Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-12-26
AIDED THE Revolt
The Destruction Of Portland, Me-,
In Colonial Days.
ACT OF AN ENGLISH OFFICER.
A Royalist Woman's WiIss Caused the
AnnihiIation Of the City and Saved
Portsmouth, NJ. H., For Which Ports
lands Fate Had Been Planned.

Portsmouth, NJ. H., For Which Ports
lands Fate Had Been Planned.
One of the causes of the Revolution
airy war, and quite as important ono
us the stamp act, was the wanton de-
Btruction of the city Of Portland, Me-,
then part of the town Of Falmouth.
1t was said that the patriots might
have forgiven Lexington and Concord,
but that the razing Of this town. which
had been peaceably inclined until then,
incensed the colonies beyond measure
One prompt result was the immediate
formation of Maine regiment which
was added to the meager forces Of the
Continental army.
Not so generally known, however, is
the tradition that it was due to the
Vaccinations Of a beautiful woman
that Portland was destroyed and an
other town preserved.
When the British commander, Cap
tain Mowatt, on board his flagship, the
Canceau, anchored with his feet in
Portland's inner harbor, he did not re-
veal to her citizens that the unscrupu-
lous little god of love had been his
pilot. Instead. on bright October
morning in 1915. he ran up the royal
ensign on his fleet and at 0 o'clock
began a bombardment that lasted I'M
interruptedly until o'clock at night.
Portland was unprepared for such q
visitation, and there was no attempt
at defense, the inhabitants simply
swarming the streets with their OK
carts and horses and attempting to
seek safety by flight to the open coun-
try back from the water front.
So close did the assailing vessels ap-
bardment they landed sailors who per-
vaded the town, setting fire to such
buildings as had escaped damage from
hot stot and exploding bombs. Before
Captain Mowatt had completed the sac
rifice he desired to lay before loves
shrine three-quarters of the town was
totally destroyed. including the mu-
| nicipal buildings. churches, public IL
brary, fire engine houses, warehouses,
wharfs and shipping.
All that he left was a handful of the
poorer novels. every residence Of i'm
portance being bombarded or set on
| fire and 5000 inhabitants left shell
| terless at the approach Of winter
TO make it practically certain that aid
could not come to the seaport by wa
ter he destroyed all but one wharf and
took with him on his departure all the
vessels anchored in the harbor that
had been spared from the torch.
| Truly he had glorious bonfire and
| in explanation he exhibited instruc-
tons which read ''Ccue Opposite ae
town with all possible expedition d
there burn. sink and Destroy but .
gossips Of the time said that these E
ders originally related to portsmeg .
n. H.. and thar 1t was due to a woras q
that they were not carried out as writ
ten
Captain Mowatt and his feeg "a
lanchorsd of portsmoo "a u0i'+ Tr =
time prevlUgss 70 his assault ~ .
Portland. and while there a. haa e
quietly on shore and secFelg j
the family of the royalist Tor feQ {
the colonists called them, A-aln
| Sparhawk. Nathaniel had diue8s'
q girl Of eighteen. famed the ee9Rrg
round for her beauty as her fatnf wa
famed for his obnoxious loyay fa
King George. anu Nuun the sailor cap
tain saw her he proved an easy con-
Il. Iz ~
women are concerned, and he found
1t necessary to be rowed from his ship
many times in order to spend the even
ings with attractive Mary Sparhawk.
Her wit beauty and brilliancy of
conversation fascinated him and
through her influence. it is said. the
intention Of bombarding Portsmouth
was abandoned and Portland suffered
| in the stead of the town which held
| the charming little loyalist.
| So what one historian termed "a
wanton. indefensible assault upon an
undefended and peaceful city" came
about through woman's smile. and
every volley from the fifty guns of
| Mowatt's feet doubtless carried his
thoughts back to the lass who had won
his heart. The smoldering wharfs and
the flaming houses were his burnt Of
| fering to his ladylove.
The Sparhawk house. where the cap
tain lost his heart still stands: but.
alas. the romance ended as so many
romances do. for after the Revolution
was over the fair and fascinating belle
married a physician and patriot
Detroit Free Press.