The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-05-14


stored in the boats had been spoiled by
wetting and had to be abandoned. From
this point Arnold sent two Indian messen-
gers to Canada, one to friendly citizen
and one to Gen. Schuyler. The first be-
trayed his trust and delivered letter to
the British authorities and the other failed
to reach Schuyler
For sixty miles farther the Kennebec
was followed, and then it was necessary to
break away and cross over the highlands
to Dead river. The carrying place here was
about twelve miles long, but two or three
small ponds shortened tho distance some
what, and in some places oxen could be
used. The men, however, had to travel
with heavy burdens, and the way was cut
up by rayines, swamps, rocky places and
tangled thicl,ets. On the ponds the met
propelled the boats by oars or poles, and
sometimes waded to their arm pits and
hauled at them with ropes. Between the
ponds everything had to be carried. On
reaching Dead river Arnold reviewed the
situation He had $50 sound men left and
provisions for twenty-five days. He ex-
pected to reach French settlements on the
Chaudiere in ten days if fortune favored
him. A block house was constructed to
shelter tie sick soldiers that had to be left
behind aud the expedition pushed on up
Dead river For some distance the jour
ney progressed favorably but on the 23d
of October terrific rainstorm came on in
the night while the soldiers were encamped
in a valley near the river. The stream
overlooked, rising eight feet in few
hours, and it was with great difficulty that
every thing was saved and gotten alloat
once more. The course Of the channel was
obliterated by the food, and in the confu-
sion seven boats were overturned and their
loads of provisions lost,
This was looked upon as a serious disas-
ter, aud fell upon the second division, with
which Arnold was travelling at the tune.
Morgan was on ahead with his rillemen,
and two divisions, under Lieut.. Coils.
Greene and Enos, were following. Arnold
now sent back all his sick, and instructed
Greene and Enos to do the same, and to
bring forward all their well men with
fifteen days provisions Allpossible haste
was urged in these instructions. The dis
lance from Dead river to Chaudiere lake
was thirty miles, and twelve days pro-
visions were still on hand. The rain, which
began on the Esd, changed to and ice,
and the Dead river near its source was
found to be series Of shallow ponds and
marshes. The soldiers with Arnold labored
faithfully and dragged or pushed their boats
through, reached the highlands between
New England and Canada, and after an
other portage Of four miles came to Me
gantic lake, the source Of the Chaudere.
One half of the journey had been accom-
plished.
About this time Arnold was joined by
| two small bodies Of scouts that had ex.
plored the wilderness in advance of the
column and sounded the feelings of the
French settlers on the Chaudiere. The
trials of these pioneers and their heroic en-
durance have not been surpassed in the
history Of adventure, and strangely enough
they have had faithful chronicler. One
Of the scouts was a boy named Henry, and
late in life he wrote out q story of the eX-
periences of himself ani comrades. They
! Jared very well until they reached the
carrying place between the Kennebec and
Dead rivers. At this point the party di-
vided, the weaker members remaining be
hind, the stronger pushing on. They were
reduced to two meals day consisting OF
half biscuit and half an inch square Of
raw pork. Their only shelter from peltina
storms Of rain and sleut was the foliage OF
evcrgreens. Whom they had discovered
the headwaters Of the Claudiere they
turned back to carry tidings to the main
column Their food supply was down tc
a solitary pork ration each, and after 4
long search for game n duck was killed
The pork and duck boiled together made q
broth that furnished supper for the party
! OF ten; the pork bits were eaten for break
fast and the duck was parceled out, hunter
fashion to stand between them and starya
ton The duck all disappeared the first
day, and ON Che second they travelled with
out morsel The next day at sundown
after forty-eight hours fast, moose deel
was shot, and the event was hailed as sal
walton for the furnishing and fainting men
whose powers were fast giving way.
When Arnold learned from these scouts
that all was favorable ahead, he sent WORD
to the rear columns, under Greene and
Enos TO hurry forward and ioin him