An interesting journal of Abner Stocking of Chatham, Connecticut: detailing the distressing events of the expedition against Quebec, under the command of Col. Arnold in the year 1775

In Short

This journal is a stark, unvarnished primary account of the 1775 American military expedition to Quebec. Written by a private soldier, it documents the grueling march through the Maine wilderness, the eventual assault on the city, and the author's subsequent months as a prisoner of war. More than just a record of military maneuvers, the text serves as a somber meditation on endurance, the loss of innocence, and the deep, visceral appreciation for home and basic sustenance that only extreme deprivation can produce.

The Story

The narrative begins in September 1775, when the author leaves Cambridge with high spirits, eager to join the cause of liberty. The initial chapters detail the logistical challenges of moving eleven hundred men via sloops and batteaus toward the Kennebec River. The tone shifts rapidly from hopeful to desperate as the expedition enters the untamed wilderness of Maine. The soldiers face a nearly vertical carrying place, freezing cold, and a landscape that forces them to abandon their supplies. As provisions run low, the men are reduced to eating their own dogs and boiling leather, their once-proud ranks thinned by exhaustion and the unforgiving terrain.

Upon emerging from the woods into the French-speaking settlements of Canada, the survivors are malnourished and nearly naked, resembling "Ourang-Outang" in their disheveled state. Despite their condition, they quickly regroup to participate in the desperate, ill-fated assault on Quebec. The author describes the chaos of the nighttime attack, the death of General Montgomery, and the wounding of Colonel Arnold. Following the failure of the assault, the author is captured and confined to a crowded, unsanitary jail.

The final section focuses on the indignity of imprisonment. Confined alongside his comrades, the author suffers from scurvy and disease while the British authorities keep them in a state of suspended animation. He documents a failed escape attempt, thwarted by a traitor in their ranks, which results in the men being shackled in irons. After months of uncertainty, the prisoners are finally paroled and sent home. The journey back to Connecticut is a pilgrimage of relief. The narrative concludes with the author's arrival at his father’s house, offering a deeply personal reflection on his survival and a renewed, profound gratitude for the "common blessings of Providence" that he had once taken for granted.

How It Unfolds

The Departure The expedition begins in high spirits at Cambridge, with the troops eager to prove their zeal for liberty. The initial movement toward the Kennebec River is marked by orderly drills and the optimistic support of local spectators.

The Wilderness Ordeal As the army enters the trackless Maine forest, the challenge shifts from military maneuvering to sheer survival. The men struggle to haul heavy batteaus over treacherous, icy terrain, eventually succumbing to extreme hunger as their rations dwindle to nothing.

The Assault on Quebec The starving, bedraggled remnants of the force unite with reinforcements before the city walls. The narrative vividly details the failed, confused attack during a snowstorm, which leads to the author's capture and the collapse of the mission.

Captivity and Release The final act depicts the grim reality of life within a colonial gaol, where illness and betrayal define the prisoners' existence. The story reaches its emotional conclusion with the author’s long-awaited return to Chatham, Connecticut, and his reunion with his family.

The People

Abner Stocking serves as both our narrator and the lens through which we view the common soldier's experience. He begins as a true believer, sustained by patriotism, but his journey strips away his idealism, leaving him with a sober, reflective spirituality. He is a man profoundly changed by the physical limits of human endurance.

Colonel Arnold appears as a central, driving force—resolute, firm, and physically present at the front of the march. While the author notes a growing friction between the rank-and-file and Arnold over "rigid discipline," the colonel remains the pillar of the expedition’s determination. General Montgomery is portrayed as a tragic, heroic figure; his death during the assault on Quebec marks the definitive end of the campaign’s viability. These leaders represent the grand ambition of the mission, contrasting sharply with the anonymous privates who suffer the consequences of their strategic risks. Finally, the French Canadian inhabitants play a crucial role as agents of mercy. Their hospitality and willingness to provide food represent a unexpected human connection that contrasts with the harshness of the wilderness and the cold sterility of the British prison.

In Its Own Voice

"We encountered these hardships and fatigues with great courage and perseverance from the zeal we felt in the cause."

This line reflects the early, idealistic stage of the march before the physical reality of the wilderness fully took hold.

"Our hunger was so great that many offered dollars for a single mouthful of bread."

This observation underscores the utter desperation that replaced the soldiers' initial patriotism once starvation set in.

"I thought that though we were in a thick wilderness, uninhabited by human beings, yet we were as much in the immediate presence of our divine protector, as when in the crowded city."

The author writes this during a moment of quiet reflection, highlighting the spiritual solace he sought amidst the overwhelming isolation of the forest.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the disparity between the abstract "cause of liberty" and the concrete suffering required to pursue it. The author explores the fragility of civilization; he demonstrates how quickly a group of men, stripped of their tools, clothing, and food, regresses to a state of primal struggle. There is also an implicit, quiet argument about the meaning of home. For the author, the physical act of returning to his native town becomes a sacred experience, suggesting that true patriotism is rooted less in political theory and more in the reclamation of the daily, domestic life that war interrupts. It is a story about the humbling, transformative power of suffering.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate the raw, unpolished grit of primary source history will find this an essential document. Unlike modern military histories that prioritize strategic maps and political context, this journal stays strictly at the level of the individual: the cold of the mud, the taste of a stolen piece of raw meat, and the sound of iron shackles. It is a challenging read because it refuses to romanticize the war; the author is honest about his own moments of despair, the bickering among the men, and the horrific loss of life.

The prose is functional and direct, typical of its 1810 publication, which may require a moment of adjustment for some readers, but it pays off with a startling sense of immediacy. What stays with you is the author's profound psychological shift—the way he moves from the "zeal" of a young man to the weary, humble gratitude of a survivor. It is a powerful reminder of how war is experienced by those who are not writing the history books, but who are nevertheless caught in the grinding gears of great events. For anyone interested in the human cost of the American Revolution, or simply in the literature of survival, this brief, intense journal is a haunting and necessary piece of history.