Arnold’s Troops Arrive at Newburyport

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. “Arnold claiming the command.” New York Public Library Digital Collections

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. “Toasting Arnold and his officers in Newburyport.” New York Public Library Digital Collections.

Detail from Des Barres, Joseph F. W. Coast of New Hampshire and Massachusetts from Great Boars Head to Marblehead Harbor. [London, ?, 1781] Map.

A sixteen year old rifleman from Pennsylvania, John Joseph Henry, described the initial leg of the journey from Cambridge to Quebec.

"This little army in high spirits, marched from Prospect hill near Cambridge in Massachusetts, on the 11th of September, 1775, and on the following day, arrived at Newburyport (which is formed by the waters of the Merrimac river). This place, at that time, was a small but commercial town, near the border of Massachusetts. Here we remained encamped five days, providing ourselves with such articles of real necessity, as our small means afforded."

Pvt. John J. Henry, in his memoir

Sources

Henry, John Joseph, Account of Arnold’s campaign against Quebec, and of the hardships and sufferings of that band of heroes who traversed the wilderness of Maine from Cambridge to the St. Lawrence, in the autumn of 1775 (Albany: J. Munsell, 1877), pp. 12-13.

Visit the Museum

Exhibits

Army Trails

Public Programs

Programs & Education

Events

News and Articles

About Us

Get Involved