battle block island april nighttime naval encounter returning successful raid nassau bahamas maiden voyage royal_navy dispatch boat glasgow successfully escaped capture fleet seven ships command sustained significant damage encounter ship captains continental fleet criticized actions engagement dismissed result criticized actions pertaining cruise including distribution seized goods eventually dismissed navy background sixth rate gun frigate royal_navy early april command navy captain carrying dispatches newport rhode_island british fleet charleston south_carolina fleet assembled launch assault charleston ultimately failed june battle sullivan island established late february ships fleet ready maiden voyage led fleet ships expedition bahamas british known military stores early march fleet reduced route landed marines island captured town nassau loading fleet ships enlarged include captured prize ships military stores fleet sailed north march ship dispatched philadelphia rest fleet sailed channel fleet cruise marked variety diseases including smallpox resulting significant reductions crew effectiveness april fleet reached waters long_island captured prize laden supplies day brought second prize hoping catch easy prizes continued cruise night forming fleet scouting formation columns right eastern column headed uss followed flagship uss alfred guns largest ship fleet left column headed uss andrew followed uss columbus came uss providence uss fly uss wasp trailing escorts prizes need provide crews prizes reduced fighting effectiveness fleet ships battle night exceptionally clear night nearly moon april fleet headed generally southerly direction glasgow spotted leagues nautical miles southeast glasgow heading westerly destined charleston captain howe came investigate fleet minutes closed distance commodore gave signals time fleet formed battle line resulted battle captain andrew later described howe came captain son john younger hailed identification replied columbus alfred gun frigate ship tossed grenade glasgow deck battle engaged lightly armed brig fired ineffective broadside pounders glasgow countered heavier weaponry killing master wounding steering drifted away alfred came engage glasgow engaged broadside duel shot glasgow early action broke lines alfred temporary loss steering exposed fire drift difficult andrew join action maneuver avoid drifting providence held columbus eventually able join action late fire wild little damage glasgow glasgow exposed fire ships howe decided break battle order avoid boarded sail newport despite extensive damage sail rigging pulled away pursuing fleet fully laden captured goods hours chase lasting daylight called chase avoid encounter british squadron newport prize glasgow tender fleet brought anchor connecticut april aftermath glasgow suffered casualties killed wounded count demonstrated poor quality continental fleet gunnery casualties musket fire aboard killed seven wounded alfred killed wounded drummer wounded president praised fleet performance failure capture glasgow gave opponents navy congress opportunities criticism wrote action ill conducted affair happened captain columbus endured rumors accusations time eventually asked court martial clear held panel consisting officers cruise cleared criticized errors judgment captain providence fortunate charged variety offenses subordinate officers including neglect duty glasgow action convicted court martial forced surrender commission came scrutiny congress matters unrelated action violated written orders sailing nassau instead virginia carolinas distributed goods taken cruise connecticut rhode_island consulting congress dismissed navy january controversies including fleet failure sail number ships suffered crew shortages trapped providence rhode_island british occupation newport late glasgow suffering battle having dumped dispatches returned newport found bad shape possible sent portsmouth repairs mission reassigned ship newport squadron
Battle of Block Island