Battle of the Margaretta
Not two months after the shots were fired at Lexington and Concord and Boston was besieged, the people of the coastal community of Machias, more than 250 miles away from the action, were in dire straits. Because of boycotts related to the conflict and the resulting collapse of its trading system, townspeople were on the brink of famine when relief arrived – literally – on its shores.
Two sloops loaded with provisions from Boston anchored offshore accompanied by a lightly armed ship, the H.M.S. Margaretta. The merchants aboard the sloops offered to trade with the townspeople of Machias: food and other necessities for badly needed lumber for the British army to use in Boston.
Pinched between quickly dwindling food supplies and violating the Patriot ban on trading with the British, the townspeople of Machias spent several days debating. The captain of the Margaretta exerted some pressure by moving the ship close enough to shore that if fired, its guns would destroy homes. Feeling threatened, townspeople agreed to trade. But not everyone was happy about this breach of the ban on trading with the British and there was further outrage when the British declared they would only trade with the townspeople who voted for the trade.
A plan was hatched by some townspeople who met at Burnham Tavern (see Burnham Tavern). Area militia members were rallied. They captured the two sloops and demanded the captain of the Margaretta surrender. He refused. Gunfire was exchanged but with little effect, and the Margaretta managed to sail away but encountered rough winds, giving the pursuing townspeople a chance to catch up. Musket shots were fired and hand grenades thrown. The Margaretta could not escape and was eventually overwhelmed by the militia.
This early naval engagement of the American Revolution did more than resupply a desperate community; it showed that even a small, determined community could challenge British authority at sea – and win.
Author: Stephanie Bouchard
