Combat· American Revolutionary War
Loss of frigate Randolph to HMS Yarmouth
The single greatest disaster in the history of the Continental Navy and Marines.
Off Barbados, Captain Nicholas Biddle's frigate Randolph engaged the British 64-gun ship of the line HMS Yarmouth, a far heavier opponent. From Randolph's forecastle and quarterdeck the Marines, including a contingent of South Carolina infantrymen serving in that role, directed accurate musket fire into Yarmouth's decks and tops, contributing to the five killed and twelve wounded aboard the British ship. Roughly twenty minutes into the fight, with Biddle wounded but still rallying his crew, an enemy shot reached Randolph's powder magazine and the frigate blew apart in an instant. Of a crew of 305 seamen, Marines, and infantrymen, only four men survived, rescued days later. Biddle died with his ship, as did his young Marine officer, Lieutenant Samuel Shaw. The loss was catastrophic and total.
Podcast episodes on American Revolutionary War
Record no. 135