North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-02-05
HISTORY OF CANADA.
(cosTisUEp.)

We shall now call the attention of our
readers 10 the expedition Of The intrepid
Arnold of which we have just now spoken.
General Washington who was then
bcsIrging the city Of Boston, being duly
apptizcd Of the intentions Of Congress OF
Invading aud conquering the Province Of
Quebec, aud having been made acquainted
with tie plan OF operations trusted 10 Gen.
Schuylrr and Montgomery, ioresaw imne-
diately that Sir Guy Carleton would he
forced tn leave Quebec unprotected, in or
der io defend the entry Of the Province
from the invasion Of tie Americans. This
view of the subject suggested 10 him the
idea of surprising Quebec, and by one bold
ard unexpected blow, To decide the qnes-
lion a, once, in that Province. Conse-
ouenty he ordered Col. Arnold, at the
head of 100 men IN proceed Ia Quehec
through the almost interuinable forests
that Law between Kennebec and Canada.
On The 18th OF Sept this expedition
l-lt Cambridge and proceeded to Newbufy-
pon, al the entrance oi the river MrrrI-
mack, where Col. Arnold embarked his
ifnops on board Of transports, and on the
e0ih. lie was al the outlrl Of the Kcnne-
bee river. At this place he was obliged 10
leave the transports, they being too large
and LOO heavy for such river.
lie provided batteaux for his army with
astonishing alacrty, and proceeded up the
fvef against strong aud rapid current.
Their progress was slow, however, for
they had To set their boats along wlth
poles. and, owing Ia the smooth and slip
perry stale Of the river bottom, il was with
great difficulty that they could find hold
(or their pcrches. The hanks were rocky,
uneven and frequently dangerous. Add 10
all these difficulties the numerous cateracts,
carrying places, descents and rapids, over
which batteaux could not pass, and the
reader vii! have a faint idea OF the hard
ships that attended the march Of these
heroes When travelling by land they
had new obstacles TO encounter; deep
morasses, extensive swamps, almost lm-
pete,fabe forests, rivers, mountains, and
nnumersble aud dangerous precipices con-
slanily in,peded their progress. Their march
was from to s miles a day only, so nn-
merous were the impediments in Their
way. Great numbers Of those who enga-
eel in this perilnus expedition sank under
The accumulated weight o. hardships. A
large portion o. their provisions ton, had
been lost in the rapids of The kennebec
liver, and 10 crossing the morasses and
marshes, and consequently their Iaiions
became short. The army soon began 10
feel the pangs of hunger, and were obliged
ocat rats, cats, and dogs, and all kinds oi
wild animals which they could GET hold Of
This was indeed hard Tor men who had
bren accustomed to good living; but even
his seanty means OF subsistence failed
them, while yet hutied in the forests, laI
tom the haaiiations of The white man, and
Ina, tn without hope Of relief. ST. gresi
was their hunger, at last, that they were
forced Ia est their cartridge-boxes, SHOES
ami tfowsers; and unnatural as was ihi,
iood, they devoured il with great relish
No saeerings ever surpassed those OF thi:
heroic and generous band, who vol.
Saianly exposed themselves to all these
pnValioas and sulIerings for The sake OF re-
ase'ag lhe British enemy in America.
Ia addition 10 all these misforiunes, Col.
kaos, who had received orders to send
back those who were sick 10 the mouth al
iae keRaehee, abandoned The main body
Of the army with three whole companies,
alter having held pretended council o.
war, "a which il had been decided that ths
expedition was chimerical and imprsciica.
be