Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Indians on the Kennebec – Continued (part 3)

by Roland D. Hallee

(Continued from last week…)

September 1, 1749, nine of the heirs of the men who had bought the rights of the Colony of New Plymouth to Kennebec territory in 1661, met in Boston and became incorporated for the purpose of defending their rights and opening their lands to settlement. The great obstacle was the constant danger from the French and Indians. In 1753 the Plymouth Company petitioned Gov. Shirley for the erection of a fort at Teconnet Falls. This was regarded as a strategic point: the high between Maine and Québec was up the Kennebec and Chaudiere rivers. Even the Penobscots came down the Sebasticook to Teconnet and thence ascended the Kennebec. Rumors were always afloat that the French and the Indians who had been driven from their lands were about to come down the river with hostile intent.

In answer to the petition, Gov. Shirley proposed that if the Plymouth Company would build a defensible house for stores and fort, at the head of the tide water, Cushnoc, Augusta, he would build a fort at Teconnet Falls.

Under the direction of the General Court which was alarmed at the rumor of French invasion, Gov. Shirley, with Col. Paul Mascarene, Commissioner of Nova Scotia, Gen. John Winslow in command of the troops and several high officials with 800 soldiers, set sail on June 21, 1754, in the frigate Massachusetts, for Falmouth. There 42 Indians from the Kennebec met the governor in conference. He expressed his purpose to build a fort at Teconnet to which the Indians strongly protested. They asked him to build no forts higher up the Kennebec than Fort Richmond; declared themselves willing that settlers should occupy the lands but were afraid of more forts. Their eloquent plea was wholly ignored. Gov.Shirley produced deeds signed by Sagamores long since dead, conveying the lands in question. Against this fact no words could help and the Indians gave in, through asserting their ancestors had been cheated.

Immediately the troops began their march for Teconnet. There Gen. Winslow laid out the fort and detailed 300 men for its construction while he, with 500 troops, went up the Kennebec in search of the French fortification which had been reported. Gen. Winslow became ill in Norridgewock and returned to Teconnet, the command of the expedition turned over to Col. Preble, who went up to the head waters of the Kennebec but found no French.

In a very short time five buildings were erected at Fort Halifax, a stockade 800 feet long was erected, and the cannon and arms brought up in scows from Cushnoc, and mounted, and a road for wheel carriages cut through from Fort Western to Fort Halifax. Gratification and highly commended were bestowed on Gen. Winslow and his men. Capt. William Lithgow, who had been commander of Fort Richmond, was assigned to Fort Halifax and a garrison of 80 men left in charge. A whale boat express was arranged running from Fort Halifax to Portland in 20 hours.

Capt. Lithgow assumed a heavy task. The fort was unfinished. About November 1, a party of six men from the fort, who were cutting timber, were attacked by the Indians. One was killed and scalped, four were carried away captive, only one, wounded, succeeded in reaching the fort. Some reinforcements were sent and Capt. Lithgow received authority to impress men as needed.

The winter of 1755 was a sad time at Fort Halifax. As Capt. Lithgow wrote, “The fort was the most extraordinary one of ordinariness I ever saw.” The soldiers lacked shoes, clothing and blankets. The exposure and hardships of the men in hauling their fuel by hand through the deep snow soon brought on sickness. Of the 80 men only 30 were left who were fit for duty., Five died during the winter. Supplies ran short and the distressed captain started down the Kennebec to secure aid. The journey was both hard and dangerous. Supplies had already been sent by the governor which were landed at Arrowsic and brought to Merrymeeting Bay. The supplies were then delivered to Fort Halifax.

Despite all their hardships the garrison had hauled, by hand, to the hill, 200 tons of hewn timber, also 100 tons of board logs and bolts of shingles. The fortification included the great house for the officers’ quarters and stores, was completed by Capt. Lithgow in 1755. Early in the spring of that year two men from the garrison who were fishing were mortally wounded by the Indians. On June 11, the provincial government declared war with the Indians and offered $200 for each Indian scalp and $250 for each captive. Col. Lithgow, who had since been promoted, had now the strongest and most important fortification in Maine, but found it difficult to secure men and supplies. He complained that his men were lonely, being about 50 miles from inhabitants, and were over-worked in guarding the main fort, store house and two redoubts upon the hill, night and day.

Col. Lithgow moved his family from Fort Richmond to Fort Halifax in 1755.

To be continued.