![The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. Detail from image “John Lamb, Henry Dearborn, Daniel Morgan, Christopher Greene [and] Return J. Meigs.” New York Public Library Digital Collections.](https://www.thenmusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-19-at-4.10.11 PM.png)
After sailing from Newburyport to the mouth of the Kennebec River without encountering British warships, Arnold’s fleet sailed upriver to an outpost known as Fort Western. There the Patriots took possession of some 200 newly-built canoes known locally as batteaux that Washington has commissioned from a small local shipyard. A battalion commander from Connecticut, Maj. Return J. Meigs, described the small compound and the departure of the lead party under Capt. Daniel Morgan to scout the way ahead.
"Fort Western stands on the east side of the river Kennebeck, and consists of 2 block-houses, and a large house, 100 feet long, which were enclosed only with pickets. This house is the property of ----- Howard, Esq., where we were exceedingly well entertained. Captain Morgan, with 3 companies of riflemen embarked, in battoes, with orders to proceed with all expedition to the great carrying-place, and clear the road, while the other divisions came up."
Maj. Return J. Meigs, in his journalMeigs, Return J. Journal of the expedition to Quebec under the command of Col. Benedict Arnold in the year 1775 (New York: Privately printed, 1864), pp. 10-11.