The Battle Off the Capes Off the Capes Cape Henry, Virginia, Cape Henry, Virginia, September 5,1781 September 5,1781

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The Battle Off the Capes Off the Capes Cape Henry, Virginia, Cape Henry, Virginia, September 5,1781 September 5,1781 The Battle The Battle off the Capes off the Capes Cape Henry, Virginia, Cape Henry, Virginia, September 5,1781 September 5,1781 General Cornwallis was deeply entrenched and strongly fortified at Yorktown in the summer of 1781, awaiting the arrival of the British fleet with crucial reinforcements and supplies. Instead, however, he suddenly found himself surrounded on the land side by the Franco- American armies of Washington, Rochambeau and Lafayette, and all escape routes by sea blockaded by the fleet of Admiral de Grasse. The result, of course, was the surrender of Cornwallis to Washington October 19,1781. "The most curious and per­ haps the most crucial battle of the Revolution occured on September 5,1781. It was curious in that it in­ From the southern exit of The Chesapeake Bay volved the British and the French, Bridge-Tunnel (Route 13) turn left (east) on route but no Americans, and in that it pro­ 60 (Shore Drive) to The Virginia Beach resort area duced no victor while virtually - enter Fort Story. assuring Britons utilmate defeat in From 1-64 take route 60 (east to Fort Story). the war. It was crucial in that it gave From Route 44 (Virginia Beach-Norfolk Express­ the Americans control over the way) or route 58 (Virginia Beach Boulevard) turn Chesapeake, cutting Cornwallis off left (north) on Atlantic Ave. to the 89th street from aid or escape by sea, and entrance to Fort Story. giving the allies time to bring up their neavy siege guns." Battle of Yorktown by Thomas J. Fleming Published by The Commemoration Committee for The Battle Off the Virginia Capes. J. Roy Alphin, ()n September 5, 1781. off the Chairman; John H. Robertson.Vice Chairman;Frank shores of Cape Henry, a French fleet I. Adkins, Treasurer;Mrs. Robert W Al friend; Mrs.W.T. commanded by Admiral Francois Galliford. Jr.; John M. Hodgson; LCDR Sam Jackson; Joseph Paul Comtede Grasse defeat­ Mrs. Milton W. Thorpe, Jr.;Mrs. R.M. Youell, Jr., ed a British fleet commanded by Statue of A. James DeBellis, Executive Director AdmiralThomas Graves. Though in­ adequately recognized or understood Admiral Francois Joseph Paul by historians, this Revolutionary Comte de Grasse For more information contact: War sea battle and its forgotten erected at Cape Henry Willa Redding, Coordinator. Telephone (,804) hero. Admiral de Grasse. played a to commemorate 428-8000, Ext. 203. Or, the Virginia Beach Informa­ tremendous role in America's the Battle Off the Capes. tion Center, 20th Street and Pacific Avenue, struggle for independence. Virginia Beach, VA 23451. Telephone (804)425-7511. Admiral de Grasse Commander in Chief George Washington had twenty-eight met Admiral DeGrasse off Cape Henry,Virginia magnificient vessels. to plan the seige of Yorktown. On October 19,1781 Cornwallis surrendered. On Both sides several hundred men were wounded or killed. From the span of the Chesa­ good.which is most of the time, ever, the situation had grown General Anthony Wayne had that must have been...mile after decision to wait rather than trol over the Chesapeake, cutting skirmish than a battle but was peake Bay Bridge-Tunnel the fleets of small boats greedily vie increasingly worse and things done little to stop his progress. mile of towering masts and the attack was based on the Royal Cornwallis off from aid or escape monumental in its consequen­ motorist has a sweeping view for the advantage, pushing and were particularly grim in the Lord Cornwallis moved about grandeur of the French Navy's Navy's traditional "Fighting by sea, and giving the allies time ces, has received very little of of the great Chesapeake as it shoving, engines quarreling, early months of 1781. the state at will and by August most impressive tall ships. Instructions" wherein it spec­ to bring up their neavy the historical recognition it flows between the shorelines like too many naughty children had encamped his many thou­ This was the view that ifies proper formation as two siege guns." so rightly deserves. of Cape Henry to the south and grappling for a favorite toy. "The Battle of Chesa- sands of men at Yorktown on the greeted the 19-ship British fleet opposing lines of battle with Battle of Yorktown by Thomas In 1976 the Virginia Beach Cape Charles to the north be­ The Chesapeake Bay is at all eake was one of the decisive York River, which flows into when, upon word from its intel­ ship against ship slugging it out J. Fleming Bicentennial Commission,as one fore it integrates, sometimes times a panorama of sights and §attles of the world. Before it, Chesapeake Bay. ligence, it sailed from New York broadside to broadside. of its projects, brought attention turbulentlywith the persistent sounds and smells, as crucially the creation of the United States With Cornwallis entrenched to the Chesapeake. Rear Admiral It was about four in the The battle continued until to the significance of the Battle tides of the Atlantic Ocean vital today to America's econ­ was possible; after it, it was so close to the Chesapeake he Sir Thomas Graves, command­ afternoon by the time the French dark then both fleets drifted Off the Capes by erecting a along the eastern horizon. omy as it was two centuries ago certain." was assured delivery of the ing the North American Station, ships had cleared the Bay. with tide and wind. On both statue of Admiral de Grasse and Within this sweeping view to the winning of America's The History of the British Navy badly needed troops and sup­ expected to find a small detach­ Admiral Graves had brought sides several hundred men constructing an overlook from one is almost guaranteed the independence. by Michael Lewis plies. What the British did not ment of French ships. Instead he his ships about but his signals were wounded or killed but not which visitors can view the Bay sight of a black-hulled pilot It is a sometimes over­ know, however, was that the encountered the powerful were so confusing to his own one ship was taken or sunk, and the site of the battle. boat from which arriving cargo looked historical fact that a sea The British, with their major part of the French fleet, squadron of de Grasse. captains that the proper forma­ though some were severely Both the statue, which was ships take aboard the profes­ battle fought here, just outside strong Royal Navy, already under the command of Admiral The English fleet arrived tion was never completed. damaged and one British ship a gift from France, and the sional harbor pilots that guide the Chesapeake Capes, two occupied such important ports Francois Joseph Paul Comte de at the mouth of the Chesapeake Firing opened on both sides later had to be burned. massive cedar overlook are them through the tricky waters hundred years ago brought as New York (seat of the British Grasse, was on its way to North about mid-morning September but because of the scattered For the next two days the located at Fort Story, within of Hampton Roads. about the downfall of England's administration), Philadelphia, America from the West Indies. 5,1781, in open water and formation the action never be­ fleets were becalmed and sight of the Old Cape Henry And there are usually large General Lord Cornwallis at Charleston and Savannah. They General Rochambeau had bearing down before the wind. came general, according to neither admiral made an ag­ Lighthouse and the First Landing numbers of these gigantic cargo Yorktown, making way for the were, in fact, able to blockade learned of the deployment and Admiral Thomas Graves had historians. The lead ships, gressive move. Finally, Admiral Memorial Cross. vessels to be seen, patiently an­ end of the Revolutionary War and patrol the entire coastline. had advised General Washing­ both wind and surprise in those within closest range, de Grasse sailed the French The view from the overlook chored awaiting their turn at the and the beginning of America's Both America's Commander- ton but he did not know where his favor. exchanged cannonades but fleet back into the Chesapeake is as impressive as that from the harbor's famous loading piers. independence. in-Chief, General George the fleet would strike or how Admiral de Grasse and his others along the line were only BayandAdmiral Graves returned Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. On a breezy day the bay is The year was 1781. The Washington, and the French many ships were involved. French forces were caught off- partially engaged. Or not at all. to New York, leaving Cornwallis From either spot a person can generously sprinkled with the Thirteen Colonies, which had in Marshal, General Jean Baptiste Admiral de Grasse had 28 guard. Many of his sailors were and his Army stranded. gaze out over the beautiful white, sometimes multi-colored, 1776 declared themselves the Donatien de Vimeure Comte de magnificent vessels under his ashore on various duties when Chesapeake Bay and with just a "The most curious and Lord Cornwallis was now sails of assorted sized craft as United States of America, had Rochambeau, had long pleaded command and it was his deci­ the British fleet was sighted. The lost. Cut off from support by sea, little imagination see those with France for more naval perhaps the most crucial bat­ they maneuver before the wind. been in revolt for six years, sion to put into Chesapeake Bay crewmen were hastily recalled tle of the Revolution occurred without reinforcements and sup­ great French warships wallowing struggling to gain freedom from assistance but as of June 1781 rather than New York.
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