The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-10-29

dinp-he says-divine service to beg hif
blessing; for unless the Lord pulios tne
house, the laborer worketh in VAN!
After giving directions for the building
of the Fort. Gov. Pownal embarked fol-
Boston May 18th, the day after the
burial of his friend, Gen. Waldo. The
journal terminates with his arrival al
the Castle in Boston Harbor May ~,
1859, having been absent "a days.
know not that there is any record OF the
further prosecution of the work on the
Fort. Williamson in his history OF Malne
says "the Fertilization was completed
July 28th"-just one hundred years ago
to-day.
The correctness of this date has been
questioned. What authority the historian
had for it does not now appear. l know
of only two grounds of doubling its
correctness. One is minute IN the
journal of Rev. Thomas Smith, the first
minister of Falmouth, now Portland.
Under date of July 9th. is found this
entry" Penobscot Fort built!' In the
Boston News Letter." paper pub
lished in Boston a century since, under
date of May 81, 1859, there is notice
of Gov. Powral's arrival from the Pc
nobscot. In this ii is said 1.-The Fort
will be completed in three weeks or
month" This estimate would, at the
latest, bring the time of the completion
of the Fort to the last of June, SIX days
earlier than the date in Smiths jour-
nal. 1t therefore is corroborative OF his
date rather than that Of the History OF
Marie. These circumstances are suffl-
cient to create doubt of the correct
ness of the historians statement, and
lead the curious to make furthur inquiry.
Very likely some Colonial records may
be found which shall fix the date beyond
doubt.
The best description l can give of the
Fort is one furnished by the late Joseph
P. Martin, Esq, revolutionary soldier,
prepared by him more than 80 years
ago. He gathered his information large
ly from one who had lived in the family
of Col Godthwait, while he was COM
.mander of the Fort.
cit was regular fertilization, four
square with flankers, with block. house
in the center. 1t was surrounded by a
ditch Is feet wide at the top, and five at
the bottom, and probably 8 feet deep.
The outer side of the ditch was 240 feet,
and the breastworks within the ditch ~
feet. A block house was erected within
the Fort A feet square with flankers 81
feet or the sides. In the center of the
ditch were palisades quite around the
Fort. The block house was OF square
timber, dovetailed at the corners. 1t
was of two very high stories-the lower
story used as barrack; the upper story
iutted over the lower 2 IL or feet.
This space was covered by loose plank,
easily taken up in case of necessity. In
this room were 10 or IL cannon. The
roof was hipped with sentry box on the
top. The houses of the officers were sit
uated between the Fort and the bank of
the river"
This Fort, though cheap and slender
affair compared with the one now being
built on this river, was sufficient for the
object of its creation. 1t put an effectual
and final stop to those predatory incur
sions of the Indians which had greatly
ANNOYED the inhabitants of the coast
| west of this. The same year in which
this was built Quebec was taken by Gen.
Wolf, and the Canadas fell into the
hands of Great Britain. French power
| upon this continent was broken; and
comparatively little Inconvenience from
| the Indians has since been suffered by
! the citizens of Maine.
A garrison was constantly maintained
| at Fort Pownal until the revolutionary
| war. Gen. Jedediah Preble, with force
| of about 100 men. was first placed ir
command. He appears to have been
highly respectable and valuable man.
He was a native of Wells-began life az
mariner-but by force of character
he pushed his way to the highest stations
! in society. Both in civil and military
life he so distinguished himself as to IN
scribe his name upon the page of history
He was the father of Commodore Ed
ward Prebe, a still more distinguishes
man. So far as l have been able t
learn, he administered affairs, while il
command at the Fort, so as to secure tn
respect of the country. He closed lif
of great activity and usefulness at Port
land 1907, at the age of II.
| Conclusion next week.