USA > Maine > The history of the state of Maine; from its first discovery, A. D. 1602, to the separation, A. D. 1820, inclusive, Vol. II > Part 23
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Although the parties on the question were so nearly balanced ; no sooner was the vote carried, than there appeared throughout the Province, an uncommon degree of unanimity and zeal in the enterprize. Circulars were immediately addressed to the colony governments as far south as Pennsylvania, requesting assistance ; nevertheless, no one took any active part in the expedition,§ ex- cept those of New-England.
When the administration had determined upon the siege of
* 1 Haliburton's Nova Scotia, p. 98-112 ; See his ingenious charts of the town .- From the Island battery across the harbor to the grand battery was 291 rods; and from the latter to the citadel, was about a mile, in a S. W. direction across the westerly part of the harbor.
+ Or, " American Gibralter."
# The intelligence was delayed, two months after this.
§ New York furnished ten cannon.
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OF MAINE.
CHAP. VIII.]
Louisbourg, Gov. Shirley, sending for Captain EDWARD TYNG, A. D. 1745. requested him to procure for his immediate command, the larg- Edward Tyng ap- est ship he could find, and proposed to appoint him Commo- pointed dore of the fleet. His family connexions were very respectable dore. Commo- and highly esteemed. His grandfather was one of President Danforth's Council, and bore the character of a worthy Magis- trate. His residence was in Falmouth, where he married a daughter of Thaddeus Clark, who was a large proprietor in the original township. His father was at a time appointed Governor of Nova Scotia ; but being on his way thither taken prisoner by the French, he was carried to France, where he died.
Edward Tyng, the subject of the present notice, and third of His charac- the name, was in his first marriage united with a daughter of · ter. Cyprian Southick, one of the Nova Scotia Council ;- in his second, with a sister of Col. Samuel Waldo. Captain Tyng was a popular man and a skilful seaman. In the preceding sum- mer, he achieved a victory, which acquired him great credit ; and was diffusive of general joy, especially among the merchants. The eastern trade and fisheries having been much interrupted by the enemy, he was sent out in the Queen's galley, a snow, called the Prince of Orange, for their protection. Ranging off the eastern coast, he soon fell in with a French privateer, the de la A victory Brotz, of superior force, carrying 18 guns and 94 men, and him. achieved by commanded by M. de la Bra. A sharp engagement ensued, in which the Frenchman, taking the Prince of Orange for one of a larger size, struck his colors ; and the brave Tyng brought the prize to Boston. The victory was greatly applauded ; and several of the more wealthy merchants, to express their sense of the meritorious exploit, presented him with a silver cup, weighing 100 ounces, and bearing this inscription :- To Edward Tyng, Esquire, Commander of the Snow, Prince of Orange ; as an acknowledgement of his good service done the trade, in taking the first French Privateer, on the coast, the 24th of June, 1744; this Plate is presented by several of the merchants of Boston in New-England .*
In presenting him with the commission of Commodore, Shirley
* 10 Coll. M. His. Soc. p. 181-3 .- Commodore Tyng's third son, born 1737, was Col. William Tyng-who was Sheriff of Cumberland county, after 1767, for several years. He spent the last days of his life at Gor- bam, where he died, 1807. His mother was Ann Waldo.
224
THE HISTORY
[VOL. 11.
A. D. 1745. had the approbation of an undivided public. Tyng soon procur- His frigate. ed a ship, nearly ready for launching, which he caused to be im- proved and fitted for carrying 24 guns, and to be named the Rouse and Snelling, 2d and 3d in command. MASSACHUSETTS FRIGATE. The second in command was Capt. Rouse, in the Shirley Galley, of 20 guns; and the third was Capt. Snelling, in the Caesar, also of 20 guns.
The enter- prize.
In undertaking any thing hazardous or difficult, there is neces- sity for extraordinary vigor of mind, and a degree of confidence and fortitude, which raise us above the dread of danger, and dis- pose us to risque, what the maxims of over-cautious prudence would forbid. Such a spirit was never more manifest, and per- haps never more necessary, than on occasion of this expedition. There was something of romance in the design ; and if it were to be attended with success, every motive and dictate of wisdom rendered it indispensable, to favor and perpetuate the popular ardor, till it ripened into firmness of purpose and actual move- ments. The money was easily raised to defray the expenses ; for by a clause in the Instruction, bills of credit to any amount, might be issued in times of emergency ; and on the present oc- casion, an emission was ordered of £50,000 to meet the demands. There was uncommon health among the people, and the fruitful- ness of the preceding season had made provisions plenty.
The appro- priation.
Wm. Pep- perell ap- pointed to the chief command.
To give life and cheerfulness to enlistments and the numerous preparations making, and to ensure a popular confidence of suc- cess ; there remained a most difficult duty to be performed .- This was the appointment of the chief officers. Gentlemen of military experience, as well as military talents, had they been easily found, would have been selected and preferred. But the person appointed to command the expedition, was WILLIAM PEPPERELL, Esq. of Kittery, then Colonel of the western regi- ment of the Yorkshire militia. His new commission gave him the rank of Lieutenant-General .* He was a merchant of un- blemished reputation, and engaging manners ; extensively known and quite popular throughout the Provinces of Massachusetts, New-Hampshire and Maine. These were considered as quali- ties, highly desirable, in the commander of an army, formed of volunteers, his own countrymen, who were to quit their domestic connexions and employments, and engage in a hazardous enter-
* 1 Doug. Summ. p. 350 .- The enlistments of volunteers began, Feb. 2d.
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OF MAINE.
CHAP. VIII. ]
prise of unmeasured extent, of uncertain issue. There was no A. D. 1745. sage veteran, who knew how to conduct the enthusiastic ranks to victory. Skill and experience in arms were out of the question. Had these been deemed indispensable prerequisites, the expedi- tion must have been laid aside ; for there was no person in this quarter, possessing in any eminent degree such qualifications. Pepperell had a martial turn of mind, which was increased, by living in a part of the country, the most exposed to the ravages of the French and Indians. His patriotism now shone out with great lustre ; for nothing but a zeal for his country's good, could have carried him from the scenes of domestic enjoyment, and extensive business-from the head of the Provincial Council, the highest honor his fellow citizens could bestow upon him, to the fatigues of a camp, and the risques of uncertain victory. He was much beloved ; and it was necessary that the men should both know and love their General, or they would not cheerfully enlist under him, nor yield him implicit obedience.
In giving consideration to the appointment offered him, he re- Whitefield's quested the famous Mr. Whitefield, who was then itinerating and remarks. preaching in Maine, to give his opinion of the enterprize. 'The ' scheme (said he) I think not very full of encouragement. The ' eyes of all will be upon you; and should you not meet with ' success, the widows and orphans will utter complaints and re- ' flections ;- and if it be otherwise, numbers will look upon you ' with envy, and endeavor to eclipse your glory. You ought ' therefore, in my judgment to go with " a single eye," and then ' you will receive strength, proportioned to your necessities.' He felt the sentiment ; for a deep sense of the Divine Providence seemed to influence all the actions of his life. Mr. Whitefield was likewise urged by the Commissary, another of his friends, to give a motto for the flag ; to which, after some hesitancy, he suggested this-" Nil desperandum, Christo, Duce ;" -- which being He suggests a motto for the flag.
adopted, gave the expedition the air and popularity of a modern crusade.
The second in command was SAMUEL WALDO, Esquire, who
Samuel was commissioned with the rank of Brigadier-General. This Waldo, 2d gentleman was a native of Boston, son of Jonathan Waldo, a mand. in com- rich merchant of that place, and very extensively interested in the Muscongus patent. At that time, Samuel was Colonel-com- VOL. II. 29
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THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1745. mandant of the eastern Yorkshire regiment, and the representa- tive of Falmouth in the General Court. He was in the prime of life, a man of excellent understanding and great activity. His knowledge of men and books was much improved by trav- elling ; and his undeviating integrity, his military turn of mind and independent manners, rendered him a highly respected com- mander.
The Colo- nels, Moul- ton, Hale, Willard, Richmond, Gorham, & Dwight.
The Colonels in the Maine and Massachusetts troops, were Moulton, Hale, Willard, Richmond, Gorham and Dwight .* Jere- miah Moulton, the third in command, was a native inhabitant of York-at that time, a member of the Provincial Council, a Judge of the Common Pleas and county treasurer of Yorkshire ; and it is believed, he was also a Lieutenant-colonel in the militia reg- iment, under the command of Pepperell. He was a man of good abilities, of amiable, popular and retiring manners, and true courage. His private character was highly estimable. He had been in the public service ; was acquainted with Indian warfare ; acquired much credit in taking Norridgewock during the last war ; and possessed considerable military skill and experience. Gorham had charge of the whale-boats ; and Gridley command- ed the train of artillery. To Mr. Vaughan was given a Lieut. Colonel's commission, without any particular command, he pre- ferring the trust of such special duties, as the Commander-in-chief might consider his adventurous genius best suited to perform.
Large en- listments of men in Maine.
A selection of the chief officers and several others from Maine, affords an answer to the enquiry, why enlistments, were effected there, so much in disproportion to the number of eastern inhab- itants.t The Indian wars had enured them to hardships and dan- ger ; and now, no less the example of their ancestors, than their own exposed situation, inspired them with an enthusiastic ardor to take the field, against such confederate enemies as French papists and blood-thirsty savages. There was everywhere a concurrence of favorable circumstances; and some of them, in
* Samuel Moore was Lieut. Colonel of the New-Hampshire regiment,- 804 men; Simon Lothrop, Licut. Colonel of Connecticut regiment,-516 men; and Richard Gridley, Lieut. Colonel of the train of artillery.
t " Many of the settlers about Georges' river, enlisting under General " Waldo, were at the taking of Louisbourg; where they continued with " their families several years, and some never returned."-C. Eaton's MS. Narrative, p. 10.
227
CHAP. VIII.] OF MAINE.
nowise dependent upon human action or foresight, were greatly A, D. 1745. promotive of the enterprize. The winter, especially February, Events fa- vorable to was very mild; the harbors and rivers were open ; and the the expedi- weather in general so pleasant, that out-door labor was done with tion. unusual ease. The Indians had not molested the eastern fron- tiers ; and though some of them had heard of the present ex- pedition, and carried the news to Canada ; the French gave no heed to the report of so improbable an undertaking; and not a lisp of it reached Nova Scotia, or Louisbourg. ' In short,-if ' any one circumstance,' to use the language of Douglass,* ' had ' taken a wrong turn on our side; or if any one circumstance had ' taken a right turn on the French side, the expedition must have ' miscarried.'
Plan of op-
In less than two months, from the day the General Court re- solved to undertake the expedition, an army of 4,000 men were erations :- prepared to embark ; and a naval squadron, consisting of 13 ves- fleet. army and sels, besides transports and store-ships,-carrying about 200 guns,¿ was ready to sail. Pepperell received his instructions from Shirley, March 19 ; and entering, the 24th, on board the Shirley, Snow, at the head of the armament, he put to sea from Nantasket. He was directed to proceed to Canseau, there build a battery and block-house, deposit his stores and leave two com- panies to guard them. Thence he was to sail with the fleet and army for Chappeaurouge-bay, easterly of Louisbourg, arrive in
* 1 Summ. p. 336.
t From Massachusetts and Maine, 3,250 men; Connecticut, 516 under General Wolcot ; and New-Hampshire, 304 under Col. Moore, exclusive of commissioned officers .- 2 Hutch. Hist. p. 371 .- Douglass says, 3,600 were before the town .- Vol. 1, p. 350.
guns.
# These were, Brig Massa- chusetts, Tyng, 24
guns. Ship (hired of R. Island,) Capt.
Griffin, 20
Ship Caesar, Snelling, 20 Thompson and } Connec- S
16
" Shirley Galley, Rouse, 20 Colony Sloop, S ticut, 16
Snow, Prince of Orange, Smith- urst,
Colony Sloop, Rhode Island,
16 (about) 14
Boston Packet, Fletcher, 16 Provincial Sloop, New-
3 Sloops, 12, 8, 8, guns, = 28 Hampshire, (do.) 14
124 80
William Burns of Broad-bay took a commission from government, and raised a company to defend the county ; and his brother had command of one of the transports in the siege of Louisbourg.
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THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1745. the evening, come to anchor under the covert of darkness, forth- with land his men at Flat-point cove, E. N. E. three miles distant from the town, and commence an attack without delay. Should the General not succeed in the surprizal, he was instructed to call a council of war, and govern himself according to circumstances. Never was a plan of operations, drawn by sensible men, which had more the semblance of romance. An hundred sail of vari- ous sizes, was to arrive at the place of destination on a precise hour ; the weather and winds, even in the spring months, were all to be favorable ; the rocky ridges which pointed the shores, and, at this season, the ice and fog, which environ the Island, were to be avoided ; a certain harbor made, under the shadows of nightfall, in an unexplored bay, and in a particular manner ; a landing effected there immediately, amidst a violent surf ;- and then the soldiery take up a march in the dark, through a ravine, bog and woods, pass the grand battery, and after travelling three miles from the place of landing, commence pulling down pickets with grappling irons, and mount walls 30 feet high by scaling lad- ders ;- yes, and all in the short space of a single night. This part of the plan was prudently concealed from the troops; and also the receipt of a letter from Commodore Peter Warren, at the West India station, who had considered of his orders and concluded to 'excuse himself from any concern in the affair ;' Shirley, Pepperell, and Waldo, being the only persons, who knew any thing of the communication, before the fleet sailed.
April 4. Arrival at Canseau. The land and naval forces all arrived at Canseau, April 4, where they were detained three weeks by the remaining ice, which adhered to the shores of Cape Breton. In the meantime, Capture of one of our ships, on the 16th, captured a French brigantine from Martinique, having on board 224 puncheons of rum, 43 hogs- heads of molasses, 23 barrels of coffee, 13 loaves of sugar, and other articles ; and on the 23d, to the great joy of the American forces, arrived at Canseau, four war-ships from the West Indies, the Suburb, the Eltham, the Lanchaster, and the Mermaid, under Commodore Warren .- It appeared, that subsequently to sending his former letter to Gov. Shirley, he received orders from home, Cruise be- fore Louis- bourg. directing him to render his Majesty immediate service upon this north-eastern coast. On his arrival, therefore, his squadron pro-
a French Brigantine.
April 23. Arrival of a British fleet.
CHAP. VIII.]
OF MAINE.
229
ceeded to cruise before Louisbourg ; being from time to time A. D. 1745. joined by six other ships of war-the whole carrying 490 guns .*
The American fleet and forces made Chappeaurouge bay, April 30. Arrival of April 30, early in the morning ;t and their appearance gave the the fleet in first notice to the French of a design formed against them. They the bay near Louis- had seen the men-of-war cruising at a distance, but took them to bourg. be privateers, in search of trading and fishing vessels. On the same and the next day, the troops were disembarked from the transports with little opposition, and most of the heavy artillery, provisions and ammunition were landed.
The first at-
The primary object of the assailants was to invest the town ; May 2. and Lieut. Colonel Vaughan conducted the first column of 400 tack. men through the woods, May 2, within sight of it, and gave three cheers. He thence led them, in the course of the night, to the north-east part of the harbor ; where they burned the warehouses containing naval stores, and staved a large quantity of wine and brandy. The smoke, driven by the wind, 3-4ths of a mile, into the grand battery, so alarmed the French, that they abandoned it, spiking their guns and retiring. The next morning, Vaughan Grand bat- May 3. took possession of it, and having drilled the cannon left by the tery taken. enemy, which consisted chiefly of 42 pounders, turned them with good effect upon the city, within which almost every shot lodged,
* Arrived April 23, the Eltham of 40 guns, convoy of mast ships to Eng.
Suburb,
60
Lanchaster,
40
under Commodore Warren.
" Mermaid,
40
Captured, May 18,
Vigilant, 64
Taken from the French by Com. Tyng.
Arrived
" 22,
Hector, 40
66
Princess Mary 60
From England.
June 10,
Chester,
50
1
12,
Canterbury,
60
Sunderland,
60
From Newfoundland.
Lark,
40
Total 490 .- 2 Hutch. Hist. p. 372-5, 6 .- 1 Doug. Summ. p. 351 .-- One account states thus :---
In the night time of May 18th, the Vigilant having been decoyed by the Mermaid, and hectored by several small vessels, fell in with the Massachu- setts, Tyng ; and mistaking her for a much larger ship, struck to her ;- an event greatly to the encouragement of the expedition .- 10 Coll. M. His. Soc. p. 183.
t Here they anchored two miles from Flat-point Cove, and five miles easterly from the town. The French " immediately fired some cannon " and rang their bells in the town, to alarm and call in their people living " in the suburbs.
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THE HISTORY
[VOL. 11.
A. D. 1745. and several fell into the roof of the citadel. While forming a
May. Green Hill battery formed.
battery on Green Hill,* within 1,550 yards of the north-west bastion inclosing the castle, and another 600 yards nearer, the troops were engaged fourteen nights successively, in drawing can- non from the landing, through a morass, to the proposed en- campment. Unable to use wheels, owing to the softness of the ground, the soldiers constructed sledges, and with straps over their shoulders, wading in the mud to their knees, resolutely per- formed labor 'beyond the power of oxen.' It was work, which could be executed only in the night time, or during foggy days ; the place being within view of the town and the reach of its guns. Duchambon, the Governor, in the meantime, was sum- moned to surrender; but refusing, the siege was pressed with greater vigor and spirit. At length, a third battery, planted with- in 440, and a fourth within 250 yards of the west gate, were so far advanced, May 17, as to do great execution. The next day, the Vigilant, a French 64, being artfully decoyed into the midst of danger, fell in with the frigate Massachusetts, Capt. Tyng, to whom, after exchanging a few shots, she struck her colors. This was an important victory. It gave a thrill to the whole fleet and army ; for she had on board 560 men, and was richly laden with military stores, intended for the relief of the garrison.t
A summons sent to sur- render:
May 18. The Vigi- lant captur- ed.
Titcomb's battery opened.
On the side of the creek opposite to Green Hill, Titcomb's battery, 800 yards from the west gate, mounting five 42 pound- ers, was opened, May 20, with great effect upon the enemy's circular battery and magazine; and on the 22d, the Princess Mary and Hector, arriving, joined the fleet. But on the 26th, an unfortunate though brave attempt upon the Island battery, oc- casioned the English a loss of 176 men ;- 60 killed and drowned, and 116 taken prisoners. About the same time, a new battery was erected on the Light-house point, under the direction of Lieut. Col. Gridley, and brought so directly to bear upon the Island battery, as to silence several of its guns. The Provin-
May 26. English Jose 176 men.
* This was more than 200 yards nearer the town than the grand battery was.
t Warren offered Tyng the command of this valuable prize with the rank of post captain. But he being considerably advanced in life had de- termined to remain on shore after the expedition; and therefore declin- ing the offer, recommended Captain Rouse, who was appointed to that office.
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CHAP. VIII.]
cials had now erected five fascine batteries, mounted 16 pieces A. D. 1745. of cannon and several mortars, entirely destroyed the western 5 batteries against the gate, and made great impressions upon the enemy's other works. city.
At length, it was concerted and concluded by Commodore War- June 7. A strata-
ren and General Pepperell, to attempt by stratagem what force gem. had hitherto failed to effect. They informed the Captain of the captured Vigilant, how badly the French had treated some of the English prisoners ; and then shewing him what care and kind- ness, the Frenchmen, detained on board the English fleet, were receiving, desired him to certify the fact to the commander of the garrison, and advise him to pursue as generous a course. He June 8. complied-and Capt. McDonald was the bearer of the letter, sent into the A letter June 8, under a flag of truce. He was a good French linguist, a flag. city, under
though he feigned himself a stranger to the language ; and there- fore, had the advantage of understanding all the French officers said to each other, while he was with them. Till this time, they had received no intelligence, that the Vigilant was a prize to the English, or her captain a prisoner. Notice of the event put them to a great nonplus ; and in connexion with the trials of a severe siege, occasioned apparent looks of dismay .- The west- The French ern gate was not only demolished, but a fearful breach was disconcert- ed. made in the adjoining walls; the north-eastern and the circular batteries and the west flank of the king's bastion had all receiv- ed great damage; and preparations, they perceived, were making for a general assault. They were besides, in want of some pro- visions and stores, which they now despaired of receiving ; and the garrison, prior to the siege, were so mutinous, that the Gov- ernor would not trust them to make a sortie, through fear of de- sertion. Nor could he ascertain the true strength of the Pro- vincials. The ground upon which they were entrenched was so uneven and the men so scattered, that he could form no estimate of their number ; while the prisoners, as if by mutual agreement, represented the English force to be greatly superior to what it really was. The arrival of four other large English ships of war, on the 10th and 12th, gave heart and spirit to the assailants, 4 other June 12. English war-ships arrive. which the French might perceive, by the unabating intrepidity and vigor, every where evinced in this protracted siege. The battery near the Light-house was now able to flank a line of 20 guns in the enemy's Island battery, 3,400 feet distant ; and on the 14th, being the anniversary of his Majesty's accession to the
232
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
French Governor's letter to the English offi- cers.
A. D. 1745. throne, it was " celebrated by a discharge at 12 o'clock, of all the cannon in every battery." On the 18th, the English determined ' to make a grand attack upon the garrison by sea and by land.' As this was suspected or understood by the enemy,-Ducham- June 15. bon, June 15, wrote thus to Pepperell and Warren ;- ' Gentle- ' men-Desirous of putting a stop to acts of hostility and the ef- ' fusion of blood ; I send this note to request a suspension of 'arms, so long as shall be needful for me to make proposals, ' upon what conditions, I shall determine to deliver up to you the ' place, with which the king my master has entrusted me.'-The next day, he surrendered the garrison,* and on the 17th, posses- sion was taken by the captors ; the French being allowed to march out " with their arms, music and standards."
June 16. Surrenders the place. June 17. Possession taken by the English.
In the capitulation, 650 veteran troops, 1,310 militia men, the crew of the Vigilant, and about 2,000 of the inhabitants being 4,130+ in all, engaged not to bear arms against Great Britain or her allies, for twelve months ; and embarking on board 14 cartel ships, were transported to Rochfort in France. Seventy-six cannon and mortars fell into the hands of the victors, besides other property to an immense amount ; and there were in the town, provisions and ammunition enough for five or six months. Our loss was 130 men-and that of the French 300, killed within the walls. The Prince of Orange was sunk in a storm, and her crew drowned.
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