The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for IndependenceLossing, Benson John
History
The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for Independence
Lossing, Benson John
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
About the middle of August, a committee of Congress visited Washington
in his camp, and a plan was then devised to send a force to Canada, by
way of the Kennebec River, to co-operate with Schuyler, already
preparing to invade that province by way of the North ern lakes. Arnold
was then at Cambridge, uttering loud complaints of ill usage upon Lake
Champlain. His bravery was well known, and the proposed expedition was
exactly suited to his adventurous disposition. To silence his complaints
and to secure his services, Washington appointed him to the command of
that perilous expedition, and at the same time gave him a commission of
colonel in the Continental army. Eleven hundred hardy men were detached
for the service from the army, consisting of ten companies of musketeers
from New England and three companies of riflemen from Virginia and
Pennsylvania. Arnold's field officers were Lieutenant-colonel
Christopher Greene (the hero of Red Bank, on the Delaware), Lieutenant-
colonel Roger Enos, and Majors Meigs and Bigelow. The riflemen were
commanded by Captain Daniel Morgan, the renowned partisan leader in
subsequent years of the war.
Arnold and his troops marched from Cambridge to Newburyport, where they
embarked September 18 on board eleven transports for the mouth of the
Kennebec. They reached Gardiner in safety and found two hundred bateaux
ready for them at Pitts-ton, on the opposite side of the river.
Carpenters had been previously sent to construct
* Artemas Ward was a native of Massachusetts, and graduated at Harvard
in 1748. He was successively a representative in the Legislature and
member of the Council of his state. He was also a justice of the Court
of Common Pleas for Worcester county. Having considerable military
knowledge, he was chosen to command the army that gathered around Boston
in the spring of 1775. Congress appointed him the first of the four
major generals under Washington, and to him was assigned the division of
the army at Roxbury, when the siege of Boston, in 1776, took place. He
resigned his commission a month after that event, yet, at the request of
Washington, he continued in command till toward the last of May. He was
a member of Congress under the Confederation, and also after the
adoption of the present Constitution. He died at Shrewsbury in 1800,
aged 73 years.
** Four major generals and eight brigadiers were appointed at the same
time. To the former rank were chosen Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, Philip
Schuyler, and Israel Putnam (the Major Putnam in the French and Indian
war); to the latter, Seth Pomeroy (supposed to be the soldier who shot
Dieskau), Richard Montgomery, David Wooster, William Heath, Joseph
Spencer, John Thomas, John Sullivan, and Nathaniel Greene. Horatio Gates
was appointed adjutant general, with the rank of brigadier.
Arrival at Fort Western.--Norridgewock Falls.--The Ancient Indians.--
Father Ralle.--Fatiguing Portage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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