British evacuation of Boston
- When
- March 17, 1776
- Where
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Part of
- Evacuation of Boston
Howe, judging Boston indefensible, sailed for Halifax on March 17, 1776, ending the siege; Bostonians had arranged that the town would be spared.
British commander William Howe saw his position as indefensible and withdrew his forces from Boston to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on March 17. On March 8 some prominent Bostonians wrote to Washington stating the British would not destroy the town if allowed to depart unmolested; when the evacuation began, no American fire hindered the departure. Howe had issued a proclamation on March 10 ordering inhabitants to surrender linen and woolen goods usable for the war, and favorable wind on March 15 turned against the fleet before it could leave.
Sources
- Siege of Boston Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-28
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