Battle+of+Penobscot+Bay

=**The Battle of Penobscot Bay, Maine**=

Battle Synopsis
The [|Battle of Penobscot Bay] was the largest naval expedtition of the American Revolution. The Battle was also the United State's worst defeat until [|Pearl Harbor]. In June 1779, the British Army established a series of [|fortifications] centered on a fort located on the Bagaduce Peninsula in Penobscot Bay. Their goal was to create a military presence in the beginning of a new colony known as New Ireland. The state of Massachusetts, with support from the Continental Congress, raised an expedition to drive the British out. The Americans landed troops in late July and attempted to establish a siege of the British fort in a series of actions. The expedition ended in disaster when a British fleet arrived, driving the American fleet to total self destruction.

(May 11, 1738 - April 6, 1795)
George Collier was one of the most successful British naval commanders during the beginning of the war with America. He was an officer of the Royal Navy in the American Revolution as well as the Seven Years War and the [|French Revolutinary] Wars. Born in London on May 11, 1736 in to a middle class family, Collier had a taste for success. He joined the Royal Navy in 1751 and served on the Home station and in the East Indies in the [|Seven Years War]. On August 6, 1761 Collier was promoted to commander, and later on post-captain on July 12, 1762. With the start of the American Revolution, Collier was despatched to North America, where after preforming a number of successful services that led him to earn [|knighthood] in 1775. He encountered many battles, but at the end he was replaced by Admiral [|Mariot] [|Arbuthnot] while he was at sea. Collier resigned his commission after having a fall out with the government.



(January 1, 1735 - May 10, 1818)
[|Paul Revere] was an American [|patriot] in the American Revolution. Revere is most famously known for alerting the Colonial malitia of the approaching British forces, before the battles of [|Lexington and Concord]. Revere last served as an officer in the Penobscot Expedition, one of the most disastrous campaigns, but he was [|absolved] of blame. Revere was the commander of the artillery units for the expedition and was responsible for the artillery train. He took part in the taking of [|Banks Island], where artillery batteris could come in contact with British fleets anchored before [|Fort George]. A number of charges were pressed against Revere, but he was [|exonerated] from all in February 1782.

Revere's "Midnight Ride" was captured in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, [|Paul Revere's Ride]

Battle Background
The British war planners were looking for a way to get the rebelious New England colonies under control, and Lord Germain, the [|Secretary of State], wanted a base established on the coast of the District of Maine. The oppurtunity came along with loyalist [|John Nutting], who had the idea to create a military presence in Maine. September 1778, Nutting with orders from Lieutenant General [|Sir Henry Clinton], left for New York to help establish "a province between between the Penobscot and [|St. Croix] rivers." But, Nutting's ship was captured by American [|privateers], which put an end to the expedition in 1778.

[[image:reinsteinrevolutionper10/Penobscot.jpg width="490" height="390" align="right"]]Arrival of British Forces
Nutting reached New York in 1779, but Clinton had already assigned the expedition to Francis Mclean. Mclean set sail on May 30, 1779 and landed in Penobscot Bay on June 12. Fort George was in the center of the peninsula, and was protected by two [|batteries].

American Reaction
The news reached the American authorities in Boston and plans were made to drive the British out. Penobscot land was contolled by the Penobscot Indians, who favored the British, so the congrees feared if the fort was successful the chance of gaining the Penobscots as allies would be lost. They banded together all the war ships as well as the Massachusetts State Navy. They also inlisted more than 1,000 miltia troops and placed General Soloman Lovell in command of land forces. They left from Boston on July 24 and arrived in Penobscot on the same day.

Assault and Siege
General [|Pelge Wadsworth] led an attack of 400 with the order to capture the British fort. The British put up a deffensive attack, but had no reinforcement and were forced to retire the fort, which left the Americans in possesion of the [|heights] and 8 captured Britsih troops. One American was killed on July 29. The British send for reinforcements and on August 3, 10 warships are sent from New York under the order of Collier. Finally the Americans decided to attack the British fort, but the British fleet arrived and attcked the American ships. The Americans fled up the Penobscot River, but were folloed by the British. Several ships were eliminated along the way, while the rest were destroyed at [|Bangor]. The crews that survived fled back to Boston with little food and amunition.

Casualties
British: 25 killed, 34 wounded Americans: 474 killed, wouned, captured, or missing

Video on the Penobscot Expedition
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