The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-03-05
ALON6 ARNolD'S TRAIL
FROM MAINE TO CANADA.
BY FRANK W. GOwEN.

over night in the deep forest near Low
er Pond where the Dead river takes its
rise, and will now follow along Arnold's
trail, where all the horrors of the fam.
GUS march occurred. Great storms OF
rain and snow swept through the will
derness day after day and the angry
waters of the Dead river went roaring
through the forest, uprooting trees and
submerging the entire region around
with ice and water. 1t was near where
we camped for the night that several
of Arnold's boats were upset in the
swollen waters and everything they
contained sank to the bottom of the
river. Little wonder that the drenched
and toil-worn army lost heart and that
some of the poor starving soldiers laid
down to die. Yet in spite of the awful
hardships and famine which confronted
them, these brave and starving soldiers
crept on up the river. moving along as
best they could after their bold leader,
who had promised to send back provis-
ions as soon as he reached the first
French settlement on the Chaudiere.
Not soldier among them but knew
that Arnold would fulfill his promise
or die in the attempt; and this he came
very near doing on the Chaudiere, as
the army-or rather what was left of it,
after Colonel Enos had basely fled with
three companies down the Kennebec
and deserted Arnold-reached Lower
Pond the soldiers were growing so weak
with hunger and suffering that many
were barely able to carry the boats on
their shoulders, as they had often done
along the upper Kennebec, or even to
push them over swamps. The army
had roasted and eaten their last dog,
and now the soldiers tore off their
moose hide moccasins and built a big
fire to boil them SO as to extract the
little nourishment they contained.
When night overlook the army the SOL
diers built blazing fires back in the
forest and laid down on the wet ground
to rest, and when morning came the
starving soldiers launched their boats
at the head of Lower Pond and moved
feebly onward. Seven lakes had to be
passed or rowed over before the army
could reach Lake Megantic, where the
Chaudiere takes its rise. First comes
Lower Pond, then Bog Pond, Long
Round Pond, Horseshoe Pond, Arnold
Pond. Crosby Pond and then Lake Me-
gantic.
Let me now return to our camp in
the wilderness. In the morning our
guides were up early and shot a large
duck on the lake and prepared it for
breakfast, and after eating hearty
meal we broke camp and started for
Lake Megantic. My trip along these
beautiful lakes amidst scenery so wild
and grand will live in my memory as
long as life lasts. The day was beauti-
full and the ever-changing scenery OF
cliffs, forests and lakes a rare delight.
Soon after leaving camp we saw two
deer, and later our guide pointed out a
place where bear had spent the night.
Big game is abundant in this region.
At noon our guides built a small fire,
made tea and we ate light lunch and
rested for over an hour. While eating,
my friend and | again fell into CONVEX
sation over General Arnold's march.
"Well," said he, ''the more L study Gen
eral Arnold's march through this wilder
ness and think of the terrible hardships
and dangers the army encountered, the
more | am inclined to believe that 1t
was one of the most remarkable marches
in military history THAT is true, !"
said |, .''Napoleon'S world-renoWned
passage of the Alps will not compare
with it, nor was his retreat from Mos
"That is pretty broad statement to
make" said my friend. Il know it, |
replied. "but nevertheless it is true
Napoleon ascended the Alps in pleasant
weather. His soldiers were we'll fed
and could sleep very well in the noun
tains. and then San Bernard is only a
few miles over, anyway. But here was
an army under Arnold climbing noun
tains, bearing boats and army baggage
on their shoulders mile after mile
around rapids and preclpices, Wading
streams of ice and water and starving
in these beautiful dark solitudes far
from civilization. Then as to Napo-
Icons retreat from Moscow. | can
ONLY say with q famous historian: Tie
event would have been tenfold greater
had his army encountered these perils
and horrors in marching after an enemy
instead of fleeing before one. Soldiers
will face any peril or hardships to get
away 10 a retreat, but it is quite an
other thing for an army to face all these
horrors day by day, as in the case of
Arnold's army in its march after an
enemy through dense forest
81 guess You are right about this
matter" said my friend. 81 know
am" said |, and then after our guides
carefully extinguished our campfire
we proceeded on our way over the
rough tote roads near the lakes before
mentioned. We soon ran into some
more deer, but they were so numerous
paid very little attention to them.
After walking about three hours we
sat down on moss-c0vered rocks to
rest. My friend, who had never set
foot on foreign soil was very anxious
! to know how far we were from the
Canadian line. eve are nearly there
now," spoke up one of our guides.
ooh! how | WISH" said my friend, shat
the Indian that General Arnold trust
ed with his letter to General Schuyler
had been drowned before he turned
traitor and delivered it to the governor
of Quebec" eyes," said, eff General
Arnold's letters to General Schuyler
and to others had been safely delivered
bv this Indian runner there is little
doubt but that General Arnold, even
with his reduced army, would Lave
captured Quebec and great Britain
! would have lost her Canadian colony.
81 wish in the name of the Lord it
had," said my friend" Every inch of
the soil of North America ought to be
under this glorious flag" he exclaimed
as he took beautiful little silk flag
out of his pocket and held it up.