Forty days after the Battle of Concord and Lexington, the
second land and first naval, conflict of the Revolutionary War was
fought in Chelsea Creek on May 27, 1775. After the battle of April
19, 1775, the British troops were driven back into Boston. The
Patriots put the British and Boston under siege by completely
surrounding the town on the land-side denying General Gage access to
hay, fresh provisions and other supplies. With the arrival of
additional British troops to Boston, came an additional need of
supplies. With a determination to completely isolate General Gage’s
army the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, advised that all animals
and provisions be moved further inland beyond the reach of British
foraging parties.
Henry Howell Williams was lessee of Noddle and Hog (East Boston)
Islands comprising a farm and pasture. Williams did a profitable
business with the British prior to April 19th. After April 19th his
situation became perplexed. If Williams continued to sell to the
British, he would be compromised to the Patriots, and if he refused
to sell he would be subject to foraging parties.
On May 27, 1775 Colonel Stark of New Hampshire, received his
orders to go to Hog Island and remove all animals in the vicinity.
Colonel Stark with three hundred New Hampshire men, joined by
volunteers from Chelsea and other towns of Massachusetts, crossed to
Hog Island by way of a ford in the creek. Over four hundred sheep
were removed from Hog Island plus a number of horses and cows. Thirty
volunteers crossed the Hog Island-Noddle’s Island inlet, known as
Crooked Creek (which was knee deep at the time) and made their way to
the Williams Farm. The Williams home and two barns were set afire to
prevent use by the British. Many stacks of hay were set ablaze in the
field. Horses, cows and beef cattle were moved to Hog Island. What
could not be moved, was destroyed to prevent the British getting them.
A number of British Marines stationed on the Williams Farm charged
Stark’s men and a short skirmish ensued. General Gage had sent
four-hundred British regulars to reinforce the marines on the island.
The British heavy fire forced the Patriots to retreat to a ditch in
the marsh. The British advanced slowly in drawn-up lines until they
were a few feet from the waiting Americans. The entrenched Patriots
opened with a deadly fire, killing and wounding a large number of the
British. The British were forced to retreat. The Americans taking
advantage of the break in hostilities, withdrew across to Hog Island.
The British Regulars on Noddles Island began firing by platoons
across the creek at the fleeing Americans.
The Americans hastily cleared all animals and themselves from Hog
Island across to Chelsea “Neck”. In the meantime the
British schooner “Diana” firing her six 4-pounders and
twelve swivel guns,was sent up Chelsea Creek to cut off the American
retreat from the island. After the Americans were forced back to the
mainland the “Diana” tried to put about and head for deep
water but the wind had died. The “Diana” found herself in a
precarious position, the wind had died, she was in shallow water, the
tide was going out and the sun was setting. An attempt was made to
tow the schooner by marine barges. About three hundred Patriot
reinforcements arrived from Cambridge with two cannons. The Patriots
subjected the British Regulars and the “Diana” to heavy
musket and cannon fire. Shortly after midnight, the “Diana”
was pulled solidly into the mud near the Winnisimmet Ferry. The
schooner could not get herself loose no matter what means was tried.
The exchange of musket and cannon fire continued. At 3:00 A.M. the
schooner rolled on her side, the British crew unable to work her
guns, or even stand upright on her deck, abandoned the “Diana”.
The Americans boarded the “Diana” took her 6-four pound
guns, twelve-swivels, contents of the sail locker and what ever else
was valuable. Hay was piled under the schooner’s stern and under her
deck; the schooner was set afire. A ship of the King’s Navy was
burned and destroyed in Chelsea Creek, under the nose of the British fleet.
This was the first capture and destruction of an enemy war vessel
by the Americans in war.