The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-07-17
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 1871 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 q 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 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.
In ITO Castine, whose career forms
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, 1.-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 TripOli 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 a medal
by congress.
"My Lost Youth"
Hundreds of thousands have read
Iongfellow's immortal poem My Lost
Youth" in which he describes his ma
five city of Portland, and in which he
has made famous the naval battle be
tween the American warShip Enter
nrise and the British warship Boxer
fought off the eastern end of Casct
hay. 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 ever!
section of the world.
The wear 1914 was another notable
one in the history Of the state. Dur
ing If the present city of PASSPORT wa
, cantured by the British and held a
a mart of Canadian territory for abou
four wears. The second capture Q
Castine by the British also occurred
, and day or two later was fought TN
re,narkoble battle Of Hampden. muc
: overlooked by historians, and in whic
both American and British soldier
, wore killed. and the present cities Q
, Bangor and Belfast captured.
On March Is, 1920, Maine oftlcial'
beca,ne a separate state of the unioi
, IN to this time it having been PAL
of Massachusetts and known as th
> district Of Maine.
: In 1920 occurred one of the mos
notable events in the history or IN
JTpited States and in which Main
!. was the great factor around whlc
!, revolyed the principal incidents. IN
,,.,s tho AroostoOk war which threa
a,ad bostilities between Great Britai
opd the United States. Large nun
. borg of troops were raised and IN
: ,,npse sums of money appropriate
= hv both nations for the expecte1 CO.
e;o+ tho commanding officer for II
Irnited States being the renowned Ge
yy;rfcId Scott. Actual bloodshed WI
: a,ar.ed. however. and the cause
~, tho trouble, the northeastern noun
. .rv Of Maine. was adjusted by ire
~ negotiated by Daniel webster Sc
r',ory of state. and Lord Ashburto
:, representing Great Bri;ai:'.
+" ,Io,ne was the pioneer when o'aH'
!" a,o n,th of national prohibition wh'