USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > Sketches of the history of the town of Camden, Maine; including incidental references to the neighboring places and adjacent waters > Part 11
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" Lt. Col. Com. 5th Reg., 21 Brig., 11th Division."
The next day, Col. Thatcher, of Warren, in obedience to orders received from Gen. Payson, ordered out his regiment, and on the 5th they were mustered in Warren, and prepared . to march at a moment's warning. At night, Maj. Isaac G. Reed, with the first battalion, proceeded from Warren to Thom- aston and encamped, and the next day advanced to Camden. Soon after, the other battalion, principally from Union, under Maj. Herman Hawes, followed them. Through the day all was expectancy. As part of the British fleet shaped their course for the western channel, the alarm was believed that they intended an attack on Camden. The Belfast company, under Col. Thomas Cunningham, Capt. James Wallace's Montville company, and others from the adjacent towns, fearful the enemy would land here, marched as far as Dickey's Bluff, (North- port,) and after roconnoitering in the vicinity a few hours, returned to Belfast. To be prepared for the emergency, Capt. Curtis ordered the selectmen " To deliver to Sergeant Hark- ness 20 twelve pound Cartridges: 20 ditto. shot, for the use of the Parapets at Eaton's and Jacob's Points."
As soon as it was ascertained that thehostile fleet intended no demonstration against this place,-as it sailed out of the Bay for Halifax,-the different companies began to make preparations to return to their respective towns. In a few hours the troops were paraded, and under their commanders,
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marched to the places whence they came. The ration, fur- nished on this occasion were by the selectmen of the several towns, "and the expense incurred as well as the soldiers' wages, with the exception of the volunteers, was afterwards paid by the State." *
* Annals of Warren, page 296.
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Number Xx.
Capture of Richards and Oat by a British barge-Carried to Fisher- man's Island-A Repast-Other Captures-A Night Cruise-Fired upon at.Clam Cove-Steer for Laisdell's Island-Remain over night-Breakfast -Purchase Butter of the Islanders-Richards refuses to be hired as Pilot-The Release-Arrive in Camden-The Alarm -- Militia Companies march to Saturday Cove-The British repulsed by Lawrence -- They return and effect a landing-Visit Mr. Shaw's House-Commit violence and depredations-Visit Capt. Pendleton's-Their conduct-Proceed to Capt. Crowell's-Their actions-The Military arrive-English dee to their bargee -The " Skirmish "-The amount of property destroyed.
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1814. ON the morning of Sept. 21st, Asa Richards and Peter Oat * went down to the Muscle Ridges in a whale-boat to procure a supply of fish for our soldiers in the forts. Having loaded the boat with cod, hake and haddock, they shaped their prow for Cam- den. When abreast of Fisherman's Island, they espied six English barges, and a cutter, the latter of which carried a one pound swivel, which was mounted on the bow. Discovering our men, they at once gave chase. Richards and Oat pulled hard at their oars, to escape, but they were soon overhauled. As they came alongside, they inquired, " Where do you hail from ?" "From Camden," replied Richards. " Why, that place is taken," continued the English spokesman. "No it aint," rejoined R. Without any further ceremony, the English barge took the captured boat, and towed it to Fisherman's Island. The barges, and cutter, contained about 100 men. The boat was soon disburdened of the fish, a meal was pre- pared from them, and the maranders seated themselves upon the ground, and in a characteristic manner, partook of the repast. After finishing their dinner, an American coaster approached within a few miles of the Island, when one of the
* His father's name was spelt after the German mode, viz: Ott. Some of his descendanta spell it Ote.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN. 125
barges was dispatched in pursuit of her. She was taken and brought to the Island and beached. She was a Rockland vessel, of which Capt. Thos. Crockett of that port was master. Shortly after, a "pinky" stern fishing craft from the same place was captured, and secured in the same manner. Detain- ing Richards and Oat till the dusk of evening approached, an English officer,-Lieut. Robbins,-with four marines, stepped into the boat with them. and ordered Richards to assist in rowing. R. replied that being a prisoner, he should not row. While the others rowed. Oat steered as ordered, for Owl's Head Island. They next stood in for Lermond's Cove, (Rock- land.) and as they neared the shore, Richards told them they were approaching danger, as the artillery were under arms and on guard. They then ceased rowing and waited for the other boats which were following them. Finding they were within hailing distance of them, they continued their course. When they reached Clam Cove and were abreast of Jameson's Point, the splashing of the oars was heard by Ira Brewster and Crowel Jones, who were on guard as minute men. As the boat could not be seen because of the darkness of the night, they fired at random in the direction of the sound. One of the shot struck an oar, when safety dictated the propriety of keeping off from the shore, a proper distance. The barge next following soon after came along and asked Lieut. Robbins, " What now ?" ". Why, the d-d Yankees are bush fighting us !" replied he. " Pull to your oars, boys, and get out of the reach of them," he continued, The surgeon's boat soon came up, and declared they came near being taken. Oat's vision being dim, he told them he could not steer with safety any longer. Richards then took his place, and steered for Beau- champ Neck. After making this point of' land, (with the expectation that they might be overhauled by our minute men, some of whom were stationed on the Point.) they run for Mark Island, but made the Green Ledge. They then shaped their course for Laisdell's Island. As a guide for the barges, the Lieutenant kept flashing ins pistol until they reached the Island. Four of the officers accompanied Richards to the house of one Whaling, while the rest remained in the boats. On knocking
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at the door, a boy inquired, " Who's there ?" " Friends," re- sponded Richards. Recognizing his voice, the door was opened for admittance. The beds being occupied, a place was pre- pared on the floor, when Richards and the officers laid down to sleep, while the others continued in the barges. In the morning. the officers sent the island boy into the potato patch to dig a quantity of potatoes for them to breakfast upon. Richards being requested to superintend the procuring of the potatoes, was careful not to give a " Quaker measure." for they offered to pay a liberal price for all they obtained. Wishing to obtain a supply of butter for the force at Castine, the British officers agreed to purchase all they could get. After breakfast, the woman of the house churned an additional quantity of butter, making the whole weight to amount to $45 worth. At this time. we believe, the islands were considered as neutral territory, and hence the rights of the inhabitants were thus scrupulously regarded by the enemy. A month from this time, they were considered as in the possession of the British, as may be seen by Gen. Gosselin's proclamation. dated at Castine the 31st of October. When the company were pre- pared to leave the Island, the officers were anxious to retain Richards as pilot. as they were going on a foraging expedition the next day. Refusing to accompany them, they offered him five guineas for his services during a four days' cruise. He told them he would not consent to thus become a traitor to his country for any such an offer, and would not be bribed by any pecuniary inducements they might tempt him with. Finding R.'s loyalty to his country was not to be purchased by hope of any reward, they remunerated him with a guinea for piloting them, paid for the fish they used, and putting a dozen oars into the boat, (which they probably took from some of the prizes they captured.) they gave Richards and Oat liberty to return to their homes. Being possessed of their freedom, they were not slow in exercising their strength on their oars.
Arrived in Camden, they at once notified our military officers of the intention the marauding party had of landing at Northport the following morning. * Maj. Jonathan Wilson and
· Statements of Asa Richards.
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Lieut. Brooks, acting upon the advice given, made preparations to march to Saturday Cove, * Northport, at morning's early dawn. About 100 men volunteered for the occasion. Messen- gers were sent to spread the alarm, and the Belmont and. Searsmont companies were apprised of the apprehensions, and under command of Capt. Timo. Dunton, of Searsmont, a detach- ment started for the place designated. The 1st Lincolnville, or Canaan infantry company, officered by Capt. Josiah Stetson. Lieut. Paul H. Stevens, ensign Joseph Palmer, numbering about 37 men, and the 2d, or Ducktrap company, commanded by Capt. James Mahoney, was mustered, and in readiness to march at the appointed time. t
On the morning of the 23d of September, Zacariah Lawrence, of Northport, descried two of the barges approaching Saturday Cove, and suspecting their intentions to be hostile. he shouldered his musket and went down by the shore just back ot where David Alden Esq's. house now stands, and noted their man- œuvrings. Finding they were armed and dressed in uniform. he waited until they came within hearing distance, when he began to give off military orders as though he was commanding a regiment. He then fired from behind the bushes, and dodg- ing to another position he again repeated it, and thus by hiding among the stumps and rocks, he made them believe there were quite a number engaged in the affair. To increase their force, the two barges withdrew to get a reinforcement. Lawrence then waded into the water, and there he exchanged shots with them, until they were beyond his reach. Lawrence then came run- ning up the bank, and apprized Alban Elwell, West Drink- water, Solomon Frohock and David Alden of what he had been doing, and urged them to get their guns and be ready to give the enemy a reception in case they should repeat the experi-
* Saturday Cove derived its name from the following circumstances : In the year 1700, while the first settler of Belfast-James Miller-was moving his family from New Hampshire, the vessel arrived at its sup- posed destination. But when the fox cleared away, the error was discovered : they were in the place subsequently known as Northport. As the day of their arrival was on Saturday, they called the mistaken locality Saturday Cove, which namo it has ever since retained.
> Statements of Mr. Win. Eola, of Lincolnville, Obed Smith, and others.
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ment of attempting to land. Shortly after, another barge was added to the number, and the crews, consisting of about 30 marines, headed by Lieut. Robbins, effected a landing, when Lawrence and Elwell, who tried to annoy them by firing a few shot, were compelled to retreat before the fire of the swivel, and the discharge of guns. One of the swivel's one pound shot, lodged in the dwelling of Capt. Amos Pendleton, and another in the house of Jones Shaw, Esq. Without further resistance, they marched to Mr. Shaw's, armed with swords, pistols and guns, when the femals in the house fled with fright to the bushes, a few rods distant. Approaching Mr. Shaw. they accused him of being concerned with Lawrence, and denying the charge, they gave him a shaking and cuffing, knocking his hat off. Mr. S. having a store in the basement of his house, they demanded entrance to it by presenting a gun at him. Promising to open the door as soon as he could unfasten it, as it was bolted on the inside, he went into the house to comply with the order, when the marines made a forcible entry through
the windows. Plundering the store of several articles of clothing, such as trowsers, shirts, stockings, hats, &c., which he had not time to secure, they emptied a barrel of' diye stuff, and then took Mr. Shaw prisoner, and marched him with them around the neighborhood. In the meantime, those in one of the barges kept amusing themselves by firing shot from the swivel at the houses.
They then went to the house of Capt. Amos Pendleton, and as they entered one door Capt. P. fled out of the other, and while fleeing, they fired at him, the ball passing through the leg of his trowsers. The breakfast table being in readiness for the family, the marauders sat down and finished a meal, and then ransacked the house, taking therefrom a valuable watch, * a pocket book, containing papers of value, hat, boots, a quan- tity of provisions, and bedding. They then went to Capt. Aaron Crowell'st house, and used insulting language to Mrs. Crowe !! , who resentel it in a womanly style. Seeing some
* Capt Pendleton afterward want to Castine, and regained possession of his watch and some other things.
+ Capt. Crowell, as be informs us, was then in Dartmoor prison.
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clothes in sight Mrs. Crowell had worn to a wedding the day previous, they took them, and some leather there was in an adjoining room, and then proceeded to another house, where they ripped open beds and scattered the feathers to the winds ; and thus they continued to visit the houses, committing similar actions, until one of their number who was on guard, apprized them of the approach of our military companies. They at once fled to their barges, and just as they got aboard, the Lin- colnville companies made their appearance, and began to fire at them. While the marauders and the troops were exchanging their vollies, the Camden company arrived, and began to open a spirited fire upon them. Maj. Wilson, full of frolie, turned his back, and bade them hit him it' they could. The barges kept up a fire from the swivel and guns until they got beyond the reach of harm.
The marauders proceeded to Long Island, and landed close by the old Baptist meeting house, (near Capt. Geo. Warren's,) where they began to wash blood out of their boats, soon after which they started for Castine. * By the time the " skirmish " was over, other troops arrived, making the whole number thus called out, amount to between two and three hundred. With- out being honored with any scars, our soldiers returned from the almost " engagement," with the satisfaction of knowing that they checked turther depredations by their timely arrival. The pretext offered by the British, was, that they were in search of' smugglers whom they thought they saw enter the Cove.
The damage, and loss, suffered by the citizens of Saturday Cove on the above occasion, amounted to between $300 and $400. t
* Several years after the war, a seafiring mau from Lincolnville, (as Mr. Levi Mathews informe us) chanced to come across one of the officers concerned in the above incursion, and in conversing about it the Briton remarked, that it proved to be an expensive expedition to Lis country. wen, as a number of their lives dearly paid the forfeit on the cocasicu. Our men were of the opinion that several of the cherdy were killed, but they never knew the certainty of it.
t The Depositions of Amos Pendleton and Jones shaw, relating to the above "Skirmish," will be found in the Report of the Committee on Claims, passed daring the Ist Session of the 34th Congress, in the House of Representatives, numbered 10; March 21, 1866.
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Number XXI.
Foraging Parties-A British Privateer attempts to visit Clam Cove- The unexpected reception they received-A fire opened upon the Patri- ots-The enemy conclude to depart-A waggish Sergeant-Plays tricks upon a minute-man-Tries another and " catches & Tartar "-smuggling- Letter of Collector Farley relating to the Embargo Acts, &c .- Suspected Smugglers-A party prepares to intercept them-The later information- Disbanded-Disappointment.
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1814. WHILE the British were in possession of Cas- tine, the dwellers on the western shores of Penobscot Bay were frequently harrassed by foraging parties in the manner narrated in the previous number. A history of the occasional repulses they met with from our outraged citizens, is not the least interesting of the incidents of the period under review.
Illustrative of these occasions is the following rencounter, which occured at Clam Cove in about the month of October, we think.
The British privateer called the " Thinks I to myself," of about 60 tuns burthen, had been ravaging the sparsely settled places along the coast, and anchoring abreast of Jameson's Point, it dispatched a barge to pillage the inhabitants dwelling there. The intentions of the privateer being surmised by our people residing in that vicinity, it was not long before a small number of hardy yeomen and sea-going men collected together ready with their guns and earnest to give them a reception if necessary. As the barge began to approach the shore, shot began to whiz around the oarsmen thick and fast. Every large rock, stump, and clump of bushes seemed to belch forth the leaden bail, and the foraging party were compelled to hastily return to the privateer. The " Thinks I to myself" soon began to open a fire from her twelve pound cannons, but it savored so much like beating the air, as the first Yankee
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN. 191
could not be seen, that they soon ceased wasting their powder and balls, to reserve them for a time when there would be a probability of doing some execution. It is true they made a few perforations in a house near by, but that neither hurt por killed any one. The Yankees kept blazing away from bebis ! their places of defense until the privateer captain and one of the officers got their arms maimed, as a reminder of danger, and as an indication of the fact that there must be some tolerable good marksman somewhere, although they were not to be seen. Deeming it rather dangerous to fight an unseen foe, and considering it the better part of discretion to get beyond the reach of the shot of the Clam Cove patriots, they soon concluded to withdraw from their undesirable postion, which they shortly did, by returning to Costine. **
A wag is a wag the whole world over. Whatever bis rela- tion or position in life may be, he cannot totally repress the inherent, and latent proclivities that are within him. Such a character and propensity we discover in the person of the orderly sergeant who was stationed bere with our minute-men at the time of which we are writing. Jeremiah Berry, (of. Rockland) is the individual to whom we refer. To test the vigilance, try the courage, and ascertain the qualifications of the minute-men on guard, he occasionally used to resort to his sportive inclinations.
One dark night while Jos. Stanford was discharging his duty as minute-man on Eaton's Point, Berry came along, and in a familiar manner said to him, " Come, follow me." Not thicking of the rigidness of the military discipline u. ler which he was placed as a minute-man, S. at once obeyed the summons and followed Berry, who led him into the barracks and bad lim locked up until morning, when he was brought forth as being reprehensible of a breach of military orders -by leaving his post without conforming to the rules of his station, and repri- manded therefor by the superior officer.
Succeeding in this easily throwing Stanford off his guard. the same night he tried the ruse upon Simcon Tyler. Ap-
* Statements of Mr. Ira Brewster.
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proaching Tyler without saying a word, he was hailed by him,- " Who's there ?" " The rounds," replied B. " What rounds ?" " The grand round." " Sergeant of the guard," shouted T., "advance and give the countersign." Not knowing the countersign, (as Le belonged to another guard,) B. began to advance without saying anything, when T. commanded him to " Stand." He kept approaching, when T. cocked bis gun and levelled it at him. B. paused, and said, "You know me !" " No, I know nobody in the night." Standing where he was commanded to,-as he feared the execution of the guard's orders, 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 ot the guards. *
During the time the English were at .Castine, there was a great amount of smuggling done between the places under British dominion and those under the jurisdiction of the United States Small boats were suffered by the Custom House officers to pass unmolested to and fro, when the object was, to procure the simple commodities of every day use. Collector Jos. Farley's secret instructions to his Inspector at this port are now before us, wherein the above exceptions are made. As the letter contains items of interest bearing upon this subject, and is worthy of preservation, we will quote it. Although the letter bears date of January, its instructions were enforced at this time :
" COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, Waldoboro, 8th Jan., 1814. 5 " 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 person should bave felt himself agrieved, and wanted immediate relief he ought to have come here. I have concluded to clear out vessels whose employment has uniformly been confined to the navigation of Bays, sounds, rivers and
* Statements of Mr. #. Tyler.
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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 produce a manifest and enter and clear oach trip. We must not however clear out provisions or inunitions of war in large quantities to sus- pected places within the limits aforesaid, nor at all if the war vessels of the enemy are known to be hovering on the 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 continue as usual until we see something in it that looks sus- pieious, 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 administration 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 vessel 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 foreign- ers 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 tuns) 50 ; ditto, (under 50 tuns) 25 ; for every certi- ficate of the landing a cargo, if the master requires it, 20 cts.
" Yours, &c., &c., "J. FARLEY, Collector."
At the period previously glanced at, a report was circulated, that a boat was up on the Dillingham shore, loading with beet
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and other provisions, destined to supply the English ships which were anchored in the Bay. Col. Foote at once took measures to have the supplies intercepted. No time was to be lost ; a company of the soldiers on duty was to be dispatched at once to apprehend the infractors of our well known war regu- lations. It was ensign Joseph Hall, it is believed, who was to head the party. When they were prepared to march, Col. Foote, receiving later information, countermanded the order he had given, and the company was at once disbanded. The Col. was very much excited when he gave the counter order, and the men were equally as much displeased in having their plans frustrated in so summary a manner.
It afterward appeared that the Colonel was somewhat inter- ested, pecuniarily, in the transaction, and hence his anxiety to check the expedition. Traffic with the enemy being per- mitted to a certain extent, (as seen by the letter above quoted) it was presumed that in this instance the interpretation of the Embargo act would sanction the affair.
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Number XXII.
The interception of Smugglers-An armed crew under Maj. Noah Miller captures an English prize-Brought to Camden-Cargo transported to Warren-The Sloop secreted in St. George's River-Miller's Commis- sion-[NOTE: The price sold and the proceeds divided]-The British frigate Furieuse dispatched to Camden-Families leave Town-A far of truce sent ashore-The summons-A Chizeus' Meeting called-Committee chosen to wait upon Com. Mouncey-A Colloquy-an Incident-Hostages left on board-A request for ald sent to Warren-A difference between Cols. Foote and Thatcher-Maj. Reed's Battalion-Number of Troops- Squire Dorithy's Story-An Alarm-The Mountain Guard-Col. Foote's calculations to retreat-Anecdote-The frigate sails with the hostages ou board-Maj. Wilson fired at-The Military Companies dismissed-The hostages return-Action of the Town on rewarding them-Peace pro- claimed-Demonstrations of joy-A day of Thanksgiving appointed- British evacuate Castine.
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