The Portland daily press., 1864-08-20
SouTH WEsr HARBoR. Anr. hi lSI

To haste the hour when war shall cease
Aud bring the olive branch OF peace.
But, brethren, Closer form the ring
And join another song sing;
With souls before stand,
And see leprous. traitor hand
Raised a robhrr arm to tear
Our nations ensi IN huttering there,
Or blot star, or make dim,
Then welcome famine, gaunt and grim,
Aud welcome FIRE, and welcome flood,
And welcome deeper seas Of blood
The poem was received with great applause
By his auditors.
Hon. Mr.. Patterson OF New Hampshire
aud Hon. Mr.. Woodbridge OF Vermont follow.
I'd with brief and eloquent addresses. and at
10. IS we arrived at Bucksport, where we
stopped and crossed in the horse ferry boa
O inspect Fort Knox. The works are pro-
crossing with rapidity aud thoroughness, un
der the direction of Luther II. Eaton, Esq.,.
civil engineer, who Is local supervisor. The
fort must prove impregnable to any naval
force, both on account Of its commanding
situation and the strength OF its construction.
The stone work is beautifully executed, the
joints are perfect and the angles finely and
regularly cut. Seen from the river, the APP
pesrance is very imposing and picturesque,
which effect is greatly heightened by the
dark colored native stone employed Ia the
rubble walls. The garrison is under command
of Lieut.. Thomas ii. Palmer of the LIST Me-
Heavy Artillery. Fort Knox is intended to
mount 100 guns.
Leaving Backsport, the cutter fired a sa-
Lutte in response to that given on arrival, and
at two o'clock arrived at Castne, where we
we're greeted by the waving of handkerchiefs
from charming group Of ladies at the Block
House, and by salute from the battery and
the cutter Toucey, Captain Martin.
On landing. the party was received by the
citizens, who formed in procession and escort
ed them first to Old Fort George, aud thence
10 grove near the Block House, on the Point,
where they were received by the ladies aud
entertained with an excellent collation., after
which the Rev. Mr.. Ives addressed the com
mittee on the importance of Castine Harbor
and its needs of defense, claiming it as the
best harboron the coast and asserting that
il has is feet more water than any other.
Mr.. Rice, the chairman, responded, intro
dicing Hon. Fred. L. Woodbridge, of Yer
mont, who addressed the citizens eloquently
for half an hour, after which the party were
introduced socially to the ladies OF Casiine,
and the assemblage returned TO the landing.
Castine is at present defended by battery
built on the site OF the old American Fort.
Directly north of il is the old Baron de Gas
tine Fort, built in 1867. On the summit OF
the hill is old Fort George, built by the Fog
ish In the revolution, and rebuilt by them Ia
the war Of 1912. One of the old inhabitants.
now In his hundred,h year, assisted in draw
ing the first stick OF timber for building thi,
fort in the revolution. He Is an old re.olu-
tionary pensioner, by the name Of Hutchins.
We left Casline at 80, amid hearty cheers
from tue citizens, which were as heartily re-
turned, and a salute returned to the Cutter
aud battery.
AT $40 the Mahoning arrived at Belfast,
where a committee OF citizens, OF whom Mr..
Abbott, Esq, was chairman, received the
party at the steamer and conducted them to
Pierce's Hall, where he presented them to
Mayor A. q. Jewett, who welcomed them In
a brief speech. Mr. Rice responded briefly.
after which the hospitable citizens invited the
gentlemen of the expedition TO their private
residences and quietly made them at home in
the happiest manner.
At o O'Clock soiree was given at Pierce's
Hall, where the Mayor severaily introduced
the Hon. Mr.. Rollins, of New Hampshire.
the Hon. Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, and the
Hon. Mr.. Rice, of Massachusetts,, who enter
.tained the audience very acceptably until
eleven o'clock. The Hon. Mr.. Jenckes, OF
Rhode Island, was then called upon, but re-
fused to detain the party from their dancing
until persuaded by unanimous vote of the
ladies expressed by waving OF handkerchiets
Mr.Jencke. addressed the ladies for 9uarterof
an hour, and was listened 10 with much inter
est, after which Mayor Jewett announced that
the remainder OF the evening would be de-
voted to dancing, which announcement was re-
ceived with enthusiastic applause by his visi
tors, especially by the gallant officers Of the
Cutter, who throughout the trip have quite
eclipsed the Congressional Committee in ac-
quiring the favor OF the ladies, always except
Ing the honorable members from New York
and New Jersey.
The dancing continued until halt past one,
when the gay company separated, our party
averrlng, as they have done in every place,
that the ladies were the most beautiful they
had yet seen, which at least proves that the
gentlemen are growing more susceptible as
they travel through the east. 1t is certain
that the Belfast ladies are all beautiful, and
the scientific gentleman OF the expedition,
who Is authority on every subject, asserts
that 'each is more beautiful than the other"
Judging from the attention bestowed upon
your correspondent, who was fortunate
enough to be invited to the hospitable man
sion OF Hiram Chaae, Esq, the members OF
the party were made perfectly comfortable
during their stay. aud this morning at s45
the Gutter steamed out of Belfast Bay bound
Tor Mt. Desert, bearing with them the best
wishes of the Belfast people as well as their
worthy Mayor.