Arnold's march through Maine part 1 (Quebec 1775)

Soon after the fall of Ticonderoga, Colonel Jonathan Brewer had submitted a plan for an attack on Quebec with 500 men via upper Massachusetts (modern-day Maine). Initially rejected, it was resurrected in July as a counterpoint to Schuyler's thrust up the Richelieu River. George Washington believed that, with insufficient troops to defend both Quebec and Montreal, Carleton would be forced to either abandon the Montreal area, or risk being defeated piecemeal. The route followed two watercourses that ran almost continuously from the Atlantic to the St Lawrence and was familiar to the Abenaki and French missionaries. It had been mapped by the engineer Lieutenant John Montresor in 1761 and was believed by the British to be impassable to a large body of troops. However, many Americans disagreed, including Washington, who estimated it would take 20 days' march at worst. At a private meeting, he offered command of the expedition to Arnold, who accepted and immediately ordered 200 lightweight bateaux capable of carrying six or seven men and over 6001bs (270kg) of baggage and supplies. He also called for "active woodsmen, well acquainted with bateaux" and was inundated with volunteers. By 5 September, he had the 1,050 men required. The first stage of the journey was an overland march to Newburyport, from where the force embarked for the Kennebec River. Precious time was wasted gathering supplies and clearing pay arrears and the advance party, under Captain Daniel Morgan, only set off on the three-day march to Newburyport on 11 September. It was 16 September before the force finally set sail. As the flotilla neared its destination heavy rain and thick fog caused several vessels to become lost or run aground among the scores of islands, but by 20 September all had arrived safely at Georgetown. Arnold ordered his flagship - the Broad Bay - to head up the Kennebec to Gardinerston where the bateaux were waiting. Built from pine boards nailed to oak ribs, they were up to 25ft (7.6m) long and weighed almost 4501bs (200kg), but had been built from green wood and were smaller than Arnold's specification. He had to order 20 more. Four men were assigned to each bateau and Dr Senter noted their looks of apprehension at the state of the craft. The little army then moved to Fort Western, from where Arnold dispatched two reconnaissance parties to scout the first section of the route and on up to the frontier. He then divided his force into four groups which would march one day apart. The first, composed of the riflemen, was led by Morgan and would break the trail for the rest. The second, under Greene, comprised the companies of Captains Hubbard, Thayer, and Topham. Arnold initially chose Greene to lead the advance guard, but - true to form - the riflemen would only serve under Morgan. The third, commanded by Meigs, contained Dearborn's, Goodrich's, Hanchet's, and Ward's companies. The rearguard, under Enos, included those of McCobb, Scott, and Williams.