Editing Castine, Maine (section)

===American Revolution===
[[Image:Ruins of Fort George, Castine, ME IMG 2373.JPG|225px|right|thumb|Ruins of former [[Fort George (Castine, Maine)|Fort George]] in Castine]]
{{Main|Penobscot Expedition}}
In early July 1779, nearly three years after the American Patriots had declared independence from Britain, a British naval and military force under the command of [[Francis McLean (British Army officer)|General Francis McLean]] sailed into Castine's commodious harbor, landed troops, and established the colony [[New Ireland (Maine)|New Ireland]]. They began erecting [[Fort George (Castine, Maine)|Fort George]] on one of the highest points of the peninsula. Alarmed by this incursion, the [[Massachusetts General Court|Massachusetts legislature]] dispatched what became known as the [[Penobscot Expedition]]. The military expedition consisted of a fleet of 19 armed vessels and 24 transports, carrying 344 guns, under [[Dudley Saltonstall]], and a land force of about 1,200 men, under General Solomon Lovell, seconded by [[Peleg Wadsworth|Gen. Peleg Wadsworth]]. [[Paul Revere|Col. Paul Revere]] was given charge of the ordnance.

[[File:Dice Head Light Castine ME.jpg|thumb|right|225px|[[Dice Head Light]]house in Castine]]
Although badly outnumbered, British soldiers of the [[74th Regiment of (Highland) Foot|74th Regiment of Foot]] (Argyle Highlanders), managed to repel American attacks for nearly three weeks. In mid-August, British reinforcements appeared at the head of the bay. The Americans eventually abandoned the fight and retreated up the Penobscot River, destroying their entire fleet along the way to keep it out of British hands. The failed [[Penobscot Expedition]], which cost the revolutionaries $8 million and 43 ships, proved to be the greatest [[United States Navy|American naval]] defeat until [[Pearl Harbor]] in 1941. The 74th Regiment held Majabagaduce until the end of the war, when it was ceded to the Americans as part of the peace settlement. Saltonstall and Revere were later [[court-martial]]ed, charged with cowardice and insubordination; the boards found Saltonstall guilty, but acquitted Revere.

At the end of the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], many American Loyalists in the area migrated eastward to the [[Canada|Canadian]] [[Maritimes]], some towing their houses behind their boats. Subsequently, known as [[United Empire Loyalists]], they crossed the newly established [[Canada–United States border|international boundary line]] of the [[St. Croix River (Maine-New Brunswick)|St. Croix River]] and established [[Saint Andrews, New Brunswick|St. Andrews]], one of the oldest towns in [[New Brunswick]]. In addition, many soldiers of the 74th chose to be disbanded in St. Andrews (last muster May 24, 1784), and took up land grants there along with the Loyalists, rather than return to Britain.<ref name="Coolidge"/>