Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-02

formed into six train-bands and united
nto regiment under the following
named officers: At Saco, Brevet Major
3ryan Pendleton commanded the rcgi-
nent and the troops at Black Point; at
kittery. Captain Charles Frost, Lieu
-en?nt Roger Plaisted and Ensign John
iattery: at York, Lieutenant Job AL
,ock and Ensign Arthur Bragdon; at
Wells, Lieutenant John Littlefield and
ensign Francis Litlefield, Jr.: at Scar
borough, Lieutenant Andrew Algier:
and at Falmouth, Lieutenant George
lngersoll.
At an organization of the militia in
1914, at the time eff forming the new
;ounty called Devonshire. the general
,ourt formed five train-bands, one each
1t Sagadahock, Pcmaquid. Damaris-
owe, Cape Newagon and Monhegan;
he two latter were placed under cam
nand of non-commissioned ofiicers-thc
company at Sagadahcck was placed
lnder command of Captain Patteshall
md the one at Pemaquid under charge
If Captain Gardener, who was also to
lave the command of and be RESPONSE
'orces in that part of the country
The official report OF the strength of
he militia in Yorkshire and Devon
shire counties at the time of the
breaking out of what is known as
King Phillips War in 1873, and the To-
,ation of the troops was as follows:
At kittery, 100 men; York, SO men:
Wells and Cape Porpoise, so men; Saco
md Winter Harbor. 100 men; Black
Point, 100 men; Casco Bay and Fall
mouth, so men; Sagadahock and West
wood, so men; and at Devonshire
lhout SEQ men-a total of 900 men,
Passing on to the year IVA we find
hat the militia strength had been in
,reased to 2S55 'able-bodied or fenci-
dc men," who We're organized into two
egiments. one commanded by Colonel
William Pepperell of Kittery, and the
,ther by Colonel Samuel Waldo of Fal-
mouth. The necessity for such force
vas that the war of this year between
england and France had extended tc
heir respective colonies in this country
md caused another Indian war. To
furnish sufficient strength for the
militia some five hundred men had been
irafted and assigned to the two regi-
nents. The service rendered by the
lrafted men evidently not being at all
;atisfactory,it was decided to discharge
hem and form scouting party of
hundred men from Colonel PepperelI's
regiment for immediate and constant
service, the balance of the troops to be
held inreadiness for service when called
lpon. The scouts were formed into
light guards, each under the command
IF a sergeant and stationed at conven-
cent distances from each other between
Berwick and ST. George, from which
points they We're to patrol to the next
station.
Two officers with the pay of captain
rad charge of this line of pickets
Up to the time of the breaking out of
the War of the Revolution these troops
found ample employment in protect
ing the settlers from Indian depreda-
tons and Entertainments by the
French.
During the winter session of the
Massachusetts Legislature in 1775-76
the militia was reorGaniZed and the
general court formed Massachusetts,
proper into three divisions and Maine
into one. a brigadier-general was ap-
pointed to the command of the militia
in each county, and those for the three
counties in Maine were General John
Frost of Kittery, General Samuel
il Brunswick, and General
Charles Gushing of Pownolborough. A
brigade was to consist of two regi-
ments, and in each regiment the field
officers were to be a colonel, lieutenant
colonel and two majors, called then
first and second. The complement of a
militia company was 6S enlisted men,
All able-bodied men between 16 and so
years of age were enrolled, and with
the exception of Quakers, ministers
colored men and Indians, were COM
PEELED to do military duty. In case q
man was drafted for military service
and refused to serve, he was fined Il
pounds. and If the fine was not paid he
was committed to prison.
The British sovereign was no longer
as the ruler of the people in
this country. and at this time-1775-76
the first commissions ''in the name
Of the government and people of Mass
nchusetts bay in New England were
issued to militia officers.
Maine was prominently and gallant
~ represented in the War Of the
and the nrst COMPANY to
report for duty was organized in York.
Its ranks showed 60 of those hardy.
patriotic men who with others Of their