On this day 250 years ago, Benedict Arnold’s troops were encamped at Fort Western, Massachusetts (in today’s Augusta, Maine) the last settled outpost before Arnold’s expedition would enter the Maine wilderness on their way to Quebec. The encampment included approximately 1100 Continental soldiers, 220 bateaux, 500 bushels of corn, pork, flour, and 60 barrels of salted beef and other supplies for the expedition. An advance party of 8 men led by Lt. Archibald Steele on that day departed Fort Western to scout the route to Lake Megantic along their way to Quebec.

Sources: https://wheninyourstate.com/maine/in-1775-a-fort-in-maine-held-the-key-to-quebec-benedict-arnold-fumbled-it-in-just-six-days/; https://lancasterhistory.org/images/stories/JournalArticles/vol25no8pp115_123_452662.pdf; https://lancasterhistory.org/images/stories/JournalArticles/vol25no8pp115_123_452662.pdf; https://www.augustamaine.gov/oldfortwestern

You can visit Old Fort Western in Augusta to see the location of this encampment. There are events on September 25, 26 and 27, 2025 at Old Fort Western and other Maine locales to commemorate the 250th anniversary of this expedition. https://www.facebook.com/woolwichhs/posts/old-fort-western-augusta-maine-hosts-benedict-arnold-250th-anniversary-weekendfr/1415137103669778/; https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/local-soldiers-and-1775-arnold-expedition-online-talk-commemorates-250th-anniversary/262676