The Portland daily press., 1882-03-01
PRICE 8 CENTS.

The fleet consisted of 10 armed vessels car
rying 344 guns, and conveying "a transports
The flag ship was the new continental frigate
Warren. Of the others, nine were ships, six
brigs and three sloops. The command OF the
feet was entrusted to Richard Saltonstal OF
Connecticut an officer of some naval expert
enee One hundred Massachusetts, artillerists
were embarked at Boston under their former
commander, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Revere
he who carried the news to Hancock and
Adams at Lexington that the British troops
were on the road from Boston in l775. The
command of the land forces was given to
Solomon Lowell of Weymouth, Mass, the
brigadier general of the militia of Suffolk,
which then included Norfolk county. He
was a man of courage but no war experience.
Peleg Wadsworth then adjutant general of
Massachusetts,, was the second in command.
He had seen some service on Dorchester
heights during the siege of Boston and other
places. The ordnance vas entrusted to the
command of Colonel Revere.
The Cumberland county regiment was under
the command of Colonel Mitchell of North
Yarmouth. The expedition was popular and
the people engaged with alacrity and zeal in it.
Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth contributed a
company each, consisting of volunteers from
the most respectable families.
Under date June 20, Parson Smith Of Fal-
mouth records, "People are everywhere in
this State spiritedly appearing in the intended
expedition to Penobscot in pursuit of the
British fleet and army there This was
State expedition for which Massachusetts ad-
vanced $4,000 pounds.
When the feet was ready to sail from
Townshend, now Boothbay, the place of rem
devious, General LovelPs land forces num-
bered less than 1000 men, who had been
paraded together only once-then at Booth
bay. They were raw militia who had seen no
former service, except perhaps some individu-
ais, who had been in the Continental army for
a short time. 1t was spirited body of men.
Their fathers had been at the siege Of Louis
burg 30 years before. In one month from the
commencement to organize the expedition, il
made its appearance in Penobscot bay.
The British commander heard Of the Ameri-
can fleet four days before its arrival, and
worked night and day to render his fortifca-
ton defensible yet it was far from being come
pleted. He at once despatched vessel to
Halifax, asking for assistance. On the 2Sth
of July, after waiting two days for a calm, our
vessels were drawn up in line of battle, and
| 200 militiamen and 200 marines were landed.
| The best landing places were exposed to
| Mowatts guns, and no landing could be effect
l ed except on the western side, which was
| precipice 100 feet high and very steep. This
| was guarded by line of the enemy posted on
1 the summit who opened brisk fire as soon
| as the boats came within gunshot but the shot
| from the vessels went over their heads. As
| soon as the men landed, the boats returned to
| the fleet, cutting off all means of retreat. No
| force could reach the summit in the face of
| such fire of musketry, so the American
l troops were divided into three parties. One
| sought practicable ascent at the right, one at
| the left and the centre kept up brisk fre to
attract the attention of the enemy on the
| heights. Both the right and left parties
| gained the summit, followed by the centre in
| the face of a CALLING fire, which they were
| powerless to return. Captain Warren's COM
| pany of volunteers from Falmouth were the
l first to form on the heights, when all closed
| on the enemy who after sharp skirmish
! made their escape leaving 80 men killed and
l wounded. Of the attacking party of 400, one
l hundred were killed or wounded. The en-
| gagement was short but great pluck and cour-
| age were shown by the Americans. 1t has
l been said that no more brilliant exploit than
| this was accomplished by our forces during
| the war, but this is the only bright spot in
| the record of the expedition, After the retreat
| of the enemy, some slight entertainments were
/ thrown up by the sadly weakened little de-
| tachment, within 700 yards of the enemy's
| main works. These cntrenchments were held
| by our men and thus was made good be-
| ginning.
| The same morning council OF war was
| called of the land and naval officers. The
| former were for summoning the garrison to
| surrender. but the commodore and the most
| of his officers were opposed to the measure.
1t was next proposed to storm the fort, but
| the commodore refused to land anv more of
| his marines as those at the first landing suf-
| fered severely. The land force alone was
| deemed insufficient for successful attack on
| the works. and whale boat express was de-
| spatched to Boston for a reinforcement. Gen
| eral Lowell now commenced regular invest
ment of works by zigzag trenches for Reyere's
| insufficient cannon, and approached to musket
| shot distance of the fort, so that not one of
| the garrison dared to show his head above the
| embankments.
1t was afterwards ascsrtained that if sur
| render had been demanded, when first pro-
| posed, the-commanding general was prepared
| to capitulate, so imperfect were his defences.
| Commodore Saltonstall was self willed, and
| disagreed with Generals Lowell and Wads-
worth. During the two weeks delay the Brit
| ish strengthened their defences, and enclosed
| their works with chevaux- -de-frize with an
| abattis outside of all, which rendered the
| storming project impracticable, if the expected
reinforcement had arrived. The American
L commodore kept up udlly cdiluonauS Win q
| show of an attempt to enter the harbor, but it
was only show. A deserter from the Amer
| leans informed the British commander of an
| intended attack the next day. which prevented
any success.
On the 18th of August lookout vessel
| brought General Lowell news that British
squadron of seven sails was entering Penob-
scot bay, in answer to General McLane's ap-
| plication to Halifax on the first discovery Of
the American fleet. A retreat was immedi-
ately ordered by General Lowell, and con-
Quoted by General Wadsworth in the night,
| with so much skill that the whole of the
troops we're on board the transports undiscov-
cred by the enemy. The British squadron
entered the harbor the next morning, consist
ing of one IA gunship, one frigate and five
smaller vessels all under the command of Sir
John Collier, with 1000 troops on board
| Saltonstall kept his position until the trans
ports retreated up the river, when general
| broadside from Golfers ship caused a disor-
derly flight. and general chase and indis-
| criminate destruction of the American fleet.
Several were blown up by their own crews to
prevent their falling into the hands of the
| enemy.