On this day 250 years ago, the last Royal Governor of South Carolina – Lord William Campbell – arrived in Charlestown. He refused to recognize the
Provincial Congress and instead convened a meeting of the South Carolina Assembly to be held in August. On that same day, however, the First Provincial Congress went on about the business of governing the whole colony without any regard of the Governor, resolving

That the district between the Forks of Broad and Saludy rivers ought to be divided into two – That the division-line should be drawn from the mouth of Second-creek upon Broad-river to the head of it, and thence in a direct line to Millhous’s mill, upon Saludy-river. That the lower district, in the Fork, be allowed three representatives at the time of election, to be chosen at the plantation of Adam Summer. And that the upper district be allowed seven representatives, to be chose at the time of election, at the plantation of James Ford, on Enoree. And that this regulation do take place at the next general election of members of a Provincial Congress.

https://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/sc_revolution_provincial_government.html

On this day 250 years ago the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought in Massachusetts.

Although the Americans retreated from the field and the British technically “won” the battle, the British suffered more than a thousand casualties, including over a hundred commissioned and non-commissioned officers (226 dead and 828 wounded). In contrast, the American casualties were about 450 in total, of whom 140 were killed.

The most noted loss to the Patriot side was the death of Joseph Warren. He was the President of Massachusetts’ Provincial Congress, and he had been appointed a Major General on June 14 but his officer’s commission was not yet in effect at the time of the battle so he fought as a private. Irish immigrant Major Andrew McClary of New Hampshire was technically the highest ranking colonial officer to die in the battle; he was hit by cannon fire on Charlestown Neck, the last person to be killed in the battle. Colonel James Frye III, commander of a regiment from Essex County, Massachusetts was wounded in the thigh in the battle. His wound got infected and although he continued in command of his regiment until it was disbanded on December 31, 1775, he would die from the wound on January 8, 1776. Twi Stockbridge Mohican Indians, Abraham Naumanmpputaunky and Samuel Ashbow were also killed fighting for American liberty at Bunker Hill.

Only 30 men were captured by the British in the battle, but most of them had grievous wounds and 20 died while held prisoner.

More than a hundred African-Americans and Native Americans, including Salem Poor, Peter Salem, fought for American liberty in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Frye; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bunker_Hill; https://historyofmassachusetts.org/native-americans-revolutionary-war/; https://americasnationalparks.org/2025/05/05/patriots-of-color-at-the-battle-of-bunker-hill-stories-of-the-american-revolution/

On this day 250 years ago, in Philadelphia, the President of the Continental Congress, John Hancock

informed Colo. Washington that the Congress had yesterday, Unanimously made choice of him to be General & Commander in Chief of the American Forces, and requested he would accept of that Appointment; whereupon Colo. Washington, standing in his place, Spake as follows.

“Mr President, Tho’ I am truly sensible of the high Honour done me in this Appointment, yet I feel great distress, from a consciousness that my abilities & Military experience may not be equal to the extensive & important Trust: However, as the Congress desire i⟨t⟩ I will enter upon the momentous duty, & exert every power I Possess In their service & for the Support of the glorious Cause: I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks for this distinguished testimony of their Approbation.

“But lest some unlucky event should happen unfavourable to my reputation, I beg it may be rememberd by every Gentn in the room, that I this day declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think my self equal to the Command I ⟨am⟩ honoured with.

“As to pay, Sir, I beg leave to Assure the Congress that as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to have accepted this Arduous emploiment at the expence of my domestk ease & happi⟨ness⟩ I do not wish to make any proffit from it: I will keep an exact Account of my expences; those I doubt not they will discharge & that is all I desire.”

Source: “Address to the Continental Congress, 16 June 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0001. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775 – 15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985, pp. 1–3.]

Also on this day in Charlestown, Henry Laurens is elected President of the Council of Safety to govern South Carolina when the Provincial Congress is not in session.

Cashin at p. 130.

On this day 250 years ago, Gen. Artemas Ward, the commander-in-chief of the Army of Observation besieging Boston ordered three Massachusetts regiments (Col. William Prescott’s, Col. James Frye’s and Col. Ebenezer Bridge’s) and one hundred and twenty men from a Connecticut regiment under the command of Thomas Knowlton to fortify Bunker Hill on Charlestown Peninsula. That night General Israel Putnam and Colonel William Prescott commanded the men as they began constructing fortifications on Bunker Hill and Breeds Hill overlooking Boston.

On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress resolved

that a General be appointed to command all the continental forces, raised, or to be raised, for the defence of American liberty.

Delegate Thomas Johnson of Maryland nominated George Washington as the Commanding General and he was unanimously elected.

Source: “[Diary entry: 15 June 1775],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0005-0012-0015. [Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 3, 1 January 1771–5 November 1781, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978, p. 336.]

On this day 250 years ago in Narragansett Bay, the newly-formed Rhode Island Navy commanded by Abraham Whipple aboard the Katy captured the British ship Diana, in the first naval battle in Rhode Island.

Source: https://emergingrevolutionarywar.org/2025/06/05/captain-james-wallaces-tumultuous-june-1775-in-narragansett-bay/

open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/june-13-2025

On this day 250 years ago the Continental Congress resolved

That six companies of expert riflemen, be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia; that each company consist of a captain, three lieutenants, four serjeants, four corporals, a drummer or trumpeter, and sixty-eight privates.

That each company, as soon as completed, shall march and join the army near Boston, to be there employed as light infantry, under the command of the chief Officer in that army.

Source: https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-june-14-1775/

Although this is the birthday the United States Army celebrates, we should all remember that the army was formed to march to fight the King’s troops in order to preserve American liberty; it was not formed to march to celebrate the King’s birthday.

On this day 250 years ago in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Patriot militia surrounded Governor John Wentworth’s house to demand the arrest of Loyalist John Fenton, who was dining with Wentworth and his family. When the militia brought up a cannon, Wentworth surrendered Fenton. That night, Wentworth, his wife, and their young son fled their home to the safety of Fort William and Mary. With his departure, the entire government of New Hampshire was in the control of the Patriots.

On this day 250 years ago, in the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War, about 50 Americans led by Captains Jeremiah O’Brien and Benjamin Foster in the Unity and the Falmouth Packet captured the HMS Margaretta off Machias, Maine. The British lost three killed, including their commander Midshipman James Moore, who was fatally wounded, with 8 others wounded. Two dozen British sailors were captured by the Americans, but two of them defected and went to work as shipwrights in Machias building ships for the Americans. The captured British sailors and Loyalists Ichabod and Stephen Jones would eventually be exchanged for American prisoners.

Joseph Getchell, John O’Brien, Samuel Watts, and Richard Earle (an African-American) distinguished themselves in the battle. Three Americans — Robert Avery (a pilot who had been kidnapped by the British as they tried to flee down the Machias River)ss, John McNiell and James Coolbroth were killed in the battle, and three more were badly wounded: John Berry (a musket ball entered his mouth and exited behind the ear), Isaac Taft, and James Cole. All these Patriots should be remembered for their heroism 250 years ago. 

Sources: https://revolutionarywar.us/year-1775/; https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/battle-of-machias-first-naval-battle-of-the-american-revolution/; https://revolutionary-war.org/campaigns/boston-campaign/battle-of-machias; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Machias

On June 12, and on June 20 & 21, 2025, the people of Machias, Maine will commemorate and reenact the Battle of the Margaretta.

https://www.machiashistoricalsociety.com/margaretta-days

On this day 250 years ago in Rhode Island, Nicholas Cooke, the lieutenant governor, was acting as the chief executive of Rhode Island in lieu of Governor Joseph Wanton, who had tried to remain neutral in the conflict between America and Britain.  The Rhode Island Assembly met in East Greenwich and passed a resolution asking Cooke to demand from Royal Navy Captain James Wallace the “reason of his conduct towards the inhabitants of this colony in stopping and detaining their vessels; and also to demand of him the packets which he detains.”  

On that same day the Rhode Island Assembly

voted and resolved that the committee of safety be, and they are hereby, directed to charter two suitable vessels, for the use of the colony, and fit out the same in the best manner, to protect the trade of this colony… That the largest of the said vessels be manned with eighty men, exclusive of officers; and be equipped with ten guns, four-pounders; fourteen swivel guns, a sufficient number of small arms, and all necessary warlike stores. That the small vessel be manned with a number not exceeding thirty men. That the whole be included in the number of fifteen hundred men, ordered to be raised in this colony… That they receive the same bounty and pay as the land forces…” With this resolution Rhode Island created the first American Navy.  

https://www.eastgreenwichri.com/196/History-Birth-Place-of-the-Navy