![ArnoldExpeditionRouteMarked](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/ArnoldExpeditionRouteMarked.jpg)
In September 1775, early in the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
, Colonel
Benedict Arnold led a force of 1,100
Continental Army troops on an expedition from
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a College town, university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cam ...
in the
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a colony in British America which became one of the thirteen original states of the United States. It was chartered on October 7, 1691, by William III and Mary II, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of ...
to the gates of
Quebec City
Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the metropolitan area had a population of 839,311. It is t ...
. The expedition was part of a two-pronged
invasion
An invasion is a Offensive (military), military offensive in which large numbers of combatants of one geopolitics, geopolitical Legal entity, entity aggressively enter territory (country subdivision), territory owned by another such entity, gen ...
of the British
Province of Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirteen p ...
, and passed through the wilderness of what is now
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
. The other expedition invaded Quebec from
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain ( ; french: Lac Champlain) is a natural freshwater lake in North America. It mostly lies between the US states of New York and Vermont, but also extends north into the Canada, Canadian province of Quebec.
The New York portion of t ...
, led by
Richard Montgomery.
Unanticipated problems beset the expedition as soon as it left the last significant colonial outposts in Maine. The
portages up the
Kennebec River proved grueling, and the boats frequently leaked, ruining
gunpowder
Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...
and spoiling food supplies. More than a third of the men turned back before reaching the height of land between the Kennebec and
Chaudière rivers. The areas on either side of the height of land were swampy tangles of lakes and streams, and the traversal was made more difficult by bad weather and inaccurate maps. Many of the troops lacked experience handling boats in
white water
Whitewater forms in a rapid context, in particular, when a river's gradient changes enough to generate so much turbulence that air is trapped within the water. This forms an unstable current that froths, making the water appear opaque and w ...
, which led to the destruction of more boats and supplies in the descent to the
Saint Lawrence River
The St. Lawrence River (french: Fleuve Saint-Laurent, ) is a large river in the middle latitudes of North America. Its headwaters begin flowing from Lake Ontario in a (roughly) northeasterly direction, into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, connectin ...
via the fast-flowing Chaudière.
By the time that Arnold reached the settlements above the Saint Lawrence River in November, his force was reduced to 600 starving men. They had traveled about through poorly charted wilderness, twice the distance that they had expected to cover. Arnold's troops crossed the Saint Lawrence on November 13 and 14, assisted by the local French-speaking
Canadien
French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fren ...
s, and attempted to put Quebec City under siege. Failing in this, they withdrew to
Point-aux-Trembles until Montgomery arrived to lead an
unsuccessful attack on the city. Arnold was rewarded for his effort in leading the expedition with a promotion to
brigadier general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
.
Arnold's route through northern Maine has been listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
as the Arnold Trail to Quebec, and some geographic features in the area bear names of expedition participants.
Background
On May 10, 1775, shortly after the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
began,
Benedict Arnold and
Ethan Allen led an expedition that
captured Fort Ticonderoga on
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain ( ; french: Lac Champlain) is a natural freshwater lake in North America. It mostly lies between the US states of New York and Vermont, but also extends north into the Canada, Canadian province of Quebec.
The New York portion of t ...
in the British
Province of New York
The Province of New York (1664–1776) was a British proprietary colony and later royal colony on the northeast coast of North America. As one of the Middle Colonies, New York achieved independence and worked with the others to found the U ...
.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 9] Allen and Arnold were aware that
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
was lightly defended; there were only about 600 regular troops in the entire province.
[ Stanley (1973), p. 29] Arnold, who had done business in the province before the war,
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 8] also had intelligence that the French-speaking
Canadien
French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fren ...
s would be favorably disposed toward a colonial force.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 11]
Arnold and Allen each made arguments to the
Second Continental Congress that Quebec could and should be taken from the
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
, pointing out that the British could use Quebec as a staging area for attacks down Lake Champlain and into the
Hudson River
The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...
valley. Congress did not want to alarm the people of Quebec, and rejected these arguments.
[ Smith (1907), Volume 1, p. 237] In July, amid concerns that the British might use Quebec as a base for military movements into New York, they changed their position, and authorized an invasion of Quebec via Lake Champlain, assigning the task to Major General
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler (; November 18, 1804) was an American general in the Revolutionary War and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.
Born in Alb ...
of New York.
[ Smith (1907), Volume 1, pp. 241–242]
Planning
![MontresorChaudiereMap1760](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/MontresorChaudiereMap1760.jpg)
Arnold, who had hoped to lead the invasion, decided to pursue a different approach to Quebec. He went to
Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a College town, university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cam ...
, Massachusetts in early August, and approached
George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...
, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, with the idea of a second eastern invasion force aimed at Quebec City.
[ Smith (1907), Volume 1, pp. 398–399] Washington approved of the idea in principle, but sent a message to General Schuyler on August 20 to ensure his support of the endeavor, since the two forces would need to coordinate their efforts.
[ Martin (1997), pp. 108–109]
Arnold's plan called for the expedition to sail from
Newburyport, Massachusetts along the coast and then up the
Kennebec River to
Fort Western
Fort Western is a former British colonial outpost at the head of navigation on the Kennebec River at modern Augusta, Maine, United States. It was built in 1754 during the French and Indian War, and is now a National Historic Landmark and local hi ...
(now
Augusta, Maine). From there, they would use shallow-draft river boats called ''
bateaux
A bateau or batteau is a shallow-draft, flat-bottomed boat which was used extensively across North America, especially in the colonial period and in the fur trade. It was traditionally pointed at both ends but came in a wide variety of sizes. ...
'' to continue up the Kennebec River, cross the
height of land
A drainage divide, water divide, ridgeline, watershed, water parting or height of land is elevated terrain that separates neighboring drainage basins. On rugged land, the divide lies along topographical ridges, and may be in the form of a single ...
to
Lake Mégantic
Lake Mégantic (french: Lac Mégantic, ) is a body of water in Québec, located in the Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern ...
, and descend the
Chaudière River to Quebec.
Arnold expected to cover the 180 miles (290 km) from Fort Western to Quebec in 20 days,
[ Martin (1997), p. 121] despite the fact that little was known about the route.
[ Randall (1990), pp. 151–152] Arnold had acquired a map (copy pictured at right) and journal made by British military engineer
John Montresor
Captain John Montresor (22 April 1736 – June 1799) was a British military engineer and cartographer in North America.
Early life
Born in Gibraltar 22 April 1736 to British military engineer James Gabriel Montresor and his first wife, Mar ...
in 1760 and 1761, but Montresor's descriptions of the route were not very detailed, and Arnold did not know that the map contained some inaccuracies or that some details had been deliberately removed or obscured.
[ Smith (1903), p. 17]
Washington introduced Arnold to
Reuben Colburn Reuben Colburn (1740–1818) was a shipbuilder in Pittston, Maine who made great contributions to the American side in the Revolutionary War. His home, the Major Reuben Colburn House, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Biograp ...
, a boat builder from
Gardinerstown, Maine, who was in Cambridge at the time. Colburn offered his services, and Arnold requested detailed information about the route, including potential British naval threats,
Indian sentiment, useful supply opportunities, and an estimate of how long it would take to construct bateaux sufficient for the contemplated force. Colburn left for Maine on August 21 to fulfill these requests.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 13] Colburn asked Samuel Goodwin, the local surveyor in Gardinerston, to provide maps for Arnold. Goodwin, who was known to have
Loyalist sympathies, provided maps that were inaccurate in the routes, distances and other important features they described.
[ Randall (1990), p. 152]
On September 2, Washington received a letter from General Schuyler in reply to his August 20 message. Schuyler agreed with the suggested plan, and Washington and Arnold immediately began to raise troops and place orders for supplies.
[ Randall (1990), pp. 147–150]
Recruitment and preparations for departure
Because there had been little direct action at
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
after the
Battle of Bunker Hill in June, many units stationed in the American camps
besieging the town were bored with garrison life and eager for action.
[ Smith (1907), Volume 1, pp. 506–507] Arnold selected a force of 750 men from the large number who expressed interest in the proposed expedition.
Most of these were divided into two
battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions a ...
s: one commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
Roger Enos
Roger Enos (1729 – October 6, 1808) was a colonial Vermont political and military leader during the American Revolution. In 1775, he took part in Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec, and he later commanded the Vermont Militia as a major ge ...
and the other by Lieutenant Colonel
Christopher Greene
Christopher Greene (May 12, 1737May 14, 1781) was an American legislator and soldier. He lead the spirited defense of Fort Mercer in the 1777 Battle of Red Bank, and for leading the African American 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American R ...
. The rest were placed in a third battalion under
Daniel Morgan that included three companies—250 men—of Continental riflemen from
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
and the
Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment.
[ Desjardin (2006), pp. 16–17] These frontiersmen, from the Virginia and Pennsylvania wilderness, were better suited to wilderness combat than to a siege, and had been causing trouble since arriving outside Boston.
[ Randall (1990), p. 150] The entire force numbered about 1,100.
[ Smith (1903), pp. 22,57] Among the volunteers were other men who rose to later prominence during and after the war, including
Aaron Burr,
Return J. Meigs,
Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn (February 23, 1751 – June 6, 1829) was an American military officer and politician. In the Revolutionary War, he served under Benedict Arnold in his expedition to Quebec, of which his journal provides an important record ...
, and
John Joseph Henry
John Joseph Henry (November 4, 1758 – April 15, 1811) was an American private soldier, lawyer, and judge from Pennsylvania in the American Revolutionary War.
Biography
Henry, the son of William Henry of Lancaster and Ann Wood Henry, was bor ...
.
Washington and Arnold were concerned about Indian support for (or opposition to) the effort, as well as the reception Arnold's forces might receive from the Canadians once they arrived near the
Saint Lawrence River
The St. Lawrence River (french: Fleuve Saint-Laurent, ) is a large river in the middle latitudes of North America. Its headwaters begin flowing from Lake Ontario in a (roughly) northeasterly direction, into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, connectin ...
. On August 30, Washington wrote to General Schuyler of a meeting he held with an
Abenaki
The Abenaki ( Abenaki: ''Wαpánahki'') are an Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands of Canada and the United States. They are an Algonquian-speaking people and part of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Eastern Abenaki language was pre ...
chief, "
he chiefsays the Indians of Canada in general, and also the French, are greatly in our favor, and determined not to act against us."
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 14] Four Abenakis accompanied the expedition as scouts and guides.
[ Martin (1997), p. 116]
Cambridge to Fort Western
![Benedict Arnold 1color](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Benedict_Arnold_1color.jpg)
On September 2, as soon as General Schuyler's agreement with the expedition was known, Arnold wrote a letter to Nathaniel Tracy, a merchant of his acquaintance in Newburyport. He asked Tracy to acquire sufficient shipping to transport the expedition to Maine without drawing the attention of
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
ships patrolling the area. The sea voyage was viewed by both Arnold and Washington as the most dangerous part of the expedition, because British patrols were highly effective at interfering with colonial shipping at the time.
[ Randall (1990), p. 151]
The expedition began its departure from Cambridge on September 11, marching to Newburyport. The first units to leave were composed largely of men from that area, to whom Arnold had given extra time so that they would be able to see their families once more before the expedition left Newburyport. The last troops marched off on September 13; Arnold rode from Cambridge to Newburyport on September 15 after making final purchases of supplies.
Headwinds and fog delayed the departure of the expedition from Newburyport until September 19. In twelve hours, they reached the mouth of the Kennebec River. They spent the next two days negotiating the island channels near its mouth and sailing up the river.
[ Martin (1997), p. 119] Arriving in Gardinerston on the 22nd, they spent the next few days at
Reuben Colburn's house, organizing supplies and preparing the boats they would use for the rest of the expedition.
[ Smith (1903), pp. 58–83] Arnold inspected Colburn's hastily constructed bateaux, finding them, in a portent of troubles to come, to be "very badly built", and "smaller than the directions given".
[ Martin (1997), p. 120] Colburn and his crew spent the next three days building additional bateaux.
Arnold's troop movements did not escape British notice. General
Thomas Gage
General Thomas Gage (10 March 1718/192 April 1787) was a British Army general officer and colonial official best known for his many years of service in North America, including his role as British commander-in-chief in the early days of th ...
in Boston was aware that Arnold's troops were "gone to Canada and by way of Newburyport", but he believed the target to be
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
, which was at the time virtually undefended.
[ Randall (1990), p. 159] Francis Legge
Francis Legge (c.1719-15 May 1783), was a British military officer and colonial official in Nova Scotia during the 18th century. He served as Governor of Nova Scotia from 1772 to 1776. During the American Revolution, Legge raised the Royal Nov ...
, the governor of Nova Scotia declared martial law, and on October 17 sent a message to England laden with rumors about American actions that turned out to be false. Admiral
Samuel Graves
Admiral Samuel Graves (17 April 1713 – 8 March 1787) was a British Royal Navy admiral who is probably best known for his role early in the American Revolutionary War.
Ancestry
He is thought to have been born in Castledawson, Northern Irelan ...
eventually received intelligence about Arnold's activities, reporting on October 18 that the American troops "went up the Kennebec River, and 'tis generally believed are for Quebec".
[ Randall (1990), p. 160]
Scouting
As the troop transports arrived, Arnold dispatched some of the men in the already-constructed bateaux up the Kennebec River 10 miles (16 km) to
Fort Western
Fort Western is a former British colonial outpost at the head of navigation on the Kennebec River at modern Augusta, Maine, United States. It was built in 1754 during the French and Indian War, and is now a National Historic Landmark and local hi ...
, and the others by foot on a track leading to
Fort Halifax, 45 miles (72 km) up the Kennebec. While waiting for the bateaux to be completed, Arnold received word from scouts Colburn had sent out to reconnoiter the proposed route. Their reports included rumors of a large
Mohawk Mohawk may refer to:
Related to Native Americans
* Mohawk people, an indigenous people of North America (Canada and New York)
*Mohawk language, the language spoken by the Mohawk people
* Mohawk hairstyle, from a hairstyle once thought to have been ...
force near the southernmost French settlements on the Chaudière River. The source of these rumors was Natanis, a
Norridgewock
Norridgewock was the name of both an Indigenous village and a band of the Abenaki ("People of the Dawn") Native Americans/First Nations, an Eastern Algonquian tribe of the United States and Canada. The French of New France called the village Ke ...
Indian believed to be spying for Quebec's governor, General
Guy Carleton; Arnold discounted the reports.
Arnold and most of the force had reached Fort Western by September 23. The next day, Arnold sent two small parties up the Kennebec. One, under Pennsylvania Lieutenant Archibald Steele, was ordered to scout as far as Lake Mégantic to gather intelligence. The second, under Lieutenant Church, was to
survey
Survey may refer to:
Statistics and human research
* Statistical survey, a method for collecting quantitative information about items in a population
* Survey (human research), including opinion polls
Spatial measurement
* Surveying, the techniq ...
the route as far as the
Dead River, at a place known to the local Indians as the Great Carrying Place, so that Arnold might better estimate how far the column would need to travel each day.
Early troubles
The full expedition set out from Fort Western on September 25.
[ Smith (1907), Volume 1, p. 531] Morgan's riflemen led the way, blazing trails when necessary. Colburn and a crew of boatwrights came in the rear, to repair bateaux as needed.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 55] Morgan's group traveled relatively lightly, as they would be working to make the trail, while the last group, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Enos, carried the bulk of the supplies.
[ Martin (1997), p. 122] The expedition arrived at its first target,
Fort Halifax(Maine), a decaying relic of the
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the ...
, on the second day. There was a rough track from Fort Western, so some of the men and supplies had moved overland rather than in the bateaux that had to be
portaged around the falls above Fort Western to begin the trip.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 57] Arnold, rather than traveling in a heavy bateau, traveled in a lighter
canoe
A canoe is a lightweight narrow water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle.
In British English, the ter ...
so that he might move more rapidly among the troops along the travel route.
Arnold reached
Norridgewock Falls, location of the last settlements on the Kennebec, on October 2. Even at this early date, problems were apparent. The bateaux were leaking, resulting in spoiled food and a continual need for repairs. The men were constantly wet, due not only to the leakage but also the frequent need to pull the heavy boats upstream. As temperatures began to drop below freezing,
colds
The common cold or the cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the respiratory mucosa of the nose, throat, sinuses, and larynx. Signs and symptoms may appear fewer than two days after exposu ...
and
dysentery
Dysentery (UK pronunciation: , US: ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications ...
set in, reducing the effectiveness of the force.
[ Martin (1997), pp. 123–124]
The portage around Norridgewock Falls, a distance of about one mile (1.6 km), was accomplished with the assistance of oxen provided by the local settlers, but it took almost a week to complete; Arnold did not depart from there until October 9. Colburn's crew devoted some of this time to making repairs on the bateaux.
[ Smith (1903), p. 109] Most of the expedition reached the Great Carrying Place on October 11, and Arnold arrived the next day. This stretch of the trek was complicated by heavy rains, rendering the portages difficult due to extremely muddy conditions.
[ Desjardin (2006), pp. 63–64]
The Great Carrying Place
![DanielMorgan](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/DanielMorgan.jpeg)
The Great Carrying Place was a portage of roughly 12 miles (19 km), bypassing an unnavigable section of the
Dead River, the tributary of the Kennebec that the expedition was to follow. The portage included a rise in elevation of about 1,000 feet (305 m) to the high points of the carry, with three ponds along the way.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 68] Lieutenant Church, the leader of the survey team, described the route as a "bad road but capable of being made good", an assessment that turned out to be somewhat optimistic.
[ Martin (1997), p. 125]
The vanguard of the main body, led by Daniel Morgan, met Lieutenant Steele's scouting party en route to the first pond.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 48] This party had successfully scouted the route to the height of land above the Dead River, but the men were near starvation. Their supplies had been depleted, and they were largely subsisting on a protein-rich diet of fish, moose, and duck.
[ Desjardin (2006), pp. 31–48] Most of the men continued to supplement their meager supplies with the local wildlife as the expedition continued.
Church, in his description of the route, had failed to account for the heavy rains and the boggy conditions between the first and second ponds. Rain and snow slowed the long portage, and the expedition had its first casualty when a falling tree killed one of the party. Some of the men who drank the stagnant waters along the way became violently ill, forcing Arnold to order construction of a shelter at the second pond as cover for the sick, and to send some men back to Fort Halifax for supplies that had been cached there.
[ Martin (1997), pp. 125–126]
The first two battalions finally reached the Dead River on October 13, and Arnold arrived three days later. At this point, Arnold wrote a number of letters informing Washington and Montgomery of his progress. Several letters intended for Montgomery were intercepted and turned over to Quebec's Lieutenant Governor
Hector Theophilus de Cramahé, giving Quebec its first notice that the expedition was on its way.
[ Martin (1997), pp. 126–127] Arnold also dispatched the survey team again, this time to mark the trail all the way to Lake Mégantic.
[ Smith (1903), p. 131]
Ascending the Dead River
Progress up the Dead River was extremely slow. Contrary to its name, which supposedly described the speed of its currents, the river was flowing rapidly enough that the men had trouble rowing and poling against the current. The leaky boats spoiled more of the food, forcing Arnold to put everyone on half rations. Then, on October 19, the skies opened, and the river began to rise in the pouring rain. Early on October 22, the men awoke to discover that the river had risen to the level of their camp, and they had to scramble to even higher ground for safety. When the sun rose they were surrounded by water.
[ Martin (1997), p. 127]
After spending most of that day drying out, the expedition set off on October 23. Precious time was lost when some of the men mistakenly left the Dead River and ascended one of its branches, having been fooled by the high water. Soon after, seven bateaux overturned, spoiling the remaining food stores. This accident compelled Arnold to consider turning back. He called together his nearby officers for a
council of war
A council of war is a term in military science that describes a meeting held to decide on a course of action, usually in the midst of a battle. Under normal circumstances, decisions are made by a commanding officer, optionally communicated ...
. Arnold explained that although the situation was grim, he thought that the expedition should continue. The officers agreed, and decided to pick an advance party that would proceed as rapidly as possible to French settlements on the Chaudière, and work to bring supplies back. The sick and infirm were to retreat to American settlements in Maine.
[ Martin (1997), pp. 130–131]
Further back on the route, Lieutenant Colonel Greene and his men were starving. They had little flour, and were consuming candle
tallow
Tallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton fat, primarily made up of triglycerides.
In industry, tallow is not strictly defined as beef or mutton fat. In this context, tallow is animal fat that conforms to certain technical criteria, includ ...
and shoe leather to supplement their minimal rations. On October 24, Greene attempted to catch up with Arnold, but was unable to do so because Arnold had moved too far ahead. When he returned to camp, Lieutenant Colonel Enos had arrived, and they held their own council. Enos's captains were united in wanting to turn back despite Arnold's most recent orders, which were to press ahead. In the council, Enos cast a tie-breaking vote in favor of continuing, but in a meeting with his captains after the council, announced that because they were insistent on returning, he was acceding to their decision, and would return. After giving Greene's men some of his supplies, Enos and 450 men turned back.
[ Desjardin (2006), pp. 80–81]
Lake Mégantic
![ChaudiereFalls23](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/ChaudiereFalls23.jpg)
The impact of the inaccurate maps was felt when the expedition reached the height of land.
[ Smith (1903), pp. 4–23] Portions of the advance party became lost in swampy bogs (the area surrounding Spider Lake on the topographic map shown above) that were not on those maps, resulting in delays reaching
Lake Mégantic
Lake Mégantic (french: Lac Mégantic, ) is a body of water in Québec, located in the Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern ...
. Although this part of the party crossed the height of land on October 25, it was not until two days later that they reached the lake.
[ Martin (1997), pp. 134–135] On October 28, the advance party descended the upper Chaudière, destroying three of their bateaux when they turned over and crashed into rocks above some falls on the river. The next day they encountered several
Penobscot
The Penobscot (Abenaki: ''Pαnawάhpskewi'') are an Indigenous people in North America from the Northeastern Woodlands region. They are organized as a federally recognized tribe in Maine and as a First Nations band government in the Atlantic ...
Indians, who confirmed that they were not far from
Sartigan, the southernmost French settlement on the Chaudière.
[ Martin (1997), p. 136]
Arnold, when he reached Lake Mégantic, sent a man back to the two remaining battalions with instructions on how to navigate the swampy lands above the lake. However, the way Arnold described the route included information from the incorrect maps that he had not seen on the route.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 90] As a result, some elements of the expedition spent two days lost in swamps before the majority finally reached the falls on the upper Chaudière on October 31.
[ Martin (1997), pp. 137–138] Along the way, Captain
Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn (February 23, 1751 – June 6, 1829) was an American military officer and politician. In the Revolutionary War, he served under Benedict Arnold in his expedition to Quebec, of which his journal provides an important record ...
's dog was eaten, an event recorded in his diary: "
hey ateevery part of him, not excepting his entrails; and after finishing their meal, they collected the bones and carried them to be pounded up, and to make broth for another meal."
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 99]
Arrival at Quebec
Arnold first made contact with the local population on October 30. Sympathetic to his plight, they supplied provisions and cared for the sick; some were well paid for their aid, while others refused payment.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 112] Arnold distributed copies of a letter written by Washington asking the habitants to assist the expedition, and Arnold added promises to respect the persons, property, and religion of the locals. Jacques Parent, a Canadien from
Pointe-Levi, notified Arnold that Lieutenant Governor Cramahé had ordered the destruction of all boats on the southern banks of the Saint Lawrence after receiving the intercepted communications.
[ Lanctot (1967), pp. 97–98]
On November 9 the expedition finally reached the Saint Lawrence at Pointe-Levi, across the river from Quebec. Arnold had about 600 of his original 1,100 men,
[ Smith (1907), Volume 1, p. 152] and the journey had turned out to be 350 miles (560 km), not the 180 that Arnold and Washington had thought it would be.
[ Smith (1903), p 231] From John Halstead, a New Jersey-born businessman who operated a mill near Pointe-Levi, Arnold learned of the arrest of his courier and the interception of some of his letters. Halstead's mill became the organizing point for the crossing of the Saint Lawrence. Some of Arnold's men purchased canoes from the habitants and the local Saint Francis Indians, and then transported them from the Chaudière to the mill site.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 128] The forces crossed the Saint Lawrence on the night of November 13–14 after three days of bad weather, likely crossing the mile-wide river between the positions of
HMS ''Hunter'' and
HMS ''Lizard'', two Royal Navy ships that were guarding the river against such a crossing.
[ Smith (1903), pp. 251–255]
The city of Quebec was then defended by about 150 men of the
Royal Highland Emigrants under Lieutenant Colonel
Allen Maclean, supported by about 500 poorly organized local
militia
A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...
and 400
marines
Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...
from the two warships.
[ Alden (1969), p. 205] When Arnold and his troops finally reached the
Plains of Abraham
The Plains of Abraham (french: Plaines d'Abraham) is a historic area within the Battlefields Park in Quebec City, Quebec, anada. It was established on 17 March 1908. The land is the site of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which took plac ...
on November 14, Arnold sent a negotiator with a white flag to demand their surrender, to no avail. The Americans, with no
cannon
A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...
s or other
field artillery, and barely fit for action, faced a fortified city. After hearing rumors of a planned
sortie from the city, Arnold decided on November 19 to withdraw to
Pointe-aux-Trembles
Pointe-aux-Trembles was a municipality, founded in 1674, that was annexed by Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1982. This was the last city to be merged into Montreal until the 2002 municipal reorganization.
On January 1, 2002 this neighbourhood a ...
to wait for Montgomery, who had recently captured Montreal.
[ Thayer (1867), p. xiv]
Aftermath
![Roger Enos](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Roger_Enos.jpg)
When Montgomery arrived at Pointe-aux-Trembles on December 3, the combined force returned to the city and began a siege, finally
assaulting it on December 31.
[ Stanley (1973), pp. 88–95] The battle was a devastating loss for the Americans; Montgomery was killed, Arnold was wounded, and Daniel Morgan was captured along with more than 350 men.
[ Stanley (1973), p. 104] Arnold did not learn until after the battle that he had been promoted to brigadier general for his role in leading the expedition.
[ Martin (1997), p. 195]
The invasion ended with a retreat back to
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga (), formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century star fort built by the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain, in northern New York, in the United States. It was constructed by Canadian-born French milit ...
, Montgomery's starting point, during the spring and summer of 1776. Arnold, who commanded the army's rear guard in the later stages of the retreat, was able to delay the British advance sufficiently to prevent them from attempting to reach the Hudson River in 1776.
[ Stanley (1973), pp. 139–144]
Enos and his detachment arrived back in Cambridge late in November. Enos was
court-martialed
A court-martial or court martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of memb ...
, charged with "quitting his commanding officer without leave".
[ Randall (1990), pp. 179–180] He was acquitted, and returned to service as Lieutenant Colonel of the 16th Connecticut Regiment.
[ Randall (1990), p. 180]
John Sullivan, the court-martial President, made public a written statement in support of Enos' conduct, and other officers also issued a public circular to support Enos, including
William Heath
William Heath (March 2, 1737 – January 24, 1814) was an American farmer, soldier, and political leader from Massachusetts who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Life and career
Heath m ...
,
John Stark
Major-General John Stark (August 28, 1728 – May 8, 1822) was an American military officer who served during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. He became known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Batt ...
,
Joseph Reed, and
James Reed.
Enos subsequently moved to
Vermont
Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...
, where he served in the militia as Colonel, Brigadier General and Major General, including commanding troops on the Vermont side of
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain ( ; french: Lac Champlain) is a natural freshwater lake in North America. It mostly lies between the US states of New York and Vermont, but also extends north into the Canada, Canadian province of Quebec.
The New York portion of t ...
during the
Saratoga campaign to deter
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne (24 February 1722 – 4 August 1792) was a British general, dramatist and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1761 to 1792. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several bat ...
from foraying into Vermont.
Reuben Colburn was never paid for his work, despite promises made by Arnold and Washington; the expedition ruined him financially.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 204]
Henry Dearborn settled on the Kennebec River after the war, and represented the area in the U.S. Congress before President
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the natio ...
appointed him
Secretary of War
The secretary of war was a member of the U.S. president's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the ...
in 1801.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 200] Private Simon Fobes, who kept one of the many journals of the expedition, was captured in the Battle of Quebec. He and two others escaped captivity in August 1776 and retraced the trek in the opposite direction, once again with meager resources. They benefited from better weather and equipment the expedition had abandoned along the way. Fobes reached his home near
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester ( , ) is a city and county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, the city's population was 206,518 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the second-List of cities i ...
at the end of September, and eventually rejoined the army.
[ Desjardin (2006), pp. 205–207] Captain
Simeon Thayer kept a journal which was published by the
Rhode Island Historical Society
The Rhode Island Historical Society is a privately endowed membership organization, founded in 1822, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of Rhode Island. Its offices are located in Providence, Rhode Island.
History
Found ...
in 1867 as ''The invasion of Canada in 1775''. After being captured at Quebec, Thayer was exchanged on July 1, 1777 and returned to the Continental Army with the rank of major. He distinguished himself during the
siege of Fort Mifflin
The siege of Fort Mifflin or siege of Mud Island Fort from September 26 to November 16, 1777 saw British land batteries commanded by Captain John Montresor and a British naval squadron under Vice Admiral Lord Richard Howe attempt to capture an ...
in November 1777 and briefly assumed command after the post's commandant was wounded.
Legacy
A number of geographic features along the route of the expedition bear names related to the expedition. East Carry Pond, Middle Carry Pond, and West Carry Pond are all on the route of the portage at the Great Carrying Place, which is in the Carrying Place of Maine.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 33] Arnold Pond is the last pond on the Dead River before crossing the height of land.
[ Desjardin (2006), p. 38] Mount Bigelow in Maine was named for Major
Timothy Bigelow, one of Arnold's officers.
The wilderness portion of the route through Maine, roughly from Augusta to the Quebec border, was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1969 as the "Arnold Trail to Quebec".
The
Major Reuben Colburn House, which served as Arnold's headquarters, is now a state historic site administered by the non-profit Arnold Expedition Historical Society, and is also listed on the National Register. Both Fort Western and Fort Halifax are
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
s, primarily for their age and their role in earlier conflicts.
A historical marker in
Danvers, Massachusetts commemorates Arnold's expedition, placed by the Massachusetts Society, Sons of the American Revolution. There is also a historical marker in
Moscow, Maine
Moscow is a town in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The population was 475 at the 2020 census.
History
Moscow Air Force Station, a radar installation comprising numerous steel antenna towers in three linear arrays on 1,494 acres about ...
placed in 1916 by the Kennebec chapter of the
Daughters of the American Revolution, and two at Skowhegan Island in Maine placed in 1912 and 2000 by the Eunice Farnsworth Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
In
Eustis, Maine
Eustis is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 641 at the 2020 census. Eustis, which includes the village of Stratton, is a popular recreation area.
History
Benedict Arnold and his troops passed through the area o ...
, on the western shore of
Flagstaff Lake, stands a marker commemorating the expedition. The lake was created in the 20th century by damming the Dead River, inundating part of the expedition route. Mount Bigelow, whose first recorded ascent was by Timothy Bigelow, stands just south of the lake.
In the fall of 1975, there was a reenactment of this expedition as part of the
United States Bicentennial
The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to historical events leading up to the creation of the United States of America as an independent republic. It was a central event ...
celebrations.
Notes
References
*
*
*
*
*
* This book includes a reprint of Arnold's diary of his march.
*
*
*
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
KMZ filecontaining geographic pointers to expedition route points of interest in Maine
{{featured article
1775 in the Province of Quebec (1763–1791)
1775 in the Thirteen Colonies
Benedict Arnold
Canadian campaign
Canada–United States relations
Maine in the American Revolution
Military expeditions of the United States
Military history of Quebec
Massachusetts in the American Revolution