British victory at the Battle of Hampden

Background. Carving off "New Ireland" from New England had been a goal of the British government and the colonies of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia since British Brigadier General Francis McLean conquered Maine during the American Revolution. The expedition's intention was to re-establish British title to Maine east of the Penobscot River, an area the British had renamed "New Ireland," and to open the line of communications between Halifax and Quebec. On August 26, 1814, a British squadron from the Royal Navy base at Halifax moved to capture the Down East coastal town of Machias.

Engagement. When Morris entered the river late in August, he moved past Buckstown (now Bucksport, Maine) and anchored at the mouth of the Souadabscook Stream in Hampden, on the west bank of the Penobscot some 30 miles inland. The battle ultimately ended except for some ineffective American sniper attacks against the British as they passed through Prospect, Maine, after a threatened action was not carried out.

Aftermath. Following the battle, the Penobscot River served as an international boundary for eight months. The Treaty of Ghent in December 1814 effectively surrendered British claims to Maine. The British evacuated Castine in April 1815, restoring the pre-war boundary. Local feelings of vulnerability contributed to the post-war movement for Maine's statehood, as Massachusetts had failed to protect the region.