Raid on Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (1782)

Raid on Lunenburg
Part of the American Revolution
Brigantine MA Hope and Schooner MA Scammell, Raid on Lunenburg (1782) by A.J. Wright
Date July 1, 1782 Location Lunenburg, Nova Scotia Result US privateer victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Great Britain	United States of America
Commanders and leaders
John Creighton Dettlieb Christopher Jessen Joseph Pernette Johann Gottlob Schmeisser	Noah Stoddard George W. Babcock Greag Power Herbert Woodbury John Tibbets
Strength
	5 vessels 170 crew members
Casualties and losses
1 killed; 3 prisoners	4 wounded

The Raid on Lunenburg (also known as the Sack of Lunenburg) occurred during the American Revolution when the US privateer, Captain Noah Stoddard of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and four other privateer vessels attacked the British settlement at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on 1 July 1782. Lunenburg was defended by militia leaders Colonel John Creighton and Major Dettlieb Christopher Jessen. In Nova Scotia, the assault on Lunenburg was the most spectacular raid of the war. On the morning of 1 July Stoddard led approximately 170 US privateers in four heavily armed vessels and overpowered Lunenburg’s defence, capturing the blockhouses and burning the house of Jessen. The privateers then looted the settlement and kept the militia at bay with the threat of destroying the entire town. The American privateers plundered the town and took three prisoners, including Creighton, who were later released from Boston without a ransom having been paid.

During the American Revolution, Nova Scotia was invaded regularly by American Revolutionary forces by land and sea. Throughout the war, American privateers devastated the maritime economy by raiding many of the coastal communities. There were constant attacks by privateers, such as the numerous raids on Liverpool (October 1776, March 1777, September 1777, May 1778, September 1780) and on Annapolis Royal (1781). There was also a naval engagement with a French fleet at Spanish River, Cape Breton Island (1781).

On 17 November 1775, Washington's Marblehead Regiment aboard the Hancock and Franklin made an unopposed landing at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Three days later, they expedited to Nova Scotia and raided Canso. In 1779, American privateers returned to Canso and destroyed the fisheries, which were worth ₤50,000 a year to Britain.

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