Battle of the course Henry

The battles of the course Henry is a naval battle of the Guerre of independence of the United States of America which is delivered in the Baie of Chesapeake the March 16th 1781 between the English squadron carried out by the admiral Marriott Arbuthnot and the French squadron of the captain Charles Sochet of the Keys.

Circumstances

It had been agreed between the generals of the two French Armies and American that, while Fayette would besiege Arnold in Portsmouth, a French fleet carrying a thousand of men would come to attack it by sea. Rochambeau made embark, indeed, on the vessels of Destouches 1200 men drawn from the Régiment of Bourbonnais, under the control of the colonel of Laval and the major Gambs; and of that of the Regiment of Soissonnais, under the orders of its colonel as a second, the Viscount of Noailles, and the lieutenant-colonel Anselme of Gardette.

There were on the vessels a number of mortars and pieces of artillery sufficient to support a seat if forwarding would succeed

Dumas was charged to go to New London, small port on the coast of Connecticut, opposite the Pointe Length-Island and the damping of the English squadron, to observe it more closely while that of Destouches was prepared to leave. It could notice that it was in most perfect safety. Also, Destouches benefitted it from a North-eastern wind which rose the March 8th, to put at the veil.

There were on board four companies of pomegranates and hunters, a detachment of 164 men of each regiment, and hundred artillery men, together 1.156 men.

A stormy and unequal sea forced the chief of the French squadron to go to broad to approach then the coast at once that it was with the latitude of the Virginia. One moment its vessels were dispersed; but it could rejoin them at the entry of the Baie of Chesapeak. At the same time he discovered the English squadron, which under the orders of the admiral Graves had started from its damping twenty-four hours after him, but which while following a more direct way had arrived two days front. The English admiral was ridden on the London , vessel with three bridges, more extremely than any the French vessels. The other English vessels were equal by the number and the armament to those of the French squadron.

It was the March 16th. Destouches understood that its forwarding was missed. He did not believe however to be able to exempt itself to deliver a combat which was very-sharp and in which were distinguished especially the Conquérant , the Jason and Burning the . The first lost its rudder. Almost all its crew was put out of combat; from Laval itself was wounded there. The English squadron was maltreated even; but it kept bay, and a few days later the general Philips, started from New York with two thousand men, could join Arnold and ensure him in Virginia an undeniable superiority.

The Destouches captain returned in Newport the 18, after his glorious but useless attempt.

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