Map of the Bahamas

The Battle of Nassau (March 2 – March 3, 1776) was a naval action and amphibious assault by American forces against British-occupied Nassau, The Bahamas during the American Revolutionary War. It is considered the first cruise and one of the first engagements of the United States Navy, and the first action of the newly-created Continental Marines, the progenitor of the United States Marine Corps. It is sometimes known as the Raid of Nassau. Map of the Bahamas. ... Map of the Bahamas. ... March 2 is the 61st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (62nd in leap years). ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... This article is about the year 1776. ... Amphibious warfare is the assault of an objective located on land by a force attacking from ships. ... For other uses, see Nassau (disambiguation). ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Netherlands, Spain, allies British Empire, allies Commanders George Washington Comte de Rochambeau Nathanael Greene William Howe Henry Clinton Charles Cornwallis Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties {{{casualties1}}} {{{casualties2}}} {{{notes}}} The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was the military component of... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The Continental Marines were the colonial Marine force of the American Revolutionary War. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ...

Under the command of Fleet Captain or Commodore Esek Hopkins, of Rhode Island, a task force of four ships, including Hornet, Alfred, and Wasp, rallied near Great Abaco Island, north of the Island of New Providence, on March 1st, 1775. Commodore has several meanings: Commodore International is a computer company Commodore 64 and Amiga were home computers Commodore (rank) is a naval rank Commodore (yacht club) is the senior officer of a yacht club The Holden Commodore is a type of car The Opel Commodore is a type of car... French portrait of Commodore Esek Hopkins Esek Hopkins (26 April 1718 – 26 February 1802), was Commander in Chief of the Fleet throughout the American Revolutionary War. ... This article is the current U.S. Collaboration of the Week. ... The first USS Hornet was a merchant sloop chartered from Captain William Stone in December 1775 to serve under Stone as a unit of Esek Hopkins Fleet. ... USS Alfred was a man-of-war in the Continental Navy of the United States. ... Scorpion, a merchant schooner built at Baltimore, was purchased by the Continental Navy late in 1775; renamed USS Wasp ; outfitted at Baltimore during the winter of 1775 and 1776; and commissioned in December 1775 or January 1776, Capt. ... The Abaco islands lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, together with the smaller Wood Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Gorda Cay, Elbow Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Strangers Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walkers Cay and Mores Island. ... (This article is about the island in the Bahamas. ... March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ...

The force captured two sloops owned by loyalists and pressed their owners to serve as pilots. Important notice: This article is about the modern civilian boat type. ... For the township in Canada, see Loyalist, Ontario In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be. ...

On March 2nd the force approached Nassau, sending ashore a raiding party of 230 United States Marines and 50 sailors under the command of Captain Samuel Nicholas, the first commissioned officer in the Continental Marines. The force captured nearby Fort Montague, but were repulsed in their assault on Fort Nassau. March 2 is the 61st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (62nd in leap years). ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ... Samuel Nicholas (circa 1744 - August 27, 1790) was the first officer commissioned in the United States Continental Marines (now the United States Marine Corps), and by tradition is considered to be the first Commandant of the Marine Corps. ...

On March 3rd a landing was again attempted, and this time the Marines captured Nassau without a fight, seizing a sizable store of 103 cannon, mortars and munitions. Much of the precious gunpowder stores that were the target of the raid had been evacuated after the failed raid on the 2nd. March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... Smokeless powder Gunpowder, whether black powder or smokeless powder, is a substance that burns very rapidly, releasing gases that act as a propellant in firearms. ...

It marked the first instance in American military history that forces responded to the equivalent modern command of "Land the landing force."[1]

On March 17th the fleet sailed for Block Island Channel off Newport, Rhode Island, with the Lieutenant Governor of the Bahamas and a South Carolina Tory as prisoners. March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in Leap years). ... A side street in Newport, Rhode Island, showing the historic buildings near the waterfront Newport is a city located in Newport County, Rhode Island, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Providence. ... A Lieutenant Governor is a government official who is the subordinate or deputy of a Governor or Governor-General. ...

Trivia

In commemoration of the battle, two ships of the United States Navy have been christened USS Nassau. Two ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Nassau, after the Nassau Sound off Florida. ...

External links

• US Marine Corps site with details of the battle
• AOL User page with detailed history
• USS Nassau website with history of the name and battle