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Maine War of 1812: "The Enemy Are Hovering About Our Coast With Such a Large Force", Written to Henry Dearborn
Maine War of 1812: "The Enemy Are Hovering About Our Coast With Such a Large Force", Written to Henry Dearborn
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Dearborn Henry

Maine War of 1812: "The Enemy Are Hovering About Our Coast With Such a Large Force", Written to Henry Dearborn

 

Bi-fold autograph letter signed, 7.25" x 10". Dated "Sep 12, 1814", and signed by Joshua Wingate to the verso of the tipped in piece as "J Wingate." Penned to the recto and verso, with a small 1 1/2" piece along the bottom edge of the letter having been removed, and then tipped onto the top of second page.  Remnants of red wax seal present which created a hole in the opposite side from opening the letter. Page is toned with some chipping and scattered staining. Accompanied by a typed transcription. Docketed by Dearborn.

 

An important letter with fantastic content from the period during the War of 1812 when Bath, Maine was being threatened with attack by forces from English 'men of war' stationed near the mouth of the river. When Jefferson became President of the United States in 1801, he called General Dearborn to his cabinet as Secretary of War. Upon going to Washington, he induced Mr. Wingate to accompany him and accept a position in his department.  From thence he came to this custom-house. The duties of the office must have been attended with greater labor and responsibility during his term than before or since, covering as it did the years of the embargo, non-intercourse and war with England. Great ability, firmness, decision and ceaseless vigilance were imperiously demanded of a collector of customs for this importance port, where so large an amount of shipping in the foreign trade was owned. The letter offered here was written by Joshua Wingate to his Father-In-Law Henry Dearborn, noting his concern, and strategizing a defense against the British. Shown in part below:

 

 

"… in consequence of an application from the Committee of Safety, at Wiscasset to Gen Sewall, that he had ordered five Regiments to that place -- It is the opinion of the best informed Men in this Quarter, that a permanent body of troops from twelve to fifteen hundred will be necessary at back of the Towns of Bath & Wiscasset, so long as the Enemy are hovering about our Coast with such a large force ---    If such a force should be ordered out for these places, It is considered it would be much more for the safety of the Towns to have the men taken from Gen Sewalls Divisions, in such case the troops belonging to Gen  Kings Division which is on the Sea board, might be discharged, as they could be assembled at a short notice in case of an attack & would give us the aid of a much larger force than we can obtain by the present arrange­ment, & without any additional expense to the State …

 

… but as our Enemy have wings, it will be difficult to assemble a sufficient force to subject them after they make their appearance in any of our harbours -- There are now but these places in Maine which it is likely will be attacked, & I think these ought to be Garrisoned with a considerable force … "

 

After its success in achieving independence with the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, the United States hoped to avoid conflict with European countries. However, in 1793 France declared war on Great Britain, both of which then began harassing American shipping along the east coast, including Maine, and in the West Indies. The French captured, among others, the Portland based Neptune (1798) and the Castine based Hiram (1800). The British focused on forcing Maine and other American sailors to serve on British ships of war.

On December 22, 1809, President Thomas Jefferson’s “long embargo” on trade with foreign ports went into effect.  Its goal was to avoid conflict with the British and the French. At first merchants and ship masters, such as Bath’s William King, favored what was hoped to be a short disruption of trade.  However, as the embargo continued, it became more unpopular and more prone to evasion. Maine was the greatest offender. Ever since the close of the Revolutionary War, to avoid burdensome restrictions, many a cargo had been transferred from an American to an English bottom in Passamaquoddy Bay, or on the shores of Campobello or some other neutral island.

Finally, the embargo was enforced in Maine with federal troops and vessels.  Eventually shipping recovered as the British tolerated limited trade hoping to keep New England neutral. However, on June 18, 1812, Congress declared war on England citing continued harassment of American shipping.  In the vote, New England members of Congress voted nineteen to nine opposing the declaration, but members from the South and West prevailed. On September 5, 1813 the British brig Boxer was captured by the American brig Enterprise off Portland. However, Massachusetts bankers and merchants openly sided with Britain and refused to cooperate with the federal government.  In response, President Madison ordered all federal garrisons in the District of Maine to withdraw to more loyal states of the Union in 1813. William King, major general of one of the principal militia units in Maine, found his state suddenly defended by “a few invalids . . . who were retained on account of their indispositions.  As a result, by the fall of 1814 the British had invaded and occupied eastern Maine, and formally brought all of the District east of the Penobscot River back into the British Empire.  In August they had occupied and burned the U.S. Capitol and White House in Washington. In 1817, three hundred casks of lime were shipped from Rockport to Washington for use in rebuilding the Capitol.

On September 1, 1814, both Castine and Belfast surrendered. Shortly thereafter Bangor and Hampden were occupied, then Eastport and others. In Maine’s mid-coast, the British were less successful. Their frigate Bulwark visited Southport Island and landed a group of marines at what is now Hendrick’s Harbor.  They were beaten back by the local militia. Fort Edgecomb avoided attack and housed some British prisoners of war. In 1814, a militia regiment was deployed to Coxes Head in Phippsburg to make improvised earthworks on its summit, creating a solid fort.

Massachusetts did nothing to defend its eastern District, earning the long-term anger of many in Maine, and adding more strength to those seeking separation and statehood. The whole Downeast area remained firmly under British control until news of the end of the war reached Wiscasset in February 1815. The Treaty of Ghent ending the conflict was signed on December 24, 1814, but it took two months for the news to reach America. 

An important letter with superb content from the heat of battle defending Maine!

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