Battle off Yarmouth (1777) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle off Yarmouth (1777) |
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| Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
.png) USS Cabot |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 United Kingdom |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Joseph Olney Lieut. Benjamin Knight |
 John Burr |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 140 men | 32 guns | ||||||
The Battle off Yarmouth happened on March 28, 1777. It took place near Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, during the American Revolutionary War. This battle was important because it was the first time an American armed ship fought against the British Navy.
During the fight, the British ship HMS Milford chased the American ship USS Cabot. The Cabot was forced to run aground, meaning it got stuck on the shore. Its crew then escaped and found safety with the people living in Yarmouth.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Trouble in Nova Scotia
During the American Revolution, American forces often attacked Nova Scotia. They came by both land and sea. American privateers caused a lot of trouble. Privateers were like private ships given permission to attack enemy ships. They hurt the local economy by raiding many towns along the coast. For example, they often raided Liverpool and Annapolis Royal.
The Battle Begins
Ships Meet at Sea
Three American ships were sailing towards Nova Scotia. These ships were the Massachusetts, the Tyrannicide, and the Cabot. Captain John Fisk commanded the Massachusetts. Captain Jonathan Harriden was in charge of the Tyrannicide. Captain Olney led the Cabot.
At 11:00 PM, the British ship HMS Milford found them. The ships waited until morning to decide what to do.
A Chase in Bad Weather
By morning, the Cabot had become separated from the other two American ships. The weather then turned bad, becoming "thick and rainy." This lasted until 6:00 PM.
When the weather finally cleared, the Milford started chasing the Cabot. The wind and waves were still very strong. The chase went on for several days and nights.
Running Aground
Captain Olney of the Cabot realized his ship was being caught. He decided to steer the Cabot towards the Nova Scotia shore. He intentionally ran the ship aground near the Chebogue River. This spot was not far from Yarmouth.
After the Battle
Crew Escapes to Shore
The Cabot's crew had 140 men. They all safely made it to shore. They then escaped into the nearby village of Chebogue.
Local residents, Captain Zacharias Foot and his nephew Captain Richard Valpey, helped the American sailors. They gave food and shelter to thirty of the crew for a few weeks. Eventually, these sailors found a ship to take them back to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
One person noted that Captain Foot was very generous to American prisoners. He often helped them. Later, both Captain Foot and Captain Valpey were captured by the Americans. Captain Olney spoke up for Captain Foot, and he was released. After this, Captain Foot continued to trade with Boston. He would exchange American prisoners for other goods and supplies.
The Milford's Prize
The British ship Milford spent 14 days trying to get the Cabot floating again. Once they succeeded, they sent the captured Cabot to Halifax.
Continued Threat
American privateers remained a danger to Nova Scotian ports for the rest of the war. For example, after they failed to raid Chester, Nova Scotia, American privateers attacked again in the Raid on Lunenburg in 1782.
