Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-08-24

vasion.
Councils of safety and correspond
ence were formed, Jacob Bayley was
appointed General of all the militia of
that section, and the best possible or
ganization effected for the safety of
the settlers. The invasion of Canada
which resulted so dissstrously to the
American cause, promised success for
a while; but the army before Quebec
was repulsed and were forced to re-
treat, and the advantages which had
been gained were soon lost. To pre-
vent the total destruction of the
American army, troops were obliged
to be at once sent from New England
to aid and assist in covering their re-
treat. This had first been done by
the way OF Charleston and Lake
Champlain. Ii was of the greatest
Importance that what was to be done
in this respect should be done expe-
ditiously and bring assistance at the
earliest possible moment. Ger.
Washington was anxious to learn if
there was not some shorter route to
the scene of action. Gen Jacob Bay
ley, then with the army before Boston,
informed the chief
that much shorter road lay through
the Coos Country, and that he
could produce men who would start
forthwith and 60 through the wilder
ness and mark out road.
History tells US that Captain Tnos.
Johnson of Newbury was selected as
the man to take charge of this enter
prise. He was to take three or four
soldiers and an Indian guide, and
mark a road by blazed trees to st.
Johns, Canada. He took with him
Frye Bailey, Abial and Silas Chamber
lain and John Mclean all from New
bury. They left Newbury on Tuesday,
March 26.h 1875 Tn, Y marched on
snow shoes and reached ST. Johns the
next Friday, it being ninety-two
miles from Newbury. The following
is taken from Col. Thomas Johnson's
diary kept by him at the time.
Tuesday, March 26. Set out from
Newbury, lodged at the last inhab-
itant's" without doubt this was JON
athan Elkins in the town of Peacham.)
"waited half day for the rest of the
soldiers to come up, good land for a
road. Wednesday, 81. Marched a
mile, good country. Thursday, %.
Marched twelve miles, good country
for road. Friday, 90. Marched twelve
miles good country for road, except
for about two miles. Saturday, 3d.
Marched fifteen miles, good country
for a road except three miles. Sun
day, 81. Marched ten miles to Mr..
Metcalf's, good country, waited half
a day for the rear. Monday, April 1st.
Marched twenty FIVE miles to St.
Johns. Tuesday, 2. Tarried at st.
Johns. Wednesday, g. Returned to
Mr.. Metcalf's. Thursday, 4. Tarried
for the rear. 9Th, 9Th 7th and s.h
travelled home" In the same diary
we find the following. distance
from Boston to Charlestown and
Crown Point to st. Johns $40 miles,
distance from Boston to Newbury, 145
miles and from Newbury to st. Johns
! 92 miles, or in the whole 237 miles,
making the route by Newbury and
the Coos Country 70 miles the
shorter route"
We also learned from the Johnson
papers, that Mr.. Metcalf was an En-
glish gen'l ma1 who lived on the
Canadian side of the line and near
the Mississquoi river. His house was
on the route which scouts, spies and
expresses generally took, as we'll from
Canada as from Vermont, and they
often sought and obtained refresh
ment beneath his roof. His residence
must have been near the border and
opposite the town of Richford.
Along the path thus marked out
several regiments of troops passed to
Canada on snow shoes. 1t was found
that troops could be sent to Canada
by way of Coos about ten days quick
er than by way of Crown Point and
Lake Champlain, and this fact led the
Continental authorities to begin
military road from Newbury to st.
Johns. And this was the beginning
of "Hazen's Road"
AS soon as the snow was gone, and
it was practicable to work in the for
est, James Whitelaw, a competent
surveyor, and subsequently, Surveyor
General of Vermont, with assistants,
was employed to 60 on and survey
and locate this militsry road; and
they were followed by General Bayley
with large force of men and teams
to cut out the trees and construct the
| same This road was partly COM