Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, early modern

Battle of Cape Fear River

Battle of Cape Fear River was a naval engagement fought in 1718 at Cape Fear River, in what is now North Carolina, United States. It was part of Golden Age of Piracy, which ran from 1650 to 1730. The recorded result: British victory. Recorded strength: 2 sloops against 3 sloops; 3 canoes.

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Map showing the Cape Fear River drainage basin.
Map showing the Cape Fear River drainage basin.. Kmusser, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought1718
WhereCape Fear River, North Carolina, United States33.886N, 78.013W
OutcomeBritish victory
BelligerentsSouth CarolinaagainstPirates
Part ofGolden Age of Piracy1650 to 1730

Where it sits in Golden Age of Piracy

Turkish Abductions, 1627Battle of Golfo Triste, 1669Battle of Mata Asnillos, 1671Attack on Arica, 1681Raid on Cartagena, 1683Capture of the Grand Mughal Fleet, 1695Battle of Cape Fear River, 1718Battle of Ocracoke, 1718Attack on Príncipe, 1719Capture of the William, 1720Capture of John "Calico Jack" Rackham, 1720Battle of Cape Lopez, 172216271722Battle of Cape Fear River, 1718
12 placed engagements of Golden Age of Piracy in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1718 (year precision)
to 27 September 1718
PlaceCape Fear River, North Carolina, United States
33.886N, 78.013W
KindNaval engagement, early modern
Strength2 sloops3 sloops; 3 canoes
Casualties and losses30 killed and wounded12 killed and wounded; 41 captured; 3 sloops captured; 3 canoes captured
Commanders
  • William Rhett
  • Stede Bonnet
Battle of Cape Fear RiverBattle of Cape Fear RiverFirst Battle of Fort FisherSecond Battle of Fort FisherBattle of WilmingtonBattle of Moore's Creek BridgeBattle of Black MingoFirst Battle of Fort FisherBattle of WilmingtonBattle of Moore's Creek BridgeFayettevilleJacksonvilleFlorenceLumberton100 km33.886N, 78.013W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1718

Battle of Cape Fear River is one of 2,009 engagements of the 18th century in the atlas and one of 1,148 in present-day United States (43 in North Carolina).

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2888243, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Cape Fear River, revision 1372631952, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.