June 29, 2019: On the Road to Independence

The Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet started in the early hours of June 29. The privateer Nancy, commissioned by the Continental Congress, and loaded with supplies, was prevented from landing them in Philadelphia by the British blockade of Delaware Bay.  The supplies included 386 barrels of gunpwder desperately need by George Washington's Army in New York City.   She also carried 101 hogsheads of rum, which the soldiers probably felt were just as badly needed.  Nancy was expected and three ships of the brand new Continental Navy -  LexingtonWasp, and Reprisal - were on their way to escort her to a safe port.  Unfortunately, before they could reach her two war ships from the British blockade, Orpheus and Kingfisher, spotted Nancy and gave chase.  They were faster, and much bigger, and mounted a lot of guns.  Desperate measures were called for, and Nancy's captain sailed her into Turtle Gut Inlet off the eastern tip of Cape May, New Jersey which was both too narrow and too shallow for the British ships.  It almost worked, but there was a heavy fog and Nancy ran aground.  Longboats from the Continental ships were on their way, but as the fog dispersed she became visible to the British ships which moved in closer and started shelling her.  The longboats arrived and while the Lexington, Wasp, and Reprisal fired on the British ships, the sailors from the longboats and Nancy's crew attempted to salvage the cargo.  It was loaded into the longboats and taken ashore, where local residents helped hide the barrels behind the dunes, out of harm's way.    Between 265 and  285 barrels of gunpowder were thus saved by late morning, before it became evident that Nancy was so badly damaged she would have to be abandoned.  Captain John Barry of the Lexington ordered 50 punds of gunpowder to be wrapped in the mainsail and laid from the hold, where about 100 barrels of gunpowder remained, across the deck and over the side, creating a long fuse. A sailor climbed the mast to retrieve Nancy's American flag, and the last man off the ship lit the fuse.  The British, seeing Nancy's flag come down, thought she had surrendered, and quickly sent a boarding party.  By the time they arrived the fuse had reached the hold, and there was a tremendous, and no doubt very satisfying, explosion that was felt for miles around, as Nancy blew up, taking the boarding party with her.

At 9:00am a lookout on Staten Island spotted the first sails of the British fleet approaching New York City.  By sunset that day over 100 ships were anchored off Sandy Hook, New Jersey, just below the narrows at the entrance to New York Harbor.  It looked like all of London was there, one obseerver said.

In Williamsbirg, Virginia, the Virginia Convention adopted a new state Constitution, and seeing no need to waste time, went on the same day to elect Patrick Henry as their first Governor.

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress dealt with a myriad of petitions, preparing the way for beginning discussion on the Virginia Resolution for independence when they meet on Monday, July 1st.

"...Gentlemen may cry Peace; peace! but there is no peace.  The war has actually begun!  The next gale that blows from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!Our brethren are already in the field!  Why stand we here idle?...Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?  Forbid it, Almighty God.  I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"                                          Patrick Henry, Speech to the Virginia Convention



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