HISTORY

Capture Maine

Debunking the Myth that the British didn't want part of the United States back in 1812:

Lord Bathurst instructed Sir John Sherbrooke in a letter of June 6, 1814:

. . . occupy so much of the District of Maine, as shall ensure an uninterrupted communication between Halifax and Quebec.

Sherbrooke decided that this was impractical due to the limited number of settlements in Maine and so determined to carry out this order by occupying all of the coast of Maine as far south as the Penobscot River. That would have represented about half of the current state of Maine.

British Peace commissioners on July 28 1814 were told to emphasize uti possidents, or the retention of all conquered territory. This was to include Northern Maine, Plattsburg, Sacket's Harbor, Ft. Niagara and Detroit.