Privateer Hyder Ally-- Part 4: The First Capture Is then Lost

Near the Cape of Good Hope, the Hyder Ally was chased all day by a British  East India Company sloop of war, but escaped under cover of darkness.  After rounding the cape, she captured an East Indian merchant ship with a valuable cargo.

Thorndike sent it off with a prize crew to Portland.  This prize never made it home as it was captured off Cape Elizabeth by the British privateer Tom.

That this prize was captured there is no big surprise because the coast of Maine was virtually under siege by the British for most of 1813 and 1814.  Maine had begun fortifying its coast as a result.

In Portland, the militia had built a defensive earthwork they named Fort Burrows, after the captain of the USS Enterprise in the famed battle.  Other batteries were around as well.  Also, out toward the harbors entrance, there were Fort Preble at Spring Point and Fort Scammel on House Island.  Both of these were built in 1809.

--Brock-Perry

Half of Historic House Island Back on the Market

From the August 31, 2015, Portland (Maine) Press-Herald byWhit Richardson.

The fort on the island exchanged gunfire with British privateers during the War of 1812.

A portion of the prominent island in Casco Bay is back on the market after being bought ten months ago after a Florida real estate developer purchased it.  Asking price for the 13 acres is $6.9 million and includes three renovated cottages and a new boat dock.  It had been purchased in October for $2.2 million.  Good profit if you can make it.

Fort Scammell was built in 1808 on the island's southern tip and was the only fort on Maine's coast to see action during the War of 1812.

During the 1800s it was owned by two Portland fishing families to cut, salt and dry fish, mostly cod.

In 1905, the government bought the island for use as an immigrant station.

--Brock-Perry