On this day 250 years ago, a squadron of four ships — HMS Canceaux, two other warships and a troop transport — under the command of Captain Henry Mowat anchored in Casco Bay off the Town of Falmouth, Massachusetts (now Portland, Maine). The Reverend Jacob Bailey later recalled that Mowat’s small fleet fired on a small schooner in the refused to surrender for inspection and that
Notwithstanding the discharge of several muskets and two cannon [the schooner] escaped in safety to the town. The populace, which were gazing by hundreds, were immediately thrown into furious agitation by this incident, and vowed revenge with the utmost menace and caution. The Committee, composed of tradesmen and persons of no property, prompted only for a flaming zeal for the liberty of their country, were not less enraged at this hostile appearance and … ordered the company of guards to … secure the cattle, intimidate the tories and observe the motions of the enemy
Sources: Gratwick at 79;
On This Day In The Revolution 