History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1776.] REVOLUTION—INVASION OF CANADA. 381
the policy to send small detaclimeiits at frequent intervals
of time.
Noah Cook's Account Noali Cook, wliose account of tlie march
of the March to yf the Northampton minute-men has been
previously quoted, re-enlisted for the Canada
expedition within a few weeks after his return from
Boston. From him Sylvester Judd obtained the following
statement : —
"In Fabrnary, 1776, Cook enlisted with others for one j'ear, to re-
inforce the army in Canada. The officers of the company were Capt.
Israel Cliapin of Hatfield, Lieuts. Seth Hmit of Northampton and
David White of Hadley, Ens. Nathaniel Sylvester of Chesterfield. The
company, about one hundred in number, was enlisted from several of
the Hampshire towns. They were all young, stout, and brave men.
On the 3'' of March they paraded before the meeting house in Northampton,
where Mr. Hooker made a prayer. That afternoon they
marched to Williamsburg and stopped at Capt. Fairfield's tavern, but
found no snow. The next night they were at Worthington, where
snow was plenty. On the third night they encamped between Worthington
and Williamstown, and the fourth night was spent at Williamstown.
They were all on foot. Perez Bardwell of Hatfield (or
Whatel}'), accompanied them with a sleigh, and carried their baggage.
Each man had a little silver money in his pocket, and all had
snow shoes, but did not need to use them. They were at Bennington
on the fifth night, but the snow had disappeared. Here was a meeting
house with several dwellings about it, and among them two taverns.
They passed through Shaftsbury and Arlington, crossed Wells' pond
on the ice, and passed the sixth night at Wells. Here they found more
snow, and some of the men put on snow shoes. They crossed the lake
on the ice above Mt. Independence, and arrived at Ticonderoga on the
seventh day after leaving Northampton. Here provisions were distributed.
The weather had grown much milder, but the company went up
to Crown Point on the ice, which was in some places covered with
water. They continued the march on the ice, but it soon became too
frail. So weak was it that they were compelled to lead the horses, and
draw by hand the sleigh and a hay sled, made by the soldiers by hand.
One horse broke through the ice and was drawn out of the water nine
times. The other one was placed on the sled and drawn to the shore.
They succeeded in reaching the eastern shore of the lake in safety, just
at the narrows, but found no inhabitants. They proceeded to Onion
river, now Burlington by land, where they found a family of high
Dutch. No house was seen between Crown Point and Burlington. At
Colchester, the next stopping place, temporary barracks were found,
but no inhabitants. Here Bardwell left his sleigh and returned home
with his horses. At Crown Point nothing remained but the old fort
with a scanty guard. From Ticonderoga they had a Frenchman for a