Cascade Centennial Chapter

Jay Dickey, Past President of the Nevada Society of SAR, National Trustee, Western District Secretary, and George Washington Fellow, presents “Before He Was a Traitor: Benedict Arnold and the Siege of Quebec.”—commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Siege of Quebec.

250 years ago in 1775, American troops launched an expedition that was dubbed the “Arnold Expedition,” the purpose of which was to march from Massachusetts through the forests of northern Maine in the middle of winter, surprise British forces in Quebec, and seize the otherwise impregnable British fort there.  

Invading Canada was a fixation of many of the Revolutionary War leaders, and Arnold volunteered to lead the expedition. Other notable soldiers who joined him were Daniel Morgan, General Richard Montgomery and Aaron Burr.  

The march to Canada and the siege itself were disasters for the Americans. Many soldiers died on the way to Canada, and when Arnold made the decision to attack the British fort in a snowstorm on New Year’s Eve, the Americans were crushed, with many men killed or taken prisoner. Arnold himself was badly wounded. Yet, he emerged a hero of the battle, and soon became a revered military leader. 

Jay also leads an educational nonprofit, American Heritage Partners.

Matthew Stiles Bowdish, M.D. is a board certified allergist & clinical immunologist, and CASSAR Surgeon.  

This presentation focuses on 17th century medicine via a discussion of George Washington’s medical history. Washington suffered from a variety of ailments that shaped the course of his life, the Continental Army and the young United States.

Jay Dickey, Past President of the Nevada Society of SAR, National Trustee, Western District Secretary, and George Washington Fellow, discusses “Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride, and the Shot Heard Round the World”—commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord.

Jay will cover the key events leading up to Revere’s famous ride, the critical role played by Joseph Warren, and the flight of Samuel Adams and John Hancock from Boston. Hear the story from a renowned historian who has extensively researched this topic.

Jay also leads an educational nonprofit, American Heritage Partners.

On October 4, 1777, George Washington and his army lost the Battle of Germantown, the fifth straight defeat for the Continentals in the Philadelphia Campaign. Yet, none of the Americans—including George Washington—considered it that way, with Washington calling it "This Happy Opportunity." In hindsight, this contest can be considered the most beneficial defeat in American history.

Historian Gary Ecelbarger presented the battle and its remarkable effect on the course of the Revolutionary War. Gary has written ten books and over three dozen articles, essays and monographs about 18th and 19th Century personalities and events associated with the Revolutionary War. 

See more of Gary's articles at the Journal of the American Revolution.

Charlie Frye is a compatriot of the California Society of SAR, as well as a geographer, cartographer, information scientist, and U.S. Army veteran. As he learned of his ancestor Isaac Frye’s path during the American Revolution, he applied his skills to design an approach to use geographic information systems to organize and document historical research projects.

Charlie made a presentation entitled “Eggs Benedict”, a light-hearted treatment of Benedict Arnold who played a key role for both sides in the Revolutionary War.

Charlie is the author of Duty in the Cause of Liberty, a book series set during the American Revolutionary War.