This Day in History: January 22

The Action of 22 January 1783 was a single ship action fought off the Chesapeake Bay during the American War of Independence. The British frigate HMS Hussar under the command of Thomas McNamara Russell captured the French frigate Sybille under the command of Kergariou-Locmaria. The circumstances of the battle included controversial violations of accepted rules of war regarding the flying of false flags and distress signals. [More]