Battle of the Chesapeake
American War of Independence · Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, United States
Summary
On 5 September 1781 in Chesapeake Bay, Admiral de Grasse defeated Graves's British fleet, preventing Cornwallis from being relieved or evacuated by sea. This French naval victory, won two weeks before Yorktown, was essential to Franco-American encirclement success. De Grasse lost 220 men, Graves about 320.
Historical context
Washington and Rochambeau planned to strike Cornwallis in Virginia but needed naval control of the Chesapeake. De Grasse left the Antilles with 28 ships of the line and 3,000 additional troops. Graves, sent from New York, tried to prevent French junction with allied land forces.
Tactics
Both fleets fought in line of battle at the Chesapeake mouth. De Grasse, superior in numbers (24 ships to 19), held position and inflicted enough damage on Graves to prevent forcing the passage. Graves withdrew to New York; Cornwallis was definitively isolated.
Consequences
Without De Grasse's victory, Cornwallis could have been evacuated or supplied by sea. Yorktown became possible and ended the American War of Independence. The battle illustrates French navy importance in the 1778–1783 Franco-American alliance and decisive role of naval power in amphibious operations.