Raid on St. John (1775) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raid on St. John (1775)
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Fort Frederick (Saint John, New Brunswick)
Date 27 August 1775 Location Saint John, New Brunswick Result Massachusetts victory
Belligerents
Province of Massachusetts Bay Privateers	Kingdom of Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Jeremiah O'Brien Stephen Smith (privateer)	Captain Frederick Sterling

The Raid on St. John happened on August 27, 1775, during the American Revolutionary War. This event involved American privateers from Machias, Maine. Privateers were like private ships hired by a government to attack enemy ships. These privateers attacked St. John, which was then part of Nova Scotia. Their main goal was to stop supplies from being sent to British loyalists in Boston. Loyalists were people who stayed loyal to the British king during the war. This raid was the first time Nova Scotia faced a hostile attack during the war. It also led to local citizen-soldiers, called militias, being called to action across the colony.

Why the Raid Happened

During the American Revolutionary War, American forces often attacked Nova Scotia. They came by both land and sea. American privateers caused a lot of damage to the economy of the sea. They raided many towns along the coast, like Liverpool and Annapolis Royal.

In June 1775, the Americans won their first naval battle against the British. This was called the Battle of Machias. To get back at the Americans, the British sent two armed ships in July 1775. These ships, called Diligence and Tatamacouche, came from Halifax. On July 12, 1775, the British ships met Captain O'Brien's ships, Unity and Portland Packet. This happened in the Bay of Fundy. The Americans managed to capture the British ships. After this, the Machias Committee of Safety sent Captain Stephen Smith. His mission was to capture a ship called the Loyal Briton at St. John. This ship was loading cattle and other supplies for the British army in Boston.

The Attack on St. John

On August 27, 1775, Captain Stephen Smith led the raid. He commanded an American privateer ship with four cannons and 40 men from Machias. They attacked St. John and burned Fort Frederick. They also captured the ship Loyal Briton. This ship was commanded by Captain Frederick Sterling.

The Loyal Briton was carrying a large amount of supplies. It had 120 tons of sheep and oxen. These supplies were meant for the British forces in Boston. The Americans also took a corporal (a low-ranking soldier) and two privates (regular soldiers) as prisoners. Two women and five children who were on board were also taken. Another person named John Anderson was on the ship. The ship was owned by John Sempill, and the navigator was David Ross. Both Sempill and Ross managed to escape. The prisoners were later released in Boston and sent back to St. John.

What Happened Next

After the raid, Captain Edward Le Cras of the British ships HMS Somerset and HMS Tartar quickly went to Annapolis Royal. Their job was to protect that town. The Governor of Nova Scotia asked for two more armed ships to patrol the Bay of Fundy. Admiral Samuel Graves gave this job to Captain William Duddingston of HMS Senegal. Graves also sent Le Cras to protect Halifax for the winter. Governor Legge of Nova Scotia also called up militias from all over the colony. These citizen-soldiers were told to be ready for action.

As a way to get back at the Americans for the raid on St. John, the British later burned the town of Falmouth. American privateers continued to be a threat to Nova Scotian ports for the rest of the war.