     the battle of the chesapeake, also known as the battle of the virginia capes or simply the battle of the capes, was a crucial naval battle in the american war of independence that took place near the mouth of chesapeake bay on 5 september 1781, between a british fleet led by rear admiral sir thomas graves and a french fleet led by rear admiral francois joseph paul, the comte de grasse. the battle was tactically inconclusive but strategically a major defeat for the british, since it prevented the royal navy from reinforcing or evacuating the blockaded forces of lieutenant general lord cornwallis at yorktown, virginia. when the french were able to achieve temporary control of the sea lanes against the british, the result was the reinforcement of the continental army with siege artillery and french troopsâall of which proved decisive in the siege of yorktown, effectively securing independence for the thirteen colonies.{{cite book|author=m. evan brooks|title=military history's most wanted|url=http:
1781_in_Virginia 1781_in_the_United_States Conflicts_in_1781 History_of_Virginia_Beach,_Virginia Naval_battles_involving_France Naval_battles_of_the_American_Revolutionary_War Virginia_in_the_American_Revolution