Boston Campaign > Battle of Machias
Battle of Machias
Background
The Battle of Machias (June 11–12, 1775) was the first naval engagement of the American Revolutionary War,[6][7] also known as the Battle of the Margaretta, fought around the port of Machias, Maine.Following the outbreak of the war, British authorities enlisted Loyalist merchant Ichabod Jones to supply the troops who were under the Siege of Boston. Two of his merchant ships arrived in Machias on June 2, 1775, accompanied by the British armed sloop HMS Margaretta (sometimes also spelled Margueritta or Marguerite), commanded by Midshipman James Moore. The townspeople of Machias disapproved of Jones' intentions and arrested him. They also tried to arrest Moore, but he escaped through the harbor. The townspeople seized one of Jones' ships, armed it alongside a second local ship, and sailed out to meet Moore. After a short confrontation, Moore was fatally wounded, and his vessel and crew were captured.The people of Machias captured additional British ships, and fought off a large force that tried to take control of the town in the Battle of Machias in 1777. Privateers and others operating out of Machias continued to harass the Royal Navy throughout the war.Boston Campaign Battles
- Battle of Bunker Hill
- Battle of Chelsea Creek
- Battle of Gloucester
- Battle of Machias
- Battles of Lexington and Concord
- Burning of Falmouth
- Fortification of Dorchester Heights
- Knox Expedition
- Paul Revere's Ride
