USA > Maine > A brief history of Maine > Part 13
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natures were rugged, like the hills among which they dwelt, the sweetness of the valleys lived in their deep affection towards the dear ones for whom they toiled and suffered.
2. In 1760, two new counties were formed, our present Lincoln and Cumberland. The boundaries of Cumberland have remained nearly unchanged ; but Lincoln included all the country northward of the Androscoggin, and eastward to the St. Croix River. Its shire town was Pownalborough; of which the towns of Dresden, Wiscasset and Alna were after- wards formed.
Governor Pownal, for whom this town had been named, was much interested for the eastern people, co. of course, they greatly esteemed him. He was popu- lar in Boston, too, though not a Puritan ; and when he embarked for England at the close of his official term the members of the government attended him to his barge. He was afterward a member of Parliament ;
GOVERNOR THOMAS POWNAL.
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and by opposing the acts of oppression against the colonies, proved himself a true friend of America. Sir Francis Bernard, who a few months later succeeded him as governor, was on the contrary, entirely sub- servient to the wishes of the Parliament and King.
The first English settlements east of the Penobscot were made shortly before the year 1762. In this year twelve townships lying eastward of that river, were granted to several hundred petitioners, a few of whom had already settled there. The chief condition of these grants was, that sixty protestant families should become resident in each within six years. One lot in each township was reserved for a church, another for the first minister who should be settled there, a third for Harvard College, and a fourth for the use of schools.
3. The years 1761-62 were long remembered in Maine for the sickness, drought and fires. In the latter year the fresh vegetation of June was shriveled and blighted, and in July the flames, breaking out in the New Hampshire woods, swept castward through the towns in York and Cumberland counties to the sea. It was not until late in August that their devas- tation was checked by copious rains.
Soon after the close of Lovewell's war, Parliament made several laws, called Acts of Trade, for the pur- pose of benefiting British revenues. One was the "Iron Act," by which all mills for working iron or steel were prohibited in the colonies; so that they were obliged to export the "pigs" (or bars of iron) from their mines to England, taking in return, in accordance with another law, woolen cloths and other fabrics, and implements of iron and steel. There was still another law imposing a high import tax on the mo- Jasses and sugar which the colonists of Maine received from the West Indies in return for lumber; this and fish being nearly all they had to sell. Then the ino- lasses and sugar had to be carried to the southern colonies to pay for their corn and pork; so that by
1765
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this time little remained to be turned into money or other property. Now that the wars had ceased, these laws were enforced with rigor; and the British gov- ernment began to plan how it might realize still greater revenues from America. So in 1765 Parlia ment passed the celebrated "Stamp Act," by which all papers for ships, transfers of property, college diplomas, marriage licenses, and newspapers must be made of stamped paper, which was supplied at a high price by the government.
4. The feeling in Maine was strong against these oppressions, though few acts of violence were com- mitted on account of them; but in other parts of the country the boldest royalists and stamp-masters were hung in effigy, and the latter forced to resign their offices. In England that great man, William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, said in a speech before Parliament on this act, "Sir, I rejoice that America has resisted. Three millions of people, so dead to all the feelings of liberty as to submit to be slaves, would have been fit instruments to m iko slaves of all the rest."
Yet no representative of the colonies was admitted to a seat in Parliament; and our countrymen boldly declared that " Tection without representation is tyranny." In 1768 the obnoxious act was repealed; and the event was celebrated in Maine by bonfires and illuminations, the firing of cannon and display of flags. The next year another form of taxation was tried on the colonies; a duty being imposed upon all paper, glass, colors, and teas brought into the country. This tax was not, like the former, opposed by force; but the representatives of the colonies met together and ex- pressed their detestation of British exactions, and took all lawful means for the redress of their wrong -; recommending the people to a manly defense of their rights, whether it brought relief or led to warlike resistance. Meanwhile by means of newspapers, ora- tions and pamphlets, patriots like Samuel and John
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Adams, with Otis and Mayhew, in Boston, Livingston of New York, and Gadsden of South Carolina, instruct- ed the people in their rights and stimulated the spirit of liberty in their breasts.
5. In 1768 seven hundred British soldiers arrived at Boston to enforce these iniquitous laws. They landed under cover of the guns of their vessels, and with loaded muskets and bayonets fixed, marched up to the Common. This, of course, greatly incensed the people; and Governor Bernard, being unable to pre- vail on the General Court to agree to any of his measures, the next year departed from the country in great disgust. His successor, Thomas Hutchinson, was a native of Boston, and a man of learning, ability and wealth; but, hoping to receive from the king an order of nobility, he became a foe to the liberties of his country. Having a familiar acquaintance with the people, he thought he could carry the king's measures by persuasion and skilful management. So the duty was taken off' most of the articles in the new tax list. with the principal exception of tea.
Such a concession might have satisfied the people at first, but it did not now; and they formed associa tions, the members of which were pledged to drink no tea, in order thus to make a peaceable protest against the tax. Not that they cared much for so small a matter of itself, but their eyes were now open to see the danger and wickedness of being taxed by a gov- ernment in which they had no representative.
6. Soon after this a sad affair happened in Boston. General Gage had sent some of his red-coated soldiers from New York to aid Hutchinson in governing Bos- ton. Parties of them in passing through the streets were often gazed at and followed by idle men and rude boys, who were called by the soldiers, "Danmed Yan- kees," and "Rebels"; while the. rabble retorted by shouting, "Lobsters," and "Bloody Backs." The last taunt was a very bitter one to the soldiers; for it was
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in allusion to the practice of flogging which then pre- vailed in the British army. So the soldiers and the rabble quickly got to quarreling; and one day (the fifth of March, 1770,) the soldiers fired on a party of sailors who attacked them, killing four and wounding several others. This was the famous "Boston Mas- sacre," which produced such excitement.
7. In Maine there had long been a bitterness between the surveyors of the king's woods and the lumbermen, which led to frequent fisticuffs; but the affair at Portland in 1771 was the first in our State which had special relation to the Revolution. The king's collector of revenue at this port was absent; and the comptroller, who was next in authority, seized the schooner of Mr. Tyng, then in harbor, for the breach of some rule or other. This act was regarded by the people of Portland as unwarrantable, and pro- duced great resentment,-at last resulting in a mob, which treated the unfortunate comptroller with the indignities common with such gatherings.
8. As the people of the colonies refused to drink tea the merchants refused to buy it; and the tiers of tea chests grew higher and higher in the warehouses of the East India Company in England. Something must be done, or the company would suffer great loss; so in December, 1773, they sent several shiploads of the article to America. You know what happened then. Some men dressed like Indians went on board the vessels and broke open the boxes of the dainty herb, and threw them overboard, until they reached up the ship's sides and tumbled back on deck; for just at that time the tide was ont, and the heaps of tea chests rested on the dock mud.
9. This affair alarmed Governor Hutchinson, and soon after he, also, left for England; and he never came back. Then General Gage was appointed gov- ernor; thus becoming the chief ruler of Maine, as well as Massachusetts, because we were then a part of the
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same province. The king and the tory members of his government were very much enraged at the spoil- ing of the tea; and Parliament ordered the port of Boston to be closed from the first day of June, 1774. When the order went into effect the bells of Falmouth and other towns in Maine tolled all day in token of sympathy with the oppressed city. On the 17th, Governor Gage dissolved the General Court,-but they had already chosen delegates to meet others from the colonies in a congress at Philadelphia.
10. The people of Maine and Massachusetts soon after elected representatives, who met in Salem in October. They formed themselves into a Provincial Congress, and chose John Hancock as its president. They also elected a Committee of Safety, and a Com- mittee of Supplies, and chose five delegates to repre- sent Maine and Massachusetts in the new Continental Congress. They also made laws for the formation and drill of military companies in every town, and recommended the people to grow more flax, to be made into linen, and to enlarge, their flocks of sheep, so as to produce more wool,-that the colonies might be prepared for the events which seemed to be ap- proaching.
What was the population of Maine in 1742 ? How many settle- ments were there at this date ? Why had not the population of Maine increased as rapidly as that of other New England States ? What counties were formed in 1760 ? At what time were the first English settlements made cast of the Penobscot ? What happened in Maine in the year 1761-62? How did Great Britain oppress the colonies at the close of the Indian wars? What great principle did our forefathers proclaim ? What noted affray took place in 1770? What was the first outbreak connected with the Revolution in Maine ? What happened in Boston in 1773? What was done by the people of Maine and Massachusetts soon after this event ?
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CHAPTER XXIII.
1. In March, 1775, the Canseau, a British sloop of war, came to Falmouth, (Portland) for the purpose of forcing the citizens to allow the unloading of a tory vessel. She was commanded by Captain Mowatt, who afterwards proved the especial scourge of Maine. From Falmouth he went to the Penobscot, where he robbed Fort Pownal of allits guns and ammunition, and nearly broke up the rich trade here carried on with the natives.
Government had at this point taken especial care for the comfort of the Indians, having erected build- ings for their use when they came to trade. It had also supplied a devoted minister of the gospel for the benefit of the garrison and such natives as would listen to his instructions. One or more ministers had also long been sustained at or near Fort Shirley, on the Kennebec; and the Indians on these rivers, being re- lieved from French influence, became so favorably in- clined toward the colonists that neither the British agents nor their brethren in New Brunswick were able to prevail upon them to take up arms against their white neighbors.
In the very next month after Mowatt's visit the bat- tle of Lexington was fought, giving the signal of open war throughout the colonies. The news arrived in York at evening. In the morning the citizens flocked together, a company was enlisted, armed and equipped, and the following night it reached New Hampshire on the way to Boston. Three days later Falmouth sent a company; and shortly after, Colonel Scammon of Biddeford reached Cambridge with a regiment. New Gloucester raised twenty men, paying their wages and
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supporting their families during their absence. Thus did our good State of Maine answer the summons of liberty.
2. The inhabitants castward were too remote and scattered to furnish any more troops than were neces- sary to protect their own exposed borders ; yet, as wo shall see, they were not in the least behind their wes- tern brothers in courage and patriotism. When the news of Lexington fight reached Bath, the people de- cided that war had begun, and that all persons under British control must be treated as enemies of American liberty. It happened that a company of British wer then preparing masts at the king's dock ; and Colonel Sewall, with thirty other inhabitants, marched down to seize them. The workmen hastily jumped into their boats and got on board the vessels, which then sailes away down the river and escaped ; but the naval agent was left in the hands of the citizens.
A few days after this affair, Lieutenant Colonel Thompson, of Brunswick or Topsham, learned that the Canseau was again at Falmouth, and that her com- mander, Captain Mowatt, spent much time on shore; and, raising a company of volunteers, he proceeded thither in hopes to capture him. The standard of the company was a spruce pole with a green tuft at the top, while cach man had a sprig of evergreen in his cap. Having ascertained that Captain Mowatt was to dine on shore, they concealed themselves in a small wood on the east side of the peninsula and awaited his ap- pearance. The dinner hour passed ; and soon the cap- tain, his surgeon and a citizen sauntered down near the grove, and all three were quietly taken prisoners.
3. When the capture become known on board his vessel, the officer next in command sent word to the authorities, that unless Captain Mowatt was released within two hours he would bombard the town. This created great alarm ; and many began to pack their goods and send them off in carts into the country.
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But Mowatt promised the town authorities that if they would permit him to go on board his vessel he would prevent the bombardment ; so two of the leading citi- zens became security to Colonel Thompson for him, and he was permitted to depart, on agreement to re- turn the next morning. He professed the utmost gra- titude to the citizens for their interference in his favor; but, once on board his sloop, he staid there ; and sail- ing away, left his sureties to pay the forfeit.
Then came the battle of Bunker Hill, where the brilliant ranks of the British marched up towards the silent breastworks, and "Old Put" rode back and forth upon his white horse,-when the silent breastworks sud- denly became sheeted with flame, and there was rattle of musketry and roar of cannon, -- where the smoke of burning Charleston poured about them, and the swell- ing forces of the British still came on, until the out- numbered patriots, with powder spent and useless guns, retired before the bristling bayonets of the enemy. There were Maine men who fought bravely in the ranks that day, and some were left lying in their gore upon the bloody field.
4. There were also desperate conflicts at home, and successful ones, though not on so grand a scale. In May the Margaretta, an armed schooner of the enemy, came to Machias for the purpose of convoying some lumber vessels to the British at Boston. Seeing a liberty pole, the captain came on shore and inquired who erected it. He was informed that it was done by order of the town. He told them it must be taken down, or he would fire upon the village. The citizens held a meet- ing and voted not to take it down. Some were dissat- istied, and another meeting was appointed for the next Monday. On Sunday the captain and some of his officers attended church in the village. Happening to look out of the window during the service, he saw a company of men armed with guns crossing the river on the logs. The frightened captain quickly leaped
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out of the window and fled to his vessel. The band which had sent him off in such haste consisted of Benjamin Foster and some other bold young fellows, whose plan it had been to surround the church and seize the British as they came out. A few shots were exchanged between this party and the schooner, but she soon sailed down the river beyond their reach.
5. The next day Foster and his company were joined by six fine brothers, named O'Brien, with an- other company. In the course of a day or two both had set off in search of the Margaretta ; Foster in a small coaster, and the O'Briens in the wood sloop, "Liberty." They found the schooner in the bay, and ran alongside with the intention of boarding. She received them with a discharge of swivel guns, mus- kets and hand grenades, by which several were killed. The vessels fell apart, only John O'Brien, one of the six brothers, having got on board the enemy. Seven of the British instantly fired at him, but not a bullet touched him. Then they charged upon him with their bayonets; but before they could reach him he was overboard, and swimming to his sloop. Several of the enemy had fallen by the fire of the Americans, and among them their captain; and when the vessels were again brought together the officer in command fled below in terror, and the crew yielded at once. This was the first British vessel captured by Ameri- cans; and the action brought the captors much applause.
6. O'Brien's sloop was then fitted up with bulwarks, armed with the guns of the captured schooner, and sent off on a cruise. A month later she fell in at Buck's Harbor with two vessels which had been sent out to recapture the Margaretta. These were the Diligent, a schooner of eight guns and carrying fifty men, with her tender, armed with swivels and carrying twenty men. Foster, in his coaster, came to O'Brien's aid; and the Diligent and her tender were captured
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without the loss of a man. For these brilliant exploits Foster and the O'Briens received the thanks of Con- gress.
Only once since Mowatt dishonored his word and sailed away, had the good people of Falmouth suffered the least intimidation from the enemy; that was when a sloop of war came to help away some tories with their goods. Again in October the inhabitants were alarmed by the sight of four British vessels entering their harbor; but when they saw that Mowatt's vessel was the flag ship of the squadron their minds were more at ease; because they trusted in his gratitude for the favor they had done him five months before. Great was their consternation when, the next day, he sent a letter ashore, stating that in two hours he should open a bombardment on the town.
7. At this time the place consisted of about five hundred dwellings and stores, with many barns and stables. Some hundred of the poorer sort of houses were scattered over the peninsula to the south and west, but the main portion were clustered together in the midst of the slope towards the harbor. The place was entirely defenseless from an attack by sea; but as no provocation had been given no such event was looked for. The time allowed the inhabitants to secure their safety was cruelly short; and a committee was sent to inquire the cause of such an extraordinary proceeding. Mowatt made them this answer :- "My orders I have received from Admiral Graves, and they direct me to repair to this place with all possible ex- pedition, take my position near the town, and burn, sink and destroy,-and this without giving the people warning. The note you have had is of special grace, at the risk of my commission."
8. The committee protested against the barbarity of the order, and urged the town's claims for the favor done him a few months ago by its citizens; but he only replied that his orders related to every seaport upon
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the continent. Yet he finally said that if they would deliver him four pieces of cannon, their small arms and their ammunition by eight o'clock the next morn- ing, he would spare them until he could hear from the admiral, who might be indneed to spare the town; or if they would give him eight stands of small arms immediately they should not be molested until the hour named. They were completely at the mercy of this petty tyrant; and in order to save something from their homes to keep their families alive, they sent him the eight stands of arms. At daylight the next morn- ing the citizens held a meeting, and resolved to give up nothing more, but to sacrifice their dwellings rather than lose the remainder of their precious guns and ammunition.
The committee informed Captain Mowatt of the decision, and besought him for humanity's sake to allow them further time.
"I will give you thirty minutes and no more," re- plied the cruel aud ungrateful man.
9. There were few teams in the place, and most of the household goods still remained in the dwellings or piled up before the doors when the vessels opened their batteries upon the town. The firing was rapid, and the cannon balls, bombs and grape shot poured in a terrible shower upon the defenseless village. No spot was safe from them, and the inhabitants were forced to flee for their lives -many of them saving only what they bore away on their backs. Under cover of the guns, armed parties came from the ships and applied the torch to the buildings; yet the citizens, with devoted courage, followed after them, putting out the fires at the risk of their lives; but in spite of their efforts the flames prevailed. Towards night the bombardment ceased, but the fair and flourishing vil- lage of yesterday was riddled with shot and shell, or lay in ashes. St. Paul's church, the new court-house, the town-house, the public library, the fire engine,-
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all were gone; and the houseless people gazed from afar on the fading smoke columns that marked the places of their desolated homes.
10. Scattered over the peninsula there were still nearly an hundred houses which had escaped the bom- bardment; and the owners of these, with such other of the inhabitants as decided to remain, began at once to prepare against any future attack. All the heavy arms they could procure were two six pounders; and before the walls of the battery were built, another vessel came into the harbor and forbade their going on with the work. She carried a heavier armament than all of Mowatt's fleet put together; but the people only pressed their fortifications more vigorously, and began to contrive ways to capture the vessel. As soon as the commander found his threats disregarded, he hoisted sail and left the harbor,-probably think- ing that he had a good ship to lose, but nothing to gain.
What fort was dismantled by Capt. Mowatt? How soon after this did the battle of Lexington take place? What troops were immediately sent from Maine ? What happened at Bath ? What affair occurred soon after in Falmouth ? Where was the first cap- ture of British vessels made by Americans? Give an account of the burning of Falmouth. What happened subsequently when & vessel of the enemy threatened the place ?
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CHAPTER XXIV.
1. The expedition against Quebec through Maine, in 1775, was one of the most famous, and also one of the most unfortunate events of the Revolution. It was led by Benedict Arnold, who subsequently proved a traitor to his country. His army consisted of ten com- panies of musketry, from Maine and Massachusetts, and three companies of riflemen, from Pennsylvania and Virginia,-altogether about 1,100 men. Several per- sons connected with this expedition afterward became noted as war leaders and public men ; among whom were Daniel Morgan, commander of the riflemen ; Aaron Burr, subsequently Vice President, then a youth of twen- ty; and Henry Dearborn, of Pittston on the Kennebec, who afterwards became Secretary of War. The plan was to ascend Kennebec River and its chief western tributary to the range of hills which forms the boun- dary of Maine on the northwest, whence they would soon strike the head waters of the Chaudiere, a river emptying into the St. Lawrence. The expedition sailed from Newburyport on the 18th of September; and, entering the Kennebec, ascended to Pittston, where two hundred bateaux were in readiness. Dismissing the vessels, the troops entered the bateaux and con- tinned on to Fort Western, in Augusta, where they spent several days in procuring guides and provisions.
2. First of all went a small exploring party ; after this followed Morgan with the riflemen, then Green, Bigelow and Meigs with the main body of the troops, while Colonel Enos brought up the rear. Arnold staid to see the last boat load depart ; then, entering an Indian canoe, he passed one company after another, overtaking the riflemen on the third day at Bombazee Rips in Norridgewock. Here the boats had all to be
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