Raid on Yarmouth, Nova Scotia (1775) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raid on Yarmouth (1775) |
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| Part of the American Revolutionary War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Massachusetts Bay Privateers |
 Kingdom of Great Britain |
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| 2 armed schooners (80 men each) | local militia | ||||||
The Raid on Yarmouth happened on December 5, 1775. It was a small but important event during the American Revolutionary War. American ships, called privateers, attacked the town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. This town is located in what is now Canada. The privateers came from Salem, Massachusetts, in the United States. Their goal was to stop supplies from Nova Scotia from reaching British supporters, known as Loyalists, in Boston.
Why the Raid Happened
During the American Revolutionary War, American forces often attacked Nova Scotia. They came by both land and sea. American privateers were like armed ships owned by private citizens. They were given permission by the government to attack enemy ships and towns. These privateers caused a lot of damage to Nova Scotia's economy. They raided many towns along the coast. Examples include attacks on Liverpool and Annapolis Royal.
Five American ships left Salem, Massachusetts, to join Captain Jeremiah O'Brien. Their mission was to operate in the Bay of Fundy, near Nova Scotia. These ships captured four enemy vessels in the Bay of Fundy. Three of these captured ships were sent back to Salem. Two of the American ships then headed towards Yarmouth. One of these ships was carrying a prisoner. This prisoner was Acting-Governor Phillips Callbeck. He had been captured during the Raid on Charlottetown (1775).
The Attack on Yarmouth
On December 5, 1775, at 10:00 in the morning, the attack began. Two American privateer ships arrived at Yarmouth. Each ship had 80 men. They were well-armed with eight large cannons and 16 smaller swivel guns. The crew members also carried fire locks (muskets), pistols, and cutlasses (short swords).
The American privateers quickly overpowered the local militia. The militia was a group of ordinary citizens trained for defense. The privateers captured and imprisoned all the militia officers. The town's residents were forced to watch. They were threatened with harm if they resisted. The privateers then took many valuable items from the town.
After the raid, 82 people from Yarmouth signed a petition. They sent it to Governor Legge. They asked if they could either move to Halifax or New England. Or, they wanted to remain neutral in the war. This request was quickly turned down by Richard Bulkeley.
What Happened Next
American privateers continued to be a danger to Nova Scotian ports. This threat lasted for the rest of the war. These attacks ended the trade between Nova Scotia and New England. For example, American privateers tried to raid Chester, Nova Scotia. After that failed, they attacked again in the Raid on Lunenburg in 1782.
