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 12
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1814. NOT the most agreeable to the enemy at this time, was the interception of smugglers, who were rendering them " aid and comfort," by supplying them with provisions, and other necessary stores. But when valuable British prizes were captured by a mere handful of our hardy fishermen, then, the annoyance was felt even in Britain itself. . The damage thus done their commerce, was perhaps one great cause of the early termination of the war, for it was urged in the British Parlament as a strong reason for its speedy conclusion, " that the Yankee fishing- boats were capturing many of their most valuable merchant- men." In illustration of these remarks, is the following interesting leaf of history :
During the latter part of October an armed crew from Northport, under Maj. Noah Miller, * went in a " reach-boat," t
. The following person. constituted the crew : West Drinkwater, Kings- bury Duncan, Jonathan Clark, Sam'l Duncan, and Jolin Duncan. The two first named of the crew are the only survivors.
t It is generally stated to have been a whale boat, which is erroneous however.
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on an evening cruise in Belfast Bay, for the purpose of detecting, and preventing supplies being carried to the Brit- ish at Castine. They cruised all night between Belfast and Castine, but captured nothing. In the morning, on the 1st of November, # they descried a British sloop at the eastern end of Long Island, standing up the Bay towards Castine. They at once started in pursuit, and overbauled ber at Turtle Head t-about six miles from Castine. When within a proper distance ther fired a gun, and ordered the British captain to heave to. "This he at first refused to de, threatening them very violently, and ordered them to be cif. But Miller was a man of undaunted courage and perseverance-he was not to be deterred from his purpose by mere threats. He immedi- ately ordered his men to row alongside, and to board the sloop : this they did with a rush."# The vessel was soon ascertained to be the sloop Mary, from Halifax, laden with a rich cargo of bale goods, valued, per invoice, at $40,000, Capt. Benj. Darling master, and M. C. Waters (or McWaters) supercargo. bound for Castine. The sloop was under a convoy until near Long Island, at the lower extremity of which they became separated, (the weather being foggy,) the former sailing up the western side, and the latter passing up the eastern side of the Island.
* There is a discrepancy among our different authorities as to the date of the occurrence; viles' Weekly Register, of Nov. 19. 1814, says it occurred on the 31st of October; affidavits of Miller's crew in the " Report of the Committee on Claims," in favor of " West Drinkwater and others," say it was on the 14th of November. while the " Libel " in the same Report says it was on the Ist of the month; Eaton also, in his Annals of Warren, page 206, affirme it to have been on the 1st of Nov. As the latter agrees with other accounty we have examined, and with the time of events that grew out of the transaction, we shall, for the sake of such correspondence. consider it as the correct date of the cecurrence.
This noted Leadland derived its name from Gov. Pownall at the time Owl's Head was named by him. He says " About opposite the ridge called Megunticcog begins the south point of an Island, winch lies length. wise in the middle of the Bay, is about 12 miles long and is called Long Island. The north point from the shape which w. makes from sea exactly resembling a turtle, we called Turtle Head."
* Extract from a letter of Hon. Joseph Miller, of Lincolnville, in the Belfast Republican Journal of Aug. 8, 1551.
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Soon after the sloop was taken charge of, the supercargo offered Miller £10,000 for her ransom, but his crew, with whom he had agreed' to go shares, protested, and indignantly refused any such consideration. The captors run the vessel for Litde Harbor, (in Northport,) where Miller, at his re- quest, was set ashore with the supercargo, and " king's agent," intending to return aboard at Lincolnville. Waters and his companion, it appears, soon after started for Castine, to give the alarm. Miller proceeded to Ducktrap, at the store of John Wilson, for advice, (he having no commission from govern- ment,) when Wilson advised him to apply to Major Philip Ulmer, who was deputy inspector of the customs at that port. When the sloop arrived, Ulmer went on board, and declared her to be a prize of the United States. Miller then proceeded by land to Camden, while Ulmer, (who was an old sailor ) took the helm, and guided the vessel thither, As soon as the vessel approached the wharf in this town, she was boarded by Josiah Hook of Castine, who was the collector of Penobscot district, (but who was on the western side of the Bay because of the occupancy of Castine by the British,) and other revenue officers, who at once seized the sloop and cargo, and declared them forfeited and confiscated to the United States. The custom house officers at once ordered the cargo to be unloaded, and transported on teams to Portland, via. Warren and New- castle. The prize reached here about 11 o'clock A. M., and by 3 o'clock P. M., the cargo was unshipped, and on the road to Warren. The cargo consisted principally of satins, laces, shawis, clothes, cloths. &c. All the teams in this vicinity, and some from the adjoining towns were brought into requisition to expedite the transportation of the goods.
After the cargo was discharged, our selectmen, apprehend- ing danger in permitting the sloop to remain in this vicinity, offered Jona. Clark, Sam'l Duncan and Kingsbury Duncan, $5.00 each if they would take the vessel round to St. George's river and there secrete her, which they accordingly did.
Miller not having been invested with legal authority from the United States government to capture the enemy's prizes, laid himself liable to the infliction of the heaviest of penalties,
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so, in order to give the sanction of legality to the transaction, Collector Hook made him out a revenue commission, ante- dated 15 days, so as to cover the time of the capture. Miller doubtless presumed that the commission he held as Major, clothed him with the authority be assumed,-such was the belief of the crew. The . prize was afterward sold, and the proceeds divided between the United States and those con- cerned in the capture. *
But the affair did not end here. Upon the arrival of Mc- Waters and the "king's agent" at Castine, the frigate Furieuse,t of 33 guns, Capt. Mouncey commander, was dispatched for this port.
Our people were apprehensive of the result of the capture of the prize, and quite a number left town that night with their families, and effects, for places of safety. In the morning of the 2d of November, our citizens were apprised . of the approach of the hostile frigate by the raising of a flag on the mountain. At this signal, many more began to leave town. One lady. (Bathsheba Thorndike,) in her flight, had the misfortune to break one of her legs ; another while fleeing in a chaise, imperiled her life by the badness of the roads. So great was the number that fled the town, that it might properly be said that Camden was evacuated.
At about 1 o'clock P. M. the Furieuse hove to, just outside the Ledges. Lieut. Sandon was dispatched in a barge to the
. The aloop and cargo were sold at auction in Portland, in Jan., 1815, for $50.790 64: the expenses attending the confiscation and both sales being 83.364 81, the net proceeds were 863.426 34 Of this sum, one- baif, (33.213 17) was paid into the treasury of the United States, and the other moiety was divided as follows: Miller and Hook, 814,106 58 each, and the boat's crew (before mentioned) $1,000 apiece. According to the affidavits of several of the crew, Maj. Ulmer also received $1,000. It appears that Miller agreed to go equal shares with his men, but when the spoils were divided, they were rewarded as above. The injustice thus dome the crew, was considered by the 84th Congress, in a Report prepared by Hon. E. Knowlton, as one of the Committee on Claims, and a Bill was reported in their favor, by which ( March 31, 1856) the survivors and the heirs of the others (of the crew) had refunded to them the moiety paid to government in 1915, viz: $33.213 17.
+ The Furieuse had been captured from the French by the English, and was a French-built frigate.
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shore with a white flag. The barge was met by a boat from the shore with a flag of truce, on board of which, was Collector Farley, Col. Foote, Lieut. Russ, and others. The summons sent by Licut. Sandon, was to the effect that if the prize, or 380,000 was not delivered to Commodore Mouncey within a limited length ot time, Lincolnville and Camden would be laid in ashes. A citizens' meeting was forthwith called, to see what course should be pursued by the town. Capt. John Pendleton was in favor of paying the required sum, but Oakes Perry was opposed to the measure, and said the enemy might burn the town if they pleased, for the amount demanded would pay for all the houses they might destroy. It was decided to choose a committee to wait upon Com Mouncey, and inform him that it was absolutely out of the power of the town to comply with his demand, as the goods were carried into the country, and the sloop placed beyond reach. One of the selectmen, Robt. Chase, we think, and Col. Foote, was then dispatched in a boat accompanied by eight others, to carry the message. As the boat came alongside, Lieut. Robbins, (men- tioned by us in a previous Number,) recognized Asa Richards among the number, and exclaimed, " Halloo, there's our pilot !" While the Commodore was engaged in conversation with Chase and Foote, concerning the affair, Lieut. Robbins took Richards aside and offered him a sum of money if he would reveal where the goods were secreted. "I don't know where they are," replied Richards, "as they are scattered all over the country, and as for collecting them together, it would be as impossible as it was to collect the bones of Capt. Cook, which were dispersed over the Sandwich Islands."
" Well," replied the British officer, " 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 for a pirate !" was the reply. The conversation was next turned to the cannons upon the mountain about which the officers made a number of remarks, and scouted the idea of their doing any execution, which our Vanhee sailor
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did not agree with, but thought the twelve and eighteen pound shot they might send on a message could convince them of the opposite opinion.
While Foote and Chase were in the cabin talking with Moun- eey, a row-boat having something in tow was approaching the harbor. Imagining the appearance looked suspicious, a cannon was discharged, sending a shot athwart her bow, when the boat ceased rowing. A spy-glass soon sbewed that the supposition was ungrounded, as it proved to be Thos. Gilkey and one Pendleton, from one of the adjacent Islands, who were towing a raft of logs to Camden.
The Commodore's interview with the committee not being satisfactory, he released them with the promise that they would return an answer by 9 o'clock P. M., or leave some hostages on board. The request was assented to. It appears, (accord- ing to Whipple's Acadia, page 102,) that application was made to the District Judge to know if he would order a delivery, but he returned bis negative.
No answer being obtained by the set time, Benj. Cushing and Robt. Chase went on board to fulfill the agreement. It being quite late when the conference was concluded, they were detained on board until morning. The next day being rainy, they kept them aboard until the following morning. One authority, (Annals of Warren,page 297.) asserts that the selectmen "obtained a delay of three days to consider the matter," while the two hostages remained on board.
In the meantime, Col. Foote sent an order to Col. Thatcher's regiment for aid. Our companies in town were under arms, and the remainder of Col. Foote's regiment was being mustered. In a day or two his complement was collected. A battalion under Maj. Isaac G. Reed, of Waldoboro, comprehending the companies from Warren, Union, Waldoboro and Friendshin, soon after arrived ; and it is believed there was a battalion from Belfast here, of which Maj. Noah Miller was commander. But we presume be was not in command of it upon this occasion, as a reward of about $300 was offered by the British for bis apprehension. Col. Samuel Thatcher came with the Warren company, and as by was approaching the place where Col.
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Foote's regiment was parading, riding upon a beautiful white horse, Col. Foute in pleasant sarcasm thus addressed his men : " Now, prepare for the worst, for here comes Death riding upon his pale horse !"' It will be recollected by the obler portion of cur readers, that these two commanders were members of the Bar. During a forensic discussion between them some time previous, they had an altercation, which terminated in the free use of canes, and in a subsequent alienation of feelings. It is said that this estrangement was the cause of the formation of the new brigade, which we mentioned in a former Number, of which Foote became colonel, while Thatcher remained chet in command of the other portion of the organizvion.
As soon as Maj. Reed's battalion arrived in the village, Col. Foote assigned places for them on Ogier's Ilidl, while his own regiment quartered in the old Meeting House.
Maj. Herman Haws (of Warren) was prepared with a bat. talion to march here upon receiving orders.
We cannot state the number of troops that were mastered at this time in town. but an old resident states that in platoons they . extended, (while marching.) from the old Meeting House down as far as the Megunticook House.
Squire Dorithy of Sedgwick. having some business to attend to here, in the capacity of justice of the peace, came in a small boat. While approaching the harbor he was brought to by Com. Mouncy, who, on ascertaining his peaceable errand, detained him long enough to make him promise to report to him, on his return, the condition of the town and the strength of the force under arms. After attending to his errand, Squire Dorithy started to return, but, before he left. he calledl at Mr. Eaton's house, and while there, with the assistance of others, concocted a story to tell the British commander, to the effect that the roadls were lined with soldiers, the church was full. and at the dis- charge of the mountain guns they would collect together, and with others, who were awaiting the summons from the back towy, be prepared for battle. On his La . want trip. the Squire, in compliance with his promise, stopped to inform the inquisitive Commodore of the formidable appe Rance presented
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in the town. Taking his asseverations for granted, Mouncey thanked him for the information, and permitted him to proceed home. *
The time approaching, which Mouncy set for the adjustment of the capturing affair, the conviction prevailed among the troops, and throughout the town, that the hostile frigate would soon begin to execute the menace of burning the place. In the night of the same day on which the Warren company arrived, an alarm gained credence that the English were preparing to land a force near Spring Brook. A portion of Major Reed's battalion was quartered for the night in the Wm. Carlton house , and barn, and, as one of the number informs the writer, they had just began to feel the soothing, effects of " Nature's sweet restorer,-balmy sleep," when the drum broke their slumbers by "the roll" being called. when every man was required to hurry into the ranks, and prepare to repulse the invaders. When they were on the point of starting, the order to march was countermanded by the intelligence being received that it was a false alarm. As the jaded soldiers-the most of whom were raw recruits-again sought for the refreshment of repose, they not only cursed loud but deep, at being hoaxed for nothing, and thereby being deprived of sleep.
At this time, Capt. Curtis with several others went upon the mountain to see if everything was ready, and prepared for action. He found that only one man, (Jona. Leighton,) was at his post,-and he was asleep ; while his comrades were absent at a husking. The sleeper was soon aroused, shortly after which the remainder of the guard returned, and were reprimanded for not being in their places.
The following day Col. Foote was much excited, apprehend- ing an attack upon the town ; and riding over to the parapet on Eaton's Point, he addressed Lieut. Hanford thus : " Should the English attempt to land, repel them if you can ; but, should you be under the necessity of retreating, make good your retreat to Hope, where you will find me at Simon Barrett's." Going down to Jacob's Point, he expressed himself in the same
* Statement of Mrs. Lucy Eaton.
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manner. * It is stated, but with how much truth we cannot say, that on his way to one of the parapets, he met an officer with some files in his hand, when he accosted him : " What are you going to do with those files ?" " I'm going to spike the guns with them, if we have to leave the forts." " Well, if you have to resort to that," rejoined Foote, jocosely, "you'll find me out back of Simon Barrett's barn."
The general anticipation was that the British man-of-war would bombard the place, and agreeable was the disappointment to our citizens when this suspense was dissipated on Sunday. Nov. 6th. by the sailing of the battle ship.
Thinking their object might thereby be attained .- of recover- ing the value of the prize,-the two hostages, Mossrs. Chase and Cushing, were carried to Castine in the frigate.t As the Furieuse was sailing abreast the Dillingham shore, Maj. Wilson mounteil on a horse was riding in the rond directly oppo. i.e the farm house now owned by Mr. Henry Knight, and wearing the uniform of his rank, it was doubtless thought he would make a very good mark from his conspicuousness, and so one of the frigate's gunners fired a cannon shot at him. Falling short of its object, the ball barrowed itself in the earth a few feet distaut, which caused the Major to quicken his speed to save them the privilege of repeating the dangerous sport.
Soon after the departure of the war ship, the several military companies, after tarrying here for a night and part of two days, were dismissed, after which the village assumed its wonted quiet. All the soldiers now remaining, were the minute men and those stationed in the fort.
" There are different versions of this story, which the political opponents of the Colonel used frequently to relate when it suited their purposes. Having our version from several who heard him mike the remarks at the time, we are content with the correct statement. Simon Barrett and Foote were ou very intimate termy, and hence the reason he preferred retreating there. This incident ever afterward was a source of amusement to those who used to indulge in pleasantries with the Colonel, as well as an annoying shaft with his enemies.
t It is commonly stated that the two hostages were both selectmen at the time. Such was not the case. The selectmen at the time were Roht. Chave, Moses Trussell and Benaiah 1 arrows, as may be seen by referring to the Town Records, paze 230.
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The hostages were kept at Castine ten days, or a fortnight, where they remained at a private house without being restrain. ed in the exercise.of their parole. After remaining there some ten days. they were granted a leave of absence, in which to visit their friends. They afterward returned, but being informed there was no need of their further detention, as the question re- lating to the prize was considered as settled,-the blame not resting with the citizens of Camden but with the captors, upon whose heads they offered liberal rewards,-and so the hostages were discharged from custody.
In the succeeding January, the following article was inserted in a town warrant :- " To see if the town will remunerate Messrs. Benj. Cushing and Robt. Chase for their going on board the British frigate Furieuse as hostages about the 1st of No- vember last past. and other expenses incident thereto, and raise money for the same." When the subject of compensation was presented at the next town meeting, it was summarily pre- termitted by voting to " dismiss the article." *
From the time of the capture of the British sloop Mary, until the cessation of hostilities, nothing particularly worthy of note relating to the war transpired in this town.
On the 24th of Dec. (1814) the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent, and on the 14th of Feb. (1815) the joyful intelligence was brought to this place by the driver of the western mail stage. The stage arriving at midnight, the repeated blasts of the driver's post horn soon aroused some of our citizens from their nocturnal slumbers, and as soon as the news was ascer- tained, the report was proclaimed by the firing of guns, the kindling of bonfires, and by shouts and other demonstrations of joy. Many of the crowd forthwith repaired to the places where they could get inspirited by the imbibing of liquor, and there they gave vent to the ebullition of their feelings in con- sonance with their ideas of the occasion. The four twelve- pounders in the two forts soon began to speak in loud accents, and thus they continued to speak until the dawn of day. In the morning, at sunrise, Simeon Tyler volunteered with others
* Mr. Cushing, one of the hostages, is still living, at the advanced age cf 85 years. Mr. Chase died May 1, 1852, at the age of 70.
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to go up on the mountain and manage the two twelves and one eighteen pounder, sentinels which had thus far maintained their silence. As the largest piece belched forth from its elevated position, in deep thunder-like tones, the habitations below were shaken to their foundations, while the echo's reverberations were heard resounding over adjacent waters, remote hills, and distant valleys. Thus through the day the firing continued from all the guns, and the tidings of pence thereby became first announced to the inhabitants of the surrounding towns. The day being spent in demonstrations of joy, the night closed the exhibition by a public dance, and a time of festivity.
The 22d of Feb. was appointed by the General Court as a day of thanksgiving for the joyful event.
On the 25th of April, the English troops evacuated Castine ; and thus departed from our borders a foreign soldiery, who had there held possession for two-thirds of a year, to the annoyance of the inhabitants of the circumjacent country. Appropriate to this period, and pertinent to the occasion, are the words of the bard:
" Now no more the drum
Provokes to arms, or trumpet's clangour shrill Aff'rights the wives, or chills the virgin's blood ; But joy and pleasure open to the view Uninterrupted !"
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Number XXIII.
Ecclesiasticai matters-The Town votes to dissolve its connection with the Rev. Mr. Cochran-Preliminary proceedings -- A Committee appointed to confer with Mr. C .- Their action-Mr. C.'s objections to the mode of the action taken -- A Council called -- Disagreement-Another Council called-The finale-Bounty on Wild Cats-Engine purchased-Separation Question-Cannons removed from the Mountain-The vote for Repre- sentative to Congress-The vote for Governor-The Temperance Question first invoted-The briz Catherine Shepherd -- Particulars relating thereto- The Town's Poor-Money voted for preaching-The Separation Question again-Affirmative action taken-Es: Martin chosen as Delegate -- Con- stitution submitted to the people -- Voie for State Officers-The first Repre- sentarive -- A Fire-Freaching-The first Steamboat-The Maine, Fatent, and New York.
H AVING given a continuous sketch of the events con- nected with the war of 1812-11. wo will now notice other affairs that transpired during, and succeeding that period.
As the reader has previously been apprised, the town had duly called. and hal installed, a regular preacher of the gospel, to administer to the spiritual wan's of this community. In process of time, the people became dissatisfied with the relation that existed between them and their pastor, and so took initia- tory steps to dissolve that connection, by inserting the following article in the town warrant under date of May 4, 1814: " To see if the town will appoint a Committee honorably to dissolve the connection between the town and their Minister, agreeable to the call and articles of settlement." Also. "to see if the town will appoint a committee to consult with the Rev. Mr. Cochran and the Church respecting a Council, and to give the necessary notice agreeably to articles of settlement." Also, "to act upon any such matters and things as may be thought necessary, amiably and bonorably to dismiss Mr. Cochran from the further ministerial duty as settled Minister over the in- habitants of said town, and to make any arrangement respecting
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