Frederica naval action facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frederica naval action
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Georgia Navy vessels capturing the British squadron on Frederica River.
Date April 19, 1778 Location off St. Simons Island, Georgia, Frederica River Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Samuel Elbert	Captain Thomas Jordan (nominally)
Strength
3 galleys	1 frigate 1 sloop 1 brig 1 brigantine
Casualties and losses
none	none 1 sloop captured 1 brig captured 1 brigantine captured

The Frederica naval action was a sea battle during the American Revolutionary War. In this fight, three galley ships from the Georgia State Navy defeated a British raiding group. The action happened on April 19, 1778, off the coast of Georgia. It was an important victory for the American forces.

Why the Battle Happened

Samuel Elbert

The state of Georgia had tried to invade the British colony of East Florida two times. Both attempts were not successful. In 1778, a third try was planned. This time, Colonel Samuel Elbert was in charge.

The reason for this invasion attempt came in April. Four British ships were seen sailing in St. Simons Sound. Two of these ships, the sloop Rebecca and the watering brig Hatter, were private ships. They were working for the Royal Navy. The other two, the frigate HMS Galatea and sloop HMS Hinchinbrook, were Royal Navy warships.

For defense, Colonel Elbert had the Georgia State Navy galleys. Four of these ships, Washington, Lee, Congress, and Bulloch, were built in Savannah. This happened between 1776 and 1777. All four were under the command of Commodore Oliver Bowen.

Getting Ready for Battle

On April 15, Elbert learned that the Royal Navy ships were near the coast. He sent about 360 men from the Georgia Continental battalions at Fort Howe. They marched to Darien. From there, they were to get on three of the galleys: Washington, Bulloch, and Lee. Captain John Hardee led Washington. Captain Archibald Hatcher led Bulloch. Captain John Cutler Braddock led Lee.

By the afternoon of April 18, the group of ships entered the Frederica River. They anchored at Pikes Bluff. This spot was about a mile and a half above Fort Frederica. Troops led by Colonel Robert Rae and Major Daniel Roberts landed first. Then, Captain George Young and the artillery team landed. They set up their field piece (a type of cannon) on the island.

Officers were chosen to lead troops on the galleys. Colonel John White was assigned to Lee. Captain George Melvin was on Washington. Lieutenant Barnard Patty was on Bulloch. Elbert ordered Rae to take 100 of his men to the fort. There, British prisoners were captured. Some British soldiers who had landed escaped by boat. They told Galatea to warn Captain Thomas Jordan about the coming American attack. Jordan sent a ship with soldiers to help Hinchinbrook and Rebecca.

Elbert received some information about the two British ships. However, he decided it was too late to attack that evening. He ordered his men to rest for the night.

The Battle Begins

Early on the morning of April 19, Elbert took the galleys down the river. They went to attack the British ships. The British ships were already lined up for battle. The galleys likely started their attack shortly after sunrise, around 5:30 AM. They began firing at Hinchinbrook, Rebecca, and Hatter.

Galleys are light ships built for rowing. They are not as strong as sailing vessels. However, galleys have a big advantage in narrow waters or when there is no wind. On this day, the ebb tide (when the water goes out) and the lack of wind helped the Americans. Without wind, the British ships could not sail forward. They could not board and attack the galleys. They had to stay still.

The galleys fired a few shots at the British ships. Then they anchored a safe distance away. They began a heavy cannonade (a lot of cannon fire).

Elbert's letter to General Howe was later published in several Southern newspapers

Hinchinbrook and Rebecca had small four-pounder guns. These were no match for the heavier cannons on the galleys. So, the British ships started moving downriver. They hoped to find a place to move around. They also hoped to catch a breeze. They thought the water channel was deep. But around 10 AM, Rebecca suddenly got stuck. This happened at a place called "Raccoon Gut". Hinchinbrook and Hatter soon got stuck too.

As the galleys came closer, the British decided to abandon ship. Most of the officers and men got into the ship's boats. They rowed downriver to Galatea. This ship was still anchored in the sound. A few of Hinchinbrook's crew were left behind.

After the Battle

This battle was not huge, but it greatly encouraged the people of Georgia. It stopped two British ships that had been capturing American merchant ships. These ships had been causing problems off the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia. More importantly, the victory delayed a British attempt to capture Fort Morris and the town of Sunbury. This delay lasted for over eight months. The battle also showed how effective heavily armed galleys could be in tight waterways.

Colonel Elbert was very impressed with the victory. He wrote to General Robert Howe:

...you must imagine what my feelings were, to see our three little men of war going on to the attack of these three vessels who have spread terror on our coast, and who were drawn up in order of battle; but the weight of our metal soon damped the courage of these heroes, who soon took to their boats: and, as many as could, abandoned the vessels with everything on board, of which we immediately took possession. What is extraordinary, we have not one man hurt...

This means he was amazed to see his small ships attack the British. He was proud that the American cannons made the British lose courage. The British left their ships, and the Americans took them over. Best of all, no American soldiers were hurt.

After this victory at Frederica, Elbert went on to lead the Third Florida Expedition later that year. That expedition, however, did not go well.

Ships in the Battle

United States

• Washington (galley)
• Bulloch (galley)
• Lee (galley)

Great Britain

• HMS Galatea (frigate)
• HMS Hinchinbrook (brigantine) - Got stuck and was captured
• Rebecca (sloop) - Got stuck and was captured
• Hatter (brig) - Got stuck and was captured