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

standard of general liberty, against
which all the forces and articles of
tyranny will not be able to prevail"
This was found among Arnold's
papers; the fate of the expedition hav-
ing precluded the necessity of giving
its grandiloquence publicity at the
time. The force numbered ten COM
panies of New England minute men.
and three companies of rihemen from
Pennsylvania and Virginia, mustered
at NewburypOrt.
Among the officers was Aaron Burr, a
youth of 20, afterwards to share in exc
Grafton almost as severe as that ac-
corded Benedict Arnold and Lieutenant
Hutchins of F'ryeburg, Me-, of course,
counted as Massachusetts soldier.
On Sunday, Sept. II, they attended
divine service at Newburyport, and
listened to a discourse from Rev. iona.
Parsons, and if there be truth in the
tales our grandmother reverently told
Of her venerated ancestor, my great.
great, great grandfather gave them
enough, both in length and severity, to
make them endure with equanimity
their deprivation of those services
during the campaign.
They embarked the 18th and sailed to
the mouth of the Kennebec, 50 leagues
distant, arriving next day. and landing
at ArrOusac, the home of Gen. Sullivan.
He was afterwards, if l mistake not,
governor of Massachusetts; thus early
was formed the precedent, well sustain
ed, of supplying Massachusetts with
some of her best executives.
They passed Pownalboro, now Ores
den, to Gardeners town, and went on to
TT. Western at Augusta. Here they
resolved to send forward some men to
explore the Indian paths and carrying
places and to proceed as far as
Chaudere river. The rifiemen We're
to follow that trail as pioneers, clear
ing the road for the rest of the party
easily 10 pass over.
The explorers started with two birch
bark canoes, each carrying five or six
men; barrel of salt pork, a bag of
meal. about 200 pounds of hard biscuit
and their ammunition.
They went down opposite Ticonic AT
the junction of the Sebasticook and
[ennehec, thence to SkowheSan Falls
around which they carried their canoes
ana loads to Norridgewock. where was
the last habitation of white men. AT
Carratunk they had another carry-a
long stretch Of T. miles, blazing the
path earthly as they advanced. Here
they left two of the men to guard half
their provision being unable to carry it
further.
They knew tho virtue of the Maine
woods and used to cut the blisters on
the fir trees to suck out the balSam,
saying it warmed and strengthened
them; and they slept in the open air on
| the fir boughs.
From this time the food they carried
or any obtained by gun, or rod and line
was divided by lot, man being blind
| ed, and a portion being indicated with
| the question: Whose is this -
The allotment was never questioned,
| even when once on shooting some
ducks, the portion which thus fell to an
| officer was only the head and feet of Il
duck They ate their pork raw, 4 slice
cne-half square inch in width, and
and thickness being the ration. Let us
| hope it had Il mere generous allotment
| in length. Here they tried to find
Natanis. the only Norridgewock Indian
! left alive at the Father Rasle massacre,
believing him to be in british employ
and desiring to kill him.
Their unjust suspicious were dis
| sipated Il few miles farther on, where
standing in the ground they saw stick
| split at the top. and inserted therein, Il
neatly folded sheet of birch bark on
| which WAS drawn clear map of the
| streams above them, the work Of ma
| ture for their guidance.
At Dead river they shot two moose,
! but their rejoicing was soon changed to
| lamentation as the meat without SAT-
| or bread made them very i'll. and SO
| weak that they were unable to carry
| their canoes further. The other de-
| tachmcnt followed, guided by Sabattis,
| a ST Francis Indian. In October they
| commenced suhsisting on their oxen,
| lessening their impediments as their
| beasts of burden became fewer.
| Through cedar swamps and thick
woods they were able to go nomore than
| four miles daily, till they arrived at the
point whence start the headwaters of
| he Connecticut. PenobsCot, AndroscoS-
| gin and Chcudiere rivers. in the vicinity
| of Lake Negantic. The Chaudiere they
| followed for some distance.
At this time Col. Enos and his men
| departed for home without leave, but
| with three days rations. The men re-
| naming offered q general prayer that
| the deserters might all die on their way
home,
Sneers of derision greeted the return
| ing brave 20 ard Col. Enos was tried
| for dcsertion but acquitted: the court
martial having unanimously agreed
that his conduct was not only juStif1-
able. but that of an understanding,
faithful and prudent officer, deserving
applause rather than ccnsure; and we
can safely recommend him as a person
worthy to be employed in any military
department.
The six or seven hundred who re-
manned travelled dreary and difficult
road over hills, or through morasses
where men often sank above their
knees in heavy mud.
Two women. one the wife of Sergt.
;rier. the other wife of Private Warm
or. had so far pushed on with them.
From this time we hear no more OF
Mrs. Crier. Whether she became
monumental "stick-in the mud" sunk
in the nlire or wisely turned back. we
know not. but Mrs. Warner remained
when she also disappears. Her per