It’s throwback Thursday… and I get to talk about two of my favs, history and Bermuda! So…

🇺🇸 the 1775 Gunpowder Plot?! 🇧🇲

From a camp near Boston, on September 6, 1775, General George Washington penned a letter to the “Inhabitants of the Island of Bermuda,” calling on their “Favor and Friendship to North America and its Liberties…” Its purpose was to solicit much-needed gunpowder for Continental troops. This was a tricky request, as Bermuda had been under an American embargo some months before, and suffering from the loss of much needed food and other supply. What Washington proposed in essence was a trade.

His letter was unnecessary, though.

Much to his relief, friendly Bermudians had already come to the Colonies’ rescue just weeks before, on this day – August 14 – two-hundred and fifty years ago.

On that hot and humid night, under a full moon, several dozen Bermudian patriots under the guidance of Colonel Henry Tucker (father of Virginian, St. George Tucker) made their way to Tobacco Bay on the northeast coast of the island, climbing a steep hill and some distance to reach an unguarded powder magazine. There they acquisitioned and removed more than 100 casks of gunpowder, transporting them back to the Bay and loading the casks on two ships ready for transport to Philadelphia and Charleston.

The mission was a success, with thousands of pounds of gunpowder readily received for use by Washington’s army . And while investigated by the loyal Governor, no charges were ever brought against any suspect for their acts.