by Willis, Sam
as symbol of freedom to slaves ref1
tension with coastal populations ref1
tension with merchant marine ref1
at Yorktown ref1
Royal Savage, HMS ref1
rumour, power of ref1
Russell, HMS ref1
Russia ref1
American gunpowder trade ref1
appeasement proposal ref1
League of Armed Neutrality ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
sea power ref1
Russian navy ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Saavedra, Francisco de ref1
Sag Harbor raid ref1
sailors, impressed ref1
Sainneville, le chevalier de ref1
St Clair, Arthur ref1, ref2
St Eustatius ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
British manufactured goods on ref1
Rodney’s campaign against ref1, ref2
strategic importance ref1
St Helena ref1, ref2
St Jean ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
St. John (customs schooner) ref1
St Kitts ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
St Lawrence river, pack ice ref1
St Lucia ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
battle of ref1, ref2
St Vincent ref1
St Vincent, battle of ref1
Saintes, battle of the ref1
Saint-Laurent, Rear-Admiral comte Barras de ref1
Saldanha Bay ref1
Saltonstall, Dudley ref1, ref2
saltpetre ref1
Sandwich, John Montagu, 4th Earl of ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13, ref14, ref15
Sandwich, HMS ref1
Sandy Bay Samboes ref1
Sandy Hook, New Jersey ref1, ref2
Santa Monica (Spanish warship) ref1
Santo Domingo (Spanish warship) ref1
Saratoga, battle of ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Sartatoga (American warship) ref1
Sartine, Antoine-Raymond-Gaulbert-Gabriel de ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Savannah
blockade ref1
British capture of ref1
defences ref1
evacuation of, 1782 ref1n
strategic importance ref1
Savannah, d’Estaing’s attack on
American forces ref1, ref2
assault ref1
Beaufort ref1, ref2
British forces ref1, ref2, ref3
British victory celebrations ref1
casualties ref1, ref2
comparison with Charleston campaign ref1
first landing ref1
French withdrawal ref1
second landing ref1
siege ref1
Spring Hill Redoubt ref1
voyage to ref1
Wall’s Cut ref1
weather ref1, ref2
Schank, Lieutenant John ref1, ref2
Schuyler, Philip ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
Scotland ref1
scurvy ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
sea power ref1, ref2
American ref1, ref2
British ref1, ref2, ref3
in the Caribbean ref1, ref2
Dutch ref1
French ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Howe and ref1
imagery and symbolism ref1
impact ref1
impact ashore ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
and moral responsibility ref1
peacetime ref1
role of ref1
Russian ref1
Spanish ref1, ref2
wartime ref1
Washington and ref1
Searle, Ambrose ref1
seasickness ref1, ref2
Second Continental Congress ref1, ref2, ref3
centralization of power ref1
creation of Continental Navy ref1
Serapis, HMS ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Serres, Dominic, the Elder ref1, ref2
Seven Years’ War (1754–63) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8n, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13
ship names ref1
shipbuilding ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
American resources ref1
Continental Navy programme ref1
Dutch ref1
Great Britain ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Lake Champlain ref1
prefabrication ref1
Spanish ref1
ship-burning ref1, ref2
shipwrights ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
shoes ref1
shore fortifications, advantage ref1
Shrewsbury, HMS ref1
Shuldham, Molyneux ref1, ref2, ref3
signalling systems ref1, ref2
Sisargas Islands ref1
Skene, Philip ref1
Skene later Liberty (schooner) ref1
Skenesborough ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
slaves and slavery
accusations of ref1n
the Caribbean ref1
deaths ref1
Dunmore emancipation proclamation ref1
escapes ref1
evacuation of ref1
evacuation of the Delaware ref1
maritime skills ref1
population ref1
Royal Navy as symbol of freedom to ref1
smallpox ref1
sloops, gunpowder stock ref1
smallpox ref1, ref2
smuggling ref1
gunpowder ref1, ref2
suppression of ref1
Solano, Don Josef ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Somerset, HMS ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Somerville, Massachusetts, powder house ref1
Sorel ref1
South Carolina (American warship) ref1n
South Carolina State Navy ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Southampton ref1
Spain
alliance with France ref1, ref2
American gunpowder trade ref1, ref2
American presence ref1
American trade ref1
American use of ports ref1
borrowing ref1
and British naval mobilization ref1
Caribbean holdings ref1
declaration of war ref1, ref2
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gains ref1
Grand Assault on Gibraltar ref1, ref2
gunpowder ref1
naval weakness ref1
neutrality ref1, ref2
peace talks ref1
plans to invade Britain ref1
sea power ref1
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specie influx ref1
support for America ref1
terms of entry into war ref1
threat of ref1
treasure ships, 1778 ref1
Washington on ref1
Spanish Guatemala ref1
Spanish Honduras ref1
Spanish Navy
American expectations of ref1
blockade of Gibraltar ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Caribbean campaign, 1780 ref1
Channel campaign, 1781 ref1
cooperation with French ref1
English Channel campaign, 1782 ref1
failure ref1
failure to cooperate with French ref1
Gálvez’s campaign, 1780 ref1
mobilization ref1
the Moonlight Battle ref1
seamanship ref1
siege of Minorca ref1
strength ref1, ref2, ref3
weakness ref1
springs ref1
spy-ships ref1
state navies ref1, ref2
recruits ref1
ship names ref1
Staten Island ref1
occupation of ref1
station-keeping ref1
Steuben, Baron von ref1, ref2
Stiles, Ezra ref1
Stony Point ref1
Stormont, Lord ref1, ref2
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strategic planning ref1
strategic situation
1775 ref1
1776 ref1
1776–77 ref1
1779 ref1
1781 ref1
after Yorktown ref1
Continental Navy, 1776–77 ref1
Suffren, bailli de ref1, ref2, ref3
appearance ref1
career ref1
defeat of ref1
race for Cape of Good Hope ref1
secures Cape of Good Hope ref1
Sukey (British merchantman) ref1
Sullivan, Major-General John ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
battle of Porto Praya ref1, ref2
Sullivan’s Island, Charleston ref1
supply vessels, British ref1
Sweden ref1, ref2
Swedish Navy ref1, ref2, ref3
tactics ref1
taxation ref1, ref2
Ternay, chevalier de ref1, ref2, ref3
Teschen, Peace of ref1
Thatcher, James ref1, ref2
Thomas, Major-General John ref1n
Thunderer (gun-platform) ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Tobago ref1, ref2
Torbay ref1
Tories
definition ref1n
evacuation of ref1
evacuation of Boston ref1
New York campaign ref1
Pennsylvania ref1
Touches, Captain Sochet des ref1
Toulon ref1, ref2
Toulon, battle of ref1
Tower of London ref1, ref2
Townshend Acts ref1
trade and trading patterns ref1
trade convoys ref1
Treasury, the ref1
Trenton ref1, ref2
Trenton, battle of ref1
Trenton campaign
battle of Princetown ref1
battle of Trenton ref1
British counter-attack ref1
prisoners of war ref1
strategic situation ref1
Washington’s first crossing of Delaware ref1
Trincomalee ref1, ref2
Tronjoly, Admiral François l’Ollivier de ref1, ref2
Trumbull (American lugger) ref1, ref2, ref3
Tryon, Sir William ref1, ref2
Turgot, Anne-Robert-Jacques ref1
Turner, J. M. W., The Fighting Temeraire ref1
Turtle (proto-submarine) ref1, ref2, ref3
typhus ref1, ref2
Ulloa, Don Antonio ref1
US Marine Corps ref1
US Naval History and Heritage Command, Naval Documents of the American Revolution ref1
Ushant, battle of ref1
aftermath ref1, ref2
approach manoeuvres ref1
attack ref1
British forces ref1, ref2
casualties ref1
French forces ref1, ref2
impact of ref1, ref2, ref3
wind ref1
Valcour Island, battle of ref1, ref2
Valley Forge ref1
Varick, Captain Richard ref1
Vaudreuil, Admiral le marquis de ref1
Vergennes, comte de ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11
Vernon, Edward ref1
Vestal, HMS ref1
Victory, HMS ref1
commanders ref1
crew ref1
specifications ref1
Virginia
collapse of royal government ref1
maritime focus ref1
slave escapes ref1
Virginia (American frigate) ref1, ref2
Virginia State Navy ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Vulture, HMS ref1
Wallace, Captain James ref1
Wanton, Joseph ref1
Warren (American frigate) ref1, ref2, ref3
Warren, Dr James ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
warships
burning ref1
construction ref1
destruction ref1
equipment and stores capacity ref1
First Rate ref1
investment ref1
leaks ref1
masts ref1
performance ref1
repair ref1
role ref1
sinking ref1
timbers ref1
Washington (American warship) ref1
Washington (American galley) ref1, ref2
Washington, George ref1, ref2
on American independence ref1
appointed commander-in-chief ref1, ref2
arms merchant ships ref1
and Arnold’s defection ref1
arrival at Yorktown ref1
battle of Monmouth ref1
boatmanship ref1, ref2
Boston truce ref1
and Canadian campaign, 1775–6 ref1
and the capture of the Nancy ref1
commissions the Hannah ref1
on Continental Navy ref1
Cornwallis’s pursuit of ref1
crossing the Delaware, 1776 ref1, ref2
defence of the Delaware ref1, ref2
on the Delaware ref1
and d’Estaing ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
and d’Estaing’s arrival ref1
and the evacuation of Boston ref1
evacuation of Long Island ref1
on France ref1
on Gibraltar ref1
Hartford Conference ref1
and Lafayette’s arrival ref1
and Lake Champlain campaign ref1
leadership skills ref1
march on Yorktown ref1, ref2
military experience ref1
Monongahela crossing attempt ref1n
and the New York campaign ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
and Philadelphia campaign ref1, ref2
prepares to strike back ref1
retreat across the Delaware ref1
and sea power ref1
on Spain ref1
Trenton campaign, 1776 ref1
Washington Crossing the Delaware (Leutze) ref1
Washington Crossing the Delaware (Leutze) ref1
weather ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
Wesley, John ref1
West India Company ref1
Westminster Abbey ref1
whaleboats ref1, ref2
Whipple, Abraham ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
Whitehaven ref1
Wickes, Lambert ref1, ref2
Wilkes, John ref1
William IV, King ref1, ref2, ref3
Willing, James ref1
Wilmington, bombardment of ref1
winter, 1775–76 ref1
winter, 1779–80 ref1, ref2, ref3
women travellers, diaries ref1
Wooster, Brigadier-General David ref1n
Wraxall, Sir Nathanial ref1
Wright, James ref1, ref2
xebecs ref1
Yarmouth, HMS ref1, ref2
York River ref1
Yorktown
evacuation of ref1
strategic importance ref1
Yorktown, siege of ref1
aftermath ref1
arrival of French fleet ref1
bombardment ref1
British failure to support Cornwallis ref1
British ships ref1
British shipwrecks ref1, ref2
Cornwallis occupies ref1
Cornwallis surrenders ref1, ref2
defences ref1
escape attempt ref1
French forces ref1
French navy at ref1
impact of ref1
naval aspects ref1
naval engagement ref1
news of surrender spreads ref1
Washington’s arrival at ref1
Washington’s march to ref1, ref2
Young, Admiral James ref1
Young, Captain Walter ref1
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr Sam Willis is a historian, archaeologist and broadcaster. He
is the author of a number of books on maritime and naval history, including the ‘Hearts of Oak’ Trilogy and the ‘Fighting Ships’ series. Sam has appeared in and presented numerous TV series, including Shipwrecks and Castles for BBC4 and Operation Grand Canyon for BBC2.
1. Drawn by a British engineer, Archibald Robertson, from a high point on Staten Island, this shows the moment on 12 July 1776 when the British build-up of naval power at New York was complete. Howe’s fleet sails through the narrows and meets Shuldham’s, already at anchor in Raritan Bay. Long Island is visible in the distance.
2. One of several versions of a painting by Dominic Serres the Elder of the British Phoenix, Roebuck and Tartar, accompanied by two smaller vessels, forcing the American river defences in the Hudson. The tips of the river defences can just be seen to the left of the ships. The narrowness of the river depicted here is misleading; the Hudson at this point is almost a mile wide.
3. The British fleet landing at Kip’s Bay, 15 September 1776, drawn by Robert Cleveley, then a clerk on HMS Asia. Note the clear depictions of the flat boats – the characteristic British amphibious landing craft of the day.
4. The British landing and scaling the New Jersey palisades on 20 November 1776, an operation made possible by the skill and experience of British sailors in hauling heavy guns over difficult terrain.
5. A contemporary sketch of Arnold’s eclectic fleet at Valcour Island on the morning of 11 October 1776, showing the schooner Royal Savage in the centre surrounded by a variety of craft. From the left we see another schooner, a galley, the gondola Philadelphia (now preserved in Washington) and another galley; from the right we see a galley, a sloop and several gondolas.
6. Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze. A multi-layered allegory of the revolution painted seventy-five years after the event, it focuses on one of Washington’s four crossings of the Delaware.
7. A sketch by a British soldier of the remains of the ‘Great Bridge’ built by the Americans between Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence in 1777. The bridge’s pilings stretch across the lake. The vessel on the left is HMS Inflexible, built in just twenty-eight days at St Jean.
8. One of a series of brief sketches by Hector McNeill recording the relative positions of the ships in the duel between the Boston and the Fox.
9. Dominic Serres’s two paintings of the Battle of St Lucia. The first (above) shows the engagement with the French fleet bearing down on the British at anchor and greatly exaggerates the closeness of the battle – the closest that the French ever engaged was at three-quarters of a mile..
10. The second painting (below) shows the British fleet after the battle with the French leaving in the distance. Note that the British guns have been run out on their landward side, suggesting that they were fully expecting to be doubled or to have their line broken – a clear indication of their vulnerable mindset.
11. Part of a chart drawn by an Englishman shortly after the end of the war, showing the destruction of the American fleet in the Penobscot River, August 1779.