The Raid on Annapolis Royal took place on 29 August 1781 during the American Revolutionary War. The raid involved two American privateers - the Resolution (commanded by William Morgan) and the Reprisal (commanded by John Curtis) - attacking and pillaging Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia in revenge of the defeat of the Penobscot Expedition.John Dewar Faibisy. Privateering and Piracy: The Effects of New England Raiding Upon Nova Scotia During the American Revolution, 1775-1883. University of Massachusetts. 1972. p. 185 The privateers took captive the commander of the militia John Ritchie, described as the "Governor of Annapolis." One historian described it as "one of the most daring and dramatic raids upon Nova Scotia."

Background During the American Revolution, Americans regularly attacked Nova Scotia by land and sea. American privateers devastated the maritime economy by raiding many of the coastal communities,Benjamin Franklin also engaged France in the war, which meant that many of the privateers were also from France. The raids intensified after the British victory over the Penobscot Expedition, such as the numerous raids on Liverpool and Lunenburg.Roger Marsters (2004). Bold Privateers: Terror, Plunder and Profit on Canada's Atlantic Coast, p. 87-89

On 31 March 1781, a British ship off Halifax, Nova Scotia captured Captain Amos Potter of the American privateer Resolution (6 guns, 25 men), while his crew escaped. Captain William Morgan took command of the Resolution. Five months later, Potter's crew sought revenge on the British by sacking Annapolis Royal.thesis p. 183-184 “the most spectacular of the raids upon Nova Scotia” between 1780-1781, in revenge of the Penobscot Expedition (p. 186)Thesis, P. 184

Battle Captain William Morgan on Resolution was joined by another American privateer Reprisal (8 guns, 10 swivels, 60 men) under the command of Captain John Curtis, totalling 80 men.Massachusetts Privateers, p. 258p. 415 They secured the blockhouse from the three soldiers in the town. Over the next hours, the privateers rounded up the militia, under the command of John Ritchie and lieutenant-colonel Phineas Lovett, and disarmed and imprisoned them. They spiked the town cannon. The privateers then pillaged the valuables from the whole town, taking silverware, provisions, furniture, bedding, clothing and so forth. Ritchie's black servant (whether she was a free black or a slave is unknown) pleaded on behalf of Ritchie's sick wife to leave some provisions and the privateers gave her tea and sugar.p. 164

They retreated to Goat Island and took prisoner both Thomas Williams, the senior ordinance storekeeper and commissary of provisions to the garrison at Fort Anne (and grandfather of Sir Fenwick Williams), and John Ritchie who the Boston Gazette referred to as the "Governor of Annapolis." They also took captive a Sergeant and 5-6 others. They later exchanged "the Governor" for their former commander Captain Potter and returned to Boston the following month.Massachusetts Privateers, p. 258

Aftermath

American privateers remained a threat to Nova Scotian ports for the rest of the war. Captain William Chair Burnaby was in command of the sloop Merlin at Annapolis Royal.Naval Documents of the American Revolution, p.449

On 1 January 1782, British Captain John Curtis captured an armed schooner in the Bay of Fundy commanded by Captain Hodgkins. The privateer Lively under the command of John Augusta Dunn fell in with armed schooner.pp. 452-455

On 8 May 1782, Buckram (8 guns, 40 men) captured the privateer sloop Lively under the command of John Augustus Dunn (8 guns) and the crew escaped.p. 49 The Buckram rescued Captain Mowatt who was being chased by the American privateer close to Goat Island. Mowat and his crew escaped in the woods.

On March 15, 1782, Potter returned from Boston in Resolution and captured the schooner Two Sisters off Pearl Island, Mahone Bay (formerly Green Island), stole all the provisions on board and released it.

See also Military history of Nova Scotia

Notes

References Secondary Sources Dr. Pitt Brechin "The Western Chronicle" of Kentville, NS, 4 Mar 1890 Gardner W. Allen, A NAVAL HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (Boston, 1913), Chapter 17.

Calnek and Savary. The history of Kings County, Nova Scotia, heart of the Acadian land.

Primary Sources Nova Scotia Gazette Oct 2, 1781 Rev. Wingate Weeks to Headquarters, September 30, 1781: SPG Papers B 25, 3, 247 Nova Scotia Gazette, September 4, 1781; Boston Gazette 14 May 1781 Boston Gazette, September 24, 1781 Halifax Gazette, p. 164