Androscoggin River
Excerpt of letter of David Dunning, a military commander pursuing Indians
along the Androscoggin River in June 1748:
"[June] 7th Returned to Topsham; -- 8th to Amiscougan Falls; delay
by bad weather; Friday set out again, --
Keept some distance from the river and Every mile or two made a halt &
sent out spies to see if we could make any Discovery at the river and when
we camped sent out a Scout: who Came upon 3 or 4 Indian Tracks and proceeded
till we found where they had made a fire: & Coocked there kettle But
had not lodged there Nor Could we Discern what way they had gone: On Saturday
marched again thinking still they had there Canooes above. I divided the
men Into 4: or 5 parties keeping one party In sight of the other or In Call
and being In Sight of the river -- After this manner we marched 9 or 10
howers But made no Discovery: at last we Got to the falls on ye 12th where
we Discovered a grate Number of Salmon fish but no tracts or sign of an
Indian. In going up waded to an Island Found no Canooes as we Expected:
and so Returned unsuccessful notwithstanding our Best Endeavors --
David Dunning, Brunswick, Sept. 10th 1748"
Source: Baxter, James P., editor. 1910. Documentary History of the State
of Maine Containing the Baxter Manuscripts. Vols. 23. Maine Historical Society.
Lefavor-Tower Company. Portland, Maine. pp. 302-303.
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