Castine

On September 1, 1814, a large British fleet arrived at Penobscot Bay to establish a direct line of communication between Halifax and Quebec. At the sight of the British fleet, the American garrison at Fort Porter discharged the fort's cannons, blew up the magazine, and fled up Penobscot Bay. The British landed unopposed, even welcomed, in Castine. They re-occupied Fort George and completely transformed Castine's defenses.

The British made Castine the headquarters for their forces, and a port of entry. Foraging parties and detachments of troops to capture towns along the river were sent out from Castine. Occupation of Castine gave the British control of the Penobscot River, and a base from which to attack Hampden and Bangor upstream. This was part of the British goal of securing “New Ireland”, those areas of Maine east of the Penobscot River, which they believed were rightfully theirs.