The War of 1812 at Fort Edgecomb

The War of 18 12 at Fort Edgecomb. . Fort Edgecomb was one of four batteries, or forts, built by the US in this area. All had waterfront earthworks that protected four cannons. The map, which looks south from Fort Edgecomb, shows two of the other batteries, one at the mouth of the Keenebec River and one on an island in the Damariscotta Kiver. Another was on the St. George River in Thomaston. In 1809, Capt. John Binney took command of Fort Edgecomb. He also had charge of the other three batteries, but funds were so limited that he could not even purchase a horse for transportation to these distant posts., In 1814, widespread concern about the British Navy led local militias to build additional batteries in order to strengthen the area's defenses. One such battery was Fort McDonough across from Fort Edgecomb on Westport Island., The War of 18 12 grew out of several actions by Great Britain that were hostile to American shipping and trade. The war tested America's small navy and coastal defenses. Attacks occurred all along the east coast. including Washington DC, where the British burned the capitol building and the President's home in 1814., At the war's beginning, Fort Edgecomb saw little activity, except from May through August, 1813. Then nearly fifty prisoners of war, captured from three British ships by American privateers, were retained at the fort., In 1814, Maine's coast became a focus for England's powerful navy. After the sieges of Eastport and Castine, the British occupied the District of Maine as far south as the Penobscot River., Reports reached Wiscasset that it was the next target, and alarm spread throughout the area in September, 1814. Local militia units marched to Wiscasset to strengthen defenses, and Fort Edgecomb became a center of activity. One militia member described the scene: "Saturday, government rations were distributed, salt beef, hard bread, coffee without milk or sugar and a pint of whiskey. The day was spent parading the streets of the town (Wiscasset] to allay the alarm, though perhaps half the guns would not discharge if ordered to fire.", Moses Davis, who lived next to Fort Edgecomb, also described the sense of alarm beginning September 20. 1814: "Tuesday 20...soldiers coming and going constantly everybody seems to be in alarm. Moses sent over to Winthrop Dodge's a load of goods to get them out of the way of the enemy. Wednesday 21-... Took down my clock in order to send her away for fear of the enemy, packed up some goods, soldiers going and coming all the time.", British ships did not attack Wiscasset as feared. After two months, the militia returned home. On February 14, 1815 Moses Davis wrote in his diary: "News came of peace betwixt Britain and America, which made a great rejoicing and firing cannon at Wiscasset and at the fort.", The Civil War at Fort Edgecomb , In 1816, the fort's garrison was transferred to Boston and the Cannons were removed., All lay quiet here until the Civil War's summer of 1861 when Confederate cruiser Tallahassee headed north to raid the Union's commercial fishing fleet. The Tallahassee destroyed or captured numerous vessels on its voyage including fishing boats from nearby Southport and Boothbay. Rumors hit Wiscasset that the Tallahassee's captain planned a raid on the town., Fort Edgecomb buzzed with activity once again and volunteers came to arm it. With the original cannons no longer here, smaller cannons were probably brought in to defend the fort., Volunteers guarded the fort day and night for about a month until the Tallahassee was out of Maine waters. With these threats gone, Fort Edgecomb lay quiet once again.