As the 4th of July approaches, here are some more often overlooked clashes during the Revolutionary War.
APRIL 2nd – Off the coast of Delaware the British frigates HMS Perseus and HMS Roebuck spotted the South Carolina Navy’s schooner the USS Defense, captained by Thomas Pickering. Outnumbered, the Defense fled and the British vessels pursued her from roughly 6:00am to 1:00pm.
At that time the Roebuck and the Perseus caught up with the American ship and both of them opened fire. Ultimately, the Defense surrendered and was towed into New York Harbor by the English.
APRIL 13th – Near Bound Brook in the New Jersey No-Man’s Land, Redcoat General Charles Cornwallis and his 2,000 men caught American General Benjamin Lincoln and his 500 men by surprise. Militia units failed to warn him of the British approach. Continue reading
THE SALAMANDER – The 4th of July is fast approaching! As another seasonal post Balladeer’s Blog examines the Revolutionary War career of Captain Jonathan Haraden, nicknamed the Salamander because of “his ability to withstand fire.” 
The Tyrannicide wasted no time, battling the HMS Dispatch on July 12th. The Dispatch boasted 20 cannons but after an hour & a half battle fell to Fisk and Haraden’s crew. The commerce raider towed this prize into Salem by July 17th and soon set out for more. 
MARCH 8th – Another encounter during the Great Forage War. American and British troops continued foraging for supplies throughout the New Jersey No Man’s Land. Near Amboy, NJ an unknown number of U.S. forces under General William Maxwell ambushed hundreds of British-Allied Hessian troops and captured 70 Hessians in the resulting fighting.
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