The Crittenden press., 1920-07-02
Maine Romance
and History Of
Past 100 Years

along the shores of Casco bay on ter
rIiory now within the limits of Eruns-
wick aud Cape Elizabeth
First Chartered City.
In 1911 occurred another notable
event In the history Of America when
Sir Ferdlnando Gorges established the
first chartered city In the United States
under the name OF Gorgeuna. This is
now the town OF York.
The year l715 wns n 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 10
Americans on land or sea. occurred
on Mnchlas, Maine. when the British
wnrshlp Margaretta was captured hy
the American ship Unity. The latter
wHS commanded by Capt. jeremiah
O'Brlcn ~ Mnchins. often called "the
father NJ the American navy" and
for his notable achievement he was
given vote Of thanks by congress.
Another historic event of the year
was the march of Ernedlci Arnold aud
his army across Maine IN nn attempt
to capture the city of Quebec
Falmouth, now the city Of Portland
nso wns bomhnrded and DESTROYED In
l775 bv British fleet under Mowatt
In 1913 Castine. whose career forms
one Of the most romantic pages In
American history. was captured by IN"
British and II WIS In this engagement
that the famous Sir John Moore the
subject Of that immortal poem. THE
Burial ~ Sir John Moore" rec, lved
his baptism of fire. In thnt hattie
Paul Revere. who only few wears
before hnd made his memorable ride.
lrd the Massachusetts detachm, ut Of
troops.
IN lS03 Commodore Edward Prehle
~ Portland commanded the American
squadron nj TripolI which defeated
the Rarhnry pirates. and upon his re-
turn IN the United States WIS received
With greHt distinction and given
vote of thanks and awarded medal
by congress
my Lost Youth"
Hundreds Of thousands have read
Lonrfelow's immortal poem NV Insi
Youth In which he describes his nn.
tive city Of Portland aud In which hr
hns made famous the naval hattle he
tween the American wnrship Enter.
prise and the British warship Boxer
fought of' the eastern end of CascO
hay. IN this bloody engagement the
captains Of the two ships were killed
In action and both were buried N the
old Eastern cemetery NJ Portland
their graves. side by side being Wis.
tied annually b" tourists from every
section of the world
The year 1874 was another nolnhlr
one In the history of the state. Dur.
lnr II the present city of EaStport was
captured 10y the British and held n
n part of Canadian territory for about
funr years. The second capture of
Castlue by the British also occurred.
and II day or two later was Tough, the
remarkable battle of llnmpdcn much
overlooked by historians. and IN which
both American and British soldier,
We're killed and the present cities of
Bangor aud Belfast captured.
On March II. 1870 Maine officially
hcpmc n sepnmte state NJ the Union
M to this time II having been u part
of Massachusetts and known ns the
district or Maine.
In 1870 occurred one OF the most
nolnhlc events In the history ~ the
United States md In which Maine
was the great factor around whlcl
rcyolycd the principal incidents. This
WIS the Aroostonk war which threat
cncd hnstllltles between Grcni Britain
aud the United States. Large num.
hers NJ troops were raised and i'm
mrnSc sums Of mvIey appropriated
by both nations for the expected con.
dict. the commanding officer for the
United States being the, renowned Cen
winfield Scott. Actual hloodShrd wns
nvcried. however, and the rnuSr nr
nll the trouble, the northeastern hound.
nry of Maine. wns adjusted by trna.
~ negotiated by Daniel Webster. see.
rriury NJ state. md Lord Ashhurtnn,
representing Great Britain.
Maine wns the pioneer which hlnzed
the pnth of nntIonnl prohibition when
stnntlnnnIp I'm which German officers