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Las disgrsmmss suhrsnts Hiustrant la mAthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 A JOURNAL OF Till EXPEDITION TO QUEBEC, IN THE YEAR 1775, USDEtt THE COMMAND OF COLONEL BENEDICT ARNOLD. nr JAMES MP]T, YIN, A PRIVATE IN CAPTAIN UKAKItOK.X'a COMPANY. NEW YORK 1S57. 0N8 lllT.vnRED COMES. PRHMTK1.V PRIXTKD. ^ uiitmtiid) M^ .^<- fi^ift'Ot.*-*-'^^ yr//. ^P E "Xb 1 ■ m6'3 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. The march of Arnold and hia determined followers across the wilder- ness of Maine, and the subsequent attack and repulse at Quebec, form one of the most interesting, as well as exciting episodes in our revolu- tionary history; the fortitude also with which these devoted men sustained themselves amid the gloom and solitude of those untrodden wilds, merits the grateful preservation of all records which may have escaped the de- caying elements of time and neglect. A spirit, akin to this, has led to the issuing of the following Journal of a soldier in that expedition. For the purpose of co-operating with General Schuyler, who had the command of the invasion of Canada, Washington planned this expedi- tion to Quebec, which was as remarkable for its novelty and boldness, as for the dangers and difficulties which it involved. These overcome, how- ever, and a brilliant and speedy issue to the struggle in Canada, was ren- dered a!aiost certain. The subject of this expedition was first named by WASHiNaioN, in a letter to Qeneral Schcyler, dated at Cambridge, 20th of August, 1775, in which he says, " The design of this express is to communicate to you a plan of an expedition, which has engaged my thoughts for several days. It is to penetrate to Canada, by way of the Kennebec river, and so to Quebec, by a route ninety-six miles below Montreal." He also says, " The few whom I have consulted upon it, ap- prove it much ; but the final determination is deferred until I hear from you." The scheme having met the approval of General Schuyler, mea- sures were at once taken by the Commander-in-Chief to put it in opera- tion. ae)0^f§0 ▼I INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. The active and rcarlcss spirit which Brnrdict Arnold evinced, par- ticnlarly at the tuicing of Ticonderoga, pointed to him as one eminently qualified to command on expedition, so daring and adventurous as that determined upon. Tliese actions were not forgotten by Wasiiinqton, and he accordingly selected him to take the command, and with it a commission as Colonel in the continental lino. Arnold, after receiving his instructions, which enjoined him to prose- cute the march with all diligence and despatch, and to conciliate the good will of the people, through whose country he should pass, with eleven hundred men, commenced his march, and after six weeks' struggle, a few days before Montgomery entered Montreal, he reached the south bank of the St. Lawrence, opposite Quebea *' The long, difficult and laborious march of Arnold, through hard, ships and dangers, that would have appalled the stoutest follower of Zenophon — his subsequent seige and blockade of one of the strongest military posts in the world, in the heart of the enemy's country, in the midst of a northern winter, where nothing was seen but ice and snow, with raw recruits, half clad, half fed, and scarcely half covered firom the storms of wind and snow — the expedition to Canada may fairly be placed on a parallel with any of the boasted achievements of ancient. Greece or Rome. Nor was the conclusion of it less honorable, though less briU liant — the retreat of General Sullivan will hold a rank among the most glorious efforts of military genius, so long as the world shall delight in war." Of James Melvin, the author of this journal, we know nothing, save what he has given us in the written account of his connection with that expedition, and from which it appears that he was attached to Captain Dearborn's company, which had been formed from a New Hampshire regiment; but whether he held any grade higher than that of a private, we have no means of knowing. The style of the composition, and ex- INTRODUCTORY REHARK8. Vll ccodingty nnat penmanship of tho journal, Ih strong evidence, however, tliat he pOHsesflCH], for tho times, coiiHidcrttblo education. Asa contribu- tion to the history of Arnold's march to Canada, it is of great value, when we consider how very meagre are the details given by historians in general, when treating of that important movement of the beginning of the Revolution. Of the officers attached to the expedition, it has been remarked, that nearly all becam-^ distinguished — Morgan, Burr, Dkar- BORN, Qreen, Boyo and Porterfirld, are names found in many of the bloody conflicts of that protracted war. Of Arnold, tho world knows his career, and we may remark with Mrs. Warren, " That he lived to be conspicuously distinguished through tho American war, for his bra- very and address, bis activity and his villainy." W. J. D. ep A JOURNAL. 1776. [)t. 18. 14. 16. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. CaHBRIDOB, SBPTEHBint 18, 1775. This day being Wednesday, marched from Cambridge, in Capt. DearbornV company, destined for Quebec, and were to embark at Newburyport for Kennebec river. "We lodged in Medford. Received one month's pay, and marched to Lynn; lodged at Porter's tavern. Marched to Ipswich. Marched to Newburyport; the company were quartered in a rope-walk. Sunday — the detachment went to meeting. P. M. — Embarked on board a schooner of seventy-five tons; the whole were embarked in eleven vessels. About 10 o'clock sailed out of the harbor, and stood on and off, waiting for one of the vessels which got aground, and not getting off, the men were put on board the other vessels, and we sailed in the afternoon, with a fair wind and pleasant weather; at night it grew thick and foggy, with rain, thunder and lightning, and blowed fresh. In the morning, foggy and wet; lay too part of the night; at daybreak two of our fleet were in sight, and we made sail and stood in for the shore. Blowed fresh — ^we made Seguin. 1 Afterward Major-Oeneral and Secretary of War. 10 JOURNAL. 1776. Sept. 21. 28. 25. 26. 27. 28. 80. Ocfr. 6. 7. Saw two of our vessels coming out of Sheepsgut river into Eennebeck. We proceeded up the river as far as the tide would permit, and came to anchor within six miles of Fort "Wo8tern.2 Arrived at Fort Western. One Jaues McCoemick shot Sergeant Bishop. McCormiek was found guilty. He was brought to the gallows and reprieved. Got our provisions into batteaux, and went about four miles. Proceeded up the river and found the water shoal, which caused a rapid current, and we were obliged often to get out and wade, pulling the boat after us. Arrived at Fort Halifax, where was the first carrying place; the land here is better than that near the sea. We carried over our batteaux and provisions; the carrying place is opposite the fort. Proceeded up the river; encamped in the woods; went about ten miles. Cold and rainy. Came to Scowliegan falls; the carrying place is about forty rods over a little island. Went up to Bumazecs Ripples, and came to Norrigewalk. The carriage-place is about a mile in length. We had oxen to haul over our provision. Our batteaux were caulked. We were now to take our leave of houses and settlements, of which we saw no more, except one Indian wigwam, 'till we came among the French, in Canada. Left Norrigewalk; went about five miles. Went about twelve miles and encamped. The land here is level and good; the river rapid. Proceeded up the river and encamped about five miles below the falls. 2. Opposite the present town of Augusta. ^i^wnt JOURNAL. 11 1776. lOcfr. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 16. 47. 18. 19 20; 21. Arrived at the great carrying-place, where was a log house built for the sick. Mr. Spring,' our chaplain, went to prayers; W3 went to the first pond, four miles from the river; it bio wed hard, and one of the men was killed by the falling of a tree. Crossed the first pond about three-quarters of a mile over; here is plenty of fine trout. There was a log house built on the first carrying-place, between the first and second ponds. Crossed the carrying-place from this pond to another; the carrying-place is about one mile over. Crossed the pond about half a mile over, and got over the carrying-place about one and a half miles in length; the woods are cedar and hemlock. Crossed the third pond, about one and a half miles over. We got over the fourth carrying-place, four and a half miles in length; part of the way over a boggy swamp, over- grown with white moss and bushes, which seemed half withered; found it difficult getting over our batteaux and barrels, sinking knee deep in moss and mud. We launched our batteaux into a small creek which enters the Dead river. Went eighteen miles up the Dead river. Overtook Col. Green* and his party about twenty-five miles up Dead river; had orders to put ourselves in a de- fensive condition. Had orders to march, and went about five miles. Rained all last night and this day. Marched through hideous woods and mountains for the most part, but sometimes on the banks of the river, which is very rapid. « 3. Father of the Rev. Oabdineb Speino, D.D., Pastor of the Prick Church. 4. The hero of Red Bank, who, with his command, were afierward sur- prised and murdered by a party of Refugees, near Pine's Bridge, West- chester county, May 13, 1781. 2 ' '" ^^t*- .1^" 12 JOURNAL. in Ocfr. 6. 23. 24. 26. 26. 27. .3 lUlli 28. Captain Handshill"- and sixty men went forward with ten days' provision; about forty sick and weak men went back with only two or three days' provision. The river here is narrow and excessive rapid. Continued our march, tliough slowly. Hear that Colonel Innis'" division are gone back. Crossed the fifth carrying-place, which brought us to the first pond, leading to Chadeur^ river. Crossed the second carrying-place, three-quarters of a mile, then crossed second pond, then third carrying-place and third pond, then fourth carrying-place and fourth pond, and encamped. Came down Chadeur river in a birch canoe, and went to fetch back a batteau to carry the men across a river, but could not overtake them. The company were ten miles, wading knee deep among alders, &c., the greatest part of the way, and came to a river which had overflown the land. We stopped some time not knowing what to do, and at last were obliged to wade through it, the ground giving way under us at every step. We got on a little knoll of land and went ten miles, where we were obliged to stay, night coming on, and we were all cold and wet; one man fainted in the water with fatigue and cold, but was helped along. We had to wade into the water and chop down trees, fetch the wood out of the water after dark to make a fire to dry ourselves; however, at last we got a fire, and after eating a mouthful of pork, laid ourselves down to sleep round the fire, the water surrounding us close to our heads; if it had 5. Hanchel. " Head Quarters before Quebec, Dec. 26." "I have dis- covered that three companies of Col. Arnold's detachment are very averse to a coup.de-main, Capt. Hanchel, who has incurred Col. Arnold's dis- pleasure, is at the bottom of it. A field officer is concerned in it. This dangerous party threatens the ruin of our affairs. — Extract from General Montgomery's letter. Dunlap's History of JVcw York, vol. ii,p. 24. 6. Col. EnoB. 7. Chaudiere. JOURNAL. Id Ocfr. 28 rained hard it would have overflown the place we were in. Capt. Goodrich's company had only three-quarters of a pound of pork, each man, and a barrel of flour among the whole. They ordered the batteau to proceed down the river with the flour, and when they came to the place above- mentioned, waded through. They came to the knoll of land beforementioned, and made a fire to dry themselves, being almost perished. After some time they marched, and found the diffitulty increasing, being informed they must return the way they came; being night, they camped on the dryest spot they could find. •• 29. Being Sunday; crossed a river after much fatigue and losa of time, in a birch canoe, and then waded to another river, about forty rods from the first, which we crossed last night. I lay at a bark house, and this morning went in the canoe to ferry over the people over the two rivers above-mention- ed, leaving my provision behind, as did Captain Dearborn and tie three other officers. After we got over these rivers, Captain Dearborn, steering by a bad compass, went wrong about two miles, the company following, and we went back again, then went two or three miles to a little bark house, where I had left my provision, and on coming there found that our provision was stolen by Captain Morgan's* com- pany. Goodrich's company came to the lower end of Chadeur pond expecting to find their batteau with the flour, but were disappointed. «• 30. I set out in a birch bark canoe with Capt. Dearborn and Captain Ayres. We proceeded to the lower end of the pond, where Captain Dearborn left the canoe, and Cap- tain Ayres and I proceeded down Chadeur river, about three miles, and came to a riply place, which was very dan- gerous, the rocks standing up all over the river. Here a batteau was stove, with four men, and one man drowned, 8. The hero of the " Cowpens.' 14 JOURNAL. 81. Octr.80. named George Innis. I got safe down this place, and from bad or worse; proceeded till night, and encamped with the company. Goodrich's company set out early, though on empty stomachs, and marched about ten miles in hopes to overtake their battcau with the flour, but coming to a small creek, they found an advertisement set up, in- forming them that their battcau was stove and the flour lost, and the men with difficulty having saved their lives. This was melancholy news to them, having eaten scarcely any thing for several days, and having waded through ice and water, and were a great way from any inhabitants, and knew not how far it was. They agreed to part, and the heartiest to push forward as fast as they could. This day I took my pack and went by land, all the way, to inhabitants. I was not well, having the flux. We went twenty-one miles. Goodrich's company marched three miles and were overtaken by Captain Smith, who informed them that Captain Goodrich had left two quarters of a dog for them. They stopped and sent for the meat, but the men returned without finding it; however, some of them killed another dog^ which belonged to us, which probably saved some of their lives. Captain Ward's company killed another dog. Continued unwell; this day I eat the last of my provis- ion; I kept with the company, and we went twenty miles. Traveled four miles; I shot a small bird called a sedee, and a squirrel, which I lived upm this day. About noon we met some Frenchmen with cattle for our army, and some meal in a canoe. I had a small piece of meat and bread Nov'r. 1. !l I 9. Tins dog belonged to Capt Dearborn, and was a great favorite "My dog was very large and a great favorite. I gave him up to several of Capt. Goodrich's company. They carried him to their company, and killed and divided him among those who were suffering most severely with hunger. They ate every part of him, not excepting his entndh."— Letter of Gen. Dearborn to the Rev. William Allen. JOURNAL. 15 1778, . , , Nov'r. 2. given me; yesterday my messmates gave away victuals to strangers but refused me, though they knew I had mine stolen from me. This evening, to our great joy, we arrived at the first French house, where was provision ready for us. The first victuals I got was some boiled rice, which I bought of the Indians, giving one shilling and four pence for about a pint and a half. Here we were joined by about seventy or eighty Indians, all finely ornamented in their way with broaches, bracelets and other trinkets, and their faces painted. I had gone barefoot these two or three days, and wore my feet sore. " 8. Snowed all day; marched about nine miles, when we drawed provisions. " 4. Marched about thirteen miles. •« 5. Sunday — marched about twelve miles. Our Colonel went forward and got beef killed for us every ten or twelve miles, and served us potatoes instead of bread. I stood sentry over one Flood, who was whipped for stealing Captain Dearborn's pocket book. This was at St. Mary's. «' 6. Marched twenty miles; very bad traveling, as it was all the way to Quebec. Twelve miles was through woods, in the night, mid leg in mud and snow. I traveled the whole day without eating, and could not get any house to lay in, but lodged in a barn all night. •' 7. Marched fifteen miles; snowed all day. My money be- ing gone I could get nothing to eat 'till night, when there was an ox killed. •< 8. Marched six miles and came to Point Levi, on the river St. Lawrence, opposite Quebec. " 9. Our people took a prisoner, who was a midshipman.^" 10 ' ' The boat soon struck the bank, and a midshipman, a lad named Mc- Kenzie, brother to the captain of the frigate, sprang ashore. The tide ebbing at the time, the IxMit's crew were ordered to shove oflf, and to go higher up to a deeper landing place. While obeying this order they dis- covered the Americans on the bank above, and immediately pulled off 16 JOURNAL. Nov'r.'o. Continued at Point Levi; kept guard along the river side, making scaling ladders and collecting canoes to cross the river; the enemy having broken all the boats they could find. " 18. In the evening crossed St. Lawrence at the mill above Point Levi, and landed at Wolfe's cove. I went back twice to fetch over the people, and stayed 'till day. The town wa& alarmed by our Colonel firing at a boat on the river. We went to Major Caldwell's house, about two miles from the city, where we were quartered; a whole company having only one small room. '« 14. One of our sentries was taken by the enemy, which alarmed us; we expected they were come to give us battle, and the whole detachment marched within musquet shot of the walls, but saw none to oppose us; but when we were turned to go back they fired several cannon shots at us, without doing any damage. The detachment went out on a scout; I went on guard at Wolfe's cove. Went on guard at Wolfe's cove. I was employed all the fore part of last night in butch- ering for the army, and about four in the morning got on our march and went to Point aux Trembles, about twenty- six miles above Quebec. We kept guard at the river Caroche. 27. Monday — Lieut. Hutchixs and sixty men, went up to meet and convoy a quantity of gunpowder, clothes, &c. 16. 17. 19. Bhore, leaving their officer to his fate. Morgan, frustrated in the design ho had formed to surprise and capture the boat's crew, now opened a fire upon them. The midshipman, comprehending at once his situation, plunged into the river, in tlie hope to regain his boat; but being deserted by tlie boat's crew, who pulled out still further from the reach of danger, and noticing the balls which now struck the water around him in fearful proximity to his head, he turned toward the shore, and otherwise signified his willingness to surrender."— Lj/
<
26.
27.
28.
29.
80.
81.
Snowojtl in tlio morning; clear at night.
CIcur and cold. The French guard of boys and old men
are very Hiiucy — threatening us daily.
Cloudy a. id cold.
Sunday. Cold and squally.
Clear and cold.
Last night one of our men escaped out of goal and got
clear. Altout this time a plan was laid for our enlarge-
ment, and we prepared to break out and make our escape,
by seizing the guard. Clear and cold.
Clear and cold,
do. do.
Clear; a warm sun.
Clear; a warm sun.
Sundoy. Snnwod; ourschonio found out; the sentry hear-
ing sonic noise in the ccihir, search was made, and some
suspicion raised wliioli mi]u:ht iiave passed off had not one
of our own men, John Hall, discovered the whole aflfair,
and all tlie sergeants and corporals were put in irons.
April 1.
tl
2
it
3;
II
4.
11
6.
.1
6.
11
7.
.April, 177fi.
Fair weatlier. Tliis morning the guard turned out and
fired some time before tlio goal; then the alarm bell rang,
ai>d the cannon on the walls were fired in order to draw
our army near the walls that they might ;it them off with
grape shot. This day Ave were almost A in irons.
Pleasant weather.
Cannonading on ])oth sides. Our army are erecting a
battery at Point Levi . Cloudy, and rained in the afternoon .
Squally .
Fair weather.
Cloudy and cold.
Sunday ,
Cloudy.
1776.
April 9.
10.
11.
12.
18.
> 14.
" 16,
" 16.
•• 17.
18.