Meigs Raid

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The battle was fought to take a British fort on a hill (which is the "Old Burial Ground") which adjoins the Whaler's Church

Meigs Raid (also known as the Battle of Sag Harbor) was guerrilla raid by American forces on the British at Sag Harbor, New York on May 23, 1777 during the American Revolutionary War in which six British were killed and 90 captured while the Americans suffered no casualties.

The battle marked the first American victory in New York after New York City and Long Island had fallen in the Battle of Long Island.

American Lt. Col. Return Jonathan Meigs led the attack by rowing 130 men across Long Island Sound from Guilford, Connecticut. To avoid British patrol boats they ported their boats over a narrow section of North Fork, Suffolk County, New York in Southold, New York near what is now Hashamomuck Beach before entering Southold Bay to Shelter Island Sound about 6 p.m. before arriving in Sag Habor at 2 a.m. ^[1] where they burned 12 British boats in the harbor on the East Hampton (town), New York side and the storming the British earth works that the British had commandeered at the Old Burying Grounds on a hill on Southampton (town), New York side of Sag Habor.^[2]

The land attack was conducted in silence with fixed bayonnets and only one shot was said to have been fired. A British schooner opened fire on the attackers as they burned the ships. The raiders took 53 prisoners at the earth works and another 37 at the wharf (and suffered no casualties). The prisoners were taken back to Connecticut.^[3]

The raiders left Guilford, Connecticut

A stone was placed on the site on May 23, 1902, commemorating the battle.

[edit] References

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