The Somerset reporter., 1889-07-11


the kennebec Journal about boat found
sunk in one of the Carrying place ponds,
which the writer suppOses was built by
Arnold's men, and that they made all the
boats they used on the river and ponds
and sunk them to prevent deserters from
using them The fact Is that they
brought batteaux ON the transports and
carried all the baggage on them from
tide water up. That "gundalow' was
probaly the work of hunters many years
later Now the Diary.
Sept. 9th, Wednesday, This after
noon we landed our batteaux and set out
part in the boats, part by land. Went
about two miles---encamped by the river.
We're Obliged TO wade great part Of the
way.
Sept. 2sth This morning set out in a
batteaux. The water is swift and the
shoals full of rocks, ripples and falls
whca oblige us to wade great part of
of the way. Went u miles and encamp-
ed at Wirslow.
Sept 29th This morning set by land
travelled miles to Fort Halifax Cross
ed the river to Halifax falls landed our
boats at the foot Of the falls, carried
them over the carrying place l2O rods
when we were obliged to wade almost the
|
soldiers. We are In the rear of our COM
pany, at night camped at Winslow.
Query-did Winsow extend some miles
above the Ticonic (Which he calls Hall
fax falls, or was lie mistaken in the name :
Sept. 30th Set out in batteaux, had
4 tedious time passing the five mile falls
"a carrying place of l20 rods-had to
wade almost the whole way, camped at
Winslow.
Oct LIST. Sunday. | went about two
miles in the batteauX and four by land.
Campcd in the woods at Goshen.
Oct. 2nd We went about miles to
day, four of which were exceedingly bad,
had to wade and tow our boats.
At night hauled up our boats an Meconck
landing place in Canaan.
Query once more--Were Skowhegan
fails ever known by the name of Mecon-
ick? The bad four miles We're from the
falls down.
Oct. 3D. carried our boats over the
carrying places about 100 rods and went
5miles to Norrdgewock.
oct. 4th To Norrdgewock carrying
place.
oct. 9TH. Repacking our provisions
and repairing our boats
Oct. 9TH, Carrying our boats mile
and quarter. Our baggage we carried
by cattle. Here are the last inhabitants
ON the river. In the afternoon went
about mile and encamped.
There is discrepancy between the Diary
and llansons history in which the facts
were obtained from the journal of Senter
the Surgeon, | suppose--Iianson says the
party were at Norridgewock fails the
first day of Oct. Haskell says he was 8
miles below Skowhegan falls, or Mecon.
ick he calls it, on that date. Both speak
of repairing the boats, and overhauing
| their provision there, aud of having oxen
It, help then. by the carrying nlace. Has
kell says he left there on the 9Th of oct;
| Hanson or Seutcr says it was the 9th.
1t is not at all probable that they remained
there so long AS from the first of the
month to the 9Th.
Aware that am making the story too
long, / will now try to condensc; but let
the reader remember that | am not wri-
thug History, but giving an abstract as
brief as | can well make it of the notes of
of an eye witness of what he relates
will add here from IIansons History
that Nathan Parlin, Roger Chase and
one Noble went through to Quebec, were
taken prisoners, were exchanged and re
turned home going up the st. Lawrence
and river Sorelle, across Lake Champlain
and soon on to Albany and home.
! Having shallow rapid water, carrying
places aud a cold rain to contend with in
four days they arrived at the Great carry
ing place.
oct. 18th. Took our boats and loading
on our backs; carried them about four
miles rough walking; no path. In the
afternoon we built a block house to leave
our sick.
Going through three ponds with carry
ing places between, they reached Dead
River on the 18th. From here Hanson
SAYS Col. Enos was sent back with the
sick. On the Dead river they had smooth
er water, but heavy rains and some snow,
coming to one carrying place near night
they took the loading from the boats and
left it on the bank-a rise in the water
carried Off barrel of powder and one of
pork-Once they took the wrong branch
and went four miles out of the way.
Oct. oath, Last night council was
held; it was agreed that all who were not
able to carry packs and provisions should
he sent back four were sent out of oul
company. An advance party were sent
forward, commanded hy Capt. ilanehett
to 90 to the inhabitants of Canada in or
der to provide for the army, a sergeant
and seven men out of our Company. We
lost one of our boats coming over the
falls; saved the provisions; have but
three boats left (thst is his Coz we
have a short allowance.
oct. 9th Three of the companies were
discouraged. and turned back; Col. Ar
mold with the advanced guard sent back
orders to leave all the boats and take
nd
20 on as fast as possible. In the after
noon hauled up the boats, all but one to a
Co. divided our provision equally among
all.
oct. 28th, Set out this morning with all
our packs; went seven miles and camped
on Shedoar streams.
oct 29th, Six miles down the stream,
through a swamp to our knees in water
Got in battelu and went across the lake
II miles, aud camped away from the Co.
suppose this was lake Megantic.
oct 3oth. Went on boat fifteen miles
down the Chaudiere with great difficulty,
the river is so rapid and rocky; three
boats were sunk and stove to pieces, be-
longing to different companies, and all
lost one or two men with them; built Il
fire on the shore to dry ourselves.
oct. 3lst, A number of our men heng
much beat out with hunger and fatigue
were not able to keep up with the main
body, it was thought best to leave them
to the mercy of the woods, and to get
along as fast as they could. Left five of
our Co. behind; Travelled fifteen miles
over rough mountains and almost impass-
able swamps. Scarcely any one has more
than one days provision and that small,
and a great number none at all. some
have had none for two days. Capt.
Goodrich's Co. have nothing but a large
dog which they killed and ate to o-night.
Nov, lst, See out weak and faint having
nothing at all to eat; the ground covered
with snow went fifteen miles and
camped eat part of the hind quarter of n
dog for supper; we are In a pitiful cond!-
tion.
Nov. 2d, Set out early much discour-
aged, having nothing to eat and no pros
pect of anything, so faint and weak we
can scarcely walk, obliged to tighten ouI
packs, having been on short allowance
sixteen days. travelled eleven miles, and
to our great joy met supply of provis'
ions sent to us by Col. Arnold from the
inhabitants of Canada. Killed one of the
cattle Immediately.
Nov Sd, Took new courage and set out
having but fourteen miles to inhabitants
A snow storm; the going miry; came to s
village called Satagan: people all Frencl
and Indians, but all exceedingly kind tc
us.
Having thus accompanied our frient
Haskell till he is fairly "out of tn,
! woods" some, perhaps most, are willing
to leave him there; but | prefer to g
/ along and see what farther adventures he
meets The circumstance Of three com
panies turning back is not mentioned IL
any history that have seen, but there Il