Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet

Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Location of Turtle Gut Inlet on 1777 map
Date June 29, 1776 (1776-06-29) Location off Wildwood Crest near Cape May, New Jersey 38°57′30″N 74°50′30″W / 38.95833°N 74.84167°W / 38.95833; -74.84167Coordinates: 38°57′30″N 74°50′30″W / 38.95833°N 74.84167°W / 38.95833; -74.84167 Result American victory
Belligerents
Great Britain	United Colonies
Commanders and leaders
Charles Hudson Alexander Graeme	John Barry Lambert Wickes William Hallock Hugh Montgomery
Strength
HMS Orpheus HMS Kingfisher	USS Lexington USS Reprisal USS Wasp Nancy
Casualties and losses
Estimated 12–36	Nancy Destroyed Richard Wickes †

The Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet (June 29, 1776) was an important, early naval victory for the Continental Navy and the future "Father of the American Navy", Captain John Barry. It was the first privateer battle of the American Revolutionary War. The battle resulted in the first American casualty of the war in New Jersey, Lieutenant Richard Wickes, brother of Captain Lambert Wickes. It was the only Revolutionary War battle fought in Cape May County.

To prevent the Americans from receiving war supplies through the port of Philadelphia, the British Navy established a blockade of the Delaware Bay. This fleet included over 240 cannons. The Americans then fortified the river with cheveaux-de-frise in the shipping channel.

To transport gunpowder and arms, Robert Morris of the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety chartered the newly built brig, also called brigantine, Nancy and her captain, Hugh Montgomery on March 1, 1776.

On March 14, 1776, John Barry was commissioned Captain of the fourteen-gun Lexington in the Continental Navy.

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