Arnold Expedition to be commemorated with Augusta events

AUGUSTA — The Daniel Savage’s Company, Re-enactors of Fort Western, will host a Revolutionary War encampment from on Saturday, Sept. 29 and Sunday, Sept. 30, at Fort Western and other Augusta sites to commemorate Benedict Arnold’s march to Quebec, which began at Fort Western in September 1775.

The encampment will from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 30, at Fort Western Living History Museum, 16 Cony St., across the Kennebec River from downtown.
Throughout the weekend, re-enactors will portray the daily life of local militia for the town of Hallowell during the American Revolution, with various shelters on display. On Saturday, around 11 a.m., there will be musket firing demonstrations, and at 1:30 p.m., re-enactors will carry the fort’s replica of the Arnold Expedition bateau to the boat landing and launch it into the Kennebec River.
Also on Saturday, Hodding Carter and Rob Stevens will be hold a public discussion about their recreation of the Arnold Expedition last fall in a replica bateau up the Kennebec, Dead and Chaudière rivers arriving in Quebec City on Nov. 4, 2017.
On Sunday at 10 a.m., the public is invited to join Savage’s Company at Viles Arboretum on Hospital Street, where the Company will hiking the Arboretum trails carrying muskets and equipment to symbolize the soldiers of the Arnold Expedition who walked to Quebec. The march will begin in the Arboretum parking lot and muskets and backpacks will be available for children to carry.
During the encampment, visitors are invited to walk through the fort, store and house to view period rooms and exhibits and talk with historical costumed interpreters about daily life in the 18th century. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children 6 to 14, $8 for seniors and veterans, $25 for a family of five. There are $1 AAA discounts. Augusta residents and active military are free of charge. The forst’s hours in September and October are 10 to 4 a.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Fort Western dates to 1754 and is America’s oldest surviving wooden French & Indian War garrison, illuminating 300 years of Maine and New England history. For more information, visit www.oldfortwestern.org, call 207-626-2385 or email oldfort@oldfortwestern.org.