Action of 15 September 1782

Part of the American Revolutionary War

Date	15 September 1782
Location	Delaware Bay
Result	British victory

Belligerents

Great Britain

France

Commanders and leaders

Captain George Elphinstone

Latouche Tréville (POW)

Strength

4 ships

3 ships

Casualties and losses

Light

1 ship captured,
600 prisoners

The Action of 15 September 1782 was a naval action in the mouth of the Delaware Bay in which four Royal Naval vessels under the command of the George Elphinstone pursued and attacked three French warships which included two frigates which was under the command of Comte De la Touche Tréville. The French 38 gun frigate Aigle was grounded and captured along with the Comte De la Touche.

In early 1782, Captain Latouche-Tréville assumed command of Aigle, which, along with the frigate Gloire, ferried funds and equipment for the fleet of Admiral Vaudreil. On 5 September 1782 Aigle and Gloire encountered the recently acquired British ship Hector, a former French ship of the line which had been severely damaged and then captured at the Battle of the Saintes. Hector managed to escape but she was damaged further and later sank in the 1782 Central Atlantic hurricane. Aigle and Gloire went on to capture the brig HMS Racoon off the Delaware River on 10 September 1782. On 13 September a small British squadron consisting of HMS Vestal, HMS Bonetta, and the prize Sophie, led by Captain George Elphinstone in HMS Warwick, and HMS Lion sighted the three vessels anchored in the Delaware River off Cape Henlopen Light. The British set out in chase; Captain George Elphinstone, in the 50-gun ship Warwick dispatched the lighter vessels 28-gun frigate Vestal, the sloop Bonetta and the Sophie under command of Richard Keats as they were to traverse shallow waters.

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Wikipedia