Battle of Chelsea Creek

The Battle of Chelsea Creek was one of the first naval engagements of the Revolutionary War, fought just weeks before the better-known Battle of Bunker Hill. American forces moved to deny the British garrison access to livestock on the islands of Boston Harbor. On May 27, troops crossed to Noddle's Island and Hog Island, driving off cattle and horses. A party of British marines attempted to stop them and a firefight broke out. The British sent the armed schooner HMS Diana to support the marines, but the vessel ran aground in the creek.

Throughout the night and into May 28, American riflemen under John Stark and Israel Putnam poured fire into the stranded Diana. When dawn came and the vessel could not be freed, the crew abandoned ship. The Americans boarded, looted, then burned the Diana — capturing her four cannon in the process. The Americans suffered no casualties; the British had several killed and wounded.

The engagement demonstrated that American forces could effectively contest British control of the harbor's islands and deny the garrison crucial supplies. It was also a useful lesson in combined operations and the use of small arms against naval vessels. Dr. Joseph Warren — who would die at Bunker Hill three weeks later — helped coordinate the American forces, giving colonial commanders valuable experience shortly before the larger test on Breed's Hill.