On this day in 1777, a British Royal Navy fleet of ships, trying to open up supply lines along the Delaware River & the occupying British army in Philadelphia, is bombarded by American cannon fire & artillery from Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania.
Six British ships were severely damaged, including the 64-gun battleship HMS Augusta & the 20-gun sloop Merlin, which both suffered direct hits; before they were run aground & subsequently destroyed. More than 60 British troops aboard the Augusta were killed, while the crewmembers aboard the Merlin abandoned ship, narrowly avoiding a similar fate.
Although the American forces defending Fort Mifflin were victorious on October 23, 1777, the battle continued throughout the month of October into November. With much of the fort destroyed & under continuous artillery & cannon fire, American Patriot forces abandoned Fort Mifflin on November 16, 1777.
The capture of Fort Mifflin gave the British Royal Navy near complete control of the Delaware River up to Red Bank, New Jersey. Fearing that the fall of Fort Mercer, located across the Delaware from Fort Mifflin, was imminent, Continental Army Colonel Christopher Greene ordered a full retreat off all American Patriot troops from the fort & the burning of all buildings & ships to prevent their capture by the British. General Charles Cornwallis took over the evacuated fort, guaranteeing a safe winter for the British forces occupying Philadelphia, while their disheartened Continental counterparts froze at Valley Forge.
http://www.history.com
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