HM Armed Schooner Diana

HM Armed Schooner "Diana" was the first British vessel captured and destroyed by colonial forces during the American Revolutionary War [http://www.olgp.net/chs/war/second.htm Chelsea Historical Society] "Accessed August 15, 2007"] .

The 120 ton schooner was afloat for little more than a year. It was built in 1774 in the Province of Massachusetts Bay and served as an unarmed private fishing boat for 8 months before Vice Admiral Samuel Graves purchased her for the Royal Navy in January 1775 for £750.Letter to Philip Stevens from the flagship "HMS Preston", Boston, January 8, 1775, "Naval Documents of the American Revolution", Vol 1. (1964), p. 59-60.] According to Graves, the "Diana" was "so exceedingly well built that she is allowed to be the best Vessel of the Kind that has been yet in the King’s Service." ] "Diana" was refitted and armed with four 6-pounders and twelve swivel guns ] to help enforce the Boston Port Act. It was placed under the command of Vice-Admiral Graves's nephew, Lieutenant Thomas Graves. Open warfare between the combatants began with the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. During the siege of Boston that immediately followed, the new American Patriot army surrounded Boston with troops, but British forces had naval supremacy over all the waterways nearby and occupied Boston itself.

On May 27, 1775 "Diana" experienced unfavorable winds while exchanging fire with colonial land forces under John Stark during the Battle of Chelsea Creek. Rowboats began to tow it to safety, but the rowers were forced to leave their task under heavy fire. "Diana" drifted and ran aground on the Chelsea shore. General Israel Putnam then arrived with Patriot reinforcements and two cannon. Putnam offered "good quarter" to the sailors of "Diana" if they would surrender, but this offer was not accepted. The schooner rolled onto its side due to the lowering tide, but the crew continued to fire cannon when they were unable to stand on its deck. [McKay, Robert D."The Battle of Chelsea Creek: An account of the second engagement of the American Revolution, May 27, 1775." (1928) Chelsea Evening Record.] The British escaped "Diana" soon after midnight on May 28, fleeing to the sloop "Britannia," tender of the HMS Somerset. The "Britannia," under the command of Thomas Graves's brother John Graves, was able to escape the shallow water and return to safety. American forces boarded "Diana" and removed the weapons and all other items of value before destroying the vessel by burning it. [Chamberlain, Mellen; Watts, Jenny C.; Cutter, William, R.; Massachusetts Historical Society. (1908)"A Documentary History of Chelsea: Including the Boston Precincts of Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh, and Pullen Point 1624-1824 Volume II." University Press, p. 451. [http://books.google.com/books?id=sJclBFtbTqgC&pg=RA1-PA442-IA4#PRA1-PA451,M1 Googlebooks] "Accessed August 15, 2007"]

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