In New Hampshire, they call it “the shot not heard round the world.” On December 14, 1774, local patriots captured Fort McHenry in Portsmouth harbor. It’s probably—definitions and claims vary—the first open act of violent rebellion during the American Revolution.
Patriots had been increasingly worried about control of scarce guns and powder since October when King George forbade their export to America. The September Powder Alarm in Massachusetts, a sort of dry run for Lexington and Concord, saw thousands of militia assemble too late to prevent General Gage from seizing the powder supply in Somerville and two cannons from Cambridge. Since then, Rhode Island patriots had removed gunpowder inland from the fort at Newport Island.
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Now, New Hampshire patriots worried that the British would take the powder and arms from Fort McHenry. Paul Revere, ever-riding, came to Portsmouth to sound the alarm. On December 14, several hundred New Hampshiremen under John Langdon stormed the Fort.
It was a less bloody affair than the storming of the Bastille, much less the bloodshed at Lexington and Concord. Only one provincial officer and five soldiers manned the Fort. But they did not surrender: they fired with cannon and musket shots, and fought hand to hand to defend the fort. Several were wounded in the battle—but none were killed. Too many hundreds broke in at once, and the six defenders were soon subdued, to be released a few hours later. Langdon’s men removed 16 cannons and 100 barrels of gunpowder—and tore down the British flag.
It’s the only Revolutionary battle fought on New Hampshire soil—the British withdrew their forces soon after and never tried to return. New Hampshiremen fought elsewhere, notably at the Battle of Bennington, but it’s good to know that some part of the Revolution also played out in the Granite State.
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No one died—but Americans rushed the blaze of guns and cannon. And once loyal subjects of the British crown tore down the flag, there was no going back.
Who knows what acts of bravery will have been our turning points? Canadians had their trucker convoy—no deaths, but defiance. January 6 wasn’t especially bloody either, although people died.
Let us hope we will not need more acts of defiance. We must be ready to act when Paul Revere comes to town—but for now, there is a fair wind of liberty, so we need not rush to our guns.
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This article was originally published at www.mindingthecampus.org
