By Madison Russ
While it may not be as legendary as the Battle of Bunker Hill or the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet—fought right in Cape May County—may have been an important early win during the American Revolution.
As the only battle fought in Cape May County and the first American casualty of the war in New Jersey, many might be surprised to learn of the battle’s significance.
Some also may be surprised by the county’s role in securing the nation’s independence.
“We were very involved, really. We had five salt works in the county, and the salt works were very important for the Revolutionary War as well as the Civil War. Not only for ammunition but for preserving the food,” said Cathy Smith, a Partners in Preservation and Wildwood Historical Society board member, noting that Turtle Gut Inlet was the site of one of such important salt works.
History buffs and curious minds alike can dive into the details of the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet—the key players, details of the battle and the inlet’s ultimate fate—at a free presentation with John Ryan of Historic Cold Spring Village on Tuesday, March 25, at 1 p.m. at the Crest Arts Pavilion in Wildwood Crest.
Partners in Preservation, a committee of the Wildwood Historical Society, and the Borough of Wildwood Crest are hosting the event to recognize the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in 2026.
Turtle Gut Inlet, located in today’s Wildwood Crest, was filled in by the county in 1922. But in June 1776, its strategic location played a pivotal role in the little-known naval encounter with an American brigantine called “Nancy.”
The ship was returning from the Caribbean to Philadelphia with supplies, including rum, sugar and gunpowder, when the British spotted the ship and began their pursuit.
“The British were trying to use Delaware Bay to stop us from bringing supplies in for the war,” explained Smith.
John Barry, a Continental Navy captain, was alerted to Nancy’s troubles and, knowing it was significantly outgunned by the British, rallied to help. Barry would later receive the title commodore and be recognized as the “Father of the American Navy.”
“John Barry was alerted that she was coming up, and the British were following right after her, and she was going to need help,” said Smith. “She only had a small crew of 11 people and six cannons … they were very much outnumbered.”
Nancy’s captain, Hugh Montgomery, eventually ran the ship aground in Turtle Gut Inlet, allowing the crew to salvage supplies and put some distance between themselves and the British.
However, the British soon realized that the scrappy and resourceful American forces were formidable opponents.
“They ran the Nancy aground because the British couldn’t get up to Turtle Gut because it was too shallow for their ships. So, they ran the Nancy aground, unloaded her cargo, took some ammunition, put it in the sail, wrapped it up and lit a fuse,” said Smith. “The British thought they were just abandoning ship, but when the British got on the ship, the fuse ignited the gunpowder and blew it up.”
Ultimately, the explosion killed several British sailors who had boarded the ship. But the events at Turtle Gut Inlet may very well have dissuaded them from other plans.
“The day before the battle, the British were planning on going up to New York,” said Smith. “They had over 100 ships. So when we deterred them from this battle, it kind of changed their minds and [they] moved further over. So it was a pretty significant battle, and one person lost their life, but they did manage to get the ammunition, the majority of it, off the ship.”
Smith hopes the event about the battle will encourage others to get more involved with history, the war’s 250th anniversary and the island’s historical offerings and museums.
“We just want to make more people aware. We’re not just a boardwalk—this is not just a tourist area,” she said.
For further information on the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet presentation, contact the Crest Arts Pavilion at 609-522-0221 or partnersinpreservation@yahoo.com. Light refreshments will be served, and attendees are encouraged to arrive five minutes before the start of the presentation.
Madison Russ is an award-winning journalist, copy editor and adjunct professor of communication based in Atlantic County. An Ocean City native, Madison is passionate about telling stories that matter to locals, often spotlighting nonprofits and exploring the area’s vibrant arts scene.
