Capture of Turtle Bay Depot

Sons of Liberty in New York City, led by the bold and aggressive Marinus Willett, seized a British military storehouse at Turtle Bay on the East River in Manhattan. The depot contained a significant quantity of weapons, ammunition, and military stores intended for the British garrison in the city.

The raid was part of a broader effort by New York Patriots to deny the British garrison access to weapons and supplies as the political situation deteriorated following the battles of Lexington and Concord. Willett and his men intercepted British supply wagons, captured weapons from under the noses of British soldiers, and distributed arms to Patriot forces.

Marinus Willett's boldness in New York City in the war's opening months established his reputation as a resourceful and daring leader. He went on to become one of the most effective Patriot officers in the New York theater, distinguishing himself at Fort Stanwix in 1777 and later commanding forces in the Mohawk Valley. His son would later serve as mayor of New York City.