The first test of America’s military readiness occurred less than 10 miles from our headquarters.

A drawing of Fort William & Mary in New Castle, NH

On December 13th, 1774, four months before his more famous ride, Paul Revere sped up to New Hampshire to alert the militia that British troops were planning to reinforce Fort William & Mary in New Castle to guard its guns and powder.

Knowing that King George had forbidden the export of arms and powder to America, and that the redcoats had seized provincial powder just a few months earlier, the patriots knew they had to act.

Less than 24 hours after Revere’s alert, a militia of several hundred men had assembled in Portsmouth and set out to New Castle. Captain Cochran of the British Army refused to surrender despite being greatly outnumbered. The patriots stormed the wall, overwhelmed the small British guard, pulled down the British flag, and stole 100 barrels of powder. 

It was the first act of armed aggression against the King, and the first proof of America’s military readiness.

The next day, as more militiamen arrived, the patriots took muskets, 16 cannons, and other military supplies - later used by New Hampshire forces against the British in the Siege of Boston and the Battle of Bunker Hill.

It’s pretty remarkable to be in the business of maintaining America’s military readiness so close to where it was first proven.