by Oliver North
For the balance of the meeting, all hands were engaged in discussing the particular challenges of moving 1,100 men up a river, across a trackless wilderness, down another river, and then capturing a fortified enemy-held city.
Col. Arnold began with the most obvious challenge. Without demeaning Reuben Colburn, Col. Arnold said, “We must deal with the batteaux problem.
“First, they are smaller than we wanted. But these vessels weigh 400 pounds empty. Larger boats would be impossible to carry over the portages on the Kennebec and Chaudière Rivers.
“General Washington and I contracted with Mr. Colburn to build 200 batteaux. With these smaller boats, that’s not enough to transport our entire force. To solve that problem Mr. Colburn has agreed to build twenty more batteaux.
“He will do so as fast as possible but that means we will have to move from here over the course of several days—not all at once as I had hoped. By tomorrow we will have worked out a new departure schedule and sequence.
“Second, some of you have pointed out the rough construction and green lumber used in building the boats. That is true but I want everyone to consider—these batteaux are making a one-way trip to Quebec. But, to address these concerns, Mr. Colburn and two dozen of his best-boat builders will come with us as far as possible to make repairs as necessary.”
The meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m. and as the others began boarding their canoes to head back down the river to the Colburn boatyard, Col. Arnold held back to talk privately with Capt. Morgan.
When they stopped, Capt. Febiger, 1st Lt. Humphrey and I remained about five yards behind so the two men could have some measure of privacy, but I could still hear them conversing for the breeze was blowing slightly toward us off the river:
Arnold: “We brought with us, three well-built canoes for you and the other Rifle Company commanders.”
Morgan: “Thank you, I will inform Captains Smith and Hendricks. They may come in very handy.”
Arnold: “Now, what are your plans for those two cargo barges?”
Morgan (smiling): “Why? They are too heavy to portage.”
Arnold: “Well, if you are amenable, we can use them to ferry cargo from Reuben’s place to Fort Western. Since he paid your deputy, 1st Lt. Humphrey, for all the wagon parts, axles, wheels, brakes, and assorted hitching gear, he could fairly easily turn them back into wagons.”
Morgan: “Sure. Tell him to make Lt. Humphrey an offer he can’t refuse. I paid out of my own pocket to build two very good wagons—and apparently, very good barges.”
Arnold: “Good. Please bring Lt. Humphrey and your Adjutant, young Newman, with you at 7:00 tonight for dinner at the Colburn’s house.”
Morgan: “Yes, sir. If at all possible, we must resolve this ‘Chain of Command’ issue and the matter of the women this evening.”
Arnold: “I agree. On the matter of ‘Chain of Command,’ you know His Excellency has taken a very firm position on this matter?”
Morgan: “Yes sir, I do. But I believe I have a solution that will be amenable to all.”
Arnold: “Good. I want to hear it. Now what’s this about women?”
Morgan: “This is about ‘camp follower’ women now accompanying the Expedition. I have great concerns for their safety if they continue on with us from here.”
At this point the two commanders proceeded to the river’s edge and we could no longer hear what they said. But as we watched, they shook hands and Colonel Arnold deftly boarded his canoe and paddled downstream.
As usual, Capt. Morgan, 1st Lt. Humphrey, and I arrived for dinner at Reuben Colburn’s comfortable home a half-hour early. He greeted us at the front door with a hearty, “Welcome, gentlemen. Thank you for joining my wife and me for dinner. As I’m sure you understand, in these days we do not have the opportunity to entertain very often.
“Colonel Arnold and Captain Febiger are in the library where I have lighted some lanterns and candles. My wife or I will knock when Dr. Senter arrives and our meal is prepared.”
When the door closed, Colonel Arnold got right to the point, “Daniel, what is your solution to my ‘Chain of Command’ problem?”
“Simply this, sir. When we were still in Cambridge, we all agreed the three Rifle Companies would serve as the Expedition’s Advance Guard under my command. But after the Advance Guard departed for Newburyport, someone on His Excellency’s staff issued a new organizational arrangement, adding two musket companies to the Advance Guard, thus reducing the number of divisions in the Expedition from four to three and justifying the assignment of Lieutenant Colonel Greene as Advance Guard commander.
“Since then, we have learned much more about the terrain and river conditions we must traverse. We now know a ‘three division’ organizational arrangement will slow the movement of our entire expedition. The Riflemen are fit. They know how to move quickly and quietly in rough country. Rifle Company baggage is a fraction of what the Musket Companies are carrying.
“The Rifle Companies ought to be well out in front of the main body of the Expedition to prevent ambuscades by Indians loyal to the British.
“I suggest the best organization for rapid movement should be along the lines of your original idea: Four divisions, leaving Fort Western one day apart:
“First Division: Three Rifle Companies as Vanguard; departing on the 25th under my command;
“Second Division: Three Massachusetts Musket Companies commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Greene departs Fort Western the following day;
“Third Division: Three Vermont and Connecticut Musket Companies commanded by Major Meigs head upriver on Wednesday the 27th;
“Fourth Division: Three New England Musket Companies as Rear Guard, plus Captain Reuben Colburn’s boat-repair unit, the engineers, pioneers David Hyde’s quartermasters, the commissary, Dr. Senter and his medical personnel and ‘extras’—such as the cattle, all under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Enos. By Thursday, the 28th the twenty additional batteaux now being built should be finished for the fourth division to commence moving north.”
Colonel Arnold said nothing for almost a minute, then turned toward the three of us junior officers and said to his Adjutant, “Christian, what do you think of this idea? Is it the right thing to do and will it pass muster when we communicate it to Adjutant General Gates in the missive I must send to Cambridge when we depart here?”
Captain Febiger paused but a second or two and replied, “In my opinion, Colonel, Captain Morgan has a brilliant solution. The Commanding General and his staff in Cambridge must respect your perspective as Expedition Commander for the best way to organize for rapid, secure movement from here to our objective given winter will soon be upon us.
“Captain Morgan’s proposal also avoids altogether the ‘Chain of Command’ issue since this is simply an organizational matter for how to best move from here to Quebec. Personnel who have been together for some time ought to remain together for unit cohesion in this arduous terrain so soldiers can look after one another.”
Colonel Arnold nodded, said nothing for a moment then asked, “And what about the women?”
I noticed color rising in Captain Febiger’s cheeks as he considered his response: “Only a few of us heard what Captain Morgan said quietly this morning when this matter was raised at your commander’s meeting.” I heard what he said about the women who perished in the disaster that befell the Braddock Expedition in July of 1755. Captain Morgan was there when it happened. I have only read about it. Since Dr. Senter is to join us for dinner, I suggest we seek his advice before a decision is made.”
Before Colonel Arnold could render a judgment on either matter, there came a knock on the door and Mr. Colburn announced, “Gentlemen, Dr. Isaac Senter and Mr. Aaron Burr are both here and dinner is served.”
We followed them into the dining room where Mr. Colburn introduced us to the absolutely stunning Mrs. Elizabeth Colbur
n, our host’s very beautiful wife.
I could not take my eyes from her. She was dressed in a light blue gown of great finery, displaying in her ample, alluring cleavage a jewel pendant to which every man’s eye was immediately drawn.
Standing beside her husband she said, in the voice of a nightingale, “Please let us bow our heads as my husband asks a blessing on our meal and the accomplishment of the mission on which you and he are about to embark and during which I shall miss him dearly.”
I must confess to have been so enamored by Mrs. Colburn’s pulchritude I did not record her husband’s invocation.
The meal—roast leg of lamb, mashed potatoes, gravy, squash, peas, green beans, and a slice of apple pie with sharp cheddar cheese for dessert—was accompanied by scintillating conversation stimulated by Colonel Arnold, Doctor Senter, Lieutenant Burr and, surprisingly Mrs. Colburn.
The “Chain of Command” matter never came up, but the issue of whether women should be allowed to accompany the Expedition was the topic about which everyone had an opinion.
As dessert was being served, Colonel Arnold said, “With the permission of our host and hostess, by a show of hands, how many of you believe women should be allowed to accompany our Expedition to Quebec?”
Capt. Morgan, Lt. Humphrey and I were the only “no” votes.
After dinner, Colonel Arnold, Captain Morgan, and Dr. Senter spent a half hour alone in the library. It was nearly midnight when Captain Morgan, 1st Lt. Humphrey, and I arrived back at Fort Western.
As we climbed up the slope from the riverside to our encampment, I asked, “Shall I let our commanders know what was decided tonight?”
“Do not awaken anyone now. We will let everyone know in the morning.”
Fort Western, Maine
Sunday, September 24th, 1775
Shortly after sunrise, Rev. Samuel Spring, the Expedition Chaplain, arrived at our encampment and all our Riflemen were ordered to muster in the center of our perimeter.
After the brief prayer service, Captain Morgan motioned for everyone to gather ’round and take a seat on the dew-damp grass.
“Colonel Arnold has decided to reorganize our expedition to liberate Quebec into four divisions. Our three Rifle Companies are the First Division. We will depart here tomorrow morning and serve as vanguard for the Expedition.
“Second Division, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Greene is comprised of three Massachusetts Musket Companies. They will depart here on Tuesday, September 26th.
“Third Division, Three Vermont and Connecticut Musket Companies commanded by Major Meigs will follow on Wednesday the 27th.
“Fourth Division, the Expedition’s Rear Guard, bearing our extra provisions, powder, ammunition, the boat repair unit, medical personnel and engineers is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Enos. They will depart here starting on Thursday the 28th and close up as fast as they can as additional batteaux are completed.
“Our Rifle Companies will screen in front of the main body, engage any hostiles and cut trails and foot-paths where necessary.
“Every Rifleman will carry on his person sufficient powder, wadding, and shot for fifty rounds. Every man will have no fewer than five flints, a warm cloak or blanket, and five days’ rations. Each company will have ten batteaux to carry forty-five days of provisions including kegs of powder, food, cooking gear, tentage, and additional clothing.
“Each of the boats will be manned by no fewer than four men and no more than six. The rest of us will walk on the riverbanks. When it is necessary to portage, all hands will pitch in to help carry the boats and their contents.
“The order of march tomorrow morning will the Virginia Rifle Company first, Captain Hendricks Pennsylvania Rifles second and then Captain Smith’s Riflemen. We shall rotate the order of march as necessary.
“As soon as we finish this meeting, start packing your batteaux. Try to wrap everything in the boats to keep it as dry as possible.
“Are there any questions?”
“Yes, sir.” It was Sergeant Grier. “What about our wives?”
Captain Morgan shook his head but said, “I strongly recommend against it, but Colonel Arnold has ordered that wives may accompany their husbands on the Expedition.”
Captain Hendricks stood and asked, “Sir, who is our commanding officer?”
There was total silence. Everyone in the semi-circle was staring at Captain Morgan as he replied, “You’re looking at him.”
There was an immediate cheer as the Riflemen bounded to their feet, waving their weapons over their heads, yelling “Huzzah!” and slapping each other’s backs.
Chapter Twelve
1775: WINTER IN THE FOREST PRIMEVAL
Fort Halifax, Maine, on the Kennebec River
Wednesday, September 27th, 1775
Our Advance Force—250 Riflemen, three Indians, and two women—departed Fort Western early on the morning of the 25th with three canoes, thirty-one batteaux—ten for each Rifle Company and one for Captain Morgan’s Headquarters equipment— including my field desk.
Six Riflemen, two from each Rifle Company, have augmented our “Vanguard Headquarters” to assist in moving our one canoe, our single batteau, and in setting up and taking down tentage while serving as messengers, and protectors of Captain Morgan in close combat with the enemy. Corporal Sullivan, the non-commissioned officer in charge of this little detachment, reports to me.
Each heavily laden batteau, containing about a thousand pounds of gear, is being rowed, “poled” (pushed), and sometimes pulled, up the Kennebec River by our Riflemen. In “good water”—calm, gentle current, deep enough for our batteaux to avoid rocks and shoals—the four men responsible for each boat are sufficient. Unfortunately, the Kennebec River seems to have very little “good water.”
The rest of us—124 Riflemen and the two women—are walking beside the slowly moving flotilla on the now overgrown but still passable military road built in the 1850s between Fort Western and Fort Halifax. Captain Morgan expected to make the eighteen-mile trip from Fort Western to Fort Halifax in just one day. We certainly could have done so by walking single file on the old path beside the river. But by dusk on the 25th we traversed just six miles upstream because moving the heavy batteaux against the current on this part of the Kennebec often requires men to wade into the water and help manhandle the boats across shallows and around rocks.
So the men would have an opportunity to warm their rations and dry their clothing—at 6:00 p.m. on Monday the 25th, Captain Morgan ordered the column to hold up at a small clearing on the west bank of the river. He directed each Rifle Company to set up a perimeter and pull their loaded batteaux close as possible to the shoreline—a task demanding at least a dozen men lifting, pulling, and pushing each boat.
By the time all thirty-one batteaux were at least partially on the riverbank, more than half the Riflemen in the Advance Guard were wet—some of them for most of the day. Capt. Morgan was one of them. He told me to go back down the column and “Instruct every company to gather tinder, kindling, and firewood sufficient to keep a large bonfire lit through the night to heat food, dry wet clothing, and warm the men.”
He also began the practice of giving every Rifleman a gill of what he called “grog,” a small quantity of rum, much diluted with lemon, fruit juice, or even water each night whenever possible. When he announced this policy, he said, “We will do this every evening until we run out of rum or liberate Quebec. Whichever comes first is up to you!”
Tuesday, September 26th, was generally a repeat of what we endured the day before with some new wrinkles in what the Kennebec has to offer its visitors. Shortly after noon we encountered a place where the river broadened and the current diminished. But instead of making the task of propelling the boats upstream easier, it became even more difficult.
For more than a two-mile stretch of river, the water is so shallow, all
the batteaux ran aground. In order to move forward, each of our boats had to be lifted by eight men on each side, and four more men in front, pulling towropes. For the better part of four hours this is how we dragged all thirty-one vessels across the shoals. It was an incredibly time-consuming, exhausting endeavor which left every one of us thoroughly soaked and chilled.
By 6:00 p.m., we were back in deeper water but too weary to press further. As the night before, Capt. Morgan ordered the Rifle Companies to pull the batteaux close to the eastern shore of the Kennebec, set up perimeters, and build large bonfires.
Early this morning, Wednesday, September 27th, as we were preparing for our third day on the Kennebec, one of our sentries alerted us to what he described to be “a caravan approaching from the north.”
Captain Morgan immediately dispatched 1st Lt. Humphrey and three, five-man ambush teams up the old 1750’s-era military road toward Fort Halifax with the mission of intercepting anyone intent on doing us harm.
I sent Corporal Sullivan south along the river to alert Captains Hendricks and Smith of a possible threat from the north. Our little “Headquarters unit” charged our rifles and proceeded to take down our HQ tent and pack our baggage for loading on our batteaux.
While all this was going on, Captain Morgan pulled his spyglass out of his backpack and calmly moved to gain a clear view to the north. After resting the fully extended telescope against a tree and observing the approaching “caravan” for several minutes he said, “They are harmless. Pass the word to let them enter our lines.”
I did so and fifteen minutes later, a rough-clothed gentleman aboard a two-horse drawn light wagon pulled up and said, “I am Calvin Coolidge. I am a Patriot. So are the good people behind me. We saw your bonfires last night.
“Three days ago, a Lieutenant Steele came through here and told us Colonel Arnold’s Expedition to liberate Quebec would be coming to Fort Halifax from Fort Western. There are ten wagons and carts behind me. We have come to help you on this part of your journey. Because we are very poor, we hope to be paid for our service.”
