The Portland daily press., 1889-04-27

ed and his efforts were renowned throughout
the world. He returned to this country in
1905 where he received an enthusiastic well
come as well as a vote Of thanks from Con-
gress the first to receive them after the
adoption of the constitution,) and a gold
medal.
In 1906 President jefferson offered him the
portfolio of naval officers, which he declined
on account of his feeble health. He re.
turned to Portland, his native town where
he died In August, 1907. 1t was at this time
that the new work in Portland harbor was
under construction and about being COM
pleted, and 1t Is therefore reasonable to sup
pose that the compliment Of bestowing his
name upon the work would have naturally
suggested itself to those in authority. In
TACT, the preponderance of opinion is shown
from consultation of numerous authorities
to incline to that view.
IN the other hand beyond the fact that the
Iather OF Commodore Preble (Jedediah) was
Drlgadier general of the Revolutionary
army, his services during the war of the
revolution were not of so distinguished a
character as to have entitled him to the
honor in question, 25 years, after his
was unquestionably the most eminent citi-
zen OF Portland at the time of his death,
which was ,cotemporaEeous with the naming
of the work.
The first Fort Scanned is thus described
by Mr.. William Goold in Portland in the
Past"
"On the highest point of this purchase (the mil
itary reservation of Fort ScammeD Dearborn
a pointed roof Of eight sides. ON the low upright
centre timber of the roof was placed a carved
wooden eagle with extended wings, on each of
the eight sides of the block house was an embras-
ure or port hole and a gun. The upper story con-
talned the battery and projected over the lower
story two or three feet Ali the buildings includ-
ing the block house and barracks were clapboard-
ed and painted white. The works were enclosed
In an earthen rampant and presented a pictur
esque appearance"
Fort Scanned was presumably so named
by direction of Major General Henry Dear
born, u. S. A., who was Secretary of War
from 1901 to 1909, and whose son, Alexander
SCANNED Dearborn was the agent of the
War Department in the contraction of Forts
Preble and Scanned.
During the war Of 1912, temporary batter
les were constructed on Fish Point and In
dams Point. The battery was named Fort
Burrows in honor of the gallant commander
OF the U. 5. brig ''Enterprise" who fell In the
action with the English brig "Boxer" on the
fifth of September. 1918, off Portland har-
Dor.
The defences of Portland like those of
other cities on the coast have been affected
by the development of modern artillery.
In 1857 it was found necessary to make
radical changes in Forts Preble and Seam
mel and to construct Fort Gorges
These works were all TO be large masonry
forts with two tiers of easement batteries
anu tuc diucbbc UdbtcIy tdcus dluUuutluk
in all, for the defence of the harbor, to two
hundred and ninety pieces of artillery. Be-
fore their completion the system Of heavy
smooth bore guns was superseded by the
modern heavy built-up breech and muzzle
loading rifles and the costly and elaborate
Notifications of granite were found to be
useless against such artillery.
The corps OF engineers spent no more
money on masonry work but In 1871 they
strengthened Forts Profile and Scanned by
fIr flor. fIrarx
traverses and magazines and implements for
modern artillery. Fort Preble has platforms
for seventeen 15-inch Rodman guns or II
inch rifles ana for three 8-inch rifles. There
are now .QSS9) two 15-inch guns and two
6-inch rifles mounted in the work. Fort
Scanned has six 15-inch and four 10-inch S
b. guns mounted and implacements for.
Ii is understood that the new project OF
the Engineer Corps for the defence of Port
land harbor embraces the construction of
modern works, with the necessary electrical
and steam plant on Portland Head and Cow
Island.
The compiler of these notes is especially
indebted to Mr.. James Phinney Baxter Of
Portland, Me-, for access to and free use of
valuable maps Of the coast made by early
explorers, and plans of the early fortifca-
lions of the English coast, copies of which
Mr.. Baxter secured at private expense from
the Public Record Office, the Rolls Office and
the library of the British Museum ia Lon
don; also to giving him access to the valu-
able collection of the Maine Historical So
ciety. He is also indebted for courtesies to
Mr.. William Goold, author of Portland in
theIPast," and to Messrs. S. w. andrCharles
Packard, editors Of the Portland Transcript.
In preparing these notes the following au-
thorities have been consulted: Balfrey's
History of New England, Willis's History
of Portland, Williamsons's History of Maine,
Mathers' Wagnalia, Sullivan's History of
Hull'S "CaDture of Fort Iovalv Smith &
Deane's Journals, The Tre,awney Papers,
by James Phinney Baxter.