The two Massachusetts girls who turned back the British Navy... Birdie
In Scituate, MA, during the war of 1812, British ships invaded the harbor three times to burn some fishing vessels and steal others. The local militia stood guard against any troops intending to land.
THE ARMY OF TWO
For much of the summer, the militia stood guard, but by September the men had gone home. And that was the state of play one day when Rebecca, 21, and Abby, 15, Bates, daughters of Scituate Light lighthouse keeper Simeon Bates, observed a British ship making directly for the harbor. It seemed that the fears of the residents had come true, but no one was ready to repel the landing force.
With their father away, the Bates girls dispatched their brother to run for help. Then they came up with a plan. As the British ship drew near and began offloading sailors onto barges, the two struck up their fife and drum. Hidden from sight, the two girls sounded for all the world like an approaching army force.
Suddenly, the idea of harassing the boats in Scituate or coming ashore to cause even more damage didn’t seem so appealing. The sailors returned to their ship and departed, leaving a relieved town of Scituate.
The Bates Sisters have been recorded in history as The Army of Two.
THE ARMY OF TWO
For much of the summer, the militia stood guard, but by September the men had gone home. And that was the state of play one day when Rebecca, 21, and Abby, 15, Bates, daughters of Scituate Light lighthouse keeper Simeon Bates, observed a British ship making directly for the harbor. It seemed that the fears of the residents had come true, but no one was ready to repel the landing force.
With their father away, the Bates girls dispatched their brother to run for help. Then they came up with a plan. As the British ship drew near and began offloading sailors onto barges, the two struck up their fife and drum. Hidden from sight, the two girls sounded for all the world like an approaching army force.
Suddenly, the idea of harassing the boats in Scituate or coming ashore to cause even more damage didn’t seem so appealing. The sailors returned to their ship and departed, leaving a relieved town of Scituate.
The Bates Sisters have been recorded in history as The Army of Two.
