The Republican journal., 1916-02-10

| Win OHOIM nhO h
| BRITISH FORT.
V.rkees Engage in Fierce Battle. Driven
M BY Approach of Enemy's Fleet on
I'VE of Victory.
Hartford, CT, Times.
usmhers of Ruth WHY'S chapter,
o.,yhters of the American Revolution,
ars entertained and interested, this
Ns,.rnoon, at their meeting in the parish
s sl'. of the Asylum Hill Congregational
a.b[rcb by the Rev. DR.. James Goodwin,
.aStor of Christ church, who read a paper
ling with the revolt of the American
1e1nnes. DR.. Goodwin's subject was IA
lille Known Episode of the Revolu-
non, In introducing it he said the War
,f the Revolution was an interesting
s-1iy and the outstanding fact was the
r.ujile made by the royal government
IN its campaign against the colonies. He
5aya a brief outline of the war during
ts first four years and then came the
4sAmGO0e. Odlu LII. IOOuWulp Ill part.
In l779 it seems to have occurred to
tbs British that military and naval
nsss which might serve as point for
sae subiugation of New England would
b. Of immense advantage to them. They
had lost Boston. Burgoyne's surrender
had prevented their attempt to cut off
New England from the rest of the colo
-i-s But CORVALLIS in the south was
10 OIL, hI,,o Sn,1th Carolina and tho
.,rfition of the American army and
,1eir general financial collapse seemed to
,-sNe possible a new stroke which would
hrag the east under the British yoke, if
.ny a fresh and secure position could be
secured somewhere on the flank of the
Nav England colonies. Accordingly they
sought a base upon the coast of Maine
which might be in touch with the loyal
r-o.inces of Canada, safe from imme-
rsfs attack, and yet within striking dis
,snce of Boston and the heart of New
leland. Such base, moreover, would
,-ride ample supply of wood and water.
s=ndd pines for masts, fish and lumber.
Tins was the cause of the seizure of the
harbor of Penobscot, now called
r4-rlne, on the bay which mdents the
,--gral shores of the present State of
Name. The story of this seizure and of
tl- gallant attempt to capture 1t by the
4mericans, is the subject of this essay.
The present town of Castine, then
sslIed Penobscot, is situated on lofty
pennsula, whose highest crest is some
feet above tidewater. 1t is almost
4a lsland at high tide, having only a
7arrow neck, about an eighth of mile
IN ength between 1t and the mainland.
Except just on either side of this neck
rh- water is deep close to the shore every
where. On all sides the land rises steep
r from the water, and in many cases is
,r-cipitous There is but little level
round, save on the summit of the pen
ifsula. 1t forms consequently natural
fortress easily defended in the days OF
which we write. On the south side lies
arge, deep harbor, protected by ring
lt green islands. and by the long, curv-
rg arm of Cape Rozier to the south.
Iere there is ample accommodation for a
arge fleet, with deep and safe anchor
age. From all points are some lesser
uaterways leading into the heart of the
lie rritory to the north. 1t is said that
now here else is there such a network of
strea ms and rivers navigable for canoes
rs in Maine. 1t is possible to travel
4y rywhere about the State and even
from thence into Canada in this way.
Thus supplies of all kinds could be
1rought down from the interior to Cas-
the. 1t is not strange that the British
for action against New England, pitched
Upon this spot as meeting very effective
N their needs in this respect. Accord
ingly, on the 18th of June, 1779, General
Francis Mclean arrived in the harbor of
Castine, with 700 men composed of de-
tachments of the Seventy fourth and
Eighty-second regiments of the British
line, in a fleet of some seven or eight
sail. After landing, General Mclean
set to work to clear the land, fell trees
and build entertainments.
On the high ground at the crest of
the ridge Overlooking the bay and har-
Dor, he built large fort which he named
Fort George after the king, and which
ne planned to make as strong and i'm
pregnable as possible. His men worked
without intermission until July 18th,
eompleting these works and also bar
racks, storehouses and earthWorks along
me shore at the foot of the hill.
Meanwhile knowledge of this move
nent on the part of the British had been
earried to Boston and general alarm was
felt over the situation. The State board
If war of Massachusetts was ordered to
engage such armed vessels as could be
procured and to make ready to sail
against the British on the Penobscot.
authorization was given to charter or
impress, if need were, private armed
vessels, to promise the owners fair COM
pensation for losses and allow the sea-
men the same pay and rations as were
given those in the continental service.
Fifteen hundred men were called for to
engage in the expedition, besides the sea-
men who were on board the various craft
which made up the fleet. For cannon
they had two eighteen Founders and four
field pieces and large quantity of am
munition and other supplies.
The Yankee Fleet
The fleet consisted of nineteen armed
vessels and twenty-four transports and
carried 344 guns. 1t was said to be the
most beautiful fleet ever assembled in
New England waters. The commander
was Dudley Saltonstall of New Haven.
He was an able and experienced man,
but obstinate and overbearing. Briga-
dier-General Samuel Lowell was in com
mand of the land forces and General
Peleg Wadsworth was second in COM
mand. The ordnance officer was Lieu
tenant Colonel Paul Revere. The expedi-
lion did not secure all the troops called
for, but carried upwards of thousand