Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-06-16
The MachiaS Centennial.
THE FIRST NAVAL BATTLE OF TIE REVOLT



Saturday was Gall day in the town OF
Machias. Me. Tie good people of that
and other neighbo BRING towns assembled to
celebrate the achievement of the men of
4 century ago. who engaged in what may
be called the first naval encounter of the
Revolution. and captured the British cut
ter Mar@aretta, in defiance Of King
George and all his forces 1t was bold
and heroic act, wotIv of being commcmo-
rated in this centennial season; and the
people Of Maine are justified in recalling
with pride the men and the circumstances
connected with it.
The town of Machias was in 1175 9
Struggling settlement of lumbermen |,
had been settled but twelve years, and it.
population included only eighty families
all tod. But the patriotic spirit which
actuaed the men Of Concord and LeXng
ton WAS lust as strong among the hardy
lumberman Of MachiaS. They We're Yam
KEGS, through and through. and the a>pi
ration for liberty was uppermo>t in theil
desires. Coa>iing >chooncrs had brought
the news that the Americans and British
had come into armed conflict in the neigh
borhood of Boston. and the men Of Machia
gathered together to listen to the story o
the massacre at Lexington, the fight a
Concord, and the hastv retreat of the
British troops 10 Boston. hirras>el and
bounded by the angry Middlesex farmers
1t was a thrilling story, and found cage
listeners. Full Of patriotic sympathy
they promptly raised Il Liberty Pole. t,
show their adherence to the America,
cause, and their readiness to take a hand il
the fight for freedom.
About this time the British cutter Mar
garetta, with a crew of forty men and al
armament of twenty guns, anchored il
the harbor. She had in convoy two slool.
which We're to be laden with lumber an,
taken to Boston. where the lumber wa
nerd'd /" construct barracks for TIN
British troops. The captain of the cutter
when he saw the liberty pole and under
stood what it meant, ordered it to be takel
down. threatening to fire upon the town
his command was d>obeytd. \ tow
meeting was held, and resolved. with EN-
pht>i,, that the liberty pole should stand
\ secret meeting of the citizens of Machia
and some Of the ncyhboring settlement
was held in the woods and il was resolve,
with equal empha>i> that the Margaret;
and the two >lopr> mus be captured. Oh
the next Sunday, June II, it was eXpecte,
hat the British officers would at;cn,
meeting in the r,IIe village church. and
| plan wa~ formed to surround the buildin!
with armed men. AMI take them prisoners
Bat Captain Moor. of the Mar~lre,tu saw
he men gathering. an with his officer
AMI ESCAPED to his vessel lie wciuhe,
anchor imme,.ittrlv and proceeded dow
the river. 4 crew of volunteers, number
M forty N II, under the leadership O
Capt. Jeremiah O'Brien. took possession
Of the slr"p Uni.v and started after til
Mar-arrttl next morning. Another Grey
with Il schooner from East River. >tar,e
IN company with them. but the vessel 20
,-round, and ha no share in the battle
The story of the engagement which fol
owed We can best give in the words O
! Hon. George +. Talbot. who delivered tn,
/ lllr..>> III thn ntl1.l.1.-tian : atn1l4r