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This account describes one of the most enduring maritime traditions of the lower Chesapeake during and immediately after the American Revolutionary War period, centered in the waters around Kedges Straits—the narrow channels separating islands such as Smith Island and South Marsh Island. Often referred to locally as the “Battle of the Barges,” this engagement is traditionally dated to November 1782 and is sometimes called the “Battle of Kedges Straits.” In regional memory, it is remembered as one of the final naval-style conflicts associated with the broader Revolutionary War era, occurring after the 1781 British surrender at Yorktown, though localized maritime conflict and privateering activity is said to have continued into 1783.
The conflict is described as part of a wider campaign led by Maryland militia forces to suppress raids conducted by Loyalist privateers—sometimes called “picaroons” or “Tory pirates”—who operated shallow-draft barges in the complex waterways of the Chesapeake. These vessels, often crewed by a mix of regular sailors, Loyalist sympathizers, and escaped enslaved people, were highly effective in marsh and island environments where larger naval ships could not easily operate. To counter these threats, militia forces relied heavily on shallow barges of their own—vessels capable of navigating shoals, creeks, and narrow channels while carrying both men and small artillery. These craft could be propelled by sail or oar, making them highly maneuverable in the confined waters of the Eastern Shore. According to the tradition you describe, Maryland naval militia forces under Commodore Zedekiah Whaley pursued a flotilla of British-aligned barges into the upper reaches of Kedges Straits. The militia was reportedly reinforced by Virginia volunteers under John Cropper, who brought a small detachment of men from the Onancock area. The narrative further states that on November 27, 1782, a sighting of multiple enemy vessels led to a prolonged pursuit lasting nearly a full day, culminating near the head of Kedges Straits. As night fell, the pursuing forces anchored briefly near Watts Island before preparing for renewed action at dawn. In a strategic maneuver, Whaley’s flotilla is said to have briefly flown British colors to avoid detection while gathering intelligence on the opposing force. The opposing barges, operating in the shallow creeks and marsh channels, were reportedly more numerous and more aggressively manned than initially expected. Local accounts also mention intelligence gathered from a resident named Crockett, who described the movement of several barges through the area and their intended stop near Kedges Straits. This information guided the militia’s pursuit into the engagement area. The battle itself is described as beginning around 9:30 in the morning and lasting roughly twenty-five minutes. At close range—reportedly within a few hundred yards—the exchange of cannon and musket fire intensified quickly. One of Whaley’s leading barges is said to have initially fired at long range before withdrawing under heavy return fire, illustrating the difficulty of engaging well-armed, highly maneuverable vessels in shallow tidal waters. Historically, engagements of this type reflect the broader realities of Chesapeake warfare during the Revolutionary era: a fluid mix of naval conflict, privateering, militia action, and local resistance shaped by geography. The marshes, inlets, and narrow straits of the region created a distinctive form of “inland naval warfare” unlike open-ocean battles elsewhere in the war. The action commenced at half past nine o’clock and lasted approximately twenty-five minutes. According to the account, Commodore Zedekiah Whaley ordered his flotilla forward, and the American barges quickly closed the distance with the opposing vessels to within roughly 300 yards. The foremost of Whaley's barges having fired a shot at long distance retreated. Encountering heavy
This continuation reflects the same strong regional tradition surrounding the final phase of Chesapeake Bay privateering and militia conflict in the Revolutionary era, centered on the waters of Kedges Straits and nearby islands such as Smith Island. In this account, the engagement is remembered as a decisive Loyalist victory. Commodore Zedekiah Whaley is said to have been killed, and the American vessel Protector suffered severe losses—reportedly 25 of a 65-man crew killed, drowned, or wounded, 29 captured, and only 11 escaping. While these figures come from local tradition rather than confirmed military records, they illustrate how deeply the event was remembered as a catastrophic defeat for the American side in Chesapeake maritime warfare. Local lore also preserves vivid eyewitness-style memories. One tradition holds that Solomon Evans observed the battle from a tree on his property. After the fighting, he and other islanders are said to have recovered bodies from the shoreline and waters for burial on Smith Island—reflecting the grim aftermath of close-quarters naval combat in shallow tidal waters. A letter attributed to Colonel John Cropper dated December 6, 1782, is often cited in this tradition as criticizing the conduct of certain participants, describing confusion, retreat, and accusations of cowardice among some officers. Additional names such as Frazier, Spedding, Dashiell, and others appear in these accounts as part of a contested narrative in which discipline, leadership, and morale broke down under the intensity of the engagement. The broader chronology places the battle after the British surrender at Yorktown in October 1781, and even after the signing of preliminary peace terms in 1782. This has contributed to its legendary status as one of the last armed maritime confrontations of the Revolutionary period in the Chesapeake, though historians generally treat such engagements as part of ongoing irregular warfare, privateering, and local conflict rather than formal naval battles between national fleets. The British Invasion of Maryland 1812–1815 Following this period, Loyalist privateer activity in the Chesapeake gradually declined. Forces associated with figures such as Joseph Wheland are described in tradition as continuing raids into 1783, including movement through the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers and targeting isolated settlements such as those around Deal Island—often referred to in older accounts as “Devil’s Island.” Eventually, with the end of British naval operations in the region and the withdrawal of remaining vessels to New York, organized Loyalist maritime resistance collapsed. Many privateers were captured, and some were executed, according to local memory. Figures such as Stephen Mister are sometimes included in this tradition, though documentary confirmation varies. In the aftermath, island communities such as Smith Island are described as becoming more inward-looking and self-reliant. The hardships of war, isolation, and repeated raids reinforced a culture of caution toward outsiders and strengthened tight-knit communal bonds. Within that same period, new religious movements—especially Methodism under figures like Joshua Thomas—gained influence, offering structure, identity, and communal stability in a region still recovering from years of conflict and uncertainty. Sources: Chesapeake Privateers in the Revolution; Leonard Szaltis Pirates of the Chesapeake Bay; Jamie L.H. Goodhall Pirates of Maryland; Mark P. Donnelly and Daniel Diehl Pirates on the Chesapeake; Donald G. Shomette Smith Island, Chesapeake Bay; Frances Dize God’s Island, The History of Tangier; Kirk Mariner Mister Family History, Bill Mister Skipjack Heritage, Wes Simpkins History Between the Waters, The Battle of the Barges; Written by Bill Helin |
cannon and musket fire 3 of the 4 Maryland barges turned back leaving Protector and it’s 65-man crew alone to fight the British. 
