Battle of Nassau (1776): The First Continental Marine Landing

Battle at a Glance

Historical Background: America’s First Overseas Naval Expedition

The American Gunpowder Crisis

During the opening months of the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Army faced a severe shortage of gunpowder. The colonies possessed limited powder-manufacturing capacity, and British naval power complicated efforts to import military supplies from overseas.

Gunpowder was essential not only for infantry muskets but also for artillery. Without reliable supplies, the Continental Army could not sustain extended military operations against British regular forces.

The Siege of Boston

By early 1776, General George Washington’s army surrounded British troops occupying Boston. Although the Americans had accumulated artillery and other equipment, their supply of gunpowder remained dangerously limited.

Military stores captured elsewhere could help relieve this shortage and strengthen the Continental Army’s ability to conduct offensive operations.

Creation of the Continental Navy

In October 1775, the Continental Congress began authorizing armed vessels to challenge British shipping and intercept military supplies.

On December 22, Congress commissioned Esek Hopkins as commander in chief of the Continental fleet.

The new navy was small, improvised, and dependent upon converted merchant vessels rather than purpose-built warships.

Creation of the Continental Marines

On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized two battalions of Marines for service with the fleet.

Samuel Nicholas received a commission as captain and became the senior officer associated with the earliest Continental Marine organization.

The Marines were intended to serve aboard warships and participate in military operations ashore.

The First Naval Squadron

Hopkins assembled a squadron in Philadelphia during the winter of 1775–1776.

The vessels included Alfred, Columbus, Andrew Doria, Cabot, Providence, Fly, Wasp, and Hornet, although Hornet became separated from the expedition before the Nassau landing.

The Original Mission

Congress instructed Hopkins to undertake operations against British naval forces along the American coast, with particular attention to threats in the Chesapeake Bay and the southern colonies.

The instructions also permitted him considerable discretion if circumstances made the proposed operations impractical.

Why Hopkins Chose the Bahamas

Hopkins elected to sail toward New Providence Island, where British authorities maintained stores of gunpowder, artillery, and ammunition.

The supplies represented an attractive target because Nassau was comparatively weakly defended and could be approached by sea.

The Bahamas Under British Rule

The Bahamas had been a British colony since the seventeenth century. Nassau, on New Providence Island, served as the center of colonial government and maritime commerce.

Its position near important Atlantic shipping routes gave it strategic value, but its local defenses were not designed to withstand a substantial amphibious expedition.

Governor Montfort Browne

Montfort Browne served as the British governor of the Bahamas during the raid.

He was responsible for maintaining royal authority and protecting the military supplies stored on the island.

His defensive resources were limited, particularly after British regular troops and naval assets had been withdrawn for service elsewhere.

The Fortifications of Nassau

Two principal fortifications protected the island’s colonial capital.

Fort Montagu guarded the eastern approach to Nassau, while Fort Nassau defended the harbor and town.

Neither possessed the manpower necessary to resist a large, coordinated American landing.

The Departure from Delaware Bay

Hopkins’s squadron sailed from the Delaware Capes on February 17–18, 1776, depending upon whether the departure is dated from the initial movement or the final sailing.

The ships proceeded southward into the Atlantic rather than undertaking their originally anticipated operations in the Chesapeake Bay.

The Abaco Rendezvous

By the beginning of March, the American squadron reached the waters around Great Abaco Island.

Hopkins gathered his ships and prepared to approach New Providence.

The expedition also used captured local vessels and their knowledge of Bahamian waters to assist with navigation and the planned landing.

The Approach to Nassau

On March 3, the American ships reached the vicinity of New Providence Island.

Hopkins intended to land Marines and sailors, seize the forts, and remove the military stores before British reinforcements could arrive.

Commanders & Participating Forces

American Commanders

British Commanders

The Continental Marine Landing Force

Approximately 230–234 Continental Marines participated in the landing, accompanied by fifty sailors.

Some historical sources give slightly different totals, reflecting variations in the surviving accounts.

The force was newly organized and had limited experience conducting coordinated operations ashore.

Captain Samuel Nicholas

Nicholas directed the Marines from their landing boats onto the island and subsequently led the advance toward Fort Montagu and Nassau.

His command demonstrated that the new Continental Marines could operate as an organized landing force rather than serving only as shipboard guards.

The Continental Navy Squadron

British Militia

The Bahamas possessed a local militia, but its effective strength was limited.

Although the nominal militia organization was considerably larger, only a small number of armed defenders assembled when the Americans arrived.

The Fort Montagu Garrison

Fort Montagu was defended by a small local force that could not withstand the advancing Americans.

After firing three cannon shots, the defenders abandoned the fort rather than engage in sustained combat.

The Fort Nassau Garrison

Fort Nassau contained artillery and military supplies, but the defenders were unwilling or unable to resist the American force.

The fort was surrendered on March 4 without a battle.

HMS St. John

The Royal Navy schooner St. John participated in the evacuation of gunpowder from Nassau.

Its successful escape was one of the most consequential British actions of the expedition.

The Merchant Sloop

A merchant sloop, identified in some accounts as Mississippi Packet, also carried gunpowder away from the island.

These vessels escaped because the Americans had not effectively closed the harbor entrance.

Why Force Composition Matters

The Battle of Nassau was not a conventional engagement between large opposing armies.

It was a joint naval and amphibious operation against lightly defended military installations.

The Americans possessed overwhelming local superiority, making the seizure of the forts relatively straightforward.

Battlefield Geography & Terrain

New Providence Island

New Providence is a relatively low island in the Bahamas, surrounded by shallow coastal waters, reefs, and channels.

Its geography differs substantially from the mountainous islands found elsewhere in the Caribbean.

The Eastern Coast

The American landing occurred approximately two miles east of Fort Montagu.

The shoreline offered a place where small boats could bring troops ashore without confronting the fort’s principal artillery positions directly.

Shallow Coastal Water

The landing force used wooden ship’s boats to move from larger vessels toward shore.

Marines and sailors disembarked in shallow water before assembling on land.

Beaches and Coastal Vegetation

The eastern shore contained sandy beaches, low vegetation, and areas of dense brush.

The terrain restricted movement in places but did not prevent the landing force from advancing toward the fort.

The Cove Near Fort Montagu

Nicholas’s men advanced around a coastal cove and through a narrow route bordered by water and thick vegetation.

This approach brought the Americans toward Fort Montagu from the east.

Fort Montagu

Fort Montagu was a relatively small coastal fortification guarding the eastern approaches to Nassau.

It was not a large European-style fortress.

Its artillery could threaten approaching vessels, but its limited garrison could not hold the position against several hundred attackers.

Nassau Harbor

Nassau Harbor provided anchorage for merchant and naval vessels.

The harbor was protected by natural barriers and narrow approaches, making local navigational knowledge important.

Hog Island

Hog Island, now known as Paradise Island, lay north of Nassau Harbor.

Its position influenced the channels and approaches available to Hopkins’s fleet.

Hanover Sound

Much of the American squadron anchored in Hanover Sound while smaller vessels supported the landing.

This position allowed the Marines to reach the eastern shore but left the principal harbor entrance insufficiently guarded.

Fort Nassau

Fort Nassau stood near the western end of the harbor and protected the colonial capital.

It contained valuable artillery and military stores, including the gunpowder that the Americans sought.

The Route Between the Forts

After securing Fort Montagu, the Americans could advance westward toward Nassau and Fort Nassau.

The route was practical for infantry, especially because no substantial British force opposed the march.

The Harbor Escape Route

The main harbor entrance remained open during the night of March 3–4.

This allowed British vessels carrying gunpowder to escape toward St. Augustine.

Why Geography Determined the Outcome

The eastern landing site helped the Americans avoid a difficult frontal attack.

However, the fleet’s position left an escape route open through Nassau Harbor.

The same geographical conditions that facilitated the landing also contributed to the failure to capture most of the gunpowder.

Weapons, Equipment & Logistics

The Importance of Gunpowder

Gunpowder was the expedition’s most valuable intended prize.

The Continental Army needed powder for muskets, cannon, and other military operations.

Even a substantial quantity of captured artillery would be of limited use without ammunition and powder.

Continental Marine Muskets

The landing force carried flintlock muskets, bayonets, cartridge boxes, and other standard eighteenth-century infantry equipment.

Many weapons were British-pattern or commercially available arms acquired before the Continental military supply system became standardized.

Marine Clothing

Continental Marine uniforms were not perfectly standardized in early 1776.

Contemporary descriptions and later research indicate that Marines wore a mixture of military and civilian clothing.

Green coats are traditionally associated with the early Marines, but depicting every participant in identical green uniforms would overstate the available evidence.

Landing Boats

Wooden longboats and other ship’s boats transported the Marines and sailors from the squadron to the beach.

These vessels were rowed or maneuvered through shallow water and could carry only limited numbers of men on each trip.

Naval Artillery

The American squadron carried cannon suitable for engaging enemy ships and supporting operations near shore.

However, the raid did not require a sustained naval bombardment of Nassau.

Fort Montagu’s Cannon

The fort’s defenders fired three cannon shots as the American force approached.

They then disabled their guns and withdrew.

Fort Nassau’s Artillery

Fort Nassau contained numerous cannon and other military stores.

These weapons were among the principal prizes captured by the Americans.

Captured Cannon

Modern historical accounts commonly report approximately 85–88 cannon captured during the raid.

Other historical inventories give different totals because they distinguish between mounted guns, serviceable weapons, and artillery removed from the island.

Captured Mortars

The Americans also seized approximately fifteen mortars.

Mortars were designed to fire explosive projectiles in high arcs against fortifications and other targets.

Captured Ammunition

The expedition obtained thousands of artillery projectiles, including round shot and mortar shells.

These stores were valuable to an army that had limited domestic manufacturing capacity.

The Gunpowder That Escaped

During the night of March 3–4, Governor Browne ordered most of Nassau’s powder transported aboard vessels departing for St. Augustine.

One detailed account identifies approximately 162 barrels removed from a stock of 200, while other sources give approximately 150 barrels.

The Powder That Remained

American reports identify twenty-four casks of powder among the captured stores.

Other modern summaries give a higher remaining total, reflecting differences in the historical inventories.

Transporting the Captured Stores

Loading cannon, mortars, ammunition, and other heavy equipment aboard sailing vessels required considerable time and labor.

Hopkins remained at Nassau for nearly two weeks to complete the operation.

The Sloop Endeavour

Hopkins employed the sloop Endeavour to assist in carrying captured artillery and other military stores.

The additional vessel increased the squadron’s cargo capacity.

The Expedition’s Logistical Result

The Americans secured substantial quantities of artillery and ammunition.

Nevertheless, the escape of most of the gunpowder prevented the expedition from fully accomplishing its most important supply objective.

Intelligence & Operational Planning

Hopkins’s Strategic Decision

Hopkins chose to attack Nassau because the British military stores offered a valuable target that could be reached by sea.

The expedition also avoided confronting stronger British naval forces along the American coast.

The Intelligence on Nassau

American commanders believed the island contained substantial supplies of gunpowder and artillery.

They also expected its defenses to be weaker than those of major British naval bases.

The Approach to New Providence

Hopkins initially planned to bring the landing force toward the harbor under cover of darkness and surprise the defenders.

However, the American vessels were detected, and the alarm was raised.

The Loss of Surprise

The original landing plan could no longer be carried out without risking resistance from alerted defenders.

Hopkins therefore changed the landing location and shifted the operation toward the eastern side of the island.

The Revised Landing Plan

The Marines were transferred into smaller vessels, and fifty sailors were added to the landing force.

The schooner Wasp and the sloop Providence supported the movement toward the beach.

The Eastern Landing

The revised plan brought the Americans ashore approximately two miles east of Fort Montagu.

This avoided a direct landing beneath the principal guns defending Nassau Harbor.

Nicholas’s Advance

Once ashore, Nicholas organized his men and marched toward Fort Montagu.

The landing force approached the fort without encountering substantial opposition.

The British Defensive Assessment

Governor Browne recognized that the local militia could not withstand the American force.

He therefore prioritized preserving the military stores that could still be removed.

The Fort Montagu Encounter

The defenders fired three cannon shots before abandoning the position.

The Americans occupied the fort without a sustained exchange of fire.

The Decision to Halt

Nicholas’s men remained at Fort Montagu during the night of March 3.

This pause allowed the landing force to consolidate its position but gave Governor Browne time to evacuate the gunpowder.

Hopkins’s Proclamation

Hopkins issued a declaration explaining that the expedition sought military stores rather than the property of peaceful inhabitants.

He promised protection to residents who did not resist.

The proclamation helped discourage opposition to the American occupation.

The Unblocked Harbor

Hopkins failed to position sufficient naval forces at the main harbor entrance.

This omission allowed British vessels to depart during the night.

Browne’s Evacuation

The governor ordered gunpowder loaded aboard the Royal Navy schooner St. John and a merchant sloop.

The vessels passed through the harbor entrance and sailed toward St. Augustine, Florida.

The March into Nassau

On March 4, Nicholas advanced toward the town.

Governor Browne’s representatives indicated that the Americans could enter without opposition.

The fort and town were surrendered.

The Central Operational Failure

Hopkins successfully landed his troops and captured the forts but did not prevent the removal of the most valuable supplies.

The expedition demonstrated both the promise of American amphibious warfare and the importance of controlling maritime escape routes.

Battle of Nassau: Interactive Timeline

Follow the development of the Continental Navy, the expedition to the Bahamas, the first Continental Marine landing, and the capture of Nassau.

Tactical Analysis & Command Decisions

Phase One: The Naval Approach

Hopkins brought the Continental squadron toward New Providence with the intention of capturing British military stores.

The ships’ arrival created the possibility of a rapid operation before British reinforcements could intervene.

Phase Two: The Loss of Surprise

The initial attempt to approach Nassau was detected.

Hopkins responded by changing the landing location rather than forcing an immediate assault against the harbor defenses.

Phase Three: The Eastern Landing

Nicholas led approximately 280 men ashore east of Fort Montagu.

The landing was organized and unopposed, allowing the force to assemble without casualties.

Phase Four: The Advance to Fort Montagu

The Marines and sailors moved westward toward the fort.

The British defenders fired three cannon shots but withdrew rather than confront the larger American force.

Phase Five: The Capture of Fort Montagu

Nicholas occupied the fort and established a secure position.

The Americans had achieved their first objective without a sustained engagement.

Phase Six: The Overnight Halt

The landing force remained at Fort Montagu during the night.

This decision reduced the immediate risk of advancing into unfamiliar territory but gave Governor Browne time to act.

Phase Seven: The Powder Evacuation

Browne used the unblocked harbor entrance to send most of the gunpowder to St. Augustine.

The American squadron did not intercept the departing vessels.

Phase Eight: The Occupation of Nassau

On March 4, Nicholas advanced into Nassau.

The governor surrendered Fort Nassau without resistance.

Phase Nine: Removal of Military Stores

Hopkins remained at Nassau while sailors and Marines loaded captured cannon, mortars, and ammunition.

The operation required nearly two weeks because of the quantity and weight of the equipment.

Conceptual Tactical Diagram

The diagram illustrates the American landing east of Fort Montagu, the advance into Nassau, and the British gunpowder escape through the harbor. It is conceptual and not drawn to scale.

Why the Landing Succeeded

The Americans selected an undefended beach and brought a force large enough to overwhelm the available militia.

The landing boats allowed the Marines to approach without requiring the larger warships to enter the harbor immediately.

Why the Forts Fell Without Major Fighting

The British defenders lacked sufficient manpower and had little prospect of holding the forts against the advancing force.

Governor Browne therefore chose to preserve the most valuable supplies rather than sacrifice the garrison.

Why the Gunpowder Escaped

Hopkins did not close the harbor entrance, and Nicholas did not immediately occupy Fort Nassau.

These decisions allowed Browne to remove most of the gunpowder before the Americans secured the town.

The Operational Lesson

The raid demonstrated that successful amphibious operations required coordination between the landing force and the fleet.

Seizing territory was not sufficient if enemy ships could still remove the supplies that formed the expedition’s principal objective.

The Soldier’s Experience

Life Aboard the Continental Fleet

The Marines and sailors spent approximately two weeks at sea before reaching New Providence.

Life aboard the converted merchant vessels was crowded and uncomfortable, with limited space for sleeping, eating, and storing personal equipment.

The Newly Organized Marines

Many of the Marines were recent recruits with little experience in amphibious warfare.

The Nassau expedition required them to perform a type of operation that the Continental military had not previously attempted on this scale.

Preparing for the Landing

Before going ashore, the Marines assembled their muskets, cartridge boxes, bayonets, and other equipment.

They then transferred from the larger vessels into smaller boats suitable for approaching the coast.

The Boat Passage

The landing boats carried armed men through the shallow waters surrounding New Providence.

Rowers had to coordinate their movements while maintaining control of the boats and avoiding reefs or sandbanks.

Entering the Water

Marines disembarked in the shallows and moved toward the beach.

Keeping weapons and ammunition dry was essential because flintlock muskets depended upon usable powder for firing.

Assembling on the Beach

Once ashore, the men formed into organized groups under their officers.

The landing was not contested by British musketry or artillery.

The March Toward Fort Montagu

Nicholas led the force westward along the coast.

The men moved through unfamiliar tropical terrain, including areas of thick vegetation near the shoreline.

The Three Cannon Shots

As the Americans approached Fort Montagu, its defenders fired three cannon shots.

The firing briefly interrupted the advance, but the British withdrew rather than continue fighting.

Occupying the Fort

The Marines entered Fort Montagu and established their position.

They remained there overnight while the fleet continued operating offshore.

The March into Nassau

On March 4, the landing force advanced toward the colonial capital.

The Americans entered the town without encountering organized resistance.

The Civilian Population

For Nassau’s inhabitants, the sudden arrival of an American naval expedition created uncertainty about their safety, property, and political future.

Hopkins attempted to reduce opposition by promising protection to those who did not resist.

Guarding the Captured Stores

After taking Fort Nassau, the Marines helped secure the fortifications and military equipment.

Guards were needed to prevent theft, sabotage, or interference while the supplies were removed.

Loading the Cannon

The captured artillery was heavy and difficult to move.

Sailors and Marines spent days transporting guns and ammunition to the ships.

Illness Aboard the Fleet

The expedition faced serious medical problems during its stay in the Bahamas.

Fever and smallpox affected personnel aboard several vessels, complicating the work of loading supplies and maintaining readiness.

Returning to Sea

After nearly two weeks at Nassau, the fleet sailed north with captured military stores and prisoners.

The Marines had completed their first amphibious operation, but the voyage home would expose the squadron to additional danger.

The Human Dimension

The raid was remarkable not because of large numbers of battlefield casualties but because inexperienced Marines and sailors successfully carried out a complex overseas landing.

Their achievement depended upon seamanship, coordination, discipline, and the ability to operate far from the American mainland.

Where Was Your Ancestor’s Unit?

The Battle of Nassau is particularly valuable for genealogical research because the participating Americans belonged to the earliest Continental Navy and Continental Marine formations.

Unlike many Revolutionary War land battles, the best evidence of participation may appear in naval muster rolls, ship records, Marine enlistment documents, and officers’ correspondence.

Continental Marine Research

Continental Navy Research

Samuel Nicholas’s Marine Detachments

Research into the first Continental Marines should begin with Nicholas’s correspondence and surviving service records.

These sources may help identify individual Marines assigned to the landing force.

Ship Muster Rolls

Naval muster rolls may identify sailors serving aboard Hopkins’s ships during February and March 1776.

However, a sailor’s presence aboard the squadron does not necessarily establish that he was one of the fifty men selected for the landing.

Continental Navy Pay Records

Pay accounts, enlistment records, and naval administrative papers may document individual service.

Such records are particularly useful when complete muster rolls have not survived.

Officers’ Correspondence

Letters written by Hopkins, Nicholas, and the squadron’s captains provide information about the expedition’s organization.

These documents can help determine which vessels and detachments participated in particular phases of the raid.

British Naval Records

The escape of HMS St. John created British naval correspondence documenting the raid from the opposing perspective.

Lieutenant William Grant’s March 8 report is an important source for the evacuation of gunpowder.

British Colonial Records

Governor Montfort Browne’s correspondence and colonial administrative records document the defense of Nassau and the loss of the forts.

These records may identify local officials, militia officers, and individuals involved in the evacuation.

Bahamas Militia Research

The British defense relied heavily upon local militia rather than a substantial regular army garrison.

Researchers should consult colonial government papers, militia returns, and related correspondence where available.

Prisoner Records

Governor Browne and several other officials were taken prisoner by the Americans.

Records of their detention and exchange may provide additional evidence concerning the expedition.

Revolutionary War Pension Applications

Some American participants later applied for pensions or other benefits.

Such applications may contain references to naval service, Marine enlistment, or the Nassau expedition.

Distinguishing Naval and Marine Service

Continental Marines and Continental Navy sailors served together during the raid, but they belonged to different military organizations.

Researchers should identify the individual’s branch of service before assigning him to a particular unit.

Common Research Errors

Do not assume that every sailor aboard Hopkins’s squadron participated in the landing.

Do not assume that every Marine assigned to the fleet was present at Fort Montagu.

Do not confuse the Continental Marines of 1776 with later United States Marine Corps formations.

Do not assume that Hornet participated in the landing merely because it was originally assigned to Hopkins’s squadron.

Battle Outcome & Casualties

American Victory

The Americans captured Fort Montagu, Fort Nassau, and the colonial capital without suffering confirmed combat casualties during the operation.

The victory demonstrated the ability of the Continental Navy and Marines to conduct offensive operations beyond the American mainland.

The Capture of Fort Montagu

The eastern fort fell on March 3 after its defenders fired three cannon shots and withdrew.

The Americans occupied the position without a sustained firefight.

The Capture of Fort Nassau

On March 4, Nicholas entered Nassau and obtained the surrender of Fort Nassau.

The fort contained valuable artillery and military stores.

American Casualties

No confirmed American combat deaths or wounds occurred during the seizure of Nassau’s forts.

This does not mean the entire expedition was free of danger or illness.

British Casualties

No confirmed British combat casualties occurred during the brief military confrontation.

The defenders chose withdrawal and surrender rather than sustained resistance.

Captured Cannon

Accounts commonly report approximately 85–88 cannon captured.

Other historical inventories give different totals depending upon the categories of artillery counted.

Captured Mortars

The Americans secured approximately fifteen mortars.

These weapons were valuable additions to the Continental military supply system.

Captured Ammunition

Thousands of artillery projectiles and other military supplies were removed from Nassau.

The equipment was transported aboard the squadron’s ships and additional captured or hired vessels.

Captured Gunpowder

The Americans obtained a relatively small portion of the powder stored on the island.

Twenty-four casks appear in important contemporary American accounts, although other sources give different remaining totals.

The British Powder Escape

Governor Browne succeeded in sending most of the gunpowder to St. Augustine.

Approximately 150–162 barrels were removed, according to differing historical accounts.

British Prisoners

The Americans detained Governor Browne and several other officials.

They were transported back to the American colonies for possible exchange.

Why the Outcome Was Mixed

The Americans accomplished the difficult task of landing an armed force and capturing two British forts.

However, the expedition’s most urgently needed supply was gunpowder, and most of it escaped.

The raid was therefore a substantial military success but an incomplete logistical victory.

Strategic Aftermath

The Continental Navy’s First Major Success

The Nassau expedition demonstrated that the newly established Continental Navy could conduct offensive operations far from the American coast.

Hopkins’s squadron reached the Bahamas, landed troops, captured military stores, and returned toward North America.

The Continental Marines Establish Their Reputation

The landing became the first amphibious operation in Continental Marine history.

Samuel Nicholas and his men demonstrated that Marines could be employed as a disciplined expeditionary force.

The Value of Captured Artillery

The cannon, mortars, and ammunition seized at Nassau provided valuable military resources for the American war effort.

These stores helped compensate for shortages in the colonies’ developing military supply system.

The Lost Gunpowder

The escape of most of Nassau’s gunpowder remained the expedition’s principal failure.

The incident demonstrated the importance of naval blockade and coordination between sea and land forces.

The Voyage Home

After departing Nassau in mid-March, Hopkins’s squadron sailed north toward the American colonies.

The fleet captured additional British vessels during its return voyage.

The Encounter with HMS Glasgow

On April 6, 1776, the American squadron encountered the British frigate HMS Glasgow.

Despite possessing superior combined strength, the Americans failed to capture the frigate.

The encounter exposed problems in command, communication, and coordination among Hopkins’s ships.

Congress Evaluates Hopkins

Congress initially welcomed the news of the captured military stores.

However, questions later arose concerning Hopkins’s decisions, his failure to complete his original orders, and the performance of the fleet.

Hopkins’s Later Removal

Criticism of Hopkins’s conduct continued after the expedition.

Congress eventually dismissed him from naval command in 1778.

The Nassau raid remained an important success, but it did not prevent controversy over his leadership.

Samuel Nicholas’s Later Service

Nicholas continued serving with the Continental Marines during the Revolutionary War.

His leadership at Nassau became central to the early history of the Marine Corps.

The Bahamas After the Raid

The Americans did not attempt to occupy the Bahamas permanently.

After removing the military stores, they withdrew, leaving the colony under British authority.

The British Defensive Response

The raid exposed the vulnerability of lightly defended colonial ports and military depots.

British officials had to consider the possibility that American naval forces could strike other overseas locations.

Amphibious Warfare in the Revolution

The operation established an early precedent for American naval forces landing troops to accomplish objectives ashore.

Later military operations would develop more sophisticated methods of coordinating naval transport, shore landings, and supporting fire.

Connection to the Southern Theater

The Nassau expedition occurred during a period when British forces were attempting to restore royal authority in the southern colonies.

In Virginia, the Battle of Great Bridge in December 1775 had forced Lord Dunmore’s troops to retreat.

The subsequent Burning of Norfolk in January 1776 demonstrated the destructive potential of British naval power.

At Nassau, the Americans reversed the pattern by using their own fleet to strike a British colonial military installation.

The Marine Corps Legacy

The landing at Nassau remains an important event in United States Marine Corps history.

It is remembered as the first amphibious landing by the Continental Marines and an early example of naval expeditionary warfare.

Why the Battle of Nassau Matters

The Battle of Nassau demonstrated that the American Revolution was becoming a maritime conflict extending beyond the thirteen colonies.

It showed that the Continental Navy could project military force overseas and that the Marines could conduct organized amphibious operations.

At the same time, the failure to capture most of the gunpowder revealed the limitations of the new American fleet.

The raid was therefore both a military achievement and an important lesson in the difficulties of coordinating naval and land operations.

Primary Sources & Historical Research

The Battle of Nassau is documented through Continental Navy correspondence, Marine officers’ reports, British naval records, colonial government papers, and later historical studies.

The principal historical questions concern the number of Marines who landed, the exact quantity of military stores captured, and the circumstances under which most of the gunpowder escaped.

Primary Sources

1. Esek Hopkins’s reports to the Continental Congress, March–April 1776. Describe the expedition, the capture of Nassau, and the military stores obtained.
2. Samuel Nicholas’s account of the landing, March 1776. Provides a first-person description of the landing, the advance toward Fort Montagu, and the occupation of Nassau.
3. Lieutenant William Grant to Vice Admiral Molyneux Shuldham, March 8, 1776. British naval report describing the arrival of the American squadron and the successful evacuation of gunpowder aboard HMS St. John.
4. Governor Montfort Browne’s correspondence, 1776. Describes the loss of the forts and the circumstances surrounding the raid.
5. Continental Congress naval correspondence, 1775–1776. Documents the organization of Hopkins’s squadron and the instructions issued for its operations.
6. Continental Navy ship journals and musters. Provide evidence concerning vessels, officers, crews, and the expedition’s movements.

Historical Studies

1. Charles R. Smith, Marines in the Revolution: A History of the Continental Marines in the American Revolution, 1775–1783. Detailed institutional history of the Continental Marines and their operations.
2. William M. Fowler Jr., Rebels Under Sail: The American Navy During the Revolution. Study of the Continental Navy’s organization and wartime operations.
3. Gardner W. Allen, A Naval History of the American Revolution. Detailed account of early American naval operations, including the Nassau expedition.
4. Naval History and Heritage Command, Naval Documents of the American Revolution. Published collection of American and British naval correspondence.

Online Historical Resources

1. United States Naval Academy — The First Amphibious Landing of the Marines, March 3, 1776. Detailed account using Hopkins’s and Nicholas’s reports.
2. Naval History and Heritage Command — Landing on New Providence Island. Official naval history of the landing.
3. Naval History and Heritage Command — The Maddest Idea in the World. Detailed discussion of Hopkins’s expedition and the Nassau raid.
4. United States Marine Corps University — A Pictorial History: The Marines in the Revolution. Official Marine Corps historical publication.
5. United States Naval Institute — America’s First Marine. Research on Samuel Nicholas and the Nassau operation.
6. Naval History and Heritage Command — Andrew Doria. Ship history and account of the expedition.
7. Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Volume IV. Contemporary naval correspondence, including British reports.
8. Naval Documents of the American Revolution — Governor Montfort Browne to Lord George Germain, November 5, 1776. British colonial perspective on the raid and its consequences.
9. U.S. National Archives — American Revolution Records. Military service, pension, and related research resources.

Research Notes and Historical Cautions

Battle name: The engagement is commonly called the Battle of Nassau, although Raid on Nassau more accurately describes the operation.

Date: The Marines landed and captured Fort Montagu on March 3, 1776. Nassau and Fort Nassau were occupied on March 4.

American landing force: Approximately 230–234 Marines and fifty sailors participated. Exact figures vary among sources.

British strength: The colony possessed a larger nominal militia, but only a small number of defenders assembled during the raid.

Combat: Fort Montagu fired three cannon shots before its defenders withdrew. The Americans did not storm the fort under heavy fire.

Casualties: No confirmed combat deaths or wounds occurred during the seizure of the forts. Illness later affected the fleet.

Captured artillery: Modern accounts commonly report approximately 85–88 cannon and fifteen mortars. Historical inventories differ.

Captured gunpowder: American accounts identify twenty-four casks among the captured stores, while other reports give different totals.

Evacuated gunpowder: Governor Browne sent most of the island’s powder to St. Augustine. Estimates commonly range from approximately 150 to 162 barrels.

Fleet composition: Hornet was originally assigned to Hopkins’s squadron but did not participate in the landing after becoming separated.

Departure: Sources differ slightly on whether the squadron’s departure from Nassau should be dated March 16 or March 17.

Historical interpretation: The raid was a successful amphibious operation and a substantial capture of military stores, but it failed to secure most of the gunpowder that motivated the expedition.