USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 15
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockport > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 15
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While the British were at Castine, other foraging parties fre- quently visited the western shore of Penobscot Bay, and often met
1. Several years after the war a Lincolnville sea captain happened to run across one of the officers concerned in this raid and while talking about it, the officer said that it was an expensive expedition for the British, as sev- eral of their number were Killed by the shots of the American soldiers.
2. The depositions of Amos Pendleton and Jones Shaw relative to this affair, will be found in the report of the Committee on Claims, made at the 1st session of the 34th Congress, March 31, 1º56, House of Reps. No. 10.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
very warm receptions from our outraged people. One incident is of a British privateer called the "Thinks I to Myself," of about 60 tons burden, that had been foraging along the coast and finally anchored at Clam Cove, near Jameson's Point, and sent a barge ashore to pillage the inhabitants in that neighborhood. As the vessel came to anchor our people, surmising . what her inten- tions were, gathered in quite a company, armed and determined to fight the marauders if necessary. Concealing themselves be- hind large rocks, stumps and bushes near the shore, they waited until the barge was within range and then sent their leaden hail · among its crew compelling them to hastily retreat to the priva- teer. The vessel then opened fire with her twelve-pounders, but as no Yankee was in sight they soon ceased wasting their powder. The only harm they did was to make a few perforations in a near- by house. The Yankees, however, kept blazing away from their various places of concealment, until the captain of the vessel and several others were severely wounded. Deeming it too perilous to fight unseen foes of such unerring aims, the enemy decided to get out of reach of the far carrying guns of the patriots of Clam Cove, and soon weighed anchor and headed for Castine.
Mr. Locke tells an amusing incident occuring here in which a certain wag by the name of Jeremiah Berry of East Thomaston, was the actor. He was stationed here with one minute man as orderly sergeant, and thought he would test the courage, vigilance and qualifications of our soldiers on guard. So one dark night while Joseph Stanford was on duty at Eaton's Point, Berry came along and in a familiar way said to him, "Come, follow me." Forgetting the rigidness of military discipline under which he was placed as sentinel, Stanford unhesitatingly obeyed the summons and followed Berry, who led him into the barracks and ordered him locked up until morning, when he brought him forth and had him reprimanded by the commanding officer, for breach of military discipline in leaving his post without conforming to the rules. Having caught Stanford off his guard, Berry the
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WARLIKE ADVENTURES
same night tried the same ruse on Simeon Tyler. Approaching Tyler's station without a word, he was challenged by him, "Who's there?" "The rounds" replied Berry, "What rounds?" "The grand rounds." "Sergeant of the guards," shouted Tyler "ad- vance and give the countersign." Not knowing the countersign, (as he belonged to another guard) Berry began to advance with- out saying anything, when Tyler ordered him to "stand." He kept approaching, when Tyler cocked his gun and levelled it at him. Berry paused and said "You know me!" "No, I know nobody in the night." Standing where he was commanded to- as he found the guard would shoot him, he was presently taken under charge of the sergeant of the guard and marched into the barracks where he remained until morning, to the amusement of the guards. 1
1. The incidents related in this chapter are from Locke's Sketches, pages 121-132, and are from statements made by Asa Richards, Ira Brewster and by Wm. Ecla, Obed Smith, Capt. Crowell, and Levi Mathews of Lincoln- ville and other sources.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE VISIT OF THE "FURIEUSE."
1814. While the British held Castine and other neigh- boring territory, there was much smuggling between the United States territory and "British" territory. On this subject Collector Farley wrote from Waldoboro to the Deputy at this port, as follows :
Capt. Calvin Curtis, Sir : - I have received your letter relative to the Embargo, &c., &c. I have been necessarily absent for some time past and have not had opportunity of writing to all my Inspecting Officers. Mr. Holbrook, however, directed you to stop all vessels, and in doing so you have done right. If any per- son should have felt himself aggrieved and wanted immediate relief, he should have come here. I have concluded to clear out vessels whose employment has uniformly been confined to the navigation of bays, sounds, rivers and lakes within the jurisdiction of the U. S. to any port or place between Cape Elizabeth and Castine. Such vessels must, however, first give bond with two or more sureties in a sum equal to $300 per ton and will then be entitled to a general Permission ; they may then proceed on their coasting business within the limits aforesaid, provided, they pro- duce a manifest and enter and clear each trip; we must not, how- ever, clear out provisions, or munitions of war in large quantities to suspected places, within the limits aforesaid, nor at all if the war vessels of the enemy are known to be hovering on our coast.
* * * * * *
* *
As it respects the small craft that visit your harbor for the purpose of going to mill or carrying home a trifle of provisions for their own use, I think we may suffer this kind of intercourse to
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VISIT OF THE FURIEUSE
continue as usual until we see something in it that looks suspic- ious, but certainly all vessels large enough to have papers must be under the restrictions of the bond as aforesaid. We must spare no pains in carrying this law into effect, fully and fairly, and if any person is disposed to growl or grumble under your administra- tion of the law at your port, you can send them here, and say to them they shall have every indulgence in my power to grant consistent with the letter and spirit of the law-but the law must be enforced with rigor, where rigor is made necessary by the obstinacy of any person with whom we may have to deal. If any vessels with a register or sea letter should call at your port, you will stop them and send them here if they are not already cleared out under this law, vessels in the service of the revenue excepted, and except also vessels belonging to foreigners that may have just arrived from foreign ports.
The fees are the same as under the old Embargo, viz .: For every Bond, 40 cts .; General Permission, 20; Clearance (above 50 tons) 50; ditto (under 50 tons) 25 ; for every certificate of the landing of a cargo, if the Master requires it, 20 cts.
Yours &c., &c.,
J. FARLEY, Collector. 1
Some of the smugglers were in the habit of rendering "aid and comfort to the enemy" by supplying them with provisions and other necessary stores, and when they were intercepted by the watchful American officials it was unpleasant to the British. The enemy, however, was sometimes annoyed to a greater degree by having some valuable prizes captured by a few hardy and fear- less sailors or fishermen. That such prizes were frequently taken and had considerable influence in bringing the war to a close, is shown from the fact that it was urged in Parliament, as a reason for closing the war, "that the Yankee fishing boats were capturing many of their most valuable merchantmen." That the people along this coast should engage in their share of adventures of this sort, goes without saying, and one of them came near resulting in the destruction of Camden harbor village. It happened in this way : In the latter part of October of this year, Maj. Noah Miller
1. See Locke's Sketches, page 132.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
left Northport in a "reach-boat" with the following armed crew : West Drinkwater, Kingsbury Duncan, Jonathan Clark, Samuel Duncan and John Duncan, to cruise in Belfast Bay and vicinity for the purpose of preventing supplies being carried to the British at Castine. Although they cruised all night between Belfast and Castine, they captured nothing. In the morning (Nov. 1, 1814) they saw a British sloop at the northern end of Long Island, mak- ing for Castine, and started in pursuit, overtaking her at Turtle Head. 1
As they approached they fired a gun and ordered the Britisher to heave to, but the captain, at first, refused to obey, ordering them in a threatening manner to "be off." Threats, however, availed nothing when dealing with men like Miller and his crew. Miller ordered his men to row alongside and board the sloop, which they did with promptness and vigor, taking charge of the vessel without diffi- culty. The sloop proved to be the Mary from Halifax, and had on board a rich cargo of bale goods valued, according to the invoice, at $40,000, Capt. Benj. Darling, master, and one Mc- Waters, supercargo, and its destination was, of course, Castine. It seems that the vessel had got separated from its convoy in the fog, when near the southern end of Long Island, and sailed up the western side of the island while the convoy passed up the eastern side. After the capture of the sloop, the supercargo offered Miller &10,000 for her ransom, but he refused as he had agreed to share the profits of the venture with his crew. The vessel was then taken to Northport, and at the urgent request of the supercargo, he and the "king's agent " were set ashore there promising to return aboard again at Lincolnville ; instead, how- ever, they started for Castine to give the alarm to the British. Miller next went to Duck Trap, and asked advice at the store of
1. Turtle Head was named by Capt. Pownall at the same time he named Owl's Head. He says, "About opposite the ridge called Megunticoog, begins the south point of an Island which lies lengthwise in the middle of the Bay, is about 12 miles long and is called Long Island. The north point from the shape which it makes from sea exactly resembling a turtle, we called Turtle Head."
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VISIT OF THE FURIEUSE
John Wilson, how to proceed, he having no commission from the government. At Wilson's advice he applied to Maj. Philip Ulmer, who was Deputy Inspector of Customs at that port, who went on board the sloop and declared her a prize of the United States. Ulmer then took the helm and proceeded to Camden, while Miller came here on foot. Josiah Hook of Castine, Collec- tor of the Penobscot District, was at the time in Camden, because of the presence of the British in his own town, and when the sloop arrived at the wharf here, he and other revenue officers at once went on board and declared the vessel and cargo forfeited to and confiscated by the United States. The cargo was then ordered unloaded and transported by teams to Portland, by way of Warren and Newcastle. Four hours after the vessel's arrival, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the cargo, which consisted principally of satins, laces, shawls, clothing, cloth, etc., was on the road to Portland, all the teams in this vicinity being called into requisi- tion for transporting the goods. Our people were very apprehen- sive of trouble with the enemy on account of the seizing of the sloop and its valuable cargo and the selectmen would not allow the vessel to remain in our harbor after the cargo had been re- moved. Anxious to get rid of it, before the British authorities should learn of its disposition, the town officers hired Jonathan Clark, Samuel Duncan and Kingsbury Duncan, to take the vessel around to the St. Georges river and hide it, paying them $5.00 each for the service.
As Maj. Miller had no authority from the government to take prizes from the British and had, in so doing, laid himself liable to the infliction of a heavy penalty, Collector Hook made him out a revenue commission, dating it back fifteen days to cover the time of capture and give the appearance of legality to the act. Miller and his crew supposed that his commission as major gave him authority to act as he did, and the collector was willing to help him out of his difficulty. The sloop and her cargo was sold the following January for $69,790.64 and
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
deducting the expense of the confiscation and sales, the net pro- ceeds were $66,426.34. One half of this sum was paid into the United States treasury, and the other half divided as follows : Miller and Hook, $14,106.58 each; Miller's boat's crew, $1000 apiece ; 1 and Maj. Ulmer also received $1000.
The apprehensions of our people that the bringing here of the captured Mary would cause trouble to Camden was not with- out reason, as was shortly made evident. When McWaters and the "king's agent " reached Castine and reported the loss of the sloop and its valuable cargo, the British were greatly enraged, and the frigate, Furieuse 2 of 38 guns, commanded by Capt. Mouncey, was at once despatched to recapture her if possible, and on the morning of Nov. 2, she made her appearance in the offing, headed for Camden harbor. Watchers on Mt. Battie apprised the townspeople of the frigate's approach by raising a flag, and at the signal many of our people began to leave town with their families and effects for places of safety in the interior towns. Many had left the night before and the town had a deserted, not to say evacuated, appearance. In so great haste did some of the people leave that their lives were endangered thereby. One lady ( Bathsheba Thorndike) was so unfortunate as to break her leg, and another fleeing in a chaise nearly lost her life through some defect 'in the highway.
The Furieuse came down the bay deliberately and hove to just outside of the ledges at 1 o'clock P. M. and Lieut. Sandou was sent ashore in a barge, with a white flag. The barge was met in the harbor by a boat sent from the shore, in which were Collector Farley, Col. Foote, Lieut. Russ and others, also bearing a flag of truce. The demand made by the captain of the frigate
1 The injustice done to Miller's crew, in not being paid an equal share with Miller of the proceeds of the prize, as promised, was considered by the 34th ( ongress, by which the survivors and heirs of the crew had refunded to them the money paid to the government in 1815, viz : $33,213.17.
2. The Furieuse was a French-built frigate and was originally a part of the French navy. She was captured by the English. after which, she became an English man-of-war,
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VISIT OF THE FURIEUSE
as presented by Lieut. Sandou, was the delivery of the captured vessel or $80,000 to Capt. Mouncey within a certain specified time, or Camden and Lincolnville would both be laid in ashes. The demand was taken to the town authorities and a public meet- ing was called to determine upon what course to take in the emergency. The matter was discussed and Capt. John Pendleton is said to have favored making the attempt to raise the $80,000, while Oakes Perry opposed the proposition, saying that that sum would more than pay for all the houses they would destroy. At last the concensus of opinion seemed to be that a committee should be chosen to wait upon the captain of the hostile vessel and explain that it was impossible for the town to restore the vessel and goods, as the sloop was out of reach and the goods carried out of the town. Selectman Robert Chase and Col. Foote were then chosen and despatched in a boat to the frigate with the message. The boat came alongside of the frigate and the messengers went on board, leaving those who had accompanied them, in the boat. Lieut: Robbins, with whom we became acquainted in a preceding chapter, looked over the rail and recognized, among the boat's crew, Asa Richards, and exclaimed, "Hello, there is our pilot." Calling him aboard he took him aside and offered him a sum of money to reveal to him the whereabouts of the captured goods.
"I don't know where they are," replied Richards, "as they are scattered all over the country, and as for collecting them togeth- er, it would be as impossible as it is to collect the bones of Capt. Cook, which were dispersed over the Sandwich Islands." " Well," replied the British lieutenant. "We'll not ask you
about the goods if you will only tell us where Miller is!" "I
couldn't answer that question either," responded Richards, "but what would you do with him in case you should catch him ?" "Why, we'd hang him as a pirate," was the reply. They then discussed the cannons on the mountain, the British officers laughing at the idea that they could do any execution, and the Yankees telling them that they were likely to get some messages from the twelve
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
and eighteen pounders that would compel them to entertain the opposite opinion.
Foote and Chase were still in the cabin arguing with Capt. Mouncey, when a rowboat with something in tow was seen approach- ing from the bay. Being suspicious of its appearance, a cannon shot was fired athwart its bow, when the rowers in the boat ceased rowing, and after examining the boat with a glass the officers decided it to be harmless and allowed it to pass. The occupants of the boat proved to be Thomas Gilkey and one Pendleton from one of the islands in the bay towing a raft of logs to Camden.
The Captain and the committee were unable to come to any satisfactory understanding, and the latter were allowed to depart with the promise to return with an answer by 9 o'clock that even- ing or leave some hostages on board. At 9 o'clock no answer could be delivered, and Robert Chase, the first selectman of the town and Benjamin Cushing, the leading business man of the harbor village, went on board as hostages agreeably to the promise given, and the conference with the officers of the frigate continued to a late hour, the hostages being detained on board. The next day being rainy they remained on board until the following day. In the meantime the town authorities obtained a three days delay to enable them to consider what could be done, the hostages re- maining on the frigate in the meantime.
Castine had become quite a gay resort for the officers of the British army and navy. A temporary theatre was opened and there was music and dancing. 1 This would of course, indicate that the wives and female relations of the officers were there. That this was the case seems to be further indicated by the following incident: During the time that the aforesaid negotiations were pend- ing between the naval and town authorities, a British officer and his lady made their appearance in the village and went to the inn kept by John Eager (the present Bay View House). We are not informed how they reached Camden. It is possible that the
1. Abbott's History of Maine, page 423.
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VISIT OF THE FURIEUSE
lady may have come on the Furieuse on this excursion across the bay to Camden, or they may have come by some other vessel or sail boat arriving here at or about the same time that the frigate arrived. Mr. Eager who also had a store in Camden and another in Hope, was at the latter place, where he had gone with a load of mer- chandise to save it from being taken or destroyed by the British. When Mrs. Eager saw the unwelcome guests approaching, she
ran up stairs and seizing some articles that she valued highly, hurriedly secreted them beneath the plank walk leading from the house and in the wood pile and then went in to face the enemy. The officer and lady entered and the latter with a haughty and supercilious bearing, walked about the house, examining the mahogany furniture, pulling out bureau drawers and peering into
the china closets. She was evidently displeased to find any of the occupants of the house present, wishing, no doubt, that the place was deserted that she might take possession of whatever pleased her fancy. The undaunted young mistress of the house followed them around keeping a sharp eye upon their proceedings. At last the Englishwoman turned upon her and with a lofty air, asked, "Why are you here, do you not know that this town is to be destroyed and that you ought to be seeking a place of safety?" At that the officer, who had said but little also chimed in: "Yes, madam, are you not aware that the town is to be bombarded and burned before night? You had better leave at once." At this, the brave Yankee woman, drew herself up to the full height of her small person, and pointing to an old fashioned perforated tin lantern that was standing on the table replied, "Sir, you may destroy the town but I shall not leave this house if you shoot the front of it as full of holes as that lantern .. " This unexpected reply caused the arrogant English lady to completely collapse, while her husband looking with admiration at the young American woman, said, "Well, you are certainly the bravest little woman I have seen for many a day." Shortly afterwards they left the house unmolested, and went out to their vessel.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
CHAPTER XXV.
THE WAR CLOSES.
1814. The three days respite having been granted by the British commander, advantage was at once taken of it by our military authorities to arouse the country and collect a force to oppose the landing of the enemy. Messengers were sent post haste to the surrounding towns and the local companies were under arms. A battalion of Col. Thatcher's regiment, consisting of the Waldoboro, Warren, Friendship and Union companies, under Maj. Isaac G. Reed of Waldoboro, marched to Camden. When in the neighborhood of Clam Cove, several British vessels being in sight, Maj. Reed threw his forces into an open column, with long intervals between the sections, so as to make as great a display as possible. A Belfast company, of which Major Noah Miller was the commander, is also said to have been here, but under some other officer. As the British were looking especially for the Major and had offered a reward for his capture, he thought it best that the places that had known him should know him no more for a short time at least. Col. Thatcher came himself with the Warren company, riding upon a beautiful white horse. As he approached the place where Col. Foote's regiment was parading, the latter thus sarcastically addressed his men : "Now prepare for the worst, for here comes Death riding upon his pale horse." These two Colonels were rival members of the Bar and the story goes that in a forensic debate a short time previous, an altercation
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THE WAR CLOSES
ensued in which the somewhat free use of canes was indulged in by both parties, resulting in an estrangement between the legal brothers that was the cause of the formation of the new regiment of which Foote became Colonel while Thatcher remained Colonel of the original organization. On the arrival of Major Reed's battalion, Col. Foote assigned quarters for them on Ogier's Hill, while his own regiment was quartered in the old Meeting House. The number of soldiers in town on this occasion is not given by any authority, but Mr. Locke was informed by one of the old residents of the town, that in marching in platoons they extended from the old Meeting House (near Park street) to the Megunti- cook House. 1
While the militia were thus mustering, a small boat was approaching the town from across the bay. As it arrived at the place where the Furieuse was lying, Capt. Mouncey brought it to and made inquiries as to the business of its occupant. Finding that he was a Justice of the Peace by the name of Dorithy, going from Sedgwick to Camden on some legal business, the Captain permitted him to proceed, after making him promise to report to him on his way back, the condition of the town and the strength of the armed force assembled in the village. Concluding his business in town, Squire Dorithy, before leaving, called at Mr. Eaton's house and there, with the assistance of those present, concocted a story to tell the British captain, to the effect that the streets were filled with soldiers, that the Meeting House was full and that they were awaiting the discharge of the guns on the mountain, at which signal they would rush to a specified rendes- vous and be ready for battle, and that the same signal would call large numbers from the back towns to reinforce them. On his trip homeward the Squire called at the frigate in accordance with his promise and informed the captain of the prepared condition of the town and its formidable array of soldiers. Mouncey, evidently believing the story, thanked him for his information and allowed
1. See Locke's Sketches, Page 141.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
him to proceed homeward.
The respite now being nearly over, the people of the town were convinced that the hostile frigate would soon begin to bom- bard and burn the village, and prepared for the worst. At one time an alarm was given that the British were preparing to land a force near Spring Brook and the drums aroused the sleeping war- riors by "the roll" being called. The tired soldiers, many of whom, as raw recruits, had marched from a distance, stumbled from their bunks and hurriedly formed into ranks and started for the supposed place of the enemy's landing, when the alarm was found to be a false one and the order to march was countermand- ed. When this alarm was given Capt. Curtis and several others went upon Mt. Battie to see if everything there was in readiness for action. Great was the captain's disgust to find only one man there at his post, and he was asleep, while his comrades were away attending a husking. The sleeper was aroused and the remainder of the guard soon returning, all were reprimanded for their dereliction of duty.
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