The Battle of Chelsea Creek, fought on May 27–28, 1775, was the second military engagement of the Boston Campaign and the first in which colonial forces captured a British military vessel. Taking place in the marshy estuary between Chelsea and Revere (then part of Chelsea), Massachusetts, the battle involved colonial militia under General Israel Putnam and Colonel John Stark who sought to seize livestock and supplies from British-held Noddle’s and Hog Islands.
The engagement escalated when British marines and the armed schooner HMS Diana attempted to repel the raid. Trapped by the tide and heavy colonial fire from the shoreline, the Diana was abandoned and burned by American forces, marking a symbolic victory that bolstered morale. Though the site has been heavily altered by urban development, it remains significant as an early demonstration of colonial coordination and resolve. Today, Boston holds many hidden gems with revolutionary roots. Nearby and unknown to many, the old Church of Christ stands at 256 Beach Street in Revere, MA. Before their raids around Chelsea Creek on May 27, over 600 militiamen halted their advance at this colonial-era church. Yet, a block away on Butler Street, one can also find the Rumney Marsh Burying Ground, yet another colonial cemetery that evades the eyes of the average visitor.
Colonial era Rumney Marsh Burying Ground in Revere, MA
Stories from Chelsea Creek
A seasoned officer from the French and Indian War, Putnam played a key role in the Battle of Bunker Hill, but his military career ended after a series of setbacks and a debilitating stroke.
At dawn on April 19, 1775, an unknown shot shattered the silence in Lexington. British Redcoats and colonial militia clashed, leaving blood on the field. In Concord, the patriots struck back, and as the British retreated, gunfire hounded them to Boston, thus sparking the American Revolution
Ensuing the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Patriot forces advanced on Boston, determined to overthrow the British occupation. Fortifying Dorchester Heights, George Washington positioned artillery to force the evacuation of British forces in the city.