Northeast Coast Campaign (1675)

The Northeast Coast Campaign (1675) happened during the First Abenaki War (the northern theatre of King Philips War) and involved the Wabanaki Confederacy raiding English settlements along the New England/ Acadia border in present-day Maine. They killed eighty colonists and burned many farms, blunting the tide of English expansion. Settlers deserted community after community, leaving only the settlements south of the Saco River to maintain an Anglo presence in the region. Historian Georges Cerbelaud Salagnac writes, that Castine and the Abanaki “displayed consummate skill at it, holding in check at every point, from the Penobscot River to Salmon Falls, N.H., and even beyond, 700 regular troops, and even inflicting humiliating defeats upon them.”

Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin was sent from Quebec at the outset of the war with the Governors orders to organize all the natives "throughout the whole colony of Acadia to adopt the interests of the king of France.” After Saint-Castin had settled among the Abenakis, King Philip (Pometacom) and his warriors ravaged New England in 1675. Historian Georges Salagnac writes that, “One may reasonably suppose that Saint-Castin began to exercise his talents as a military counsellor on the occasion of this war.” The people of Boston thought Castine was influencing the Wabanaki strategy and supplying them with superior equipment.

On September 5, the first Wabanaki raid was on present-day Topsham, where they made threats and destroyed a farm. Shortly after the Adrosconggins, Sacos, and other Wabanaki warriors attacked various settlements along Casco Bay and farther south. On September 12, the Wabanaki warriors attacked a farm in Falmouth (present-day Portland), destroying the farm and killing six and taking one captive. On September 18, they raided Saco, burning homes and mills. They attacked Major William Phillips garrison at present-day Biddeford, six Abanaki were killed in the siege and 15 wounded. They also raided present-day Durham, New Hampshire, burning houses killing two settlers and capturing others. Along the Saco river, they killed five English. The colonists abandoned Winter Harbour.

On October 1, they raided present-day Berwick, taking two children captive. Two weeks later, on October 16, Berwick was attacked again by 300 natives, killing two settlers and several militia men. Two days later, they attacked again, killing three English. They also destroyed seven homes and killed several in present-day Scarborough (formerly Black Point). Finally they attacked Wells, killing three and burning a house.

The campaign was followed by another in 1676 and 1677.

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