Feb 3, 2025
Mr. Graves tends to think about his work deeply. It's more than just a business at some point, to him.
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Mr. Graves tends to think about his work deeply. It's more than just a business at some point, to him.
Admiral Graves, the "bugbear"
M. le Chevalier de Ternay could establish himself in the harbor with an inferior force, since it is probable that he will have more ships than promised (and perhaps M. du Chaffault will come himself on the pretext of escorting them), and, finally, since Admiral Graves may be only a bugbear, General Washington wishes, Monsieur le Chevalier, that everything that has not been sent to the North River remain for a while in or around Philadelphia but out of our supply line.
The Marquis de La Fayette to Chevalier de La Luzerne, July 10, 1780
Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, volume 3, April 27, 1780–March 29, 1781, Cornell University Press, 1981, p. 76-78.
@acrossthewavesoftime I am sorry?
What naval battles of the American revolution do you think are most pivotal? Which are most interesting to you personally?
Thanks for your question, and a good one it is indeed, which is why I needed some time to think about it, being unable to pick just one- but now I have. :-)
I think the most obvious answer would be the Battle of the Chesapeake (6 September 1781), simply because it was decisive as the French managed to prevent the British fleet commanded by Rear Admiral Thomas Graves (yes, another Graves- among the officers serving under him were his half-brother by his father's former secret second family and a nephew of his cousin- you've got to keep the business in the family, after all) from delivering reinforcements to Yorktown.
Much has been said about the undoubtedly very important Battle of the Chesapeake and other more well-known actions; but if I had to pick, and keeping in mind your questions, I would go for the Battle of Chelsea Creek (27–28 May 1775).
It aligns very well with my interests, and I think it marks the point where the nascent war, previously a pesky rebellion, turned personal for Graves, and may have prompted him to greater severity in future actions (think e.g. of the Burning of Falmouth).
I've seen you asked @benjhawkins the same question, whose reply was the Battle of Machias (11–12 June 1775), which I found surprising, as the fate of HMS Diana was a similar one to that of HMS Margaretta, and both actions occured within two weeks of another.
The short version of events is that Samuel Graves, spotting a smoke column around 14:00 on the 27th, from hay obviously being burnt on one of the islands (Noddle's Island), immediately ordered marines to be landed to engage the Americans under the command of Colonel John Stark. The American detatchment on Noddle's Island decided on a defensive strategy and instead island-hopped to the main American force on Hog's Island, from where they drove a substantial number of livestock towards the mainland.
HMS Diana was one of the vessels ordered to pursue, and in a best-case scenario, intercept the cattle-thieving Americans. The Diana, commanded by Lieutenant Thomas Graves (c. 1747–1814; guess whose nephew he was) continued in her pursuit until dusk, when her commander decided the waters of Chelsea Creek were too shallow to continue on. In fact, Graves had run the ship so far up Chelsea Creek, that he soon realised he was stuck. Signalling his uncle's flagship, the latter sent boats from HMS Preston and Somerset to come to Diana's assistance in order to pull her free; to add to the misfortune at hand, the day had turned out very calm, which didn't exactly help, either.
Naturally, it didn't take the Americans long to realise HMS Diana was stuck- General Putnam and perhaps as many as 1,000 troops and two field-pieces are said to have been present on the banks, watching on. Putnam is said to have waded waist-high into the water, calling out to the crew of the Diana that they would receive quarter if they were to surrender, but the British, who were still hoping the boats would pull them free, fired their cannon on the enemy troops on shore.
However, their luck ran out about 22:00 when the boats had to abort their mission of pulling the Diana free under heavy enemy fire. Accounts differ somewhat regarding when the Americans managed to set the Diana on fire, but the schooner, which at some point had tipped to one side, had to be abandonned.
Some say that Thomas Graves and his crew were still on board when the fire broke out; in any case, the entire crew could be transferred into the tender Britannia, commanded by Thomas' brother John (1743–1811) who had come to Diana's rescue. The story goes that Thomas Graves sustained severe (facial) burns, and John Graves was burnt as well, trying to rescue his little brother. I think this may well be only a dramatic later invention though (as if having to save your brother from certain death isn't dramatic enough); Samuel Graves' official report exaggerates the numbers of American forces present by multiplying the actual estimate times two, and I suppose he would have brought any serious wounds sustained by his nephew(s) up as a mark of their personal bravery and officer-like conduct.
Thomas Graves was court-martialled for the loss of the sloop, but not found guilty, and his uncle wrote to the Admiralty in order to secure reimbursements for any personal possessions lost by his nephew and crew of the Diana.
To me, the Diana is so important because this is the first time Admiral Graves, so often accused of apathy and a desire to not do anything at all, was personally invested in any action- the war that was merely a little rebellion, had caught up with him personally. Close with his nephews, I suppose a combination of the Battle of Chelsea Creek and the Battle of Machias two weeks later prompted him to abandon his cautious approach for a more direct, forceful one, which ultimately led to the inhabitants of Falmouth losing their homes, and Graves his career.
Actions like Chelsea Creek and Machias also showed the Americans that the British Navy wasn't invincible, which I think must have had a distinct psychological impact on their their morale.
I am rambling on for far too long- I hope this answered your question. :-)
Got a gift from the director of research nerdery of one of my reenactment groups: papers of one Samuel Graves's cousin, I believe?
@acrossthewavesoftime
If I come across anything (in the waves of time) interesting, I will let you know!
Washington shortly learned that de Grasse had engaged the Royal Navy under Admiral Thomas Graves off the Virginia capes, sending the British squadron scurrying back to New York and leaving the French in undisputed control of Chesapeake Bay. Between Lafayette's small army on the land side and de Grasse's massive fleet at sea, Cornwallis was bottled up near the end of the Yorktown peninsula.
Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow, pg. 409
“You don’t know who we are, do you?”
Wish I could draw moooorrrreee. Assignments are taking over ;_;
11 Questions Tag
I appreciate the tag @raevenlywrites! Since I got so many characters, I went with the first three to answer each question.
It’s beneath a cut because it is Long.
The Graves family portrait.
• Thomas Graves, the husband of Martha Graves, and father of three kids Augustine Graves, Falcon Graves, and Melanie Graves. He is the wealthy businessman who sells used cars for his used-car dealership Graves Motors whose company has succeeded well enough for him to be a rich man in Windsor. He is usually very absorbed in work and as such spends little time with his family.
• Martha Graves, the wife of Thomas Graves, the mother of three kids. She’s very religious woman and attends to church with her children(and sometime her husband as well) every Saturday. She’s a lovely mother and basically a stay home mom.
• Augustine Graves, the first Son of Mr. and Mrs. Graves, the brothers of Falcon Graves and Melanie Graves. Acting childish kind of I’m-the-leader thing.
• Falcon Graves, the second Son of Mr. and Mrs. Graves, the brother of Augustine Graves and Melanie Graves. He’s a smartest kid in his family, and love to read poets, mystery, and history.
• Melanie Graves, the first daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Graves, the little baby sister of Augustine Graves and Falcon Graves. She’s basically “mommy mini me”, and a girly girl type.