Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-04-20
IN OLD CASTINE.
HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS ADD TO
IT'S NATURAL CHARMS.
RAPIDLY GROWING IN FAVOR WITH
THE SUMMER TOURIsT-GLIMPsEs
OF ITS PAST AND PRESENT.
From the Bangor COMMERCIAL

From the Bangor Commercially
Wheeler's history of Castine contains
the following paragraph:
Probably no place In the state Of
Maine has passed through so many
changes as the peninsula OF Castine.
Indians, French, Flemish pirates, Dutch,
English and Americans have each occu-
pied 1t. France held possession of it for
almost the entire 18th century. No less
than five naval engagements have taken
place in its harbor."
To use the language OF another: at
has never been without a garrison from
1880 to 1888 and has always been dealt
with by the nations in whose possession
it has been as place OF great impor-
tance."
Gen. De Peyster remarks: "This is one
OF the most remarkable points all along
our coasts; which under any other gov
eminent than our own, would have long
since been transformed into naval
fortress Of the first Glass;
Its location in the centre OF the sea-
coast OF Maine, at the mouth Of the prin-
cipal river and the head OF the principal
bay, the confluence OF the Bagaduce with
the Penobscot, and the magnificent har-
Dor, all suggest the important part which
Castine is fitted to play in the commerce
OF the State.
The southern peninsula upon which
the village is compactly built, like little
city, is about two miles long. On the
southwest end on the shore of Penobscot
bay 1t Is one mile wide and narrows by
irregular shore lines to a point at the
northeast end In the Bagaduce river.
The harbor is on the southeast side, and
on the northwest side is a large cove at
either end, connected by canal ten or
twelve feet in width and eighty rods in
length, said to have been dug by Mowat
in 1873. This canal with the two coves at
the ends divides the southern peninsula at
high water from the remainder OF the
town, which is also a peninsula, lying be-
tween the Penobscot and Bagaduce rivers
and extending up the Penobscot as far as
Fort Point on the opposite shore. A
half mile from the centre of the south
west end on the bay the ground rises to
an elevation of PIT feet, which is the sum
NIT of the southern peninsula; from this
summit ridge extends through the CEN
tire of the southern peninsula to point
one half mile from the mort beast end OF
the town in the Bagaduce. This point is
midway from shore to shore and has an
elevation of 100 feet.
In the very centre of the town, on the
ridge, is Fort George at an elevation of
$50 feet. The fort is about 300 feet square
with embankments some fifteen feet high
surrounded by deep ditch Its con-
struction was determined upon by the
| English on account of the military and
naval Importance of this place to them,
and commenced in 1879 by Gen. Mclean
| with 700 men, who arrived here from Hal
flax in eight ships June II of that year,
and began Immediately to build the fort.
July % the same year fleet fitted out by
the general court of Massac husetts, under
command of Dudley Saltonstall, OF New
/ Haven, Conn, gave battle to Mclean for
the possession of Gastine.
1t Is now interesting to refer to that
fleet, Its equipment, stores and engage.
ment. The fleet consisted OF nineteen
armed vessels and twenty four transports,
carrying 3il guns. 1t has been describ bed
as "the most beautiful that ever foated
in eastern waters.
The vessels composing he fleet were as
follows: Frigate "Warren", thirty-two
! guns, Commodore Saltonstali; ships
"Monmouth", twenty four guns; "Nen-
geance," tWenty-tuur guns; "Gen. Put
nam," twenty-five guns; "Sally," TWEEN
/ ty-two guns; "Hampden," twenty guns ;
"iiector," twenty guns; "Hunter," eigh-
teen guns; BLACK Prince" eighteen
guns; Sky Rocket sixteen guns; briggs
active, sixteen guns; Defiance" six
teen guns; Nancy" sixteen guns; "Di!i-
gence," fourteen guns; "Tyrannicide, -
fourteen guns; sloops "Providence,"
fourteen guns; Spring Bird twelve
guns, "Rover," ten guns, and twenty
four transports. Generals Cushing,
Thompson ard Frost were ordered to fur
nish l 500 men for this expedition from
| Cumberland and York counties.
They took with them the following
supplies and munitions of war, namely
nine tons Of -four and bread; ten tons Of
| rice, Ten tons oI salU peer, l,ZU SallOns OF
rum and molasses in equal quantities,
500 stand OF arms, $4,000 musket car
tridges with balls, two 1S-pounders, with
200 round OF cartridges, three 9-pounders,
with 300 round Of cartridges, four field
pieces with six barrels of gunpowder,
and the necessary quantity OF axes,
spades, tents and camp furniture.
| cbor ri no
to Paul Revere, famous for his "midnight
ride, and Solomon Lowell Of Weymouth
had control Of the land forces.
The British general had 700 men, a fort
only partially built land three men, of-war,
the albany, "North" and "Nautilqs".
He compelled 651 of the Inhabitants of
Castine and vicinity to take the oath Of
/ oil inn IL 10 LII -,