Meig's Raid Re-enactment

Schedule of Events

A Brief History of the Attack

A very exciting weekend is planned for Sag Harbor.  Revolutionary War regiments will be recreating a historical event in the Streets of Sag Harbor.  These brave men will be camping out in authentic period tents, and fighting in authentic period dress.  They will be marching and fighting through the streets and capturing the British.

The action starts Friday May 17th, when the regiments will be setting up their campsites.  There will be two separate sites:  Havens' Beach in Sag Harbor, where the Americans will camp, and the Customs House, where British Troops will be camping.  School groups are encouraged to attend and visit Havens' Beach to see how these soldiers lived during this fascinating period of our history.  These regiments often go to schools and educate students about Revolutionary War history.

On Saturday May 18th, the Americans will be rowing to Long Beach in Noyac, recreating the landing of the American troops in 1777.  The regiments will then parade the same route as the original battle soldiers, through Noyac to Sag Harbor.  Once in Sag Harbor the Americans will battle the British at the site of the British Fort, which is now the Old Burying Ground near the Whalers' Church.  The battle will also take place on Main Street at the Customs House and the Americans will continue battling the British down Main Street to Long Wharf.  At Long Wharf there will be a recreation of the buring of the British supplies and ships.

We hope to have two tall ships at Long Wharf, The Providence and The Mary E. The Providence is a 110' fully-rigged, 12-gun sloop. The Mary E. is a lovely 54' schooner.  We hope to have these ships engaged in the battle, as well as open for public viewing that during that weekend.

On Saturday night, we would like to host a costume dance for our regiment guests with music and dance authentic to the period.  Many of the re-enacters are quite familiar with these dances and should put on an interesting show for their 21st century guests.

On Sunday May 19th, the regiments will be giving a Tactical Weapons Demonstration, which will include formations, marches and a battle.

We believe this will be an exciting and educational weekend, unique to the history of Sag Harbor.  We hope that you will join and support us.

In late May of 1777, an attack was launched from the Connecticut shore against the British stronghold at Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York.  This attack was prepared and carried out byt he members of the newly-organized 6th Connecticut Regiment.

The regiment, recently raised in New Haven, Connecticut, was given the task of destroying the British stores at Sagg Harbour as well as capturing all enemies that they could.

It was an amazing adventure, covering some 45-60 miles over water and land, meeting a brave and determined enemy, and returning to Connecticut.  The attack left Guilford, Connecticut on May 23rd with 13 whaleboard, 2 small armed sloops, and a dtermination to succeed.  Traveling some 10 miles across Long Island Sound and landing at Southold on the north fork of Long Island, the whaleboats were portaged across the dunes and then put in again in Peconic Bay for the final travel, 7 miles by water, to Long Beach, just some 3 miles from the center of the Village of Sag Harbor.

The raid was a complete surprise to the British.  It was highly successful, with 12 British ships burned to the water line at the docks of Long Wharf, some 90 prisoners taken (the entire British garrison), as well as tons of hay and rum burned and destroyed.  The invading force then returned to the Connecticut shore with all of the prisoners.

All this was accomplished with 25 hours, and without the loss of a single American soldier,  This action earned the mission commander, Lt. Col. Return Jonathan Meigs, a Congressional sword, one of only 15 given for action during the American Revolution.