “Frigate like ship (supposed to be French) with bright sides . . .” After a long chase the French ship got away in the night.¹⁸⁰ Symonds reported she was a “long Frigate-built French Ship, but he did not think it prudent to follow her any longer, as a NW Gale came on . . .”¹⁸¹ Although the identity of this ship is unknown, it might be one called Le Brune. This one sailed from the mouth of the [Loire] in early December 1777. She was described as 500 or 600 tons, with a cargo of salt and forty-six guns in the hold, covered with salt. The master’s name was Mallet. She cleared out for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, but was bound for America. She sailed with a ship called Le Sage. This is apparently not the ship that later became the Continental Navy Ship Queen of France.¹⁸²

Solebay was about seventy miles off Cape Henry on 5 March. At 0200 she chased a sail to leeward and soon brought to a schooner from Boston, Massachusetts bound to Virginia,¹⁸³ with a cargo of salt.¹⁸⁴ The crew was removed, a prize crew put aboard, and Solebay took her in tow. She was the schooner Newport (John Groce [Gross]). Newport arrived in Hampton Roads with Solebay on 6 March.¹⁸⁵ She was sent to New York, where she arrived on 10 March.¹⁸⁶ was condemned on 10 April 1778.¹⁸⁷

h. The Second Wave of French Ships, 12-13 March 1778

All the British vessels made sail on the morning of 12 March at 0600.¹⁸⁸ St. Albans, Solebay, Emerald, Richmond, Senegal, and Otter¹⁸⁹ were joined by the Dunmore soon after 0600. At 0700 Richmond was ordered to chase to the southeast after a French ship,¹⁹⁰ along with the Senegal.¹⁹¹ At 0900 Emerald turned and stood up the bay.¹⁹² Two other ships anchored between the Horseshoe and the Middle Ground shoals. Richmond and Senegal were chasing the French ship.¹⁹³

The French ship being chased ran across the tail of the Middle Ground steering for Smiths Island. About 1100 she ran aground about the middle of the island. French colors fluttered up on the haliards and a shot was fired in the general direction of Senegal. Molloy returned one shot. At 1130 Senegal anchored and sent in her pinnace with a flag of truce to speak the chase. Seven shots were fired at the boats, which put back to the Senegal. At 1200 the chase’s mainmast fell overboard, followed soon after by her foremast.¹⁹⁴ Immediately after the chase bilged.¹⁹⁵

Meanwhile Richmond had observed the French ship run aground and Senegal and Dunmore anchor close inshore. Richmond sent off her boats with a Lieutenant to Molloy with orders to get the French ship afloat, or to destroy her.¹⁹⁶ Richmond’s boats arrived and Molloy sent all the boats to rescue the crew and make sure the ship was destroyed.¹⁹⁷

When the British got aboard the ship she was found to be the 350-ton LeTonnere (I. Dessau), with fifty men and eighteen¹⁹⁸ or twenty guns,¹⁹⁹ bound from Cap Français, Saint-Domingue “to the Rebells.”²⁰⁰ She was owned by Deledebat of Bordeaux, France and had a cargo of bale goods.²⁰¹ Dessau explained that he had been sick in bed and that the American pilot had fired the guns at the boats. The pilot then escaped ashore in the ship’s boat.²⁰² The crew was rescued; the guns were thrown overboard, and the British withdrew.²⁰³ At 1400 Richmond’s  boats returned. The ship had been left a “Compleat wreck.” Richmond made sail, accompanied by the Senegal and Dunmore,²⁰⁴ steering for Cape Henry.²⁰⁵

In the afternoon St. Albans saw a sail coming into the bay and sent her tender Dasher out after the ship. The ship lay to, flying French colors. Soon after she came in and anchored a half gunshot from the St. Albans, off Willoughby’s Point. Onslow’s boats went over and boarded the prize. She was the twelve gun Le Jean Andrè (Guillaume Coronet [Couronnet]), with a crew of thirty-eight or forty men, and owned by Jauge & Co. of Bordeaux, France. Le Jean Andrè was bound from Bordeaux to the Chesapeake with clothing, canvas,  cordage,²⁰⁶ and salt. She was sent in to New York, arriving on 26 March with L’Hector.²⁰⁷ Le Jean Andrè was libeled on 30 March and condemned on 27 April 1778.²⁰⁸

At 1700 two sail were sighted to the south by Senegal, Richmond, and Otter, standing in for the Cape. All three British vessels began chasing. By 2300 Richmond made the private recognition signal to the ship, now within the cape. The signal was not answered.²⁰⁹ The three British ships were chasing yet another French ship into the bay.

Ferdinand’s probable sailing consort, L’Hector, made landfall at Cape Henry, Virginia about 12 March 1778. She anchored off the Capes,²¹⁰ awaiting daylight to enter Chesapeake Bay. About midnight  Richmond and Senegal passed the exit of the bay, past the capes and discovered a ship at anchor. Both steered for L’Hector.²¹¹ At 0130 on 13 March, about fifteen miles northeast of Cape Henry, Richmond raised her colors and fired four guns at L’Hector.²¹² Senegal joined in with six shots at the chase at 0200.²¹³ Porée raised his French colors and then immediately lowered them again, in token of surrender. Richmond’s boats and one of Senegal’s went over to examine the French ship.²¹⁴ Richmond anchored two miles off Cape Henry.²¹⁵ Senegal anchored by the prize, four miles off Cape Henry.²¹⁶

At 0700 both Senegal and L’Hector entered the bay and anchored in Lynnhaven Bay by St. Albans. In the afternoon some of the French prisoners were sent aboard the St. Albans. By now someone had noticed that L’Hector was leaking. A close examination discovered three holes “bored through her Bows near the waters edge, with Cork in them . . .” These were quickly repaired.²¹⁷ L’Hector was sent off to New York, New York, [escorted by Senegal].²¹⁸ She arrived there on 26 March.²¹⁹ She was libeled on 1 April 1778 and condemned on 27 April 1778.²²⁰

i. A Swedish Prize, 21 March 1778

On the morning of 21 March Senegal was anchored twelve miles north northwest of Cape Henry. At 1100 she sighted a ship to the southeast standing in for the bay. The stranger fired a gun and signaled for a pilot. Senegal then made the private recognition signal and raised French colors. The stranger raised “Rebell” colors. The day was windy and Senegal had trouble raising her anchor. Finally, Molloy cut his cable and stood for the ship, which had anchored in Lynnhaven Bay, and raised Swedish colors. At 1400 Senegal fired one shot and the stranger struck her colors.²²¹ The capture had been observed by St. Albans, anchored in Hampton Roads. She noted in her log that two ships were anchored just off Cape Henry in the afternoon.²²²

The stranger was the 340-ton Swedish ship Louisa Uldrique [Louisa Ulrica] (Peter Arvidson), owned by William Borritz of Göteborg, Sweden. Her crew of seventeen men had been shipped in Göteborg. Louisa Ulrica was armed with two guns. She was bound from Cadiz, Spain to Williamsburg. The ship had a fabulous cargo: 137 “Cannon for the Rebells,”²²³ consisting of forty-eight 6-pounders and eighty-nine 12-pounders.²²⁴ The guns were loaded at Cadiz by Rey and Brandenburgh with fake bills of lading for Bordeaux, France.²²⁵ Onslow thought she was “of too much consequence” to send to New York without an escort, and dispatched her about 27 March escorted by HM Frigate Ariel (Captain John Becher).²²⁶ She was sent in to New York, arriving there on 9 April 1778.²²⁷ She was libeled on 10 April and condemned on 6 May 1778.²²⁸

8. Blockade Routine, 24-30 March 1778

The British ships acted as a magnet for runaway slaves. Thirty-five of them came out to the St. Albans on 20 March,²²⁹ having stolen a boat at Portsmouth. Onslow wrote to Colonel Charles Harrison that he would return these people if he could be reassured they would not be mistreated.²³⁰ Six more slaves fled to the St. Albans the next day, but several were returned ashore.²³¹

HM Schooner Tender Dasher was up the bay from Hampton Roads. On the morning of 24 March she returned to Hampton Roads and anchored near the St. Albans with two prizes which she had captured on 21 March. One was sloop Holt, bound from Williamsburg to Elk River, Maryland with pork. She was owned in Williamsburg and had a crew of four men. The other prize was schooner Hawke, bound from Baltimore to Williamsburg with a cargo of iron and a crew of three men. She was owned in Baltimore. Hawke was broken up for firewood on 5 April 1778; Holt suffered the same fate the next day.²³²

In a report to Admiral Viscount Howe on 27 March, Onslow noted that scurvy had broken out among the crew of St. Albans and that several men had died from it. Onslow thought he would have to withdraw from the Chesapeake by mid-April and proceed to New York to allow the crew to recuperate. One problem was the lack of supplies from ashore. Onslow had received fresh beef on 26 March and was promised more, yet “The Law of the State makes it dangerous for the Adventurers who supply us: It is seven Year’s Banishment to the Mines for any Person detected in supplying us with any Sort of Provisions.”²³³

9. Virginia’s Last Run, 30-31 March 1778

Since her first breakout attempt in January, Virginia had been recruiting her crew and awaiting another chance. As it happened the Purviances had a brig at Baltimore with an old Chesapeake Bay pilot aboard.²³⁴ This might possibly be the Maryland Privateer Brig Saratoga (Commander Alexander Murray), armed with twelve guns. Saratoga’s pilot was “supposed to be one of the best in the bay . . .” Nicholson promised to pay this pilot £100 if he could get Virginia out without going aground.²³⁵

Virginia began her next breakout attempt by moving down to Annapolis from Baltimore with the Saratoga. On 30 March, at 0800, Virginia raised anchor and made sail. She was accompanied by the brig. The wind was very favorable, coming hard out of the northwest. Virginia’s tender (the Dolphin perhaps) was absent with nineteen men²³⁶ under Captain of Marines Plunkett and  Lieutenant John Fanning.²³⁷ The Virginia worked her way down the bay without mishap, the brig preceding her. As night fell the brig hoisted a stern lantern to guide the ship.²³⁸

About 0130 on 31 March, a brig armed with ten guns passed by the blockading squadron. She was seen by Solebay, which slipped her cables and went in chase.²³⁹ This would have been the Saratoga. She had pulled away from the Virginia, making the pilot useless. Virginia was about an hour and a half behind the brig. All seemed to be well until 0300 when the frigate struck on the shoals of the Middle Ground. The hard northwest wind pushed her along the shoal, bumping the bottom and opening leaks.²⁴⁰ The tide was going out and the frigate heeled to her starboard side as she slide along the shoal. Her rudder was forced back, springing the pins,²⁴¹ and shattering it to pieces.²⁴² The experience, played out in relatively slow motion, was surely sheer terror for many of the men aboard. At 0430 the Virginia was pushed over the shoal. She was leaking badly. Nicholson put four pumps to work, which just about balanced the incoming water. With no rudder the ship could not be steered, and the leaks could not be repaired in the dark. Virginia dropped anchor to await daylight.²⁴³

The last run of the Continental Navy Ship Virginia, 30-31 March 1778

At daylight two British frigates were seen nearby, one within two gunshot range and abreast of the Virginia. Nicholson ordered the barge hoisted out and called for volunteers to man her. He said, in his letter to the Marine Committee, that he “took such of my crew as were inclined to run the risque of getting on shore . . .”²⁴⁴ In plain truth Nicholson was going to abandon ship. The wind was blowing violently.²⁴⁵ With nine men the captain went ashore, getting on to Cape Henry. There he waited and watched to see what happened.²⁴⁶

Lieutenant Barney was left in command. Barney apparently called a council of officers. He suggested cutting the ship’s anchor cables, in the hope that she would drift ashore on Cape Henry. From there the crew could be saved and the ship destroyed. There was a real danger that Virginia might miss Cape Henry and drift, unmanageable, into the open ocean. The other officers rejected this suggestion. As the crew waited for the British to come discipline broke down. Some of the crew broke into the ship’s liquor and got drunk. There was little else to do.²⁴⁷

The British had been watching Virginia since a half hour after she had cleared the shoal. At 0500 Emerald’s lookouts sighted the Virginia at anchor to the east with her sails loose. Caldwell cleared for action and waited for flood tide. At 0800 the tide came and Emerald stood toward the Virginia. The Americans raised their colors and waited. At 0900 Emerald fired a single 6-pounder at the Virginia, which promptly surrendered. Caldwell sent a boat on her to take possession. He reported she was armed with thirty guns and had 159 men aboard. At 1000 Richmond joined the Emerald and the American prisoners were transferred to the two frigates.²⁴⁸ Her crew was later reported to be from 140 to 170 men.²⁴⁹

The British moved Virginia to Lynnhaven Bay at 1000,²⁵⁰ and got her leaks stopped.²⁵¹ Nicholson claimed she was still aground on 2 April.²⁵² Virginia was sent to New York, New York, where she was libeled on 6 May 1778 and was condemned on 28 May as a prize of the Emerald’s. Her prize shares were divided among Emerald, Richmond, St. Albans, Senegal, and Ariel.²⁵³ She was taken in to the Royal Navy as HM Frigate Virginia, rated as a 32-gun frigate.

Nicholson, waiting on Cape Henry, saw the British frigates move down and capture the Virginia. He went up to Portsmouth, got a boat, and went out to St. Albans²⁵⁴ on 1 April,²⁵⁵ to arrange the parole of his officers,²⁵⁶ and to ask for the return of his personal effects.²⁵⁷ Barney, also aboard the St. Albans, saw Nicholson and became very angry. He approached his captain and publically “. . . upbraided him with his conduct in quitting the ship . . . when if he had remained on board there was not the least doubt but we should have run the ship ashore where she might have been destroyed.”²⁵⁸ Nicholson was still aboard the St. Albans on 2 April 1778. It was from aboard the British ship that he reported the loss of the Virginia to the Marine Committee.²⁵⁹ Finding he was unlikely to obtain the paroles he returned ashore,²⁶⁰ to proceed to Baltimore and then to Congress.²⁶¹

10. Summary

The British squadron blockading the Chesapeake Bay was very successful during the winter of 1778. Not only did the blockade clamp down tight enough for the Americans to complain, the squadron had several brushes with the local naval forces, all successfully. The biggest victory was the capture of Continental Navy Ship Virginia. Of the thirty-one vessels captured or destroyed, no less than eleven were French, which should have been reason for reflection. The appearance of the large French ships in late February was even more suggestive of future French involvement. Onslow’s squadron had captured at least 532 prisoners and 119 guns during this interval.

American vessels captured or destroyed in Chesapeake Bay, Winter 1778. Each red cross marks one capture.

British Prizes in the Chesapeake, January-March 1778
Date	Rig	Name	Master	Cargo	Nationality	Guns	Men
1/3	Brig	L’Alexandrine	Jean François Forand	Tobacco	French		12
1/4	Ship	Dragon*	Claude Bondit	Tobacco	French
1/4	Sloop	Recovery	Ephraim Paynter	Salt	British		5
1/6	Snow	L’Elegante	Collenau	Tobacco	French		[7]
1/7	Brig	La Genevieve†	Pierre Tournet		French	4	17
1/10	Brig	Polly	Ebenezer Jenkins	Ballast	American		7
1/14	Sloop	Sally	John Patterson	Tobacco	American		7
1/21	[unknown]	[unknown]	[unknown]	Salt	American
1/21	[unknown]	[unknown]	[unknown]		American
1/27	Brigantine	Rebecca	[unknown]	Ballast	American
1/27	Sloop	Le Hardy†	Pierre Marc	Military	French
1/28	Schooner	[unknown]	[unknown]		American
1/30	Ship	Fortune	Joseph Mass	Rum	French		14
1/31	Sloop	[unknown]	[unknown]		American
2/4	Schooner	[unknown]	Joshua White	Salt	American	2
2/7	Brig	L’Petit Camarade	M. Sylverieux	Salt	French	2	17
2/9	Ship	Lydia	Ignatius Fenwick	Tobacco	American	—	4
2/14	Sloop	Shore	George Rogers	Tobacco	American	4	9
2/14	Sloop	Defiance	John Rogers	Tobacco	American	4	9
2/23	Sloop	[unknown]	[unknown]	Flour	American
2/23	Sloop	Friendship		Tobacco	American
2/23	Ship	Vicomte de Veaux*	Pierre Donat de La Garde	Cordage	French	24	89
2/28	Ship	Good Hope	Jurgen Lassin	Cannon	Danish	3	22
3/5	Schooner	Newport	John Gross	Salt	American
3/12	Ship	Le Tonnere	I. Dessau	Clothing	French	18	50
3/12	Ship	Le Jean Andrè	Guillaume Coronet	Clothing	French	12	38
3/13	Ship	L’Hector	Charles Porée	Cordage	French	14	45
3/21	Ship	Louisa Ulrica	Peter Arvidson	Cannon	Swedish	2	17
3/24	Sloop	Holt		Pork	American		4
3/24	Schooner	Hawke		Iron	American		3
3/31	Ship	Virginia	John Nicholson	Warship	American	30	159
Totals: 31 captured/destroyed; 119 guns; a minimum of 532 prisoners. One Continental Navy ship, one Maryland Navy ship, one Virginia Navy ship captured/destroyed.