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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data

Photo #: NH 73927-KN (color) Battle of the Virginia Capes, 5 September 1781 Oil on canvas by v. Zveg, 1962, depicting the French fleet (at left), commanded by Vice Admiral the Comte de Grasse, engaging the British fleet (at right) under Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves off the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. In this tactically inconclusive but strategically decisive battle line action, the French successfully prevented the British fleet from entering Chesapeake Bay and relieving Major General Lord Cornwallis' army at Yorktown, Virginia. After a siege by American and French forces, Cornwallis was forced to surrender on 19 October 1781, an event that led the British to abandon their effort to prevent American independence. Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 128KB; 900 x 590 pixels

High-Resolution JPG This "Hi-Res" JPG image has been cleaned to mitigate dust and other significant imaging flaws. Details of the original painting are unchanged.

NOTES:

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To the best of our knowledge, the picture referenced here is in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

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Image posted 9 February 2009
Photo caption updated 29 March 2009