into the fall of 1777, "wasp" continued her operations in the vicinity of the delaware capes until november when she and four other ships unsuccessfully engaged the british force under admiral sir richard ("black dick") howe. philadelphia had already fallen to admiral howe's brother, general sir william howe, late in september, but american forces retained control of the river below the city until losing that engagement. following the clash, "wasp" was run aground, set afire, and destroyed when her gunpowder exploded.