The War That Made Maine a State-- Part 2

The U.S. declaration of war appalled New England.  It was going to disrupt the region's lucrative trade with London and the British Caribbean.

The British surge along the eastern Maine Coast angered the citizens there and Massachusetts did absolutely nothing to stop it.  However, British forces did not move on Southern Maine because they had underestimated the strength of the defense of Maine and they were still hoping to win over southern New England.

Some Maine people hated the British occupation while others saw it as a way to make money.

Smuggling was rampant in eastern Maine.  Even the most famous event to take place in Maine, the fight between the USS Enterprise and HMS Boxer, was a result of the smuggling.  A group of New England merchants had essentially hired the HMS Boxer to escort one of their ships down the coast of Maine, protecting it from privateers (American) and other British warships.

A fake battle was held off Popham Beach which drew the attention of the 17-gun brig USS Eneterprise which met the Boxer two days later and defeated the British ship.  However, the captains of both ships were killed and buried next to each other in Portland's Eastern Cemetery.

So, the War of 1812 Essentially Enabled Maine to Break-away from Massachusetts.  --Brock-Perry