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 65
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* Before the war,-
Since the war,-
Coffee was from 18 to 20cts. per lb. In 1813, from 35 to 38 ; 1814-15,-20 to 22 per lb.
Molasses, " 60 to 70 per gall. " " 1,50, 60 to 65 per gall.
Souchong tea, 1,40 to 1,50 per lb. " 1,90 to 2,00 " 90 to 1,00 per lb.
Hyson tea, " 1,80 to 1,90 per lb. " " 3,00 to 3,10 "" 1,60 to 1,90 do.
Cog. Brandy, " 1,80 to 2,00 per lb: " 3,00 to 3,50 "
1,80 to 2,20 per gall.
636
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1814. frigate, the Phebe, and a sloop of war, the Cherub, so hard a fought battle for two hours and a half, that their commanders were forced to concede to Porter and his brave men, the merit of well earned, imperishable glory. To this succeeded the capture of the British Epervier, April 29, by Captain Warrington in the Peacock. Next the defeat of the British at Chippewa, July 4, by General Brown ; and his second sanguinary battle, July 25, at Bridgewater, near Niagara Falls, with the army under General Drummond : Also the capture of the British sloop of war, prob- ably the Avon, by Captain Blakely, in the Wasp ; which he was obliged to leave, in consequence of an attack by two other ves- sels of war. The defeat of Sir George Provost at Plattsburgh, Sept. 5th ; and the splendid victory of Commodore Chauncy, Sept. 11, on Lake Champlain. The unsuccessful attack of the British upon Baltimore, and the battle, Sept. 17, between the forces of General Brown and General Drummond, connected with the preceding events, acquired to the American arms fresh and verdant laurels. If the enemy, in August, could boast of capturing Washington, the seat of our National Government ; it was an exploit, basely tarnished by the Vandal destruction made of the Capitol, President's House and the Public Offices.
Washington city taken.
Manufac- tures.
But though war be an evil, and its effects were severely felt by the eastern people ; it had manifestly become promotive of the mechanic arts and manufacturing establishments. Our country abounded with materials ; men of wealth and business were ready to make heavy investments in factories ; and the General Court, this year incorporated about thirty Companies for the purposes of manu- facturing cottons, woollens, duck, glass, files, wire and other articles.
General valuation.
According to the State valuation, revised and completed this year, the taxable property in Maine amounted to nearly one mill- ion and a half of dollars; and the taxable polls were upwards of fifty-one thousand." There were nine towns established this
Nine new
* Rateable Polls.
Counties.
Valuation.
Ratio of $1,000. $42,12
9,293
York
$288,522,07
9,577
Cumberland
338,495,07
48,08
10,093
Lincoln
253,464,81
38,93
7,398
Kennebeck
174,538,19
27,25
6,852
Hancock
168,973,13
26,08
1,984
Washington
47,611,93
7,40
2,480
Somerset
69,181,55
10,49
4,130
Oxford
102,354,42
15,78
51,807
1,443,141,17
216,13
115,832 in Massachusetts proper.
637
OF MAINE.
CHAP. XXV.]
year ;- viz. PHIPSBURG,* incorporated January 26; SEARS- A. D. 1814. towns incor- MONT, ¡ BELMONT, È and BLOOMFIELD, § the 5th, SOUTH-BER- porated.
* Phipsburg, (the 200th town,) was so named in memory of Sir William Phips. It embraces the peninsula between Sagadahock and New-Mead- ows rivers, bounded north on Winnegance Creek, which partly separates it from Bath. This town was taken from old Georgetown. [See ante, A. D. 1718.] Popham's fort was in Phipsburg, where the earliest colony was located, that was ever attempted to be planted in Maine. Near the site of the old fort, is the United States' fortification.
+ Searsmont, (the 201st town,) previously called Green, was first settled in 1804. It received its corporate name from David Sears of Boston; the town being owned by Sears, Thorndike and Prescott. It is a part of the Waldo Patent. It contains about 20,000 acres, and was surveyed in 1809 by J. Malcolm and J. Gleason. Here are 12 mills .- Ansel Lothrop's Let.
# Belmont, (the 202d town,) contains 20,000 acres. It was also a part of Green Plantation. The first settler was Daniel Dollif, who made a begin- ning in 1790. The title to the land is from Henry Knox ; who sold to B. Joy and S. Parkman. A post-office was established here in 1817. The name Belmont was proposed by George Watson, Esq. Representative of Belfast, who aided in procuring the incorporation of the town .- MS. Let. of James Weymouth and Joseph Drew, Esqrs.
¿ Bloomfield, (203d town) was first called the plantation of Wessarunset, from the name of the stream which runs through Cornville and empties into the Kennebeek on the north side of Bloomfield. This town was taken from Canaan. [See this town, 1788.] The original settlement was com- menced by Peter Heywood, Joseph Weston and their associates from Concord, Mass. in 1771. So much were they captivated with the pleasant- ness and fertility of the country, that they called it Canaan, a new land of promise ; Bloomfield being an appropriate name for the part lying south of the river, now incorporated, including the Islands in the river. Scow- hegan Falls are a short distance above the mouth of Wessarunset, at the north-west corner of the town. This town is a part of the Plymouth Pa- tent. It was surveyed in 1779 by John Jones, Esq. At the Falls are vil- lages on each side of the river, where are 6 or 7 mills and a large estab- lishment for machinery. The bridge over the river, built in 1809, cost 5,500 dollars. Bloomfield Academy was incorporated, Feb. 1807. The ed- ifice will accommodate 100 scholars. The first representative to the Gen- eral Court was B. Shepherd, Esq. The post-office was established in 1795. In 1777, " a few men were taken by the Indians and carried to Canada," from whom they escaped and returned. There are in town two meeting- houses, one for congregationalists and one for baptists. The first settled minister was Rev. Nathaniel Whitaker, D. D. a Presbyterian from Salem, installed in 1784. He was dismissed in 1789, and Rev. J. Calef was or- dained in 1793; Rev. John Cayford in 1809, and in 1814, Rev. Fifield Holt .- MS. Let. from Bloomfield.
638
THE HISTORY
[VOL. 11.
A. D. 1814. WICK,* the 12th, and WESTBROOK, f the 14th of February ; SAN- GERVILLE, Į and HERMON, § on the 13th, and NEWPORT, || on the 14th of June.
There were also incorporated, on the 25th and 26th of Feb- ruary, two Literary Institutions ; these were Maine Charity School, a Theological Seminary, T established at Bangor ; and Hancock Free School, established at Williamsburgh.
* South-Berwick, (204th town,) is taken from the south side of Berwick. [See A. D. 1713 ; also Elliot incorporated 1810 ; and embracing about 12,000 acres.] South-Berwick contains less than 10,000 acres. The town ad- joins Quampeagan Falls, and extends to Salmon Falls .; Great Works river runs through the town. Mr. Chadbourne, one of the first settlers, purchas- ed of the natives in 1643, lands on both sides of this river at its mouth, which his posterity still hold .- Sullivan, p. 20, 247 .- This was the parish of Unity, sometimes called ' Quampeagan Landing.' Here Mr. John Wade was settled, A. D. 1702, where a meeting-house was then built. His successor was Rev. Jeremiah Wise, ordained in Nov. 1707. He died Jan. 20, 1756 ; and Rev. Jacob Foster was settled in Sept. following. His suc- cessor was Rev. John Thompson, settled in 1783 .- The parish was divided in 1751, and a meeting-house was built at Blackberry-hill, and Mr. Morse was settled in 1755 .- [See Berwick .- Greenleaf's Ecc. Sketches, p. 29-34.] Here is an Academy, incorporated in March, 1791. South-Berwick Bank was incorporated with $150,000 capital.
Westbrook, (205th town,) first Stroudwater, till changed, June 4, 1814, was taken from Falmouth, having been incorporated the 4th parish of that town, in 1764. Rev. Thomas Browne was settled here in August, 1765, where he continued his ministry 32 years. He was succeeded, in Oct. 1799, by Rev. Caleb Bradley.
# Sangerville, (206th town,) was settled in 1806. At first it was called Amestown, from the first settler, Phineas Ames. The corporate name was in compliment to Calvin Sanger, the principal proprietor.
§ Hermon, of 24,360 acres, (207th town,) is one of the four towns as- signed to Gen. Knox by the State, to complete the complement of the Waldo patent .- [See Bangor, ante, A. D. 1791.]-Number of acres in the four towns, 83,000-about half of which was assigned to Knox.
|| Newport, (208th town,) was settled in 1807, and was previously called ' Great East-pond Plantation.' The pond covers 4,500 acres. It afforded a portage for the Indians in their route from Penobscot to the eastern branch of the Sebasticook ;- and hence the name of the town. In 1809, the town contained 94 families. The soil was sold by the State to David Green of Boston ; and lands were surveyed in 1792. A Post-office was established here in 1817 .- MS. Letter of Benjamin Shaw, Esq.
" This was put under two Professors. One was the late pious and ex- cellent Rev. JOHN SMITH, D.D. who died in April, 1831. The Institution has flourished, and been the means of extensive good. The edifice, two stories high, with a cupola, was consumed by fire, March 2, 1829. Belong - ing to the Seminary, is a considerable Library,-and it has some funds.
639
OF MAINE.
CHAP. XXVI.]
CHAPTER XXVI.
The British take possession of Eastport-Their transactions in that quarter-St. Georges' river visited by the enemy-Castine seized upon and occupied by the enemy-Expedition up the river Penobscot-The Adams destroyed-Possession taken of Hamp- den and Bangor-The rapine and conduct of the enemy in the towns upon the Penobscot-Return of the squadron to Castine- The militia, called to arms, encamp at Wiscasset-A proclama- tion by the British commanders-Castine, a port of entry-Ma- chias seized upon by the enemy-Government instituted by Gen- eral Sherbrook over his New Province-Oath of allegiance re- quired-A British vessel taken-Mails stopped at the river- Custom-house at Hampden-Great trade-Smuggling-Agency to Halifax-Business at Castine-News of peace-Jackson's suc- cesses at New-Orleans-Hartford Convention-Castine evacu- ated.
THOUGH the losses and privations of our Eastern citizens were A. D. 1814. great during the two first years of the war, no portion of their Small force territory had been actually invaded. At an early period, two Eastport. companies of Militia, detached from the Brigade of General Blake, upon the Penobscot, were stationed at fort Sullivan, in Eastport, under Major Philip Ulmer, and were relieved within a year by regular troops. Of these, George Ulmer, Esq. was commissioned by the President, the Colonel-commandant. On receiving the appointment, he resigned the office of Major-Gen- eral of the 10th Militia division, which he was then holding ; and was succeeded by David Cobb, who had been Lieutenant-Gov- ernor of the State. It was Colonel Ulmer's design and duty to. prevent, if possible, all smuggling and illicit intercourse with the enemy ; in the faithful discharge of which, he gave to the inhab- itants some affront. Hence the government substituted in his. place Major Perley Putnam of Salem. His command extended so far as to include a slight fortification, manned by 30 men, at Robbinston, under a Lieutenant, as well as to the garrison on Moose Island, where he had about 70 men.
stationed at
640
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. D. 1814. On the 5th of July, a small British expedition, secretly de- July 5. British ex- pedition. spatched from Halifax, was joined by a fleet, six days from Ber- muda ; and the whole, consisting of the Ramilies, a 74, having on board the Commodore, Sir Thomas Hardy,-the Martin sloop of war,-the brig Borer,-the Breame,-the Terror, a bomb- ship-and several transports, carrying a large body of soldiers commanded by Colonel Thomas Pilkington, arrived abreast of July 11. Visit East- port. Eastport on the 11th of the month, when the Commodore de- manded a surrender of the Fort, allowing only five minutes for an answer.
The fort shall be defended against any force whatever, was Putnam's reply ; and he prepared to meet an assault, But through the importunate persuasions of the inhabitants, he was reluctantly induced to order his flag struck, without resistance. By the terms of capitulation, all the public property, consisting of four 18-pounders, two sixes and the munitions of war, were law- ful prize-the soldiers surrendering, were put on board the enemy's prison-ship,-the five commissioned officers were ad- mitted to their parol, and all private rights and interests of the inhabitants were to be respected.
1,000 men landed there.
Forthwith, upwards of 1,000 men, principally the 102d Regi- ment of Infantry and a battalion of Artillery, with females and chil- dren appendant, were by means of the barges set on shore from the shipping ; and about 50 or 60 pieces of cannon were also landed. Possession was taken of the fort, and the British flag immediately hoisted. The captors then seized upon the custom- house property, and took $9,000 in treasury notes unfinished, which they by menaces, pressed the collector to sign. But he absolutely refused, declaring that ' death would be no compulsion.' Prizes were made of several vessels; large quantities of goods were seized for breach of blockade; and all property belonging to other persons, than the inhabitants of Eastport, was pro- nounced forfeit.
Security promised to the people if they were quiet.
Next day, Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzherbert sent a letter from St. Andrews, to John Brewer of Robbinston, Brigadier-General of the Militia in Washington county, stating, by order of Major- General Sir John C. Sherbrook, that the object of the British government in the present expedition was to 'obtain possession of " the Islands in Passamaquoddy bay ;- as being within the Brit- ' ish boundary line ; that there was no design to carry on offensive
641
OF MAINE.
CHAP. XXVI.]
' operations against the people resident on the main, unless their A. D. 1814. ' conduct should provoke severities ; and that if they continued
' quiet, neither their persons nor their property would be in the ' least molested.' Also the commanders, Hardy and Pilkington, on the 14th, issued a proclamation in the name of the Prince Regent, declaring, that the municipal laws established by the American government, for the peace and tranquillity of those Islands, would remain in force ; and commanding them all to con- vene on the 16th at the school-house in Eastport, and take the oath of allegiance to his Britanic Majesty, or within seven days, depart the Islands. Reluctantly about two-thirds of the Islanders submitted to the requirement. The enemy then declared, he had possession of what was his due by the treaty of 1783, and no more. Immediately batteries were erected; between 40 and 50 cannon were mounted; a deputy-collector of the customs was appointed ; and the squadron then departing, left upon the Island about 800 troops.
A trade was opened by the British at Eastport, which pre- A trade sented the citizens of Maine, with strong temptations to enter into opened. an illicit intercourse with the enemy. So scarce were provisions upon Moose Island, that pork was worth 50 dollars by the barrel, and the soldiers were put on short allowance. No article was permitted to be carried from it, without an equivalent in some- thing eatable, received from the main ; and whatever was fresh, commanded the highest price. The inhabitants were fully aware of their distressed condition. Sales of real estate were daily made to the British, till stopped by proclamation ; and all were anxious to get away.
The National government and its agents, now resolved effect- Provisions ually to prevent smuggling. Yet men would presume to drive the enemy. carried to cattle towards the lines for the enemy, in defiance of law or rulers. Only a short time elapsed, ere the collector at Machias seized one drove, bound thither, and another, flying through the woods, hardly avoided arrest.
Next, the British sent a party to drive Lieut. Manning and his Manning re- company, from their station at Robbinston ; who being unable to chias. tires to Ma- stand a siege, on the approach of the enemy, destroyed whatever they could not carry away, and retired to Machias. Soon after this, a body of men, despatched in barges from two armed ships, VOL. II.
81
642
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
at St. Geor- ge's river.
A. D. 1814. lying at the mouth of St. George's river, entered in the night- A bold feat time, without opposition, the fort below Thomaston, spiked the guns, destroyed the munitions of war and buildings, set fire to one vessel, and towed away two others. It is said the barges ventured within a mile of Knox's wharf, near the old Fort; and were only hastened back by the appearance of daylight. So bold was this adventure, that it excited a general and extensive alarm. Colonel Foote of Camden, ordered out a great part of his regiment, to guard and defend the neighboring coast and country ; a draft was made upon the militia of Bangor and its Castine and Machias alarmed. vicinity, to join the regular troops in the garrison at Castine ; and Machias had reason to expect a visit from the enemy every hour. Business at the latter place, was suspended ; many inhabitants made preparations to remove to places of more safety ; and Judge Campbell, one of the Justices of the Common Pleas, ap- pearing in the court-house, on the first day of the annual August term, found no suitors, and therefore adjourned the Court with- out day.
Expedition tine. To supply the troops at Halifax with provisions, for which they against Cas- were suffering, Capt. Barrie, in the Dragon, of 74 guns, was despatched to that station, from the Chesapeak, with 800 barrels of flour and other articles, attended by their captured vessels, which had on board some freights. On his arrival there, an ex- pedition was speedily planned against Penobscot and Machias. The fleet consisted of three 74s, the Dragon, Spenser and Bul- wark; two frigates, late from the Mediterranean, the Burhante and Tenedos ; two sloops of war, the Sylph and Peruvian ; an armed schooner called the Pictu; a large tender and ten trans- ports. The number of troops embarked were about 3,000 .* Lieutenant-General Sir John C. Sherbroke had the paramount, and Major-General Gosselin the immediate command of the land forces, and Edward Griffith, Esq. Rear-Admiral of the white, commanded the naval squadron.
August 26. Fleet leaves Halifax. Sept. 1. Arrives at Castine.
The fleet left Halifax, August 26, and on Thursday, Sept. 1, rode into the harbor of Castine,-sounded, and came to an- chor. So formidable was their appearance, that the troops at
* Some said there were 6,000 embarked. It is only certain that the for- ces consisted of the 62d and 98th regiments, 2 rifle companies of the 60th regiment, and a detachment of royal artillery ;- possibly in all, 3,500 men, besides women and children, attached to the army.
643
OF MAINE.
CHAP. XXVI.]
the garrison and their commander, supposing all resistance would A. D. 1814. be worse than futile, did not so much as wait for a summons to surrender, but instantly discharged the cannon, blew up the fort, and fled for safety up the bay. In the course of the day, a large body of troops were set on shore, possession was taken of the fortification, the court-house and other buildings were entered, and occupied as barracks for the soldiers, and parts of the best dwellinghouses were taken for the accommodations of the officers. A flag was soon despatched across the bay to Belfast with a mes- Belfast visit- sage to the people, that if they made no resistance, they should ed. not be injured. Still it was followed by General Gosselin with 600 men in two armed vessels, who took possession of the town. To parties of the soldiery, longing for fresh provisions, and eager for the enjoyment of a rural range, permission was given to visit the neighboring plantations ; and after revelling upon the rarities, the best and most palatable they could find, the whole party in a few days returned to Castine.
A part of the fleet, consisting of the Dragon, the Sylph and A squadron Peruvian, the Harmony, a transport, and a prize-tender, all un- the river proceeds up der Capt. Barrie, carrying about 500 infantry, riflemen, or Penobscot. " sharp-shooters," and a small train of light-artillery, under Col. Henry John and Major Riddle, proceeded without delay, up the waters of the Penobscot, and came to anchor in Marsh bay ; where the shipping lay, about four or five leagues below Bangor harbor, during the night.
A few weeks previously, the United States' corvette, Adams, The Adams a sloop of war, rated at 18 guns, and mounting 24, had been at Hamp- den, Capt. Morris. with extreme difficulty, taken up the river by her commander, Capt. Charles Morris, and was then lying at the mouth of the Sowadabscook stream in Hampden, for repairs. It seems she had met with the singular success of capturing, within the short space of three months, a ship, two brigs and a schooner ; and was afterwards, on the 17th of August, cast upon the shores of the Isle of Holt, in stress of weather, and was hardly preserved from total wreck. Capt. Morris was now engaged in refitting her for another cruise ; and as soon as tidings by a herald from Castine, were communicated to him and Brigadier-General Blake of Brewer, and the news spread, that the fleet was ascending the river, all had the best reason to suspect the object of the enemy was the destruction of the Adams, and the capture of two valu-
644
THE HISTORY
[VOL. II.
A. 1). 1814. able merchant-vessels, the Decatur* and the Victory, at anchor Decatur and off Hampden village. Morris, without loss of time, hoisted out Victory. the cannon upon Crosby's wharf, and formed two batteries, one Morris' bat- of 14 guns upon that place, and the other of 9 guns upon a com- teries. manding eminence, 50 rods below, and not far from the water ; from which he was able to rake destructively, any approaching ship. To the militia, who by the General's orders were coming in by companies, during the day, mixed with volunteers, Morris offered a supply of muskets and ammunition, if they were desti- tute ; and determining to make all possible resistance, he assigned to Lieut. Wadsworth the command of the hill-battery, and that on the wharf to Lieut. Lewis.
Defensive measures.
In the afternoon, he met Gen. Blake, his officers and some of the most influential citizens in a council of war; where he was much chagrined to find indecision and disunion, which, with the discouraging remarks made, directly tended to raise doubts as to the expediency of resistance, or our ability to repel the enemy. He and others assured their opposers, that no one ought to repose confidence of safety in British magnanimity :- ' No,' said he, ' our arms must be our defence ;- keep the enemy from outflank- ' ing me, and I will prevent his ascending the river, by the bat- ' tery ;- these are our respective duties and we must discharge ' them.' But the whole day was spent in query, without any specific well digested plan of operations, and without the energy indispensable to military control. No entrenchment,-nor yet the slightest breastwork was prepared ; nay, if there were in all the deliberations any real result, it was, that a line of battle be form- ed, resting the right wing on the meeting-house, and the left on the high ground towards the hill-battery. By the Adjutant's re- turns at night, the whole number in arms was about 500 militia- men from the vicinity, principally belonging to Colonel Grant's regiment, a part of Captain Trafton's troop of horse, and Captain Hammond's company of Artillery, with two brass four-pounders. They had also taken from the Adams, an 18 pound carronade, mounted, which was planted in the highway, near the meeting- house, and well manned.
The winds being light and adverse, the Dragon did not weigh
* The Decatur, Brown, master, had arrived here, July 19th, from Ro- chelle, with a rich cargo of brandy, wine, oil and silks.
645
OF MAINE.
CHAP. XXVI.]
anchor during the day; but the residue of the squadron with A. D. 1814. great exertion, ascended a couple of leagues, into Bald-hill-cove, Enemy land and landed at sunset, on the west bank, two miles below Morris' cove. at Bald-hill batteries, about 500 light troops, including a small train of Artil- lery. The militia continued under arms, and Morris' men stood by their guns, all night ; for it was reported by our videttes, that the enemy was unquestionably preparing to move both by land and water as early as daylight, and before, if favored by the wind and weather. But the night was rainy and dark, and the morning foggy ; so that the enemy did not appear upon the land in view of our lines, till about eight of the clock. As he The militia advanced with a quick step, our soldiery were commanded to their arms discharge reserve their fire till he was near, and then take aim. They dis- and retreat charged a few rounds; when it was perceived, that the line was broken near the centre, and the men had begun to retreat without orders. The example was contagious ; and all the ex- ertions of the officers to rally them anew, were without effect. Major Chamberlain, Captain Trafton, Adjutant Gilmore, and David J. Bent,* a non-commissioned officer of the Artillery, who had command of the great gun, in the highway,-all discovered activity and valor. Bent was among the last to leave the ground ; and most of the officers and many of the soldiers were filled with pain and regret to witness a retreat in the midst of confusion, which could not be without dishonor.
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