Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-05
NO. 4.
#iseella
An ADVERSE CENTENNIAL.

| To tie Editor Of The henneJec Joa,nel:
Reminded, in conversation with you on new
years day, that whilst that was the beginning Of
our National centenary, the subjects Of the good
Queen Victoria at Quebec were also celebrating
at the hour Of our interview. the defeat of the
American armies, led by Arnold and Montgomery
before the walls of Quebec the previous midnight,
you expressed the desire that would prepare for
your columns an account of that singular exped-
| ton which passed with Arnold, Burr, and Dear
born, through Augusta in the autumn of 1915, on
its way up the kenncbec and down the Chaudiere
valleys, to the city Of Quebec. That army tarried
here several days. and had its headquarters in the
barracks now standing, of Fort Western, near the
eastern end of our present Kennebec bridge. For
this reason, its subsequent history becomes sub
ject Of local interest to our people.
Ii has not been convenient for me to prepare =
new and special article on this subject for your
use; but having, at the request of the late Chap
lain and other officers Of the Military Asylum ct
Togus, prepared and delivered before the dis
abled soldiers Of that humane institution, Lecture
on the subject of Arnolds expedition and Burr's
connection with it, venture to offer. herewith,
an Extract (perhaps too long a one), from tha,
manuscript, which may answer your purpose. The
subject is sessonable just at this time.
Yours truly
WILLIAM A. Drew.
AUGUSTA, Jan. 8, 1876.
Extract from q Lecture,
Deferred before tie Offers and Soldiers et'Me
Z. 5. .hlit0rv Asylum at Togus, Maine.
BY REV. WILLIAM 4. DREW OF AUGUSTA.
Many years ago, say in 1897, when had charge
Of weekly paper in Gardiner. Gen. Henry Dear
born (Jeferson's Secretary of War; who COM
dition up the kennebec river to the confines OF
Quebec, made summers visit to his early home
in that town. where some members Of hia family
yet resided; and it was my privilege to enjoy sew
eral interesting interviews with that distinguished
soldier and statesman. He gave me, in free conSsr
sation, very full and vivid relation Of fActs and
incidents which took place during the march from
Fort Western, (Augusta), through the wilderness
to Quebec, during the late autumn and carly win
ter Of 1875, and it was from his own lips that re
ceived several Of the traditions woven Into this
Lecture, particularly that of the Indian huntress
engaged at Pownalboro' (Dresdcn), by Aaron
Burr, to accompany the Expedition TO the ST.
Lawrence.
Gen. Dearborn said that he had favo,ite New
foundland dog that accompanied him, to which be
was strongly attached. Money could not have
bought him. When the army was amongst the
frozen mountains on its march from the head.
the ground being covered with snow and ice, and
the soldiers half barefooted anu nearly naked,
obliged to carry their canoes, baggage, arms,
stores &C. by main strength from the first to the
last named stream, their last ration, which con-
sisted OF only small bit of pork, having given
out, many starved to death and their bones row
lie uron the track they pursued. All the dogs in
the army had been killed and devoured BY the
famished soldiers, but the favorite pet of Cspt.
Dearborn. Like Byron, he loved his dog; bnt he
sOIfipra m
sorrowfully, he consented to the sacrifice. The
faithful canine friend was taken from the fond
caresses of his master, and speedily slaughtered.
and" said General Dearborn to me, "the men
ate his flesh, and his skin, and drank his blood
and sucked his bones, and even quarreled among
themselves for his entrails!" Not only were the
soldiers reduced to the necessity Of eating dogs
flesh and drinking their blood, but they were a.
so obliged to sustain life by sucking their leather
shoes, belts, SC. For thirty.two days the army
was beyond the outposts Of civilization. In the
dense and pitiless wilderness all this time, the
men saw no trace of a human being. For more
than thirty times, the canoes with all their con-
tents, well as their sick and disabled comrades,
had to he carried in human arms around falls and
rapids, over high hills and precipitous mountains,
across tangled swamps and treacherous marshes.
barefoot, in snow and frozen mud until a tenth OF
the army sunk in death, and another tenth had
deserted, or rather, returned for succor to the re-
gions of civilization 1t was then that all the hor
rors OF starvation came upon the devoted and suf-
ferng band. 1t was wonderful and unparalleled
march. History does not furnish so terrible . one.
1t was iity-iour DAYS after leaving Washing
tons headquarters in Cambridge, before Arnold.
with the loss of just one-half of his men, saw the
heights of Quebec. He had brought his gallant
army six hundred miles, during most Of which
time it was in the deep, unbroken wilderness.
The army, or what was left of it reached Point
Levi, opposite Quebec, on the Sth of November.
After IT naming there five days, making scaling
ladders and collecting and fitting their canoes for
crossing the river. the army, ON the night OF the
18th landed at Wolfe's Cove, liltle above the
plains of Abraham, near the city. Arnsld forth
with made demonstration to enter the city, but
he was summarily repulsed. He had now to wait
for assistance from Gen. Montgomery, who had
possession of Montreal. To communicate with
undertaking. Aaron Burr, however, engaged to
be the bearer of dispatches. Assuming to be
Catholic priest he proceeded to the first church
the way and ingratated himself into the good off,
ces of that functionary in charge. Being Q good
Latin scholar, and tolerably fluent in French. he
could converse with his host in unknown
tongues" The French hated the British rule, and
the Catholics hated the Protestant faith. 1t was
easy, therefore, for Bnrr to interest the priest in
His design. BY his favor he obtained passes from
one mission TO another until he could reach Mon
treal. This he did with success. Montgomery
was so well pleased with Burr that he appointed
him one OF his Aids de-camp, and solicited his ad-
vice and counsel. Forthwith, Montgomery, with
three hundred men started to Join Arnold under
the walls of Quebec. Immediately on his arrival
it was resolved to make an assault upon the city.
Burr had command Of forlorn hope Of forty men.
The assault was to be simultaneous by Arnold on
the east and Montgomery ON the west side Of the
city. The attack was to be made at night, in
snow storm whenever such a night should come.
| by the Goth of December the preparations were
| completed, and the little army of nine hundred
men awaited the nightly signal for q battle which
was designed to lispossess the British fher Amer
lean possessions. II came in the dying hour of
the dying year, Dec. 81. l7..5, one hundred years
ago on Friday the 3lst ult., the Centen-
NAL Of which was celebrated in Quebec Oh
new years day just past. At midnight the
Heavens became darkened by thick clouds and
binding north east snow storm set in. This wa
the favorng honr. The assault on the west side
was made by Montgomery Passing with his
| ing over huge cakes of ice which lined the shore,