This was the first success that had befallen the American navy since the loss of the _Chesapeake_. It revived, in a measure, the confidence that disaster had shaken. The _Boxer_ went into action with her colors nailed to the mast--a useless bravado that no doubt cost many lives. Her ensign is now among the trophies of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, while that of the _Enterprise_ has but lately been reclaimed from among the forgotten things of the past, to array its tattered folds beside the flags of the _Bonhomme Richard_ and of Fort M'Henry.[62] Among the recollections of his "Lost Youth," the author of "Evangeline," a native of Portland, tells us: "I remember the sea-fight far away, How it thundered o'er the tide! And the dead captains, as they lay In their graves o'erlooking the tranquil bay, Where they in battle died." [Illustration: BURROWS'S MEDAL.] FOOTNOTES: [59] Monhegan lies nine miles south of the George's group, twelve south-east from Pemaquid, and nine west of Metinic. It contains upward of one thousand acres of land. According to Williamson, it had, in 1832, about one hundred inhabitants, twelve or fourteen dwellings, and a school-house. The able-bodied men were engaged in the Bank fishery; the elders and boys in tending the flocks and tilling the soil. At that time there was not an officer of any kind upon the island; not even a justice of the peace. The people governed themselves according to local usage, and were strangers to taxation. A light-house was built on the island in 1824. [60] A good many arguments may be found in the "Collections of the Maine Historical Society" as to whether Weymouth ascended the Penobscot or the Kennebec. All assume Monhegan to have been the first island seen. This being conceded, the landmarks given in the text follow, without reasonable ground for controversy. [61] In 1607 Weymouth was granted a pension of three shillings and fourpence per diem. Smith was at Monhegan in 1614, Captain Dermer in 1619, and some mutineers from Rocroft's ship had passed the winter of 1618-'19 there. The existence of a small plantation is ascertained in 1622. In 1626 the island was sold to Giles Elbridge and Robert Aldworth for fifty pounds. [62] This flag inspired the national lyric, "The Star-spangled Banner." [Illustration: GORGE, BALD HEAD CLIFF.] CHAPTER VIII. FROM WELLS TO OLD YORK. "A shipman was there, wonned far by west; For aught I wot, he was of Dartëmouth." CHAUCER. One hot, slumberous morning in August I found myself in the town of Wells. I was traveling, as New England ought to be traversed by every young man of average health and active habits, on foot, and at leisure, along the beautiful road to Old York. Now Wells, as Victor Hugo says of a village in Brittany, is not a town, but a street, stretching for five or six miles along the shore, and everywhere commanding an extensive and unbroken ocean view.