burning burning october attack fleet royal_navy vessels town massachusetts site modern city portland maine confused modern towns massachusetts maine fleet commanded captain attack began naval bombardment included shot followed landing party meant complete town destruction attack major event supposed campaign retaliation ports supported patriot activities early stages american revolutionary war colonies news attack led rejection british authority establishment independent governments led contest dominance forming superior vice admiral ordered expedition suffered professionally consequence act background following battles lexington concord april british army besieged british supported supplied royal_navy command vice admiral admiralty instruction suppress burgeoning rebellion orders vessels searched military stores potential military communications laid vessels stripped masts prevent use military equipment salvaged readily accessible recent captain port present day portland maine local patriots captured ships carrying supplies boston weaponry fort mouth graves admiralty orders issued july received october required carry operations shall judge effective suppressing rebellion graves ordered lay waste burn destroy towns accessible majesty ships particularly taken sailing left boston harbor october aboard gun survey sloop company gun ship cat gun schooner bomb sloop supply ship instructions broad number possible targets opted attacks buildings widely spaced naval cannon fire effective october reached outer parts harbor anchored people mixed reactions presence british fleet recognized believed danger militia members remembering suspicious day ships inner harbor anchored near town sent ashore proclamation stating execute punishment town state rebellion gave townspeople hours evacuate soon received ultimatum townspeople sent mercy promised fire town swore oath allegiance king george surrender small arms powder gun carriages response people began town sworn small number muskets surrendered gun carriages attack set deadline october town response town appeared deserted ran red flag ordered fleet begin firing set fire harbor installations town houses public buildings witness reported firing began vessels possible parts town horrible shower balls pounds weight bombs live shells firing lasted little cessation clock bombardment appeared inadequate sent landing party set fire buildings survived town militia offered little significant resistance helping families safety spite landed british marines killed wounded evening according body town flame aftermath following bombardment went set fire houses raided livestock expedition end decks ships prolonged gunnery guns jumped mounts returned boston remained winter setting admiral graves relieved december raids gradually abandoned undertaken avenge british military losses revolutionary patriots burning norfolk virginia january instigated lord royal governor colony virginia damage assessment buildings houses recorded damaged destroyed fire report graves stated small vessels destroyed harbor captured cost man killed wounded people left fend winter visitor town reported month later lodging eating october town formed committee raise funds distressed families people estimated population including families left homeless raid authorized paid distressed families arranged distribution corn left late additional grants families despite numerous earlier wide variety parties significant congress granted tracts land compensation tracts towns freeman town accounted losses raid citizens began rebuilding town built homes shops homes built rebuilt factories offices municipal buildings politically separated form city portland political reaction news raid caused colonies emphasised cruelty authorized issue letters licensing actions british navy heard event word arrived outraged news congress recommended provinces adopt self rule royal_navy ships south_carolina seized attack stimulated congress advance plans establishment authorized commissioning ships october protection defense united colonies incident mentioned november congress passed legislation described true origin news event reached england dismissed rebel propaganda reports confirmed graves superior lord expressed surprise offence noting suppose admiral graves good reason step took spite orders received graves sailed acts town clearly refused business british graves relieved command december failure suppress rebel naval forces issued orders burned news event reached france carefully monitoring political developments north_america french foreign secretary wrote hardly believe absurd procedure nation career suffered result actions repeatedly passed promotion achieved role event omitted entirely record similar acts august captain commanding fired town connecticut townspeople prevented rose tender capturing vessel chased harbor apparently seeking burn town fire heated rounds wallace fired town bristol rhode_island october townspeople refused deliver livestock
Burning of Falmouth