Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-01-01

eastern side of the river, at place called
SCOTS Point, breastwork was hastily
thrown up. They had no cannon to de-
fend it; all they had to rely on were com
mon muskets.
Hearing that the feet was coming up
the Bay. the brave little band, under
the command of jeremiah O'Brien and
Colonel Foster, took up the line of march
for Scott's Point resolved. if they could
not check the advance of the enemy, they
would pour out the last drop of blood in
the attempt All the inhabitants had
gathered in the vicinity of the Liberty
Pole to see them start. Mothers and
wives were there with heavy foreboding
hearts. but there was no shrinking on
their part,-no urging a son or husband
to remain. On the contrary, struggling
with the emotions that filled their hearts,
they eXhortcd them not to falter in their
duty, and without a sign of weakness
bade them farewell. Such were the
women of the Revolution.
Soon after taking possession of the re-
doubt,a party of observation was sent out.
which shortly returned bringin. ntell-
gence that the squadron had anchored in
the Bay, with the exception of the brig
and number of boats filed with men,
N" WV '"i"S """ ~.
II was hoI 'o''S oeiore 'hey came III SiSh''
and when opposite the 5reastwork, a large
body of men, about five hundred. landed.
As this formidable number drew up on the
banks, their bright arms glistening in the
sun, OBrien and Foster made their prep
aratinns. At this juncture Captain
O'Br!cn addressed his men
You sec. my lads, what you have got
To contend with. The odds are greatly
against US therefore, IL there Is one man
ntIe VINO : >'cA o. "i> oar gun anu WISHES .,,
10 ieaNc' III heaven name iel Nun oe OH
N"' man moved ,,.,,. ... 81.
q" VIII nh" 'o shdiAers ms tiht'
,a'" N'i'r IRON the centre. Inc i'@ht
ltu@A ""lyh pa>>ed 'hrooSh the RANKS at
thi> Ieiiiafh was tue pest PROOF the captain
c"uid nave OF lhc cooihe>s OF ms men III
GaNe nun confluence IN 'he'r stao.ilty'
lheN are s''t'inS' tAc!a"icu t"''"'i
fostNF' pointing toward the moving h'ass
coming up III compact oouy Be care
'nl' men, anu doh waste your powder
'' ad''eh ht cool ahd Sltauy Sc'eSt
fi' 'ncn ana 90 not hre until the word
! gwen
lie Americans were drawn up III double
rank. oBrien having charge of the front
and Foster OF the rear division. The front
rank were to deliver their fire, anu then
ialt oack, giving place TO the rear RANK,
wAiie the former reloaded the second rank
gong througa the same mau'rdfre- lhe
enemy pressed on NJ donple-qulck tlhr,
anu seeing Inc s!nalI NUMBER opposed 10
them. they burst INTO cheer OF anilclpat-
cd triumph, while they commeqced an
irregular firing,
Steady, my lads, steady said OBrlen,
ftl.tI He IA t1.
Let them come little nearcr,-we cant
ah"rd 10 throw away powder.
The men stood firm as though hewn
from the solid rock, patiently waiting the
word. At last, when the English had
arrived within one hundred feet of them,
the command was given. sheet Of flame
ran along the breastwoik, and, as the
leaden shower iell among the assailants,
terrible gap was made IN their number.
Immediately, as the report OF the first
'oiIey rang III the arr, the stern voice OF
Colonel Foster was heard above the din;
'Rear rank, advance. Present. Fire.
ana another death-dtalng discharge pour
ed from the hreastworks.
In spite OF the eHorts OF their ofhcer>,
the Engtl>h broke ana retreated towards
'he pahk OF the river. hereafter whiie,
they succeeded IN forming them, and again
they advanced towards the handful of
men. But this time no triumphant cheer
accompanied their onset. pn TINS occasion
the as>aiiantS rushed on at a charge, with
the evident intention Of carrying the
hreastwork at the point of the bayonet.
Not a shot was hred until they arrived
within point-olank distance, when again
me merry storm was hurled upon Them,
ana again thcy broke, whlIe another well
directed Volley threw them INTO perfect
disorder general rush lot the boats
Immediately thsueu' anu while croWuihg
INT" them, the Americans lett their cover
anu poured discharge alter discharge INTO
lhelr dlsordtred ranks. purinS the acton
lhe brltlsh ofl2 hau caught aground WIN
IN musket shot OF the shore, and when the
fetreating zoe had gained her decks, they
We're exposed to and experienced severe
loss from the Americans, VINO continued
to throw their fire into her until she lloat-
ed ana was removed down the river
IN TINS baltic three Americans only were
kilieu ana small number wounded whlic
the Killed and wounded OF the British
amounted as near as could be a,certained,
TO one hundred. Alter TINS repulse the
brlt',h dld not MAKE second attempt
pn'' hasteh'hs 70 get lheir wounded on
Poatu' lhey weighed ahchor anu slood out
oi the nay on theif return 70 iialiaN.
we VIII not attempt 70 describe the Joy
OF the inhdoltaht> Oh Machias at the un-
expected result ol this oa''ie. lhty iilaue
up thelr ihihaS LOT the worst, ana they haa
iooked upon lhe niue pahd that had gone
iorth 10 cope WIN the adversary as
lofiorn nope. men the tidihS> OF inc
over" neithihS ueieat OF the enemy reached
them theS cou, Scdiceiy cfeu't tne report;
put Wheh tiie littIe oahu iiiarcheu oack 10
the 'iiaSe, WHY apparently unu'ililhisneu
NUMBERS, thelr JOY Knew no pounds: After
thls decided repulse' the people OF Machias
restea IN perfect security leeiinS cohhdeht
.hat anolher attempt at INVASION "ould not
De made. But they were mistaken ABOUT
SIX weeks aiter this thlrd expedition ielt
laiilaN anu landed thousand men at
Fassathaquoddy' win the intention OF
marching through the woods ana attack
ing Machias oy land On learning TINS
1act the people again mustered, ana prep.
aratlons were again made 10 waylay anu
resist the enemy From the proWess they
had already exhibited, there was no doubt
that they would for the fourth time come
OFF victors. The British, however, on the
second day OF their march, meeting with
so many obstacles, became disheartened,
and retreated
After this the town remained unmolest-
ed. The Liberty Pole, which first drew
on them the ire OF the British, remained a
long time standing, cherished memento
OF their unyleldlnS flrmness and heroic
bravery. We cannot close our story with
out aliuding to the Brien family, whose
noble patriotism should have lmmortallZed