The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-06-14
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o. Bren was chosen commander by unanimous
consent" Foster procured his schooner, called
the Falmouth Packet ready in due season; but
before the attack was commenced on the Mar
garetta, his vessel got aground, leaving O'Brien
TO push on to the encounter sngle-handed.
The crew of O'Brien's vessel were about
forty in number-most of them undisciplined
in war, especially at sea, and were unprovded
with more than three rounds of ammunition.
The plan was to put the soop alongside and
carry the Margaretta by boarding. On ap-
preaching the enemy, who was prepared Tor
action, Capt. Moore hailed the sloop TO know
their demands, adding that if they approached
nearer he would fire. O'Brien called on him to
surrender, while Stevens, his Lieutenant re-
piled to Moore that he might "tire away and
/ damned" Capt Moore seemed desirous of
avoiding a collision, and the breeze from the
northwest freshenlng, he crowded all SAIL In
jibing the Margaretta carried away her main
bOom but continued to stand on and ran into
Holmes bay, where Capt. NJ, took q spar out
of a vessel lying there, in charge of Capt..
Avery, who was pressed on board as pilot Of
the Margaretta. He repairs being speedily
made, and the wind freshening, she stood out
to sea, in the hopes of escaping the sloop,
which again hove in sight But the sloop was
the better sailer Capt Mo0re cut away his
boats, to relieve his vessel, but this proving in
effectual, he opened fire on the sloop. The
fire was returned with animation and good eff
feet by o. Bren and his daring crew. Soon af-
forwards the two vessels came together. A
short conflict now took place with musketTy,
Capt. Moore throwing hand greIades in per-
son. He was, however, soon shot down, and
the people of the sloop soon boarded the Mar
garetta. The first man who got on board was
John O'Brien, and the second was Joseph
Getchell-the latter often saying, in his after
life, that he did rot know which foot was on
board first, his or O'Brien's
Capt. Moore having been mortally wounded
after brave defence, the next IN command,
young midshipman by the name of Stilling-
fleet, was so terrified that he jumped down
into the cabin, leaving the crew Of the sloop to
take possession without further resistance. OF
our adventurous band two were killed and
three wounded. On board thu Margaretta
there were four persons killed beside Capt.
Moore, who was mortally wounded-Capt.
Avery, who was pressed on board as pilot,
being one of the killed.
The Margaretta was triumphantly brought
up to this village, on the same day she was
taken, which was on Monday, the 18th of June
The crew of the Margaretta were brought to
Maehias as prisoners of war, where they re-
maienG till July following. Capt. Moore was
Immediately landed, and every care and atten-
ton was bestowed upon him. He was carried
to the house of Stephen Jones, where he died
he next day.
About the same time an English tender
arrived in the bay, and the Captain came on
shore to inquire for the Margaretta. Capt.
Stephen Smith, with small party near Bucks
Harbor, waylaid and took him prisoner, and
O'Brien and Foster with their two vessels,
took both the tender and her crew. The crew
were afterwards sent as prisoners to Falmouth.
In 1777, Sir George Collier with a feet of
four vessels, arrived in the bay for the purpose
of avenging upon the people of Machias the
capture of the Margaretta. Leaving the fleet
below, he came up the river to reconnoitre or
attack the town, in boats. The inhabitants
had prepared for defence. A breastwork had
been thrown up at the Rim, just below the
fort, an iron chain suspended by a long boom
was stretched across the river, and fastened to
a rock ON each side. Col. Foster commanded
at the breastwerk on the Rim. After an en-
gagement with the boats, with various ac-
counts of the British, but with none killed
and but one wounded of Col. Fosters men, the
boats retired. The next day the British ad-
vanced with an armed brig, and under a heavy
fire of cannon landed large body of men who
passed through the fort, broke the booms, and
after burning and destroying wo dwelling
houses and a building used as q guard house,
re embarked on board, apparently satisfied
with the glory of their exploit The brig sailed
up the river under continuous fire from each
bank, Col Allan with the Indian allies on the
right bank above Col Foster, and Capt. Smith
on the left bank. The crew of the brig were
unable to land. Once they attempted it in a
long boat, but Neptune, noble Indian under
Capt. Smith, after having repeatedly requested
the privilege of firing at the boat crew, and
being denied until they should come nearer, at
last, breaking over the authority of his COM
man1er, with hasty expression of Indian elo-
quence mingled with Yankee profanity, rush
ed into the river to his waist and raising his
long gun with deadly aim, fired; one officer fell
in the boat the boat returned to the brig, and
the brig returned down the river.
On arriving near the fort the brig grounded
on point and swung off stem to the shore,
when a deadly contest ensued with considerable
loss to the enemy. When the brig was aground
she was in fine postioH to be operated upon
from Col. Fosters entrenched position on the
Rim. A swivle, which had been hidden, was
brought out aud used with effect upon the ship.
The fleet soon after retired, and the inhabitants
were not again molested during the war.