On this day 250 years ago in the village of Sartigan, Quebec Province of Canada, Col. Benedict Arnold wrote that two Penobscot Indians “who appeared friendly . . . assisted us over the Portage” into Canada and had guided him to the village. Other Native Americans, both Penobscots and Abenakis had also aided the expedition. For example, seventeen year-old Private John Joseph Henry wrote of the assistance of “the worthy and respectable Indian, Natanis, and his brother Sabatis, with some others of their tribe, (the Abenaquis).” The young Indian woman Jacataqua had also served as a guide for one detachment over the portage.

Arnold and his small advanced detachment began purchasing supplies from the Native and Canadien inhabitants for his troops beginning the treacherous float down the Chaudière River to Sartigan or still struggling up the portage into Canada from Maine.

The men of his command were wet, cold, starving, sick and many were dying. I have not found the names of all those who gave their lives on the march before reaching Sartigan, but among them were George Innes of Capt. Daniel Morgan’s company who drowned when Morgan’s bateaux was destroyed in the rapids of the Chaudière and Private James Warner who fell behind and passed away from illness but his wife Jemima took his musket and soldiered after burying him under wet leaves. Another account recorded the death of Private Hart from illness after his group got lost and wandered for several days, but his companions passed twelve dead bodies before rejoining the march.

Sources: https://washcollreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/sce-kitri-post.pdf; https://www.americanrevolution.org/arnolds-expedition-across-the-terrible-carry/; Sources: https://washcollreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/sce-kitri-post.pdf; https://www.americanrevolution.org/arnolds-expedition-across-the-terrible-carry/;