USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Historical collections of Piscataquis County, Maine, consisting of papers read at meetings of Piscataquis County Historical Society, also The north eastern boundary controversy and the Aroostook War, V. I > Part 22
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to take advantage. She would neither send her armies into our forests, nor into the heart of the country, from whence it is not probable they would return. She may, however, threaten Maine, from Quebec, and perhaps carry on a predatory warfare, by means of the Canada road. To protect the frontier and prevent such inroads upon the people, I would establish a post with two com- panies of infantry, near Moose river, with a post of observation on the height of land dividing Maine from Lower Canada. The depot of supplies for those posts I would establish on the south side of Moose river, one mile from the principal post. The Kennebec forks I would designate as a principal depot and place of con- centration for the militia of that section of the country.
The heights surrounding the forks are well calculated for defence, and would enable a small force, well directed, to hold a larger one in check until the militia of the country could be collected.
Before closing this part of my report it may not be improper to remark, that a road has been cut out, but not made, north of the military position selected near Moose river, leading from the Canada road to the head of Moosehead Lake. It has been suggested that a mili- tary force from Quebec or Lower Canada, might pene- trate Maine by that road and Moosehead lake. In answer to which I have only to observe that no general, who understood his profession, would invade Maine by any route destitute of forage, provisions, or the means of transportation. On the contrary, he would take the route that would furnish the greatest amount of supplies, and the greatest facilities of marching into the heart of the country. To take the route referred to, he would be compelled to make roads, construct bridges and boats, and to carry with him his forage, provisions, and the means of land transportation. In such a case, it would
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require no foresight to predict the result. He would beyond all question be defeated, if the people of Maine were true to themselves, and true to the country.
Deeming no other posts than those above mentioned necessary for the defence or protection of the north- western frontier of Maine, I returned to Bangor, leaving Major Graham and Lieutenant Johnson to make the required surveys and sketches.
On the 16th of July, accompanied by his Excellency Edward Kent, I set out to examine the eastern and northeastern frontier of the State .- On the 17th, we examined the military position at Houlton, which I con- sider well calculated for the defence and protection of that region of country. With proper works, and a gar- rison composed of six companies of infantry, and two of artillery, I do not believe any attempt would be made from New Brunswick to invade the disputed territory, or by that route to invade the settled parts of Maine. A general commanding at Fredericton, or St. Johns, with a large disposable force, might attempt an enterprise against the garrison at Houlton, intercept its communi- cation with, and cut off its retreat to Bangor .- This might be done by way of Woodstock, Eel river, or the Lakes Magaguadaweek and Chiputnaticook, or Grand Lake. From Woodstock, through by roads, the Mili- tary road could be reached five miles south and in the rear of Houlton. By Eel river and Dunn's on the Calais road, the same point could be reached. By the lakes above mentioned, and Butterfield's on the Calais road, the military road could be intercepted by a cross road, eight miles south of the Mattawamkeag forks, and about thirty eight miles south of Houlton.
This route will be the shortest from Fredericton and in the winter the easiest to be accomplished. It is, however, not probable that in the present wild state of
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the country, no roads being made except from Fredericton to Woodstock, any movement of the kind would be made with eight companies of regular troops at Houlton and a respectable force at Calais. Such a movement by the British forces would undoubtedly produce a cor- responding one on the part of the United States troops at Calais, against Fredericton or St. Johns, which, unless the British were in great force at those places, would produce a recall of any movement against Houlton or the disputed territory. No military commander would hazard an enterprise against Houlton or the disputed territory, if by such a movement he could possibly lose Fredericton or St. Johns which would give to the con- querors the finest part of New Brunswick.
To guard against any movement as suggested, I would recommend that a regiment of infantry and two com- panies of artillery be stationed at Calais, and one com- pany of infantry and one of artillery at Eastport, with posts of observation at Butterfield's and Dunn's on the Calais road, leading to Houlton. From Calais, Frederic- ton or St. Johns might be reached in three days. Should the above recommendations be adopted, I would desig- nate Calais as a proper place for the main depot of sup- plies and concentration of the militia for the defence of the eastern frontier; and the Mattawamkeag forks for the depot and concentration of the militia for the defence of the disputed territory and the northeastern frontier.
In addition to the above, I would recommend the erection of an arsenal near Bangor, on the right or left bank of the Penobscot. Also a fortification and garri- son at the entrance of both the Penobscot and Kenne- bec.
From a statement received from his excellency Edward Kent, it would appear that the militia of Maine exceeds forty-one thousand.
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Of these, in the course of ten days, 4,500 could be collected at the forks of the Kennebec, 4,000 at the Mattawamkeag forks, and 2,500 at Calais. In twenty days there could be 12,000 collected at the Kennebec forks, 10,000 at the Mattawamkeag forks and 8,000 at Calais.
The above calculation, however, is made up on the supposition that they would be called out as organized by regiments and brigades. A draft would take a longer period, but the same number of men could be obtained.
It would also appear, from the same statement, that the State has in depot 9,000 muskets, 2,200 rifles, 350 pistols, and 850 swords, and a good supply of equip- ments, all in good order and fit for service. The arms and equipments, however, in the possession of the militia, are generally small, and too light for active ser- vice.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient survent,
JOHN E. WOOL.
To the Hon. J. R. Poinsett, Secretary of War.
Fredericton, Feb. 13, 1839. By His Excellency Major General Sir John Harvey, K. C. B. and K. C. H., Lieut. Governor and Com- mander in Chief of the Province of New Brunswick, etc. etc. etc.
John Harvey.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, I have received information that a party of armed persons to the number of two hundred or more, have invaded a portion of this province, under the juris- diction of Her Majesty's Government, from the neighbor-
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ing State of Maine, for the professed object of exercis- ing authority, and driving off persons stated to be cut- ting therein-and that divers other persons have without any legal authority, taken up arms for the purpose of resisting such invasion and outrage, and have broken open certain stores in Woodstock, in which Arms and Ammunition belonging to Her Majesty were deposited, and have taken the same away for that purpose-I do hereby charge and command all persons concerned in such illegal acts, forthwith to return the Arms and Ammunition, so illegally taken, to their place of deposite, as the Government of the Province will take care to adopt all necessary measures for resisting any hostile invasion or outrage that may be attempted upon any part of Her Majesty's Territory or Subjects.
And I do hereby charge and command all Magistrates, Sheriffs, and other officers, to be vigilent, aiding and assisting in the apprehension of all persons so offending, and to bring them to justice, And in order to aid and assist the Civil Power in that respect, if necessary, I have ordered sufficient Military Force to proceed forth- with to the places where these Outrages are represented to have been committed as well to prevent Foreign invasion, as to prevent the illegal assumption of Arms by her Majesty's Subjects in this Province.
And further, in order to be prepared, if necessary to call in the aid of the Constitutional Militia Force of the country. I do hereby charge and command the officers commanding the first and second Battalions of the militia of the County of Carleton, forthwith to proceed as the Law directs, to the drafting of a body of men, to con- sist of one fourth of the strength of each of these battal- ions, to be in readiness for actual service, should occa- sion require.
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Given under my Hand and Seal at Fredericton, the Thirteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty- nine, and in the second year of Her Majesty's reign.
By his Excellency's Command.
WM. F. ODELL.
(Whig Editorial, Feb. 6, 1839.)
THE AROOSTOOK EXPEDITION.
When we first heard of the capture of the Land Agent and several others, and the sudden retreat of the Sheriff with his posse, we supposed in common with most of . our fellow citizens here, that this was effected by a small body of trespassers, who would hold together only a few days, and that the prisoners would be released after a. short detention-and that this whole matter in the way it had been conducted and terminated, was a fair sub- ject of ridicule, and was treated accordingly. It was a. proper subject of game, which any one had a right to hunt down. We wish, however, to be understood, that. we are wholly in favor of the object of this expedition, we feel desirous of seeing our country protected and jurisdiction enforced within our territorial lines according to the treaty of 1783.
If the Provincial Government have interferred in this matter by arresting and imprisoning any of our citizens, in the rightful exercise of their legal duties within our own territory, we stand ready to shoulder our musket and take our chance in the front rank of our militia- and entertain not the slightest doubt but that the whole body of our citizens would rise as one man, to defend the territory purchased by the blood of our fathers.
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But we have the right to demand that wise counsellors and energetic men shall move in this business and stand at the head of affairs-not such brawling and noisy politicians, such weak, inefficient and feather-bed men as have recently been shoved forward into this Aroostook expedition and have disgraced it. We have no desire to throw the slightest obstacle in the way of this affair, and it gives us great pleasure to learn that Jonathan P. Rogers, Esq. has been despatched by the Governor and Council, to hold an interview with Sir John Harvey, in reference to this business.
If Gov. Fairfield had taken this step in the first place, as Gov. Kent did in reference to the Boundary Commis- sioners, there would have been little or no trouble in driving off the trespassers from the disputed territory. But this, the Governor was unwilling to do, after his party had reviled and ridiculed Gov. Kent, in the man- ner they have done, for the course he took. Having now begun this business upon the Whig policy pursued by Gov. Kent, we cannot doubt of a successful issue.
(Editorial in Whig, Feb. 22, 1839.) STEADY.
Our State has been for the 3d time invaded and our citizens forcibly arrested, carried away and incarcerated in a FOREIGN JAIL. The first time, Mr. Baker and his neighbors, next Mr. Greely, and now the Land Agent and his assistants. We have remonstrated and entreated long enough and to no purpose. We now appeal to arms. We now appeal to the law of nature, recognized by all communities, for that protection which has been denied us by the General Government. Be the issue what it may, upon this question the whole State is united to a man, and will carry into the conflict its
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undivided energies. As we are in this city in the midst of a great excitement it behooves us all to keep calm and cool and proceed with the utmost deliberation. Expresses are passing every day through this city from the Aroostook and from the Province to Augusta and back-our streets for the last two days have been filled with the busy preparations for the Aroostook expedition. The artillery has been forwarded and large quantities of amunition, provisions, forage, etc. Twenty men are engaged at the Foundry casting balls. Bodies of volun- teers from the country are passing through the city hourly, and not less than 500 are now between this place and Matawamkeag Point. The draft of one thous- and men has been made in this division, and they will all be on the march to morrow.
(Whig Correspondence.)
Friday, 9 o'clock. A. M.
AROOSTOOK EXPEDITION.
The remainder of the detachment have left the city, and somewhat of the intense excitement is abated which has pervaded our own citizens, and the crowd of specta- tors which have thronged the city. Most of the detach- ment left the city yesterday in small squads, and this arrangement of the march we hope will secure comfortable and warm quarters to the zealous and patriotic Militia. Every aid will be given by the citizens along the line to the proper officers, and the men will be received in the most kind and hospitable manner. The appearance of the troops was such as excited our surprise and admira- tion. Coming together at a moments notice, every man seemed to be prepared for duty and eager to reach the scene of operations. The Commander in Chief ordered,
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we understand, a rendezvous of the force on Thursday at 10 o'clock, most of which, we have said, left town the same day, and the remainder this morning. The promptitude with which the call of the Commanding General has been obeyed and the order and enthusiasm. of the troops and the universal impression of the ability and energy of the Commanding General, has impressed the whole community with a full confidence in its success.
(Editorial in Whig, Feb. 23, 1839.)
THE ASSERTION OF THE AGE.
The assertion of the Age, that we wished to cast ridicule on the Aroostook Expedition, is wholly false. We shall not bandy words with a paper which thus attempts to turn the present crisis to political account. We did think it strange that the person entrusted with the command, should have suffered himself to have been taken in the manner he was. We are not opposed to the Expedition, and never have been, and as long as it is conducted properly we shall not utter a syllable against it. The Whigs of the State have but one wish, one opinion, in regard to the course to be pursued-they are anxious that Gov. Fairfield should go on, without falter- ing in the least ;- we hope that he will not, and that the State will not retrace a single step, in the position she has taken. A holier spirit than that of party, should now animate the people. The crisis demands the united energy and action of all parties, and we doubt not, that the one sentiment, the one feeling, the deep enthusiasm which pervades every bosom, will continue thus universal, until the rights of our noble State are established beyond a doubt and fully and honorably recognized. The honor and interest of the whole State must be maintained at all hazards. We shall have no fears of the issue of the
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conflict, knowing as we do, that the citizens of Maine will not prove recreant to duty, and the obligations now resting upon them.
While we would not have the Whigs, as a party for- get for a moment, the ancient landmarks, of their political faith, and the strong grounds of their opposition to the State and National Administrations, -so neither would we have them, in the least, abate in their ardor and anxiety to bring our boundary rights to a successful termination. Though we may have occasion, hereafter, to revert to the conduct and management of certain individuals at the commencement of this interesting enterprise, we shall not be backward in upholding the great object which the State, as one people, has in view. The present movement we should regard as National, and we shall not be found wanting in the bold mainte- nance of the honor and welfare of the State.
(Whig Correspondence.)
FROM HOULTON.
Tuesday, 9 o'clock A. M.
An express has just arrived from the Aroostook bring- ing the information that our Land Agent has been put into close jail. Just look at the contrast. The British Land Agent was brought here in a coach with four horses, a prisoner, carried to the Bangor House, and invited to one of the best rooms in the House, and received the best of fare, while our Agent was dragged on a horse sled to Frederickton and incarcerated within the walls of a prison. Should not such treatment cause the blood of every American to boil with indignation?
11 o'clock A. M.
The Augusta Light Infantry Company has just arrived in this city.
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(Whig Correspondence.)
Saturday, 5 o'clock, P. M.
A company of Cavalry, consisting of 48 men, have just arrived in this city from Waldo county.
We have just seen a gentleman who left the Aroostook on Thursday. The volunteers have erected a fort with logs, and have five field pieces mounted. They were all in fine spirits. The Waldo volunteers, the Piscataquis volunteers, and the Brewer volunteers, arrived at No. 4, about 36 miles this side of the camp on Thursday night. The Bangor Artillery and Dexter Artillery arrived at Lincoln on Friday night, and the Dexter Rifle corps were about 5 miles this side of Lincoln on Saturday morning.
Four of the British Regular troops, deserters from the Provinces, arrived at Lincoln on Friday night. Deser- tions are taking place daily, and some of these liberty- loving fellows have already enlisted in one of the com- panies of the 3d Division. The "stars and stripes" will coax many of her Majesty's subjects to their ample folds.
GOVERNOR FAIRFIELD'S ADDRESS TO TROOPS.
Fellow Soldiers :- An unfounded, unjust, and insult- ing claim of title has been made by the British Govern- ment to more than one-third of the whole territory of your State. More than this, it insists upon having exclusive jurisdiction and possession until its claims of title is settled-while in the meantime its subjects are stripping this territory of its valuable growth of timber, in defiance of your authority and your power. A few days since you sent a civil force under your Land Agent, to drive off these bands of armed plunderers and protect your property from their work of devastation. But the Agent while employed in the performance of this duty,
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with two of his assistants, were seized, transported beyond the bounds of the State, and incarcerated in a foreign jail under British authorities. Those who remain are threatened with a forcible expulsion by British troops, if they do not immediately leave the territory and abandon your property to proffered protection of Her Majesty's Lieutenant Governor. And perhaps before this moment, your soil has not only been polluted by the invader's footsteps, but the blood of our citizens may have been shed by British Myrmidons.
The Age states that part of the detachment left for the frontier on Wednesday, and the remainder on Thurs- day morning.
(From Maine Newspapers, 1839.) THE SOLDIERS SONG. Tune-Auld Lang Syne. We are marching on to Madawask,
To fight the trespassers; We'll teach the British how to walk- And come off conquerors.
We'll have our land right good and clear, For all the English say; They shall not cut another log, Nor stay another day.
They need not think to have our land, We Yankees can fight well; We've whipped them twice most manfully, As every child can tell.
And if the Tyrants say one word, A third time we will show, How high the Yankee spirit runs, And what our guns can do.
They better much all stay at home, And mind their business there; The way we treated them before, Made all the Nations stare.
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Come on! brace fellows, one and all! The Red-coats ne'er shall say, We Yankees, feared to meet them armed, So gave our land away.
We'll feed them well with ball and shot. We'll cut these Red-coats down, Before we yield to them an inch Or title of our ground.
Ye Husbands, Fathers, Brothers, Sons, From every quarter come! March, to the bugle and the fife! March, to the beating drum!
Onward! my Lads so brave and true Our Country's right demands With justice, and with glory fight, For these Aroostook lands.
Bangor, Feb. 21, 1839.
(From Maine Newspapers, 1839.)
MAINE BATTLE SONG.
Come, sogers! take your muskets up, And grasp your faithful rifles; We're going to lick the red coat men, Who call us yankees, "trifles." Bring out the big gun made of brass, Which forges July thunder; Bring out the flag of Bennington, And strike the foe with wonder.
We'll lick the red coats any how, And drive them from our border; The loggers are awake-and all Await the Gin'rals order; Britannia shall not rule the Maine, Nor shall she rule the water; They've sung that song full long enough, Much longer than they oughter.
The Aroostook's right slick stream, Has nation sights of woodlands, And hang the feller that would lose His footing on such good lands.
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And all along the boundary line There's pasturing for cattle; But where that line of boundary is, . We must decide by battle.
We do not care about the land, But they shan't hook it from us;
Our country, right or wrong, we cry- No budging or compromise. So-beat the sheepskin blow the fife, And march in training order;
Our wave is through the wilderness, And all along the border.
Head Quarters, Eastern Division, - United States, Army, Augusta, Me. March 21, 1839.
The undersigned, a Major General in the Army of the United States being specially charged with maintain- ing the peace and safety of their entire Northern and Eastern Frontiers, having cause to apprehend a collision of arms between the proximate forces of New Brunswick and the State of Maine on the disputed territory which is claimed by both, has the honor, in the sincere desire of the United States to preserve the relations of peace and amity with Great Britain-relations which might be much endangered by such untoward collison -- to invite from His Excellency Major General Sir John Harvey, Lieutenant Governor, etc. etc.,-a general declaration to this effect.
That it is not the intention of the Lieutenant Gov- ernor of Her Brittannic Majesty's Province of New Brunswick, under the expected renewal of negociations between the Cabinets of London and Washington on the subject of the said disputed territory, without renewed instructions to that effect from his Government, to seek to take the Military possession of that territory, or to
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seek to expel therefrom the armed Civil posse, or the troops of Maine.
Should the undersigned have the honor to be favored with such declaration or assurance to be by him com- municated to his Excellency the Governor of the State of Maine, the undersigned does not in the least doubt that he would be immediately and fully authorized by the Governor of Maine to communicate to his Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick a corre- sponding pacific declaration to this effect :-
That in the hope of a speedy and satisfactory settle- ment, by negociation between the Governments of the United States and Great Britain of the principal or boundary question between the State of Maine and the Province of New Brunswick, it is not the intention of the Governor of Maine, without renewed instructions from the Legislature of the State, to attempt to disturb by arms, the said Province in the possession of the Madawaska settlements, or to attempt to interrupt the usual communications between that Province and Her Majesty's Upper Provinces ; and that he is willing in the mean time, to leave the question of possession and juris- diction as they at present stand; that is, Great Britain, holding, in fact, possession of a part of the said territory and the Government of Maine denying her right to such possession ; and the State of Maine holding, in fact, possession of another portion of the same territory to which her right is denied by Great Britain.
With this understanding the Governor of Maine will, without unnecessary delay, withdraw the Military force of the State from the said disputed territory-leaving only, under a Land Agent, a small civil posse, armed or unarmed, to protect the timber recently cut, and to prevent future depredations.
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Reciprocal assurance of the foregoing friendly char- acter having been, through the undersigned, inter- changed, all danger of collision between the immediate parties to the controversy will be at once removed, and time allowed the United States and Great Britain to settle amicably the great question of limits.
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