Commemorating the 1775 Expedition to Québec in Newburyport

This weekend the town of Newburyport will commemorate the 250th anniversary of when Col. Benedict Arnold and his Continental volunteers passed through the town on their way to Québec.

There are multiple events on the schedule. It looks like the Custom House Maritime Museum at 25 Water Street is the main base, open 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. all three days, but the Museum of Old Newbury and several churches are involved.

Friday, 19 September, 12 noon
Newburyport’s Bells Ring Out!

Three of the town’s oldest churches will ring their bells to herald the coming of the Continental troops.

Friday, 19 September, 7 to 8:30 P.M.
Through a Howling Wilderness: 1775 March to Quebec
Tom Desjardin
St. Paul’s Church, Newburyport

In September 1775, Arnold commanded eleven hundred Colonial soldiers on a daring, top-secret mission: to march and paddle nearly 200 miles through the untamed wilderness of Maine and Quebec to seize British-held Quebec City. It was a journey marked by hypothermia, disease, starvation, hurricanes, and blizzards. Dozens perished; survivors endured eating everything from dogs to lip salve before reaching their target. Though the attack ultimately failed, Arnold’s expedition helped pave the way for America’s eventual victory. Through a Howling Wilderness tells this gripping story of endurance, sacrifice, and leadership before Arnold’s name became synonymous with treason.

Tom Desjardin holds a Ph.D. in U.S. History and is the author of multiple acclaimed books. A former archivist and historian at Gettysburg National Military Park, he has taught at Bowdoin College, advised film and television productions (including Gettysburg and Gods and Generals), and appeared on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery, PBS, and CSPAN. He is a former Commissioner of Education for Maine and director of the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.

Saturday, 20 September, 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Revolutionary Living History Experience: Bringing 1775 to Life
Downtown Newburyport

A special one-day living history event featuring reenactors, tactical demonstrations, and engaging historical interpretation, this immersive celebration brings 1775 to life and honors the city’s pivotal role in America’s fight for independence. The day’s schedule will begin with Col. Arnold reviewing his troops. He will address them about their orders at around 3:30 P.M.

Saturday, 20 September, 10:30 A.M.
A Moment of Resolve: Reenactment of the Dedication Service
First Parish Church, 20 High Road

Commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Quebec Expedition with a powerful reenactment of the 1775 dedication service for departing troops. Reverend Samuel Spring, portrayed by Edward Speck, delivers the historic sermon that inspired courage and faith, honoring the spiritual strength that sustained Newburyport’s patriots on their journey to liberty.

Saturday, 20 September, 11 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Revolutionary Newburyport
Museum of Old Newbury, 98 High Street

Tours starting every hour highlight objects linked with the American Revolution not usually on display. Buy tickets and reserve spaces through this page.

Saturday, 20 September, 1:00 P.M.
DAR America 250 Patriots Marker Dedication
Old South Presbyterian Church, 29 Federal Street

The Brigadier General James Brickett–Old Newbury Chapter, N.S.D.A.R., will dedicate an America 250 Patriots Marker in Newburyport. This ceremony honors Revolutionary War patriots with reflections from civic leaders and descendants, preserving their legacy for generations to come.

Saturday, 20 September, 1:30 P.M.
Walk to the River: A Tribute to Newburyport’s Revolutionary Departure
Federal Street to Water Street

Following the dedication of the America 250 Patriots Marker, attendees are invited to join a commemorative walk through downtown Newburyport to the riverfront. The walk will conclude near the original embarkation site with brief remarks honoring the 1775 departure of local patriots on their daring expedition to Quebec.

Saturday, 20 September, 2 to 4 P.M.
Discover Your Family’s Story: Genealogy Drop-in Clinic
Museum of Old Newbury, 98 High Street

Discover your roots and deepen your community connection at this engaging genealogy workshop. Participants will learn how to trace family history, uncover ancestral ties to early settlers and patriots, and explore Newburyport’s revolutionary and colonial past. Trained genealogists will be available to assist with family history research.

Sunday, 21 September, 10:00 A.M.
Burying Ground Tour: Old Hill and Newburyport’s Road to Revolution
Old Hill Burying Ground, 25 Greenleaf Street

Join Newburyport historian Ghlee Woodworth on a captivating cemetery tour honoring Revolutionary War patriots. Explore gravestones, hear stories of bravery and sacrifice, and discover how these local heroes shaped America’s fight for independence. A fascinating journey connecting past to present through tales of courage, resilience, and Newburyport’s rich revolutionary heritage.

Sunday, 21 September, 11 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Revolutionary Newburyport
Museum of Old Newbury, 98 High Street

Tours starting every hour highlight objects linked with the American Revolution not usually on display. Buy tickets and reserve spaces through this page.

Sunday, 21 September, 1 P.M.
Faith and Freedom: Old South Presbyterian Church and the Revolution
Old South Presbyterian Church, 29 Federal Street

Explore Old South Presbyterian Church and uncover its rich Revolutionary War history on this guided tour. Learn about its role in 1775 as a gathering place for patriots, hear stories of prominent figures connected to the church, and discover how faith and freedom intertwined in Newburyport’s fight for independence.

Sunday, 21 September, 3 P.M.
The 1775 Quebec Expedition from Newburyport: Following Their Footsteps
Central Congregation Church, 14 Titcomb Street

On September 19, 1775, over 1,100 men departed Newburyport on a secret mission to capture Quebec—led by Benedict Arnold and planned with George Washington. Join Jack Santos as he recounts the stories of Newburyport’s patriots on this daring expedition through the wilderness as we celebrate its 250th anniversary.

A Horse for the Rev. Dr. West

In early October 1775, the Rev. Samuel West of Dartmouth (New Bedford) came to Gen. George Washington’s headquarters in Cambridge with a deciphered copy of a letter Dr. Benjamin Church, Jr., had tried to send into Boston.

West had seen that the symbols Church had used to write his letter (shown back here) came in the same frequency pattern as the letters of the alphabet in ordinary prose—i.e., Church had used a simple substitution cipher, one symbol for each letter. West presumably then tried replacing the most common symbol with E, the next most common with T, and so on, looking for common letter groupings. By that method the minister uncovered the complete text.

After West delivered his work, the commander called his generals together for a council of war. The documents showed that Dr. Church, director of the Continental Army’s medical wing, member of the Massachusetts House, and top-level organizer of the Boston Whigs, was secretly sending information to the enemy. This was obviously an intelligence crisis.

At some point in those discussions, news came that the Rev. Mr. West had lost his horse.

When I read that fact in the start of the correspondence that followed, I thought that loss was a result of West’s legendary absent-mindedness. But it turns out losing the horse wasn’t his fault. Even so, the letter he wrote to Washington from Plymouth on 11 October suggests a certain insensibility to how he was coming across:

Sire, When I was at Head quarters the other Day, my good friend mr [Robert] Pierpoint informed your Excellency, that I had lost my horse, and proposed that I should have one of the provincial horses presented to me to supply my loss: the manner in which mr Pierpoint introduced the Subject gave Me a great deal of pain and uneasiness: because I thought it had the Appearance of a design to beg a favor of the Gentlemen of the Army; when therefore Colonel [Joseph] Read offered to Send me an horse to ride home; I was under so much confusion as not to know certainly whether the horse was only lent me to ride home, or whether it was designed to be presented to me for my own: Mr Pierpoint thought that the horse was presented to me as a gift, but I judged from Several things that it was only lent me to ride home; and accordingly had fully determined as soon as I had gotten home to send the horse back by the first opportunity: But several Gentlemen of my Acquaintance upon hearing the Account of the matter judgd that I had a just right to have Satisfaction made me by the continent for my loss, inasmuch as I had preached in the camp five Sabbaths and a fast, and expected no reward for my Services, they thought that I had a right to be made whole by the continent for any Damage I might suffer while I was doing duty in the camp

Colonel [James] Warren of Plymouth Speaker of the house of representatives was so full in this sentiment, that he advised me to present a memorial to your Excellency; and to represent the matter with proper light; not doubting but that your Excellency would judge it proper that the continent should make good the damage that I have sustained. It is in consequence of his Advice, that I have now written this letter to your Excellency. In order, that your Excellency may form a true judgment of the matter, I must briefly state the fact which is thus—Mr. [Samuel] Spring, who is now gone chaplain to Quebec, had liberty granted him by Dr [Nathaniel] Cogswell to take his horse and ride him to Newbury port and to sell him for Nine Pounds, he thro a Mistake took my horse and sold him in the journey to a man belonging to Salem; hearing of this I went to Salem, and when I came there was told that the horse was gone off, the stable door being left open—diligent search was made but he could not be found: Now as there is no person, of whom I can legally demand satisfaction for my loss, except mr Spring, and as it is very uncertain when he will return from Quebec, and as I stand in need of an horse every Day almost when I am at home, if your Excellency thinks my request to be rational and that the publick ought to make good the Damage that I have sustained; I should be glad to have liberty granted me to keep the horse that Colonel Read lent me, till I have proper satisfaction made me by mr. Spring for the loss I have suffered. If your Excellency will send a line to me by the bearer of this Mr. Joseph Howland to let me know whether I must return the horse back by the first opportunity, or whether I may keep him till I am otherwise satisfied it will lay a peculiar obligation upon your Excellencys most humble and obedient Servant Samuel West

And all in rather bad handwriting crowded into uneven sloping lines.

When this arrived, Gen. Washington was still dealing with the fallout from Church’s treachery, anticipating the arrival of three Continental Congress delegates come to review his progress, considering an attack on Boston, trying to launch schooners from Beverly, and looking ahead to the dissolution of his army at the end of the year. But West wanted an answer about that horse.

TOMORROW: The reply from Washington’s headquarters.