The Republican journal., 1898-05-26
The EARLY History of Searsport.

friend Mathews with some notes of our
own regarding the early military history of
the town. 1t has been our pleasure to
meet and converse with a number of the
old citizens of Searsport who were born
within the period covering the last quar-
ter of the eighteenth century, and the
old saying that "Prophet is not without
honor" etc., seems to be verified in the
fact that these men, whom we were accus-
toned to meet almost daily, bore quite an
important part in the military history of
the town. Their services, either in the
militia or regular army called for
sacrifice on their part, that later genera
lions seem to not fully appreciate. We
believe there was but one known resident
of the town who served in the war of the
Revolution. Joseph Gordon, we have it,
served in the Continental army, and lived
to ripe old age, and is buried in the
Gordon cemetery. Of those who served
in the 1872 Is war, Stephen Foote, John
Curtis and Jonathan Smart, served in the
reg uldI army. Ioolo duu oiAdll Weie
both present at the battle of Plattsburg,
when, after McDonough's victory, the
British beat a hasty retreat. Sept. 4,
1914, Governor Strong of Massachusetts,
issued proclamation calling out all the
militia. Maine was then a province of
Massachusetts. Under this call there
was raised in the then town of Prospect,
which included North Searsport, the will
age and Stockton, three companies of
troops-one company of horse or dra
goons, and two companies of infantry
for the purpose of repeling a probable
invasion. The British were then in
possession of Castine, and were landing
at points along the bay and river, making
havoc among the farms in their foraging
expeditions. John Mason, man of some
previous knowledge of warfare, was made
captain of the cavalry company. Jona-
than Dow was captain of one of the in
fantry companies, while Phineas Pendle
ton captaned the other. These compan-
| les We're formed in different parts of the
town. The dividing line between Pros
pect and Belfast was at the mill brook OF
| Merrilfs mill, so-called. John Maso II
and his men We're mostly from the north
/ part of the town; Jonathan Dow COM
| pany was mostly from the village portion,
while the company Of Phineas Pendleton
was from the easterly part, including
what is now the Harbor and Stockton
| Springs. We remember very we'll the
story as related by Jonathan Duke
Smart describing an incident in his mill
tary experience at this time. Smart was
one OF picket guard, posted at the hill,
just beyond the Isaac Carver mansion.
One stormy night two horsemen were
seen riding toward them at quite smart
gallop. At the proper time Smart chal-
lenged them, bringing them to halt and
made them dismount. The strangers fail
| ing to satisfy Smart and his comrades in
answer to questions, aroused the suspicious
of the guard who made them prisoners
and took them before the Commanding
General, whose headquarters were at the
old Mossman house, torn down few
| years ago. They were submitted to an
examination by the general, who after
| parleying released them. The next morn
ing, however, the indenity of the two
strangers was discovered, through some
papers they had managed to conceal for
the time in an clubhouse, and which prov
ed them to be two British officers who
had made tour through our lines, max
ing sketches and drawings showing the
number and position of our troops. This
act of the general was severity condemned
by Smart, who to his dying day declared
him a traitor. Another was Mr. Jacob
Ellis, who was corporal, and had charge
OF the picket posted at the mill brook
where he was stationed for some time
We are not informed as to the length of
his service. The record makes him miss
ing or not present when his company was
mustered out. Silas Putnam, we believe,
was in the regular service, and was sta
tcHeu dt PolHtS dlOnS lue coast. tie was
discharged in the winter of 1915, with
three other comrades, who marched from
Machias to Castine, where they were
Hospitality received and cared for at the
house of Mr.. Ellis, father of the late
Amos Fl. Ellis, when Amos was little
boy. The sufferings from cold, wet and
hunger of these men, as related by
''Uncle Sias, was OF the severest kind
Their stopping place was where night
| overlook them. The farmers house in
those days was a free hostelry for any
traveller, especially SO to returning sol
der from the war. In later number l
will endeavor to give list of the officers
and men who composed these companies,
many of the descendants of whom are still
citizens of the town. L. B. BILLINGS.
Lynn, May 18th.
yAaIIn