Exactly what occurred a little after 7 a.m. on September 3, 1814 is, frankly, unclear to me. In any event, if can be said that Captain Morris’s presentiment regarding the inefficiency of the militia proved accurate. The militia, pretty much untrained and poorly armed, knew they were no match for the best soldiers in the world. Some of the British troops campaigning here had recently returned from service in the Mediterranean, under Wellington, who was the hero of Waterloo. Accounts of what I will refer to as “The Battle of Hampden” are conflicting. Here’s what I can piece together. The morning was thick with ground fog. This is typical of that area…I can attest to the fact that driving here in the evening and early morning hours is difficult because the heavy, low-lying fog obscures visibility to a height of from four to eight feet. This, then, is what the poor American militiamen faced as the British approached. Although the militia could not see the enemy’s approach through the pea soup, they certainly could hear it. A company of sharpshooters preceded the main body of British troops, flanked by a group of marines and sailors armed with a 6-pound cannon, a howitzer and an apparatus that fired Congreve Rockets. If any of this armament were discharged as the British approached, and probably they were, the poor militia must have been terrified. As the British grew near, the American field pieces were discharged as quickly as they could be fired and reloaded. Then, a British officer gave the order to advance at the double-quick. They apparently fired as they charged, because several in the American center fell victim to musket fire. Then panic took hold and nothing anybody could do or say could contain the frantic militiamen. They broke and ran. If it seems tempting to damn these troops for cowardice, go to Hampden at daybreak some foggy morning and position yourself near the mouth of Soudabscook Stream. Then imagine hearing a din approaching from out of the dense fog. Now picture a horde of redcoats, Brown Bess muskets with bayonets mounted, advancing at the double-quick and firing as they advanced. Others may condemn the American effort; I cannot and will not. As the militia melted away, seamen under Captain Morris opened fire on the British ships, which had kept pace with the land forces and were now opposite the two hastily-constructed batteries. The little contingent of extempore marines was able to check the British advance for about 20 minutes but ultimately, was forced to fire the Adams, spike its guns and retreat to Bangor and from there, to the Kennebec River Region. Besides the few militiamen who were shot in the opening fusillade, one marine and one sailor was lost on the American side. The British lost 10, however it is unclear what the proportion was of killed or wounded. With the dispersal of Morris’s men, the way was clear for the enemy to have their way with the Town of Hampden, which they did. British troops were unleashed to pillage the helpless town. American citizens were rudely handled, cursed at, their houses torn apart, their precious, personal belongings destroyed, stolen and otherwise mistreated and their livestock, including cattle, wantonly destroyed. Some American vessels that were tied up at the wharves in Hampden were burned and at least one was impounded. The British imprisoned around 60 of Hampden’s citizens by stowing them in their warships. Later, these where transferred to the Decatur, one of the vessels the British had stolen from the Americans. The poor captives were kept in the cabin without regard to personal needs until the next day, when all but a dozen were paroled. A bond of $12,000 was extorted by the British Captain Barrie for some unfinished, American vessels. These, the British commander demanded be delivered at Castine in one month. I expect that the Adams being forever lost may have a part in this particular enemy demand. Certain Hamden citizens protested their treatment, to which Barrie replied “My business is to sink, burn and destroy. Your town is taken by storm, and by the rules of war we ought both to lay your village in ashes and put its inhabitants to the sword. But I will spare your lives, though I mean to burn your houses.” Shortly afterward, Sir John Sherbrooke sent a message to Barrie, directing him not to burn the town if he could possibly help it. Had not Sherbrooke done this, it is more than probable that Barrie would have put Hampden to the torch. Had that happened, many of the fine, historic buildings in Hampden that we can see and appreciate today would be mere footnotes in history. Being finished with Hampden (for the time being), the British made sail for Bangor, anchoring off the mouth of the Kenduskeag River around noontime. The British launched a few rockets toward the town in order to signal the land-based troops of their arrival. It is likely that the enemy also counted on the rockets to instill terror into the helpless citizens of Bangor. Almost at the same time, Bangor citizens approached the British under flags of truce…some standing on shore and others in boats. The enemy agreed to spare the town and its citizens under terms of unconditional surrender, and that room and board be provided for the British troops. Also, all the male citizens, excepting for the very young, very old or the infirm, were compelled to sign papers declaring themselves prisoners of war. After this they were paroled under the condition they would not fight against Britain unless exchanged for British prisoners. To break this parole in any way would jeopardize the person’s family. Besides this, the British demanded of the Bangor selectmen a bond of $30,000 for four, unfinished vessels. As with the bonded vessels at Hampden, these were to be delivered to Castine within one month. It is intriguing to stand at the mouth of the Kenduskeag River today and imagine that nothing like this ever really happened. The modern City of Bangor, with its grand buildings could hardly be subjected to such uncivil behavior. But back in 1814, just behind the present-day Penobscot Plaza, the British gained complete control of the town through force of arms. The British commandeered the Bangor Courthouse, two schoolhouses and two private homes. Then, they seized all the money from the U.S. Post Office, arms and ammunition from various points in town and various items from the Custom House. And although provisions of every sort were presented to the British, Barrie permitted his troops to plunder the town. Over a dozen stores and businesses were vandalized. Also, the homes of some private citizens were looted. Following this, the British turned upon the American vessels in Bangor harbor, burning 14 and appropriating six. At the end of their approximately 30-hour stay, it was estimated the enemy had cost the town about $45,000. The British left Bangor on September 4 and while passing Hampden on the way downriver, decided to pillage a bit more before releasing the Hampden citizens who had been imprisoned on their vessels. And on September 6, the British were in Frankfort, where they demanded that a quantity of livestock, plus arms and ammunition be delivered to them. Frankfort vacillated and since the British needed to return to Castine, they didn’t get everything they wanted from the Town of Frankfort. While in possession of Castine and the rest of Downeast Maine, the British imposed custom duties on ships and at the war’s end, had amassed a considerable sum of money. With no clear direction as to what to do with these funds, someone, somewhere decided to begin construction on what is now Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. When the British finally departed, the citizens of Castine rejoiced. However, out of respect for the British soldiers, they waited for the last Redcoat to leave before celebrating. Wilson museum Bulletin Vol. 1 Number 25 records that “Bells rang, cannon boomed, bonfires blazed in all parts of town and nearly every house was illuminated from foundation to roof.” The bulletin also explains that lacking sufficient numbers of candleholders, candles were stuck in raw potatoes. Here is a timeline for the British occupation of Upper Penobscot Bay, along with dates of related events: September 1, 1814…British fleet takes Castine at sunrise. That afternoon, General Gosselin, with 600 men takes Belfast. Captain Robert Barrie, in The Dragon, Sylph and Peruvian, ascends the Penobscot River and anchors for the night in Marsh Bay. September 2...Five hundred militia gather in Hampden, later joined by Lt. Lewis and his Castine garrison. That evening, British warships anchor two miles south of Hampden, in Bald Hill Cove. September 3…At 7 a.m., Enemy meets Americans. Militia, sailors and marines spar with British troops in Battle of Hampden. By 9 a.m., the enemy controls Hampden. By noon, British anchor off mouth of Kenduskeag River in Bangor and take the town. September 4…British evacuate Bangor and head back to Castine, stopping along the way to pillage Hampden once again. September 6… British demand livestock and arms at Frankfort. December 24…Treaty of Peace signed at Ghent. January 8, 1815…Battle of New Orleans fought after peace treaty signed. February 18…Treaty of Peace Proclaimed in U.S. April 15…British leave Castine, Americans reoccupy fort. March 1819…American military leaves Castine, all military presence ceases. |
