Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Last Naval Battle of the American Revolutionary War
Photographed By Jamie Cox, May 3, 2016
1. The Last Naval Battle of the American Revolutionary War Marker
Inscription.
The last naval battle of the American Revolutionary War took place off the coast of Cape Canaveral on March 10, 1783. The fight began when three British ships sighted two Continental Navy ships, the Alliance commanded by Captain John Barry and the Duc De Lauzun commanded by Captain John Green sailing northward along the coast of Florida. The Alliance, a 36-gun frigate, and the Duc De Lauzun, a 20-gun ship, were loaded with 72,000 Spanish silver dollars they were bringing from Havana, Cuba to Philadelphia to support the Continental Army. One of the British ships, the HMS Sybil, a 28-gun frigate, commanded by Captain James Vashon, chased the Alliance and Duc De Lauzun to the south. The HMS Sybil fired first, exchanging shots with the slower Duc De Lauzun. Then in a daring strategy Captain John Barry aboard the Alliance reversed his course, and while under fire, waited until the HMS Sybil was close. When the British ship was alongside he returned fire to the broadside with greater number of cannon. The battle lasted less than an hour, when the HMS Sybil, outgunned and badly damaged, broke off from the battle and fled. The Alliance and Duc De Lauzun then continued on their mission at dawn on March 11, 1783.
The last naval battle of the American Revolutionary War took place off the coast of Cape Canaveral on March 10, 1783. The fight began when three British ships sighted two Continental Navy ships, the Alliance commanded by Captain John Barry and the Duc De Lauzun commanded by Captain John Green sailing northward along the coast of Florida. The Alliance, a 36-gun frigate, and the Duc De Lauzun, a 20-gun ship, were loaded with 72,000 Spanish silver dollars they were bringing from Havana, Cuba to Philadelphia to support the Continental Army. One of the British ships, the HMS Sybil, a 28-gun frigate, commanded by Captain James Vashon, chased the Alliance and Duc De Lauzun to the south. The HMS Sybil fired first, exchanging shots with the slower Duc De Lauzun. Then in a daring strategy Captain John Barry aboard the Alliance reversed his course, and while under fire, waited until the HMS Sybil was close. When the British ship was alongside he returned fire to the broadside with greater number of cannon. The battle lasted less than an hour, when the HMS Sybil, outgunned and badly damaged, broke off from the battle and fled. The Alliance and Duc De Lauzun then continued on their mission at dawn on March 11, 1783.
Erected
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2006 by the Canaveral Port Authority, the Florida Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-583.)
Location. 28° 21.067′ N, 80° 40.929′ W. Marker is on Merritt Island, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of South Sykes Creek Parkway and Fortenberry Road, on the left when traveling south. The marker is on the west bank of Sykes Creek at Brevard Veterans Memorial Center southeast of Merritt Square Mall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 S Sykes Creek Pkwy, Merritt Island FL 32952, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Marker was originally placed at 28° 21.067′ N, 80° 40.929′ W, near the creek.
Additional commentary. 1. Marker moved slightly This marker has been moved just slightly. It no longer resides along the water, but rather now sits firmly in the memorial circle in the center of the park.
— Submitted January 20, 2024, by Brad Kostelny of Merritt Island, Florida.
Photographed By Jamie Cox, May 3, 2016
3. The Last Naval Battle of the American Revolutionary War Cannon Monument
This monument is adjacent to the main marker. It reads:
Last Naval Battle of the American Revolution March 10th, 1783
Cannon monument
dedicated March 19, 2007 Brevard Chapter Sons of the American Revolution
Space Coast Regents Council DAR Abigail Wright Chamberlin DAR Cape Canaveral DAR Indian River DAR Phil Perry DAR Rufus Fairbanks DAR Cape Canaveral Navy League Pride – Service - Patriotism Rededicated March 3, 2012
Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2016, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,424 times since then and 118 times this year. Last updated on March 5, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 3, 2016, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of the marker at its present location • Can you help?