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 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
View of the fort and incidents.
Upon entering the fortress, and viewing its strength, and the plenty and variety of its means for defence, the stoutest hearts were appalled ; and the practicability of taking it by surprize, as contemplated by the projectors of the expedition, appeared futile to the last degree. As a decoy, the French flag was continued flying ; and the 'value of all the prizes, taken during this expe- ' dition, were not much short of a million sterling.' The weather which through the last 40 days of the siege, was remarkably fine for the season, soon changed, and an incessant rain of ten days succeeded. Had this happened before the surrender, hundreds then sick of the dysentery must have fallen victims to the disease.}
* General Pepperell says, we gave the town about 9,000 cannon ball, and 600 " bombs, before the enemy surrendered."
t 1 Doug. Summ. p. 568 .- 2,000 able to bear arms.
Į No less than 1,500 were sick at one time, by reason of cold, foggy weather, fatigue in mud and water, and poor tents.
233
OF MAINE.
CHAP. VIII.]
The news of this resplendent victory filled America with joy, A. D. 1745. and Europe with astonishment .* It was celebrated in the prin- Celebration cipal New-England towns by ringing of bells, by bonfires, by tory. of the vic- festivity, t and July 13, by a public thanksgiving. Great glory was won ; yet unwearied pains were afterwards taken in England, to ascribe it principally to the navy and lessen the merit of the army. The victory gave a fresh impulse to the jealousies, en- tertained in the mother country, that such events would hasten the independence of the Colonies. Pepperell, however, receiv- Rewards to ed the title of Baronet ; Warren was made an Admiral ; and officers. Pepperell and Shirley severally received Colonels' commissions to raise two regiments on the British establishment in America, and be in the pay of the crown. But none of the officers, except one or two, and none of the New-England troops, were ever allowed any part of the prizes, nor any emoluments,-their own wages excepted. Parliament, after repeated solicitations, through a period of four years, resolved at last to pay the expenses of the expedition ; and shipped to New-England in specie, £200,000 sterling for that purpose.}
* 1 Doug. Summ. p. 345-355 .- 2 Hutch. p. 364-376 .- 2 Belknap's N. H. 149-174 .- 2 Trumbull's Con. p. 270-281 .- 1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. p. 61 .- Shirley's Speech, July 17 .- Jour. of Mass. H. Rep. 1745, p. 10-68.
t Smith's Journal, p. 39, July 8, we [in Falmouth] fired our cannon five times, and spent the afternoon at " the fort, rejoicing."
Į Sum sent to Massachusetts was £183,649, mostly silver in 215 chests. N. Hampshire “ 16,355,
£200,004.
But the best account in print, of the " Siege of Louisbourg," appears in Governor Shirley's letter, Oct. 28, 1745, to the Duke of New castle and a ' Journal of the siege,' in 31 octavo pages, published by order of the Gen- eral Court, Jan. 7, 1746 :- from which, matter in the preceding pages has been selected.
VOL. II.
30
234
THE HISTORY
VOL. II.
CHAPTER IX
Spanish, and 5 years' Indian war-Defence-Indians desirous of war-Condition of the castern people-First attacks of the In- dians-In Maine, at St. Georges' river-Eastern force-Demand upon the Indians for a quota of men according to treaty-Their refusal-War declared against them-Skirmishes-Projects of England and France-Soldiers at Louisbourg relieved-Defence -Attack on Gorhamtown, Pemaquid, St. Georges, Falmouth, and other places-Canada and Nova Scotia-Arrival of d' An- ville's fleet-Disasters-Its return home-Ramsay's attack on the Massachusetts' provincials at Horton-They capitulate-The war -Mischiefs of the Indians -- A naval victory over the French- Exchange of prisoners at Canada-Attempts upon New-Marble- head, Fort Frederick, St. Georges-A scarcity of provisions- Defensive force-Service disagrecable-A fort proposed at Pe- nobscot-Base character of the savage enemy-News of peace- Treaty of Aix-la-chapelle-Eastern guards-Indians propose pcacc-Visit Boston-A treaty established.
A. D. 1745. January. A fifth In- dian, or five years' war.
A fifth Indian war, as a consequence of the present one with Spain and France, appeared now to be the inevitable destiny of these eastern Provinces. The refusal of the Tarratine tribe to become the allies of the English, as communicated in January, to the Government, was a manifest indication of their hostile designs. It was known, they continued to have a controlling in- fluence among the eastern tribes. They had acted a wise and worthy part in bringing the last war to a close, and in settling a treaty ;* and they often expressed the strongest desires for a perpetuation of peace and amity. But the celebrated Castine the younger, was no more ;t and a race of young Indians had risen, during an interval of twenty years' tranquillity, who panted for war and glory. The Indians had lately estranged themselves from the English, and many had withdrawn to Canada. Trade with them was nearly at an end, and the truck-masters were not rechosen. It was also reported, early in the spring, that arms and
* Dummer's treaty, A. D. 1726. ł See ante, A. D. 1725.
CHAP. IX.]
OF MAINE.
235
ammunition had been sent by the Governor of Canada, to the A. D. 1745. Indians of Nova Scotia ; that he had promised to distribute pres- The French encourage
ents to all those who would visit him at Quebec ; and that a the Indians. body of natives was prepared to join Duvivier's forces and pro- ceed against Annapolis as soon as he returned from France.
for defence.
Measures and works of defence were indefatigably prosecuted ; Measures houses were enclosed by ramparts, or palisades of timber ; watches were established ; and there were endeavors to keep up ranging parties constantly, between the garrisons. But the free enlistments into the late expedition against Louisbourg, had left the frontiers exceedingly open and exposed. After the capture, some were persuaded by an increase of wages, to abide there in the public service, some were detained by reason of the dysen- tery, and some returned home sick ;* so that almost every able- bodied man, it is said, was, at one time, either at home or abroad, a soldier, a sentinel, or a minute-man. Nor were the men satisfied with the rewards they received in consideration of their perils, fatigues, and sufferings in the siege of that place. For they had no prize-money, no gratuity, nothing but vapid praise,- miserable food for a soldier, who had left his family for the camp, and lost the spring-season, which ought to have been improved in providing for their livelihood.
As the Sagamores could not be reached by persuasives or The Indians presents : Capt. Saunders was despatched in the Province Sloop war and eager for with expresses, to the tribes about the eastern harbors, especially plunder. at Kennebeck and Penobscot ; informing them of the great vic- tory, in the hope of overawing them, or preventing their alliance with the enemy. But they had resolved to be neutral no longer. If the fall of Louisbourg and the fate of their old friends, the French, had any effect upon them ; it was to hasten them into the war against the triumphing English. They themselves had little to lose ; while the settlements, now increased and extend- ed, offered them more urements and greater opportunities for plunder. Yet a narrauve of savage warfare on our frontiers, must be principally a recital of the sufferings, exploits, escapes, and deliverances, of parties, families, or individuals ;- a narrative,
* " We have tidings [at Falmouth] daily of our people dying at Cape " Breton and of many coming home and dying after arrival."-Smith's Journ. p. 41-43 .- 2 Hutch. Hist. p. 379.
236
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1745. the. Historian would cheerfully save himself the labor and pain of giving, did not fidelity and duty forbid. But the reiterated dis- tresses of the eastern inhabitants, in connexion with their forti- The melan- tude and other virtues, ought not to be overlooked. In an Indian choly condi- tion of the inhabitants. war, they were necessarily watchful, or on their guard day and night, and when at labor in their fields, they were often obliged on a sudden emergency, either to repel an attack, or make a hazardous retreat. Their crops were not unfrequently injured or destroyed, either by their own cattle getting into their enclosures, where the Indians had broken the fences; or because the hus- bandmen durst not venture out to collect and secure the harvest .* By reason of the danger to which they were constantly exposed, they were unable to cultivate their lands to any advantage ; though when they went to public worship, or abroad, they were always armed ; and usually, when at work, they posted a sentry in some conspicuous place, to keep watch.t So bent on mere mischief were the savages, that when they killed the husband- man's domestic animals, they would oftentimes only take a little of their flesh or their tongues, which they broiled and ate fresh, or preserved by drying in the smoke. In short, the distressed people were afraid even to milk their cows, though they were kept in pastures near as possible to the fortifications ; and whole families were not unfrequently, in these Indian wars, shut up for weeks together, in a state of wretched anxiety.
July 19. The first at- tacks of the Indians. The first outrages of the Indians were committed, July 19, at St. Georges and Damariscotta [Newcastle]. Several of the savages from Cape Sable, St. John, and St. Francois, uniting, On the forts began by attacking the fort St. George ; upon which, however, at St. Geor- ges' and Pemaquid. they could make no impression. They then set on fire a garri- soned house and saw-mill; burnt a few dwellinghouses in the vicinity ; killed a great number of the cattle; and took captive one of the inhabitants. Preferring, as it was a maxim of Indian policy, to do mischief remote from their immediate neighborhood, and inheriting an enmity towards the public or local fortifica- tions, another party, formed of young fighters from Penobscot and Norridgewock, marked fort Frederick for an assault. In
* Gov rnor's Speech, January, 1745 .- ' Prevented as the people may be, ' from cultivating their lands,' says he, ' they must starve there. or withdraw ' with their families, cattle, anl effects, -without timely help.' + Sullivan, p. 189.
237
OF MAINE.
CHAP. 1X.]
approaching it, they met a woman, about 300 yards from the A. D. 1745. walls, whom they wounded in the shoulder, and then one of them seized her. Either the report of the gun or her shrieks, unfortunately for them, alarmed the garrison; and amidst the momentary consternation and rising smoke, or through the care- lessness of her keepers, she broke away from them, and under the fire from the fort escaped to the gate. Thus the meditated attack was happily prevented .* The same month they killed a At Topsham and New- man and scalped a boy at Topsham ; and at New-Meadows, Meadows. they shot a mounted man and his horse under him.t
Yarmouth
A short time previously, about 30 Indians, well armed, came At North- to North-Yarmouth, and secreted themselves under a fence, be- tween the two forts, which were a mile apart. As Philip Greely was passing, early the next morning, from one to the other, they shot him and retired. Had they not been discovered by means of his dog, they would probably have let him pass unhurt. But since an alarm would inevitably be given, either by him if per- mitted to escape, or by the report of their guns, if they killed him, they preferred the latter alternative; and though he lost his life, the garrisons were both left unmolested.[ Not far distant, at Flying-point, they broke down the door, and entered the house of one Maines, about break of day, before the family were out of bed. The good man made a brave personal resistance, in which he was himself slain. A young child of his was also kill- ed in its mother's arms by a bullet, which, at the same time, wounded her in the breast. Aroused by the tumult, a man, lodg- ing in the chamber, fired upon the assailants, shot down one of them, and so alarmed the rest, that they fled out of the house, taking with them a young daughter, panic struck and freezing with horror. The thoughtful woman, thus left for a moment, bar- red the door, and thereby escaped a cruel death, or a more cruel captivity. The affrighted girl, they carried captive to Canada. Determined, however, not to leave North-Yarmouth, till they had more effectually executed their purpose, they selected an ambush near the meeting-house, from which they fired upon three men
* Journal House Rep. 1745, p. 89 .- Governor's Speech, in July.
{ Smith's Jour. 40.
# Sullivan, p. 190 .- He supposes this was in May : But he is not correct as to dates .- Smith, p. 40, and Belk. N. H. p. 186, say the first mischief was in July.
238
THE HISTORY
[VOL. 11.
A. D. 1745. who were in company ;- one of them, Ebenezer Eaton, they killed and scalped ; another was made prisoner; and the third escaping, carried the tidings to the fort. The Indians then spread- ing themselves along the ridge, a little farther back, recommenced a discharge of their muskets upon the houses below, and upon such of the men, as rushed out with their arms towards the place where they had heard the report of guns, and continued firing, until fears of a rencounter induced them to retire.
Settlements upon the St. Georges' river, dis- dians. The settlements, begun upon the banks and in the vicinity of Georges' river, under the patronage of Samuel Waldo, Esquire, turb the In- soon after the close of Lovewell's war, had been prosecuted, dur- ing the last ten years, with encouraging success. He built mills, and by advertisements offered his lands to settlers upon most alluring terms. Irish emigrants of the protestant religion, who had been sometime in America, accepted his offers, and became the fathers of these plantations. For under an agreement with him, April 18, 1735, forty-five of them presently settled upon their respective lots of 100 acres, built cottages, and laid the Upper and foundation of the " Upper Town" [now Warren.]* Settlements in the township belowt [now Thomaston,] and at Meduncook, [now Friendship,] were in a progressive condition during the same period ; and block-houses were erected at the " Narrows" in the upper town, also at the mouth of the river. But no other settlements in Sagadahock, so much as these, disturbed the Tar- ratine tribe of Indians,{ as there was none so near them.
lowertowns.
Attacks on the inhabit- places. The inhabitants attempted to labor on their farms, under a ants of those guard of soldiers, though not without perpetual interruption. Da- vid Creighton, and his companions, venturing out a short distance from the garrison at St. Georges, were killed and scalped. Boyce Cooper, and Reuben Pitcher, proceeding down the river for rock- weed, fell into the hands of the enemy, and were carried to Can- ada. Naturally jovial, and apparently contented, Cooper made himself familiar with the Indians ; and as he answered all their questions cheerfully, about the men and cattle at the fort,-he in return received from them, very generous usage. He was an em- igrant from Ireland ; and while in Canada, his fellow prisoner,
* See post, A. D. 1776.
¡ Called the " Lower town ;" and by the Indians, Georgeekeag.
# See ante, A. D. 1736.
239
OF MAINE.
CHAP. IX.]
a native of the same country, dying, bequeathed him his violin. A. D) 1745. Of this gift, he made good use, for like the young psalmist of Israel, charming the king with his harp, he often played upon the exhilarating instrument with such exquisite skill, before the Gov- ernor, as to soften the spirit of hostile asperity in him, to that of clemency, favorable to the prisoner's release.
As two women were milking their cows, not far from the gar- rison, one of them, Mrs. Thompson, was seized and carried to Canada ; while the other, Mrs. Spear, with much ado, was able to regain the fort-gate. Saunders, son of the officer who com- manded the Province Sloop, was at an unfortunate moment caught by the savages, and carried as far as Owl's-head, where all encamped for the night. Before them, he affected so much cheerfulness and contentment, that they all suffered themselves to fall into a sound sleep ; when he, softly rising, took their purse, containing $200, hid it, and returned safely to the fort. After the war, he found it, and had the pleasure of applying the con- tents to his own use .*
It had been foreseen by the government, that the expedition A defensive against Cape Breton, would expose the eastern frontiers to in- men. force of 450 cursions from the enemy ; especially when it was found how "great a number of the inhabitants" had enlisted ; therefore, a Committee of safety and defence was appointed, and a pro- visional force of about 450 men, including the garrison soldiers, was put in requisition. In this draft or enlistment, no more were allowed to be taken from the frontiers, than were needful for pilots, or guides ; and all were to be under pay, till the first day of the ensuing November. They were to be posted at the forts and garrisoned houses, between which they were constantly to scout in ranging parties ; so as to form a line along the whole frontier from Berwick to St. Georges.+ It was now determined effectually to protect or defend the inhabitants at their homes ; for, in the sentiments of the Governor,-' their departure, or re- ' treat would be an event equally ruinous to themselves, and to ' the eastern Provinces.'
* Eatou's MS. Narrative.
t Capt. Jonathan Bean, of York. and his company, scouted from Saco to Presumpscot ; and Capt. Moches from Presumpscot to fort George in Brunswick .- Other parties scouted along the whole frontier .- Smith's Jour. p. 40.
240
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1745. Discipline required.
Reform.
As soon as news of the first attacks by the Indians, reached Boston, the House addressed the Governor upon the subject of the eastern affairs, stating, that by report, the soldiery in that service had become weary and careless, and their discipline lax ; that the military character of their officers bore the stigma of gross negligence, if not the stain of dishonesty ; and that the peo- ple were in great dread of evils but too justly apprehended. Therefore, to strengthen the frontiers more fully, a re-enforcement of 175 men was ordered to be despatched thither without delay. The Governor also commanded every officer to keep a minute journal of his marches, and return upon oath to him or his supe- rior in command, an account of every week's occurrences. The House next voted, that all the eastern volunteers then at Louis- bourg, be dismissed if they chose, and be allowed to "return " home, in order to preserve from ruin their families and estates ;" and that an express demand be made upon the tribes at Penob- scot and Norridgewock, to deliver hostages, either for surrender- ing the Indians who had done the late mischief at St. Georges, or for furnishing at least thirty fighting men within fourteen days, according to an article in Dummer's treaty :- Otherwise, they were assured, the Governor would be moved to declare war against them after that time ; and not an Indian, who did not pre- viously ask protection, would have it extended to him.
A demand upon the tribes for a quota of fighting men.
War de- clared against them.
Bounties.
But the demand was altogether in vain. The Indians turned a deaf ear to every proposal of conciliation ;- therefore, on the 23d of August, the Provincial government, declared war against all the eastern tribes without exception, and offered for every In- dian captive, or scalp, taken westward of Passamaquoddy, by a soldier in the public service, £100,-by a person having provi- sions and not wages, £250,-and by a volunteer, without rations, pay, or ammunition, £400, as bounties .*
Hunne- well's ex- ploit in Scarbo- rough.
Within two months after the first blow was struck, every town on the eastern frontier was visited by parties or stragglers, from some of the savage hordes, thirsting for the settlers' blood. Mr. Hunnewell, mowing in his meadow at Blue-point in Scarborough, had suspicion from a rustling remote sound, on the other side of the river and marsh, that there might be Indians in the adjoining woods. Separated, as he was, by so wide a space, he set his
* Jour. House of Rep. p. 71-94.
241
CHAP. IX.] OF MAINE.
gun well loaded, against a small tree and continued at work, sup- A. D. 1745. posing himself in no immediate danger. But in a returning swarth, when at some distance, he perceived his gun was remov- ed ; and knew, therefore, it must have been taken away by some lurking Indian. He continued to mow as though he had made no discovery ; till within a few paces of the bank, under which he had good reason to believe his enemy was lying secreted ; then giving a sudden scream and leap, he sprang upon the savage so furiously and unexpectedly, that he had no command of his gun and not much of himself. As he rose on his feet and step- ped back, he fell into a hollow, when Hunnewell instantly cut his body in two with the sythe. A shout at the same time, being raised by his comrades, watching at a distance, Hunnewell bran- dished the fatal weapon towards them, and bade them all so bold a defiance, that they fled-too much intimidated to approach him. In the vicinity of St. Georges, Lieutenant Proctor and a A skirmish party of 19 militia men, had a skirmish with the enemy, Sept. 5 : at St. Geor in which they killed two of the savage leaders, Colonel Morris Sept. 5. and Captain Sam, and took Colonel Job prisoner. He was after- wards sent to Boston, where he died in confinement .- To avoid the enmity of his kindred, and the ill-will of his squaw, the gov- ernment, after peace, made her a valuable present. Colonel Cushing's son was shot down about the same time, evidently by particular aim ; it being a peculiar characteristic of Indian war- cot. At Sheeps- fare, to waylay the inhabitants, and kill individuals, whenever seen alone. At Sheepscot, as three men were gathering corn, two of them were killed, and the other wounded, by a scout of thirteen Indians, firing from an ambush. Unsuccessful as the soldiers generally were in the pursuit of these little hordes, into the bordering woods; the people were never more resolute and spirited. Four companies in Falmouth and the vicinity were in arms, and equal activity was manifest in remoter towns. But the retreat of these wild savages, after mischief done, was so sudden and fleetfooted, that it was with the utmost difficulty, they could be overtaken or found .*
For the better defence of the eastern towns, during the winter, four small fieldpieces and a swivel were sent to them; and
* At Long-creek, near Stroudwater, an Indian spy was seen and fired at, though without effect.
VOL. II.
31
242
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1746. though only 206 men, formed into two companies, were at first as- Fears of an signed to the public service ; they were re-enforced by an equal attack from Canada. number, January 28, in consequence of an alarming report, that a body of 300 French and Indians were preparing to fall upon some part of the English frontiers. The two latter companies were put under pay till June, and ordered to scout chiefly east- ward of the Androscoggin, and to learn if possible the routes and purposes of the Indians, and their places of general resort. But though the late report happily proved to be groundless ; still, all the efforts made by government to protect the towns and planta- tions, from the enemy's ravages, could not fully allay the fears of the people more exposed. If they passed through the winter with fortitude, the opening spring generally presented to their minds, the most direful forms of famine, danger and death.
Plans of the English and French.
The reduction of Louisbourg was viewed by the courts of England and France, as an event of such singular importance, as to produce in each of them a multiform plan of operations ; which they communicated, the ensuing April, to their respective Colonies. On the one hand, the English thought of nothing less than the conquest of Canada, and the extirpation of the French from the northern hemisphere ;- and on the other, as it was seasonably ascertained, the French meditated the recovery of Louisbourg, and Nova Scotia, also the destruction of Boston and all the principal seaports in New-England. They had made sure the alliance, or friendship of all the eastern tribes; and the English had secured the amity of the Six Nations, or Mohawks.
Project against Canada.
When Governor Shirley, the preceding autumn, visited Louis- bourg, he consulted with Warren and Pepperell, and wrote pressing letters to the British ministry, in favor of an expedition against Canada. In return, it seems, the enterprize was greatly encouraged by the Duke of Newcastle, Secretary of State ; and so popular was it in New-England, and so cheerful the enlist- ments, that within a few months, more than 8,000 colonial troops were raised ;* and those of Massachusetts and Maine, ready to embark, about the middle of July.+
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.