The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-05-01

DALI. OF t1drDSMclI, WAS w
miral Graves's fleet and carried into Boston,
and on his release he reported his interview
with the admiral. After the burning OF tne
town, to prove that it was done by order OF
the admiral, Captain Crandalps sworn
statement was procured. here copy part
of his affidavit from Freemans notes:
That sometime in the month of June last
sailed from HarpsweIl for Salem, and on
my passage there l was i9reio ~, td pos
ton. And being in the presence OF Admiral
Graves, he asked me if such man-of-war lhe
named her, but have forgotten her name( had
arrived at Falmouth. answered that heard
she had. He then asked me if thought she
would be opposed by the people. answered u T,, l
CoulsOn was loading at Falmouth replied that
had heard he met with such opposition from the
Said "You may tell them that if they will not
let him load, will send ship, or ships, and beat
the town down about their ears"
Sworn TO on the of JAM, 1776, before VIM. Syl-
yester, of Harpswell, Justice of the Peace.
Dr. Deane says page 341 OF his diary;
"Capt. H. Mowatt, OF Scotland, obtained, by
his most urgent solicitation, an order from
Graves. &c.S Mr.. Willis, in his History of
Portland, page 51S, says; Inc vessels came
here direct from Boston, ana no doubt can
be entertained but that the order proceeded
from Admiral Graves, who then e4llllila ia
on this station, whose mind had been lnfiu-
enced by the representations OF MoWatt,
Coulson and Others" In letter from gov
ernor Bowdoin to Governor P0wnali III . Eoll-
don, dated in Boston, in 1883, he says: Inc
town was wantonly burnt by order Oh Au-
miral Graves" -,
From the authorities quoted think all
will be convinced that the bomDardment was
by Admiral Graves orders, in consequence
of representations from Mowatt anu ooui-
son.
The following is a condensed sketch OF
the burning The facts are principally taken
from the letters of the Hon. Enoch freeman,
chairman of the committee Of safety, 10 MS
son Samuel in Watertown, with the staIe-
ments of other eye witnesses.
On the sixteenth of October, 1775, the peo-
pie of Falmouth were surprised by the arri-
val below OF squadron OF four armed YES
sells and store vessel. The wlnd pelne
fresh from the northwest the vessels an
chored near the islands. When the people
learned that Captain Mowatt was in com
mand they supposed he had come for sheep
ard cattle for the British forces in Boston.
As there were large stocks OF cattle on the
islands, the enlisted men composing one
company and part of another were at dusk
sent down quietly to guard the sheep, cattle
and hay.
The next day. Tuesday, the wind being
still ahead and very strong, the vessels were
warped up the harbor and anchored in line
in front Of the town. By a drawing, still
preserved, we are enabled to nix the position
and rig of each vessel. The Canceau of six
teen guns, the flagship. was anchored 0ppo-
-
a schooner of twelve guns, then the ship
Cat, of twenty guns, opposite Union wharf,
and a bomb sloop above all. Inc store
schooner took a station below the armed
vessels
Late in the afternoon Captain Mowatt sent
an officer ON shore with the following letter:
CANcEAU, FALMOUTH, OcT. 10th, 1875.
After so many premeditated attacks on the le
gal prerogatve of the best of sOvereigns after the
repeated Instances you have experienced IN BRIT
aims long fOrbearance of the red of correction.
and the manifest and paterndI extension of her
hands to embrace again and again. mare Deeh re-
garded as vain and nugatory ana IN place OF q
dutiful and grateful return your king and parent
state you have been guilty of the most uDpar-
donable rebellion, supported by the ambition OF
set of designing men, whose insdous views have
cruelty imposed on the credulity of their fellow
creatures; and at last have brought the whole In
to the same dilemma; which leads me 70 feel not
a little the woes of the innocent of them in partic-
ular, from my having 1t IN orders 10 execute a
just punishment on the town of Falmouth, in the
to remove without delay, the human specie out OF
the said town, for which purpose give you the
time OF two hours, at the period OF when req
pennant will be hoisted at the main top gallant
mast head, with a gun. But should your lmpru-
dence lead you to shew the least resistance, you
will in that case free me of that humanity so
strongly pointed out in my orders, as well as in
my inclination. do also observe, that all Those
M sho 9a on nav eoan for protection that the
same door is now open to receive them.
The officer who will deliver this letter, expect
am sc. III. MowATT.
Dr. Deane says: Near sunset he made
known his errand by flag (of truce) with
letter full of bad English and worse spell
ing"
The Rev. Jacob Bailey, of Pownalborough,
who had been officiating at st. PauPs church
after Mr.. Wiswell had left, says in letter:
"The officer landed at the foot of King street
amid a prodigious assembly OF people ana
was conveyed with uncommon parade TO the
IN, md ci1pnap hainO commanded.
letter was delivered and read by MT.
Bradbury, a lawyer; but not without such
visible emotion as occasioned tremor In his
voice." After repeating the contents or I'M
port of the letter, he says: 1T is impOssibleto
describe the amazement which prevailed on
the reading of the alarming declaration. A
frightful CONSERVATION ran through the as
sembly; profound silence ensued Tor sever
al moments. Then committee Of three was
chosen, one of whom was DR.. Coffin, brother
of the wife of Captain COulson, to wait on
the commodore" This and much more is
from the pen of one who received his support
from the mother country and was loyallSt.
His description of the b0mbardment, and the
fright of the people, makes the scene appear
almost ludicrous.
Beside Dr. Coffin, mentioned by Mr.. Bailey,
General Preble and Robert Pagan were on
the committee. 1t is worthy OF remark that
this committee were all Episcopalians, and
members of st. PauPs parish. The commit
tee Immediately went on board the Canceau
In answer to their remonstrance Captain
Mowatt informed them that his orders from
the admiral did not authorize him TO give any
warning to the inhabitants, but they. required
him to come Opposite the town with all pos
sible expedition, and there burn, sink and
DESTROY" and that he had taken 1t upon HIM
self to give warning, at the risk OF losing his
commission.
The committee say, ''We expostulated with
him upon the severity of such orders, and en-
treating that if possible some method might
be fallen upon to save the town; or at least
to give the inhabitants an opportunity OF
moving some of their effects; upon when ne
said, that if the Inhabitants would In the
morning, by eight o'clock, deliver up four
pieces of cannon which were then IN the
town, with their arms in general, and am
munition, he would in that case do no harm
to the town until he had despatched an ex-
press to the admiral, who he did not doubt
would order him to save the town, And as
token that his demand would be complied
with, he. required that eight small arms
should be delivered up by eight O'Clock that
evening, which should be the condition OF
the towns being safe until eight o'clock the
next morning.
The committee told him that his demands
would not in their opinion be. complied with,
but that they would inform the town of his
conditions. The committee communicated
the result of their interview with Captain
Mowatt to the people, who were waiting IN
the town-house. No vote was taken, but 1t
Was LHOuSub DtcG W oCh0 bAiO
that evening, in order to gain time to remove
the sick, with the women and children, and
what property could be got away that night.
Wednesday morning, the eighteenth, the
citizens met at the court house and resolved
by no means to deliver up the cannon and
other arms" and sent the same committee
with the answer.
When we consider that Mowatt's four ships
with shotted guns already run out, and
springs on their cables ready for the bonl-
bardment, were anchored in line of battle,
within very short distance of the heart of
the town. we must conclude that the decision
of the meeting was plucky. No more fear
less and patriotic action by deliberative
body of people in such an exposed and help
less condition was taken during the struggle
of the colonies, and it should be commemor-
ated on the anniversary of It's occurrence.
They coolly gave their homes to the flames
rather than surrender principle.
We left the committee on their way to the
ship, with the answer of the towns-people to
Mowatt's demand. They were directed to
spend as long a time on board as possible, to
give time to secure more property, They re-
manned on board until half past eight o'clock,
when they were requested by Mowatt to go
on shore. He probably felt sore at the re1u-
sal of the citizens to be disarmed. Inc com
mittee obtained half an hour to get OUT OF the
way themselves.
Prompt at the moment of nine O'Clock, the
81 mn sstO the maIn-tOD-pal-