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 66
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The moment the armed vessels, which were preceded by bar- Morris re- ges full of soldiers, were discovered by Capt. Morris, he opened tires. a raking fire of grape and canister shot upon them from the bat- tery, which he continued with spirit and effect, for about 20 or 25 minutes ; when he perceived that the militia were retreating, and the British would, if he remained there, soon outflank him in the position taken; he, therefore spiked his guns, set fire to the Adams and the store-house, and retreated with his brave companions to Bangor, and thence, through a back woody road, to Kennebeck.
Within one hour after the firing was begun, the vessels and Pillage of the village of Hampden, were in full possession of the enemy.
* Chamberlain and Gilmore were afterwards Colonels of the Regiment; Trafton, General of the Brigade; and Bent, Major of the squadron of Ar- tillery.
Hampden.
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A. D. 1814. Hence, succeeded a scene of abuse, pillage and destruction, which were a disgrace to the British name. Sixty or seventy of the principal inhabitants were seized and put under hatches ; and at sunset, were removed to the cabin of the Decatur, where they were restrained during the night, without fresh air, fresh water, or any quiet sleep .- Next day, it is true, all except ten or twelve of the principal men, were admitted to their parol, while those still kept in custody, were put on board a prison-ship, where they were detained till another day, before they were set at lib- erty. The people were treated with abusive language,-their houses and stores were rifled,-their cattle killed,-some of their vessels were burnt,-and a bond was exacted from the town in the penal sum of $12,000, conditioned to deliver certain others at Castine, in October. Suffice it to say, that the losses and damages sustained by the people of Hampden, as subsequently ascertained, amounted to 44,000 dollars. In the midst of the rapine, a committee waited on Capt. Barrie, and told him they expected at his hand the common safeguard of humanity, if nothing more. He replied, ' I have none for you. My business ' is to burn, sink and destroy. Your town is taken by storm, and ' by the rules of war, we ought both to lay your village in ashes, ' and put its inhabitants to the sword. But I will spare your ' lives, though I mean to burn your houses.' A messenger was then despatched to General Sherbroke at Castine, upon the sub- ject, who returned an order not to burn without dire necessity.
The enemy's vessels proceeded without delay up the river ; and at the same time, about two thirds of the troops took up their march by land, towards Bangor. From this place, flags of truce were sent by land and water, to the advancing comman- ders ; but the best terms which could be obtained were 'uncon- ditional submission.' When the Peruvian, Sylph, Harmony and transports entered the harbor, a few congreve rockets were thrown from them over the village, two cheers were given, and all the shipping anchored at the mouth of the Kenduskeag. Barrie rode up on horseback, in company with Col. John and Major Riddle, at the head of the detachment. Arriving about noon, he first demanded of the inhabitants, provisions and barracks for troops ; and threatened to give them leave to plunder the village, if there was not a compliance with his requirements instantly. The Court-house, two school-houses, a dwellinghouse, and one
The enemy arrive at Bangor.
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other building were opened to receive them; cattle and sheep A. D. 1814. were butchered, and several barrels of pork were turned out to them from the stores ; all the bread in the bake-house was taken ; the best of liquors and garden vegetables were furnished ; and two of the better dwellinghouses were entered and occupied, as the resort of the commissioned officers. Also, the enemy took Their con- the town's stock of powder-the fieldpieces which were at .duct. Hampden,-a quantity of merchandize, previously seized by a custom-house officer for breach of the revenue laws,-upwards of $50 post-office money were exacted and taken, and also the military arms and other like articles owned by the inhabitants ;- also 191 men were compelled to report themselves, by their own signatures, prisoners of war. They were then admitted to their parol, and the safety of their families promised them, upon a stipulation, not to serve against his Britanic Majesty or his allies during the war, unless regularly exchanged.
No resistance had been made by the inhabitants of this town, Capitula- except by those in the military companies at Hampden, and bond given tion and therefore it was expected, that private rights and property would be respected. But owners were sadly disappointed ; for the soldiery and the marines coming ashore, entered ten or twelve stores on the southerly side of the Kenduskeag, and by Barrie's permission, plundered them of their contents. They also rifled such dwellinghouses as the inhabitants had deserted ; books and valuable papers were pillaged from lawyers' offices and other places ; and four vessels on the stocks in the village and its pre- cincts, were threatened with flames. At this menace, there was great perturbation ; as the flames of the vessels, enraged by a fresh breeze then blowing, would probably lay the whole village in ashes. To prevent the fatal catastrophe, the selectmen of the town, by the advice of their neighbors, promised to give the enemy a bond, professing to bind the corporation in the penal sum of $30,000 to deliver the four vessels at Castine, before the close of the ensuing October. When this bond was delivered, the next morning, which was the Sabbath, Capt. Barrie and Col. John, gave a written assurance, that all private property, both in Bangor and Orono, including every unfinished vessel, should be preserved, such only as were in the river being excepted.
The troops were kept under arms through the night,-and it Sept. 4. was truly a fearful one, to all the families, who knew nothing of take or de-
to the Brit- ish officers.
The enemy
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A. D. 1814. the arrangement. In the morning, preparations were manifestly stroy the shipping. on foot, to take away or destroy all the shipping in the harbor, and to leave the place. The movement commenced soon after noon. There were in the harbor at this time seventeen vessels, also three more on the Brewer side of the river not launched. These and ten others were burnt; and the rest taken down the river. Several were partly loaded ; some being moved only a short distance got ashore and were seen in flames at twilight and the dusk of the evening .* The losses and damages sustained by the people of Bangor, and the owners of vessels there, were found on a subsequent investigation to exceed 45,000 dollars.
Return to Hampden.
The enemy returned to Hampden in the afternoon, carrying with him, besides other booty, 18 or 20 horses; and the land- forces encamped during the night on the acclivity towards the hill battery. His stay in Bangor was about thirty hours. The next day, Sept. 5, the Decatur and the Kutusoff, at Hampden, were burnt ; and the soldiers and sailors committed upon the inhabitants various acts of wanton mischief, such as the destruc- tion of household-furniture, books and papers. They also broke off the pivots and breechings of the cannon on the hill, and threw those on the wharf into the river.
Sept. 6. Also at Frankfort.
On Tuesday the 6th, the enemy proceeded to Frankfort ; where the vessels came to anchor, and the Commodore demanded of the inhabitants 40 oxen, } 100 sheep and an unknown number of geese. He also required them to surrender their arms and ammunition-a part of which only was delivered ; and in general the sturdy republicans of this town were slow to obey any of his commands. Denouncing vengeance against them for their de- lays, he re-embarked the troops on the 7th, and returned to Cas- tine.
So much public indignation and chagrin were occasioned by
* Burnt, the brig Caravan ; schooners, Neptune's barge ; Thinks-I-to-my- self; Eunice and Polly ; the Gladiator ; the Three Brothers ; the Sloop Ranger ; three unlaunched vessels in Brewer and one in Bangor, not- withstanding the stipulation. There were also three others in the harbor, that were destroyed, names not recollected .= 14, in all. They carried away, the Bangor Packet; Schooner Oliver Spear ; the Hancock, which was re- taken ; the Lucy, which was lost; the Polly, which was ransomed, and the beautiful Boat Cato, which could not be recovered,=6.
t George Halliburton afterwards sued Frankfort for a yoke of oxen fur- nished the enemy at the request of the selectmen. But he lost his case and his oxen .- 14 Mass. T. Reports, A. D. 1817, p. 214.
Sept. 5. Mischief there.
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the feeble efforts,* which the militia at Hampden made, to resist A. D. 1814. the enemy's progress, that the government of the State,t insti- Sept. 7. A Court of tuted an examination into the conduct of General Blake by a Enquiry and military Court of enquiry. But they acquitted him of censure tial. Court-mar- and suspicion. Immediately the General put Colonel Grant and Major Chamberlain under arrest, who were subsequently tried by a Court Martial at the same place-and the command of the former was suspended two years; but the latter was honorably discharged.§
From the violent manner in which the enemy had seized upon The militia Penobscot, there were strong apprehensions, that he designed to Wiscasset. encamp at extend his conquests to the banks of the Kennebeck. The peo- ple in the seaports especially, were much alarmed ; and Major- General King of Bath, issued orders for the whole of his division to appear in arms, at Wiscasset, and other places of his appoint- ment. A part of General Sewall's division also was put in requi- sition ; and Wiscasset the place of general rendezvous, was pres- ently filled with soldiery. Several families hurried away con- siderable quantities of their goods and household effects, and left the town. The specie was removed from the vaults of the Bath and Wiscasset Banks. A detachment proceeded even to Penob- scot, and had a view of the fleet as it passed Orphan Island, on its return to Castine. But the enemy by way of precaution, had taken and placed conspicuously upon the decks of his vessels, several prisoners, who could not be mistaken, and whose exposure prevented a shower of musquetry from the highland shores. The motion of the enemy was constantly watched. Several sail were seen, Sept. 10 and 11, off Pemaquid ; and one party ac-
* Our loss was three or four killed ; and the British lost by death and desertion about 3 times that number.
t As the militia were called out by General Blake, and obeyed his or- ders ; those who appeared exacted pay for their services; and the State made them up a pay-roll of $1,200, which they received from the treasury.
This Court consisted of Major-General Sewall of Augusta, and Briga- dier-Generals Irish of Gorham, and Payson of Wiscasset. They sat at the Court-house in Bangor, about a week.
§ These military Courts were in the spring of 1816 .- The President of the Court Martial was Major-General Alford Richardson of North- Yarmouth, and John Wilson of Belfast was Judge Advocate. The Court which sat upwards of a week consisted of twelve members, besides two Supernumeraries, and a Marshal.
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A. D. 1814. tually landed at Camden, and another at Northport. The militia forces were continued in arms ; and Wiscasset was an encamp- ment, till it was known that most of the fleet had proceeded east- ward from Castine.
A Procla- mation by In the preparations made by Lieutenant-General Sherbrook the chief of- and Admiral Griffith, at the peninsula of Castine, for extensive ficers. establishments, they issued proclamations, dated Sept. 1st and 5th, by which they assured the people between Passamaquoddy and Penobscot,-that if they continued to dwell quietly at their homes and pursue their usual occupations, surrendered their arms and forbore to communicate intelligence to the Americans, they should have protection and enjoy safety ;- that all who would furnish the British troops with provisions should be ade- quately paid for them ;- that the municipal laws of the American government, established for the conservation of the peace, would continue in force till further orders ;- and that the civil magis- trates would be supported, as they had been previously, in the execution of their official trust and legal duties.
Castine, a port of en- try.
Castine was made a port of entry, and William Newton ap- pointed collector of the customs. There was also a general order promulgated, that all the ports eastward should be entitled to the same commercial privileges, as were enjoyed by other places in the British Provinces. The Registry of Deeds was diligently searched, to ascertain what lands were non-resident and subject to confiscation. All the United States' property was pronounced forfeit ; and as Mr. Hook, the collector, had the good fortune to make a safe and seasonable retreat, with the public papers, pos- session was taken of his estate as confiscated.
Sept. 12. Most of the ceed against Machias. On the 12th, Sherbrook and Griffith re-embarked about half enemy pro- of the troops, and with seven or eight sail, steered eastward; leaving Rear-Admiral Milne, Commodore of the remaining ships, and General Gosselin, commander of the new-conquered Pro- vince. The place of particular destination proved to be Machias ; where there was a fort garrisoned by 50 regular soldiers, several militia-men, and auxiliaries lately from Robbinston, commanded by Capt. Leonard, and defended by ten mounted 24-pound can- non. On the 13th, a party landed at Buck's harbor, a league or more below the fort, and took up their march thither, encouraged by a spirited fire, which was opened from the shipping. When the strength of the invading force, and the impossibility of de-
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fending the fort successfully, were perceived, Leonard and Lieu- A. D. 1814. tenant Morse destroyed seven of the guns, set the barracks on fire, blew up the fort, and retreated. Possession was immediately taken, and in the environs were found between 50 and 70 cattle,* seized probably when on their way to Eastport, for breach of the non-intercourse law, or in violation of the laws of war. The enemy now considered the whole country eastward of Penobscot, to be wholly subdued, and the fleet sailed for Halifax.
It is an incident worthy of being noticed, that Leonard, Morse, A feat at and Manning on their way from Machias westward, with their soldiers, finding a party of the British at Frankfort, sent there from Castine, to take away a cargo of cocoa and other articles, boldly seized and made twelve of them prisoners, retook and re- stored to the inhabitants 50 muskets ; and proceeding onward, delivered the prisoners to the Marshal at Salem.
The force of the British at Castine was subject to perpetual British at changes; vessels of war frequently arriving and departing. There Castine. were, however, seen in the harbor about this time, the Bulwark 74, a frigate, a brig and 14 transports. The number of troops were understood to be about 2,200. The central eminence of the peninsula had been chosen for the garrison; where they mounted more than 60 cannon. At the foot of the eminence northward, a canal of 10 or 12 feet in width and 80 rods in length, was excavated ; by which the Penobscot was connected with the river 'Biguyduce or Castine river, and the peninsula converted into an Island. This was done to prevent both desertion and surprize ; for the soldiers escaped as often as they had opportunity. East- port, well fortified, was under the command of Lieutenant-Colo- nel Gibbins, whose force was 600 men including a company of Royal Artillery.
Sherbrook, on arriving at Halifax, issued a long proclamation, Govern- Sept. 21, for establishing a Provincial government over his new Province, between New-Brunswick and the Penobscot, embracing brook. all the opposite Islands upon the coast. He thereby appointed Major-General Gerard Gosselin to command and govern the country ; directed all magistrates and civil officers to perform the duties of their trust, agreeably to the laws and usages of the
* The sight drew from one of the British officers, the witty remark, that, " this was the first fort he ever saw manned with bullocks.'
Frankfort.
ment insti- tuted by Gen. Sher-
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A. D. 1814. former government ; and required the inhabitants to take an oath before such officers as might be appointed,-to behave peaceably and quietly, and not take arms against his Britanic Majesty. Should any individuals refuse to be sworn, or be found affording assistance to the Americans, or travelling without a pass, they would be subjected to military law. Or if any vessel should be caught in trading at any other place, or in entering any other port, than Castine, it would be forfeited and condemned as a prize. But all owners of vessels, who took the oath required, might have a coasting license from Penobscot to New-Brunswick. Foreign trade in British bottoms would be allowed ; they being with their cargoes subject to the same navigation-laws at Castine as at Halifax .*
October 5. Legislative Session.
At a special session of the General Court, convened Oct. 5, to consider the unhappy condition of the eastern conquered country, it was resolved first to adjourn the November term of the Common Pleas from Castine to Bangor, in January ;- all commit- ments were ordered to be in the gaol at Augusta, and all deeds to be recorded, either at that place or at Bangor. Upon the subject of routing the enemy from Castine, the Senate believed it to be inexpedient to make the attempt ; for if it met with suc- cess, it must be at a great sacrifice of lives. A question was also raised, whether James Campbell, a Senator at the board from Washington County, had not been compelled to take an oath of submission to the government of the enemy, incompati- ble with his duties as a legislator ; and whether Martin Kingsley of Hampden, a Senator from Hancock, had not likewise been constrained to subscribe himself a prisoner of war .- In the short discussion had upon this subject, it was said, that General Bur- goyne, after he was captured and returned home, took his seat in Parliament,-and the cases of the two Senators were referred to the next session, and never afterwards revived.
October 13. Oath of al- legiance re- people.
General Gosselin, when he received Sherbrook's proclamation, issued another, Oct 13, by which he appointed the Selectmen of quired of the Sullivan, to administer the prescribed oaths of allegiance or neu- trality, to all the male inhabitants of sixteen years old and up- wards, within the new Province, requiring them to report their
* Sherbrook also commanded all collectors and receivers of public monies or taxes, to pay them over to his collector of the customs at Cas- tine,
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doings, and return rolls of their names. But the Selectmen A D. 1814. were unwilling to perform such an ungracious task; and sets of men were appointed for the purpose in different places, who to some extent acquitted themselves of the trust.
at Castine.
There were now large and daily importations of English goods Trade and articles of traffic, into Castine ;- particularly, Nov. 3d, a Nov. 3. fleet of merchant vessels arrived there from the river St. John, and from Eastport, under convoy of the Furicuse brig of war. Provisions and lumber in great quantities were brought hither to market, and exchanged at a high price for European fabrics and colonial produce ; and the duties* on dry goods ex- acted from residents, were 2 and 1-2 per cent., and from non- residents double.
But one of their vessels, a British sloop out of Halifax, with
A British vessel taken.
a cargo of bale goods invoiced at $40,000, on her passage to Castine, was captured by Major Miller and an armed crew in a barge from Lincolnville, 3 leagues out, and carried into Cam- den. Informed of the capture, Capt. Mountjoy, in the Furieuse of 38 guns, steered down from Castine to Camden, and demand- ed a return, or restoration of the cargo captured,-threatening if they did not comply, to lay the town and likewise Lincolnville, in ashes. The district Judge, Sewall, was consulted upon the subject ; and he declared the goods ought not to be re-delivered. Defeated in his purpose, and not daring to execute his threats, Mountjoy seized at Camden, two of the Selectmen as hostages, and carried them to Castine ; declaring they should be detained till the goods were either paid for or restored. But he found the detention futile, and at length suffered them to return home.
All intercourse between the eastern and western sides of Pe- nobscot river, was studiously prevented ; excepting what was in- ped at the dispensible to the local condition of the bordering inhabitants. river. The United States' mail was stopped at the river ; and the Post- master General, Sept. 26, ordered the mails bound farther east- ward, to be opened at the Post-offices nearest to the territory controlled by the enemy, and not to remail, nor send any letters
* The duties on rum were 38 cents per gall. ; on sugar, 120cts. per cwt. ; on molasses, 3cts. per gall. ; on brandy and gin, 43cts. per gall .- The price of fresh beef was from $5 to $6 per cwt .; of flour the same as in Boston; of merchantable boards, $10 per thousand .- Molasses was re- tailed in Castine at 75cts. per gall., and other articles in like proportion.
Mails stop-
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A. D. 1814. or papers thither, till the impediments were removed. On the day appointed by law, Nov. 7, for electing an eastern member to Congress, a few places east of the river had meetings and exer- cised the right of suffrage; but most of the towns, in conse- quence of doubts and their peculiar condition, were not con- vened.
A custom house open- den, Mr. Hook, the collector, opened a custom-house office at Hamp- ed at Hamp- den, for the entries and clearances of all neutral vessels ;- and the Swedish being of that character, was entitled to the privilege, and Peleg Tolman of Bath, was accredited as Swedish Consul. In this way, goods were continually passing from Castine to Hampden, where they were regularly entered and the duties paid. The Secretary of the Treasury sanctioned the practice, stating, that ' neutral vessels and cargos, coming from any part of ' the British dominions, might be admitted to an entry in every 'part of the United States ; the port from which she obtained a ' clearance, whether it be real or colorable, from a friendly or a ' hostile place, could make no difference in the case. But no 'vessel could be permitted to enter into the coasting trade, nor ' pass from one district to another in possession of the enemy, 'without the requisite documents and papers, prescribed by ' acts of Congress.' Hence a great trade was carried on from Castine to the western side of the Penobscot, during November and the winter months ; goods were abundant in market and cheap ; and live stock fit for beef was in great demand, and brought a high price. Hither traders and speculators thronged to procure goods and merchandize ; and taking with them eastern bank bills, drew from the vaults so much specie, the only money receivable at Castine, that the banks were soon under the necessity of stop- ping payment. A discredit was of course given to the bills, till the real cause was understood, when they so far revived as to pass current between the banks, and between debtor and creditor. In prosecuting the trade, gold and silver to a great amount, were brought from the westward into the District ; so that specie was found, in the change of times, to be more plenty than at any for- mer period.
A great trade through the winter.
Smuggling.
But when the river became passable on the ice, smuggling was undertaken with obstinate determination. Dry goods pur- chased at Castine, were carried, or conveyed over the river at different places, and at all hours of the night-a practice, which
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the collector was in duty bound to prevent. To cite an instance A. D. 1814. of the difficulties springing from this illicit traffic :- An agent of the collector seized upon a loaded sleigh, when crossing the river at Hampden about daybreak, and was therefore on com- plaint of the enraged owner, arrested for highway robbery, ex- amined by magistrates of his own selection, and sent by them in the severity of winter, to close confinement at Augusta ; where he was detained till liberated, on a writ of Habeas Corpus. There were also frequent attempts to drive across fat beeves to the enemy ; and several were seized by order of the Collec- tor, afterwards libelled and condemned. One drove of 28 oxen from the westward, which was taken by him into custody, was rescued from the keepers in the night time, by a party of 15 men. In short, such was the extent of trade, that the sums paid or secured for duties at Hampden in five weeks, amounted, as it was said, to 150,000 dollars.
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