Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-12-27

oonlult me, the Seleetmen OF Portland,
Jultices, &c
As yon are te1f1cd Of Gneb a4vice yon
e0n qoitb all p5op,iey al avi.bOat reie,7s
In all cafes | am ready and willing,
i" heart in hand" 10 give tina, aiiihance 10
my country and fellow folders, which is
in my power; bit eo1eeipe in tbe preient
CAFE you are amply provided avitb authority
and ad7iee
am with due refpsd,
Your very humble fervant,
(Slgned) JAMES MERRILL.
In the COURT Of the Summer the wh0le
of the United States troops were marched
of. and Forts Prebe ard Scammei were
lett entirely deffitutt, as the following letter
will prove.
Portland, Aug. a8th, 1873.
To The Portland COMMITTEE of Safety.
Gentlemen,
There being no troops in Forts Preble
aud Scaunel that are fl for duty, ] would
inggeit the pTopIi.ty OF Iurriag out forty
volunteers from the town, h guard the
forts during the night and until they are
rtliyed by detachment OF U.S!ates troops.
lhave the honor 10 be
very respectfully Gentlemen,
your obedisnt ierydnt,
(Signed,) Id LEARNED. Col
Commanding.
Should the men turn out, Capt Ken-
dali will have orders TO take command OF
them when they arrive at the FoIts
The forts and harbor remained in this
defenceleis fate, with the exception of
Jew vocational voluateers) until the 18th
Spite mber. When the alarm was gwen
ofthe approach Of the enemy-two vefels
OF war actually approached within gun
ihot of the forts-a Gag of truce was
hpted, boat dispatched from one of
thsm TO Fort SCANNED, aud when the enc
mics boat landed At the fort, there were
neither men or officers TO receive them.
The lhips boats At that time might with
all cafe have poGciled themfelves of both
forts. II was reported by order of Col.
Learned that notwithstanding the "white
flag" he demand was of a hottie na-
ture." There happened to be regular
meeting ofthe town the fame afternoon-
the iubjeet was takea mp aud the following
vote pliied unanimously.
1T legal nestirg eftbe Tababifant5 oftbe
foSva Of Portland, on Monday The I3tb
Sept 1873, o'clock p. M an the Court
H0sle, ID mel Fucker, Ell qVaJ eb2jen
Aoderafor.
Yofed, The thanks Of the town be given.
10 the Volunteers who terved a, Forts
Scammei and preble, the ten days lait patt
Yo.sd, That the Commlffee of Safety.
oil the town OF Portland, he reqneftrd 10
procure imme9itfsy fufficleut hhmber
OF men To nan Forts SCANNED and Preble,
and 10 engage them for fueh term as ihall
be neceiiiy, not exceeding lxiy days, aud
that the expences thereof be dsf.ayed by
the town and that the Treafurer be in
hrutted tn make tuch advances az fllall be
neceiihy tor carrying this vote INFO exc.
cutlon. And that the faid committee be
further inIlrutted, to make application "a
Big. Gen. IrIlh TO caufe a detachment of
militia, tor the protection of the town OF
Portland, al /om rs may Be.
loigntd) SaML. HOMER,
2oaoa Clerk.
In conformity TO the innfuctiors from
the town, the committee OF fafety diipa,ch.
ed letter 20 Brig Gen. Irifh, incloling
the vote OF the town. requefing him forth
with 10 order out two companies of Ia.
fsutry.
Gen irilh proceeded, without delay, to
make the draft he informed the Com
mander in chiefof his proceedings, and
the following reply was made:
hdiafant CcreyaPJ Office.
BosToN, SEPT I8, 1913.
To Brig. Gen. James Irish.
"SrR-I acknowledge the receipt of
your letter dated the I4th inf. incloling
the proceedings Of Portland
IN TIE jcUerai orders 10 qvbieb yos ,tfir,
you aViH find a guide Under sqtyy ereapI-
fame IF iapqfos that may occur.
l am preparing communication 10 his
ExceIlency, the Commander in Chief, m
which fhall enclofr your letter and the
proceedings Of Pouland,, to be lranimtted
by the next mail"
lam respectfully, sir
your obedient fervant.
(Slgned) J. BROOKS.
Al this intereaing crifs Gen. Irib acted
with deciiion and promptitude which
does him honor. lie however did not act
without coniultipg the Mai Gen. as will
appear by tn. fuhjoined certificate.
Portland, Dec 10, 1914.
certify upon my honor, that at the
time made the late Detachment I con-
fulted with Maj. Gen. Merrill on the fub.
ieet. That he did fay" IL qVaJ my daty
10 order laid Deiaebment and tbat ought
10 10 do"
(Signed) JAMES IRISH, jr.
Gen. Iriih declares that he wrote to the
Maj Gen. for directions how to difpofe of
the Detachment Geo. Merrill rtfuled to