The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-06-03
FORT LOYALL.
Interesting Paper Read by MIR. John II
Hull Before the Maine Genealogical
Society.


Quite an interested, if not q large auditory
assembled at Reception Hall last evening, to
listen to an exhaustive, interesting and valu-
able historical paper upon the capture Of Fort
Loyal and the first destruction OF Falmouth
In 1890 by the French and Indians. Mr.. Hull
kept up the interest in his early historical re-
searches for an hour and three-quarters, evinc-
ing much labor and imparting information Of
a character which ought to be appreciated by
our citizens He concluded with valuable
suggestion as to the erection Of some suitable
memorial in our city Of the event which he
had considered. Some remarks were made by
W. Fl. Sargent, Esq, Mr.. J. J. w. Reeves
and few others, and inquiries were started
which ELECTED further information on the sub
1sct We subjoin sketch Of Mr.. HulPs ex-
cellent paper:
MIR. HULL's PAPER.
We meet here this evening to observe the ami
versary of one of the most important events in the
early history OF our city, and which is hardly known
by many of our citizens. But little Of its history
has ever been written. No poet has ever sung of
the brave deeds there done. 1t has generally been
considered the result of of those unorganized
Indian raids upon the white settlements which were
so frequently made during the bloody times of the
French and Indian wars. But the capture Of Fort
Loyal was an event of far greater Importance 1t
was one OF the parts or a plan adopted at Yer
sailles, and approved by Louis XIV having for its
object the conquest of New York and New England
and driving the English from the shores of New
But if this day that we observe was a day of
disaster, it also day of herosm and valor.
If the red cross of st. George did on that day 60
down before those who mustered under the heur de
lis of France and the banner of Louis, amid savage
war whoops and flaming homes, it was not for any
want of courage on the part of the defenders, OF
those who died on that day no monument marks
the spot where they fell; no marble temple en-
shrines their remains. They rest with the unknown
dead.
In 1890 Falmouth, or Casco, was a small village
of scattered homes. The ferry and town landing
was at the foot of now Hancock street from whence
the adventurous traveller began his perious journey
to Spurwink, Black Point and farther on. Opposite
the town landing was the house and store or Syl-
yanus Davis, the commander Of Fort Loyal. The
streets then were Broad, near India, Queen near
Congress- and the street by the water called Fore.
FORT Loyal was at the foot Of Broad street on the
it was a mound and rocky bluff. whose base was
washed by the waters of Casco Bay. The fort was
built of logs with palisade fence OF logs set in
the ground surrounding it. 1t had loop holes for
the use of musketry and mounted eight cannon. In
other parts of the town were -FOUR garrison homes,
one on Munioy Hill near the present observatory,
one at the foot of present Exchange street, and one
on the site of the Anderson homes on Free street.
The location of the other is not known. Our faith
ers were used to savage warfare. Previous to this
Casco had had its caption of fire and blood many of
its inhabitants had been killed, their families car
Fort Loyal was built by the Massachusetts gov
ernment after the purchase of Maine from the Cor
ges heirs. Its first commander was Edward Tyng,
who came here from Boston. He married daugh-
ter of Thaddeus Clark, who was granddaughter OF
George Clesye. thomas Danforth, who had been
appointed President of Name, came here in 1850,
held meeting of the inhabitants at Fort Loyal,
organized settlement, laid out the streets in the
vicinity of Fort Loyal, granted lots to those who
would take them in the vicinity of the fort. He be-
lieved that the town could be more easily defended
by having a compact settlement adjoining the fort
support of Fort Loyal caused trouble to Massa
chusetts. They did not care to pay the expenses
unless they could receive the same from Maine
they passed many orders concerning t,one of which
was the following in 1854, showing the interest
Massachusetts took in defending Maine:
'The survey or gennerall is ordered to deliver
unto Capt. Edward Ting tor the use of Fort Loyal
one barrell of powder Of the meanest OF the eOun-
tr es store and waist, and the value to be repajed
by the Treasurer as soon as the quit rents come m
The mills in the provinces were assessed TO
pay yearly rent for the support OF Fort Loyal
which assessment amounted to E1OO yearly. AT the
time of the revolution in Boston against Sir Ed
ward Andross the fors was in command of Capt.
Lockart. He was reported to be Papist, and mis-
soldiers rose upon him and abandoned the fort, as
was the case in other forts in the province.
There are various causes that produced the sec
ond Indian war, called King Williams war, which
broke out in 1888. There had been peace with
the Indians for ten years. One OF the principal
reasons was the war between England and Fran CO.
The revolution which had deposed James III and
placed William and Mary on the throne, had caused
Lonis xiv to espouse the cause Of legitimacy and be-
come the defender of the dethroned monarch. The
colonies in New England to whom the name of a
Jesuit was horror, welcomed the accession OF
William and Mary, and were ready for the defence
oflthe Protestant succession.
Another important element was the influence Of
the French over the Indians in Maine. Ever since
the settlement of New France the Jesuit missiona-
ries had traversed the wds of Maine, and had won
the confidence of the Abnaki's tribes. For fifty
years France had its outposts on the Kennebec and
the savage tribes had become the faithful allies in
in all the wars which France had with Eng land.
rTu
showing the relations that then existed between the
French and Indians in Maine. Baron De Csstine,
whose romantic career is so well known, resided on
the east side of the PenoDscot. He married the
daughter of Mochawando, the chief sachem OF the
Penobscot tribe. His influence over the Indians
was unbounded. In the spring of 1888, Sir Edward
Andross went in frigate and plundered Castines
residence ami treated his people with severity,
which made him furious, and he took the first OPP
poTtunity to retaliate. Another important indu-
ence of the the activity of Count de Fonte-
mac, the governor of Canada. He had returned
from France in 1859, under instructions from the
French king to commence offensive operations
against New York and New England.
The beginning of the French and Indian war in
Maine was in august 1888 BY 9Gtrages CSC committed m
Yarmouth, where Capt. Gendall was killed. John
Royal was taken prisoner but was afterwards ran
somed by Castine. George Andross, at Boston,
raised force of 700 men, and marched overland
far Pemaquid, leaving garrisons in the differ
ent towns. The force of Andross was not product
i've of good results, although his activity was IN
marked contrast to the Incidence OF the government
that succeeded him. When in New York. Oct. L,
1888, be wrote letter to M: de Denomille. the
governor of Canada, complaining that the French
were instigating the Indians to war. The reyolu-
tion in Boston, by which Andross was made pris-
oner, was very important to the people of Maine
ali the garrisons hearing of the state Of affairs
in Boston revolted and abandoned their posts and
left the country defenceless.
Notwithstanding the Importance Of Fort Loyal
to the protection ony to the people OF the Casco
but the whole frontier its defence was left
to the bravery and resources OF its inhabitants.
90 lie adA on
slstance which at length reused the government,
and the famous Capt. Church of King Phillips now
was sent into Maine with force of troops and
friendly Indians. This resulted in the engagement
at the Deering farm in october, 1859, betw cen
Church's troops aided by the men of Casco, and the
French and Indians. The whites were victorious,
and the Indians retreated for that year to their for
est homes. The poor inhabitants of Casco knew
that when spring came they should be again attack
ed, and they wished to abandon the town. Church
prevailed upon them to remain, stating that he
would come to their assistance.
Before he left he made what arrangements he
could for their defence placing in Fort Loyal q
small company OF soldiers under the command Oh
Capt. Willard.
While :Church had arranged, as he supposed,
for the defence of Casco, dark cloud was arising
in the north. Frantenac had made his arrange
ments to send out three war parties against the
lish in New York and New England. The first par
ty started for Montreal against Schenectady, which
they destroyed on the Sth of February, 16S9-90.
The horrors of that massacre are we'll known.
Another party started for Three Rivers on the
2Sth of January, under the command Of Francois
Hartel. In two months time they reached the
village of Salmon Falls in New Hampshire, where
they made midnight attack, burning houses,
killing the inhabitants, &c. They were forced to
retreat which they did towards the Kennebec to
meet the party who were to destroy Falmouth.
Hartel sent his captives to Canada. The third
party started from Quebec in January. They con-
sisted of fifty French soldiers and fifty Indians.
They were under the command of Siear de Port
neuf. They crossed the mountain ranges that
divide the waters of the St. Lawrence and those of
the Kennebec, stopping the Indian villages as
they advanced, and gathering recruits from the
Indian tribes. On the Kennebec they were joined
by Baron dc Castine, MochawandO and a force Of
the Penobscot tribes. They were also joined by
Hartel and the party who had made the attack
upon Salmon Falls The whole force rendezvoused
at Merry Meeting Bay where they made their pre-
paratons for the attack upon Casco. While this
dark cloud was gathering which was soon to burst
upon poor doomed Casco and Fort Loyal. what was
being done for its defense by its Inhabitants and
Massachusetts,? Nothing. What few soldiers there
were in the fort under the command of Capt. Will
lard had been withdrawn for the expedition
against Nova Scotia under Sir William Phipps.
Capt. Syhanus Davis who succeeded Capt. Willard
had written manly letter to the Massachusetts
government appealing for aid (letter in full was
read five days before the attack commenced. No
reply was received, and the people of Casco were
lett to their own resources and bravery-they did
not have in the town over 20 fighting men.
The forces which were to be arrayed against Cas-