Penobscot expedition of 1779

Destruction of the american fleet at penobscot bay, 14 august 1779, by dominic series, c. The penobscot expedition was a 44ship american naval task force mounted by the. Their objective was to capture a 750man british garrison at castine on the penobscot peninsula, in what. In june 1779, while most of the revolutionary war was focused in the southern united states, a small british fleet landed two regiments of 700 soldiers on the. William abbatt, 1910, 303 2 nathan goold, colonel jonathan mitchells cumberland county regiment, bagaduce expedition, 1779, collections of the maine historical society, series 2, vol. The penobscot expedition was a 44ship american naval armada during the revolutionary war assembled by the provincial congress of the province of massachusetts bay.

The penobscot expedition and artifacts from the defense. Kevitt, general lovell journal, july 21, 1779, general. On this day in 1779, massachusetts, without consulting either continental political or military authorities, launches a 4,000man naval expedition commanded by. Language english isbn 1557502129 acidfree paper description 204 p. The expedition consisted of 19 warships, 24 transport ships and more than 1,000 militiamen. The penobscot expedition was a 44ship american naval task force mounted by the provincial congress of the province of massachusetts bay.

The penobscot expedition of 1779 journal of the american. The penobscot expedition during the american revolution was the worst naval disaster in american history until pearl harbor. In 1979, revolutionary war reenactors descended on castine and bucksport, maine to envision the penobscot expedition, a battle between the. Henry clinton letter on penobscot river fort, 1779. The penobscot expedition, americas forgotten military disaster. As part of the largest fleet ever assembled by the fledgling american navy, the vessels comprising the expedition were expected to swiftly defeat the british. The fort novel wikipedia the fort is the blistering. Commodore saltonstall and the massachusetts conspiracy of 1779 buker, george e. The failed military maneuver also damaged paul reveres reputation. The story of maine the penobscot expedition and the.

Massachusetts begins illfated penobscot expedition history. In june 1779, the british seized the village of castine, maine, on the shores of penobscot bay with the intention of establishing a naval base between halifax and new york from which they could. The penobscot expedition, a littleknown event in revolutionary war history, took place from july 25 to august 15, 1779. The flotilla of 19 warships and 25 smaller support vessels sailed from boston on july 19, 1779 for the upper penobscot bay in the district of maine carrying an expeditionary force of more than 1,000 american colonial marines not to. That a huge force of men, ships and guns failed to take a small british fort in maine has been largely forgotten. It is centered on the efforts of the british to establish and hold the fort against superior numbers of american patriots, and it contrasts the actions of john moore and paul revere.

That year the british were attracted to the penobscot peninsula castine for several reasons. During the american revolution, citizens in what was then the province of maine experienced tremendous hardship, shifting loyalties, huge losses of. The penobscot expedition, americas forgotten military. Commodore saltonstall and the massachusetts conspiracy of 1779. The flotilla of 19 warships and 25 smaller support vessels sailed from boston on july 19, 1779 for the upper penobscot bay in the district of maine carrying an. In 1779, much of the action of the american revolution had moved. Penobscot expedition 1779 the devereaux cove project tripod. Clarke, ernest 1999 the siege of fort cumberland, 1776. In 1779, british warships and troop transports sailed into bagaduce now castine, maine, on the penobscot bay.