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 9
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Numbor XVI.
British War Vessels-Capt. Fogler chased by an English Privateer- Runs ashore-Incident of an American Privateer and Coaster-A mis- take-Capt. Bates captured by a British Privateer-Ves-el re-taken by Long Islanders-Capt. Bates again captured by an English Privateer - Capt. Spear's Vessel entrapped and taken-Prizes carried to Fox Istands-An ominous silence-The Watchword-The sudden Salute-The decks clear- ed-The Captain killed -- The Cable cut-The Steward shot-An attempt at defense-Privateer escapes-An inside view-The Yankee Sailor-A scene in the Cabin-A colloquy-Papers restored-The Prisoners released- Capture of the Privateer-A gratification.
D URING the period of hostilities, our coast was so infested with the enemy's vessels of all classes, from the huge battle ship down to the petty privateer, that it was an extremely hazardous undertaking for any of our shipping to venture at sea. By these armed vessels thus swarming our waters commerce became prostrated, and trade so crippled, as to cut off the means of support for a large portion of our citizens. But as many had no means of obtaining a livelihood than by following their accustomed vo cation upon the ocean, they were under the necessity of risking their lives and property in their honest calling.
At this time (1813) Capt. Chas. Fogler, then a resident here, ventured to make a trip to Boston in his coaster, with a cargo of wood. When between this place and Owl's Head, he was espied by a British privateer. Finding he was the object of pursuit, Capt. F., secing no way of escape, mule for Owl's Head, and under a full press of sail run his craft ashore.
This reminds us of another case of beaching a vessel under similiar circumstances. At about this period, Moses Thorndike of this town, went as pilot in an American privateer. In imitation of the enemy's practice, the privateer Lad hoisted the English ensign so as to thereby entrap British vessels, and at the same time elude the vigilance of their cruisers and priva_ teers. Seeing an American coaster (belonging in this vicinity)
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a few miles distant, the privateer bore for her, to ascertain if they knew of any English vessels being in sight. Supposing the privateer to be what her flag indicated, the Yankee coaster seuil for the main land. To undeceive the coaster, American colors were then displayed, but they only tended to confirm the suspicion. Fearing the captain of the coaster would run her ashore for safety, the privateer tried to head her off so as to prevent it, but it was of no avail. The affrighted captain stranded his vessel, and as soon as she touched the shore he seized his pocket book containing his papers, &c., and with the crew rushed over the bow, and tled to the neighboring woods. The privateer sent ashore a boat, with the pilot, and several of the crew, to apprise their apprehensive countrymen of their mistake. As they landed, the distrusting coaster's crew began to peep from behind rocks and stumpy to witness the result. Finding the privateersmen were not disposed to plun- der their vessel, and that their intentions were evidently of a friendly character, one after another began to approach the beach. Recognizing the pilot, one of them sang out, " What, is that you, Thorndike ?" " Yes! come here you scarecrows ; what d'ye run your vessel aground for?" Explanations then fol- lowed, the coaster was soon got off and continued her voyage.
In the summer of this year Capt. Hosea Bates was captured by a British privateer, and he and his crew were set ashore below Camden, and the vessel was put in charge of a prize master. While in the vicinity of Long Island (Islesboro) an armed crew from the island re-captured her, and in about four hours from the time she was first taken, she was brought into Camien harbor.
Shortly after Capt. Bates' capture, he sailed again for Boston, (in about the month of Sept.) in the sloop " Sea Flower," of about 90 tuns burthen, loaded with wood. On board, was a young lady passenger, and a crew of two men. At this time, the British Privateer, " Sch. Fly," had taken a position in the rolstead at Owi's Head, * with American colors flying at
. Owl's Head received its name from Gov. Thos. Pownall, who in 1759 visited the Penobscot waters in the Province sloop-ci-war, King George, mounting 20 guns. In his account he says, " The sailors imagined it to bear some "cewmblance to an owl's head "
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her mast head as a decoy to unsuspecting coasters. After rounding this noted headland, with every prospect before him of a favorable passage, Capt. Bates was most unceremoniously brought to and captured. Setting ashore Capt. Bates, passen- ger and crew, at Owl's Head, the privateer kept her position until two other coasters were thus entrapped and captured- one belonged to Islesboro, and the other was the schooner Oliver, of East Thomaston, * Capt. Wm. Spear of that town, master.
In our scrap book we find an account of the affair which we clipt from the East Thomaston Recorder some ten years since, which was narrated to the anonymous writer by an eye witness. As we have also received the narrative from the lips of one of the actors in the scene, we can vouch for its cor- rectness.
" During the afternoon of the same day that the schooner was taken, the privateer made signal to her prizes to get under weigh and follow. The privateer standing on the wind endeavored to beat out of the N. E. entrance of the harbor. In executing this summons of John Bull, some two or three of his prizes managed to have their sails fill on the wrong tack, and by so doing, plumped them purposely ashore on the
beach. Capt. Spear was managing to execute the same manœuvre, when the privateer opened her battery, and peremptorily ordered him to desist and follow, or "he would blow him out of water," and with reluctance, Capt. S. was compelled to obey the command. Disappointment, perhaps, or a malicious feeling towards the shrewdness of those who had eluded his grasp, provoked the Capt. of the privateer to give vent to his feelings by firing a parting broadside. A spent round shot lodged against the sill of the house on the point, and another bespattering with mud the garments of its occu- pant, were the only visible effects of this outward mark of civility.
" With her three prizes, the privateer stood out of the har- bor, and stretched across the bay towards the southern extremi-
* East Thomaston was incorporated as a town July 28, 1848. In August. 1949, the name was changed to Rockland.
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ty of the South Fox Islands, where, in one of the most romantic havens [White Island Harbor] on our coast, they all came to an anchor.
" The sun had now set, and a brisk N. E. wind which bad been sweeping over the water during the day, had now died away, leaving a long ground swell heaving in upon this rock- bound, and apparently uninhabited island.
" In this secluded harbor, in anticipation of uninterrupted security, the privateer commenced putting goods on board the schooner, which were taken from the other prizes. Not a Yankee fisherman could be seen from the deck of either vessel, for it may be well to observe that the inhabitants of this Island, at that time, were almost to a man, fishermen. There was something ominous in the silence which prevailed ashore- it seemed as though every human being had deserted and left it a solitary Isle in the ocean. A small whale-boat it is true was seen to enter the harbor, but was soon lost sight of amongst the rocks and intricate windings of some narrow passage. From this boat the inhabitants had been warned of the prox- imity in which they were to a British privateer. But as soon as the dusk of the evening had began to gather around, men collected from every nook and corner, with muskets, fusee and fowling-pieces, ready to give the privateer battle at early morn.
" Morning came, and the men of the privateer were busily engaged in finishing the transportation of the goods. The fishermen watched unconcernedly the operations, having dur- ing the night taken positions to best annoy or capture the enemy.
"" What schooner is that ?' cried a voice from the shore.
" The Shear Water, of Baltimore! won't you come on board ?' replied the captain of the privateer.
"' No, but we invite you to come ashore.'
" I'll see you d-d first,' replied the officer.
"This abrupt answer caused a simultaneous fire from the land in all directions. The captain of the privateer fell at the first discharge, having two balls shot through his body. Taken so completely were the officers and crew by surprise, that they sought safety below, The boat in the meantime was ordered
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ashore and captured. In this predicament, many were the ways and plans devised to effect an escape. There was some- thing painfully sublime in the idea that there were seventy-five men driven from the deck, and that not a solitary being could show his head without being shot. But as the inventive genius of man is greatest when put to the severest test, so in this case, it was put in requisition. The dying injunction of the captain "not to be taken," had the effect to arouse the courage of one of the crew, who volunteered his services to cut the cable. In executing this design he ventured on deck, and by creeping along under the hammock netting#, he succeeded in accom- plishing his object. But while in the act of passing below the halliards of the jib and mainsail, he dearly paid for this act of his temerity, for the luckless bullet of some correct sighted fisherman shattered his under jaw-he fell, but succeeded in. creeping below.
" Changeable as fortune had thus far been to this luckless vessel, a ray of hope yet lingered among her crew, and an escape was resolved to be attempted. To keep in check in some measure the continued pelting which they were receiving, it was proposed to open a fire from the main batch-but in the first attempt to execute this proposition the uneering aim of some skilful markeman caused a bullet to graze the beard and upper lip of the hazardous Englishman, and lodge in the comings of the hatch. This plan was however abandoned as futile in the extreme.
" A gentle breeze and favorable current came to their assist- ance, and by hoisting the jib and main-sail, and protruding through the sky-light a bayonet affixed to a musket, (by which device they managed to steer the vessel) got out of harm's way, and finally made their escape.
" Of this gallant skirmish, in which was re-captured three vessels and a boat's crew of the privateer, too much commen- dation cannot be bestowed upon those hardy sons of Neptune, the fishermen sailors of Fox Islands.
" On board the privateer, confined below, were two Ameri- can prisoners. Their apartment was adjacent to the cabin- so near that they could easily bear the groans of the dying
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Captain and wounded seamen. The patting of bullets against the wooden sides of their prison like hail from some distant cloud, with the wailing of the wounded and dying, caused mingled emotions of sorrow and extatic joy. The wind now being S. W., the privateer shaped her course for the Wooden Ball, an uninhabited Island in the Penobscot Bay. While pursuing her way thither the lieutenant allowed the prisoners to come on deck, and perceiving a small boat at some distance, they requested the lieutenant to hail the boat and give them their liberty, which request was granted.
" One object in being thus minute in this narrative is to exhibit in his true character, the Yankee sailor-one of which was taken from the sch. Oliver, and possessed a good share of that universal shrewdness which characterizes the Yankee nation. This man made a request or desire to see the corpse of the captain. The humane feeling of course could not but meet with approbation from the lieutenant, who escorted him to the cabin. Pistols, sabres, pikes, boarding-axes, and all the minor implements of marine warfare were arrayed about the cabin in such a manner as to aid in giving it an appearance of wild embellishment, while at the same time each was convenient to the band. Around the mast, was placed a stand of muskets. The entire arrangement proclaimed that the cabin was considered a citadel of itself. In a berth lay the corpse of the captain. There was a latent expression of satisfaction, something modified, together with a sympathy, perhaps, not altogether effected, as the Yankee stood in presence of the lieutenant and his late commander. The peculiar nature of man is so constituted that sympathy mani- fested even in the breast of an enemy, so modifies revengetul feelings us to neutralize its bad effects. So it was in this case. The unfortunate result of the late encounter was freely discussed, the disastrous effects of the fishermen's fire was pointed at by the down cast looking lieutenant, who thus gave vent to the turbulent state of his feelings : "There, you can see the' murderous design of your countrymen ;" pointing to some charts which hung in beckets on the side of the trunk cabin, and while in the act of taking them from their places
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of security, two leaden bullets rolled out at his feet. " O, my God !" ejaculated he, " what a miracle that we have thus escaped with the loss of no more lives."
"'I should think there must also be some visible effects on the vessel's deck, if I were to judge from the rattling of the bullets and buckshot against the side of the privateer from my place of confinement,' rejoined the sailor.
"' Yes, truly, there is evidence sufficient to satisfy the most skeptical, for sixty-two balls are lodged in our masts, and sixty- - four can be counted as having passed through our mainsail below the two reef gearings !'
"' You have lost your captain and received other damage which you charge upon my countrymen. I might retort by saying, you have taken from my captain his vessel-his only means of support to a large family. But, sir, it is the fortune - of war, and we must submit to the good or ill which befalls us,' continued the shrewd Yankee; and perceiving now was the time to carry into effect the object of his visit to the officer's cabin, respectfully asked the lieutenant if he would restore the PAPERS of the captured vessels, as they might relieve the distresses of many a poor family, (not forgetting at the same time his heart-felt sorrow for the bereaved family of the deceased captain.) the desired object was accomplished-the papers were restored.
" On ascending to the deck, the boat was found in waiting; and the prisoners stepping into the boat with inward feelings of satisfaction, the 'bat was raised,' and a cordial salutation given- and thus parted the rival sailors of the two belligerent nations."
Shortly after the achievement, the re-captured vessels were carried safely into the places whence they sailed, and delivered to their owners. But a short time elapsed before the English privateer was captured by an Americrn craft of the same kind, and carried into Portland. Capt. Bates soon after made a trip to Portland in the famous, and lucky " Sea Flower," and with surprise had the satisfaction of laying alongside of the noted " sch. Fly," to the summons of whose guns, he was compelled to a surrender but a brief time previous. Thus ends one of the most interesting episodes of the Last War.
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Number XVII.
The Military Companies-Officers of the Light Infantry Company- Officers of the 1st Infantry Company-Officers of the 2d Infantry Com- pany-Cavalry Company-Capture of the English merchant ship Vic- tory-Brought into Camden-Her cargo-Duties-Cargo sold at auction - Goods transported to Boston-Damaged Coffee-Victory carried to Hampden-A Stratagem-Levying of a War Tax-Robt. Chase appointed sa Collector-A humorous incident-The tattling Clock-The Town voted additional pay for the drafted Militia-St. George's Fort surprised by an English barge-Col. Foote calls out part of his Regiment-Guards stationed in Camden-Parapets erected-Description of them-A lament at the destruction of the only relic of the Last War-Cannons obtained from Fort St. George and planted on Mt. Batty-Barrack-Names of those stationed on the Mountain-Guards.
1814 BEFORE proceeding farther, we will give the names of the officers of the military companies at this time, as a number of changes occurred between the years 1812 and 1814.
Of the Light Infantry Company, Calvin Curtis was captain ; Edward Hanford, lieut .; Arthur Pendleton, ensign; Wm. Brown, 1st sergeant ; Simeon Tyler, 1st corporal. This com- pany numbered, (June 23d.) including officers, 27. *
Of the 1st Infantry Company, Asha Palmer was captain ; Noah Brooks lieut .; Joseph Hall ensign. Of the 2d Infantry Company, (of West Camden,) Sam'l Tolman was captain, and James Packard lieut. The Camden companies, as we before stated, belonged to the 5th Regiment. Of this Regiment. Erastus Foote, (of Camden,) was Colonel, or chief in command. t Of the Cavalry company, Capt. Isaac Barnard was captain, and was succeeded by Philip Ulmer.
In the month of March, while an American vessel belonging to New York, under letters of marque and reprisal, was cruising in adjacent waters, she fell in with, and captured, an English
* So says the Pay Roll of said Company.
t Statement of Mr. Coburn Tyler.
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merchant, ship called the Victory, which was also sailing under letters of marque. * After manning her with a crew, one James Scott was placed on board as prize master, and brought her into this port. She was moored at Peirces' wharf-just back of the Mountain House. Her cargo consisted principally of coffee, cocoa and logwood. It is believed the ship was direct from Jamaca. Soon after she was moored at the wharf the owner of the vessel that captured her was notified of the facts, and in the course of ten days he came on to see about discbarg- ing and disposing ot the cargo. Collector Joseph Farley, of Waldoboro, gave a permit tor landing the cargo on the 26th of March, but as the owner, or agent, did not arrive until the 5th of April, and as circumstances made it requisite to make a new entry, the lading was not delivered until between the 6th and 12th of the month. Scott was for landing certain articles without paying the regular duties upon them, under pretense that they belonged to the list of articles exempt from customs. Mr. Farley, in his instructions to Deputy Collector Curtis, in a letter dated the 11th, said : "The Prizemaster must not land handkerchiefs or anything else without entering and paying the duties. The customary cabin stores and cabin furniture we shall not exact the duty upon, nor upon the wearing apparel or personal baggage of the officers or crew, but 67 flag handkerchiefs look too much like merchandise to be landed without permit." (!) The owner decided to sell the cargo at public vendue, and on the day of the sale quite a number of merchants from Boston and other places were in attendance, which made the bidding competition quite brisk. Much of the cargo was deposited in the cellar of the Masonic building, and in other places. The goods bid off by the Boston merchants were immediately transported thither on ox teams. This made brisk business for our farmers, the most of whom were thus employed with their teams in transporting the goods. The length of time they were employed, from the time they started until they returned, was about two months; quite a contrast with the present facilities for transportation ! Much of the merchandise was damaged by the leakage of the vessel,
* The Victory, as was afterward ascertained, had on board 10 cannonades.
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so that purchasers were found among the poorest persons, as well as the richer class. Large quantities of the most badly damaged coffee being thrown away, was used in orchards about the trees in lieu of compost. for its fertilizing properties.
After the cargo was discharged the Victory remained here until the latter part of August, when she was carried up Penobscot river-at Hampden-to be secure from the reach of the enemy, as the U. S. corvette Adams was there under- going repairs. But when the enemy entered Penobscot river, at the time the inglorious " Hampden skirmish " occurred, Sept. 5th and 6th, the Victory again fell into the hands of the English. By them she was carried to Castine. On learning she was re-captured, a dozen of our citizens under the lead ot Nath'l Martin, Esq .- one of our most prominent citizens- formed the stratagem of re-taking her by overcoming the keepers by a surprise at night. By some means the English became apprised of their intentions, and took the ship round by the fort and adopted the necessary precautions against surprise. Our adventurers went near to where she was first anchored, and finding their plans were frustrated, they returned home.
In 1813 a tax of $3,000,000 was levied by Government on real estate to carry on the war, and $74,220 was the apportion- ment to be raised by the District of Maine. Robt. Chase was appointed as Collector in this, and several of the neighboring towns. As a general thing the assessment was paid without much murmuring, but in some cases the exactment came as difficult " as the pulling of teeth." It was during the year 1814-15 these duties were collected in this vicinity. While Mr. Chase was performing the duties of his office in the town of Appleton, the following amusing incident occurred: Calling at a house where the woman's husband was absent, he announced to ber his business, and walked in. Sitting down, he began to take an inventory of the taxable articles in the room. He next inquired about the furniture, &c., in the other part of the house, taking the matron's statements for granted. " Have you any time piece, madam, besides that watch ?" said Mr. C., pointing to one over the mantle-piece. "No," replied she, " we have no other watch, nor clock in the house." As it was
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near dinner time, Mr. C. remarked that he guessed he would tarry and dine with the family, as it was some distance to an Inn. Acquiescing in his proposal, the woman tendered him a seat at the table. No sooner were the family seatedwith their guest, than a clock in the adjoining room with strokes loud and clear, began to announce the hour of twelve! The woman's face began to assume alternate hues of ruddy and pale, while her daughter partaking of her mother's irrepressible emotion, began to grow agitated and cast furtive glances at the stranger, and then at her guilt-like looking mother. The clock kept striking like a faithful sentinel; eyes glanced askance, but not a word was spoken. When the bell-hammer concluded its strokes, there was a silence of some moments. Chase continued eating, and seeing the mental perturbation of his entertainers, he deemed it improper to make " confusion worse confounded," and so left the matron to the upbraidings of her own conscience. After finishing his repast, Mr. C. departed without making the slightest allusion to the fact there was a clock in the house, and that it was not entered on his schedule. It was always with peculiar zest and a hearty laugh that Mr. Chase used to relate the above incident.
Inserted in a warrant for a town meeting under date of July 1st, we find the following articles :- " To see if the town will allow any addition of pay to the non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, which are or may be drafted for the defense of said town the present year; if so, to see what sum of money the town will raise for that purpose." Also, "To aet on anything else that may be thought necessary for the defense of said town, and to raise money for the same if wanted." When the town-meeting was convened, July 9th, the following action was had upon the above articles :- " Voted, to pay the Militia drafted for the defense of said town, $6 per month in addition to the regular pay for two month from the 1st of July inst, should they not be discharged sooner." Also voted, " To raise $200 for the purpose of paying the drafted Militia of said town." *
*Town Records, p. 265 and 206.
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In the month of July a party of the enemy in two or three barges, were dispatched in the night time from two armed ships lying at the mouth of St. George's river, and proceeded to the fort below Thomaston. There being only an old man and his wife in the block-house, they met with no resistance, and entered the fort. Taking the powder from the magazine they destroyed it, and then spiked four 18 pounders, and two brass artillery pieces, and set fire to the buildings, and one vessel, and towed away two others. " They then proceeded up the river towards Thomaston, but at the dawn of day, deceived by Curtis, a young man whom they compelled to act as pilot, and who represented the distance much greater than it was, they abandoned father operations, and returned without mulestation." "So bold was this adventure, that it excited a general and extensive alarm."* Col. Foote, on receiving the intelligence, ordered out a great part of his regiment to defend this town and vicinity. These apprehensions had the effect of inducing our citizen soldiers to take greater precaution in guarding against a surprise from the enemy. Guards were stationed from Camden harbor to Clam Cove, and the strictest military surveillance maintained. At about the same time it was decided to erect two fortifications at the Harbor, one on Jacob's Point, and the other on Eaton's Point. They w re both erected at the same time. It is said that something like a hundred men were engaged in the erection ot the forts, and in two or three days they were completed. t The fortifica- tion on Jacob's Point, or more properly speaking, in Jacob's pasture, was situated about twenty rods south west of N. C. Fletcher, Esq's., lime kilns. The southerly ends butted against the large rock situated about midway between Mr. Geo. Hodgman's house and Mr. Fletcher's lime shed. This fortifi- cation, or parapet, was of crescent form, and about 40 feet in
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