In this episode, we will learn about two important developments in the siege of Boston 250 years ago this month, in September 1775. First, we’ll learn about the invasion of Quebec that Benedict Arnold launched out of Boston that month, in hopes of winning over Canadian hearts and minds. If you have ever wondered why Canada isn’t part of the United States, we can probably chalk that up to Arnold’s ill-fated expedition, as well as the 150 years of conflict between Canadians and New Englanders that had gone before. We will also learn about the riflemen who made up much of the invasion force. Recruited from the backwoods of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and what’s now West Virginia, these exotic troops were treated as celebrities when they first arrived at the Continental camp in Cambridge, but the bloom was soon off the rose. As we’ll hear, some of the riflemen staged the first mutiny in the Continental Army 250 years ago this week, until they were personally subdued by George Washington near Union Square in today’s Somerville.

Full show notes: http://HUBhistory.com/335/

Support us: http://patreon.com/HUBhistory/

The Riflemen’s Mutiny

• Riflemen Run Riot by Joshua Shepherd


• Making and Unmaking a Military Myth by Thomas A Rider II


• Lt Ziegler and “Our Thirty-two Mutineers” by JL Bell


• June 14, 1775 Congress resolves to enlist ten companies of riflemen


• June 17, 1775 John to Abigail Adams, George Washington to command Continental Army


• June 18, 1775 John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, praising riflemen’s skill


• June 22, 1775 Riflemen to march to Boston ASAP


• July 6, 1775 John Adams to James Warren, Riflemen are gentlemen of independent fortunes


• July 31, 1775 Riflemen in action at Charlestown


• Aug 31, 1775 Riflemen in action at Plowed Hill


• Sept 5, 1775 George Washington’s orders, two companies of riflemen to go on Quebec expedition


• Sept 10, 1775 Nathanael Greene expects trouble from riflemen


• Sept 11, 1775 James Warren to John Adams on the mutiny


• Sept 11, 1775 George Washington’s orders, riflemen to participate in fatigue duty


• Sept 13, 1775 George Washington’s orders, mutineers to be court martialed


• Sept 30, 1775 George Washington complains that his horse is a better shot than immigrant riflemen


• Oct 23, 1775 William Heath complains about immigrant riflemen to John Adams


• Oct 24, 1775 John Thomas to John Adams, riflemen are poor soldiers


• Oct 30, 1775 Artemas Ward thinks the riflemen’s reputation is ruined


• Dec 11, 1775 Billy Tudor was unimpressed with riflemen’s courage


• George Hanger’s comments on rifles and riflemen


• James Thacher’s military journal, describes riflemen’s appearance


• Rifleman Jesse Lukens’ letter about the mutiny


• Derek W Beck's The War Before Independence: 1775-1776

The March to Quebec

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Thomas Walker and Jane Hughes at the Chateau Ramezay
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The spot in Quebec City where Benedict Arnold’s Americans were turned back
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  • Caleb Haskell’s diary
  
  
  • James Melvin’s diary
  
  
  • Procknow, Gene. “Construing Congress’s Hasty, Ill-Fated 1775 Decision to Invade Canada.” Journal of the American Revolution, 21 May 2024
  
  
  • Raphael, Ray. “March to Quebec and the Fog of War.” Journal of the American Revolution, 21 July 2016
  
  
  • Thomas, Lewis. “WALKER, THOMAS (D. 1788).” Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
  
  
  • HUB History, “No other answer but from the mouth of his cannon (episode 146)”
  
  
  • Our header image is an NC Wyeth illustration for a 1928 magazine article that is now in the public domain