The fort is one of a very few in Maine which were active in the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Captured and burned by the British in 1814, the fort was returned in 1818. Rebuilt in 1863, the fort was renamed Fort O'Brien.
Originally a four gun battery, the fort was built at the mouth of Machias River to protect the town from the evil British, continuing in service throughout the war. During the War of 1812 it was again pressed into service, still as a four gun battery, captured and returned. Again, this time during the Civil War, the fort came into service, this time being rebuilt beside the ruins of the old fort, with a complement of five guns.
Today the site of the fort is a State of Maine Historic Site and a State Park.
More detail on the fort is to be found further below.
About two miles offshore from Fort Machias/O'Brien, near Round Island, is the site of what is locally claimed to be the
First Naval Battle of the American Revolutionary War, the
Battle of Machias, fought between citizens of Machias and a British warship, the
Margaretta. Unfortunately, the Battle of Machias was actually the
second naval battle of the war, the first taking place on May 14, 1775 at Fairhaven, Massachusetts, the
Battle off Fairhaven, in which the Dartmouth whaling sloop
Success captured a pair of vessels previousy captured by the British.
The Battle of Machias took place on June 11-12, 1775 with the British sloop tender
Margaretta being captured by the townspeople at the cost of one man killed and six wounded, one of which later died of his wounds.
Here is a recounting of the battle, taken from informational plaques at the fort.
The entry from the American Guide Series book Maine: A Guide 'Down East' follows.
Fort O’Brien Historical Park
Fort O’Brien Historical Park was built after the capture of the British ship, “Margareta”. Originally named Fort Machias, Fort O’Brien was upgraded by Massachusetts in 1777 and taken over by Congress in 1781. The Continental Congress took over control of the structure in 1781.
Fort O’Brien suffered no further attacks during the Revolutionary War. It was next returned to active service during the War of 1812. In 1814, Fort O’Brien was captured by 900 British regulars, who removed the fort’s guns and burned the barracks. Fort O’Brien once again activated (for a final time) during the Civil War when an entirely new battery was constructed just south of the 18th century fortifications.
Fort O’Brien, which is now a State Historic Site under the management of the Bureau of Parks and Lands, is also listed as an archaeological site. The Fort was attacked in 1814 by the British and abandoned. It was activated again in 1863 at the height of the Civil War and refortified. It is now called Fort O’Brien Historical Park and is a State Park on a prominent earthwork overlooking the Machias River.
From the Town of Machiasport