The British warship that shot itself to pieces in Delaware Bay

Joshua Barney’s Deceptive Victory in Delaware Bay

In April 1782, a 23-year-old naval officer pulled off one of the boldest tricks in American history.

Lieutenant Joshua Barney led the small privateer Hyder Ally with just 16 guns against the larger British warship General Monk.

When battle broke out in Delaware Bay, Barney shouted fake orders his enemy could hear, then did the exact opposite. The ships crashed together, and American sailors lashed them tight.

After 26 fierce minutes, the British ship was Swiss cheese with over 300 holes in her hull. The win came just as peace talks started, proving American grit at sea.

Today, Delaware Bay still holds the echoes of this daring naval battle that helped seal American independence.

A 23-Year-Old Lieutenant Takes Command

Joshua Barney got the job as captain of the Pennsylvania privateer Hyder Ally in early 1782 when he was just 23. His ship had 16 six-pound cannons and 110 men ready to fight.

They named their ship after Hyder Ali, who ruled Mysore and fought the British in India. Barney had already been caught five times by the British and even broke out of Old Mill Prison in Plymouth.

His job seemed simple: safely guide five merchant ships through Delaware Bay.

Winds Force the American Convoy to Stop

Weak winds left Barney’s convoy stuck at Cape May on April 7, 1782.

The merchant ships dropped anchor inside the cape, with two privateer sloops helping guard them: the 10-gun Charming Sally and 12-gun General Greene. The Americans felt safe as night came.

They didn’t know British warships watched nearby.

HMS Quebec with 32 guns and HMS General Monk with 18 guns waited just out of sight, ready to attack in the morning.

British Ships Prepare to Pounce

Captain Christopher Mason led the powerful HMS Quebec while Captain Josias Rogers commanded HMS General Monk, which had its own story.

The British caught it from Pennsylvania last September when it sailed as George Washington. The loyalist privateer Fair American joined the British ships as they planned their attack.

British officers thought Hyder Ally posed the biggest threat.

At dawn on April 8, the three British ships rounded the point, catching the Americans completely by surprise.

Panic Spreads Through the American Fleet

Around 11:00 AM, lookouts spotted three British ships coming fast.

Barney quickly told the merchant ships to retreat deeper into the bay while Hyder Ally stayed to protect them. The American privateers handled the crisis poorly.

General Greene ignored Barney’s orders and tried to fight but ran aground out of British gun range. Charming Sally did worse, getting stuck on Overfalls shoal as her crew ran away.

The convoy scattered in confusion as the British got closer.

Barney Tricks His Enemies with a Fake Retreat

The young lieutenant turned Hyder Ally around, pretending to run from the British ships. This trick lured General Monk into chasing him while Fair American fired twice but did little damage.

Barney kept his gun ports closed during this fake retreat, hiding his real plans. The Fair American soon got stuck in shallow water, leaving it permanently disabled.

Meanwhile, General Monk kept chasing what looked like easy prey.

Modified Cannons Backfire on British Sailors

General Monk’s crew had changed their six-pound cannons to fire nine-pound balls for more power. This choice backfired when they fired at close range.

The overloaded cannons broke free from the deck and flipped over, causing chaos. Several sailors burned themselves trying to fix the damaged guns.

Captain Rogers slowed down to grab the empty Charming Sally before chasing Hyder Ally again, giving Barney time to get ready for his next move.

Ships Lock Together in Deadly Combat

Captain Rogers pulled up beside Hyder Ally and told them to give up.

Barney answered with a blast of grape, canister, and round shot that tore across General Monk’s deck. The British ship could only fire back with front guns since most couldn’t aim at the Americans.

Barney’s second blast broke General Monk’s main and top-gallant masts, crippling the British ship. The ships drifted closer, setting up Barney’s cleverest move.

A Shouted Order Becomes a Clever Trap

Barney shouted “hard a-port, do you want him to run abroad of us?” loud enough for Captain Rogers to hear.

The British captain fell for the trick, turning his ship left while Barney secretly told his helmsman to turn right. This trick caused the two ships to crash and get tangled in each other’s rigging.

Now stuck together, neither ship could escape what would become a brutal close-up battle.

American Sailors Fight with Fierce Determination

Quick-thinking American sailors tied the ships together, trapping General Monk against Hyder Ally’s side.

For 26 minutes, Barney’s crew fired into the British ship while marines in the rigging shot down onto the enemy deck. Barney stood on a compass box to direct the attack until British fire shot it out from under him.

The fighting got worse as British officers fell one by one. Captain Rogers got hurt while all his officers died except one midshipman who finally gave up.

Victory Comes at a Heavy Cost for the British

The battle took a big toll. British losses included 20 dead and 33 hurt, with some reports claiming 83 total casualties including all officers. American losses were much lighter: 4 killed and 11 hurt.

When American sailors boarded General Monk, they counted over 300 shot holes in her hull. HMS Quebec, despite having more guns, ran away without fighting after seeing General Monk’s capture.

Philadelphia Celebrates as Peace Approaches

Barney got command of the captured General Monk, which Americans renamed General Washington.

He sailed to France carrying important messages for Benjamin Franklin, then came back with news that early peace talks had started.

Philadelphia welcomed him with a 13-gun salute as crowds filled the docks to see the prize ship.

This battle stood out as one of the few clear American naval wins against stronger British forces late in the Revolutionary War.

Visiting Delaware Bay, Delaware

You can explore Joshua Barney’s naval victory at the Independence Seaport Museum at 211 S. Columbus Blvd in Philadelphia.

Admission costs $18 for adults and $14 for seniors, children, and military. Your ticket includes access to historic ships USS Olympia and USS Becuna.

The “Patriots and Pirates” exhibit features Captain John Barry’s octant and a model of Federal St. Navy Yard.

Hours are 10 AM-5 PM in winter, with seasonal changes throughout the year.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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