Battle Description

The Battle of Machias was one of the first naval engagements of the American Revolutionary War. It began when British merchant ships arrived in Machias to procure lumber for British troops in Boston. Local Patriots, suspicious of British intentions and angered by the presence of the armed schooner HMS Margaretta, organized a militia to intercept the vessel.

On June 12, 1775, after a failed attempt to arrest British loyalists, the Machias militia launched a daring assault on HMS Margaretta using small boats and improvised weapons. After a fierce fight, they boarded and captured the schooner, taking its crew prisoner and seizing its arms.

Outcome

• Outcome: Patriot victory; HMS Margaretta captured.
• Casualties:
  • American: ~1 killed, ~6 wounded
  • British: ~4 killed, ~10 wounded, ~20 captured

Significance on the Revolution

The victory at Machias was a morale booster for the Patriot cause and demonstrated that local militias could challenge British naval power. It marked the beginning of organized naval resistance and inspired further privateering efforts along the New England coast. The battle also solidified Machias’s reputation as a fiercely independent town and a symbol of early American defiance.