In 1779 the British adopted a strategy to seize parts of Maine, especially around Penobscot Bay, and make it a Loyalist colony called New Ireland. An American naval fleet of armed vessels and transports sent to reclaim the state engaged in an unsuccessful 21-day siege on land and sea in what is today Castine, Maine. The failure of the Penobscot Expedition provided Britain with one of its greatest victories of the Revolutionary War. Campers use miniature soldiers, war games, reference books, documentaries, and detailed models to learn about this pivotal battle. Campers visit Fort Washington Park in Maryland for inspiration.