American Revolution in Massachusetts

In June 1779, British forces led by General Francis McLean took control of land around Penobscot Bay in what is now Maine and established a colony for Loyalists called New Ireland. In response to this Massachusetts raised an expedition for the purpose of going to Maine to oust the British.

The Continental Congress-supported expedition consisted of 19 warships, 25 support ships, and over 3,000 militiamen. Upon their arrival to Penobscot Bay in late July, they first captured a battery on Nautilus Island. They then set their sights on capturing Fort George and began a siege.

Commodore Dudley Saltonstall, the overall commander of the expedition, refused to engage with the British ships in the bay. Over the course of two weeks the expedition land forces commander, Brigadier General Solomon Lovell, argued for a direct attack on the British fleet. It was clear to Lovell and many others that the siege was not working as intended. Saltonstall’s refusal to engage the British ships let them pin down the Americans on the shore, not allowing them to take the fort. By the time Saltonstall relented and ordered an attack, a British relief fleet arrived in Penobscot Bay.

Over the course of two days British forces routed the American fleet, driving them up the Penobscot River where many of their ships were either captured or scuttled by their own crews. The American survivors, including Paul Revere, were forced to return to Boston overland with very little food or ammunition.

Casualties
Colonists: 474 killed, wounded, captured, or missing; all ships lost
British: 25 killed, 35 wounded, 26 captured

Result
British victory

Aftermath
The British continued to hold the land around Penobscot Bay under the name New Ireland until the war ended, when they abandoned Fort George and evacuated the area under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. They would occupy the fort again from 1814-1815 during the War of 1812, once again evacuating after the end of the war.

Saltonstall was court-martialed, found to be primarily responsible for the disastrous campaign, and was consequently found guilty and dismissed from the Navy. He returned to his home in Connecticut and began a successful career as a privateer two years later.

Paul Revere, who had commanded the artillery, briefly hesitated in following an order given by Brigadier General Peleg Wadsworth and was accused of cowardice and disobedience. He was forced to resign his post in the militia a few weeks after returning to Boston. Revere was cleared of all charges in 1782, after years of requesting a formal court-martial in order to clear his name.