Essential Facts
- Date: July 21 and 31, 1775.
- Location: Great Brewster Island, one mile north of Nantasket Point, in Boston Harbor.
- Participants: United Colonies, Great Britain.
- Key American Leaders: Joseph Vose, Benjamin Tupper, John Crane.
- Key British Leaders: Unknown.
- Who Won: United Colonies.
- Part of: Siege of Boston, American Revolutionary War
History
Siege of Boston
The American Revolutionary War started on April 19, 1775, with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. By the end of the day, thousands of militiamen from Massachusetts surrounded Boston, trapping British forces inside the city and initiating the Siege of Boston. Over the next few weeks, thousands of militiamen from neighboring colonies joined the siege and were organized into the New England Army of Observation.
British Supply Shortage and the Provision War
As the siege continued, General Thomas Gage, the commander-in-chief of the British forces, needed food and supplies for his troops. Although the British Royal Navy controlled Boston Harbor, the Patriots in the other colonies prevented British supply ships from sailing to Boston.
With most ships blocked from reaching Boston, Gage turned to his next best option, which was the farms on the islands in Boston Harbor. He and Admiral Samuel Graves organized expeditions to gather livestock and supplies from them.
Following the Battle of Grape Island (May 21, 1775), American forces sought to actively remove provisions from the islands in and around Boston Harbor. This “Provision War” escalated after the Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17, 1775), when it became clear the British were willing to use military force against American forces.
Washington Takes Command
The Second Continental Congress officially took control of the New England Army on June 14, when it established the Continental Army. In the following days, George Washington was named commander-in-chief and sent to Boston to take command. He arrived on July 2, and General Artemas Ward turned the army over to him on July 3. Washington continued the campaign to deprive the British of food and supplies.
First Raid on Great Brewster Island — July 21
On July 21, Major Joseph Vose led an expedition from the mainland to Nantasket Point to seize what provisions they could and destroy what was left.
- His men were from General William Heath’s regiment.
- They crossed over the Nantasket Point in whaleboats.
When the Americans landed, they seized supplies and provisions, including 1,000 bushels of barley and all the hay. When they were done, they sailed to Great Brewster Island and attacked the lighthouse.
- Great Brewster Island is also known as Lighthouse Island.
- It is about a mile north, off the shore of Nantasket Point.
- The Americans looted the lighthouse, taking lamps and oil.
- They destroyed some boats and then set fire to the lighthouse.
- Around daylight, they were seen by a British warship.
- The ship opened fire on them and drove them off.
- Two Americans were wounded.
An eyewitness to this action said, “I ascended an eminence at a distance, and saw the flames of the lighthouse ascending up to heaven like grateful incense, and the ships wasting their powder. Our men proceeded from thence to Point Shirley, in order to drive off some young colts which were there. A party of regulars attacked them, but were repulsed and drove into their boats.”
- Joseph Vose (1738–1816) — Vose joined the army during the Siege of Boston and participated in the Invasion of Quebec (1775–1776). He returned to New York and fought at Saratoga. Afterward, he led the army to Valley Forge and fought at Monmouth Courthouse. He was at the Battle of Rhode Island (1778) and marched south with General Lafayette. He served until the end of the war and was present for Evacuation Day in New York (1783).
Following this attack, the British sent a contingent of troops to repair the damage done to the lighthouse. An officer and 32 Marines protected a dozen carpenters and laborers.
Second Raid on Great Brewster Island — July 31
At 2:00 a.m. on July 31, Major Benjamin Tupper led a second expedition to Great Brewster Island to drive the British off and complete the destruction of the lighthouse.
- Tupper had 300 men from John Fellows’s Massachusetts regiment.
- They crossed to the island in whaleboats.
- The British were alerted to their approach and prepared to engage them.
The Americans successfully landed and marched up to the British defensive works, attacking and overwhelming the British. 10-12 of the British were killed, and the others were taken as prisoners.
Once the British were subdued, the Americans started destroying what remained of the lighthouse. This took several hours, and while they were engaged, the tide shifted.
- The water level dropped and was too low for the whaleboats to sail back to the mainland.
- While the Americans waited for the water to rise again, British ships sailed within range and fired on them.
When the water was high enough, the Americans boarded the whaleboats and sailed for the mainland. An American artillery battery on Nantasket Point fired on the British. This battery was under the command of Major John Crane, of Richard Gridley’s Massachusetts Artillery Regiment.
- A British boat was destroyed, and there were some casualties. However, they lost 53 men in total, including prisoners who were taken from the lighthouse.
- The Americans suffered three casualties, one wounded and two killed.
The next day, August 1, Washington mentioned Tupper in his General Orders. He thanked him and his men for “their gallant and soldier-like behavior,” and said the Continental Army “would be as famous for their mercy as their valor.”
- Benjamin Tupper (1738–1792) — Tupper served in the French and Indian War (1754–1763) and was a militia officer in Chesterfield. He participated in several raids during the Siege of Boston. Afterward, he saw action in New York and Rhode Island and was at Valley Forge. He fought at Monmouth Courthouse and then served at West Point. Following the war, he helped defend Springfield during Shays’ Rebellion (1786–1787). He helped form the Ohio Company of Associates and led the first settlers to Marietta, Ohio.
- John Crane (1744–1805) — A veteran of the French and Indian War (1754–1763), Crane was a member of the Boston Sons of Liberty and participated in the Boston Tea Party. He served from the Siege of Boston through the end of the war, and saw action in New York, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.
Appendix
The following is from the Memoirs of Major General William Heath (1901).
21st. — Major Vose returned from Nantasket. The detachment under his command brought off 1000 bushels of barley, all the hay, &c. — went to Light-House Island; took away the lamps, oil, some gun-powder, the boats, &c. and burnt the wooden parts of the light-house. An armed schooner and several boats with men, engaged the detachment; of the Americans, two were wounded.
31st. — A little before one o’clock, A.M. a British floating-battery came up the river, within 300 yards of Sewall’s Point, and fired a number of shot at the American works, on both sides of the river. At the same time the British, on Boston Neck, sallied towards Roxbury; drove in the American centinels, set fire to the George tavern, and returned to their works. The same morning, Major Tupper, with 300 Americans, went to Light-House Island, attacked a British guard of 33 marines, killed a subaltern officer and several soldiers, took 23 prisoners, several refugees, and burnt all the buildings on the island, with the loss of one American soldier. There was a firing, during the day, from the British at Charlestown, at intervals. Two Americans were killed; an officer, and several British soldiers, were supposed to have been killed. The Americans took several muskets.
