The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-10-30

tee has done good work. particularly
along the old trails. The Michigan
Chapters are doing a work tina
peals to me. They are working on
State history and many Chapters of
that state are compiling local histories.
1t is a work that we need to be in
terested in. | am asking all Chap
tiers to offer prizes for essays from
the school children on early local his
tory We have few town histor-
les. When we see what New Hamp-
shire has in that line and then look
at the few towns in Maine that have
even town records dated earlier than
1870, We must blush at our poverty.
Mississippi is one of the States where
the Daughters are doing fine work in
historical research and they are also
marking an old trail as we are in
Maine Missouri is leading in the
great work of the National Society in
projecting and helping to forward a
National Highway across our CONT
nent over the famous old trail. New
i York State with 100 Chapters is able
/ to do wonderful work. l think they
consider their greatest work of the
past year to be the erection of the IA
bronze tablets in the Mohawk Valley,
to mark the line of march taken by
General Nicholas Herkirier and his
army.
This is very little of the work We
do. The work for women and chill
dren is making good Roadway. Many
of the Western States are interested
in Libraries and wherever there is
Chapter you will find more interest
in town and National affairs. l do
not expect nor wish, TO see the daugh-
ters as a society take up the Suf-
i fIagette movement. Let. those who
wish work for the ballot as individ
uals but do not mix it with our WORK
for in our membership of over 10000
women there are many who do not
care for a vote.
Our work in the past has been large
ly for the memory of those of form
err age. In the future it will be more
for the living-helping the aliens, who
come in such crowds to our shores to
become good citizens and to save our
needy youths from becoming bad citi-
zens and to plant in every heart
love for Old Glory.
Judge Albert Moore Spear of Gar
I ulIlCI. " iO IN Il uiiCNb oNoNN iAutthN VI
Golf Moore and whose presence was
wholly unexpected, was the next
speaker His remarks, though short
were much enjoyed. He spoke especi-
ally to the young people showing them
the need of loyalty and patriotism.
Judge Augustine Simmons of North
Arson, who is Lieutenant Governor of
/ the Society of the Descendants of the
Mayflower, was the last one 10 speak
He gave several extracts from the
/ journal of Doctor Senter. who was
Surgeon General of Arnold's army and
very interesting history of the ex-
petition relative to this place.
After the destruction of Falmouth by
the British, 400 soldiers were sent to
aid in guarding the Maine coast About
this time an expedition to attack
Quebec was organized by General
Washington and Benedict Arnold plac-
ed in command of the army which
numbered 100 men. He arrived at
Fort Western which was at the head of
! navigation on the kennebec river
about the Goth of September, 1878. Ar
mold was here forced to leave his
transports and the army advanced up
the river by land while the supplies
were conveyed in hatteauX. The
passage of the army up the Kennebec
Valley was great event to the in
! habitants, eye witnesses having des-
cribed it as several miles in length.
Their progress was very slow, the
banks on either side being covered
with unbroken forests and number
of falls and rapids were encountered
which made it necessary TO take out
and carry by both boats and supplies.
Arnold hired a number of local guides
and boatmen among whom were two
brothers, Indians, named Natanis and
| Sabbatis. Natanis lived in Vassal-
! bcro and Sabbatis in Skowhegan.
There were also two men from what
is now known as Starks, who were
hired as guides, Luke Sawyer and Ben
jamin Greenleaf. Arnold and his
army arrived at Old Point sometime
the first of October and somewhere
! from the 9Th to the 18th they cut the
trail around the Falls and the next
camping place was Weston's Island
The site of their camp at Old Point
was where the Indian village of No
rantsouak, the home of the Kennebec
tribe was destroyed in September 1924.
On their arrival at Caratunk Falls the
main army was halted and assisted
the boatmen to carry around this