Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-20

along the edge of the streams on ac-
count Of the density of the underbrush.
A week OF this destroyed their shoes,
so they wore improvised moccasins or
bandaead their feet with bits from
their ragged clothing. Finally i hurri-
cane descended SO fierce that it was too
dangerous to camp in the forest and
the open iand was so wet that no fit
spots could be found for sleeping and
no fires could be kindled.
Much of their food was washed away,
also some of their powder and the land
was overlooked for some distance 10 Il
width of over mile.
Having no salt they used their
meagre allowance of flour to make
small cakes, or what they called
"bleary'-a porridge unsalted, unsea-
soned. They ate with relish raw moose
hide brought along for patching: and
soaked their ragged, outWorn moose
hide brooches, boiled them; afterwards
crisping them on the Goals, and at last
devoured the leather of their shot
pouches.
Banks and roots were delicacieS. Up
to this time, large dog belonging to
General Dearborn had accompanied
them, but perceiving the hungry looks
cast upon him by the furnishing men,
the general realizing the poor beasts
ultimate fate, and feeling that he could
rot bear it in his own regiment, gave
the dog to Captain Goodrich, by whose
men he was killed and eaten; not only
ell the flesh but the bones We're cracked
and the skin scraped and boiled. Many
men, weak but heroic, marched to
within five minutes of their death from
exhaustion.
At this point, Arnold leaving the
army pressed forward to small From
tier settlement % leagues from Quebec
and secured a small supply of food.
Some of it was brought upon horse,
and the men sprang forward like
pack of furnished wolves, struck him
down. and had bits of his hide and flesh
broiling before the creature was dead.
Men gorged themselves and fell vic
Tins to devastating fever. When the
remnant was called out for parade.
half-cIad or in torn clothing, bare
headed, unshorn and gaunt, the French
peasants took them for band of
savages.
Arnold arrived at Point Levi, OPP
posite Quebec, in advance of Montgom-
cry. with about 800 men fit for duty.
some being Indians, and 100 sick. Here
lie delayed considering the condition
of his men perhaps delay was pardon
able. Quebec was then very feebly
garrisoned. but when Montgomery had
come up, British military reinforce
ments had arrived by ship. and a
hundred carpenters had been rushed in
to repair the defenses.
At this time Nov. 10. without waiting
for Montgomery Arnold prepared for
crossing in canoes, and by four in the
morning 500 men had been landed.
hundred and fifty not crossing. Had
they then Immediately proceeded to the
fertilization, they could have entered
bv st. Johns gate. Plains of Abraham;
it being unfastenfd and unstrenSthen-
ed. but by daylight every approach was
we'll guarded
Arnold marched the main body of his
force upon the plain, called for three
huzzas and marched back to the tents.
At evening he sent a messenger de-
manding surrender, who was fired
upon. The next day the scene was re
peated. Then he marched his force
seven leagues along the river to meet
Montgomery and urge him forward.
He came Dec l. with three armed
schooners, men, artillery, ammunition,
provisions and clothing.
They advanced against Quebec and
made two or three feints of attack, but
on the last night of the year the first
real assault was made with ice floating
in the river and snow from four to six
feet deep and still falling heavily. Ar
mold had five, Montgomery between six
and seven hundred men. They had eX-
pected Canadians and Indians to join.
giving force Of at least 20O0, yet had
not counted on Cartoons reinforce
ment Of Quebec's feeble garrison, max
ing twice as many within the fortress
as opposed to it.
The plan was to make two false at
lacks on the upper town and two real
attacks on the lower; the upper being
first attacked to draw away pen from
the lower, which was weak and it was
supposed could be easily taken, when
the upper would capitulate.
Arnold led the attack, the men with
their heads down and guns under their
coats. struggling against the storm
and in the darkness losing their
way. In the assault Arnold was
wounded and Montgomery was killed
and buried on the field. He was re-
moved in 1918, and now lies under the
portiCo of st. Paul's church, where the
roar of Broadway sounds the incessanr
strife Of warfare and business over
him whose nobler warfare against
tyranny is ended. OF the after fate of
the expedition-the ravages of small
pox, the sufferings of the prisoners, the
failure of the second attempt after re-
Inducements had arrived, the evacua-
ton in June, the parole in August,
their confinement at Halifax, the thirty
days cruise to Penobscot bay, thence
to Portland. where they landed, their
exchange. and the journey to New
York which they found in flames.
Washington having lost the battle Of
Long Island AMI having retreated 10
Harlem Heights, is melancholy story,
in the last chapter of which as in the
first. Arnold appears a noble hero, a
sincere patriot
Arnold has been censured for the ex
petition, its management and its folly.
Unsuccessful, the merest dolt can pirate
of IT'S folly; but as ]. G. Goldman, au-
thor of "Arnolds Expedition to Que
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