The Portland daily press., 1895-03-23
REyoE1rsf5S znYf DAYS.
The Soldiers Who Mustered for De-
fence of Portland in Dark Days.

Mr.. Gould Reviews the Times and the
Men-PIenty of Money and Little Food
Capt. Joseph Pride's Company Roll.
The year 1880 opened with very gloomy
prospects for our forefathers in their strug.
gle for independence. The times were hard
and the currency had deprecated to such
an extent that it was almost worthless
caused partly By the wholesale counter felt
ing of it by the British. Congress tried tc
improve matters by retiring some issues OF
the currency and regulating t he prices OF
necessities. The army was short of provis-
ions and clothing and at times were on
short rations. Gen. Washington wrote-s'a
wagon full of money will scarcely purehas e
wagon load of provisions"
The situation here was lot much better.
Parsen Smith records December 9, 1.19
Wood is $40 cord; coffee So a pound"
March "a. 1880 "Young Mussey asks $500, lie
above 9l00, for hat; Ia aborers 80 cts day.
October TO-" l had nothing for dinner, and
no prospect of any. November 10. "A signal
day of mercyi was never SO anxious about
wood and meal; but relieved marvelously.'' -
January 13. 1881 wood is fallen from $500
to S120 i. g. dollar and half silver.''
The most annoying enemies the colonis. IS
had to contend with, were the tories, who
remained in our lines willing to reap any
benefit that might arise from the success of
the Revolution, at the same time aiding
the British in every way they dared to. thus
making their position SECURE no matter
which side triumphed in the end. Tie tory
was despised by the pa triot.with good rea-
sons. To counteract the tory influence
among the impoverished people. to thwart
their efforts to aid The British, and to pro-
tect the sea coast towns from the depreda-
tions of the British cruisers, it was thought
necessary to have a regiment stationed on
ths coast of Maine.
The General Court authorized the raising
of soldiers for this duty and Parson Smith
records A pril 8. 1880, "a regiment of $50 is
raising; 800 of them for this place, 200 for
Camden, 100 for Machias.''
Lieut.. Col. Prime was appointed to COM
mand the troops at Falmouth. He came
from Perwick and had heen 1st Major of
the End York County Regt. in 1776 He was
appointed Supt. of Y ork County TO receive
and send forward men for the Continental
ment was from March 25th 10 December
10th 1880, months and l6 days.
Major James Johnson belonged in Fall
mouth and was mast cutter before the
war. He was 1st Lieut.. in Capt. John
Brackets company of minute men April
10. 17T5 and lst Lieut. under same captain
in Col. Edward Phinney's regiment 1775.
and at the death of Capt. Bracket. Sep
teihber "a. 1775, he was promoted to his
place. He was End major in the 1st Cumber-
land County Regiment, and April 20. ITS
WAS appointed Supt. ths county TO re-
oaive and send forward men for the Con III
aental army. He WAS major in Col. Nafh'l
Jordan s Sea Coast Regr September IS,
to October s3 l179. and major of this regi-
Dent in $780, His wife was Elizabeth Por-
tarfeld, and he died at Poland. Maine June
,. 1881, aged 96 years. He was the grand
father of Mrs. Joseph Walker. His ser, ice