With the end of the war against Napoleon, the British had more resources to use against the United States which had essentially been on the back burner for efforts as Napoleon posed a much worse threat to Britain.
By August 1814, the British were blockading Portland Harbor in earnest. By September they captured Castine and held the Maine coast east of the Penobscot. Rumors abounded in Portland warning that "a large fleet with troops" under the flagship HMS Bulwark had left Castine headed for Portland.
Daily, the British would sail up to the lighthouse, but the mighty fleet never materialized. Even so, Governor Strong called up six to seven hundred militiamen from Cumberland and Oxford counties to defend Portland.
Portland also appropriated $10,000 for public defense.
It was during this scare that the former HMS Boxer was pressed into service. The battery of the prize ship San Jose Indiano was ordered to be mounted on her. (The Boxer's cannons had been removed to the privateer Hyder Ally.) The Boxer was then hauled into position so as to command the approaches to Vaughan's Bridge.
The ship's gunners amused themselves by firing into the steep bankings on Bramhall's Hill. All this went on for about two weeks, but since nothing happened, everyone was sent home.
Fun and Games in Portland. --Brock-Perry
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