Last weekend I spent Saturday at Gloucester’s Stage Fort Park watching the reenactment of the ‘Battle of Gloucester,’ and on Sunday Anne-Lise and I were aboard Thomas E Lannon for a different angle on the repeated reenactment. Capt John Lindsay, commanding the British sloop of war HMS Falcon, was on assignment to seize supplies and food from ships and farms along the coast to support the British troops occupying Boston. He sailed Falcon into Gloucester Harbor on Aug 8, 1775 accompanied by a captured American merchantman schooner (reenacted by Ardelle), while chasing another (Lewis H Story). The second schooner purposely ran aground to avoid capture. Capt Lindsay sent longboats to refloat her, and a separate “distraction” crew ashore to set fire to the town. The Gloucester militia thwarted all of his actions.
Stage Fort Park, with the town (L), and white tents (R) where the reenactors spent the night.HMS Falcon sent longboats in to silence the Gloucester militia which was firing from shore.Members of the town militia fired over the seawall at the longboats.While others shot from behind the rocks on the beach.British marines and sailors returned fire.One of the longboat crews boarded the grounded American schooner to, unsuccessfully, refloat and capture her. Militia fire from shore killed 3 of the British and pinned down the rest.Capt Lindsay ordered his naval prize schooner, with a British crew and American impressed (captured) sailors, to assist.A town militia officer, during our lunch and reenactor-public interaction break.A quiet moment in the British encampment, before the staged land battle.Capt Lindsay bombarded Gloucester from Falcon and sent more forces ashore to burn the town. The impressed Americans exploded the powder early before setting fires, and the militia captured the British.Gloucester’s fighting force of townspeople was ready to take on the king’s Royal Navy.They met the British marines emerging from the beach.Superior British firepower forceed the militia back through town.The Americans knew the terrain, regrouped, and pushed the British back twice.The third time, they routed the British down to the beach, their boats, and to Falcon to withdraw.
The score: Gloucester recaptured both American schooners, took 24 prisoners, freed American sailors impressed by the British, and lost 2 lives. HMS Falcon departed having accomplished none of her goals, losing American crew, and leaving 3 dead behind. This recounting of the battle at Stage Fort Park on June 20 and 21, 2026 is a combination of historical information, and how the reenactment was actually staged. They differ, particularly regarding the land battle.
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Good Morning Gloucester 