Portland Harbor & Jewell Island
Casco Bay

On June 27, 1863, a small band of Confederates commanded by Lt. Charles W. Read made their way into Portland Harbor under cover of darkness and captured the Union revenue cutter Caleb Cushing. Enraged citizens and men from the Seventh Maine Regiment pursued the Cushing, which had become becalmed off Jewell Island some 5 miles out in Casco Bay. Realizing that his mission was doomed, Read and his men set fire to the Cushing and abandoned her. They were captured and sent to Fort Warren in Boston Harbor.

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