Col. Powell was lieutenant colonel in Col. Samuel Waldo, Jr.'s, regiment in 1762, eleven years in the General Court, twelve years in the Provincial Council, first president of the Massachusetts senate under the Constitution, and nineteen years judge of the Court of Common Pleas, from 1763 to 1781. He was a zealous patriot of the Revolution and lived only to see his country start on the basis of liberty. His grave should be marked by some memorial calling attention to him, his virtues, and his distinguished services to his country. The Rev. John Murray, the chaplain,' wrote from Brunswick to Jeremiah Powell, Esq., under date of August 21, 1779: Our case is very bad. Hundred of families are now starving in the woods, their all left behind them, all will despair and the majority will quit the country and the rest will revolt if something vigorous be not done to protect them from the insolence of the triumping foe who are carrying fire and desolation wherever they come. A large reinforcement of men, intrenching tools, cannon, ammunition and provisions is absolutely necessary to save us. Not a moment is to be lost. A very little delay will put us beyond remedy, but if we are immediately relieved this little disaster need not discourage us. It will, if we act with proper spirit, issue in our good. In the latter part of August, Col. Mitchell's regiment had reached Falmouth Neck, but arrived there in a disorganized and demoralized condition. Three companies were retained for a garrison and twenty men of Capt. Curtis company were stationed at Harpswell. All others were discharged. 1The original letter is in the Massachusetts Archives, Vol. CXLV, Page 140. Col. Henry Jackson's Continental regiment, which had been ordered from Rhode Island to reenforce the expedition, learned of the disaster off Kittery while on their way. They went into camp at that place. It was then thought that the British, elated at their success, would proceed to Casco Bay and attempt the capture of Falmouth Neck. This of course caused much alarm at that settlement. Col. Jackson's regiment was ordered to march to Falmouth, from Kittery, and arrived there the twenty-seventh, and went into camp on Munjoy Hill, above the Eastern Cemetery, much to the relief of the inhabitants. This regiment had four hundred well uniformed and equipped men and had then participated in the battles of Monmouth and Quaker Hill. This was probably the only fully uniformed and equipped regiment the people of Falmouth saw during the war. Col. Jackson wrote the next day after his arrival: — I find this town and harbor is by no means in a state of defence as but a few of the cannons are fit for any long service. To make this post defencible it will be necessary to have a number of heavy cannon immediately sent here: the militia are exceedingly destitute of arms, ammunition and accoutrements as I find by enquiry that not more than one-half are armed or accoutred. The committee of safety of Falmouth addressed the following letter to the Council: Falmouth, 30 August, 1779. Sir: The Committee of Safety &c for Falmouth would inform the Honorable Board of their embarresments and beg their direction. The return of the seamen from Penobscot in the greatest distress imaginable has obliged us to act as commissary, quartermaster, &c, &c. To furnish them with necessary provisions and to relieve their distresses we have been obliged to issue some impress warrants : some provisions we have purchased and some we have borrowed. We have observed the strictest economy and order that necessary confusion would admit of; the men returned without officers, without orders. We shall transmit an account of our doings as soon as the men have been done returning. : Col. Jackson applies to us for some assistance where he has not proper officers to supply them. This however gives us but little trouble but the militia who have returned from Penobscot are ordered to this place: they are not properly attended with their officers and those who do attend them have not proper directions what to do with their men: they apply to the Committee. The Committee know of no business they have with them; here we are much embarrased. We have also frequent applications from expresses for assistance, or sometimes are obliged to send off expresses ourselves New appplications of various kinds are daily made to us and new difficulties arise. In short, affairs here are in the wildest confusion. We wish for the direction and assistance of the Hon. Board. We are &c The Committee of Safety &c for Falmouth, Hon. Jer. Powell, Pres. of Council. Col. Jackson's regiment started on their march to Boston, September 7, as all danger of an attack seemed to be over; but a portion of Col. Mitchell's still remained. The selectmen and the committee of the town sent the following letter to the Council: To the Honorable Council of FALMOUTH, SEPT. 13, 1779. State of Massachusetts Bay. The Selectmen and Committee of Safety at Falmouth beg leave to inform the Honorable Board of the receipt of their letter of the 3rd inst. The enclosed directed to Brig'r Thompson was immediately forwarded. It is now seven days since, but we have not heard of his taking any measures towards raising the three hundred men to be stationed at Falmouth. The letter from the Hon. Council to Col. Jackson in his absence we took the liberty to open in answer to which we would inform your Honors that the Regt. from Penobscot was ordered by Gen'l Lovell to Falmouth to guard from this place to Harpswell and to be under the direction of the Committee of Safety at Falmouth. As a greater part of these were destitute of arms and accoutrements, the Committee thought proper to discharge five of the companies except 20 of the company commanded by Capt. Curtis of Harpswell, who are kept guard at that post. The remaining three companies which were best armed and accouted are now stationed at this place and at Cape Elizabeth. We esteem it a duty incumbrent on us to inform your Honors that the militia in this County are at present in a situation incapable of defending us in the case of an attack, principally owing to their ignorance and neglect of some of the principal officers of the Brigade. A convention of this County is to be held next Friday when proper representation of the state of the militia will be made to the Hon'ble Court. We are with sentiments of respect Your Honors most obed't serv't, By order in behalf of the Selectmen, And Committee of Safety Benjamin Titcomb. Stephen Hall Chairman. P. S. A number of small arms and cartridges has lately been received, also a quantity of ordinance goods, adressed to Col. Jackson by the Board of War a particular return of which shall be made by the first opportunity. In Council, Sept. 22, 1779. Read and sent down. John Avery D. Secr'y. [To be concluded.] ་ A PAGE OF INDIAN HISTORY: THE WISCASSET TRAGEDY. BY REV. HENRY 0. THAYER. Read before the Maine Historical Society, Oct. 29, 1896. THE welfare and peace of the American colonies lay in close touch with statecraft in Europe. France in 1744 cast in her counterpoise to England's alliance with Austria, and at once from Canso to the Alleghanies the game of war began, of which the stake was supremacy in America. The French equipped, often officered, savage allies and sent them down upon the English frontier. In little bands vengeful or eager for spoils, like fierce beasts of prey ranging forth from their lairs, these merciless foes prowled around the settlements. Ambush, stealthy attack, burning of a village, assault upon a lonely house, seizure of farmers at work or a child in sight of its home, were characteristic methods. During four years the horrid work went on. Skulking warriors, belted with scalps or convoying captives, took the trail back to Canada to the markets of human life. Hostilities ceasing abroad in the summer of 1748, the colonies were freed from these pestilent marauders. The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in October opened the way to complete the transient pacification. At Falmouth, in October, 1749, the envoys of the Eastern tribes renewed engagements of amity and once more were dispelled the wrathful clouds that had cast gloom and threatening over New England. VOL. X. 7 |