The penobscot expedition us naval war college digital commons. Commodore saltonstall and the massachusetts conspiracy of 1779 and swamp sailors in the second seminole war. Commodore saltonstall and the massachusetts conspiracy of 1779. Penobscot expedition journal of the american revolution. They found an earthworks fort protected by three sloops in the harbor. Whitepages is the largest and most trusted online phone book and directory. Williamson, collections of the maine historical society, series 2, vol. The illfated penobscot expedition of 1779 remains one of the least studied and most controversial aspects of the american revolution, despite being a seminal event in u. 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. Leave a comment for a discount code shot to your inbox. Bukers book explains in detail the background, events, and aftermath of the expedition. Cayford is the author of the penobscot expedition 3. The disastrous penobscot expedition left the area, later known as castine, to the british and a loyalist colony called new ireland.
Thorough in his research and his arguments, buker presents evidence that the massachusetts committee of inquiry and the general court conspired against saltonstall and interfered with the commodores courtmartial proceedings to ensure a finding that would allow the state to assess congress for part of the expenses. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Greenburg will talk about his new book, the courtmartial of paul revere a son of liberty and americans forgotten military disaster. Kept out of the conflict due to its remote location, british soldiers would not establish a presence there until 1779 when they built fort george. Anyone caught in possession of or in the process of collecting historic artifacts from the penobscot river associated with the penobscot expedition will be prosecuted. Buker, 9781608933563, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Participants in the penobscot expedition were paid as evidenced by a receipt capt. Standishs last significant expedition was against the french who had established a trading post in 16 on the penobscot river in castine, maine. We honor these examples of high principles at our march meeting.
Fort george is the site of majabigwaduce, the location for bernard cornwells 2010 book the fort, which is about the penobscot expedition. Aug 08, 2019 6 buker, the penobscot expedition,2931. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The fort is about the penobscot expedition of 1779. The penobscot expedition of 1779 journal of the american. Being an account of the largest naval engagement of the revolutionary war. I purchased this book because an ancestor of mine was on the penobscot expedition and i wanted to learn more about it. 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. During the ensuing battle, however, the armada took a dramatic turn toward the disastrous and some forty ships were lost. The expedition set off with full expectation of success on the part of the massachusetts political leadership. The penobscot expedition sailed into the harbor outside of bagaduce on july 25, 1779. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Buker is professor emeritus of history at jacksonville university and author of the penobscot expedition.
Reading almost like a novel, it tells the story of the penobscot expedition in great detail and addresses the issues that led up to its failure and the resulting inquiry. 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 during the american revolution was the worst naval disaster in american history until pearl harbor. Language english isbn 1557502129 acidfree paper description 204 p. General solomon lovell and the penobscot expedition, 1779. It also follows the american armys attempts to push the british out of massachusetts with general solomon lovell leading the assault and one paul revere. 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. Penobscot expedition, mainepenobscot expedition, maine. After reading it, i can imagine what my ancestor went through. Click here for suggestions for further reading in other books. In february 1779 general henry clinton in new york informed brigadier francis mclean in halifax that the king wished to have a fort and settlement established on the penobscot river and that he, clinton, had decided to conduct the operation from halifax rather than new york.
English forces captured the settlement in 1628 and turned it over to plymouth colony. Nov 20, 2010 the penobscot expedition may not be mentioned in your standard history book. Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history channel, discovery channel, smithsonian, mental floss, npr, and more. The military disaster referenced in the title of the book refers to the penobscot expedition of 1779, which took place on what is now the castine peninsula. Being an account of the largest naval engagement of the revolutionary war hardcover january 1, 1976 by john e. The penobscot expedition, americas forgotten military. The penobscot expedition is an extraordinary story, one that has fascinated the author for years, and will now fascinate his readers. That year the british were attracted to the penobscot peninsula castine for several reasons. Commodore saltonstall and the massachusetts conspiracy of 1779 9781557502124 by buker, george e. Remnants of major naval defeat found the city of brewer. You probably didnt learn about this revolutionary war battle in school and you probably are most familiar with paul revere in his roles of.
The penobscot expedition was a 44ship american naval task force mounted by the provincial congress of the province of massachusetts bay. The art of lee waisler by wendon, john and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. On july 24, 1779 the american naval and land forcesknown collectively as the penobscot expeditionentered penobscot bay and laid siege to the british fort. Commodore saltonstall and the massachusetts conspiracy of 1779 by george e buker, ph. Mar 12, 2002 as the largest american naval fleet assembled during the revolutionary war, the vessels comprising the penobscot expedition were expected to swiftly defeat the british at fort george on maines penobscot bay.
Buker provides a compelling defense of saltonstall. Kevitt, general lovell journal, july 21, 1779, general. British leaders believed that the presence of a strong british post on penobscot bay would help hasten the establishment of new ireland and. Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era. The name was suggested by state vice regent agnes ames, commemorating the illfated penobscot expedition of 1779, the largest infantrynaval engagement of the revolutionary war. Meeting these good citizens always gives me confidence in young people everywhere. We use cookies on this site to enhance the visitor experience. Gallery edit ruined stone structure in a bastion of fort george, possibly a magazine reconstructed in the 1960s. Commodore saltonstall and the massachusetts conspiracy of 1779 by george e. John starbird signed for partial payment for josiah bayleys service.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Penobscot books a division of penobscot bay press community information services based in stonington, maine, penobscot bay press is the community information services business serving blue hill, brooklin, brooksville, castine, deer isle, isle au haut, penobscot, sedgwick, stonington and surry. Their objective was to capture a 750man british garrison at castine on the penobscot peninsula, in what. The book really was dull, but the part about paul revere being a false hero. This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. George e buker although a seminal event in early u. A historical novel depicting the penobscot expedition, with a nonfiction historical note pp. Summer 1779, a british force of fewer than one thousand scottish infantry were sent to build a garrison in the state of maine. Jul 27, 2019 the expedition consisted of 19 warships, 24 transport ships and more than 1,000 militiamen.
The penobscot expedition and artifacts from the defense. As the largest american naval fleet assembled during the revolutionary war, the vessels comprising the penobscot expedition were expected to swiftly defeat the british at fort george on maines penobscot bay. We feature smart, groundbreaking research and wellwritten narratives from expert writers. Penobscot river and bay, with the operations of the. The penobscot expedition, a littleknown event in revolutionary war history, took place from july 25 to august 15, 1779. But payments to shipowners and others were quite expensive.
The penobscot expedition and artifacts from the defense c. The book was released on 30 september 2010 in the united kingdom. From new york times bestselling author bernard cornwellone of the greatest yet littleknown skirmishes of the revolution. Books, maps and videos published, produced and distributed by penobscot books. Author of book on penobscot expedition to speak in castine. The fort is a book by bernard cornwell, based on a true story of the penobscot expedition during the american revolution the book itself follows the british forces as they attempt to build a fort overlooking majabigwaduce and penobscot bay. Lc maps of north america, 17501789, 840 available also through the library of congress web site as a raster image. Marypage schwarzwaelder worth organized the penobscot expedition chapter dar on june 9, 1972, in searsport, maine. Though the americans seemed to have a decisive advantage, the british had more experience, a favorable geographic position and better coordination between land and sea forces. The penobscot expedition is a wonderful book about an important event, told with gusto and a fine attention to detail. Jun 22, 2003 the book appears well researched, with significant endnotes and bibliography. Penobscot expedition, 1779, american revolution individual. But when it ended back in 1779, scores of ships had been sunk. But when it ended back in 1779, scores of ships had been sunk, hundreds of soldiers were missing and revolutionary war.
An original and major reinterpretation of the controversial penobscot calamity that no student of revolutionary war naval operations can ignore. Massachusetts begins illfated penobscot expedition history. Title from william fadens catalogue of a curious and valuable collection of original maps and plans. That a huge force of men, ships and guns failed to take a small british fort in maine has been largely forgotten. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The penobscot expedition may not be mentioned in your standard history book. The fort here holds a unique story and was the site of. Bookprinted material the life and surprising adventures of john nutting, cambridge loyalist, and his strange connection with the penobscot expedition of 1779. The book appears well researched, with significant endnotes and bibliography.
Including the rivers west branch and south branch increases the penobscots length to 264 miles 425 km, making it the secondlongest river system in maine and the longest entirely in the state. Penobscot expedition chapter gives each of the two students a good citizen pin and certificates, a u. Its drainage basin contains 8,610 square miles 22,300 km 2. Maine state museum officials talk about artifacts removed from the wreckage of the defense, a small ship that took part in the penobscot expedition in 1779, the worst u. As the largest american naval fleet assembled during the revoluti. The flotilla of 19 warships and 25 smaller support vessels sailed from boston on july 19, for the upper penobscot bay in the district of maine carrying a ground expeditionary force of more than 1,000. A fleet of privateers and hastily recruited soldiers failed to stop the british from occupying majabigwaduce on penobscot bay in 1779. The life and surprising adventures of john nutting.
Revolutionary warera swivel gun reveals its secrets about a gun raised from penobscot bay the ancient penobscot, or panawanskek. If you can find it, another good exposition of the expedition isjohn e cayfords book the penobscot expedition orrington, maine. More by eye than by measurethe maritime life and art of john prior gardner. My own interest in the expedition centers on mygggggrandfather, james pease, who was a massachusetts continental marine.
Choice the penobscot expedition is a wonderful book about an important event, told with gusto and a fine attention to detail. The revolutionary war and the penobscot expedition. The area is the site of the abandonment and loss of many vessels in the disastrous 1779 penobscot expedition, an american revolutionary war expedition in which the rebellious americans lost an entire fleet of ships. Commodore saltonstall and the massachusetts conspiracy of 1779 by buker, george e. The penobscot expedition paperback january 1, 1976 by john e. Being an account of the largest naval engagement of the revolutionary war cayford, john e. However, just as victory appeared to be within their grasp, the americans were forced into a disorganized retreat up the penobscot river by a british relief squadron that arrived at the. The failed military maneuver also damaged paul reveres reputation. The penobscot expedition is an extraordinary story, one that has. The fort is a historical novel written by bernard cornwell which relates to the events of the penobscot expedition of 1779 during the american revolutionary war. On july 24, 1779 the american naval and land forcesknown collectively as the penobscot expedition entered penobscot bay and laid siege to the british fort. The penobscot expedition site is a submerged historic archaeological area in the waters of the penobscot river between bangor and brewer, maine. On july 18, mclean received information that the americans were raising an expedition to evict the british invaders. A son of liberty and americas forgotten military disaster is the story of the illfated penobscot expedition of the revolutionary war and paul reveres role in it.
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