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The invasion of Canada was one of the very earliest strategic moves in the war of the Revolution. From the inception of the struggle with the mother country, the colonists appreciated to the full the military and political advantages to be gained by enlisting the Canadians in its support.
General Washington, who had recently taken command of the colonial troops besieging Boston, had communicated to Congress, with his approval, another expedition, to be sent against Canada. This army was to attempt by rapid marches to surprise and capture Quebec. The expedition thus resolved upon, Washington chose Benedict Arnold as its commander, and Congress promptly voted him a colonel's commission in the Continental service.
The young officer entrusted with this responsible command was born at Norwich, Connecticut, January 14, 1741. He came of good stock, being a great-grandson of Benedict Arnold, the second governor of the colony of Rhode Island.
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As a youngster, Arnold ran away to serve in the French War of 1756, but was promptly returned at the request of his parents. Arnold's mother's name was Hannah Waterman, and her family was worthy and influential. It was her interest, no doubt, which secured her son's apprenticeship to the trade of apothecary with her relatives, Drs. Daniel and Joshua Lothrop, both graduates of Yale College, and the leading importers of drugs in New England. Having served his apprenticeship, he made several voyages to the West Indies as super-cargo of a vessel in which he was interested, and then upon returning from a journey to London, he hung out his sign at New Haven, "B. Arnold, druggist, bookseller, etc. From London."
He had married, in New Haven, Miss Margaret Mansfield, the accom- plished daughter of Samuel Mansfield, high-sheriff of the county, by whom he had three children. He was rather short in stature, thickset and very muscular, and of good figure. He had dark hair, light eyes, a florid com- plexion and features which might fairly be called handsome. He was an excellent horseman, no mean sailor, and a splendid shot with either rifle or pistol. His skill with the latter had stood him in good stead on the dueling-ground, and was destined to save his life once, at least, in close quarters on the battlefield.
The plan of campaign had nothing novel in it, beyond the route of the inland waters of Maine and Canada and the element of surprise.
"From the mouth of the Kennebec River to Quebec, on a straight line," he wrote to Congress, "is two hundred and ten miles. The river is navigable for sloops about thirty-eight miles, and for flat-bottomed boats about twenty-two miles; then you meet Ticonic Falls, and from Ticonic Falls to Norridgewock, as the river runs, is thirty-one miles, from thence to the first carrying place, about thirty miles; carrying place four miles, then a pond to cross and another carrying place about two miles to another pond; then a carrying place about three or four miles to another pond, then a carrying place to the western branch of the Kennebec River, called the Dead River, then up that river as it runs thirty miles, some small falls and short carrying places intervening ; then you come to the Height of Land and about six miles carrying places, into a branch which leads into Ammeguntick pond, the head of Chaudiere River, which falls into the St. Lawrence about four miles above Quebec."
The greatest difficulty before the expedition from a military point of view lay in the inadequacy of the Kennebec settlements as a base of supplies in case of unforeseen emergencies. The hamlets, towns only in name, were hardly more than clearings in the forests which still covered the banks of this noble river. The settlement of the region had indeed begun as early as 1639, when John Parker established his trading post and fishing station at the mouth of the river, but other pioneers had been
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slow to follow him, and whenever any considerable number had made homes for themselves in the wilderness, they and their families had met a tragic end in one of the Indian forays which for a century and a half wasted the borders of New England.
By 1775 some progress in the settlement and civilization of the Ken- nebec valley had indeed been made, since the danger from the savages was now greatly diminished by the final expulsion of the French power from Canada. A fairly good road had been opened as far as Fort Western, and there was a wood road at least to Fort Halifax. Georgetown at the mouth of the river, Woolwich, Pownalborough, Pittston, Vassalborough, and Winslow on the eastern bank, Broad Bay and Gardinerstown on the opposite shore, had made places for themselves in the wilderness and achieved names. But between Georgetown and the Falls of Norridgewock, a hundred miles above, there were probably not over five hundred white people, if so many. Pownalborough, the most pretentious village (the present town of Dresden), numbered fully half of these, and was the shire town of the county of Lincoln. It needs no technical military knowl- edge to understand that a country so thinly peopled was poorly adapted to furnish a base of supplies even for an armament no larger than Arnold's.
The army gathered under Washington's command at the siege of Boston numbered about eighteen thousand men, and was principally com- posed of New England volunteers. From this army it was determined to detach something more than a thousand troops for the Quebec expedi- tion-not a large force, yet outnumbering all the British regulars then in Canadian garrisons.
September 6, 1775, order was given to draft the men for Quebec from their regiments, while a company of carpenters was sent forward to Colburn's shipyard, at Agry's Point, near Pittston, about two miles below Gardiner, on the eastern bank of the Kennebec, where the two hundred bateaux which the expedition would require were to be built.
The whole force, all volunteers, was composed of three companies of riflemen and two battalions of musketeers, and numbered about eleven hundred men. Camp attendants, officers' servants, guides, and a few men enlisted on the Kennebec must have later swelled this number to nearly twelve hundred.
The rivalry among the many rifle companies in camp at Cambridge was so great that to avoid jealousy and ill-feeling, the captains were allowed to draw lots. Chance decided in favor of the companies of William Hendricks, Matthew Smith and Daniel Morgan.
Their marksmanship was the wonder of the camp at Cambridge. Loading and firing on the run, they would often pierce a target only seven inches in diameter at a distance of two hundred and fifty yards.
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It was wisely a body of young men. Arnold himself was but thirty- four. Enos, the oldest of the officers, and, as the event was to prove, the least reliable, was forty-five. The other officers were all below forty. Morgan was thirty-eight, a splendid man, standing over six feet in his moccasins and weighing two hundred pounds. His aspect was command- ing, his voice stentorian, his strength and endurance invincible. Smith, the hero-or devil-of the massacres at Conestoga and Lancaster jail, of which Parkman tells us in "The Conspiracy of Pontiac," was somewhat younger; Meigs a trifle older; Greene, Hendricks, Bigelow and the others were younger still.
His army consisted of ten companies of musketry, from Maine and Massachusetts, and three companies of riflemen, from Pennsylvania and Virginia. Several persons connected with this expedition afterward became noted as war leaders and public men; among whom were Daniel Morgan, commander of the riflemen; Aaron Burr, subsequently Vice Pres- ident, then a youth of twenty; and Henry Dearborn, of Pittston on the Kennebec, who afterwards became Secretary of War. The plan was to ascend Kennebec River and its chief western tributary to the range of hills which forms the boundary of Maine on the northwest, whence they would soon strike the head waters of the Chaudiere, a river emptying into the St. Lawrence. The expedition sailed from Newburyport on the 16th of September; and, entering the Kennebec, ascended to Pittston, where two hundred bateaux were in readiness. Dismissing the vessels, the troops entered the bateaux and continued on to Fort Western, in Augusta, where they spent several days in procuring guides and provisions.
The halt was enlivened by festivities of a generous sort, for the citizens of the vicinity were for the most part ardent Whigs, and rejoiced in the opportunity of honoring a band of patriots embarked in so glorious an undertaking. There is mention of one feast in particular-a monstrous barbecue of which three bears, roasted whole in true frontier style, were the most conspicuous victims. 'Squire Howard and his neighbors con- tributed corn, potatoes, and melons from their gardens, quintals of smoked salmon from their storehouses, and great golden pumpkin pies from their kitchens. As if this were not sufficient, venison was plenty, and beef, pork and bread were added from the commissary's supplies.
After these festivities they continued their journey. First of all went a small exploring party; after this followed Morgan with the rifle- men, then Green, Bigelow and Meigs with the main body of the troops, while Colonel Enos brought up the rear. Arnold staid to see the last boat load depart; then, entering an Indian canoe, he passed one company after another, overtaking the riflemen on the third day at Bombazee Rips in Norridgewock. Here the boats had all to be drawn ashore and carried
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a mile and a quarter to reach the navigable water above. It was found that the boats were leaky, and that a great part of the provision was spoiled or damaged; and seven days elapsed before repairs were completed and they again embarked on the river.
After passing Carratunk Falls the stream grew so rapid that the men were obliged to wade and push the boats more than half the way to the Great Carrying Place, twelve miles below the Forks. The carry was four- teen miles long ; but three little ponds on the way afforded them as many rests, and a plenty of delicious trout. Then they met Dead River flowing calmly through grand old forests resplendent with all the brilliant hues of autumn. Passing falls and rapids, they at length beheld rising above the woods a lofty mountain already white with snow. Here Arnold encamped for three days, displaying from a tall staff over his tent the Continental flag; while Major Bigelow ascended the mountain in the vain hope of seeing the spires of Quebec. The township in which the camps were pitched is now called Flagstaff Plantation, and the mountain bears the name of Bigelow, in commemoration of these events.
Soon after leaving this point a heavy rain storm set in. The water rushed in torrents down the hills, the river channel filled with drift wood, and the water burst into the valley where the soldiers were encamped with such suddenness that they had scarcely time to retreat to the bateaux before the whole plain was covered with water. Worse than all, seven boats were upset, and the stores lost; leaving them only twelve days' provisions, with thirty miles more of hills, woods and marshes between them and the head waters of the Chaudiere. Many had become sick from toil and exposure, and were sent back to the division of Colonel Enos, who was now ordered to send the invalids to the settlements, and come on as fast as possible with his best men and provisions for fifteen days. He had only three days' provisions; and, at a council of his officers, it was decided that the whole division must return or perish.
The rain had changed to snow, and the ponds, marshes and streams became covered with ice; yet the men were often obliged to wade and push the bateaux. Many of the boats were abandoned, for the oxen had been killed for food; and everything had to be carried by the men. On the 27th of October the boats were lifted for the last time from the waters of Maine, and a portage of four miles brought them to a small stream down which they urged the remaining bateaux to Lake Megantic, the chief source of the Chaudiere.
The next morning a party of fifty-five men were sent forward through the woods to the French settlements, still seventy miles further, for pro- visions, while Arnold with thirteen men set off in five bateaux and a canoe. They were without a guide; and no sooner had they left the lake and entered the river than they were obliged to lash their freight to the boats
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lest it should be thrown overboard by the turbulent current. The roar of the stream increased. Three boats were dashed in pieces upon the rocks, their contents lost, and their crews left struggling in the water.
The main body of the troops followed on as rapidly as they could. In a few days nothing was left except a little flour, which was eaten with water without salt. Old moose hide breeches were boiled and then broiled on the coals, and eaten. Many men died with hunger and fatigue, fre- quently four or five minutes after making their last effort and sitting down.
Friday, November 3d, was a memorable day to the little army. Weary, despairing, starving, few could have kept on much longer, when they were met by some cattle sent back by the advanced party with Arnold. They were saved from starvation; but most of them lived for a bloodier death. After many unnecessary delays Arnold led them against the strong city of Quebec, but the golden moment had passed. The garrison had been reinforced, and hundreds of these brave men, who, for the sake of gaining this important post, had endured the toil and famine of the wilder- ness, lay down before the fatal hail of the artillery, making the blood- stained snow their winding sheet. The brave Montgomery and his victori- ous little army, fresh from the capture of Montreal, shared their fate. More than four hundred Americans fell in this attack, while four hundred more were taken captive, and suffered many months of severe imprison- ment.
CHAPTER XII
THE SEPARATION FROM MASSACHUSETTS
There are three epochs in the history of organized government within the territory now belonging to the State of Maine: (1) the period of pro- prietary jurisdictions claimed and in part exercised over sporadic settle- ments; (2) the period of control by Massachusetts, begun in 1652 and continued, with only temporary interruptions, to 1820; (3) the period of statehood. The only records of the early proprietary governments, so far as is known, are contained in the fragmentary and intermittent records of local courts and towns. For the history of the jurisdiction of Massa- chusetts over the province recourse must be had to records outside the present state. The records of the State of Maine are in the archives at Augusta. The story of the transition from the second to the third periods is an interesting one.
The Title of As early as 1652 the government of Massachusetts claimed, Massachusetts under its charter, jurisdiction over Maine and although this claim was resisted for a time by the inhabitants of Maine they submitted to it in 1658. In 1676, under proceedings instituted by the enemies of Massachusetts in England, the jurisdiction of Massa- chusetts over Maine and New Hampshire was annulled, and these provinces were restored to the heirs of Gorges and Mason. In 1678 Massachusetts acquired from Ferdinando Gorges, grandson and rightful heir of Sir Fer- ยท dinando Gorges, title to the whole province, from the Piscataqua to Saga- dahoc, for twelve hundred and fifty pounds. But the right of Massachu- setts was not finally settled until the charter of 1691, which not only included the Province of Maine, but the more distant Provinces of Saga- dahoc and Nova Scotia.
First Attempt at Separation The first move for the formation of an independent state occurred in the year 1785. The separation was much dis- cussed during the year 1784-85 and this discussion led to the publication of a notification, in the Falmouth Gazette of September 17 and October 1, 1785, to the inhabitants of the counties of York, Cum- berland and Lincoln of a conference to be held on the fifth day of October "on the proposal of having the said counties erected into a separate gov- ernment." In response to the notification thirty-seven persons met at Falmouth and appointed a committee to prepare and send a circular letter to the several towns and plantations within the three counties requesting
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them to send delegates to a convention to be held on the first Wednesday of January, 1786. At the convention little more was done than to choose and hear the report of a "committee of nine to make out a statement of the grievances the three counties labor under, and also an estimate of the expense of a separate government, and compare the same with the expense of the government we are now under." After accepting the report and ordering it transmitted to the several towns and plantations the con; vention adjourned to the first Wednesday of September, 1786.
The convention in September published an address to the people trans- mitting a form of petition to the General Court, but upon the question whether the petition for separation "shall now be presented to the Legis- lature" the convention at first voted to postpone petitioning, and then, after reconsidering by a vote of fifteen to thirteen, voted to leave the petition in the hands of a committee with discretionary powers to retain. or present as they saw fit. The convention adjourned from time to time with ever diminishing numbers and at the last adjournment three of the Portland members were the only delegates present. Thus ended the first attempt at separation.
Renewed Discussion No further public discussion of the question of separation seems to have occurred until 1791, when an "address to the inhabitants of Maine upon the subject of separation from the present government, by one of their fellow-citizens" was published. This address apparently turned public attention again to the subject, for the Massachusetts Legislature on March 6, 1792, empowered the officers of the counties of York, Cumberland, Lincoln, Hancock and Washington to call meetings of the inhabitants of the towns within these counties for the purpose of giving their votes on the proposed separation. The decision of the people was adverse-the vote being, yeas 2074, nays 2525. Four conventions were held during the years 1793-95, but very little interest was manifested in them and no decisive action was taken.
No further movement towards separation took place until 1797 when a number of petitions were presented to the legislature praying that the question might be again submitted to popular vote. The legislature author- ized the holding of meetings for the purpose of acting upon the question "shall application be made to the legislature for its assent that the Dis- trict of Maine be erected into a new state?" The vote showed that a majority of the voters were still opposed to separation.
War of 1812 In 1806 there was a renewal of the discussion and in April, 1807, the people again voted upon the question of separa- tion. From one hundred and fifty towns from which returns were received, the vote stood, in favor of separation 3370, against it 9404. This decisive expression put the question at rest until after the close of the War of 1812. During the war the want of a local state government was severely
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felt. Petitions were again presented to the legislature and a resolve was passed submitting the following question: "Shall the legislature be requested to give its consent to the separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts Proper, and to the erection of said District into a separate state?" The whole number of votes returned was 16,894, of which 10,393 were in the affirmative and 6,501 in the negative. The whole number of voters in the District at that time was 37,858.
Brunswick June 20, 1816, the legislature passed an act providing for Convention the separation and establishment of Maine as an independent state. Section second of the act provided for the election of delegates to a constitutional convention to meet at Brunswick on the last Monday of September, 1816, and that at the same meeting held for the election of delegates the voters should be requested to give in their votes upon the following question, "Is it expedient that the District of Maine shall be separated from Massachusetts, and become an independent state?" and that if a majority of five to four of the votes returned were in favor the convention should proceed to form a constitution. The whole number of votes admitted was 22,316; of these, 11,969 were in favor of separation, and 10,347 opposed. This, of course, did not give the requisite majority of five to four, but the committee in charge ascertained that the aggregate majority of yeas in towns voting for separation was 6,031 -the aggregate majority of nays in towns voting against separation was 4,409 and "thus there is a majority of five to four, at least." The doings of this convention came up for confirmation at the session of the General Court in December, 1816, and the committee to whom the subject was referred, after careful and thorough discussion reported that the work of the Brunswick convention was unauthorized and invalid and that, owing to the public feeling in the matter, further action at that session was inexpedient.
Act of Separation Discussion was again renewed in 1818, but nothing was done until January, 1819. Of the representatives from Maine at that session, one hundred and twenty-five were in favor of separation and only twenty-five opposed to it. About one hun- dred petitions were presented to the legislature and after due consideration the act of June 20, 1819, was passed by a large majority. If the popular majority in favor of separation upon the conditions named in the act was found to be not less than fifteen hundred a constitutional convention was to be called. The number of votes cast was 24,233; in favor of separation, 17,091 ; against it, 7,132.
Constitutional The convention to frame the constitution for the new state
Convention met at Portland, October 11, 1819. There was a contest over the name of the new state. "Columbus" was sug- gested, and also "Ligonia," but "Maine" was the preference of a great
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majority of the delegates. By a majority of six "State" was preferred to "Commonwealth" and on a reconsideration the majority was nearly forty. There were earnest debates upon certain provisions in the consti- tution but there was little or no acrimony in the discussion. The session lasted a little over a fortnight. The popular vote on the adoption of the constitution, as officially reported to the convention at its adjourned ses- sion, January 6, 1820, was 9,050 in favor and 796 against. As a result of the Missouri compromise President Monroe signed the Maine bill on March 3, and on March 15, 1820, the separation from Massachusetts became complete.
The The joint commission, prescribed by the Act of Separation, was filled thus: Massachusetts appointed Timothy Bige- Commissioners low and Levi Lincoln; Maine, Benjamin Porter and James Bridge; and these four chose Silas Holman and Lathrop Lewis to com- plete the board. From October 30, 1820, to November 27, 1827, the Com- missioners held twelve formal meetings, eight in Boston, three in Port- land and one in Bangor and Augusta. They made exhaustive surveys of the public lands and divided the same, in accordance with the terms of the act, one-half to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and one-half to the State of Maine. They also adjusted all personal property owned in common, giving two-thirds to Massachusetts and one-third to Maine, and made new treaties with the Indians.
Public Lands Massachusetts held title to her one-half of the public lands until 1853 when the Maine legislature passed the fol- lowing resolve:
"Resolved: That the land agent proceed without delay to Bos- ton, for the purpose of ascertaining from the authorities of Massa- chusetts, the terms on which that state will sell or surrender to Maine, all her interests in the lands in this state. Also upon what terms Massachusetts will sell to Maine her interest in the lands known and denominated as settling lands, independently of the timber lands, and report to the legislature as soon as may be."
By a further resolve the Legislature was directed to choose by ballot three commissioners to make negotiations with Massachusetts for the purchase of these lands. The commissioners for Maine were Reuel Williams, William P. Fessenden and Elijah L. Hamlin, and on the part of the Com- monwealth were E. M. Wright, Jacob H. Loud and David Wilder.
An extra session of the Legislature was held September 20, 1853, at which time the report of the joint commission was received and accepted and their acts ratified and confirmed by a resolve approved September 28, 1853.
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