The Fort—Past and Present

Bernard Cornwall’s The Fort is a fictionalized account of the infamous Penobscot Expedition during the American Revolution that occurred from July 25th to August 15th, 1779 in what is today the town of Castine, Maine. The expedition was the worst American naval defeat in history until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. The leaders—Commodore Dudley Saltonstall, Brigadier General Solomon Lovell, and Lieutenant Colonel Paul Revere (of midnight ride fame)—were court marshaled for this devastating loss to the British.

Back in 1779, Penobscot was a part of the Massachusetts province of Maine. A contingent of naval, marine, and infantry forces headed out by ship from Boston, intending to capture a partially completed fort—named Fort George, after King George—the British were constructing. The Massachusetts General Assembly sponsored the expedition because they feared three things: fleeing Loyalists would seek refuge there, the thick woods would provide trees to make masts for the King’s fighting ships, and the British would use the area as both a naval base and also a trading post with the local Native Americans.

Map of Fort George (Map courtesy of the Castine Historical Society)

After the British victory, Fort George stayed in British hands until the end of the Revolution. The fort was the last military outpost the British abandoned at the end of the war. At that point the Loyalists fled, leaving Penobscot in the hands of the small number of residents who had remained during the British occupation. Citizens began removing bricks and other materials from the fort to help build their growing town. In 1814, during the War of 1812, the British again captured the town and reoccupied and rebuilt Fort George. In 1819, they abandoned the fort for good and destroyed it, leaving it in ruins.

1909 Photo of Fort George. The image on the left was erroneously thought to be a dungeon, but is most likely a well for water. (Photo courtesy of the Castine Historical Society)

But the incompetently led, ill-fated expedition isn’t the focus of this post. Nor is its reoccupation during the war of 1812. Fort George is the focus. Why? Because the fort survived both wars and, according to one scholar of 18th century forts, Fort George’s earthen-work ramparts are in extremely good condition. In 1940, the state of Maine took ownership of the fort to maintain it as a tourist attraction. Fort George’s ruins are one of Castine’s prized treasures and just one of many forts that were built from the 1600s on in this strategically important location on the coast of Maine.

Fort George, Late 1880s (Photo courtesy of the Castine Historical Society)

Besides being a tourist attraction, Fort George over the years was used by townspeople for recreational activities such as baseball and golf. In addition, pageants were performed there and more recently plays put on by locals. Since the Bicentennial, several reenactments have taken place at the fort as well.

Playing Baseball at Fort George, around the 1880s (Photo courtesy of the Castine Historical Society)

Pageant at Fort George, 1920 (Photo Courtesy of the Castine Historical Society)

Re-enactment at Fort George

Here are some photos of how Fort George looks today.

The Fort Today: A Reconstructed Section

The Fort Today: The Parade Ground

The Fort Today: A Fort Cannon Overlooking the Maine Maritime Academy

If you should ever go to the Town of Castine during tourist season, be sure to visit the Castine Historical Society, which has a wonderful exhibit about the Penobscot Expedition. The Historical Society also gives guided walking tours of the area’s fascinating, 400-year history.