As one of the oldest colonies in what is now the United States, Massachusetts played a vital role in the country’s early history.
From the bravery of the Massachusetts minutemen to the famous midnight ride of Paul Revere to the very first battle of the Revolutionary War, Massachusetts was a host for several key happenings during America’s fight for independence. Massachusetts was the site of various battles during the Revolutionary War, many of which will celebrate their 250th anniversary this year.
Here’s an overview of the key Revolutionary War battles fought in Massachusetts.
Revolutionary War battles in Massachusetts
Here’s a list of Revolutionary War battles that happened in Massachusetts in chronological order, as states on the
Boston Public Library website
.
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the very first battles of the war, with the first shot often referred to as “the shot heard around the world.” During these battles, British troops marched through Lexington and Concord in an attempt to seize weapons from the colonists. Their attempt was mostly a failure, and the battles were declared an American victory.
Date(s): April 19, 1775
Casualties: 368
Siege of Boston
After failing in Lexington and Concord, the British troops marched back to Boston, which was held by the British during the war. However, the militiamen did not give up, and by the next morning, over 15,000 soldiers from all over New England had surrounded Boston, all the way from Chelsea to Roxbury.
Fighting remained in a stalemate for months. Finally, in March 1776, General George Washington seized Dorchester Heights and aimed his cannon at the city’s harbor, forcing the British to evacuate by boat.
Date(s): April 19, 1775 through March 17, 1776
Casualties: 1,629
Skirmish at Grape Island
Several shots were fired on Grape Island in Hingham Bay in May 1775, as Hingham militiamen encountered British troops collecting supplies from a nearby farm. The British managed to take some tons of hay with them before the colonists set fire to the remainder of the property.
Date(s): May 21, 1775
Casualties: none
Battle of Chelsea Creek
Just six days after the skirmish at Grape Island, British soldiers spotted colonists burning hay on Noddle’s Island and approached, leading to a two-day battle across the islands, salt marshes and mudflats of the harbor. Eventually, a British ship named “Diana” got stuck in Chelsea Creek, allowing the colonists to capture the ship, ransack it for valuables and destroy it with fire.
Date(s): May 27-28, 1775
Casualties: 6
Battle of Bunker Hill
In one of the deadliest battles of the Revolutionary War, British troops assaulted militiamen occupying Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill, so as to prevent the British from taking control of the hills surrounding Boston. This battle is where the saying “don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes” came from. The militiamen ultimately had to fight with their hands after running out of ammunition, allowing the British to take control of Charlestown peninsula.
Date(s): June 17, 1775
Casualties: 1,504
Conflict at Little Brewster Island
Now known as Boston Light, Little Brewster Island is the state’s oldest lighthouse, which was occupied by the British in 1774. After Bunker Hill, the militiamen decided to take back the lighthouse so the British could not use it to blockade the harbor.
The colonists staged two raids on the lighthouse, killing or capturing all British guards and destroying a British ship during the second raid.
Date(s): July 20 and 31, 1775
Casualties: 45
Battle of Gloucester
In August 1775, British soldiers landed a ship in Ipswich Bay. A group of soldiers were sent ashore in West Gloucester to plunder supplies, but were met with militiamen who drove them back to the shore.
A few days later, the British made a failed attempt to capture two American schooners on their way to Salem, which ended in British retreat and American victory.
Date(s): August 8, 1775
Casualties: 32
Fortification of Ploughed Hill
To protect Ploughed Hill from being taken by the British like nearby Bunker Hill, General Washington ordered the fortification of the hill by over 3,000 militiamen. The next day, the colonists were under constant fire from British cannons on Bunker Hill and Mystic River, ultimately winning the battle by sinking one of the British cannons on the river with just one cannon shot.
Date(s): August 26-27, 1775
Casualties: 4
Grey’s Raid
In 1778, the British started a series of raids on coastal New England towns. Over the course of eight days, British troops led by British Major General Charles Grey raided New Bedford, Fairhaven and Martha’s Vineyard, taking tons of supplies and destroying ships and homes.
Date(s): Sept. 5-14, 1778
Casualties: 41
The article initially appeared on The Patriot Ledger.
How many Revolutionary War conflicts took place in Massachusetts? Below are the 9 key battles you should be familiar with.
