Augusta in Kennebec County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

Flag Protest ~ War of 1812 / Drapeau en berne - Guerre de 1812

Augusta, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets® —

Flag Protest ~ War of 1812 / Drapeau en berne - Guerre de 1812 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

1. Flag Protest ~ War of 1812 / Drapeau en berne - Guerre de 1812 Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The embargoes leading to war caused economic hardship in Augusta, and news of war generated disdain in this Federalist Town. Citizens mounted a protest by hanging an effigy of President Madison from the public wharf and flying an American flag at half-mast in Market Square. Word of the actions reached the army recruiting office at the Court House, and Captain Vose sent troops in battle array to raze the flagpole while the protestors dined. The citizens reassembled soon after, restored the flagpole, and flew it at half-mast again. The soldiers returned but met a resolute citizenry, so gave up on razing the flagpole a second time. Violence was avoided when town authorities intervened. For two days, the flag flew at half-mast as a "proper expression of feeling" about the war.

Les embargos précédant la guerre nuisirent au commerce d'Augusta et les nouvelles de la guerre provoquèrent la colère de cette ville fédéraliste. Les citoyens organisèrent une protestation où ils pendirent en effigie le Président Madison sur le quai public et mirent le drapeau en berne sur la Place du Marché. La nouvelle

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de ces actions atteignit le bureau de recrutement de l'armée à la Cour de Justice et le Capitaine Vose envoya des troupes en formation militaire afin de raser le mât du drapeau pendant que les protestataires dînaient. Les citoyens se regroupèrent peu après, remontèrent le mât, et remirent le drapeau en berne. Les soldats revinrent, mais trouvèrent une foule résolue et décidèrent de ne pas rebriser le mât. La violence fut évitée lorsque les autorités de la ville intervinerent. Pendant deux jours, le drapeau resta en berne pour exprimer les « sentiments adéquats » devant cette guerre.

Erected by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 22.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Patriots & Patriotism • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #04 James Madison, and the The Museum in the Streets®: Augusta, Maine series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is May 1, 1795.

Location. 44° 18.874′ N, 69° 46.476′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Maine, in Kennebec County. Marker is on Water Street south of Winthrop Street/Front Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45 Marketplace Dr, Augusta ME 04330, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

2. Flag Protest ~ War of 1812 / Drapeau en berne - Guerre de 1812 Marker

Looking north along Water Street

are within walking distance of this marker. United States Post Office / La Poste des Etats-Unis (a few steps from this marker); Granite Block / Un Bâtiment en granit (a few steps from this marker); Augusta's Publishing Empire / L'empire de l'édition à Augusta (within shouting distance of this marker); Market Square / La place du Marché (within shouting distance of this marker); Cornerstone Day / La pose des premières pierres (within shouting distance of this marker); Steamboat Landing / L'embarquement des bateaux à vapeur (within shouting distance of this marker); Shipbuilding Days / L'époque des chantiers navals (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); They Were Superior Buildings / Des bâtiments pittoresques (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Augusta.

Also see . . .
1. "Smuggling in Maine During the Embargo and the War of 1812" (Strum, Colby Quarterly, 1983). (Submitted on December 6, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. "The war that made Maine a state" (Portland Press Herald, 2012). (Submitted on December 6, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. The Museum in the Streets Tour Map, Augusta, Maine. (Submitted on December 6, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 224 times since then and 10 times this year. Last updated on July 18, 2020, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 6, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.