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Status of the Virginia State Navy - April 27,
1781:
Short of ammunition, one days provisions on hand
Required combined number of crew to all ships - 750 men
Actual number of crew members - 78
Example: The Tempest normally
had a crew of 120 men, actually had 6 men on board
Plan of defense - The ships were anchored in a protective semicircle
with swamp on southern shore and open plain on northern shore.
Mission of The Virginia State Navy in 1781
"… And for the greater security of
the inhabitants of this colony from depredations of the enemy
by water, Be it ordained, That the Committee of Safety shall,
and they are hereby empowered and required to provide, from
time to time, such and so many Armed Vessels as they may judge
necessary for the protection of the several rivers in this Colony…"
- December 1775
Officers & Other Virginia State Navy Facts of 1780
Captain James Maxwell - Commissioner of the Navy
Captain James Barron - Commodore of State Navy
Daily pay for Seamen - $10 per day
Naval Vessels in Active Service:
Jefferson - brig
Liberty - gun boat
Patriot - gun boat
Thetis - ship
Tempest - ship with 16 six pound guns
Lewis - galley
Safeguard - galley
1781 Emergency Fleet Additions:
Renown - ship - 16 guns
Willing Lass - brig 12 - four pound guns
Wilkes - brig - 12 guns
Mars - brig - 8 four and six pound guns
Apollo - ship - 18 six pound guns
American Fabious - ship - 18 guns
Morning Star - ship - 12 guns
Plus several other small vessels
Timeline: leading up to the battle
December 30, 1780
General Arnold arrives in Hampton with 1,800 men
January 4, 1781
General Arnold attacks Richmond, scatters Virginia Militia,
almost captures Mayor Thomas Jefferson,
takes all the tobacco he can load on his own ships then burns
warehouses and retires to Portsmouth
February 6, 1781
Fire Ship Dragon launched - mission canceled
Feb/9th
February 15, 1781
French fleet arrives, but cannot get to Portsmouth due to
water depth, return to sea
March 6, 1781
Liberty is captured and scuttled at Back Bay
March 10, 1781
General Lafayette arrives and assumes command of American
Forces, leaves 1,200 Continentals in Maryland.
He is to attack with support from French army and naval forces
March 16, 1781
French fleet attacked and beaten by British fleet,
French return to Newport, British to the Chesapeake
Lafayette returns to Maryland
March 18, 1781
General Phillips arrives with 2,000 men & assumes command
of British Forces
April 18, 1781
British forces invade the James River
April 21, 1781
British forces destroy Chickahominy Boatyard,
Sink Lewis, Thetis and, Safeguard
April 25, 1781
Combined British forces capture Petersburg
April 26, 1781
Phillips destroys Chesterfield Court House
April 27, 1781
Arnold attacks The Virginia State Navy at Osborn's Landing
The Battle: April 27, 1781
12:00 Benedict Arnold arrives at Osborn's and learns
of naval position just up stream to the west.
He secretly moves men into a flanking position less than 100
yards away. The Americans are unaware of the enemy until Arnold
sends a flag of truce demanding surrender
American Response "They were determined to defend their ships
and would sink in them rather than surrender."
1:00 British open with attack on Tempest,
two 3 pound field pieces from shore.
The ship's mere six man crew manages to warp her around and
fire one broadside volley.
British engage the Tempest with two 6 pound field
pieces from the heights,
Jagers sweep the decks with rifle fire from only 30 yards
away.
As Rangers march into position to assault, a cannon ball cuts
the Tempest's spring cable and it heals around,
unable to return fire. The sailors try to escape in a ship's
boat, but are captured by Queen's Rangers, who use the boat
to board the Tempest.
After Queen's Rangers capture the Tempest, they
ferry more men out and begin attacking from ship to ship capturing
several vessels in the line.
Under heavy bombardment, the remainder of American crews attempt
to scuttle or burn ships and desert to Henrico shore and escape.
Ship near the Tempest explodes setting it on
fire, Rangers cut it loose and drift down stream to shore -
fire is put out with the help of the Highlanders.
3:00 Within two hours of firing the first shot the battle
was over.
Captured: 2 ships, 3 brigs, 5 sloops, 2 schooners loaded with
2,000 hogshead of tobacco.
Sunk and Burnt: 4 ships, 5 brigs, and a number of smaller
vessels.
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