The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-05-04
AIEAE FROM EARLY HISTORY.
The Second Expedition to Port ROYAL
and What Came of 1t.
THon. William Goold.1

THon. William Goold.l
Councillor Leverett's letter to his wife,
from Casco Bay Q70O, which the PRESS pub.
lished on Tuesday, needs some explanation
70 make 1t Ineligible to the general reader.
Joseph Dudley, with the aid of Jahleel
brenton venomously pursued Governor
Phips to his death in 1895, and after years of
persistent effort. obtained the crown APP
pointment to the place. Sir VIM. Phips in
1890 took from the French the fortress of
Port Royal, Nova Scotia, and obtained plum
der sufficient TO pay the cost. and eonse-
qnently great popularity. At the end of the
war the fortress was restored to the French
by treaty.
The place had again become an Ieyesore to
the provinces and Governor Dudley encour-
aged by the success Of Phips, and coyetous
OF like popularity. insisted upon its being
again reduced. He finally obtained the con-
sent of the assembly and the means to fit out
his expedition. The armament was hastily
fitted out. The naval force consisted of the
Deptford man-of-war, Capt. Stukely, and
the Massachusetts Galley, Capt. Southack.
belonging to the province. The land force
was composed Of one thousand men from the
Massachusetts province. and goodly num-
Der from Rhode Island and New Hampshire
The command was given to Col. March, who
had successfully repealed large besieging
force OF French and Indians, at New Casco
FORT OF which he was commander, but he
had not had any large previous command.
The fleet of transports with its naval con-
salad from fh.f
and arrived at Port Royal on the 10Th. AT.
ter some skirmishes, without loss, the land
force disgracefully retreated and re-embarked
on the 18th of June. Col. Redknap, the en-
gineer and Col. Appleton, in fast vessel,
arrived in Boston in advance of the retreat
ing feet. Governor Dudley was chagrined
at the failure and Immediately ordered out
despatch vessel to intercept the retreating
fleet and order them to Casco Bay which was
successfully accomplished.
Awaiting the contentious between Gov
ernor Dudley and his opposers in the gov
eminent the feet remained here many
weeks. Finally three of the councillors.
Colonel Hutchinson, Colonel Townshend
and Leverett (author of the letter. were sent
here to organize and have the care of the
second expedition. to which an additional
ship of war, and reinforcement of troops
had been added. Colonel March was still
retained in the immediate command. Here
| were nearly 5000 men all told, in this almost
deserted town. Such an army as had never
been here before, nor has there been SINCE
Councillor Sewall in his diary notes:
"l707, July LIST. A rainbow is seen Just before
night, which comforts our disrresses as to the a-
fairs of the expedition, and the unquieness of the
l soldiers at CdSCO of which Gideon TnWaII hrinOQ
WORD, who came thence yesterday"
Cotton Mather was making all the trouble
he could for the promoters of the expedition,
because of the Phips persecution and be-
cause he had been defeated by Leverett in
the election for president of Harvard Col
lege. Dudley did not belong to his party.
He was.undoubtedly the author of an anony-
nous pamphlet which appeared in London,
purporting to have been published in Bos-
ton, ridiculing the expedition. From Sew
alPs diary, and Leverett's letter, it is evil
dent that like Jerry Blossom in the play the
men wanted to go home" Leverett says !:
The people heard our talk with silence,
but, instead OF shout by men ready for
battle, we had nothing but loud, dull, hol-
low murmur home, home" The letter fur
Their says:
I'VE have now, besides four Indians, Cape
Cod in chains for deserving, eight others, most
English, for their subscribing and presenting mu-
lineers llDtls. We have used all fair and h0nOra-
bic means imaginable without effect. This day
ures."
This sentence indicates that when the flag
| ship sailed out Of the harbor that probably
her yard arms were garnished with mutt
neers. The particulars of the offense of the
| eight men In chains Is explained by a note
In Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts,
| He says:
~ found round robin among Col Butchinson's
papers signed by great number pcremptorily
refusing 10 go to Port Royal but the ring leaders
had been discovered and secured"
The fleet was at Falmouth about seven
weeks, probably In camp on one of the inner
islands, for the facility of picketing. Per
haps it was Mackey's Island, which would
account for the great number Of places where
ashes remain, as found by Mr.. Baxter. 1t
was under the guns of "Casco fort" from
which Col. March was taken only a few
defence four years previous:
Leverett says In his letter:
yesterday, we had a review of the regiments.
and embarked them all TO about 80 or 60 that are
rambling In disorder upon an island near u.s."
Several courts martial were held during
the seven weeks, and undoubtedly much
punishment was administered. In com
mapd of the chips was captain of the
British navy. Usually neither the culprit
nor those in command, seeks to perpetuate
the record OF occurrences of this nature.
The expedition sailed from Falmouth
about the middle of July, and after har Dor
ing few days at Pasamaquoddy, it sailed
for Port Royal. The result was like that of
the first expedition, a disgraceful failure,
which was ludicrously set forth In the
pamphlet. This was undoubtedly written
by the sarcastic penof Cotton Mather; some
extracts from which are printed In "Port-
land in the Past"
Al, me Leverett letter throws much light on
one STATE OF affairs here during the mutiny,
a sa,t Is the more valuable for being a private
1 ~ 70 ms wife, In which he speaks freelys
he says, Let nobody see."