Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-08-25
IN OLD CASTINE.
EVENTS DURING REVOLUTION
AND WAR OF 1879.
,r,,nISG OF THE FORTS - AMERICAN
TROOPS MARCHED INTO TOWN, AND
THEN MARCHED OUT AGAIN.

IA penobscot historical societies in
rsstine. DR.. George A. Wheeler, author of
"A History OF Castine", gave condensed
.nnmary OF events in Castine during the
revolutionary period, and in the war of
1872 He said;
.erhe collating and writing out the facts
concerning any given historical epoch so
a. 20 occupy 100 or 200 pages Of print is
one thing, and the condensing this same
r,s,erial into a twenty minute talk is
.,,ovetber a different and much harder
thing. SO, II what have to say fails to
interest you, please lay half OF the blame
on MIR. Banding for his courteous invita-
,ion to me to make the talk, and | will
uillipely take the rest OF the blame for
INV folly in accepting the invitation.
aOt course in q short talk about the
American Revolution and the War OF 1872,
vou can expect me to mention only mat
iers OF a local nature. To speak Of what
occurred in other parts OF the district OF
Maine, or even to go fully into local mat
tiers alone would be impossible in the time
allotted.
at requires some effort OF the imagina-
ton, as well as fairly correct knowledge
Of facts, to picture to ones self the con-
dition OF any town 1875 years ago. In the
arst place you just bear in mind that
there were no roads or streets here ia 17T9.
There were nothing but ow-paths, foot
paths and possibly lane or two leading
from some Of the farmhouses to the shore.
The first street was simply . military road
made By the British leading from the
landing place to the fort, aud Was after
wards abandoned.
guess the approximate number OF people
or houses on this peninsula at that time.
In the whole OF Majabagsduce, as the
settlement was called which included by
far the larger part OF what now constitutes
the three towns OF Penobscot, Brooks
vile and Castine, there were at that time,
according to the best evidence have been
able to obtain, only 132 families, or ST.
persons. On this peninsula, where the
fighting occurred, there could have been
nowhere near half that number, as in 1856
three years after the British had left
there were only ninety adult males here.
''June ", f779, Gen. Francis Mclean ar
rived here from Halifax with feet OF six
or seven vessels, though only the three
sloops- oi-wsr remained, the rest being
sent back. II is easy to understand why
they came to the Penobscot region as they
themselves have stated 1t. 1t was because
this region had become famous for its
lumber, and especially for its mast pines,
which were exceedingly valuable at that
period, and also on account OF the super
abundance OF its excellent fish of all
kinds. But some OF you may wish to ask
me, what has been asked many times, why
did the British land at this particular spot
instead OF at Belfast, Camden or Rock
land? No authoritative answer has ever
been given to this question, but can con-
ceiye four reasons for it, either one OF
which alone would be sufficient. First,
the British had far better charts OF the
whole Maine coast than the Americans, had
portance OF our excellent harbor.
"rhe harbor is equally as good to-day,
but few harbors are nowadays OF much
Importance unless they also have railroads
coming TO them. Second, there was no
other harbof on the river which offered
quite such good heights, for defensive
purposes, so closely adjacent. Thirdly,
while there were beginnings Of other set
Elements al Bangor, Bucksport and Bel
fast yet the settlement here was the ,arg-
est and at that time the most important.
Lastly, great many OF the settlers were
influential Tories. Perhaps there were
more here in proportion than elsewhere in
the district OF Maine, SO it has been sug-
gested, though not proven, that the Brit
ish were invited to come here by the
Tories. Yet all were not Tories, for this
small settlement sent no less than thlr-
teen soldiers into washington's army.
ION the first day OF the British arrival
only the officers came ashore to explore
the ground and decide their plans. The
next day, however, the troops were all
disembarked and marched up the hill to
the more level ground to the eastward OF
the fort, about were High street is. They
encamped here and remained full month
while Fort George was being built. The
fort was built mainly by the citizens
the favored Tories being paid and the
others being impressed and compelled to
give their labor. The fort when finished
was at least one-third smaller than it now
IS, and the walls on the west side were
only four feet high, SO that soldier
Dragged that he could jump over them
with musket in each hand.
about a month after the landing was
made Gen. Mclean received intelligence
through his Tory friends here that large
and powerful American or rather Massa-
chusetts expedition (for the federal gov
eminent had no part in it, was being
formed for the purpose Of capturing or
driving them out. He at once sent this
information to Halifax with q request for
aid' hastily completed the fort, erected
batteries at important points, and accord