Hinchinbrooke & Rebecca

The British navy positioned three warships- Hichinbrooke, Hatter, and Rebecca near the Village of Frederica to capture American galleys along the Frederica River. In response, Col. Samuel Elbert ordered the galleys Washington, Lee, and Bulloch to engage and capture the British ships.  The American galleys attacked on the morning of April 19, 1778.  The American galley’s heavy arms and better maneuverability enabled them to force the British ships Hinchinbrooke and Rebecca to run aground.  The British abandoned these ships to the Americans, while the Hatter was able to retreat from the American attack. 

The American victory here galvanized the people of Georgia, as they had disabled two large British ships that had “spread terror” on the coast. This loss delayed further significant naval action in the area by the British. It also demonstrated the ability of smaller, better outfitted American galleys to succeed in battle against the larger, but less maneuverable British ships in constrained inland naval warfare.