History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 26

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100

USA > Maine > Penobscot County > History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 26

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The enlistments for the " Penobscot Expedition " were completed without trouble or delay. The men being arranged into four compa- nies, each of 100 men, were put under the command of a colonel ; and the whole embarked at Boston on board the ship King George, the Massachusetts sloop, and a few transports ; all touching at Falmouth, May 4th, as they proceeded to the place of destination. In ascending the Penobscot Bay, at this pleasant season of the year, the islands and shores exhibited a drapery of nature which could not fail to make a deep impression upon the beholder. Farther into land, the banks in- dented with coves, and the acclivities clothed with mast-pines, rock- maples, or balsam-firs, the thick forest had power to excite the admi- ration of no one more than the Governor himself. It was to him a re- flection fraught with deep regret, that this fine country had been so long left to the savage hunter, the French renegades, and the wild beasts.

Having examined sundry places, and taken formal possession of the country, the Governor selected a crescent crowning elevation on the western side of the Potomac (in Prospect), 25 rods from the water's edge, and about a league below the foot of Orphan Island, as a site for the fortification. It was laid out square with the points of the com- pass, the east side facing the water ; and at each corner were flankers. The dimensions of the fort were 360 feet, or 90 feet on each inner side of the breastwork, which was ten feet in height. This was circumval- lated by a moat or ditch 15 feet in width at top, 5 at bottom, and 8 deep. Each exterior side of the ditch, or the glacis, was 240 feet. In the centre of the ditch were palisadoes quite around the fort, except at the portcullis, or entrance at the east side, where a drawbridge crossed the excavation or ditch. There was also a piquet in the ditch at the foot of the wall. The houses of the commander and others were situated between the fort and the river. Within the breastwork or walls, was a square block-house, 44 feet on a side, with flankers at each corner, of diamond form, 33 feet on a side. The whole was constructed of square timber dovetailed at the corners, and treenailed. The height of the block-house, in 2 stories, was about 22 feet ; the roof was square or hipped, and had a sentry-box upon the top. There were several cohorns on the roof; and three or four cannon were mounted in the area between the breastwork and walls of the block-house, which was 20 feet in width. The upper story jutted over the lower about 3 feet, the space being covered with loose plank, easily removable. The lower story was used as barracks, and in the upper one, where 10 or 12 small cannon were mounted, garrison exercise was performed in stormy weather. There were two chimneys, one in the northwest and the other in the southeast corner of the block-house.

As soon as the laborers had commenced work, the Governor, attend- ed by General Samuel Waldo, with a guard of 136 men, ascended the river, near the head of the tidewaters, below the bend ; and, May 23d, went ashore on the westerly side of the river. From this place he sent a message to the Tarratine tribe, giving them notice of the enterprise undertaken at Fort Point, and assuring them, if they should fall upon the English and kill any of them, the whole tribe should be hunted and driven from the country. "But," added he, "though we neither fear your resentment nor seek your favor, we pity your distresses; and if you will become the subjects of his Majesty and live near the fort, you shall have our protection, and enjoy your planting grounds, and your hunting berths, without molestation."

General Waldo took great interest in this expedition, expecting that the Muscongus (or Waldo) Patent extended to some place near the spot then visited by them ; and that he and his co-proprietors would de- arrive essential advantage from the projected fortification. Withdrawing

a few paces, he looked round and exclaimed, " here is my bound," and instantly fell dead of an apoplexy. He was 63 years of age. To com- memorate the spot, the Governor buried a leaden plate, bearing an in- scription of the melancholy event. General Waldo was a gentleman of great enterprise and worth ; and the conspicuous part he acted in the first capture of Louisbourg, will be long recollected with intermin- gled pleasure and praise. His sons, Samuel and Francis, and the hus- bands of his two daughters, Isaac Winslow and Thomas Fluker, were the testamentary executors of his large estate, much of which was in the last mentioned patent.

On the 28th of July the fortification, which cost about £5,000, was completed, and called Fort Pownall. It was afterwards garrisoned by 100 men, under the command of Brigadier-General Jedediah Preble. It was the most regular and defensible fort in the Province, and the ex- penses of building it were reimbursed by Parliament.

In a subsequent address to the General Court, the Governor stated that he had taken possession of a large and fine country belonging to the Province, within the dominions of the British crown-long a den for savages, and a lurking place for renegade Frenchmen ; and had es- tablished that possession by the erection of a fort, which would com- mand the river Penobscot and the outlet at Edgemaroggan Reach, the rendezvous of the Eastern Indians, in their excursions against our fron- tiers. He said the erection of it incurred a less charge to the Province, by {1,003, than if the same troops had joined the army. Highly gratified with the enterprise and its speedy accomplishment, the Gen- eral Court voted him their thanks, and granted him {200, in addition to his usual salary of {1, 300 lawful money.

Mr. Williamson mistakes in regard to the purport of the leaden plate buried "at ye Root of a Large White Birch Tree, three large Trunks springing from ye one Root"-the head of the first falls opposite Thompson's Point, Judge Godfrey thinks. The Governor's journal has since been published, and from it we extract the fol- lowing:

At the Head of the Falls- buried a Leaden Plate with the following Inscription :

MAY 23, 1758. PROVINCE, MASS. BAY. DOMINIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN. - POSSESSION CONFIRMED BY T. POWNALL, GOV.

Erected a flag staff .- Hoisted The King's Colors and Saluted them. 24th. At High Water Returned. Got over the Ledge, and having a fair Wind and the Torrent of the Freshes in onr favor, arrived at the Camp by two P. M.

Further extracts from this interesting document, with the notes of its editor, concerning this expedition and its labors, will be read with interest:

[May, 1759] 8th. Embarked in all 333 men. Left the Rest to come with Flagg in the Sloops, who brought the materials. Proceeded for George's.

9th. At 3, A. M., arrived at the mouth of George's River [now in the town of St. George]. At 10, set out for the Fort [Fort Georges, situated in the present town of Thomaston, in front of the location now occupied by the mansion of the late General Knox. It was erected in 1719-20, by the proprietors of the Waldo Patent, and made a public garrison soon after. It resisted successfully repeated attacks from In- dians and French. The last attack was made in 1758 by a body of 400.] in the Barge, Yawl, and six Whaleboats for the Fort St. George's. At 3, P. M., arrived, Herrick's company came up in a large Sloop, and I left Capt. Cargill with 100 men on board the King George for further orders, intending he should land on the east side George's River at night, etc.,

Orders to Brigadier Preble to march to the mouth of Pausegasawac- keag, a river that runs into Penobscot about thirty miles from George's. Ordered Lt. Small, a good Surveyor, to chain the whole way, and keep a field book. 13th. Sent off Lt. Saunders in the Sloop Massa- chusetts to Falmouth to convoy the Sloops with the Workmen and Ma- terials-Taking out of him into the King George all the Intrenching Tools.

Sailed for Penobscot, took with me the two Brick Sloops, and Preble's Lighter, with 40 hogsheads of Lime, which I laded at George's. Came to anchor off the Green Islands in Penobscot Bay.

14th. As cold as ever I had felt it all Winter. Came to Sail, and arrived just before Sunsett off the north of Pausegasewackeag River.

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

15th. At 4, P. M. Preble arrived, made his Signal, which I answered, and he raised his fourth Smoak. Sent for him aboard. He reported to me by the Survey they had marched thirty miles and sixty-four Rod.

16th. Sail'd, and about half past four P. M., got within about two miles, or a League of Wasaumkeag Point [in the present town of Prospect, at the mouth of Penobscot river. It is now known as Fort Point. The name Wasaumkeag occurs only in Gov. Pownall's journal, ] and tho' the Breeze strong enough to keep all the Sails, Topgallants and all sleeping, yet cou'd not stem the Torrent of the Tide, on the contrary the Ship under no command of the helm- whirled about at random, so that Capt. Hallowell let go the kechger- made several attempts, but cou'd not make it do to-night, so came to anchor.

The Sloop, Patterson, Master, with the Stores and Cannon, arrived in the River, but cou'd not get up to us. Sent two whaleboats, arm'd, to Guard her.

17th. A Fresh Breeze. Sent off two whaleboats with twenty men to Capt. Bean, with Orders to cross over to the Western Shore, and take Post on the Opposite Point [Sandy Point, north of Wasaumkeag Point]. After several Puzzles, got up into the Harbour within Wasaum- keag Point. We landed and Reconnoitred the whole, and took post at the Point-and encamped the men.

Came again on board-after Dinner sent Preble to see the Carrying Place .- He reported to me that it was not above eighty rod across- Went again ashore. Ordered a Party to look out for water. Sent ashore all the axes for clearing .- For having thoroughly Reconnoitred this Point, as I never yet saw so well suited a Site for a Fort, so I imagin'd I should not find one more proper throughout this River. However, made no Determination about fixing the Fort.

18th. Daylight, ashore, Clearing. Ordered them to set about Dig- ging a well. Sent off Lt. Small to survey the whole Neck, Capt. Nichols, with the Pickets to Guard him. Order'd a Breast Work or Barricado to be made round the Camp.

Had a Return of Water, three springs-Gave Orders for clearing them and fixing barrels to them.

P. M. Barricado almost finished. Orders to Brigadier Preble to send two Officers and 40 men early next morning, with 20 axes to clear the carrying place about a Rod wide from side to side. One Officer with 20 men to keep Guard the other, with 20 to work, Spell and Spell -To compleat the Breast Work, and have a detachment of 150 choice men, officers included, ready to embark at a minute's warning in Whale boats with three Days' Provisions.

Finish the Hospital.

19th. Ashore at the Carrying Place. Found it clear'd so as to see from water to water. Order'd Capt. Bean to build a Logg Redoubt ac- cording to Form I gave him, with a Guard room in it for an Officer and 25 men, and when compleated to 'come off, leaving such Guard there. Sent ashore from the King George some Swivel Cohorns to fix on the Breast Work at the Camp. Went to the Camp. Found that the Wel Diggers had come to good Water .- Drank Punch made of it. Recon- noitred the Springs and the Point, looking a proper Scite for the Fort in case I determined to fix on this Point.

At night Lt. Small return'd from the Survey.

20th. Visited the Post at the Carrying place. Found Lt. Preble had finished the Redoubt and Guard house which Capt. Bean began.

Thence to Camp. Order'd the like avenue to be cut across the point where 'tis narrowest, not above 70 rods, to have the same kind of Re- doubt and Guard house built there.

This executed in two hours' time. In the afternoon Order'd a road to be cut about two Rods wide in a Direct Line East and West to avenue on the narrow of the Point. This executed before night.

24th. Upon this Reconnoitring the River, and find- ing no place equal to this Point of Wassaumkeag either for Defence by its Scite, being nowhere commanding, and on the contrary having a very great command of the River and the Passes near it, Determined this to be the place for the Fort, erected the Flag Staff, and hoisted the King's Colours with all the Ceremonies usual on such Occasions, adding Divine Service to beg God's Blessing, for unless the Lord builds the House, the Laborer worketh but in vain.

25th. Ordered the Cellar and Foundation at the Fort to be com- pleated. [The location selected by Governor Pownall is twenty-five rods from the water's edge, and about the same distance from Fort Point Light house. ] At evening buried Brigd. Waldo at the Point near the Flagg Staff, with the honours of War in our Power.

26th. Saw the First Floor and Tier of timber laid, the cellar being finished.

Set out the Lines for a Parapett, Ditch, and Glacis. ' Gave Mr. Bur beck, whom I had appointed Engineer and Overseer, particular direc- tions in what manner to compleat the Works in each Part, as the Ground lay and showed him it on the spot.

About noon left Wasumkeag, and went in the sloop Massachusetts to Pentaget, with Capt. Cargill and 20 men.

27th. Next day to Cape Ann. Next day, about Sunset, 28th to Castle William.

The fort was completed July 6, 1759. The General Court, on the 10th of June, voted to call the fortification Fort Pownall, in honor of the Governor. A garrison was constantly maintained at this fort until the Revolutionary War. In 1775; Mowett, with a British man of war, dis- mantled the fort, by removing all the guns and ammuni- tion, and in July of the same year, Colonel Cargill, of New Castle, burned the block-house and all the wooden works to the ground, fearing that they would be occupied by the enemy to the prejudice of the neighboring inhab- itants. The ruins of Fort Pownall are now distinctly visible in front of the Fort Point Hotel, and the remains of the breastworks are quite prominent. All traces of the buildings, except one excavation and a few stones, have disappeared.

The importance of this work to the future of Maine can hardly be overestimated. Judge Godfrey says in his Address at the Bangor Centennial :

In consequence of this act of Governor Pownall, the territory between the Penobscot and the St. Croix rivers was embraced in the territory of the United States under the Treaty of Paris of 1783. Had it not been for this act of occupation, the country east of the Penobscot river would at this time have been, probably, a part of the Province of New Bruns- wick.

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

was attended by few stirring incidents in the valley of the Penobscot, whither comparatively few settlers had yet ventured. No doubt some of the brave men of " Ken- duskeag Plantation," of "New Worcester," and of Ham- den smelt British gunpowder during the patriotic struggles; but we have not been able to obtain their roll of honor. It is known that a company of twenty white men and ten Indians-the latter from the Tarratines, whose services were offered to the Massachusetts Govern- ment by Orono and other chiefs-served and that Andrew Gilman was their lieutenant commanding, and Joseph Mansell orderly sergeant. This, says Judge Godfrey, "was the first military organization, and a rude fort, at the angle of the roads just above Mount Hope, was their headquarters. They acted as rangers until the British occupied Bagaduce or Castine, in 1779.

Nor was the right feeling altogether wanting in the valley of the Penobscot, although some of its people afterwards proved recreant to the Revolutionary cause. Mr. Elihu Hewes, writing from "Wheelersborough " (Hampden) to the lamented Dr. Warren, president of the Provincial Congress, June 9, 1775, stoutly said :

The people here, I am confident, will support it [the cause of the colonists] to the last moment of their lives, being willing in general to encounter any difficulty, [rather] than to yield to that Band of Tyranny whose plodding pates have long projected methods to enslave us.

At least two of the patriots in this quarter suffered sharply for his principles. Mr. Joseph Page, a native of Rhode Island, who lived during some part of the Revo- lution near Mount Hope, refused to take the oath of al-

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RESIDENCE OF A. F. BRADBURY, DEXTER, MAINE.

HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

legiance to the English crown, and was driven off, his house burnt, and his stock stolen by the red-coated min- ions of King George. James Nichols, at Eddington Bend, also had his house burned for the same reason. A few others took the oath, and found employment at small wages among the British at Castine, where some of the patriots were also compelled to labor.

The principal events affecting the Penobscot country occurred on the peninsula of Castine, whence the British dominated this entire region during the latter half of the war. Mr. Williamson thus narrates the major part of the story, in the second volume of his History, under date of the year 1779:

General McLane and about nine hundred men, embarking at Halifax, and attended by a fleet of seven or eight sail, proceeded to the peninsula of major biguyduce, called "Biguyduce Neck," (now Castine), and landed, June 12, without opposition. They immediately cleared away the trees and underwood, and began to make preparations for erecting a fortification upon the high ground in the central part of the penin- sula. Its form was rectangular or square with a bastion at each angle; and its outlines were so drawn as to embrace an area large enough to admit of a block-house in the centre, constructed with apartments for the officers and barracks for the soldiery. It was intended to environ the embankment with a deep moat and secure it by pickets. Three sloops-of-war, under Captain H. Mowett, of detested memory, were as- signed to this station; and the rest of the fleet in a few days left the harbor.

Partaking largely of the general alarm, Brigadier-General Cushing of Pownalborough, addressed a letter on the 24th to the Gen- eral Court, then in session, advising an immediate expedition to dis- lodge the invaders, before they had time to entrench themselves. The important subject had already been considered by that body, and directions were forthwith given the Board of War to engage or employ such armed vessels, State or National, as could be procured and pre- pared to sail in six days; to charter, or, if necessary, to impress in the harbors of Boston, Salem, Beverly, and Newburyport, a number of private armed vessels, belonging to individuals, competent, when joined with the others, for the enterprise; to promise the owners a fair com- pensation for all losses and damages they might sustain; to allow seamen the pay and rations of those in the Continental service; and to procure the necessary outfits and provisions with all possible despatch. Also the Executive Council ordered Cushing and Thompson, brigadiers of the militia in Lincoln and Cumberland, to detach severally six hun- dred men, and form them into two regiments for a campaign of two months, subsequent to their arrival in the Penobscot, and to avoid, in any event, the failure of having a sufficient force, Brigadier-General Frost was directed to detail three hundred men from the York militia, for the purpose of a reinforcement.

The supplies and munitions of war provided were 9 tons of flour and bread, 10 of rice, and 10 of salt beef; 1,200 gallons of rum and molasses, in equal quantities: 500 stands of arms; 50,000 musket cartridges with balls; 2 18-pounders, with 200 rounds of cartridges; 39-pounders, with 300 rounds; 4 field-pieces; 6 barrels of gunpowder, and a sufficiency of axes, spades, tents, and camp utensils.

The fleet consisted of 19 armed vessels and 24 transports. If it were in grade comparatively a flotilla, one more beautiful had never floated in the Eastern waters. It carried in all 344 guns. At the head of the armament was the Warren, a fine new Continental frigate of 32 guns, 18 and 12-pounders. Of the others there were 9 ships, 6 brigs, and 3 sloops.

The command was entrusted to Richard Saltonstall, of New Haven, in Connecticut-a man of good capacity and of some naval experi- ence, but of an obstinate disposition. His officers were chiefly com- manders >privateers, severally bound on a cruise as soon as the expe- dition was at an end. There were, besides sailors, between three and four hundred marines and soldiers on board, when the fleet sailed from Massachusetts; and the transports were to take on board twelve hun- dred detailed militiamen and volunteers from Thompson's and C'ush- ing's brigades. One hundred men had actually embarked at Boston, who belonged to Lieutenant-Colonel Revere's celebrated battalion of State troops, in that vicinity. The command of the land forces was given to Solomon Lovell, of Weymouth, at that time brigadier-general of the Suffolk militia. He was by profession an agriculturist, and in

the militia an officer of high repute. He was a man of courage and proper spirit, a true old Roman character, that would never flinch ·from danger; but he had not been accustomed to the command of an expedition in actual service. The second in command was Peleg Wadsworth, at that time the adjutant-general of the Massachusetts militia. He had been in actual service, an aid-de-camp to Major-Gen- eral Ward, and commandant of a militia regiment from Essex to Rhode Island, in the expedition under General Sullivan at the time of his action there with the enemy. The ordnance was entrusted to the superintendence of Lieutenant-Colonel Revere. The expedition was put in motion by Massachusetts, though with the knowledge of Con- gress; and hence a draft was made upon the State treasury for £50,000 to defray the expenses, exclusive of the provisions which the merchants in Newburyport and Salem supplied for six of the fleet two months.

With so much celerity had this expedition been prepared and put in motion that the whole force made its appearance July 25th, in Penob- scot. But a distinguished officer has said that, though the Govern- ment had ordered out at least 12,000 of the militia, we had less than 1,000 men-about the number of the enemy. They were undis- ciplined troops, having been paraded together only once, and this was at Townshend, their place of rendezvous, while the vessels were detained in the harbor by a head-wind. They were, however, brave and spirited men, willing to encounter the enemy; and had circum- stances justified an attack, they would without doubt have done their duty manfully.

General McLane, having heard of the American fleet four days be- fore its arrival, used every exertion to render his fortification defensible. Yet he was ill-prepared to receive a visit from an enemy. Two of the intended bastions were not begun; the other two were in no place above five feet high; many parts of the ditch did not exceed three feet in depth; there was no platform laid nor artillery mounted; and therefore, when he had the news of a meditated attack, he employed his troops day and night upon the works. Still he was fully aware of his weak condition; consequently, as soon as our fleet made its appearance, he despatched a messenger with the intelligence to Halifax.

Nothing was attempted on the 2nd day after arrival, owing to the surf occasioned by a brisk wind from the South. But early in the morn- ing of the 3d day, July 28th, it being calm and foggy, our vessels were drawn up in a line beyond the reach of musket-shot from the enemy; and 200 of the militia and 200 of the marines were ordered into the boats from the shipping, ready at the signal to push for the shore. Mowett had taken a judicious position, which enabled him to command the mouth of the harbor and prevent a landing on the southerly side of the peninsula. A trench had been transversely cut nearly across the isthmus at the northward, which severed the neck from the main and secured the passes in that quarter. No landing could be affected, except on the western side, which was a precipice 200 feet high, steep, and extremely difficult of access; also there was a line of the enemy posted upon the cliffs or heights, who opened a brisk fire upon us (as an American offi- cers tates), just as our boats reached the shore. We;stepped out, and they were immediately sent back. From the enemy's shipping there was now a stream of fire over our heads, and from the top of the cliffs a shower of musketry in our faces. We soon found the summit at this place inaccessible, and we divided into three parties; one deployed to the right and one to the left, in search of a practicable ascent, the cen- tre keeping up an unceasing fire to distract the attention of the enemy. Both parties succeeded in gaining the heights; yet, closing upon the en- emy in the rear rather too soon gave them a chance to escape, and they fled, leaving thirty killed, wounded, and taken. The conflict was short but sharp, for we lost one hundred out of four hundred men on the shore and bank, the marines suffering most as they forced their way up the precipice. The engagement lasted only twenty minutes, an would have been highly applauded, had success finally attended the expedition. There was not, in fact, a more brilliant exploit of itsel than this, during the war. We next threw up some slight fortifications within seven hundred yards of the enemy's main works.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 26

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co. Number of Pages: 1100

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100