The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-23
BARBARIC WARFARE.
A Civilized Community That Gave
Scalp BOunties.
Maine's Historic Old Forts and Their
Former Observation-Disclosures Fort
Western Now % Modern
Tenemcnt.

tenement.
In Augusta, Me-, on the east side of the
Kcnnebec river stands ~ building called
Fort Western, which is one hundred
and thirty-nine years old, and built ON
the same point of land where once stood
the famous New Plymouth trading
house in 1923. At Windsor, Me-, near
Watcrville, according to the Boston
Herald, can be seen anothcr-Fort II al
ifax-ercctct the same year, both silent
and eloquent reminders of We oldcn days
| of bitter strife and struggle.
The first Maine fort-Fort ST. George
was erected in 1907, and followed by
Forts Richmond, Shirley, George and
others, around which cluster historical
events of thrilling interest
In 1854 Gov. Shirley was informed
that the French were building n fort at
noted carrying place of tho Indians
on the head waters of the Kcunebec, and
he commissioned Capt. North, of the
fort at Pemnquid, and Lieut.. Fletcher,
of St. Georges fort, to start with n suf-
ficient armed guard and request any
chief officer thus engaged to remove
| from the ground with his soldiers, as
being within the jurisdiction of his
| majesty the king of Great Britain.
| The same month party of sixty Ip-
dams. supposed to be spies, appeared at
Fort Richmond, and were insulting and
threatening.
The French were active in persuading
the Indians to prevent further settle
ment on the river, promising favor to
those who would unite with them, and
threatening vengeance on all who
should lntcrpose between the Indians
and the English. In the emergency
which thus arose, the general court de-
| cidcd that the French should at all
events be prevented from making any
settlements on the river or at the car
| rying places at it's head, and as the
| Richmond fort was in n precarious state
| 1t was demolished and new one
| built at Ticonnet and named Fort Hall
| fax.
September it was garrisoned by one
| hundred men under command OF Capt.
| w. Lithgow. During the building Of
this fort, a committee Of the Plymouth
company was engaged in erecting fort
on the east side of Augusta, to be called
| Fort Western. The main building,
which is the one that still remains, is
one hundred feet long, thirty-two feet
wide and sixteen feet high, and is built
of timber, making solid walls twelve
inches thick. A road was then made
between Forts Halifax and Western,
and was the first military read con-
structed in Maine.
In the fall of 1854 message was sent
the governor from Fort Halifax, stat
ing that the Indians had fallen upon q
party OF six of the garrison, sent out to
draw logs, and killed one man and cap
tured four others, one only escaping to
the fort. This act of barbarity and
trcachery on the part of the Indians,
together with the information that the
French, with the Indians, were prepar-
ing to make an attack upon the forts,
necessitated the reinforcement of the
garrison, and four hundred and sixty
men were detailed from the indepen-
dent companies, to be held in readiness
to Immediately march to the relief of
the forts on the first approach of the
enemy.
The French and Indian war was
finally declared the following year, and
large inducements were offered to vol
untcer companies of recruits to take
part. Two hundred dollars was prom
Used for every Indian scalp, and two
| HuuQTcu anu lilJy uOlihIS lOI SdCil cap
tive. To individuals, one hundred dol
lars for scalp and one hundred and
ten dollars for captive.
Particular attention was paid to the
defense to the eastern frontier. Com
panieS of scouts were established along
the seacoast from Saco to StGcorge's,
and Forts Western and Halifax were
garrisoned with eighty men and well
supplied with stores. The forts be-
tween the Kcnncbcc and ST. Georges
were also put in state of defense, and
the friendship of the Tarratin Indians
cultivated. But their bitter rancor
was aroused when James Cargill, OF
Newcastle, received Il commission tc
raise company Of scouts, who on tho
first day of July made an excursion fol
the purpose of obtaining the govern
mcnt price for scalps. When near Owls
Head party of Tarratin Indian hunt
ers were discovered. Without stop
ping to inquire whether they were
friends or enemies, they were deliber
atcly shot and their scalps secured. Or
their return they met Margaret MoXa
q friendly squaw, with her child. A
vollcy was fired upon them, killing
mother and child. Cargill was apprc
hcndcd and tried on charge of murder
but discharged after u confinement o!
two years.
The war ended in 1850, when the
Indians, deserted by their French allies
proposed peace.
= Il.