Combat· American Revolutionary War
Battle of Block Island
On April 6, 1776, the Continental fleet under Esek Hopkins, returning from New Providence, fought the 20-gun British frigate Glasgow in Block Island Sound.
Two sails were sighted an hour into the midnight watch. On the Alfred, Captain Nicholas and Second Lieutenant John Fitzpatrick took part of the Marine company to the quarter deck. The brig Cabot fired first, and the Glasgow's reply killed her master and two Marines, Patrick Kaine and George Kennedy, and wounded eight men, including Marine Lieutenant John Hood Wilson, who later died. In one of the first exchanges, Fitzpatrick was killed by a musket ball through the head. The Glasgow outran her pursuers, and Hopkins signaled his ships to give up the chase near Newport. The Glasgow had one man killed and three wounded, all by American Marine musketry. Seven Marines were killed and ten wounded, and Fitzpatrick was the first Marine officer killed in action. The frigate's escape led Congress to investigate, and the Marine Committee recommended that Hopkins be censured.
Record no. 127