The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-07-09
BANGOR IN lSl4.
A "Reminiscences of the Last War
With England.
What British soldiers and Sailors Did
at the Queen City in the War of
1s12-14 = An Old Letter Full of
Interesting Facts.

correspondent Of the Portland, Me-,
press writes: In the office room of the
clerk of Courts at Alfred is a small pack
age OF papers that were once the property
OF the late Judge Holmes. How the
package got there is unknown, as none of
the papers seem to have any bearing upon
court matters, and relate more to private
IMAM public affairs. At recent visit the
gentlemanly occupant of the office, who
has had charge of the court records the
Ten years last past, allowed me to make
copy of one in the package which con-
talns, 1t seems TO me, matter of public
interest and which 1 hand you for publ
cation. 1t is in the form of a communica-
ton and is addressed on the outside to
"Hon. John Holmes, Boston," The in
side reads as follows:
LANCASTER, October II, 1914.
Dear Str: l now devote a few mo-
ments, In answer to your several IN
quiries, relating to the conduct of the
British while they remained in Bangor.
a plain statement of facts must suffice
language being inadequate to give you
but an imperfect idea of their outrages.
As the enemy approached the town flag
of truce was sent out TO the land, as well
as naval forces, to ascertain upon what
terms the town must capitulate. The
answer to each was, unconditional sub
mission, public offices and property must
be given up, the people OF the town TO
give up their arms ana parole themselves,
and private property should be most
sacredly respected, to all which the town
agreed. But they had not been in the
place two hours before they commenced
q scene Of plumber and havoc, which the
most savage Goth would shrink from.
The principal stores were broken into
and stripped of everything. What they
could not take away they destroyed.
Dwelling houses were entered, furni-
ture broken, clothing of every descrIp-
ton stolen, even women's stockings and
infants apparel. The several law shops
IN town were broken open, libraries and
papers torn up or carried away. But one
office out Of five escaped. The inhabit-
ants not only had to supply them with
provisions, ETC., but they were forced to
cook for them-dig potatoes and draw
water for their soldiers. The vessels,
about to sail, they took and solemnly
agreed to navigate them to Castine, and
then let the owners ransom Them but
before they got out Of sight Of the town
they saw them in flames. They took
twenty or thirty of the best horses and
agreed to return them when they en-
barked their troops at Hampden, but
they were carried to CaStine, and few
only have been recoyered-in fact, in
almost every instance where they pledged
their hands as gentlemen and officers
they violated the pledge, and with as much
ease as they made it-and in the little vii
lage of Bangor they destroyed something
like $4,000 Of private property, beside
thelbond of $4,000 which the Selectmen
gave to launch the vessels on the stocks
and deliver them at Castine. They en-
forced their demands by the threat to
burn the town-this they made every
hour. In addition to these outrages upon
personal property, and the total disregard
they paid to their most sacred agree
mentS, their personal abuse and indigni-
ties were the most humiliating-and here
let me remark that in dealing out their
vengeance upon property and individ-
uals it fell with unsparing hands upon
the Friends of Peace" Those who eX-
pected protection received the greater in
dignities-the New England spirit was
no shield again the tender mercies'' of
Strong's Bulwark. / will give you few
instances of their gentlemanly and hui
name conduct TO their profdssed friends.
DIR. Fiske, respected merchant and
tederaliSt, was horSe-Whipped out of his
carriage by Commander Barrie because
he did not instanter obey his naughty
mandate; then put under guard and forced
to do drudgeries of the soldiers.
Captain Hammond, the representative
of the town, a Federalist, had his store
broken open and everything destroyed.
MIR. Dutton, a lawyer, and one of John
BULBS warmest advocates, had to draw
water for the soldiers, wait upon them
like q negro-he even had to take
wagon, half-Ioad some drunken sailors
into it and draw them down to the wharf
Mr.. McGaw, a lawyer and the most
respected Federalist in town, was ordered
under guard and called q liar because he
said he did not belong to the militia, and
L. -lr,r.z
for his wife he had to leave his own.
house and go to q IaUe49L and pass the
night where some of the officers put up
Mr.. Hill, lawyer and Federa1ist, had
his House entered, his clothes taken,
even his wife's stockings, and when he
protested against it was threatened to be
run thro'. The Parson "a good pious
soul) who has ever refused to pray for the
success of the American Arms, did not es-
cape their attention. camping company
quartered in his house, burned his wife's
muff and tippet, and destroyed many of
his Books and Papers. / can name many
more instances in which they protected
their protested friends in like manner, bat
sufficient has been stated TO show yon that
the Federalist can expect no more mercy
or favor in the contest. Love of country
is almost the only virtue an Englishman
possesses. And they respect that spirit
wherever they find it. Contrast the out
RACES they have heaped upon these nom
combatants, these protested enemies of
Madison and this war, with that toward
Mr.. Carr, the member of Congress, who
voted for war: his house was threatened
TO be burnt his property destroyed, etc.,
but the old man appeared among them.
told them who he was, etc., and they re-
spected him so far as not to iniure his
property one cent and to treat him with
out the least insult. In Hampden their
conduct was, if possible, more outrageous
than at Bangor. 1t is vain to palliate
these outrages by saying the soldiers and
sailors would not be restrained, and that
the officers discountenanced it, for those
who know British discipline know bet
ter. and as these depredations were COM
mitted under the eye of the officers, and
Commodore Barrie headed the plumber
ing party in Hampden in person, and the
committee of safety from Bangor, who
went to Castine to see Sir John SheT-
brook with the expectation of obtaining
relief. returned as they went-nothing
was done.
had forgotten to name one other fact
which ought TO stamp infamy on their
characters; at Hampden three or four
physicians had taken house as hospital
in which to dress the wounded if taken
there, and a number of cases of instru-
ments and medicine, and while dressing
the wounds of the injured party of Brit
jSh soldiers entered, drove them out,
broke up the instruments, wasted the
medicine, and robbed the pockets of q DR..
Knapp from Newburyport Of $500. This
is British honor and British magnanimity.
This good effect has. however, resulted
from their conduct; political animosity is
merged IN love Of country-all are now