Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-17
BANGOR HAS IN
TERESTiNG RELIC
OF COLONIAL DAYS

OF COLONIAL DAYS
The little rust-eaten gun mentioned
in the order is one of two cannon that
have for years occupied prominent po-
sitions on the old Post Office approach,
regarded by strangers with curiosity
and by natives as interesting historical
relics or as so much old junk, ac-
cording to the point of view, says the
Bangor, Me, Commercial. The larger
gun is a Spanish bronze cannon cap
tured in Cuba during the Spanish
American war and sent to Portsmouth
navy yard, whence, through the efforts
of tho late Hon. Charles A. Boutelle, it
was brought to Bangor to serve as a
public memento of that disturbance.
The Spanish cannon is much the larg-
er and handsomer of the two that orn-
ament the little plaza, and its story is
thus briefly related in raised letters on
u tablet:
Spanish bronze cannon, cast at
Seville, Feb. 8, 1887. Dismounted from
Fort Toro, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in
bombardment by United States navy.
June Is, 1898. Recovered June Z, 1899,
by Lieut.. Frank E. Fletcher. com
manding the U. S. S. Eagle, and pre-
sented to Hon. Charles A. Boutelle,
chairman committee on naval affairs
L. S. House of Representatives, by
whom it was presented to the City of
Bangor, Oct 16, 1899, through Hon.
Arthur Chaplin, Mayor"
1t is the other and smaller of the
two cannon, however, that is regarded
with create interest, if not pride, by
all who are familiar with the early
history of Bangor, and which excites
most curiosity among visitors to the
city. 1t is an Observation-Disclosures
piece of ordinance, rust-eaten and
weather worn, but it's voice was heard
in the Revolution and it is one of the
few relics of a naval tragedy that was
serious blow to the cause of the Col
onies. When the ancient and dininu-
tive cannon was placed in it's present
position there was painted upon it this
inscription, now obliterated by the
elements
1779-1S76.
This gun was in one of
Commodore Saltonstall's Sloops- of-war
Blown up in the Penobscot River Au-
gust, 1873.
Recovered, August, 1876.
E. NJ. F.
Thus, the old gun is daily remind
er of the inglorious, almost disgrace
full, end of Commodore SaltonstalPs
expedition to the Penobscot. The Com
modore was sent, in 1879, by the Colo
mia! government to recapture Castine
from the British. He had a large fleet,
wei. manned, and when he anchored
off the ancient town on the bay pre-
scented an imposing array to the enc
my. Had he attacked the British posi-
ton at once, there is no question but
he would have regained Castine, but
he was an undecided, dilatory sort of
commander, and deliberated instead of
doing. One fine day, in the midst of
his deliberations. a British feet as
and then it was fight or run, and as
he was cut off from escape sea-
ward he fed precipitately up the Pc
nobscot toward Bangor, without hav-
ing accomplished anything. although
while he was waiting the land forces
under Gen. Lowell had all but captured
the British fort.
The British fleet, consisting of seven
vessels, commanded by Sir George Col
lier. pursued the Americans up the
river. and during the pursuit several
of the American transports went
ashore on Orphans Island, new the
town Of Verona, and were set on fire
and abandoned. The remainder of Sal
fleet kept on up the river
to Condeskeag, now Bangor, where
they, too, were set on fire or blown
up, and that was the end of the noble
sent out from Boston to take
Castine. The fleet consisted of the
new frigate Warren, nine ships, six
briggs and three sloops, the whole car
rying 344 guns, and not a vessel es-
capped. The troops and sailors fled
through the woods to the settlements
of the kennebec, enduring great hard
ships on the journey, and some dying
III the woods from exposure and hun
ger.
When the British arrived at Bangor
they captured a few soldiers who had
behind, but found the great
fleet sunk in the river Those
Of the village who were will
ing to take the oath of allegiance to
King George were not molested but
some refused, and their buildings were
burned.
A court of inquiry was held at Bos-
ton soon afterward upon the "Penob-
scot Expedition" and the General
Court adjudged that Commodore Sal
tspStal1 ba ipcoponasa,t avar a ftar ~