The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-12-21
THE PR ESS.
THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. s1, 1871.
SERVICES OF the Falmouth (POrtland)
Troops In the Campaign against
Canada In 1759

services or the Falmouth (Portland)
troops In the Campaign against
Canadian 1853.
EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF A PRO-
VINcIAL OFFICER. . -..
NO. IL.
From former extract from this iournal
we learned that the destination of the 200
men furnished by Falmouth toward the quota
of Mass. in the campaign of 1858, was Lake
George; and, in the daily record of one of
their number, whose opportunities for gain
iny info nation must have been excellent,
we followed the daily fortunes of the men on
their passage, by water, from Falmouth to
Albany. In the following brief extract we
shall see the substantial service they per-
formed, and the loss they sustained during
the first month of the campaign in the Prov
ince OF New York.
June 9th. - Delivered His Majesty's
arms to my company, and ammunition.
Major Berry was appointed our commanding
officer. We LEFT the sloop, and marched about
mile back of Albany, and camped that
night. The locusts were very plenty
Brought all my company well from on board.
From the above, we must conclude that
the writer was captain in the regiment
10th.-Marched from our encampment 2
O'Clock in the afternoon. Came within 5
miles of Schenectady and camped. Schon-
actady is eighteen English miles from Al
bany.
He notes the distance before the march is
compleued, ffvnr wirfr,r wo infer that no had
learned it tbs day.
11th, Sunday. Marched from our camp 6
O'Clock in the mo9.lilg and arrived at Schon-
actady 10 O'Clock in the forenoon. 1t rained
and Numbered.
12th.-Took allowance for my company
and mustered in the barracks.
13th.-Lieut. Brown and took walk in
the morning and saw mill to boult flouer and
also a saw mill with Is saws. At II o'clock
sat on acourt martial to try Seth Ring for not
tending on his duty, and acquitted him of the
crime laid to his charge. In the afternoon
Major Berry received orders from Major Gen.
Abercrombie to send a detachment of 100
men, to go to al place called Scholarly (which
is about 40 miles from Schenectady and bor-
ders on the Mohawk River) to press wagons
and horses to send to Fort Edward for which
service l was appointed by a warrant grant
ed me from the commanding officer.
MajorGeneral James Abercrombe was in
trusted in 1858 with $4,000 troops for the
purpose of captuting Louisburg, and retak-
ing Fort William Henry and other places in
the hands of the French, which gave them
the command of the lakes. The largest divi-
sion of this force was employed at Lake
George.
14th.-Took provisions for four days for our
march to Scholarly. Set out from Schonac-
tady at 10 O'Clock in the morning with pilot
who missed the road, and after some hours
travel we found that the pilot did not direct
us right, by which mistake we made halt
and found ourselves the same distance, If not
farther off from Scholarly than we were at
our setting out from Schenectady. We re-
freshed ourselves and set out, and in the af
ternoon we arrived at a house where left the
company. Took horse about sundown and
rode with the pilot about about five miles and
came to house where 1 spent the remainder
of the night
From the distance which he gives. and his
observation that Schoharie lay upon the Mo
hawk, judge that they visited the country
just below Canajoharie, in the neighborhood
of Spraker's Basin. He uses pilot instead of
guide. Perhaps, because he was sea-faring
man.
15th.-I set forward ON my journey at five
O'Clock in the morning and arrived at Cornell
ius Rooman's, ESQ.,, at Scholarly, and dined
there. Proceeded on my business and in the
afternoon returned to the Esquire's, which
was five miles away. Lodged at Peter Sny-
der's.
I suspect that the name which is written
Rooman in the journal, should have been
Vrooman or Vre",e ,en-a family name still to
be met with in that section. This name is,
also, associated with the features of the coun-
try. At Spraker's Basin, the valley of the
Mohawk is narrowed down to gorge. The
bluff on the south is called Anthony's Nose,
and the opposite one, Vroman's Nose. This
was anciently called Klip's Hill, and consti-
tutes the southernmost spur of the Adiron-
dacks.
16th.-Employed all day with the officers
of Scholarly in pressing wagons and horses
and fixing them. Lodged at Esquire Sny.
der's.
17th.-Marched at 10 o'clock with II wag-
ons, and pair of horses. Left Lieut.. Bas-
sett at Scholarly with II men to bring more
wagons that were preparing Arrived within
II miles to Albany and camped.
1t seems that they went direct to Albany,
by forced march, passing to the south of
Schenectady. This days march was a long
one.
18th, Sunday.-Begun to march 9 o'clock
in the morning and took eight men with me,
and came to Albany with the wagons. Sent
the remainder of my escort to Schenectady
with Lieut.. Brown.
l,I,o +1,ao
his orders with the utmost dispatch. When
we consider what must have been the condi-
ton of the roads in the Mohawk Valley, al
that early day, the distance marched is mat
ter of surprise.
19th.-Came from Albany to Schenectady
after delivered the pressed wagons and
horses.
2Oth.-Marched from Schenectady 10 o. CLOCK
bound to Fort Edward. Delivered the care O.
the city to Col. Bagley's Regiment, who ar
rived here the 10th inst.
1 think the care of the city had been il
the hands of Maj. Berry. If so, he mean
that the entire command marched. 1t SEEM
strange that at that early day, Schenectady
should be called city.
21st.-Arrived at HalfMoon (which is Il
! miles from Schenectady and proceeded to
ward Still Water.
22nd.-Continued on our march and arrived
at Saratoga.
23d.-This day we arrived within miles tC
Fort Edward and camped.
24th.-We arrived at Fort Edward s o'clocl
in the morning. Dined with Col. Preble
Capt. Libbee's company and mine Joined thu
Regiment.
18th. Sunday-In the forenoon we were
alarmed by the firing of several small arms il
the woods which was the English Light In
fantry, whereby our Provintial troops mus
tered Immediately and went out in order Il
engage the enemy This afternoon Col. Pre-
BILE marched for Lake George with 500 men
and Col. Hoar is to march tomorrow with
the remainder of the Regiment.
26th.-This day Lieut.. Col. Hoar marched
from Fort Edward to Lake George with my
Company and Capt. Libbee's and arrived
there at 7 O'Clock in the afternoon. Rainet
considerable. 1t is 16 miles from Fort Ed
ward to Lake George.
9th Lake George-Obliged to live unde
the air. Received no tents. Rainedall day.
2Sth-Worked on the Kings roads ant
building breast work. Came into Camp thi
day 5000 soldiers.
29th-Nothing remarkable. Troops, boil
| Regulars and Provintials daily came int
camp.
| 3Oth-A man in Col Douty's Regiment