The Republican journal., 1911-12-28


surrounding forests were peopled with savage
foes, prepared to receive them in conformity
with the usages of their warfare. "There was
no enemy" he says. "nor did expect any.
But could not have justified myself if any
thing had happened, if did cot take all the
same precaution as though there were." The
Tarratines were a powerful nation then, a
foe to be feared and dreaded; and they roamed
the wilderness, and launched their canoes on
the rivers and bays; sovereigns of the land,
and a terror to all daring adventures. Now
they are degenerate race, scarcely able to
muster three score and ten warriors. A small
island in the upper Penobscot is the only terri
tory they can call their own.
The expedition encamped upon what was
then called Wassaumkeag Point, where the
fort was subsequently built, the headand of
beautiful peninsula, called Cape lllison.
Across the Isthmus, connecting this peninsula
with the mainland, the Indians had carrying
place. Forty men were Immediately sent
with axes to clear this carrying place and they
cut away the trees a rod wide from one side to
the other. Here they built log redoubt, with
guard room capable of accommodating twen-
ty-five men. A similar avenue was cut across
the narrowest place on the point and re-
doubt and guardhouse were built there. A
road, two rods wide, was also cut in direct
line from this avenue to the point, and nine
FOUNDER was brought ashore and placed there
to command the river.
After completing these temporary defences
the governor did not decide to build the fort
there until he had made fuller exploration
of the country. Accordingly, on the 22d of
May,with detachment of 1876 men, he ascend
ed the river. and the next day landed on its
eastern bank fe miles above Bangor. Here
he buried leaden plate bearing the following
inscription: MAY %, 1853, Province Massa-
chusetts Bay, Dominions of Great Britain;
Possession confirmed by T. Pownall, Gov"
The expedition to this place was accompa-
MED by Brig. Gen. Samuel Waldo, the son of
wealthy merchant of Boston, and the proprie-
tor of the Waldo Patent 1t is not known that
he was acting in any official capacity He
probably went with Gov. Pownall to visit his
vast landed estate, and was interested in hay-
region. While they were ashore up the river,
engaged in the ceremony of burying the
leaden plate, he dropped down of an apoplexy.
There is tradition, which indeed has found
place in Williamson's History of Maine that
his death occurred in this wise: AFTER he had
landed with Gov. Pownall, he withdrew him.
self few PAGES from the company and look
ing round he exclaimed, here is my bound,'-
meaning the limit of the Waldo Patent--aud
instantly fell dead of an apoplexy," This,
however,is supposed to be fabulous, since Gov.
Pownall makes no mention of it in his journal,
and since, also. the Waldo Patent had the Penob-
scot for its eastern boundary. And yet, there is
possible allusion to the alleged event in Joshua
Bailys journal. After relating the fact of
Gen. Waldo's death, he goes on in his favorite
verse:
"We marched along by the Falls,
We did the bounds" declare,
The "bounds" were set plainly see,
Between the nations"
putting the word "bounds" in both instances
IN quotation marks, evidently abiding to some
particular use of the term. After which, he
gives an account of the burying of the leaden
plate.
The expedition returned to Wassaumkeag
Point the following day, taking with them the
remains of their distinguished fellow voyager.
Upon the landing of the corpse" says Gov.
Pownall, cit was received by guard, minute
guns were fired till it arrived at the place of
nterment. Upon coming to the ground the
service was performed. and a sermon suitable
to the awful occasion preached by the Rev.
Mr.. Phillips. Three voleys We're fired over
the grave" His ashes sleep there still, it is
supposed. At least there is not known to be
any record of their removal. Gov. Pownall says
of Gen. Waldo, "He was an accomplished gen
tleman, active and enterprising; had enjoyed
the advantage of foreign travel, having cross
ed the ocean fifteen times, and was an elegant
military officer, tall and portly.''
After having satisfied himself that no other
place was equal to Point of Passaumkeag for
Defence Gov. Powna!l concluded to build the
fort there. Accordingly he Immediately erect
with all the ceremonies usual on sucn occa-
sions; Adding he says, "divine service to
beg his blessing: for unless the Lord builds the
house the iaborer worketh in vain.' After
giving directions with regard to the building
of the fort, Gov. Pownall embarked for Boston,
May 26th, and arrived at the Castle in the har-
Dor, May 2Sth, when his journal terminates.
/ am not aware that there is any other ac-
count of the progress of the work on the fort
to its completion, than that contained in
Joshua Baiy's journal, which is not very cir
cumstantial. According to Willamson's His
tory, the fortification twas completed July g."
but upon what authority does not appear. In
the journal of Rev. Thomas Smith, the first
minister of Falmouth, under date of July 9Th
is found this entry: "Penobscot Fort built"
This corresponds with Joshua Bailys journal,
in which is the following entry: Friday was
the sixth day. and we finished the wharf and
drawed loan. Saturday was the seventh at
II o'clock we went on board, and hosting up
sail we had brisk wind following us till
night" The rest of the journal is an account
of their voyage from that date until their ar
rival home the 18th day. In the Boston
News Letter." under date of May 31st, 1859,
there is notice of the arrival of Gov Pownall,
in which it is stated, 1.-THE Fort will be COM
pleted in three weeks a month";" which is
only six days earlier than the time given in
the two journals referred to. The probability