Benedict Arnold’s Troops March into Trouble

American Revolution
Written By Tom Hand

Colonel Benedict Arnold’s army reached the Great Carrying Place, a thirteen-mile portage, on October 11, 1775. They had been moving north on the Kennebec River for three weeks but had only advanced eighty-four miles towards Quebec. After overcoming many obstacles, Colonel Arnold held a council of war with the lead division to discuss next steps and persuaded the men to continue on. However, a few miles downstream, the rear division was holding its own council of war. Without the fortitude of Benedict Arnold to strengthen them, they opted to turn back and took most of the provisions.

Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, discusses the hardships faced by Arnold’s army on their march to Quebec, and why it still matters today.

Images courtesy of Mount Vernon, Library of Congress, The New York Public Library, UMass Boston Digital Collections, Digital Commonwealth Massachusetts Collections Online, Wikipedia. 

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When Colonel Benedict Arnold’s army reached the Great Carrying Place on October 11, 1775, they had been moving north on the Kennebec River for almost three weeks and had advanced eighty-four miles. The American militiamen were on their way to assault Quebec City, the crown jewel of British Canada. The time originally estimated for the entire journey to Quebec was about twenty days, and the anticipated distance was 180 miles. Neither Arnold nor the men were aware they had another 300 miles to go.

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Tom Hand
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