In 1813, the British Royal Navy continued to blockade America's major ports. The British flagship HMS "Poictiers", commanded by Commodore J.B. Beresford maintained station just outside Sandy Hook on Lower New York Bay, supported by the schooner HMS "Eagle". "Eagle" had a notorious reputation among local fishermen for seizing both fishing boat crews and the boats' valuable cargoes. John Percival of the United States Navy volunteered to end the threat, and acquired a fishing boat named "Yankee". On the morning of July 4, 1813, he concealed 34 armed volunteers in the hold, while he and two volunteers stayed on deck dressed as fishermen. Percival then sailed "Yankee" as though it was departing on a fishing voyage. "Eagle's" commander spotted "Yankee" and ordered it to transfer the livestock it carried on deck to "Poictiers". Percival pretended to comply, and when the vessels were less than ten feet apart, he signaled his volunteers to launch a surprise attack by shouting "Lawrence!" in honor of slain U.S. Navy Captain James Lawrence. Percival's volunteers poured out on deck and began firing. "Eagle's" crew were taken by surprise and fled below deck. One of "Eagle's" crew struck her colors, thus surrendering to "Yankee". Two British sailors were killed and another received mortal wounds, but there were no American casualties. Percival brought the captured "Eagle" into port and delivered his prisoners to New York City's Whitehall Street docks as thousands of Americans were celebrating Independence Day.