American Revolution: Battle of the Chesapeake

September 5, 1781 - Sailing east from the Chesapeake Bay, French and British fleets clash in the Battle of the Chesapeake (right). Led by the Comte de Grasse, the French fleet, consisting of 27 ships of the line, arrived at the mouth of the Chesapeake on August 29, to blockade British General Lord Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown. On September 5, a British fleet of 19 ships of line, led by Rear Admiral Thomas Graves arrived to break the blockade and rescue Cornwallis. Despite catching the French at anchor, Graves' slow movements allowed de Grasse's ships to emerge in an orderly fashion. Sailing east, the two fleets fought a tactically inconclusive battle on the 5th, and remained in contact until the 9th. Having driven the British away from the bay, de Grasse returned and aided in General George Washington's victory at Yorktown.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center