Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-20


probation of the work of others II is
that which brings YOU here today, Your
vtHeration for the courageous men of
Revolutionary days has led you to un-
dei'taEe the praiseworthy task Of fifty
marking the spot where Arnald's men
set forth on their long and weary
march through the trackltss wilder
ness.
Tho placing of this tablet within the
lines Of old Fort Western is most pro-
pcrly a WORT, for the Second Company
oe the Governors Foot Guard. for it
was Benedict Arnold, kour FIRST com
rnauding officer, who led the forces
which assembled an this very spot in
the troubled days of the American
Eevolptiou. It was Arnold who con-
ceived The plan and 1t was his in1omi-
table courage which persisted In The
face of death, starvation and disea SO.
at is only within a few years that
the fuIl story Of the heroic undertaking
of l17j has been brought IT, light in
the original records and it shows that
the men of Maine counted il high hon
or to serve under the Connecticut Off
Ger. "hey eagerly offered thmaelvcs
for the daring enterprise for they had
faith in the leadership of Col. Arnold
They knew he had often proved his
military efficiency, and they had heard
bow he threatened to break into the
magazine at New Haven unless the
seleetmen would hand over the KEYS
within five minutes wien his company
the second company of the Governors
Foot Guard already organized. fully
erilled ard uniformed. heard the news
Of Lexington and wanted Ia set out for
Cambridge.
The men of Maine had heard that
Arnold's New Haven Company on ar
rival At Cambridge was conceded To
be the best uniformed and the best
drilled and disciplined bod1 Of troops
in Washingtons army. TheY had even
heard il was so good that it was
singled out TO return within British
lines the body of a British officer who
had died as prisoner in the American
army and they felt thrill % pride
th9t tire English admitted that they
had no troops which could excel the
Sc oHd Company frem New Haven,
Trey had also heard Of Arnold's bril-
liant individuality in the capture of
Crown Point and they felt that under
such a man naught but success could
crown the Quebec expedition
The members of the Second Company
of the Governors Foot Guard. when
they set out from Connecticut to join
the Provincial army at Cambridge.
found them selves by most solemn OBJ
legation This obligation is preserved
in the priceless documents uf tho
American archives and its patriotism
is as inspiring today as il WAS in 1875.
Every man in Tint company raised his
: hand and promised BY all that is dear
and sacred, carefully and constantly to
observe and keep all regulations and
orders in serving SO great and glorious
a cause 1t is r pledge Which we to-
day renew on this historic site.
TGentlcmcn of the Govcrnor's Foot
Guard: \ military organization with
1S7 wears of unbrokcn service to its
credit nav we'll he proud Of its history
and the State of Maipe is honore1 To
have this spot marked bY descendants
ef the brave Connecticut men who Wore
foremost in the military enterprise that
really began at this point in the early
days IF the American revolution.
con Il september day in 1d775. when
Col. Arnold, wearing the uniform which
, he'd been adopted blythe Ind Company
! of the Governer.s Foot Guard came
ashore at Fort Western, it was as the
leader of an army of 100 men of cour-
/ &c. energy and purpose TO whom the
very heidness of his plan=a straight
! plunge through tie Wilderness to cap
ture The fortress Of Quebec-was a
challenge 70 heroic action and endur-
ance.
Ills enterprise which sometimes is
called q march, sometimes is called an
expedition. WIS really campaign-a
campaign against swift currents and
dangerous rapids. against Jagged
lodges and precipitoHs rocks against
thick forests and dense underbush and
impossible swamps. against rain and
flood and snow, against loss Of boats
and provisions, against starvation and
death.
when Mt length, after six weeks Of
frightful suffering the army reduced
to half it's number by death and the
loss of those who had turned back
emerged from the wilderness. to be re-
pulsed i'm the attack on the impregna-
HE citadel Of Quebec, the root instinct
of the men was still to live and con-
quer.
"'Retreatinr from the extremity of
the enemy's footheld, the army gather
ed more solidIy within the limits Of
New England territory to protect the
heart of the Colonial possessions in the
impending war for liberty.
ut was in high praise of the men
who had proved real heroes in the
Maine forests that Washington wrote
to their commander 1t is not in the
power of any man To command success,
hut you have done more-you have
deserved it
"Now it is possible to know what
was the real value of tie brave I'M
Gertaking. in the relation which it bore
to the events which preceded it. ana