Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-19

lHere is AN agitation Tor the build
ing of a brick covering or protection
about Fort Halifax. located at the
junction of the Kennebec and Sebasti-
cook rivers in Winslow. The action of
the weather is being made noticeable
regardless of the extensive repairs
which were made not many years ago
1t is felt yby people Interested in his
torical things that there should be
some way of perpetuating this old
these old block houses. relics of our
frontier days now left standing on the
continent. and if a brick covering
should be built around the old fort il
would stand for many years to come.
The history of this old fort is best
told by North's History Of Augusta
which says:
The unsatisfactory state of affairs
with France. ana the facility of pass
ing from Canada with Indian forces To
the kennebec by way Of the Chandler.
Increased the appre hension that some
place on the upper waters of those
rivers might be general rendezvous
Of the indians. and that peace could
not long continue.
At length Governor Shirley received
Information from Captain Lithguw. AT
Fort Richmond. that the French were
building a fort Al noted carrying
place OF the Indians" un the head
waters ~ the kcnnebpc. ana On the
Sth day ~ February. 1884. ~ commits
stoned John North. Captain " The, fort
al Prmaquid. ana Thomas Fletcher.
Lieutenant ~ the fort al -. George
river. "a proceed thither with a suiii-
cicnt armed guard. ana require any
chief officer thus engaged 10 remove
with his soldiers on the ground. rs be-
ing within the Jurisdiction ~ His
Majesty the King ~ Great britain.
ana give them special instructions 10
govern thrm in the matter.
In letter To capt. North of the
same date accompanying the commits
sion. Gov. Shirley urged upon him thu
necessity ~ expedition 50 that h.
could return before the Rivers break
up and in season L. lay this affair
before the General Assembly in the
latter end of March" He charged him
'toeXercise the greatest discretion, ana
remarked. IF this design is managed
prudently and successfully it will do
honor to those concerned in the execu-
ton of it"
In the same month a part of sixty
Indians appeared before Fort Rich
mond. They came as spies. as was
supposed, and We're insulting and
threatening. saying the English had
better leave the river or their French
brothers would come in the spring,
clad as Indians, and drive them away.
The French We're active in persuad-
ing the Indians to prevent further set
Elements on the river, promising faNof
to those who should unite with them.
and threatening vengeance on all VINO
should mediate between the English
and the Indians.
In the emergency which was arising
the General Court declared its "readl-
ness to do everything that could be
expected, and looked upon 1t TO be OF
absolute necessity that the frehch
should at all events be prevented from
making any settlement whatsoever at
the River Kennebec or the carrying
places at it's head AS Richmond tort
was in a decayed state, the House de
sired the governor to cause new tort
TO he erected about one hundred and
twenty feet square, as far above
that fort as should be thought eXpedl-
ent and cause the garrison, aftlliefE'
and stores at Richmond to be removed
to the new fort and the old fort 10 pe
demolished: and likewise to order a
sufficient force to the carrying place
10 remove the French that may be
settled there The House also re-
uuested the governor to take 4 voyage
in person to the eastern parts OF the
Province: and to protect ms PERSON
erect a fort and destroy encroachlnS
settlements of the French. they maze
provision for the pay and subsistence
of five hundred men, which force was
afterwards increased to eight hundred
The Plymouth Company being deslr-
Gus that Fort Richmond should pc re-
moved or another fort built further W
the river. Governor Shirley addressed
them n letter proposing the erection Oh
the new fort at Ticonc. if they would
Construct one at Cushnoc. The rea
sons and advantages of this arrange
ment are fully set forth in the follow
ing letter addressed by the Governor
to the Plymouth proprietors:
Boston. April 16, 1914.
CONFERENCE.-The Great and General
Assembly of this province having III
their present Session by their Message
70 me desired that I would order a
new fort to be erected of about one
hundred and twenty feet square, as TAI
M the river Kennebec above Rlch
mond fort as | shall think 1T; ah'
whereas the placing such fort upor
this occasion near Taconett FANS
would contribute more to the defehc'
of said river and protection or the set
Elements which already are, or shai
hereafter be made upon II, than erect
ing a fort at or near Cushenac, Dr
would be attended with this lncon
venience. that the depth OF water II
said river will not admit provisions
and stores to be transported IN slool
higher than cushenac; 50 that 1t L
necessary in case a fort shall b.
erected at Taconett Falls, that T.;
strong defensibe magazine should b.
built Mt Cushenac for the reception o
the Government stores and provision
in their carriage to the said fort;
think it proper to acquaint you. tina
Of