The Portland daily press., 1896-04-25
AN ENGLISH view.
OF Fair Portland Way Back in
1917.
A UNIQUE ADDITION 70 MAINE
HISTORICAL LIBRARY.

Papers Before the Histori cal society-NTr.
Nathan Goods Valuable Work In
Tracing Revolutionary Regiments
The Mast Industry of Old Falmouth
Last Meeting of the Society for the Sea-
son.
The Maine Historical Society held a
meeting to listen to the reading of pa
pers at their rooms in the Baxter build
Ing yesterday.
In the absence of President, James P.
Baxter, Major II. S. Burrage presided.
l.. b. Chapman, Esq, of Deering, was
introduced to read the first paper. which
was on fThe Mast Industry of old Fal-
MOUTH This industry was quite ex-
tensive one and continued to be for a
great many years. A great deal of materi-
al was obtained from thesgrowth of lofty
pines that covered the country in this
locality on both sides of the highway ex-
tending from what is now know as India
street to Libby's Corner, which was the
| first highway voted by the early settlers
| in 1928. The pioneers in the business
were Samuel Waldo of the Province of
| New Hampshire, who, it is believed dis
posed of his interest in the mast business
to Col. Thomas Westbrook, who estab-
| lished himself in 1898 at what is now
known as Dnnstan's landing in the town
of Scarboro. Rev. Thomas Smith, Port
lands first minister frequently alluded
| to the business Of making and loading
ship masUs. Mr.. Chapman's paper in
terestingly traced the history of this
early Maine industry.
Mr.. Nathan Goold next read a most in
teresting paper.
Col. Edmund Phinney's 18th Continental
Regiment.
Col. Edmund Phinney's 18th Continen-
tai Regt. entered the service at Cam
bridge, Jan. l, 1776, where the new Con-
| tinental army had it's birth. Then was
raised over the American camp the
Union flag, of thirteen stripes and a
British union. The muster rolls made
at Fort George, Dec. s, 1776, give the
names of 621 men who had been connect
ed with the regiment in it's years of Sc r.
vice.
When the new Continental army was
formed the number of regiments was re-
duced but more men were required. The
army was reorganzed from thirty eight
infantry regiments to twenty six, and
the regiments were to consist of but eight
companies. The intention was to make
it q soontinental army instead of Ia
colonial, SO as to encourage the union
spirit in the colonies and to break up the
jealousy between the New England and
the other colonies. This change in the
army and the state Of the affairs of the
country, at that time, caused General
Washington and his generals great aux-
| iety.
Col. Phinney's regiment took the place
of his 31sJ Regu. of Foot at Cambridge,
and had the same field and staff officers,
and many of the line officers and men,
had served in the old regiment, The old
| was Cum berland County regiment, but
the new one had in it, officers and men
| from what is now the State of Massachu-
setts
The 18th Continental Regt. took an ao-
tive part in the. siege Of Boston under
Generals Putnam and Heath, and was
stationed at Cam bridge. In the bonn
| bardment, in March. they manned the
| batteries at Lechmen Point and Cobble
Hill. On the fifth of March, when it
was expected that the British would as
sault the works Oh Dorchester Heights,
| Thousand. who undor Generals Putnam,
| Sullivan and Greene, were to embark at
the mouth of the Charles river in boats
under the protection of the floating bat
teries, land near Boston Common, take
| Beacon Hill and then force their lines at
Boston Neck, open the gates and let in
the Americans. 1t was to have been a
desperate undertaking and Washington
selected his generals and men with great
care for the work. The terrible gale of
wind and the rain, the next day, prevent
ed the British from making the assault,
and when all danger was over the regi-
ment was ordered back to their quarters.
The bonn bardment continued until March
seventeenth, when Gen. FL owe evacuated
Boston, and this regiment entered the
town the twentieth and was CHARTERED
near Fort Hill, where they wore engaged
in building q battery of nine guns. At
Boston they were first under Gen.
Greene, then under Gen. Artemus Ward.
The evacuation of Boston, was a great
victory for the Americana. Gen. Wash
| ington and his army were thanked by the
Congress and gold medal was ordered
struck to conseorate the event. which is
| now in the Public Library at Boston.
! OF his army at the Siege of Boston,
Washington wrote as follows: "They
were indeed at first. an army Of undis-
ciplined husbandmen, but it is, under
0OU, 10 bnSlf bravery anu dUGoQDlOu uu
duty that am indebted for that success
which has procured me the only reward
/ wish to receive. the affection and esteem
| of my countrymen."
The uniform nf the regiment, when
they were stationed at Boston, consisted
of coats and double-Dreasted jackets OF
waistcoats, of undyed cloth just as it
came from the looms, turned up with
/ buff faoings. blue breeches, felthats with
narrow brims and white bindings
! When Gen. Joseph Warren's body was
removed from Bunker Hill to the Gran
airy burying ground, April 9Th, 1776, a
company of Col. Phinney's regiment
headed the procession, because of the
| fine appearance Of the men.
| August eighth, the regiment was or
dered to reinforce the Northern army at
Fort Ticonderoga. They marched by the
way of Weston, Lunenburg, Fitohburg,
Keene, n. Fl. Charleston, Springfield,
VT, Rutland to Skeenesborough, now
Whitehall. N Y, where they embarked
in batteaux for Mount Independence, op-
posite Fort Tioonderoga.
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