USA > Maine > Washington County > Machias > Memorial of the centennial anniversary of the settlement of Machias > Part 4
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I have not been able to obtain the names of all the persons who were on board of the sloop, engaged in taking the Mar- garetta. Jeremiah O'Brien, afterwards known as Col. O'Brien, was in command as before stated. Edmund Stevens then of Addison settlement, was Lieutenant. Gideon O'Brien, John O'Brien, William O'Brien, Richard Earl, a ne- gro who lived with Col. O'Brien, Samuel Watts, Jonathan Knight, who afterwards removed to Calais, a man by the name of Steele from Pleasant River, Josiah Weston, John Merrit, John Barry, Isaac Taft, James Cole, Coolbroth, McNeil, Nathaniel Crediforth, John Hall, John Wheaton, William Fenlason, Joseph Libbee, (not the deacon) Ezekiel Foster, Simon Brown, Joseph Clifford, Bariah Rice, Jonathan Brown, Samuel Whitney, Josiah. Libbee, Elias Hoit, and Joseph Getchell, are the names of all the persons I have been able so far to find, who were concerned in this at- tack. Of these, none are now living.
The hardihood and bravery of these times, was not, on this occasion, confined to the men. There were women in those days, of stout hearts and willing hands. To procure an ad- dlitional supply of powder, a messenger was despatched the day before the capture, to Jonesboro, but he declined to return with the powder; and as all the other men in the vicinity of Chandler's river settlement, were at Machias,-the women mustered together to see what they could do; and Hannah Weston, then recently married, and Rebecca Weston, sister of Mrs. Weston's husband, volunteered to bring the ammu- nition through the woods. Hannah was 17 and Rebecca Weston 19 years old, at this time. They carried between thirty and forty pounds of powder and balls. They had no road but a faint path by spotted trees. They first came out to the river below the falls at Whitneyville, and followed the river down. When they had got about half way through, Rebecca's strength somewhat failed, and Mrs .. Weston
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carried her companion's load. They arrived at Gideon O'Brien's house near sunset, having left Chandler's river about 2 o'clock. Their clothes were very much torn, and they were greatly fatigued by their journey. This was on Monday. On their arrival, they learned that the Margaretta had been taken. Our heroines remained several days, and were doubtless the cynosure of all patriotic hearts. As a testimony of the appreciation in which the people of the place held their services, the committee of correspondence and safety which had been appointed, made them a present, the next day, of twelve yards of camlet, which was worth about eight dollars-at that time, no small sum.
Such are some of the incidents connected with the cap- ture of the Margaretta-the first naval exploit after the bat: tle of Lexington, when open and undisguised warfare be- tween the colonies and Great Britain became unavoidable. Taking all the circumstances of the occasion into view-es- pecially the remote position of our town from any place where assistance could be readily obtained-this event may be considered as one of the most bold, energetic, and extraor- dinary occurrences of the times. Well might they at Lex- ington, or at Bunker Hill, unite to resist the oppressions of the mother country-surrounded as those places were by a large population ; and well do the heroes of the 19th of April and the 17th of June deserve the honors which pos- terity has bestowed upon them. Equally, with them, should be honored and remembered the heroes of the 12th of June :
" Rude were the arms of strife In combat wielded then- But the harvest scythe-the woodman's axe, Were meet for those stern men. Tho' frail, the bark they sailed To chase a powerful foe, "God and the right" was all that chose, Those manly souls to know.
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Here let a few still keep On bright historic page, The record of that noble deed For every coming age, To teach our country's foes, That where oppressions fall, Are hearts in mailed armor clad, To leap at Freedom's call."
Immediately upon the capture of the Margaretta, a meet- ing of the inhabitants was called to decide on what measures it were advisable to take in this contingency. A Committee of Correspondenc, Vigilance, and Safety, was chosen, as had been done in many places, previous to this time. They were intrusted with the defence of the town, and the management of such of its affairs, as should seem from time to time nec- essary. On occasions of extraordinary interest, they had power to call a meeting of the inhabitants, to whom the Com- mittee reported their doings, and awaited their instructions. The settlement was placed under a sort of Martial law, from this time to the close of the Revolution-the Committe of Safety acting as universal Supervisors over its pecuniary, military, and civil Departments.
Our Committee, on consultation with the people, deter- mined to keep possession of Jones' sloops, and commenced at once to fit one of them, the Unity, with breastworks, and armed her with the guns and swivels taken from the prize. She was called the Machias Liberty, and Jeremiah O'Brien was appointed by the Plantation Committee to take charge of her. In the course of ten days she was fitted for sea, and Capt. O'Brien set sail on a cruise in the Bay of Fundy, in search of an English vessel, called the Diligence, which was employed to survey the coast. After an unsuccessful cruise of three weeks, O'Brien returned.
In the meantime a constant vigilance was maintained to prevent any surprise by the enemy. For, as the citizens
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had placed themselves in a hostile attitude by taking an English armed vessel, there was every reason to apprehend the most signal vengeance on the part of any of the British armed cruisers whose commanders should hear of their high handed resistance and rebellion. Guard Boats were accord- ingly manned to cruise among the islands in the Bay, in charge of efficient officers, whose duty it was to give instant alarm in case any ships of war were seen approaching the harbor. Capt. Stephen Smith was placed in charge of this department. His headquarters, for a time, was at Buck's harbor-from which place he cruised occasionally to Moosepeck Reach.
A few days after O'Brien's return, on the 14th of July, the English schooner Diligence, and her tender the Tatma- gouch, came into the bay and anchored a short distance from Buck's harbor. The Diligence was about 80 tons burthen and the Tatmagouch about 15 tons. The former, command- ed by a man by the name of Knight, was armed with four four-pound carriage guns. He was bound to Boston, as he alleged, and had just put in to Machias, to ascertain some particulars about the capture of the Margaretta, of which he had heard, and had taken his boat with his usual crew to go on shore at Buck's harbor to make the necessary in- quiries of some people who then lived there. Capt. Smith and his boat's crew had, in the meantime, secreted themselves on the island, at the mouth of the harbor, near to which Knight and his boat must pass. When near enough, Capt. Smith and his men showed themselves, being well armed, and compelled Knight to come on shore. He informed Smith that he had no hostile intent in coming to Machias, his only object being, as he said, to inquire about the Mar- garetta, and urged very hard to be released. He was, how- ever, told that he must go up to Machias, with his boat and crew, where the Committe of Safety and the people would
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decide. On his arrival here, the next day, it was decided that Knight and his crew should be held prisoners, and the Committee directed Capt. Jeremiah O'Brien in the Liberty, and Foster in the schooner Falmouth Packet to proceed to Buck's harbor and take the Diligence and Tatmagouch and bring them up to the village. O'Brien and Foster, as soon as the tide served, went down the river accordingly, and laid themselves alongside the Diligence and her Tender, and ordered their colors to be struck. Lieut. Spry, then in com- mand, Knight being absent, seeing so powerful force around him, surrendered, and the vessels and prisoners were brought up to Machias.
A special messenger was despatched to the Provincial Congress at Cambridge, with an account of the capture of the Margaretta, and of the other vessels. And that body passed the following Resolve on the 26th of June.
"Resolved that the thanks of this Congress be and hereby are given to Capt. Jeremiah O'Brien and Capt. Benjamin Fos- ter, and the other brave men under their command, for their courage and good conduct in taking one of the Tenders be- longing to our enemies, and two sloops belonging to Ichabod Jones, and for preventing the ministerial troops being sup- plied with Lumber; and that the said Tender, sloops, their appurtenances and cargoes remain in the hands of the said Captains O'Brien and Foster and the men under their com- mand, for them to use and improve, as they shall think most for their and the public's advantage until the further order of this or of some future Congress or House of Representa- tives."
On the 19th of September, the Committee of Safety direct- ed, among other things, that Capt. Stephen Smith keep one half of his men on duty at a time : that an advanced guard of a Corporal and four men be kept cruising every day among the islands below, appointing Birch point as their headquar-
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ters, and that the main guard to be stationed at the Rim .- A Boom across the river at this place (the Rim,) had been built about two months. A breast-work on the southern side of the river, was partly thrown up at the same time, and completed in September. Sylvanus Scott, who lived at the Rim, was directed also at this time by the committee to build a sufficient breastwork near his house, together with a house and watch boxes for the men. The remains of the breast-works, on each side of the river, though much worn down, are still to be seen.
During the Revolution, no man was more devoted or ac- tive in the cause, than Mr. Lyon. He was repeatedly chos- en by our citizens as one of the members of the Committee of Correspondence and Safety,-and was emphatically- one of the leading spirits of those times. Of his superior edu- cation and talents, he made no boast-but his whole powers were always at the service of his country and his fellow cit- izens. Nothing daunted his resolution and energy, and his influence and power were largely extended. And, at the close of this busy year of 1775, we find a remarkable speci- men of his devotion to the cause of liberty and of his self re- liance in a letter addressed by him to Gen. Washington, in which he suggests the plan of a military expedition against Nova Scotia, for the purpose of securing that beautiful Prov- ince to the Colonial Union-and, for the reason stated in his communication, the expediency of his own appointment to the chief command, and with the most enlarged powers .- He we writes as follows :-
" MACHIAS, Dec. 25, 1775.
SIR :- You doubtless remember to have seen an applica- tion from the Committee of Safety in this place, for leave to go against Nova Scotia, which might probably have been taken then with very little difficulty. But we were inform-
7
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ed that such an expedition could not be carried on at that time with proper secrecy, and that there was imminent dang- er from the King's ships. The same difficulty may possi- bly be in the way now, if any troops are collected and sent from any part near the Headquarters. I apprehend that se- crecy is as necessary now as it ever was; and if only one proper person, at a suitable place, be ordered to conduct the whole affair, it will probably succeed.
There have been many applications, I dare say, from many persons and places, but were I to point out a suitable place I should mention this, as it is near to Nova Scotia. I should be more at a loss for a proper person to conduct the enter- prise. I know of fitter persons than myself, in many re- spects, but they are strangers to the Province and the people. But I have dwelt there for years, and have a per- sonal acquaintance with almost all the principal men, and know the country well. I should rejoice therefore in the ap- pointment to the necessary business ; and if your Excellen- cy, together with those only who must necessarily be ac- quainted with the appointment, (for I choose that none but they should know anything of the matter) in your great wis- dom should see fit to appoint me, I will conduct the expe- dition with the utmost secrecy, and (Deo adj.) will add to the dominions of the Continental Congress another province, be- fore our enemies are able to defend it. All I require is suf- ficient authority to collect as many troops as I see fit in this eastern country, not exceeding one thousand men, and ves- sels to convey them to the place of action, and blank com- missions for the necessary officers of a thousand more, to be filled up as I shall find expedient, in Nova Scotia, where the men are to be raised, and put into the Continental pay, and left there to defend the Country when taken. And further, that a sufficient quantity of provisions, ammunition, arms, &c., be sent here about the middle of March.
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Your Excellency may enquire about me as much as you please, of Benjamin Foster, Esq., Capt. Stephen Smith, Capt. O'Brien, and Mr. Shannon, for these gentlemen I should choose to have as companions, but do not choose that they, or any other persons living, should know anything of the de- sign (if this Petition is granted) until it is time to embark, except those persons only who have authority to appoint .- The above mentioned gentlemen know nothing of this appli- cation.
The reduction of Nova Scotia is a matter of great impor- tance, and lies near my heart, on account of my many suf- fering friends in that Province, and on account of the many advantages that would arise from it to the Colony, and to this place in particular. But should the Government ap- point another person to conduct the expedition, I shall cor- dially acquiesce, and pray for his success, as I ever do that God may smile on the American arms, till all our enemies are subdued before us.
Your Excellency will not take amiss what my zeal for the honor and safety of my country constrained me to write.
I am most respectfully,
Your Excellency's very Humblest And Obedient Servant. JAMES LYON."
To this letter Gen. Washington replied by expressing the gratification and pleasure Mr. Lyon's letter afforded him, and informed him that nothing at present could be done to ad- vance the cause in the suggested direction.
During the summer of 1776, John Allan, a distinguished and influential citizen of Cumberland in Nova Scotia, in con- sequence of his sympathies for the American cause, was obliged to abandon large and valuable estates which he owned there, and was driven from his native province .-
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His wife and children were taken prisoners, his property confiscated, and many of his buildings destroyed by fire.
He fled to Machias, and from his well known influence among the eastern Indians, was soon employed by our Gov- ernment, and made Colonel of the forces in this portion of the State. He was specially placed in command of the In- dian Department in this vicinity.
To his representations of the ease with which he, as well as Mr. Lyon, supposed the Province of Nova Scotia, might be taken, it was doubtless owing, that a number of schemes were planned during this and the succeeding year (1777) for accomplishing this desired object. While none of his plans were put into actual execution, enough was done and said to attract the serious attention of the British authorities ; and as Machias was near to Nova Scotia, it was made the place of rendezvous, and arrangements were being made to send here the necessary troops and material for the cam- . paign.
This design, it would seem, was in some way disclosed to the British Admiral at New York, who immediately advised the Governor and Council of Nova Scotia of the steps that were about to be taken. Large supplies, it was alleged, of provisions, ammunition, and clothing, were already deposited at Machias, some portion of the troops had arrived-Col. Allan, who was indefatigable in all that he was charged with, having carried there many valuable presents for the Indians -and the enterprise was fast being completed.
The Governor and Council accordingly took the alarm, and convinced of the imminent danger which threatened the Colony, they made application to Sir George Collier who was lying with a part of the fleet under his command at Halifax, and to Gen. Massey, who commanded the land forces, and stated that the only way to prevent the contem- plated attack was to begin with the rebels at Machias, be-
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fore their preparations were quite ready. Gen. Massey de- clined, on the ground that he was ordered to the defence of Halifax, and that he had no power to send troops out of the Province.
But Sir Geo. Collier replied that he would at once sail, and do everything in his power to destroy the magazines at Machias, and prevent the invasion. He immediately put to sea with the Rainbow, and Blonde, frigates (44.) The Mer- maid (28) joined him on the passage, and he found the Hope, (18) an armed Brig, at Cranberry Island, which he had pre- viously despatched to procure intelligence of what was do- ing at Machias.
Capt. Dawson, of the Hope, reported that there was no doubt of the intended enterprise ; that by a spy he sent, he found there were good reasons to suspect many traitors in Nova Scotia intended to join the rebels as soon as they ar- rived there. Upon this Sir George weighed anchor immedi- ately with his little squadron, and arrived in our harbor on the 13th of August.
The news of the arrival of this fleet-a guard and a watch having been kept by order of the Committee of Safety, in the lower harbor-was speedily communicated-and the alarm in consequence of so large a force appearing against so small a settlement as existed here at this time was se- rious indeed. But few of the troops destined for the expe- dition had at that time arrived. Nor had any large supplies of ammunition and arms been received.
Probably no graver question was ever agitated by our people than on that day. An armed force was in our harbor. capable of annihilating the settlement almost instantaneously. They had neither strength or experience to cope with it .- But seeing that nothing could be gained by an ignoble surrender-whatever might be the odds against them-it was nevertheless determined to FIGHT IT OUT.
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The women and children, and other valuables, in the vi- cinity of the river which could be removed, were immediate- ly sent into the woods, at a distance from the coming scene of strife.
In the meantime the inhabitants made the best disposi- tion of their resources for resistance. The whole male pop- ulation capable of bearing arms turned out. The Indians, of whom there were about forty, with some of the white in- habitants were stationed at White's Point, where breast- works were hastily thrown up, under the command of Capt. Stephen Smith. Col. Foster-who had seen something of war's alarms at the taking of Louisburg-had charge of the entrenchments placed on the North side of the river, at the Rim-and a detachment was sent under command of Maj. Stillman, to take charge of the South side of the river, at the same place.
The Frigates came up as far as the largest of them could safely go, and having put on board of the Hope, drawing less water, all the marines that belonged to the other vessels, -her commander, Capt. Dawson, proceeded further up the river, until he was stopped by a log Boom at the Rim. A. warm fire of musketry was poured on the vessel from the woods on each side of the river, but Capt. Dawson landed a strong party of Marines on the North side of the river about one hundred rods below the battery, and under the cover of a dense fog came near capturing Col. Foster and his force .- They barely escaped. The Boom was examined, and be- ing of wood, was easily cut and removed-and as soon as the tide served, the Hope, with a coasting sloop taken by her, slowly proceeded up the West river, having first burn- ed two dwelling houses, belonging to Mr. Andrews and Mr. Scott, with their barns, and a building for a guard house .- The Hope dropped anchor at high water about sun-down, near the mouth of Middle River, and Capt. Dawson sent out
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several boats to sound the depth of water. His intention was to get a little nearer the town for the purpose of de- stroying it utterly.
At this juncture, our force at White's Point, was nearly within musket shot of the enemy, and was prepared to give him a warm welcome as soon as he could be reached. But Francis Joseph Neptune,-a Chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe,-impatient for the strife, accosted Capt. Smith, and solicited permission to fire on one of the boats, in which an officer was conspicuously standing. Capt. Smith replied that it was a useless waste of powder, the distance was so great-but on further solicitation he consented. The old Chief thereupon crept down from the entrenchment, to an old wharf at the extremity of the point. Placing himself thus under cover, he took deliberate aim at the officer-but -his shot passed over him. Upon this he halloed to Capt. Smith, accompanying his remark with the usual Indian grunt -"Sartin me hit 'em next time Cappen." With true In- dian self-possession he reloaded his gun, hit his mark, and the officer fell.
There was apparently much confusion among the boats. They were immediately recalled on board, the anchor weigh- ed, and the Hope commenced dropping down the river. As soon as the second shot was fired and the officer fell, the Indi- ans, elated by the successful aim of their Chieftain and an inward supply of "much rum," gave utterance to their ter- rific War yells, in which the rest of the detachment joined as heartily and as wildly as they.
As Capt. Dawson proceeded down the river he was fol- lowed on the South side by Maj. Stillman, and his detach- ment, who attacked the boats when they came near enough to the shore. The Hope got aground about dark some dis- tance above the Rim, and as the men in her went below, Still- man returned to the village.
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On consultation it was determined to follow the retreat- ing foe. The next morning the batteries on the North side of the river were again manned under Col. Foster, to attack the Hope before she floated. From this point a constant fire was kept upon her as she passed, till she again got aground about fifty rods below the Rim narrows. The de- tachment on the South side was driven from their battery by false intelligence that the enemy was landing in full force below, for the purpose of aiding the Hope.
In the meantime some of the citizens obtained a cannon, (a three pounder,) and carried her where she could be brought to bear on the brig. In passing an exposed point, those who had the piece in charge, in order to conceal their design, made a bier upon which she was thrown, and, being covered by a blanket so as to give the procession the ap- pearance of a funeral, it was carried within a short distance of the enemy, who, supposing it to be what it appeared, had suffered it to pass on unmolested.
Soon, however, the dead man spoke, and the enemy became so much alarmed that preparations were being made to abandon the brig, when the size of the balls was discovered.
As these were small, they ventured to stick by the ship until high water, when she floated again, and in safety join- ed her consorts below. But she was much annoyed, and a good deal damaged by the cannon, small as it was. The fleet sailed for Halifax in a day or two after.
It may be well supposed that our people were glad to get rid of so ugly a customer as Sir George Collier and his fleet would have been, if they had known our weakness .- Such, however, was the spirit, and energy, and vigilance of the brave defenders of the place, their incessant fire of mus- ketry on both sides of the river, that the defence appeared to the enemy ten times more formidable a power than it really was.
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Of the killed and wounded in this engagement, tradition enlarges the number to nearly one hundred loss on the part of the British. But this, probably is not true. The ene- my's report is three killed and eighteen wounded. Of our own number, a young man by the name of James Foster, was killed while passing an exposed place across the marsh, and Jonas Farnsworth was wounded in the head while en- gaged at the Rim.
Upon returning to Halifax, Sir George Collier made a grandiloquent report of the services he had rendered in the enterprize-and received the best thanks of the Governor and Council for the signal service he had rendered ! He stated that there were three large magazines of clothing, provisions, and ammunition, all very valuable, which, as the rebels increased fast and kept up a constant firing from the woods, there was no possibility of bringing any part away. The buildings were therefore set on fire and the whole con- sumed, together with a large corn mill and three saw-mills. The habitations of the people, he said, were spared because he wished to bring back the infatuated people by acts of lenity rather than severity ! and that considering the force of the enemy all this was achieved with much less loss than might have been expected !
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