American Theatre from April 1, 1778 to May 31, 1778

The spring of 1778 brought dramatic changes to the American Theater. The Royal Navy had achieved extensive control of the seas and had soundly beaten units of the Continental fleet in direct confrontation. However, on 12 May 1778 the British commanders in North America learned that France had officially entered the war on the side of the Americans. The British, who had dominated the Atlantic, were forced to loosen their hold on the coastline and make plans to consolidate their strength in New York in order to reinforce their more valuable possessions in the theater. The majority of the Continental Navy fleet had been reduced to river galleys and other small ships able to outrun and evade their much larger British counterparts but also unable to challenge their enemies on the open seas, while Continental Navy ship construction encountered frustrating delays.

In the northern states the port of Boston remained untouchable by the Royal Navy and Army alike. The British lacked the manpower to take the city, which continued to be a principal destination for trade and a staging point for insurgent naval activity. In addition, the British coastal blockades suffered from extreme weather, causing significant damage that could be fully repaired only in Britain. In April, Vice Admiral Viscount Richard Howe sent a large squadron back to England to repair deterioration owing to the heavy demands placed on his ships. To redress the material fatigue of the blockade Vice Admiral Howe recommended construction of a shipyard in New York. The arrival of Continental Army Major General John Sullivan in Rhode Island caused the British to conclude that a major Continental Army operation was underway in Rhode Island. To deprive the American forces a source of resupply, the British made use of their amphibious capabilities and manpower advantage to strike at the stores, livestock, and munitions located on the Elizabeth Islands. The raids destroyed numerous warehouses while taking few casualties. The success of the raids was offset by their collateral political damage, driving the local populace to embrace the American cause.

In April the British had a firm grip on the Mid-Atlantic region. Their control of the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay suffocated trade from Maryland and Virginia. In Delaware and Eastern Maryland loyalist movements evoked a cry for help from the Delaware governor. From their base in Philadelphia, the British struck out at Continental Navy supplies and materiel in the Delaware River. In these amphibious assaults they destroyed more than forty ships, including two stripped-down Continental Navy frigates that had been sunk and refloated, Effingham and Washington. British raids along the coast of Delaware caused concern among Americans when prominent American supporters were kidnapped.

In the South, the British faced a serious threat from the Continental Army forces under Major General Robert Howe. The Georgia State Navy along with Continental reinforcements managed to reduce the Province of East Florida to a single ship for defense in action near Frederica Island in the Altamaha River, where they captured East Florida Sloop Rebecca and HM Armed Sloop Hinchinbrook. In Spanish Louisiana, a Continental Army contingent under command of Captain James Willing had taken refuge in the city of New Orleans after attacking British holdings and capturing prizes in West Florida. From there, Willing moved outside the city and carried out several amphibious raids on British plantations in West Florida, causing a diplomatic standoff between the Spanish and British. The British increased their naval presence around the city and made protests to the Spanish, who rebuffed British attempts to persuade Governor Bernardo de Gálvez to seize and turn over the Americans. Gálvez publicly maintained neutrality, rebuffing British demands as well as enforcing a strict policy against the Americans’ outfitting ships for the purpose of attacking the British.

The Marine Committee, after experiencing shortages of funds, resumed construction of naval vessels at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and New London, Connecticut, and saw frigate Alliance completed at Salisbury, Massachusetts. The March 1778 captures of Continental Navy frigate Alfred as its consort the frigate Raleigh looked on and of the frigate Virginia within days of its launch called the American frigate captains’ competence into question and induced the Marine Committee to order formal inquiries. In contrast, Captain Abraham Whipple, Continental Navy frigate Providence, engaged and evaded several British warships in a daring escape from Narragansett Bay under the cover of a storm and headed for France. Several other Continental Navy ships returned from France, including frigates Queen of France, Deane, and Raleigh, which carried copies of the Franco-American treaties.

The Franco-American treaties arrived at the Continental Congress on 25 April. Having quickly ratified the treaties, Congress commissioned six vessels to assure that at least one signed copy of the treaties reached the American Commissioners in France. The French alliance gave the American cause a major morale boost in the spring of 1778 by promising a revival of trade when the British were forced to regroup their naval assets to face the French fleet. The major change in North America began on May 12th, 1778 when Vice Admiral Viscount Howe sent out orders to bring the majority of the British warships in North America to the mouth of the Delaware River to aid in the evacuation of Philadelphia as well as to begin the formation of a task force to intercept the French Fleet from Toulon.

By what Ship Time When Place where Name of the Vessel Name of the Master Sort of Vessel No. of Guns Tons Men To what Country or place belongg. Lading Where Sent to be Tried Particulars relating them and cause of Seizure. Privateers Yarmouth1 7th. Marh: 1778 At Sea to Windd of Barbados Randolph... Continue Reading
Date: 27 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
April 1778 Tuesday, 28. Ditto [Nantucket Shoals] West dist. 5 Lg[s]. at 5 AM wore Ship, saw a Sail NE. made Sail and gave Chace set Studding sails at 8 out Boats & Towed the Ship, down Studding-sails. at 10 in Boats  Ditto [Nantucket Shoals] WNW½W 11 Lg[s.] Light winds and clear Wr. at 4 PM Fired a 6 pounder and brought too the Chace, a Brig from the Bay of Honduras, Laden with... Continue Reading
Date: 28 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
I mentiond some Time [ago] that Capt. Adams1 who was a passenger on Board the Raleigh was come to Town, & gave a very unfavourable Account of Capt. Thompson's2 suff'ring the Alfred to be taken this Hour the Alfred's Surgeon3 is arriv'd & tells me poor Hinman4 fell a Sacrifice to ye most unparallel'd Cowardice of... Continue Reading
Date: 28 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
Amongst the letters Christian brought me last night were the several you will find enclosed herewith, which being intended for the Marine Committee & Commercial Committee You will deliver them with my Compliments and I think the Commercial Committee wou'd do a very just & proper thing, if they were to give Mr Livingston1 orders to Continue sending Cargoes of Rice... Continue Reading
Date: 28 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
We are now to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 8th Current, inclosing an Inventory of the Continental part of the goods Captured by Captain Hopkins,1 we wish to hear of the arrival of his Prizes, but are afraid they are retaken. you will deliver to the order of the Board of war the 26 Pieces of coarse sheeting  24 Bolts Oznabrigs 9 doz felt hats 7 sadelles... Continue Reading
Date: 28 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
Remarks on Teusday April 28th. 1778 Lattd. Pr. Observt. 37..30 Nt. [at sea in the latitude of Virginia] Middle Part Moderate with a Small Fanning Breeze at 1 AM hove in Stays at 6 AM saw a Sail in the West bore away and gave Chace at 10 AM sat Studden Sails at 12 on Meridian spoke with the Sail a Snow1 from Bristol bound to New... Continue Reading
Date: 28 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
I received yours of the 26th Instant and observe the Contents it is a very unlucky things should have turned out as they have, there have been great Deapredations on more than One Instance upon the Libertys Sails.1 I would advise you by no means to pay Mr Holderby for Carrying up the Sails &c untill you have made all the discovery's You can Respecting the loss... Continue Reading
Date: 28 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
In former letters I had the honour to mention to your Lordship the rebels preparations to invade this province.  Captain Jordan of the Galatea Lieutenant Ellis of the Hinchinbrook and Mr Mowbray commander of the Rebecca armed Sloop went into the Harbour of Saint Simons in Georgia to prevent the Gallies advancing and to destroy them.1 I am sorry to inform your Lordship that... Continue Reading
Date: 28 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
This comes to you by Capt Rathburn1 and as I take him to be a Safe hand Send by him two Thousand dollars in Certificates all our Cash is gone that was left when you was here save a few dollars I miss you much and long to have the pleasure of seeing you I hope that will soon be the case the Town is not yet ordered to be Cleansed but Expect it every day2 I wish it... Continue Reading
Date: 29 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
This Afternoon a Team set off for Norwich having in Charge for you Sundry Articles directed to the Care of Capt Henry Billings,1 who has orders to be particularly carefull in forwarding them.  The Errors you have pointed out in the money sent by Capt. Hyde,2 I suppose took place in the hurry in which Capt Allon3 recd the... Continue Reading
Date: 29 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
No Mens Names Quality In what Vessel taken By what Ship taken     Taken in Armed Vessels.     1 Joseph Handy Captain Buckskin1 Galatea   Aaron Sevey Seaman Trueblue2 Venus   Saml. Wall (Negro) " " "   Jas. Guppy 1st. Lieut. Mc.Cleary3 Unicorn 5 William Kelley 2d. Do.... Continue Reading
Date: 29 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
General Pigot having received information that the Rebels intend shortly to carry off all the Stock from the Elisabeth Islands, has determined to send a detachment there immediately, and endeavor to be beforehand with them; and for this purpose the Flank Companies of the 54th Regiment, and a Company of The Hessian Chasseurs have received orders to be in readiness to embark on the... Continue Reading
Date: 29 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
April 1778  Wednesdy 29th [Off New City Island]1 Fresh Breezes & Cloudy Wr PM & AM boarded Vessels as before At 6 P.M had Information of three Whale Boats belonging to ye Rebels being in Hemstead Harbour, sent the Lieutenant2 & Midshipman & Ten Hands Arm’d, with two Swivels on bd. a Sloop after them... Continue Reading
Date: 29 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
Congress proceeded to the election of members for the Marine Committee, in the room of such as are absent; and the ballots being taken, Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder was elected for New Jersey, Mr. [George] Plater for Maryland; Mr. T[homas] Adams for Virginia.
Date: 29 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
. . . The marine board Seem'd Sensible of Capt. Harding's Merit & on your Excellencies recommendation would have made his appointment accordingly had it been feasible but their had been a predetermination that Capt. Hinman Should take the Command of that Frigate if he arrives in Season;1 Indeed their are a number of Capts in the Continental Navy,... Continue Reading
Date: 29 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
Congress having directed the Board to superintend the Transportion of Provisions from the Southward & there being a Number of Gallies belonging to the States of Maryland & Virginia in the Chesapeak I am directed to apply to you & the Hon: Council to know whether there are any Men left of those by whom the Gallies in the Delaware were mann'd the last Campaign. If there are what are... Continue Reading
Date: 29 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
Humbly sheweth That your Memorialists are Members of the Continental Navy Board for the middle Department, established by Congress with a Salary to each Member of Fifteen Hundred Dollars ⅌ Ann. That on the first Appointment of this Board it was deemed to be stationed at Philadelphia, the Capitol of the middle Department; but on that Citys falling into the Hands of the Enemy, your Memorialists... Continue Reading
Date: 29 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
We expected, agreeable to our former Orders1 that you would have been down here before this Time. We now desire that you will immediately proceed down with your Galley,2 no Excuse will be admitted. We are &ca
Date: 29 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
About fifteen days ago captain Cottineau came to this Town,2 on purpose to represent to the governour of this State,3 that his fregate4 now lying in cape look out bay, was not in Security, and that she run'd the greatest risk of being Insulted by the Enemyes of america, which Look upon the french to be their owne, Because they assist this continent. Capt. De... Continue Reading
Date: 29 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12
April 1778  Thrusday 30th Cape Sable [Nova Scotia] N68E 33 Leagues AM at 9 Wore Ship. Set the Mainsl. Close reeft the Maintopsl. Saw a Sail to Windwd. made sail & gave chace. ½ past Saw a Sail bearing NEbN. gave her chace. fired a Shot & brought her too. She proved to be a Schooner1 from Currasow2 to Boston.... Continue Reading
Date: 30 April 1778
Volume: Volume 12

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