The Royal Navy attempted to dispute Quarreling this control , but Admiral Thomas Graves was defeated Conquering in the key Battle of the Chesapeake on September 5 .

The combatants Hostile_encounter were a British fleet led by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves and a French fleet led by Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul , the Comte de Grasse .

Admiral Graves learned Education_teaching that de Grasse had sailed Self_motion from the West Indies for North America and that French Admiral de Barras had also sailed Self_motion from Newport , Rhode Island .

Graves returned Arriving to New York to organize Arranging a larger relief effort ; this did not sail Self_motion until 19 October , two days after Cornwallis surrendered Surrendering .