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Posted on 03/10/2007 5:54:23 PM PST by NonValueAdded
A monument and historical marker were dedicated today at Port Canaveral, Florida, commemorating The Last Naval Battle of the American Revolution
From the historical marker, dedicated on March 10, 2007:
The last naval battle of the American Revolutionary War took place off the coast of Cape Canaveral on March 10, 1783. The fight began when three British ships sighted two Continental Navy ships, the Alliance commanded by Captain John Barry and the Duc De Lauzun commanded by Captain John Green sailing northward along the coast of Florida. The Alliance, a 36-gun frigate, and the Duc De Lauzun, a 20-gun ship, were loaded with 72.000 Spanish silver dollars they were bringing from Havana, Cuba to Philadelphia to support the Continental Army. One of the British ships, the HMS Sybil, a 28-gun frigate, commanded by Captain James Vashon, chased the Alliance and the Duc De Lauzun to the south. The HMS Sybil fired first, exchanging shots with the slower Duc De Lauzun. Then in a daring strategy Captain John Barry aboard the Alliance reversed his course, and while under fire, waited until the HMS Sybil was close. When the British ship was alongside he returned fire to the broadside with greater number of cannon. The battle lasted less than an hour, when the HMS Sybil, outgunned and badly damaged, broke off from the battle and fled. The Alliance and Duc De Lauzun then continued on their mission at dawn on March 11, 1783.
From the program and the ceremony:
224 years ago today, the Last Naval Battle of the American Revolution took place off the shore of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Captain John Barry (later Commodore and the father of the American Navy), commanding the 36-gun frigate Alliance, was escorting the Duc De Lauzun, a ship carrying desperately needed currency for the Continental Army. The Continental ships encountered three British ships sent to find them, the HMS Alarm, a thirty-two gun frigate, Captain Charles Cotton, HMS Sybil, a twenty-eight gun frigate, Captain James Vashon, and HMS Tobago, an eighteen gun sloop of war, Captain George Martin.Captain Barry decided to head southwest for the protection of the Spanish fleet, known to be raiding Jamaica at the time. The Duc De Lauzun lagged behind and Captain Barry advised Captain Green to jettison his cannon. A fourth ship then appeared on the horizon and the British shifted positions, dispatching one of their number to investigate this possible ally of the Continentals. Captain Barry took this to mean help was at hand so made the daring move to engage the Sybil and allow the Duc De Lauzun time to escape. After 40 minutes of close-in fighting, the Sybil broke off and returned to the other vessels.
Thanks to the courage and skill of Captain Barry both American ships completed their mission and on March 20, 1783, the Alliance sailed into New Port, Rhode Island, abandoning the plan to return to Philadelphia given the strong presence of a British patrol. A few days later news reached America that on February 3, 1783, the peace treaty had been ratified - the war for independence was over.
Through the hard work of the Florida Society Sons of the American Revolution and the Cape Canaveral Council, U.S. Navy League, with support from many SAR and DAR chapters, a monument and historical marker placed in front of the Port Authority building were dedicated today on the 224th anniversary of the battle.
Many color guards were in attendance with representation from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Delaware, Indiana, and North Carolina. SAR, DAR, and CAR chapters were well-represented. Politicians read proclamations and Capt. James A Watson IV, USCG was the speaker. Two descendants of a sailor on board the Alliance were in attendance.
One interesting tidbit about the monument … the cannon was cast using as a model a cannon recovered off the coast of Florida by well-known treasure hunter Mel Fisher. The cannon had French markings and was from the right period. Possibly, just maybe, it was one of the cannons jettisoned by Captain Green, mused Compatriot Ben DuBose, Regional Vice President of Florida Society SAR.
ping request - Revolutionary War and Florida topics, perhaps the Canteen too.
Capt. John Barry, a County Wexford boy! Happy St. Patrick's Day!
de nada. The story of Capt. Barry is nothing short of amazing. His contemporary John Paul Jones was certainly the better-known of the two, but Jones' service was short while Barry's was lengthy and just as distinguished.
There's a bridge over the Delaware River from chester to a swamp in NJ named after him
The last naval battle was fought on June 20 1783 in the Indian ocean according to the US Naval Institute.
However, John Paul Jones is credited for one of the best Navy quotes: "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm's way."
Technically speaking, neither battle took place during the Revolution, given the treaty was signed on February 3rd of that year before either engagement occurred. Perhaps that Indian ocean battle was the first battle of the War of 1812? I suppose it all depends on when the word got out that the war was over. Or maybe "in American waters" would not fit on the plaque.
"... Alliance got underway again on 9 December 1782 for the West Indies. At the end of a largely uneventful passage, she anchored off Saint-Pierre, Martinique, on 8 January 1783. There Barry found orders to sail to Havana to pick up a large quantity of gold and to deliver it to Congress at Philadelphia. After brief repairs, Alliance resumed her voyage on the 13th, touched at St. Eustatius and Cape Francois, and reached Havana on the last day of January.
However, another American warship, Duc De Lauzun, was already in port on the same mission. The specie had already been loaded on that ship, and Barry decided to escort her home. The inevitable delays kept both ships in port until 6 March. The next day, they encountered two Royal Navy frigates which gave chase. Barry chose not to fight these warships rather than risk losing the funds his consort carried, and the American vessels successfully eluded their pursuers. Three days later they encountered the same pair -- Alarm and Sybil -- in company with sloop-of-war Tobago.
Still striving to avoid risk to the desperately needed money he was carrying to Congress, Barry again headed southwest to escape from these unidentified strangers and ordered her consort to follow. Far off in that direction, the rigging of another ship appeared over the horizon, sailing away from the others.
Soon Alliance was noticeably pulling away from the pursuers but Duc De Lauzun- second in line -- was losing ground to Alarm. In the distance, the newcomer was seen to change course and head toward Alliance. Alarm evidently gave up the chase and headed away. Sybil pressed on and soon began firing at Duc De Lauzun.
Confident in both Alliance's speed and her fight, Barry maneuvered her between Sybil and Duc De Lauzun to demand the full attention of the former so that the latter might slip away to safety. Sybil then turned her fire toward Alliance and managed to send one shot from her bow chaser into the American frigate's cabin, mortally wounding a junior officer and scattering many splinters. Yet, Barry held Alliance's fire until she was within a stone's throw of her opponent. At that point, a broadside from the American warship opened some 40 minutes of close-in fighting which finally forced Sybil to flee in the wake of Alarm and Tobago.
Meanwhile, the Treaty of Paris which ended the war and recognized the independence of the United States had been ratified on 3 February 1783 some five weeks before the battle in which she fired the last shot of the American Revolution.
The two American ships again headed home on the day following their brush with the Britishers, 11 March, but separated off Cape Hatteras a week later. On the 19th, Alliance met a British ship of the line as she headed in toward the Delaware capes. She gave chase and forced Alliance back out to sea. This created a diversion which allowed Duc De Lauzun to slip into the Delaware unmolested and ascend the river to Philadelphia."
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a/alliance.htm
Upon further review, that was Battle of Cuddalore (1783), fought between British and French fleets after the war had ended but before word had reached India. An indecisive battle without American participation. Since it was not directly advancing American aims, I suppose some consider it to be "during the American Revolution" as opposed to "of the American Revolution"
Thanks for posting about this historical event.
BTTT
Not trying to spoil anyone's fun. Enjoy the commemoration! We need more! We historical sticklers are no fun anyway.
The "War of the American Revolution" was a global war between France and Britain, of which the American Revolution was only a part.
Neat post!
ping
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