The Raid on Bermuda That Saved the American Revolution
The American Revolution
In the midst of the American Revolution, General George Washington’s Continental Army faced a dire shortage of gunpowder, their essential ammunition for waging war against the British. As British forces besieged them in Boston, their supply dwindled to a mere nine bullets per soldier.
Bermuda: A Hidden Ally
Enter Henry Tucker, a Bermudan merchant eager to find new business opportunities. He traveled to Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress met, seeking an exemption from the embargo against British colonies that Congress had imposed. Tucker argued that Bermuda heavily relied on American food imports and that trade would benefit both parties.
The Unguarded Magazine
Tucker’s sons revealed a secret: an unguarded magazine containing a substantial cache of gunpowder just north of Bermuda’s main town, St. George’s. Franklin realized that Bermuda could negotiate an exemption from the embargo if Tucker brought gunpowder for trade.
The Raid
On the night of August 14, 1775, Tucker and his loyal conspirators infiltrated the gunpowder magazine. They gained entry through an air vent and subdued a single guard, if there was one at all. Inside, they retrieved 126 kegs of gunpowder, weighing a total of 3,150 pounds—enough to quadruple Washington’s ammunition supply.
The Escape
The conspirators faced the challenge of transporting the gunpowder silently without alerting the population. Accounts differ, but it is believed they carried the kegs up a hill and down to Tobacco Bay, where the American ship Lady Catherine awaited.
The Aftermath
Governor George James Bruere, loyal to the Crown but related to the American-sympathizing Tuckers, was furious at the theft. He dispatched a customs ship to chase down the Lady Catherine, but it failed, leaving Bruere humiliated. No one was convicted for the raid, and Bermuda continued to trade with the American colonies for years.
The Impact
The gunpowder from Bermuda arrived at Boston just in time to bolster Washington’s forces. The British, unable to maintain their siege, evacuated the city in March 1776. The Bermudan gunpowder supply lasted through the end of that campaign and into June, when it was used to successfully defend Charleston from British invasion. This victory was crucial in preventing the British from choking off the American rebellion.
The Legacy
The Raid on Bermuda stands as a testament to the ingenuity and determination of the American revolutionaries. It also highlights the role of unlikely allies, such as Bermuda, in the fight for independence. Today, Tucker’s house in Bermuda is a museum, and the island nation remains an important partner for the United States.