The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-07-24
Maine Romance
and History of
Past 100 Years

along the shores Of Casco bay on ter
ritory now within the limits of Bruins
wick and Cape Elizabeth.
First Chartered City.
In 1911 occurred another notable
event in the history of America, when
Sir Ferdinando Gorges established the
first chartered city in the United States
under the name of Gorgeana. This is
now the town of York.
The year 1775 was a memorable one
in the annals of Maine. In June the
first naval battle of the Revolutionary
war, the first naval engagement of the
present United States and the first
time the British flag was struck to
Americans on land or sea, occurred
off Machias, Maine, when the British
warship Margaretta was captured by
the American ship Unity. The latter
was commanded by Capt Jeremiah
O'Brien of Machias, often called "the
father of the American navy" and
for his notable achievement he was
given a vote of thanks by congress.
Another historic event of the year
was the march of Benedict Arnold and
his army across Maine in an attempt
to capture the city of Quebec.
Falmouth, now the city of Portland,
also was bombarded and destroyed in
1775 by British feet under MOwatt.
one of the most romantic pages In
American history, was captured by the
British, and it was in this engagement
that the famous Sir John Moore, the
subject of that immortal poem, "The
Burial of Sir John Moore" received
his baptism of fire. In that battle
Paul Revere. who only few years
before had made his memorable ride,
led the Massachusetts, detachment of
troops.
In 1903 Commodore Edward Preble
of Portland commanded the American
squadron at TripON which defeated
the Barbary pirates, and upon his re-
turn to the United States was received
with great distinction and given
vote of thanks and awarded medal
| by congress.
"My Lost Youth"
Hundreds of thousands have read
| LongfellOws immortal poem MY Lost
| Youth" in which he describes his ma
| tive city of Portland, and in which he
| has made famous the naval battle be-
tween the American warship Enter
prise and the British warship Boxer
| fought off the eastern end of Casco
bay. In this bloody engagement the
captains of the two ships were killed
| in action and both were buried in the
| old Eastern cemetery at Portland,
their graves, side by side being Wis
tied annually by tourists from every
section of the world.
The year 1914 was another notable
one in the history Of the state. Dur
ing it the present city of PASSPORT was
captured by the British and held as
part of Canadian territory for about
, four years. The second capture OF
Castine by the British also occurred,
and day or two later was fought the
remarkable battle of Hampden, much
overlooked by historians. and In which
both American and British soldiers
were killed, and the present cities OF
Bangor and Belfast captured.
On March Is. 1920, Maine officially
becaiNe Il separate state of the Union
mn TO this time it having been n part
of Massachusetts and known as the
district Of Maine.
In 1880 occurred one of the most
notable events in the history of the
United States and in which Maine
was the great factor around which
revolved the principal incidents. THIS
v.s the ArOostoOk war which threat
a3ed hostilities between Great Britain
apd the United States. Large mum
hers of troops were raised and i'm
mense sums of money appropriated
nv both nations for the expectel con
fict. the commanding officer for TN
United States being the renowned Gen
Winfield Scott. Actual bloodshed wa'
averted. however. and the cause o
MI the trouble, the northeastern bouna
airy of Maine. was adjusted by urea
! ~ negotiated by Daniel Webster, sec
retary of state. and Lord Ashburt"n
,epreseprtng Great Britai".
Maine was the pioneer which biaze'
, the path of national prohibition whe'