The French naval victory blocked British relief of Cornwallis at Yorktown, directly enabling the surrender that ended the American Revolutionary War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 5 September 1781
- British ships of the line
- 19 ships
- French ships of the line
- 24 ships
- Battle duration
- approximately 2 hours
- Cornwallis surrender date
- 17 October 1781
- British relief fleet sailed
- 19 October 1781, two days after surrender
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
French Admiral de Grasse chose to sail from the West Indies to Virginia rather than New York, arriving at Chesapeake Bay in late August 1781. British Rear Admiral Graves, learning that de Grasse and French Admiral de Barras were converging on the Chesapeake, sailed south from Sandy Hook with 19 ships of the line to intercept them and protect besieged British forces under Cornwallis at Yorktown.
On 5 September 1781, Graves found de Grasse's 24 ships already anchored in Chesapeake Bay. De Grasse sortied to engage the British outside the bay. After hours of maneuvering, the two fleets fought for roughly two hours, with only their forward and center sections fully engaging. The British suffered greater casualties and ship damage before the action ended at sunset. The fleets shadowed each other for several days before Graves withdrew to New York.
By drawing the British fleet away from the bay, de Grasse allowed de Barras to arrive with vital siege artillery and reinforcements. Deprived of naval support, Cornwallis could neither be resupplied nor evacuated. The British relief expedition did not depart New York until 19 October, two days after Cornwallis surrendered, effectively securing American independence.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Rear Admiral François Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse.
Side B
1 belligerent
Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves.