HMS Nymphe's sailors and marines captured a sloop inside Boston Harbor, set it alight, and sent it toward the nearly completed Independence. The attempt failed because defenders kept the burning vessel away from the new ship of the line. Even so, the raid demonstrates detailed British knowledge of Independence's location, construction schedule, and readiness. Destroying her before commissioning would have removed a future fleet threat at very low cost. It also would have allowed the Royal Navy to reduce the unusually strong blockade force maintained off Boston.
Notable Point · 49:29-51:19
HMS Nymphe's fireship raid nearly destroys Independence
British sailors and marines turned a captured sloop into a fireship and sent it toward the nearly completed American ship of the line.