To the editor:
On January 22, 1839, Maine’s Land Agent Elijah Hamlin briefed Governor John Fairfield of extensive British plundering of white pines in the Disputed Territory of northern Maine. Most of the trespassers were in Township No. 16, Range 7 (Eagle Lake). On the Fish River, 50-75 men with 16 oxen and 10 pair of horses were at work, “and more daily expected to go in.” Crews were also at work on the Aroostook. Near Beaver Brook (Castle Hill), crews of Peter Bull warned Hamlin’s representative George Buckmore that Bull would resist any attempt to take away his teams.
On Salmon Brook (Washburn), Wilder Stratton, James Sutter, David Sutter, Michael Keeley, John Coffee, and John Smiley (all from New Brunswick) were at work, did not intend to quit, would defend themselves, and resist all authority from Maine. Stratton and the Sutters later settled in the Aroostook Valley.
On Township Letter H (Caribou), Mr. Johnson, with a crew of ten men, six oxen and one pair of horses, refused to quit, and would continue to cut timber in spite of both Governments, and “used much threatening language.” More crews were discovered at the mouth of the Little Madawaska River, and at Aroostook Falls.
The value of timber cut by the trespassers that winter was estimated at $100,000. Hamlin suggested an armed force of at least 50 men to break up the trespassing.
In a secret session, Governor Fairfield reported to the Legislature. He recommended the land agent proceed to the Aroostook and Fish Rivers with enough men to “seize the teams and provisions, break up the camps, and disperse those who are engaged in this work of devastation and pillage.” The Legislature passed a Resolve (January 23rd), and appropriated $10,000 for the purpose.
In early February 1839, Rufus McIntire, Land Agent, and Major Hastings Strickland, Penobscot County Sheriff, set off from Bangor. Despite the Governor’s plan for secrecy, the Bangor Daily Whig proclaimed the sheriff and a strong civil posse (of two hundred chosen men) had left that morning for the Aroostook, to serve writs on trespassers.
Before the posse’s arrival at Masardis, about 300 trespassers, forewarned and well armed, had “combined to resist every effort to break them up.” Seeing the Land Agent had a mounted brass six-pounder (artillery piece), they retreated downriver to the Province.
McIntire and the posse descended the river on the ice to Beaver Brook, meeting no resistance. McIntire, ahead of the posse, went to Nehemiah Hooper’s cabin in Maysville to explain his mission, and express his hope the inhabitants would not join the trespassers or aid them if they resisted.
During the night of February 12th, McIntire was captured by armed trespassers at the mouth of the Little Madawaska. McIntire and several others were “forthwith marched to Fredericton and lodged in jail.” They were later released on February 19th.
Alertly, Sheriff Strickland avoided arrest. He set out for Augusta “as rapidly as relays of swift horses would carry him.” Arriving in less than one day, he advised Governor Fairfield to “mobilize troops upon the border without further delay.”
On February 13, 1839, New Brunswick’s Sir John Harvey issued a proclamation that read very much like a declaration of war to Maine citizens. Our Legislature swiftly appropriated $800,000 for use by the Governor for protection of the public lands. A draft was ordered for 10,000 men from the Maine militia, to be ready for immediate action.
Finally, our national government awakened. Congress authorized the President to raise 50,000 troops for the support of Maine, and appropriated $10 million to meet the expense — if war became unavoidable. (To be continued.)
Presque Isle
