How the British Invasion of Maine in 1814 Led to Statehood-- Part 2

In Castine, prior to its eight month occupation by the British, town officials had condemned  the declaration of war and held a dim view of President James Madison and his predecessor, Thomas Jefferson.  They were Democrat-Republicans whom they felt were "anti-commerce" and "anti-New England."

The War of 1812 interrupted New England trans-Atlantic trade.

After Napoleon's defeat in 1814, the British ramped up their efforts in North America and sailed into several Maine ports with no opposition.

In early July, British ships, including the bomb ship HMS Terror sailed into Passamaquoddy Bay and took control of Fort Sullivan, Eastport and all the islands and towns along the bay.  In September, the HMS Terror took part in the Battle of Baltimore which led to "The Star-Spangled Banner."

--Brock-Perry

How the British Invasion of Maine During the War of 1812 Led to Statehood-- Part 1

From the March 9, 2020, TV 13 CBS News by Bill Trotter.

The War of 1812 came to Maine in 1814 in a big way.  That's when the powerful British Navy descended upon the towns of Eastport, Machias and Castine.  What is today Maine, was at the time a part of Massachusetts.

The British controlled much of the Maine coast between Penobscot and Cobscook bays for most of a year, raiding towns along the Penobscot River and attacking Hampden and Bangor before returning to Castine.

The war had been going on for two years already, but divided support in the United States as well as the British being more involved with Napoleon had kept the fighting away from Maine.  That is, other than a sea battle between the USS Enterprise and the HMS Boxer which the American ship won.

Initial support for the war was weakest in New England, where the Federalist Party favored strong ties with England and merchants conducted significant trade with the British colony of Canada.  The New Englanders went so far as to almost have secession, something they opposed when the Southern states did so some fifty years later.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Sullivan, Maine-- Part 2

After the war, the British claimed that Moose Island, Maine and Eastport were on their side of the border and left 800 men there to hold it.

After negotiations, Americans regained control of them on 30 June 1818.

During the Civil War, the Army constructed and earthwork battery in the area.

In 1973, the fort was decommissioned and sold.  The barracks were moved to 74 Washington Street.  Other parts collapsed over time.  The ruins of the powder magazine can still be seen off McKinley Street.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Sullivan, Maine-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Back in my July 11, 2014, blog entry, I posted about the capture of Fort Sullivan in what is today the state of Maine by the British 200 years earlier on that date.

Here is some more information about the fort.

It was also called Fort Sherbrooke and was at Eastport, Maine, opposite New Brunswick, Canada.

British Commander Sir Thomas Hardy captured the fort on July 11, 1814, and renamed it Fort Sherbrooke after John Coape Sherbrooke, governor of Nova Scotia.

It had been built by the U.S. Army 1808-1809, overseen by Major Lemuel Trescott.  It was built on a local feature called Clark's Hill and was a 4-gun circular earthwork with a wooden blockhouse and barracks.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: British Capture Fort Sullivan in Maine

JULY 11TH, 1814:  Surrender of the American garrison at Fort Sullivan, Eastport (Moose Island), District of Maine.

I have been writing about the British conquest of much of the coast of Maine in the last several posts.

--Brock-Perry