Battle off Fairhaven facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle off Fairhaven
Part of the American Revolutionary War
1st Naval Battle American Revolution Fort Phoenix, Fairhaven
Date 14 May 1775 Location Fairhaven, Massachusetts 41°32′N 70°50′W / 41.54°N 70.83°W / 41.54; -70.83 Result Patriot forces retrieve two patriot vessels from HMS Falcon
Belligerents
Great Britain	Massachusetts Bay
Commanders and leaders
John Linzee (Lindsey)	Daniel Egery Nathaniel Pope
Strength
HMS Falcon about 110 Royal Navy seamen	Private sloop Success 30 militia men (Massachusetts militia)
Casualties and losses
1 killed 2 wounded 13 prisoners	none

The Battle off Fairhaven was the very first naval battle of the American Revolutionary War. It happened on May 14, 1775, in Buzzards Bay near Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Back then, Fairhaven was known as Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

During this battle, American fighters, called Patriots, got back two of their ships. These ships had been captured by a British warship named HMS Falcon. The Patriots also captured 13 British sailors. These were the first naval prisoners taken during the war.

Why the Battle Happened

The American Revolutionary War officially started on April 19, 1775. This was when the Battles of Lexington and Concord took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. After these first battles, American militia groups gathered around Boston. They surrounded the city, where British troops were staying. This was known as the Siege of Boston.

On May 13, 1775, a British ship, HMS Falcon, captured two American ships. These ships belonged to Jesse Barlow and Simeon Wing from Sandwich, Massachusetts. Simeon Wing's son, Thomas, was in charge of his father's ship.

The Battle Begins

A group of 30 brave Patriots from Fairhaven decided to act. They were led by Captain Daniel Egery and Captain Nathaniel Pope. They sailed in a small ship called the sloop Success. This ship weighed about 40 tons.

Other important Patriots in this group included Benjamin Spooner, Noah Stoddard, and Barnabas Hammond. Their goal was to get back the two American ships. These ships had been taken by Captain John Linzee, the British commander of HMS Falcon. The Falcon was a much bigger ship with 14 guns and 110 men.

Patriots Win the Day

The Patriots successfully got their two ships back. They also captured 13 British sailors from the Falcon. This was a big deal because they were the first naval prisoners of the war. Two of the British sailors were hurt, and one sadly died.

After this victory, the people of Fairhaven kept fighting. They went on to capture even more British ships. American Privateers, who were like private ships allowed to attack enemy vessels, often sailed from Fairhaven. They continued to bother the British Navy throughout the entire war.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Fairhaven para niños