MACHIAS, Maine — A small group of people gathered Monday to remember an important day in Revolutionary War history.
Organized by the Hannah Weston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Machias Historical Society, the Remembrance Ceremony marked the 238th anniversary of the Battle of the Rim, which took place Aug. 13-14, 1777.
The group has traditionally held the ceremony a little early in order to avoid interfering with the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, set this year for Aug. 14-15.
“In the past, I have done the story as [told] by the Machias patriots,” said historical society member Valdine Atwood. Colonists, aided by Native Americans, defeated the British, who had been sent back in retaliation for the capture of the ship Margaretta, an event celebrated each year through Margaretta Days.
This year, however, she decided to share the British perspective.
“I thought it might be a little different,” she said. “It also gives you some insight.”
Atwood read the account of Sir George Collier, which she found in U.S. Navy historical documents.
According to Collier’s account, the British believed the colonists planned to invade Nova Scotia. After the British destroyed Fort Foster, they believed the colonists would “lay aside all future thoughts of invading their neighbors,” Atwood read.
But as the British proceeded up the river after taking the fort, they met more resistance.
“The rebels, however, accumulated fast on the adjacent heights and kept up a constant fire of musketry,” Atwood read from Collier’s account.
In the end, the colonists killed three British and wounded 18, Atwood said.
The British believed they were facing about 400 people, “which is many more than were actually here,” she said.
Also during Monday’s ceremony, Dr. Stephen Sanfilippo sang two narratives of the battle. The first song, “In Defense of Machias,” was written by Betsey Scott, daughter of Sylvanus Scott, whose house and barn were burned by the British.
He also sang “The Hancock,” a ballad describing the first Naval victory at sea using words found in the archives of the Pembroke Historical Society, he said.