According to experts, the privateers in southern New Jersey were so good at capturing the British vessels, that in October 1778, British General Henry Clinton sent a fleet of nine ships to "clean out that nest of rebel pirates" at the town called Chestnut Neck. Over 50 people were killed, and the British burned everything.
Historians believed that there were one or two ships in the Mullica River in the years following the battle. But Nagiewicz( Adjunct Professor, Stockton University), and his team set to find out more, armed with powerful sonar technology.
“We started looking at other part of the river and we started finding other shipwrecks. What was one historic shipwreck before, is now five,” he says.
Dive teams have recovered bits of evidence, such as charred wood, beads and glassware. The researchers say that there could be five to 10 other ships still down there.
The HMS Zebra served as the flagship for the British squadron seeking to oust the Jersey privateers from Egg Harbor. The HMS Zebra ran aground, and the British could not get her free. On October 21, 1778, the British set fire to her and watched as her magazines exploded the ship to pieces.
The Zebra was a Swan Class Sloop, of which several model kits are available, including the HMS Fly and the HMS Pegasus.
Historians believed that there were one or two ships in the Mullica River in the years following the battle. But Nagiewicz( Adjunct Professor, Stockton University), and his team set to find out more, armed with powerful sonar technology.
“We started looking at other part of the river and we started finding other shipwrecks. What was one historic shipwreck before, is now five,” he says.
Dive teams have recovered bits of evidence, such as charred wood, beads and glassware. The researchers say that there could be five to 10 other ships still down there.
The HMS Zebra served as the flagship for the British squadron seeking to oust the Jersey privateers from Egg Harbor. The HMS Zebra ran aground, and the British could not get her free. On October 21, 1778, the British set fire to her and watched as her magazines exploded the ship to pieces.
The Zebra was a Swan Class Sloop, of which several model kits are available, including the HMS Fly and the HMS Pegasus.
