Leslie’s Retreat: How Salem Defied British Forces Before the Revolution Two months before the first shots rang out at Lexington and Concord, Salem, Massachusetts witnessed its own dramatic confrontation with British forces. On a tense February morning in 1775, Salem’s citizens stood their ground against British Colonel Alexander Leslie and his troops in what would become known as “Leslie’s Retreat”

Experience living history this February as Salem commemorates the 250th anniversary of Leslie’s Retreat, a remarkable pre-Revolutionary War confrontation that showcased the power of diplomatic resolution in the face of mounting tensions between colonists and British forces. Salem Celebrates 250 Years Since Leslie’s Retreat. A Weekend of Historical Immersion and Celebration The City of Salem, alongside Salem 400+ and the