The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-07-28

| with letter demanding the recall of
the forces sent to Aroostook and assert
ing that he was instructed to maintain
exclusive jurisdiction over the territory
IN dispute, and should do it. Upon this
GOV. Fairfield ordered all the Major Gen
| erals to.hold heirscommands in readiness
to, detail each 1000 men. The next Sun
day, Feb. 20, Bangor was one great mill
tary camp. One thousand men with
glitter of arms paraded the streets. In
the mean time McIntire was released and
came back to Bangor bringing to Gov.
Fairfield letter from Lieut.. Gov. Har-
vey proposing first that Mclaughlin, the
provincial land agent, be released; sec
ond, that the trespassers Dc given up to
be tried by the New Brunswick author
tiles; and three, that the forces on the
territory be Immediately withdrawn.
Upon receiving this, Gov. Fairfield is
sued an order drafting 1914 men, and
Gen. Hodsdon was ordered to draft 500
minute men, ready to march at
operations were in progress the Maine
boys felt more like fighting than ever.
A regiment was raised and quartered at
Augusta under command of Col. Ripley,
AT this time Capt. Rines of our forces
had thrown up fertilization IL feet
thick at a point on the Aroostook river
in Township No 10, approachable by
wv
In the meantime portion CT the Ban
gor troops were ordered to Houlton, and
other troops sent to Bangor to take Ghelf
paces-with the troops at Augusta ready
at any time to reinforce Bangor.
Then things went along with new and
startling reports and rumors almost
every day until the 4th of March when
there was great Indignation over the
Presidents Message because the Pfesl-
dent did not see anything IN the sltua-
ton that warranted the use OF Federal
arms. Upon this Gov. Fairfield ordered
additional troops to Bangor which be-
came a great military camp. Inefe was
marching and countermarclng WIN pan
ners flying and drums beating With all
the paraphernaIia of war. One day
rumors indicated fghting--the next day
they were pacific. Thus the "war" went
on until the 18th of April when the
troops were mustered out and paid off,
and Bangor's dream Of war was over.
1t has now been more than half cen
tury since the ArooStook War, and yet
in all this time it has been hard to find
a citizen of Maine, who under the Cir
cumstances did not think it justifiable.
The Northeastern Boundary" had been
a prominent question for years prior to
that time.
Governors, without distinction of
party, had earnestly discussed it, leg1sla-
blLlCS AGu ICSO1N ca anu 1C0O1FOS& uAeo OoI
claim was a valid and just one. and
should be maintained at all hazards.
Again there was a universal sentiment
in Maine that the general government
at Washington did not treat our claims
to this territory with proper regard; and
this feeling undoubtedly Influenced GOV:
Fairfield in the matter of going to war"
governor no doubt intended, by the
course he took, to bring on crisis
which would compel the Washington
government to either negotiate settle
ment or assume the responsibility OF the
war. Whether this was intended or not,
such was the result, for the boundary
line was soon after settled by the Ash
burton Treaty." negotiated by Mr.. Web
ster, then Secretary OF State, with Lord
Ash burton, Minister OF England to this
country.
Then again this "war'' had a pleasant
side to tia thing almost unknown to
wars either foreign or domestic Not
man was killed in battle" or died from
fright. or shot, or she'll. The march
ing, although conducted in strict military
style, was like the king of France
with 20, 600 men," who marched up
hill and then marched down again." and
yet our valiant troops never retreated
before the enemy. Their principal
marches were to " find" an enemy to
DgnG. ne req COdGS'' unueT Gne BflGs
ish Lion" thought with Fallstaff that
"discretion was the better part of valor,"
and always kept at respectful distance
There were no widows or orphans made
by this war, although many wife as
she saw her liege lord shoulder his gun
and with solemn tread march from the
old homestead, with eyes filled with
tears, feared it was her last goodbye to
husband and father.
Before closing this article I should add
that these heroes of the Aroostook war
who rallied under the old flag to defend
their State against British aggression,
were atterward gratefully remembered
by their country and each given 100
acres of land under law of Congress
engineered through by the late Senator
aamn Tho during IN his + Long s career in
Maine than any other or all other repre-
sentatiyes from that State, past or pres
ent. JOHN j. PERRY.
e1Jn,RnN