Mowat had set a deadline of 9:00…
October 1775 CE
By 9:40 the town appears to be deserted, so he runs a red flag up the Canceaux's masthead, and orders the fleet to begin firing.
Incendiary cannonballs set fire to the harbor installations and most of the town's houses and public buildings.
When the bombardment appears inadequate to Mowat, he sends a landing party to set fire to any buildings that have survived.
The town militia offers little significant resistance, as most are helping their families to safety.
In spite of this, some of the landed British marines are killed or wounded.
By evening, according to Mowat, "the body of the town was in one flame".
Following the bombardment, Mowat goes on to Boothbay, where he sets fire to a few houses and raids for livestock, but his expedition is faltering to an end.
The decks of some of his ships have been inadequately braced for prolonged gunnery, and many of his guns have jumped their mounts.
He returns to Boston, and remained there as winter was setting in.
When Admiral Graves is relieved in December 1775, these punitive raids will be gradually abandoned.
One of the last, undertaken to avenge British military losses to revolutionary Patriots, will be the burning of Norfolk, Virginia, on January 1, 1776, instigated by Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of the Colony of Virginia.
Groups
Topics
Regions
Northern North America
View →Subregions
