The First Salute: A View of the America Revolution (Barbara Tuchman, 1988)

Saint Eustatius was a Dutch-held island somewhere in the Caribbean; it was a place where the American colonies were able to purchase arms for their struggle against Britain.  Tuchman writes about a November 1776 incident where somebody in charge at S.E. fired a cannon in salute to an American vessel - this was the first international acknowledgment of the independence of the United States.

Among other consequences:  Britain was quite displeased, leading to problems for the Netherlands (including a temporary takeover of S.E.)