The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-04-02
Along Arnold's Trail from Maine
to Canada
BY FRANK W. WEN
Nrl


belfast journal
My wanderings for pleasure and his
torical research have included the
Kennebee, Dead River and Chaudiere.
Along these beautiful rivers, from the
sea at Bath to Canada, have follow
ed the route of Arnold's terrible
march through the wilderness of
Maine to Quebec, jotting down in my
note book incidents and traditions of
this Inflated expedition, which oc-
Cured at the opening OF the Ameri-
can Revolution. Every school boy in
the State of Maine Is more or less ia
miliar with its history, and this is
chiefly due to the traditions and ro-
nance which have come down to us
from several generations. The ex-
petition was one of the most fatal
military mistakes in the annals of our
nation. When Our early Congress
raised Benedict Arnold then a brave
soldier and patriot, but later traitor
to his country-to the rank OF colonel,
and Washington gave him the COM
mand of 1,1O0 picked troops to march
through the wilds of Maine and attack
Quebec, it was near the end of Sep
TENDER; too late in the season to send
such an expedition to the far North.
1t is not my intention, however, to
critcise Washington, tor il is well
known that after he took command
of the Continental Army at Cambridge
in July 1775, he was harassed by de-
lays and hindrancee by Congress and
the Colonial governors. Only great
man and great general could have
managed as we'll as he and overcome
the mighty difficulties which he faced
throughout the eight years of the war
for independence. Washington fully
realized the political and military
value and far reaching Importance to
the country of this Canadian expedi-
ton, if successful, but he was over
whelmed with cares day by day in or
ganizing an army, and at the same
time straining every nerve to get to-
army for Arnold. Would that he
might have succeeded in starting the
army of invasion north six weeks ear
terrible trials and hardships of the
march Arnold could have then unit
ed his army with that of General
Montgomery after the fall of Montre-
al and Great Britain would probably
as her thirteen American colonies.
On the 18th of September, only a
short time after st. John and Montre
al had fallen under the geneTalship of
the gallant Montgomery, General Ar
mold sailed out of the harbor of New
buryport, Massachusetts, with his
troops on ten Transports, and two
days later arrived with his army at
Colonel Colburn's shipyard, a short
distance below the village of South
Gardiner on the Kenne bee river.
General Henry Dearborn, who accom-
panied Arnold on this expedition,
states in his Journal of this invasion
that Col. Colburn, who built these
boats, was never paid for them, nor
were his heirs paid, although they
urged Congress from time to time to
settle the claim. Sometime during
the day OH the 21st of September,
General Arnold and his principal Of
ficers arrived at Fort Weston, and we
are told were entertained at the
"Great House," which was burned in
1866. He remained there some time
preparing his army and stores for the
final embarkation for Quebec. This
fort was erected in 1854 on a beauti
full tract of land commanding fine
view of the river between Augusta
and HalloweQ. While at the state
Capitol recently l visited this old
fort and it's surroundings, but only
part of the original Fort Weston,
which covered large space of land,
remains. The old fort, or rather that
part of it now standing, was convert
ed into dwelling house years ago.
Its cellar walls are well preserved,
but the big timbers are beginning to
decay. Only few years more and
this historic Landmark will pass away,
unless the citizens of Augusta take
steps to preserve it, which l earnestly
hope they will do before it is too late.
From the stories or traditions which
have come down to us we learn that
Arnold and his soldiers had high times
while at Fort Weston, and quantities
of English rum, "the curse of man
kind" were drank. Arnold was then
80 years of age, with naughty, COM
manding presence and possessed of a
quick temper. He was a man of
great courage and physical strength,
but lacked the cool jud gment and
sterling qualities of Washington. He
was accompanied on this expedition
by several brave and courageous
young men whose names became ia
nous in political and military life in
later times. There was Aaron Burr,
then a lad of only 10 summers, after
wards great lawyer and Vice Presi-
dent of our land His duel with Ham
ilton, who died from his wounds, uni
versally mourned, lost him the re-
spect of his fellowmen and he went
forth to engage in treason against his
country and died in distress and pow
erty There was young Captain Dam
lei Morgan, a famous rife man. who
later became a noted general of the
Revolution and true friend to Wash
ington. Stiil another young captain
who toiled on day by day with Ar
mold and his army in the wilderness,
became later in lie a great general
and Secretary of war under Jefferson's
administration, This was General
Henry Dearborn. Little did he real
ize then that nearly 40 years later, in
the war of 1872, he would be in com
mand of a great army called the
"Army of the Center,o to again in
wade Canada on the Niagara Frontier.
Soon after the close of the Revolu
ton in 1885, General Dearborn bought
a large tract of land in Gardiner,
Maine, and erected fine residence
there. He was twice sent to Con
gress from the "old Keunebec Dis
trict" and in 1901 was appointed Sec
- ~ iaH 10