29, 265 to 286 kegs of gunpowder had been removed, and the British bombardment had heavily damaged Nancy. Barry ordered the main sail wrapped around 50 pounds of gunpowder to create a long fuse running from the nearly 100 gunpowder kegs remaining in the hold to the deck and over the side. The fuse was lit as the crew abandoned ship, while one last sailor climbed the mast to remove the American flag. The British thought the lowering of the flag was a sign of surrender and quickly boarded Nancy. By then the fuse had reached the hold. The gunpowder exploded with a huge blast felt for miles which killed many British. Captain Alexander Graeme reported the loss of his master's mate and six men on longboats from the Kingfisher. Aftermath The British later captured him and held him in prison for some time. After his release in 1780, while returning from New Providence, "his mind became disordered" and "he leaped overboard in a fit [of] insanity, and was drowned". For many years, his daughter sought compensation from the Committee on Revolutionary Claims for his losses during the battle. Congress provided for a payment of $5,000, if funds were available, in 1858. References Bibliography External links United States Navy personnel of the American Revolution Sea captains People of Delaware in the American Revolution People from Wilmington, Delaware Date of death unknown Year of birth unknown 1780 deaths Deaths by drowning in the United States Accidental deaths in Delaware People of colonial Delaware