t the British post
at Castine, on the banks of the Penobscot River. At this unimportant
settlement in the wilds of Maine, the British had established a
military post, with a garrison of about a thousand men, together with
four armed vessels. Here they might have been permitted to remain in
peace, so far as any danger from their presence was to be apprehended
by the people of New England. But the sturdy citizens of Massachusetts
had boasted, that, since the evacuation of Boston, no British soldier
had dared to set foot on Massachusetts soil; and the news of this
invasion caused the people of Boston to rise as one man, and demand
that the invaders should be expelled.

Accordingly a joint naval and military expedition was fitted out under
authority granted by the Legislature of the State. Congress detailed
the United States frigate "Warren," and the sloops-of-war "Diligence"
and "Providence," to head the expedition. The Massachusetts cruisers
"Hazard," "Active," and "Tyrannicide" represented the regular naval
forces of the Bay State; and twelve armed vessels belonging to private
citizens were hired, to complete the armada. The excitement among
seafaring men ran high. Every man who had ever swung a cutlass or
sighted a gun was anxious to accompany the expedition. Ordinarily it
was difficult to ship enough men for the navy; now it was impossible
to take all the applicants. It is even recorded that the list of
common sailors on the armed ship "Vengeance" included thirty masters
of merchantmen, who waived all considerations of rank, in order that
they might join the expedition.

To co-operate with the fleet, a military force was thought necessary;
and accordingly orders were issued for fifteen hundred of the militia
of the district of Maine to assemble at Townsend. Brig.-Gen. Sullivan
was appointed to the command of the land forces, while Capt.
Saltonstall of the "Warren" was made commodore of the fleet.

Punctually on the day appointed the white sails of the American ships
were seen by the militiamen at the appointed rendezvous. But when the
ships dropped anchor, and the commodore went ashore to consult with
the officers of the land forces, he found that but nine hundred of the
militiamen had responded to the call. Nevertheless, it was determined,
after a brief consultation, to proceed with the expedition, despite
the sadly diminished strength of the militia battalions.

On the 23d of July, the fleet set sail from the har