Fleet Ledger

Naval wars from the age of sail to the present day

American War of Independence
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Battles
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Battle of Block Island

Battle of Block Island

6 April 1776, Off Block Island, Rhode Island

British escape; Glasgow got away

Coming home from Nassau loaded with captured stores, Hopkins's squadron met the 20-gun Glasgow in the night. The American ships went into action one at a time, Cabot first and Alfred next; Glasgow shot away Alfred's wheel ropes and badly damaged Cabot, then ran for Newport, chasing her pursuers off with her stern guns. Five American ships had failed to take one British one, and Hopkins was soon in trouble with Congress for this and for ignoring his orders. One captain was dismissed.

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Scale ca. 1:115,000. Relief shown by hachures. Soundings shown in feet. Shows coast of most of Rhode Island, small portion of Connecticut, and part of Long Island from Narragansett Bay to Peconic Bay. LC copy imperfect: Incomplete, deterioration along fold, and brittle on edges. LC Maps of North Ame Image: Des Barres, Joseph F. W. (Joseph Frederick Wallet); Des Barres, Joseph F. W., Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Royal Navy

1 ship, none lost

ShipTypeOutcome
HMS Glasgow

Captain Tyringham Howe

Frigate

Sixth rate, 20 guns

Escaped

Continental Navy and state navies

7 ships, none lost

ShipTypeOutcome
Alfred

Wheel ropes and blocks shot away

Frigate

30 guns

Damaged
Flotillas and other craftNumberLost

Ship, brigs, sloop and schooner

Columbus, Cabot, Andrew Doria, Providence, Fly and Wasp. Cabot, under Hopkins's son, was badly cut up.

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