Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-10-29

mouth Of the Kennel &C. That fleet, sailing
on the 18th of September, l775s contains
eleven hundred brave men, and their leader,
Benedict Arnold.
| They reach the mouth of the Kennehec-
they glide along its cliff emboSomed shores.
These brave men arc about TO traverse an
unlrodden wilderness of 800 miles, and then
attack the Gibraltar of America. If that
was not bold idea, then the crossing of the
| Alps was mere holiday pastime. .r
Let us leave this little army to build their
canoes near the mouth of the Kennehec let
us hurry into the thick wilderness.
Even in these days Of steam and railroad
cars, the Kennebec is beautiful. Some of
you have wandered there by its deep waters
and seen the smiles of woman mirrored in
its wave. Some of you have gazed upon
those high cliffs, those shadowy glens, now
peopled with the hum of busy life
Eut in the day when Arnold dared its soil
tudes, there was grandeur stamped upon
these rocks and cliffs-a grandeur fresh from
the hands of God.
Yet, even amidst its awful wilds, there
was scene Of strange loneliness, picture
which would stamp upon your souls.
Stretching away from the dark waters Of
that river-where another stream mingles
with it's 1ood-a wide plain, bounded by
dense forests, breaks on your eye.
AS the glimmering day is seen over the
eastern hills, there, in the center of the plain,
stands solitary figure, lone Indian, the
last of line of Kings; yes, with his arms
folded, his war blanket gathered about his
form, the hatch and knife idly at his feet
there stands the last Of long line Of forest
kings, gazing at the ruins Of his race.
And now, as the light of morning broke
over the desolate plain, there stood the lone
Indian, gazing upon the ruins of his race.
Natans, the last of the Norridgewocks, a.
mong the graves of his people!
But now he gazeS far down the dark river
-ha what strange vision comes here
Wonder, gliding from the shelter of the
deep woods, comes feet of canoes, carrying
strange warriors over the waters. Strange
warriors, clad in the blue hunting frock,
faced with fur; strange warriors, with pow
der horn, knife and rifle. Far ahead of the
main body of the fleet, a solitary canoe
skins over the waters. That canoe con-
| tains the oarSman, and another form, wrap.
ped in a rough cloak, with his head droop-
ed on the breast. while the eye flashes with
the wilderness, Benedict Arnold.
Look! he rises in the canoe--hc stands
crsct--hc filings the cloak from his fern
he lifts the rough fur cap from his brow.
Do you mark each outline of that warrior
form? Do you note the bold thought now
struggling into birth over that prominent
forehead, along that compressed lip in the
CLEAN of those dark grey eyes, sunkcn deep
beneath the brow?
lie stands there, erect in the canoe, wA'h
out>predd mK, as though he would say
Wilderness. claim We as my own -
Rocks, We cannot daunt me; cataractS, We
cannot appal! Starvation, death and cold,
/ will conquer ye all"
Look! AS he stands there, erect in the
moe. the Indian, Natanis, beholds him,
springs into the river, and soon stands by
Lis side.
"The Dark-Eaglc comes TO claim the
Wilderness" he speaks in the wild Indian
tongue, which Arnold knows SO well. "The
wilderness will yield to the Dark Eagle, but
the Rock will defy him. The Dark-Easle
will soar aloft to the sun. Nations will be-
hold him, and shout his praises. Yet when
he scars highest. his fall is most certain
When his wing brushes the sky, then the ar
row will pierce his heart"
1t was Prophecy In JOY or sorrow, in
battle or council, in honor or treason, Arnold
| never forgot the words of Natanis.
He Joins shat little feet; he advances
| with Arnold into the Wilderness. Let us
follow him there!
Now dashng down boiling rapids, now
carving their canoes through miles of for
est, over hills Of rock, now wading for long
leagues, through water that freezes to their
limbs, as they go, the little army Of Arnold
advance.
On, brave Arnold, on! For you the awful
mount ain has no tcrrors, the cold that stops
the blood in it's flowing, no fear. Not even
the dark night when the straggler falls dy-
ing by the way, and unknown ravines yawr
far beneath their path, not even the darkcl
day when the little store OF parched corn fails
and your famished soldiers feed OH dogs
when even tho snake is a dainty meal-no
even lerrcis like The Sc can scare your iror
soul On, brave Arnold, on
Look, at last after dangers, too horrible 'e
TIL, the little fleet is floating down that stream
whose awful solitude gained it this name
"rHE RIVER OF THE Dead Far owe
the waters look A tremendous mountair
rises there from the waters, above all olhe
mountains into the blue sky, white, lonely
and magnificent, an alabas.er altar, TO which
the Angels may cone and worship.
Under the shadow of this mountain, TIL
little army Of Arnold encampea for three
DAYS. A single hold soldier, nscends tn
colossal steep stands there far above, annie
the snow and sun.heams, and al last come
down with a shrek of 10Y.
"Arncld," he cried, ~ have seen the rocl
and spires of Quebec f"
What burst Of JOY rises from that littl'
host! Quebec! the object of all the'
hopes, for which they starve, and toll, ant
freeze! Hark to that deep mou,hed hurrah
Benedict Arnold then takes from hi
breast, where wrapped in close folds he nae
carried it through all his dreary march,;
tlue banner cleaned with thirteen stars
He HOSTS it in the air. For the first tim
the Banner OF the Rights of Man to which
God has given his stars, floats over the wa
tiers of the Wilderness.
On, brave Arnold, on! On, over the dee
rapids and the mountain rock on again ii
and