The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-08-20
Pentagoet taken in 1889 might be in.
| tCrestinp. 1t reads thus:


Priest, /.
Married men, l.
Boys under years of age, L.
Married women, l.
Social life in the fort does not seem
to have been very gay.
Castine appears to have had several
daughters, and probab y two sons. all
of whom married into French families
of good standing. But very little is
positively known, and the family name
appears to have died out in France at
the time of the French Revolution.
The elder son. Anselm, held his faith
er's place as chief of the Tarratines,
and was besides commissioned End
Lieutenant of the Navy. He is spoken
of as every wise and capable young
gentleman" although Father L'Auver-
gat, the priest, was apparently greatly
preiudiced against the two young men
and spoke of them as being drunk and
disorderly, and determined to prevent
the Indians from going to war with the
English. which last would not seem to
our ears an objectionable offense.
From the time of the BarOn's depart
ure for France to the American RevU-
luton very little seems to be known OF
the little settlement on the PenobscOt.
At any rate there seems to be great
gap in its history. About 1859 Cover
nor Pownal came down the river from
Fort Point and describes it thus:
s.Found the old abandoned French fort
and some abandoned settlements. Went
ashore to the fort. Hoisted the Kings
colors there and drank the Kings
health" And again, Il saw the ruins
of a French settlement which from the
settle and nature of the houses and the
remains of fields and orchards, had
been once a pleasant habitation: Ones
heart felt sorrow that it had been de
stroyed."
In 1775 Castine again came into
prominence, this time under the name
of Major Bagaduce, the inhabitants OF
which, fearing the occupation by the
British of the fort near them (For,
Pownal at the head of Penobscot Bay
dismantled the fort themselves ano
. burned it to the ground, capturing be
sides five sloops belonging to Genera
Gage. Evidently the new American
settlers who had come to the War-Worn
peninsula were as bold and courageous,
! with as much hatred for the King OF
England in their hearts as their French
predecessors.
But. alas. their brave effort was of nc
avail. for in 1873 the British descended
upon them in earnest, taking possession
of Maia- Bagaduce itself, and proceed
ing to build there a fort and to make
its position as strong as possible. How
the Americans heard Of the British
presence in Penobscot Bay, and sent a
powerful force down from Massachu-
sets to drive out the enemy, and how,
through the negligence and inetficiency
of one of the American leaders, the at.
tempt became a disastrous failure, is
probably too well known to warrant
going into details. The British forth:
cation, Fort George, was incomplete and
after resisting as long as possible the
British commander had expected to
strike his colors to a superior force,
but unfortunately the American COM
modore neglected to press his advan-
tage, and waited for reinforcements
from Massachusetts. Yes, the rein
forcements came, but they happened
to be British relnforcements; SO IN
trice the tables were turned and the
hunters became the hunted. A dlsas-
trous engagement followed, after which
the shores of Peno bscot bay were streWn
with the wreckage OF the American
vessels, and the British lion still waved
triumphantly over Fort George. 1t is
some slight comfort, even at this late
day. to know that that American lead
er. Commodore Saltonstall, was after
ward tried by court-martlal for coward.
ice and neglect of duty. The ILL., fated
Penobscot expedition was the only at
tempt made by the Americans to get
possession of Penobscot bay-the Brit;
ish remaining there unmolested until
the close of the war.
| wish | might tell more Of the inter.
esting things chronicled about the old
fort, about General Wadsworth's cap
ture and Imprisonment and daring es-
cape, about the hardships and adven'
lures of the inhabitants during the
British occupation, 6r to relate some OF
the interesting tales the oldest settlers
have related and historians written
about the Revolution and about the
other British invasion in 1914, ano
about the strange Indian relies ano
coins that have been found on the
peninsula, but my time and your pa
thence are doubtless alike at an end, sc
with these few hints at the story OF the
quaint old town we will leave 1t to It's
sleep, where, as Whittier says,
"The verdant hillside slopes adown
To where the sparkling waters play
Upon the yellow sands below.
And wandering from its marshy feet
The broad Peuobscot comes to meet
And minple with it's own bright bay"