Battle of Block Island
| Battle of Block Island | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
1779 map of Block Island | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Great Britain | United Colonies | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Tryingham Howe | Esek Hopkins | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1 post ship |
2 frigates 2 brigs 2 sloops 1 schooner | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
1 killed 3 wounded |
10 killed 14 wounded | ||||||
The Battle of Block Island was a naval skirmish which took place in the waters off Rhode Island during the American Revolutionary War. The Continental Navy under the command of Commodore Esek Hopkins was returning from a successful raid on Nassau when it encountered HMS Glasgow, a Royal Navy dispatch boat.
Glasgow escaped from the fleet of seven ships, although it sustained significant damage, and the battle is considered a victory for the British. Several captains of the Continental fleet were criticized for their actions during the battle, and one was eventually dismissed as a result. Commodore Hopkins was criticized for other actions pertaining to the cruise, including the distribution of seized goods, and was also dismissed.