Raid on Annapolis Royal (1781)

Last updated
Raid on Annapolis Royal
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Adams-Ritchie House, Annapolis Royal, NS.jpg
John Ritchie House, "Governor of Annapolis" [1] was taken captive in the raid
Date29 August 1781
Location
Result American victory
Belligerents
Flag of the United States (1777-1795).svg  United States Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Naval jack of the United States (1776-1777).svg William Morgan [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Naval jack of the United States (1776-1777).svg John Curtis (naval officer) [8] [9]
Naval Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg Commander Phineas Lovett [10]
Naval Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg John Ritchie (POW)
Naval Ensign of Great Britain (1707-1800).svg Thomas Williams (POW)
Strength
80 privateers Local militia; 3 soldiers
Casualties and losses
1 killed (Acadian pilot) No casualties

The Raid on Annapolis Royal took place on 29 August 1781 during the American Revolutionary War. The raid involved two American privateers - the Resolution (commanded by William Morgan) and the Reprisal (commanded by John Curtis) - attacking and pillaging Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia in revenge of the defeat of the Penobscot Expedition. [11] [12] The privateers took captive the commander of the militia John Ritchie, described as the "Governor of Annapolis." [13] One historian described it as "one of the most daring and dramatic raids upon Nova Scotia." [14]

Contents

Background

During the American Revolution, Americans regularly attacked Nova Scotia by land and sea. American privateers devastated the maritime economy by raiding many of the coastal communities, [15] The raids intensified after the British victory over the Penobscot Expedition, such as the numerous raids on Liverpool and Lunenburg. [16]

On 31 March 1781, a British ship off Halifax, Nova Scotia captured Captain Amos Potter of the American privateer Resolution (6 guns, 25 men), while his crew escaped. [17] [18] Captain William Morgan took command of the Resolution. [19] Five months later, Potter's crew sought revenge on the British by sacking Annapolis Royal. [20] [21]

Battle

Captain William Morgan on Resolution was joined by another American privateer Reprisal (8 guns, 10 swivels, 60 men) under the command of Captain John Curtis, totalling 80 men. [22] [23] They secured the blockhouse from the three soldiers in the town. Over the next hours, the privateers rounded up the militia, under the command of John Ritchie and lieutenant-colonel Phineas Lovett, and disarmed and imprisoned them. They spiked the town cannon. The privateers then pillaged the valuables from the whole town, taking silverware, provisions, furniture, bedding, clothing and so forth. Ritchie's black servant (whether she was a free black or a black slave is unknown) pleaded on behalf of Ritchie's sick wife to leave some provisions and the privateers gave her tea and sugar. [24]

They retreated to Goat Island and took prisoner both Thomas Williams, the senior ordinance storekeeper and commissary of provisions to the garrison at Fort Anne (and grandfather of Sir Fenwick Williams), [25] and John Ritchie who the Boston Gazette referred to as the "Governor of Annapolis." [26] They also took captive a Sergeant and 5-6 others. [27] They later exchanged "the Governor" for their former commander Captain Potter and returned to Boston the following month. [28] [29]

Aftermath

Thomas Williams House, Williams taken captive, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia Lewis House, 62 Chapel Street, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.png
Thomas Williams House, Williams taken captive, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

American privateers remained a threat to Nova Scotian ports for the rest of the war. Captain William Chair Burnaby was in command of the sloop Merlin at Annapolis Royal. [31]

On 1 January 1782, British Captain John Curtis captured an armed schooner in the Bay of Fundy commanded by Captain Hodgkins. The privateer Lively under the command of John Augusta Dunn fell in with armed schooner. [32]

On 8 May 1782, Buckram (8 guns, 40 men) captured the privateer sloop Lively under the command of John Augustus Dunn (8 guns) and the crew escaped. [33] The Buckram rescued Captain Mowatt who was being chased by the American privateer close to Goat Island. Mowat and his crew escaped in the woods. [34]

On March 15, 1782, Potter returned from Boston in Resolution and captured the schooner Two Sisters off Pearl Island, Mahone Bay (formerly Green Island), stole all the provisions on board and released it. [35]

See also

Notes

  1. There was a Governor of Nova Scotia and a Governor for the town of Annapolis.
  2. Boston
  3. Beverly
  4. Cato [usurped]
  5. p.86
  6. p. 92
  7. p. 258
  8. p. 258
  9. p. 254
  10. "Capt. William BISHOP b. 1732 New London, New London, Connecticut, United States d. 21 Feb 1815 Greenwich, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada".
  11. Dunn, Brenda (2004). A History of Port-Royal-Annapolis Royal, 1605-1800. Nimbus. pp. 222–223. ISBN   978-1-55109-740-4.
  12. John Dewar Faibisy. Privateering and Piracy: The Effects of New England Raiding Upon Nova Scotia During the American Revolution, 1775-1883. University of Massachusetts. 1972. p. 185
  13. "Massachusetts Historical Society Collections". Boston, Massachusetts Historical Society. 1792.
  14. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.ca/&httpsredir=1&article=2321&context=dissertations_1 [ bare URL PDF ]
  15. Benjamin Franklin also engaged France in the war, which meant that many of the privateers were also from France.
  16. Roger Marsters (2004). Bold Privateers: Terror, Plunder and Profit on Canada's Atlantic Coast" , p. 87-89
  17. "Massachusetts Historical Society Collections". Boston, Massachusetts Historical Society. 1792.
  18. Massachusetts soldiers and sailors of the revoluntionary war. A compilation from the archives prepared and published by the secretary of the commonwealth ... V.12, Pea-Raz. Wright and Potter Printing Co., State Printers.
  19. Massachusetts soldiers and sailors of the revoluntionary war. A compilation from the archives prepared and published by the secretary of the commonwealth ... V.11 Mor-Paz. Wright and Potter Printing Co., State Printers.
  20. thesis p. 183-184 “the most spectacular of the raids upon Nova Scotia” between 1780-1781, in revenge of the Penobscot Expedition (p. 186)
  21. Thesis, P. 184
  22. Massachusetts Privateers, p. 258
  23. p. 415
  24. p. 164
  25. "HistoricPlaces.ca - HistoricPlaces.ca".
  26. "Massachusetts Historical Society Collections". Boston, Massachusetts Historical Society. 1792.
  27. Murdoch, Beamish (1866). A History of Nova-Scotia, Or Acadie. Vol. II. Halifax: J. Barnes. p.  619.
  28. Massachusetts Privateers, p. 258
  29. "The John Ritchie Family of Annapolis Royal, c. 1774".
  30. "HistoricPlaces.ca - HistoricPlaces.ca".
  31. Naval Documents of the American Revolution, p.449
  32. pp. 452-455
  33. p. 49
  34. Murdoch, Beamish (1867). A History of Nova-Scotia, Or Acadie. Vol. III. Halifax: J. Barnes. p.  2.
  35. Murdoch, Beamish (1867). A History of Nova-Scotia, Or Acadie. Vol. III. Halifax: J. Barnes. p.  4.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Boston</i> (1777)

The second USS Boston was a 24-gun frigate, launched 3 June 1776 by Stephen and Ralph Cross, Newburyport, Massachusetts, and completed the following year. In American service she captured a number of British vessels. The British captured Boston at the fall of Charleston, South Carolina, renamed her HMS Charlestown, and took her into service. She was engaged in one major fight with two French frigates, which she survived and which saved the convoy she was protecting. The British sold Charlestown in 1783, immediately after the end of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penobscot Expedition</span> Armada of the Province of Massachusetts Bay during the American Revolution

The Penobscot Expedition was a 44-ship American naval armada during the Revolutionary War assembled by the Provincial Congress of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The flotilla of 19 warships and 25 support vessels sailed from Boston on July 19, 1779, for the upper Penobscot Bay in the District of Maine carrying an expeditionary force of more than 1,000 American colonial marines and militiamen. Also included was a 100-man artillery detachment under the command of Lt. Colonel Paul Revere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)</span> Military unit

The 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants) was a British regiment in the American Revolutionary War that was raised to defend present-day Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada from the constant land and sea attacks by American Revolutionaries. The 84th Regiment was also involved in offensive action in the Thirteen Colonies; including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and what is now Maine, as well as raids upon Lake Champlain and the Mohawk Valley. The regiment consisted of 2,000 men in twenty companies. The 84th Regiment was raised from Scottish soldiers who had served in the Seven Years' War and stayed in North America. As a result, the 84th Regiment had one of the oldest and most experienced officer corps of any regiment in North America. The Scottish Highland regiments were a key element of the British Army in the American Revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sambro Island Light</span> Lighthouse

Sambro Island Lighthouse is a landfall lighthouse located at the entrance to Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, on an island near the community of Sambro in the Halifax Regional Municipality. It is the oldest surviving lighthouse in North America and its construction is a National Historic Event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raid on Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (1782)</span> Battle of the American Revolutionary War

The Raid on Lunenburg occurred during the American Revolution when the US privateer, Captain Noah Stoddard of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and four other privateer vessels attacked the British settlement at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on July 1, 1782. The raid was the last major privateer attack on a Nova Scotia community during the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Grand Pré</span> 1749 siege in Nova Scotia

The siege of Grand Pré happened during Father Le Loutre's War and was fought between the British and the Wabanaki Confederacy and Acadian militia. The siege happened at Fort Vieux Logis, Grand-Pré. The native and Acadia militia laid siege to Fort Vieux Logis for a week in November 1749. One historian states that the intent of the siege was to help facilitate the Acadian Exodus from the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle off Halifax (1782)</span> Naval battle in American Revolutionary War

The Battle off Halifax took place on 28 May 1782 during the American Revolutionary War. It involved the American privateer Jack and the 14-gun Royal Naval brig HMS Observer off Halifax, Nova Scotia. Captain David Ropes commanded Jack, and Lieutenant John Crymes commanded Observer. The battle was "a long and severe engagement" in which Captain David Ropes was killed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle at Chignecto</span> 1750 battle

The Battle at Chignecto happened during Father Le Loutre's War when Charles Lawrence, in command of the 45th Regiment of Foot and the 47th Regiment, John Gorham in command of the Rangers and Captain John Rous in command of the navy, fought against the French monarchists at Chignecto. This battle was the first attempt by the British to occupy the head of the Bay of Fundy since the disastrous Battle of Grand Pré three years earlier. They fought against a militia made up of Mi'kmaq and Acadians led by Jean-Louis Le Loutre and Joseph Broussard (Beausoliel). The battle happened at Isthmus of Chignecto, Nova Scotia on 3 September 1750.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military history of Nova Scotia</span> Provincial military history

Nova Scotia is a Canadian province located in Canada's Maritimes. The region was initially occupied by Mi'kmaq. The colonial history of Nova Scotia includes the present-day Maritime Provinces and the northern part of Maine, all of which were at one time part of Nova Scotia. In 1763, Cape Breton Island and St. John's Island became part of Nova Scotia. In 1769, St. John's Island became a separate colony. Nova Scotia included present-day New Brunswick until that province was established in 1784. During the first 150 years of European settlement, the colony was primarily made up of Catholic Acadians, Maliseet, and Mi'kmaq. During the last 75 years of this time period, there were six colonial wars that took place in Nova Scotia. After agreeing to several peace treaties, the long period of warfare ended with the Halifax Treaties (1761) and two years later, when the British defeated the French in North America (1763). During those wars, the Acadians, Mi'kmaq and Maliseet from the region fought to protect the border of Acadia from New England. They fought the war on two fronts: the southern border of Acadia, which New France defined as the Kennebec River in southern Maine, and in Nova Scotia, which involved preventing New Englanders from taking the capital of Acadia, Port Royal and establishing themselves at Canso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noah Stoddard</span>

Captain Noah Stoddard (1755–1850) of Fairhaven, Massachusetts was an American privateer who distinguished himself during the American Revolution by leading the Raid on Lunenburg (1782). In the raid, Stoddard led four other privateer vessels and attacked the British settlement at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on July 1, 1782. In Nova Scotia, the assault on Lunenburg was the most spectacular raid of the war.

HMS <i>Blonde</i> (1760) Warship of the British Royal Navy

HMS Blonde was a 32-gun fifth-rate warship of the British Royal Navy captured from the French in 1760. The ship wrecked on Blonde Rock with American prisoners on board. An American privateer captain, Daniel Adams, rescued the American prisoners and let the British go free. The captain's decision created an international stir. Upon returning to Boston, the American privateer was banished for letting go the British crew and he and his family became Loyalist refugees in Nova Scotia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Blomindon</span> 1781 battle

The Battle of Blomidon took place on 21 May 1781 during the American Revolutionary War. The naval battle involved three armed U.S. privateer vessels against three Nova Scotian vessels off Cape Split, Nova Scotia. American Privateers caught two Nova Scotia Vessels. The first Nova Scotia vessel was re-captured by Lieut Benjamin Belcher. The second Nova Scotia vessel was overtaken by the captured crew under the command of Captain Bishop. The privateers were taken to Cornwallis and put on trial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raid on Canso (1776)</span>

The Raid on Canso took place on 22 September – November 22, 1776 during the American Revolutionary War. The raid involved American Continental Navy captain John Paul Jones attacking Canso, Nova Scotia and the surrounding fishing villages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle off Liverpool, Nova Scotia (1778)</span> 1778 battle

The Battle of Liverpool took place on 24 April 1778 during the American Revolutionary War. The raid involved the British vessel HMS Blonde and the French 24-gun frigate Duc de Choiseul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raid on Saint John</span>

The Raid on Saint John took place on 27 August 1775 during the American Revolutionary War. The raid involved American privateers from Machias, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bay attacking Saint John, Nova Scotia on the northeast shore of the Bay of Fundy(in present day New Brunswick). The privateers intended to stop the export of supplies being sent to the loyalists in Boston. This raid was the first hostile act committed against Nova Scotia and it resulted in raising the militia across the colony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Scotia in the American Revolution</span>

The Province of Nova Scotia was heavily involved in the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). At that time, Nova Scotia also included present-day New Brunswick until that colony was created in 1784. The Revolution had a significant impact on shaping Nova Scotia, "almost the 14th American Colony". At the beginning, there was ambivalence in Nova Scotia over whether the colony should join the Americans in the war against Britain. Largely as a result of American privateer raids on Nova Scotia villages, as the war continued, the population of Nova Scotia solidified their support for the British. Thousands of Loyalist refugees fled to Nova Scotia during the war, and many were resettled in the region after the signing of the 1783 Treaty of Paris as "United Empire Loyalists".

The Battle off Halifax took place on 10 July 1780 during the American Revolutionary War. The British privateer Resolution fought the American privateer Viper and heavy casualties were suffered by both sides. The battle was "one of the bloodiest battles in the history of privateering.... a loss of 51 lives in a single battle was virtually unheard of."

Capture of USS <i>Hancock</i> 1777 naval battle

The American frigate USS Hancock was captured by the British Royal Navy in a 1777 naval battle during the American Revolutionary War. The two highest ranking naval officers of the war battled each other off the coast of Nova Scotia. HMS Rainbow, under the command of British Admiral George Collier, captured USS Hancock, under the command of Captain John Manley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raid on Chester, Nova Scotia</span>

The Raid on Chester occurred during the American Revolution when the US privateer, Captain Noah Stoddard of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and four other privateer vessels attacked the British settlement at Chester, Nova Scotia on 30 June 1782. The town was defended by Captain Jonathan Prescott and Captain Jacob Millett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Francis Evans</span> British naval officer

Captain Henry Francis Evans was a British Royal Navy officer who fought with distinction in the American Revolutionary War. He fought in the Penobscot Expedition, the Siege of Charleston and the Battle of Cape Breton, where he was killed in action and later buried in St. Paul's Church (Halifax).

References

Secondary Sources

Primary Sources