Relating to the War of 1812 Sprague's Journal of Maine History Vol. VI Nov. Dec. 1918, Jan. 1919 No. 3 Page 126-128 Relating to the War of 1812 Contributed by CHARLES A. FLAGG The following letter was addressed to Honorable John Holmes who was one of the first two senators that Maine elected to the Senate of the United States (1820-1827) and sub- sequently had a. seat in the Senate to fill a vacancy (1829-1833) caused by the resignation of Albion K. Parris. This letter was found in a package of old papers in the office of the clerk of courts in Alfred, Maine, and printed in a newspaper probably the Bangor Commercial about 1892. Lancaster, Oct. 11, 1814- Dear Sir: I now devote a few moments, in answer to your several inquiries, relat- ing to the conduct of the-British while they remained in Bangor. A plain statement of facts must suffice-language being inadequate to give you but an imperfect idea of their outrages. As the enemy approached the Town a flag of truce was sent out to the land, as well as naval forces, to ascertain upon what terms the Town must capitulate. The answer to each was, uncon- ditional submission, public offices and property to be given up, the People of the Town to give up their arms and parole themselves, and private property should be most sacredly respected, to all of which the Town agreed. But they had not been in the place. two hours before they commenced a scene of plunder and havoc, which the most savage Goth would have shrunk from. The principal stores were broken open and stripped of everything. What they could not take away they destroyed. Dwelling houses were entered, furniture broken, clothing of every description stolen, even women's stockings and infant's apparel. The several law shops in town broken open, libraries and papers torn up or carried away. But one office out of five escaped. The inhabitants not only had to supply them with provisions, etc., but they were forced to cook for them-dig potatoes and draw water for their soldiers. The vessels, about to sail, they. took and solemnly agreed to navigate them to Castine, and then let the owners ransom them; but before they got out of sight of the town, they saw them in flames. They took 2o or 3o of the best horses and agreed to return them when they embarked their troops at Hampden, but they were carried to Castine, and a few only have been recovered-in fact in almost every instance, when they pledged their hands as gentlemen and officers they violated the pledge and with as much ease as they made it-and in the little village of Bangor they destroyed something like $30,000 Of private property, besides the bond of $30000 which the Selectmen gave to launch the vessels on the stocks and deliver them at Castine. They enforced their demands by the threat to burn the town-this they made every hour. In addition to these outrages upon private property, and the total disregard they paid to their most sacred agreements, their personal abuse and indignities were the most humiliating -- and here let me remark that in dealing out their ven- geance upon property and individuals it fell with unsparing hands upon the $1 Friends of Peace." Those who expected protection received the greater indignities-the New England spirit was no shield against the "tender mer- cies" of Strong's Bulwark. I will give you a few instances of their gentlemanly and humanic conduct to their professed friends. Doctor Fiske, a respected merchant and Federalist, was horse-whipped out of his carriage by commander Barrie because he did not instanter obey his haughty mandate; then put under guard and forced to do drudgeries of the soldiers. Capt. Hammond, the Representative of the town, a Federalist, had his store broken open, and everything destroyed. Mr. Dutton, a lawyer, and one of John Bull's warmest advocates, had to draw water for the soldiers, wait upon them like a Negro he even had to take a wagon, half load some drunken sailors into it and draw them down to the wharf. Mr. McGaw, a lawyer and the most respected Federalist in Town, was ordered under guard and called a liar because lie said he did not belong to the militia, and in order to get a place of greater safety for his wife lie had to leave his own house and go to a Tavern and pass the night where some of the offi- cers put up. Mr. Hill, a lawyer and Federalist, had his House entered, his clothes taken, even his wife's stockings, and when lie protested against it, was threatened to be run thro. The Parson (a good, pious soul) who has ever refused to pray for the success of our American Arms, did not escape their attention-a camping company quartered in his house, burned his wife's muff and tippet,' and destroyed many of his Books and Papers. I can name many more instances in which they protected their professed Friends in like manner, but sufficient has been stated to show you that the Federalist can expect no more mercy or favor in the contest. Love of country is almost the only virtue an Englishman possesses. And they respect that spirit wherever they find it. Contrast the outrages they have heaped upon these noncombatants, these professed enemies of Madison and this war, with that toward Mr. Carr, the member of Congress who voted for war; his house was threatened to be burnt, his property destroyed, etc., but the old man appeared among them, told them who lie was, etc., and they respected him so far as not to injure his property one cent and to treat him without the least insult. In Hampden their conduct was, if possible, more outrageous than in Bangor. It is vain to palliate these outrages by saying the soldiers and sailors would not be restrained, and that the- officers dis- countenanced it, for those who know British discipline know better, and as these depredations were committed under the eye of the officers and Com. Berrie headed the plundering party in Hampden in person, and the com- mittee of safety from Bangor, who went to Castine to see Sir John Sher- brook, with the expectation of obtaining relief, returned as they went- nothing was done. I had forgotten to name one other fact which ought to stamp infamy on their characters; at Hampden three or four physicians had taken a house as a Hospital in which to dress the wounded if taken there, and a number of cases of instruments and medicine, and while dressing the wounds of the injured a party of British soldiers entered, drove them out, broke up the instruments, wasted the medicine, and robbed the pockets of a Dr. Knapp from Newburyport of four hundred dollars. This is British honor and British magnanimity. This good effect has however resulted from their conduct; political animosity is merged in love of Country-all are now con- vinced that submission will not answer, that manly resistance alone com- mands respect. It was the general opinion especially of the Federalist pri- vate property would not be injured, and that a perfect surrender to their mercy was the only security, but, ah! fatal delusion. The stage has arrived you shall have by next mail something relating to Gen. Blake's conduct. You may make what use you please of the foregoing facts, for they are what I know or have heard from those. I can rely upon, but I wish you not to make use of my name publicly. In haste, your Ob't Serv't, J. K. Whitney. 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