Frederica Naval Action - Aftermath

Aftermath

Although the battle was comparatively minor, it had a galvanizing effect on the people of Georgia, for it disabled two ships which had been capturing American merchant ships off the South Carolina and Georgia coasts. More importantly, it helped to delay by over eight months a British attempt to capture Fort Morris and the town of Sunbury. At the same time, it demonstrated the effectiveness of galleys, when heavily armed, in confined waters.

Elbert, for his part, was deeply impressed with the victory, writing to General Robert Howe that

...you must imagine what my feelings were, to see our three little men of war going on to the attack of these three vessels who have spread terror on our coast, and who were drawn up in order of battle; but the weight of our metal soon damped the courage of these heroes, who soon took to their boats: and, as many as could, abandoned the vessels with everything on board, of which we immediately took possession. What is extraordinary, we have not one man hurt...

Fresh from the victory at Frederica, Elbert went on to lead the disastrous Third Florida Expedition later that year.