A British raid on a privateering base at Chestnut Neck, New Jersey, demonstrating colonial supply vulnerabilities and the role of privateers in the Revolutionary War.
Key Facts
- Date
- October 6, 1778
- Location
- Chestnut Neck, southern New Jersey
- River
- Little Egg Harbor (Mullica) River
- British departure trigger
- Approach of Count Casimir Pulaski
- British result
- Destroyed buildings and supplies, then withdrew by ship
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The settlement of Chestnut Neck on the Little Egg Harbor River served as a base for American privateers, whose raids on British shipping made it a military target. The British organized an expedition to neutralize this privateering hub and disrupt colonial supply operations in southern New Jersey.
On October 6, 1778, British forces attacked Chestnut Neck, retrieving some supplies and destroying others along with several residences and buildings. Upon learning that Count Casimir Pulaski was advancing toward the area, the British promptly withdrew by ship the following day.
Though the British destroyed the privateering settlement, they failed to engage Pulaski's forces there. About a week later, the two sides clashed in a separate encounter in which Pulaski's troops suffered heavy losses, limiting the strategic benefit the Americans might have gained from their timely response.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Count Casimir Pulaski.
Side B
1 belligerent