page_title: Battle of Delaware Bay
section_title: Battle
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Delaware Bay / Battle
caption_attribution_description: Sketch of en:Joshua Barney circa 1800.
context_page_description: The Battle of Delaware Bay, or the Battle of Cape May, was a naval engagement fought between the Kingdom of Great Britain and United States during the American Revolutionary War. A British squadron of three vessels attacked three American privateers, that were escorting a fleet of merchantmen. The ensuing combat in Delaware Bay, near Cape May, ended with an American victory over a superior British force.
context_section_description: At nightfall on April 7, 1782, the American convoy anchored within Cape May due to the wind which had died down to a calm. Later that night, the British in HMS Quebec and General Monk sighted the enemy fleet and anchored off the cape and made preparations to attack the Hyder Ally, which was considered the most formidable ship of the fleet. Unaware of the British vessels nearby, the Americans spent the night believing they were safe. The following morning three British privateers were spotted and Captain Mason signaled them to join him. Only the Brig Fair American responded. At 10:00 am the Americans sighted the British vessels approaching. Lieutenant Barney ordered the merchantmen to flee up the Delaware Bay under the protection of the General Greene and the Charming Sally while the Hyder Ally remained behind to engage the British.
  The fleet was directed to sail as close to the shoreline as possible so as not to allow a pursuit. The larger British vessels would have a hard time following in the shallow water. The General Greene disobeyed Barney's orders and prepared for battle, and the Charming Sally grounded on a shoal and was abandoned by her crew. At about 11:00 am the three British vessels were identified by the Americans. HMS Quebec stood off the nearby Cape Henlopen to prevent the Americans from escaping Cape May into the Atlantic, but this was unnecessary as the Americans were headed into the bay rather than into open sea. The Fair American led the advance with the General Monk behind. Sometime after 12:00 pm the British came within range of the two American privateers. To try to lure the General Monk closer, Lieutenant Barney turned about as if attempting to flee. The Fair American opened fire with a broadside followed by another; the shots were accurate but caused little damage.
  Still in a fake retreat, the Hyder Ally's gun ports remained closed and no shots had yet been fired by the Continentals. The General Greene did the same as the Hyder Ally and turned around, but she grounded just outside British gun range. The trick worked; Fair American broke off the effort to attack the General Greene as HMS General Monk proceeded forward to attack the Hyder Ally. Fortunately for Continental forces, the Fair American grounded in shallow water, and was put out of the action permanently because of damage to her hull. Heading forward, Captain Rodgers decided to slow down and launch a boat to take the abandoned Charming Sally, after which he continued on until he caught up with the Hyder Ally. When within range of pistols, Captain Rodgers ordered her to surrender. Barney answered with a broadside of grape, canister and round shot which raked the deck of the British sloop, killing some sailors and marines. General Monk replied with her bow guns which were the only weapons bearing down on the Americans at the time. 
  Barney ordered his ship to port and unleashed another broadside; these shots passed through the sails and rigging of the General Monk and damaged her main and top-gallant masts. Before the battle, the British bored their 6-pounders on the General Monk to fire 9-pound balls. This proved fatal when the British came within a few yards off 'the 'Hyder Ally's beam for a full broadside of their own. When they fired, the General Monk's cannons were torn up from the deck and flipped over. Several sailors burned themselves as they tried to right the cannons. A few minutes later the two sloops had drifted close enough to each other that the British and Americans could hear each other shouting commands. Barney took the opportunity to reload his cannon but he did not give his gunners the order to open fire. Instead the lieutenant shouted "hard a-port, do you want him to run abroad of us," another trick. Hearing this, Captain Rodgers ordered his ship to port as Lieutenant Barney ordered his vessel to starboard.
  As a result, the two vessels collided and became entangled in each other's rigging. The American sailors fastened the General Monk to their ship to prevent her from breaking loose and then fired their broadside. The sho
caption: Joshua Barney, circa 1800
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