The Somerset reporter., 1889-07-11
II II III T he
Arnold's Expedition


ed his weary way up the kenncbec an'
through the will derncss to Qubec Is no
ON the whole very satisfactory 1t is no
historical, but merely notes of such cy
cnts AS concerned himself personally.
have it now before me, and will giv'
some extracts in the first place showing
something of the discipline of the army
and the material of which it was com
posed at an early period OF the war ol
the Revolution.
His first entry in the Diary is
MAY 9TH l775. At Newburyport, enlist
ed in the American army under the com
mand of Capt. Ezra Lunt.
May sth Monday, This morning oui
company was called together. We Ghost
our sergeants anu corporals. In the
afternoon Mr.. Parsons gave discourse
suitable to the occasion from Judges VII
20.
From this time on for more than yeaI
he does not miss day without note II
hi, Diary. About a dozen times i'll the
ucxt three months he speaks of attending
public worship, always giving the text
He does not tell it, but it is learned
from notes added by the Editor, that his
company formed a part of the l'th Mass.
Regiment, Col. Moses Little-also that
Reg. consisted of eight companies, ano
that full company contained slXty-loul
enlisted men.
The Reg. was soon ordered to Cam
bridge, and remained in that vicinity al
summer.
There were several interesting items
mentioned but shall notice but lew ol
them. At various times he speaks ol
soldiers being whipped and drummed ou'
of the camp for stealing-ln one instance
- lashes were given.
June Sth This morning bad woman
was taken up in the camp, in the after
noon was doused in the river, and drum
med out of town.
June l7th, Saturday, The day begins
with the noise of cannon from the shlps
firing on our men entrcnchins on Bunker
Hill. The firing continues all the lore
part of the dav; but one man Killed. w,
found the town in ilames and the Regu
lars ascending the hill the balls flying
almost as thick as hailstones from Tn,
ships and floating batteries, and Copp''
Iill aud Beacon Hill in Boston, and th'
ground covered with the wounded ant
dead. Our people stood the fire som'
time, until the enemy had almost surround
ed and cut oil our retreat.
We were obliged to quit the grount
and retreat as fast as possible. In th'
engagement we lost the grand and heroic
Gen Warren; we had l2S killed and W.
wounded The loss on the enemy's side
were % commissioners, 1902 sergeants
100 corporals, and 700 privates; total 994
History gives the loss on both side:
somewhat larger. The next morning III
writes they were engaged in making
cartridges.
July 2ud Sunday. This day the Hon
George Washington Esq, Commander il
chief Of the united forces in America ar
rived in Cambridge.
From this time ON a good many skir
misheS and good many sermons are re
corded, Two almost every Sunday. Man,
times they were engaged taking catll'
from various Islands TO keep the British
from getting them, frequently having t.
fuht for them, Observe with what cool
ness he speaks Of killing men as in thi
| instance.
July 3lst our party set fire to the new
| Light House. killed and took all tha
were on the Island to guard it, 43 in NUN
! Der, H. killed, - taken.
rAo OF our party were killed by can
non ball from Bunkers Hill. BetweeI
sunset and dark we killed IA of thos'
that came out tn pick up their dead.
1t appears from the Diary that ther'
were many dcserters from the British
army, some of them swan across from
Boston or from boating batteries.
| He also mentioned several times o
good service on our side by Indians
don't recollect that this is mentioned ii
history.
We now come to something that vii
be Of more interest to kennebecers.
will chiefly let him speak for himself.
Sept l0lh, Sunday-This morning
went ON fatigue. In the afternoon | en-
listed under the command of Capt, War
for the Expedition to Quebec.
Here uote that Arnold's force was mad
mn of Volunteers from various Regiment
around Boston, and two or three com
pauies of Rihemen. There were 20 vo
unteers from the company TO whic
Haskell belonged, and their names ant
ages are given in the Appendix-o ma
81. one 2s, one - the others from Is I
2i- Haskell himself was 81.
Sept 10th, Saturday At Newburyport
getting in readiness to embark Tor III
Kennebcc river.
Sept. 18th, Sunday. Attended publ
worship, heard Rev. MIR Spring ou
Chaplain.
Sept 18th, Monday. This Afternoon
we embarked on board the transports
We had 100 men commanded by Col
Arnold. and Lieut. Coils. Green and Enos
Eleven transports.
Right here it may be well to motto
some of the remarkable men who accom-
panied Arnold This Lieut.. Col. Green
became Major General afterwards, AM
gained a great name by his sucsessfu
campaign in the Cardlinas A Majo
Meizs who is mentioned farther alon!
was also "a noted leader in the Revolu
ton" There were three companies o
Rihemen IIanson's History says one o
them was Morgan's company so efilcien
through the war, and that famous warrio
was himself in command. Lieut.. Dear
born who had the wrestling contest wit
a negro on Skowhegan island was mad
Gen. In 1872, but resigned the next yea
on account of age. Last but not least |
the list was Aaron Burr but In whs
capacity we are not informed. See Rit
paths i. S. History, page 1904. Did tn
people up and down the Kennebec kno'
that so many men Of high renown ha
traversed their shores and toiled throug
the Maine woods together?
will abridge the notes little.
Sept. 18th, they set sail from New
buryport, and next day at noon "mad
the land at the mouth of the river keI
nchec went n few miles up the river an
came to anchor at Georgetown. "Tf
next day Sept. 22nd. crossed Merrymee
ing Bay and went as far as Cobbescol
tee.
Sept, 23nd. Saturday. Come to sail tn
mornlng; Went as far as Hallowell. whel
We were landed with all our baggage
miles below Fort Weston.
Sept. oath, Sunday. Travelled to Fo
Weston, cold and rainy. Several Of u
companies have no tents. A man WI
shot by another that belongs to the d
tachment. Afternoon the wounded ms
died.
Sept. 25th A court martial sat on Il
trial OF the murderer and sentenced hi
70 be hung.