Castine — Lovell's Lost Logbook

In June 1779, the British, seeking to secure their northern frontier and establish a naval base to harass New England, settled in Majabigwaduce (now Castine) in the District of Maine, then part of Massachusetts. There they built Fort George, an imposing fortification. Massachusetts' response was the Penobscot Expedition, a massive amphibious operation, the largest ever undertaken by the United States until World War II. It comprised a fleet of 19 warships and 24 transports, carrying over 1,000 sailors and 1,500 militiamen and marines.

The expedition, commanded by General Solomon Lovell and Commodore Dudley Saltonstall, was plagued from the outset by internal rivalries, delays, and hesitant strategy. After a prolonged siege of Fort George, the unexpected arrival of a British relief fleet, led by Sir George Collier, caused general panic. The American fleet was trapped in the Penobscot River, and most ships were scuttled or burned to avoid capture. The ground troops had to flee through the forest, suffering huge losses. This bitter failure had major repercussions on American morale and the future of the War of Independence.