Elsie's Young Folks in Peace and War Read online

  CHAPTER II.

  "Eastport--which we will presently visit," began Captain Raymond,"is on Moose Island, in Passamaquoddy Bay. At the time of our lastwar with them the English claimed it as belonging to New Brunswick,under the treaty of 1783. Early in July, 1814, Sir Thomas Hardy sailedsecretly from Halifax for that place, with quite a force of men forland and sea service. On the 11th the squadron entered PassamaquoddyBay and anchored off Fort Sullivan, at Eastport. Major Perley Putnamwas in command of the fort, with a garrison of fifty men and sixpieces of artillery. Hardy demanded an instant surrender, and gaveonly five minutes' time for consideration. Putnam promptly refused tosurrender--but the inhabitants of the island were greatly alarmed andnot disposed to resist, so entreated him to yield, which he did oncondition that private property should be respected.

  "When the agreement was signed, the British took possession of thefort, the town of Eastport, and all the islands and villages in andaround Passamaquoddy Bay, landing a thousand armed men, with womenand children, fifty or sixty pieces of cannon, and a battalion ofartillery."

  "And did they stay there, papa?" asked Elsie. "Oh, I hope they are notthere now!"

  "I have no doubt that nearly, if not all of them, are in their gravesby this time, daughter," replied the captain; then went on: "TheBritish made declaration that these islands were in their permanentpossession, and ordered all the inhabitants to take an oath ofallegiance within seven days, or leave the territory."

  "Allegiance to the King of England, papa?" asked Elsie; "and did any ofthem do it?"

  "Yes, that is what was meant, and about two-thirds of the peopletook it. They, the English, took all the public property from thecustom-house, and tried to force the collector to sign unfinishedtreasury notes to the value of nine thousand dollars. But he refused,saying, 'Hanging will be no compulsion.'"

  "Did that mean that he wouldn't do it even if he knew they would hanghim if he refused?" asked Elsie.

  "Yes, that was just it," said her father. "Having accomplished whathe wished to do at Eastport--securing it to his country, as hethought--leaving eight hundred troops to hold it, Hardy sailed awayalong the coast of Maine and Massachusetts, spreading alarm as hewent. But the people prepared to meet his expected attack--manningtheir forts and arming them. When Sherbrook and Griffith sailed, theyintended to stop at Machias and take possession of it; but falling inwith the brig _Rifleman_, and being told by its commander that theUnited States corvette _John Adams_ had gone up the Penobscot, theymade haste to the mouth of that river to blockade her. They passed upthe Green Island channel and entered the fine harbor of Castine onthe morning of the 1st of September. On the edge of the water south ofthe village was the half moon redoubt called Fort Porter, armed withfour twenty-pounders and two fieldpieces, and manned by about fortymen under Lieutenant Lewis, of the United States army. At sunriseLewis was called upon to surrender. He saw that resistance would beimpossible, so resolved to flee. He gave the enemy a volley from histwenty-pounders, then spiked them, blew up the redoubt, and with thefieldpieces he and the garrison fled over the high peninsula to itsneck and escaped up the Penobscot. Then the British took possession ofthe town and control of the bay.

  "The _John Adams_ had just come home from a successful cruise, andcoming into Penobscot Bay in a thick fog had struck a rock and receivedso much injury that it was found necessary to lay her up for repairs.They did their best to take her out of harm's way, but it was withdifficulty they could keep her afloat until she reached Hampden, a fewmiles below Bangor. Some of her crew were disabled by sickness, and soshe was almost helpless.

  "Sherbrook, the commanding officer of the British vessels, was told allthis as soon as he landed at Castine, and he and Griffith, commanderof the fleet, at once sent a land and naval force to seize and destroythe _John Adams_. The expedition sailed in the afternoon of the day ofthe arrival at Castine. The people along the Penobscot were not at allinclined to submit to the British if they could possibly escape doingso. On the day the British sailed up the river word was sent by expressto Captain Morris, and he at once communicated with Brigadier-GeneralJohn Blake, at his home in Brower, opposite Bangor, asking him to callout the militia immediately. Blake lost no time in assembling thetenth Massachusetts division, of which he was commander. That eveninghe rode down to Hampden, where he found Captain Morris busy with hispreparations for defence. He had taken the heavy guns of his ship tothe high right bank of the Soadabscook, fifty rods from the wharf, andplaced them in battery there so as to command the river approaches frombelow.

  "The next morning he and Blake held a consultation on the best methodsof defence, citizens of Bangor and Hampden taking part in it. CaptainMorris had little confidence in the militia, but expressed hisintention to meet the enemy at their landing-place, wherever that mightbe, and also his resolution to destroy the _Adams_ rather than allow itto fall into their hands.

  "Belfast was taken the next morning by General Gosselin, at the head ofsix hundred troops. At the same time another detachment marched up thewestern side of the Penobscot unmolested, and reached Bald Hill Cove atfive o'clock in the evening. The troops and eighty marines bivouackedthere that night in a drenching rain. During that day about six hundredraw militia, who had never seen anything more like war than their ownannual parade, had gathered at Hampden and been posted by GeneralBlake in an admirable position on the brow of a hill. LieutenantLewis and the forty men who had fled from Castine had joined him. Theartillery company of Blake's brigade was there also, with two brassthree-pounders, and an iron eighteen-pound carronade from the _Adams_was placed in battery in the road near the meeting-house in charge ofMr. Bent of the artillery. Many of the militia were without weapons orammunition, but Captain Morris supplied them as far as he could.

  "While these arrangements were being made Captain Morris had mountednine short eighteen-pounders from the _Adams_ upon the high bank overCrosby's wharf, and placed them in charge of his first lieutenant,assisted by the other two. With the rest of his guns he took hisposition on the wharf, with about two hundred seamen and marinesand twenty invalids, ready to defend his crippled ship to the lastextremity.

  "The next morning all that region was covered by a dense fog. Thedifferent British detachments joined together, and by five o'clockwere moving on toward Hampden--moving cautiously in the mist, with avanguard of riflemen, and on the flanks detachments of sailors andmarines with a six-pound cannon, a six and a half inch howitzer, and arocket apparatus. The British vessels at the same time moved slowly upthe river within supporting distance.

  "Blake had sent out two flank companies to watch and annoy theapproaching foe, and between seven and eight o'clock they reported themas coming up the hill to attack the Americans. The fog was so thickthat they could not be seen, but Blake pointed his eighteen-pounderin that direction, his fieldpieces also, and fired away with a gooddeal of effect, as he learned afterward; but the fog was too thick forhim to see it at the time. His plan was to reserve his musket firinguntil the enemy should be near enough to be seriously hurt; but hismen, being raw militia and without the protection of a breastwork infront, lost courage while standing there awaiting the approach of theenemy, and when it came suddenly into view, marching at double-quickand firing volleys in rapid succession, they were panic-stricken, brokeranks, and fled in every direction, leaving Blake and his officersalone. Lieutenant Wadsworth saw it all from the upper battery where hewas, and sent word immediately to Morris, who was on the wharf.

  "The flight of the militia had left Morris' rear and flank exposed,and he saw that it would be impossible to defend himself against sucha force as was about to attack him. He therefore ordered Wadsworth tospike his guns and retreat with his men across the bridge over theSoadabscook, while it was yet open, for the stream was fordable only atlow water, and the tide was rising.

  "Wadsworth obeyed, his rear gallantly covered by Lieutenant Watsonwith some marines. At the same time the guns on the wharf were spiked,the _John Adams_ was set on fire, and Morris' men retr
eated acrossthe Soadabscook, he being the last man to leave the wharf. Beforehe reached the bridge the British were on the bank above him; buthe dashed across the stream, armpit deep in the water, and under agalling fire from their muskets, unhurt, joined his friends on theother side--Blake and his officers and a mere remnant of his commandamong them--and all retreated to Bangor. Morris did not stay there,however, but soon made his way overland to Portland."

  "Did the British harm the people in that town, papa?" asked Elsie.

  "They took possession, and there was no further resistance," repliedthe captain. "Then they sent some vessels, with about five hundred men,to Bangor. A mile from the town they were met by a flag of truce fromthe magistrates, who asked terms of capitulation. The answer was thatprivate property would be respected. It was about ten o'clock whenthey reached the town, and Commodore Barrie gave notice that if thepeople would cheerfully send in the required supplies they should notbe harmed in person or property. But he had hardly done so before hegave his sailors to understand that they might plunder as much as theypleased."

  "And did they, papa?" asked Elsie.

  "Yes," he said, "history tells us that almost every store on thewestern side of the creek, which there empties into the Penobscot,was robbed of all valuable property. Colonel John, however, did allhe could to protect the inhabitants. The British forced the people tosurrender all their arms, military stores, and public property of everykind, and to report themselves prisoners of war for parole, with apromise that they would not take up arms against the British.

  "Having robbed the people of property worth twenty-three thousanddollars, destroyed, by burning, fourteen vessels, and stolen six, whichthey carried away with them, they left Bangor for Hampden, which theytreated in the same way. There they desolated the church--tearing upthe Bible and psalm-books, and demolishing the pulpit and pews. Lossingtells us that the total loss of property at Hampden, exclusive of thecargo of the _Commodore Decatur_, was estimated at forty-four thousanddollars. And in a note he adds that Williamson's 'History of Maine'says, 'In the midst of the rapine a committee waited on Barrie, andtold him that the people expected at his hands the common safeguardsof humanity, if nothing more; to which the brutal officer replied, "Ihave none for you. My business is to burn, sink, and destroy. Your townis taken by storm, and by the rules of war we ought to both lay yourvillage in ashes and put its inhabitants to the sword. But I will spareyour lives, though I don't mean to spare your houses."'"

  "Oh, what a cruel wretch!" said Evelyn.

  "A perfect savage, I should call him!" exclaimed Lucilla hotly.

  "I entirely agree with you, ladies," said Mr. Lilburn, "and am sorryindeed to have to own him as a countryman of mine."

  "Well, Cousin Ronald," returned Mrs. Travilla pleasantly, "there areplenty of Americans of such character that I should be loth indeed toown them as relatives."

  "And there were plenty such in the days of our two wars with England,as any one must acknowledge, remembering the lawless bands ofmarauders called Cowboys and Skinners," said Violet; "they were moredetestable than the British themselves--even such as that Barrie,Tarleton, and others too numerous to mention."

  "Will they ever come here again, papa?" asked Ned.

  "I think not, son," replied the captain; "most, if not all of them, arenow dead."

  "Yes, it must have been a long, long while ago," remarked the littlelad reflectively.

  "We are going now to Passamaquoddy Bay, aren't we, papa?" asked Elsie.

  "Yes," he said, "and hope to reach there early this afternoon."

  "And I hope we will see all that Lossing tells about," said Grace.

  "I think you may feel reasonably certain of that," her fatherresponded, in his kindly, pleasant tones.

  "We pass Machias on the way to Passamaquoddy Bay, don't we, father?"asked Grace.

  "Yes," he replied, "we are nearing it now."

  "Oh, I remember something about what occurred there in the Revolution;but won't you please tell us the story again?" she exclaimed.

  "I will," he said. "We had then an exposed coast many miles in extent,and not a single armed vessel to protect it, while Britain was thefirst naval power of the world. A few of our planters and merchantshad been trained in the royal navy, and so had a good many Americanseamen, to some extent, in helping England in her wars with the Frenchin the twenty years preceding our Revolution; but our wise men whowere directing public affairs could see no material for organizinga marine force, so devoted themselves to the business of raising anarmy. Immediately after the battle of Lexington the British begandepredations along the New England coast, and soon private vessels weregotten out by patriot volunteers, who armed them as well as they could,and did their best to defend the coast.

  "You know news did not fly so fast in those days as it does now, butwhen at length the people of Machias heard of the affair at Lexingtonit of course caused great excitement, and a desire to defend theircountry against the foe. There in their own harbor lay a British armedschooner called the _Margaretta_. She had two sloops with her, and thethree were busied in getting lumber for the British army in Boston. Aparty of the young men of the town determined to try to capture herwhile her officers were at church on shore. They seized one of thesloops, chased the schooner out of the harbor, and after a severe fightcompelled her to surrender.

  "It was the first naval engagement of the Revolution. There wereforty of the Americans, commanded by Jeremiah O'Brien, and abouttwenty of them, and as many of the British, were killed in the fight.The captain of the cutter was one of the mortally wounded. Soonafterward O'Brien captured two small English cruisers, making theircrews prisoners, and carrying them to Watertown, where the ProvincialCongress of Massachusetts was in session. That body then took measuresto establish a coast marine to intercept English transports bringingsupplies for the British troops, and gave O'Brien employment in thatservice, with a captain's commission.

  "The British force under Sherwood and Griffiths, after their raid upthe Penobscot, went back to Machias. They landed at Buck's Harbor,three miles below the town, and marched against the fort, which thegarrison deserted and blew up."

  "Are we going to Machias now, papa?" asked Ned.

  "No," said his father, "we are nearing Passamaquoddy Bay now. We willspend a little time there, then turn and go back to the Penobscot, tovisit historical scenes along its course. You perhaps remember thatthe British went there shortly after having taken Eastport and FortSullivan on Moose Island in Passamaquoddy Bay. They were taken on the11th of July, 1812; Castine on September 1 of the same year."

  "And about a year after came the fight between the _Enterprise_ andthe _Boxer_, which occurred September 5, 1813," observed Max.

  "Yes," said his father, with a smile, "and of course you remember thenotable victory vouchsafed us by Providence five days later on LakeErie?"

  "Perry's victory, sir? Yes, indeed! Also Macdonough's on LakeChamplain, which was given him on the 11th of the next September, 1814."

  But they were now entering the bay, and historical reminiscence gaveplace to talk of the beauty of the scenery, Captain Raymond, who hadbeen there before, pointing out and naming the different islands andvillages. They did not land, but steamed slowly about the bay, findingso much to interest them that they lingered there until nightfall. Theythen steamed out into the ocean, taking a westward course. It was abeautiful moonlight evening, and all gathering together on deck, passedthe time in cheerful chat concerning the scenes just visited and thosethey expected to visit in the near future. At length there was a pausein the conversation, presently broken by little Ned.

  "Oh, dear!" he sighed, "I'm just hungry for a little fun. I don't seewhat's the use of having ventriloquists along, if they don't make somefun for us once in a while."

  "Now, Master Ned, do you call that a polite speech?" asked a strangevoice that seemed to come from a short distance in his rear.

  Ned sprang to his feet and turned toward it.

  "I--I didn't mean to b
e rude, Cousin Ronald or Brother Max, whicheveryou are; but I am ever so hungry for a bit of fun."

  "And you consider that a healthful appetite, do you?" queried the voice.

  "Yes, sir; for 'Laugh and grow fat' is an old saying, so I've heard."

  "Well, well, well! I have understood that you rather objected to beingconsidered fat," laughed the invisible speaker.

  "Oh, well, I don't believe a bit of fun once in a while would do muchharm in that way," returned the little fellow. "At any rate, I'm morethan willing to try it."

  "Well, suppose we try it with the understanding that if you get too fatyou are to be reduced to your present suitable size by a low and sparediet?"

  "No, indeed!" cried Ned. "I won't consent to that. Don't you know thatboys need to eat plenty, if they are to grow up into big, strong men?"

  "Enough, but not too much, Neddie," laughed his cousin, Dr. Percival,sitting near.

  "Uncle Harold, you know all about it, for you're a good doctor," saidNed, appealing to Dr. Travilla; "oughtn't little boys to have plenty toeat?"

  "Yes, Ned; plenty, but not too much."

  "Well, that's just what I want," laughed Ned. "Oh, what was that?" asa cry, "Help! help, or I shall drown!" came from the water not farfrom the side of the vessel. Cousin Ronald and Max exchanged inquiringglances, and the latter rose hastily to his feet.

  "Throw him a rope, my men!" he called to a group of sailors at thefarther end of the vessel.

  The words had hardly left his lips ere the order was obeyed, and thenext moment the dripping figure of a young lad in a bathing suit wasdrawn up and landed upon the deck.

  "Thanks, thanks, gentlemen," he panted; "you've helped me to a narrowescape from a watery grave. I ventured out too far--alone in themoonlight and----"

  "Don't try to talk, my man; you are too much exhausted," interruptedDr. Travilla, for he, Captain Raymond, Max, Mr. Lilburn, Chester, andDr. Percival had all hurried to the spot to see and assist the rescuedstranger.

  "Thanks! I'll do," he said, "if you'll kindly help me to rub down, andlend me some things till these can be made dry."

  "Certainly," replied Captain Raymond, and at once gave directions thatthe stranger be taken to a comfortably warm stateroom, provided witheverything needful, and his wet garments dried and returned to him asquickly as possible. Then turning to his brother-in-law, "I leave therest to your care, Harold," he said.

  "Oh, Brother Max," cried Ned, as the gentlemen rejoined the ladies andchildren, "I thought it was you or Cousin Ronald calling for help justfor fun, and it was a real drowning man, after all."

  "A mere lad, Ned, and I am very glad we were able to give him help inseason."

  The incident had created quite a little excitement, and all eagerlyawaited Harold's report. He rejoined them in a few minutes, lookingso undisturbed that they at once felt that his new patient was in nodanger.

  "He will be all right presently," he said, in answer to their eagerlyinquiring looks and questions. "When we heard his cry for help he hadhardly more than just realized his danger. He is somewhat ashamed ofhis venturesomeness, and anxious to get back to his friends withoutletting them know of the peril he was in."

  Turning to Captain Raymond, "He will be very glad and grateful if youwill go a little out of your way and land him at the spot where heentered the water, so that he may be able to steal up to the house ofhis friends without arousing their suspicions concerning the danger hehas been in."

  "I think we may do that," the captain said, in his kindly tones. "Itwill probably not delay us more than an hour or so, and we are not sohurried for time that we need decline to submit to that."

  Max at once gave the necessary orders, the course of the vessel waschanged, and ere long the young stranger was landed at the spot wherehe had entered the water. Then the _Dolphin_ proceeded on her westwardway, and when her passengers awoke in the morning they were nearingPenobscot Bay.