The Battle of Chatham Harbor - Chatham, MA - Massachusetts Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

The Battle of Chatham Harbor

Chatham’s only active hostilities
during the revolutionary war occurred in Chatham Harbor,
near this site, on 20 June 1782.

At sunrise, crew members from a British privateer were discovered in Chatham’s East Harbor, attempting to sail away three unmanned vessels as prizes of war. The alarm cannon on Watch Hill alerted the town militia who assembled quickly and opened fire on the British from the shore. When the largest of the three vessels went aground, the intruders took to small boats and headed back to their ship, anchored off-shore. They were hotly pursued by the militiamen, also in small boats, although the British privateersmen escaped, the Chatham vessels were recovered, and victory belongs to the determined, long-suffering townspeople. Since 1776, British Seapower had stifled their livelihood from the sea; nevertheless, they continued to give loyal support to the nation’s war for independence.

Erected 20 June 1978 as part of
Chatham’s National Bicentennial Celebration.

Agency Responsible for Placement: Unknown Year Placed: 1978 County: Barnstable City/Town Name: Chatham Agency Responsible for Placement (if not in list above): Not listed Relevant Web Site: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
When logging a Massachusetts Historic Marker, we ask that you not only describe your visit, but to upload a picture from it. The picture does not have to be of the marker - one picture of the marker is enough. But a photo of you standing next to the marker or a photograph the subject of the marker - those are examples of possible photographs to upload.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   09/03/2014 Lat34North visited it