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1778: Hurricane changes outcome of French/British naval battle
August 10, 2021
•
2 min
Ashburn
Virginia
The Battle of Saratoga occurred in September and October, 1777, during the second year of the American Revolution. It included two crucial battles, fought eighteen days apart, and was a decisive victory for the Continental Army and a critical turning point in the Revolutionary War. It was the first major victory for the colonists and led to the signing of The Treaty of Alliance with France on February 6, 1778, creating a military alliance between the United States and France against Great Britain. Benjamin Franklin had been in Paris working to secure the alliance and the Battle had help swing opinion to the side of the Americans and exhibited their ability to take the fight to the British. So, it then happened that on August 10, 1778 a slow moving hurricane headed up the east coast of the Colonies. The storm resulted in extensive damage in eastern NC, and then moved up the coast offshore. At the time the French and British were ready to square off in a pitched naval battle off the coast near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. This is was to be one of the first battles that the French took an active part in after the signing of the French-American alliance. As the Hurricane battered the ships the French ships were larger and sustained the heaviest damage. The smaller British ships had a chance to capitalize on the situation avoiding the worst of the storm by their greater maneuverability but because of the severity of the storm they were blown away from the French fleet and had to re-group over the next few days. The severity of the hurricane cost the British precious time to press their advantage of maneuverability and greater numbers. By the time the British squadron had come back together on the 13th more French ships had arrived on the scene and an opportunity lost,. The French now controlled that part of the coast in a significant aide to the American Revolution.
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