Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1856-06-19
The Kennebec Sloop.

The River Kcnncbcc, in Maine, is without
rival in New England, either for its historic as
sociatiOns or the beauty Of its natural scenery.
1t rises among the passes of the Highlands
that form the northeast boundary line between
the United States and Canada, and after flow
ing through n romantic region for many leagues,
enters a valley of surprising beauty through
which it mramdcrs between level intervals Of
the richest vcrtlurc.
The capital Of the State, Augusta. is on
this river, as are also several nourishng villages
and Bath, n iourishing town, l6 miles from the
mouth Of the river. it is in the vicinity of
Bath, and ono of the fortrcsscs ut the mouth
OF tho river, that We lay the scene of our story.
There is fortress near the mouth of this
river, just Oh the skirts of the sea, called Fort
Uunucwcll. II is now dis,,nnt,vl, and is u
celebrated resort in July weather for the Ken
nebeckcrs. 1t was erected during the last
war to defend the entrance to tho river. 1t is
situated on q low beach, which. half n mile
aorthward, is su,monntcd by hold hcudand
a hundred feet in height, on which also irown
the ruins Of an old battery The scenery
around is made up of rock island, bold head
lands, the river penetrating far inland, the
ocean spreading its bosom away southeast
tftT u'l lptthcT HtaN Us III u were
earth's great heart 4 few Iishcrmen's huts
dot the sides of the shores, aud the tower of
S-guin Light gtt'rs white upon the head of
It's porInise-slaped island The fishers skill
rocks lightly on the sea, and upon the hazy
horizon rests sail or two so distant that they
seem fixed like shining pinnaccs of white mar
bic lifting their tops above the ocean.
At the period Of our story. which WINS near
the close OF the last war, two British armed
vessels had been cruising of the river some
days, occasionally running close in with the
fort, so as TO draw its Ore, aud then lacking
and standing scawnrd again. One of these
vessels was sloop of war, and the other brig
Of sixteen guns They cifcctually bloc kadcd
the river, aud for some time no vessels had
either come out or gone in. Everything was
bruaS ht to. even to the SIN Ill fishing boat, and
the strctest vigilance was maintained from the
very first day OF their arrival on the cuast-
Oac morning in June just us the sun was Rising
from the sea, hinginy his fiery spears far across
the sparkling waves. knding up every object
upon which they It, the two English vessels
were seen standing towards the mouth of the
river, under top gallant sails with the wind free
on the starboard quarter. Tacy were about
half n mile apart, their courses conv,rging to
point. The point was small kcnucbcc
sloon hugging the land aud endcuvoring to
make the entrance of the river. Her broad
mainsail was flung to the wind like great
white wing. aud she was sweeping across the
water like gull flying before storm. She
had been discovered 10y the cruisers ouly few
sainutcs before, when they tackled together,
aud pressed after to intercept her. making sail
as they went Fifteen minutes more of the
ol,scurty of the morning, and the adventurous
sloop would have got into the river aud under
the guns Of the fort, uuseen or seen too late to
he tut OF.
II was beautiful sight to behold the three
vessels in motion, one small, unar,ned, aud with
hut three sails to help her flight, bounding
along close under the and-the others tall,
frowning with batteries, aud covered with eau.
vas from deck to truck
The sloop was two miles in shore Of the
cruisers, and about the same distance westward
Of the harbour-bcing when discovered, just
stealing round the cape Small Point. She had,
therefore, the same distance to run to gain shell
ter. that her pursucrs had to come up with her
present position.
The cruisers stood on for about FIVE minutes
9 after lacking in the same convcrging lines.
when the corvette sgnalized the brig, which
Immediately luiled and bore up four points cast
ward, while the former kept her FIRST course
The object had in view by this manGuvre
OF the brig, il was plainly evident to the fisher.
men who, from the rocks on which their huts
perched, were watching with interest the pur.
suing and the pursued, was TO intercept her
for they had quickly discovered tina. direc,
chase would be Intellectual, as the sloop showed
hersslf to be a very fast sailer. So the brig
stood straight towards the mouth, hoping t.
reach II in advance of the sloop. while the slooI
Of war kept on to capture her If she should
turn back and attempt run in between Hans
well and Portland
We shall be TUX, darned II we amt, Dea
con" cooly remarked tail, ungainly youth o
nineteen, Who with dipper fastened TO ter
foot handle, was bailing up water from the ses
sDd throwing Il over the mainsail Of the sloop
te swell the threads Of the canvass and make i
better hold the wind. As be spoke. he paused