Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet

Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet
Part of the American Revolutionary War

Location of Turtle Gut Inlet on 1777 map
DateJune 29, 1776 (1776-06-29)
Location
Turtle Gut Inlet, off Wildwood Crest
near Cape May, New Jersey
38°57′30″N 74°50′30″W / 38.95833°N 74.84167°W / 38.95833; -74.84167
Result American victory
Belligerents
 Great Britain United States 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[1] Nancy destroyed
Richard Wickes †[2]

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.[3] It was the first privateer battle of the American Revolutionary War.[1] The battle resulted in the first American casualty of the war in New Jersey, Lieutenant Richard Wickes, brother of Captain Lambert Wickes.[4][5] It was the only Revolutionary War battle fought in Cape May County.[6]

  1. ^ a b Donnelly 2010, p. 109
  2. ^ *"Lt. Richard Wickes". Historical Marker Database.
  3. ^ "The Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet". Wildwood Crest Historical Society. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  4. ^ Johnson 2006, pp. 95–6
  5. ^ Lundin, Leonard (1940). Cockpit of the Revolution – The War for Independence in New Jersey. Princeton University Press. p. 113.
  6. ^ "Southern New Jersey and the Delaware Bay: Historic Themes and Resources within the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route". National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2012-04-30.