War of 1812 Timeline: June 1814: Fort Shelby, District of Maine and the Chesapeake Campaign

JUNE 6, 1814:  U.S. General William Clark establishes Fort Shelby at Praiie du Chien, Wisconsin territory.

JUNE 6TH, 1814:  The British Secretary of War, the Earl of Bathurst, orders Lt. Governor Sir John Coape Sherbrooke to occupy the part of the District of Maine "which at present intercepts the communication between Halifax and Quebec."

The marches of the 104th Regiment and others had opened British eyes wide to the strategic importance of the Saint John River as a conduit for reinforcements during winter.  The invasion of eastern Maine to secure that route was seen as part of a major offensive that would include escalation of the Chesapeake Campaign and the invasion of Upper New York via Lake Champlain.

The British captured Moose Island, Passamquoddy Bay on 11 July, and in early September an army-navy contingent of 2,500 men took possession of the entire Maine coast between Penobscot and St. Croix rivers.  This guaranteed that troops who might have to march up the frozen Saint John River would not have to worry about the enemy along the way.

--Brock-Perry