The Republican journal., 1874-08-20
The Siege of Castine, or the Penob-
scot Expedition ef iT79.
BY JOSEPH WILLI.AMNu.

naval force, armed cruisers, emerging
from the numerous harbOrs that mdent the
coast of Maine. became very formidable
to the enemy. Not only was English
commerce injured. but transports laden
with supplies for the troops were frequent
ly intercepted and captured 70 chect,
such annoyances. the British Ministry de-
termined to establish 4 military post in
this quarter. which would command the
eastern district Of Massachusetts, prevent
anticipated incursions into the neighbor-
ing Provinces. and furnish secure refuge
for the loyal inhabitants. An insufficient
force for the protection of Nova Scotia
prevented the execution OF this plan until
l.'9. In June of that wear, three sloops
OF war. commanded by Captain Henry
Mowatt, the notorious destroyer OF Fal-
mouth, accompanied by several transports,
containing seven hundred rank and file,
under charge Of Gen Francis Mclean,
sailed from Halifax, with instructions, II
met by an expected squadron from New
\ orh, to invest Casco Bay otherwise, to
take possession of PcnobScot Alter wait
ing several days off Fox Islands for the
anticipated re- enforcement. the fleet pro-
cecded up the Bay, and on the fourth an
niverSary of the battle OF Bunker Hill,
came TO anchor in the harbor Of Maia-
Bagadncc opposite the site of the beauti-
iul village Of Castine, then 4 plantation
of some twenty houses Mowatt was well
acquainted with the spot, Twenty wears
before, he witnessed its formal occupation
in the name ot the King. by Gov ernor
POWnat. and in III, he again visited the
vicinity. and dismanllcd the lnm at the
mouth Of penohscot river.
The few inhabitants OF Bagadnce we're
generally on the side OF Independence
While Boston wa7 besciged they had in
CURED the displcasurc Of cen. Da@e, hv
capturing live aloops which lie had >enl
for wood, and conveying their crews Il.
prisoner, Of war Ia The American head
quarter, ii Cambridge 70 punish them.
may have been ona reason tnr iNvcstjn"
their settlement
With martial music, and ihri. arms and
uniforms Gliltering in the raw oi the om
mcl sun, the troops madr IN ilnpo in@
display n they landed At what Is now the
tool Of Main street. An eye e-Wllne~- rr-
lalr> that they seemed frightened he~itat-
INC. .,nd looking from right and lett - Il
expecting to be fired upon from h;hinl
ihe lree~ no opposition however wa
offered and they were soon Pncanp2d on
the heights At a ~hort distance hcl0w.
an opening in the sheet OF lorcsl marked
the spot where, almost contemporary with
their settlement ut plymouth, the Pilgrim
fathers had erected 4 trading house There,
36 oss "rmf GarGe 6T The cG Il IF d nl Hp9 r9
mantle episodes in our colonial history,
while on the margin Of neighboring
hrool, were 10 he seen the ruins ol st.
Ca9tn's fortress, and Of the humble chapel
OF 'Our Lady OF Holy Hope" whose
corner stone had been conSecraled in l643,
by the pious Father Leo, of Pari7, in the
mission Of Capuchins
The peninsula OF Bagaducc. or Gastine.
is situated about twenty miles from the
ontermost islands, on the east side Of Pc
nobscot Bay, and six miles from the mouth
of Penobscot river. Unobstructed By any
higher land, its bold outlines are promi-
nent 1T q great distance, from all direc-
tions On the sontheasterlv side, the river
Bagaduce, or more properly, an estuary,
forms confluence with the bay. Without
great violence TO its outlines, the share of
the peninsula may be represented under the
figure Of an isosceles triangle; the north
east point constituting its apex. The
northwest side is connected with the main
by a marsh about eighty rods in width,
which is oyeriiowed at high tide The
base, at the southwest, is formed bv Pc
nobscot bay. Proceeding southWestward-
ly from the apex, as the land expands in
width ii also increases in height, until it
becomes about two hundred feet above the
level Of the shore. The base, therefore,
on the bay, is rugged and broken, pre-
senting to the eye of an approaching
spectator, 4 bluff, precipice or clif-like
appearance. Along the whole length, it
is almost as inaccessible as the heights Of
Quebec The dimensions of this triangle
are about one mile and three-quarters,
measuring the perpendicular, from apex
to base; and the base itself is about one
mile. A ridge proceeds through the cen
tral line of the peninsula, having a gentle
declivity towards the river and harbor. On
the highest part of the ridge is the spot
selected by the British for their fort.
General Mclean Immediately com.
mcnced fortitying the peninsula in the
most impregnable manner At the shore,
he erected magazines for provisions and
military stores. and two batteries. covered
by his ships. On the heights We're drawn
the outlines Of a regular fortress, called
Fort George. Its area within the rampant,
was to be rectangular, the length Of each
| side being about two hundred and fifty
| feet, with bastionS at each angle, in
| tended ior bomb-proof apartments IhG
plan contemplated walls Of earth ans
| stone, twenty feet high. exclusive ri :
deep ditch which enyironed them A
heavy growth OF trees principally spruce
covered the spot This was removed bl
the neiohboring inhabitants. many o
| whom. in response TO 2 proclamation ion
| that purpose from the British commander
thus obtained indemnify Tor past dis
loyalty, and protection in their future
promised allegiance
Intelligence of the invasion soon reachet
| Boston. where it created deep excitomen
| and Indignation. Massachusetts, like an
cient Sparta who hoasted that she ha'
never seen the smoke OF an enemy camp
made it her boast that the enemy ha,
never vet been able 10 maintain toothol,
on her territory, and the united sentimen
of government and people was to avenge
at any sacrifice, the violated sancity of he
soil. On their own responsibility, th
General Court at once undertook an eX
pedition to eXpel the intrnders. Such wa
the general enthusiasm and confidence o
success. the authorities neither consulte'
any military experts nor requested tn
aid of any Continental troops in this i'm
portant enterprise Even the advice o
Washington was not asked
Directions were forthwith given TO In