its course, to offer easy passage for
the heavy boats, and for some distance the stream was clogged with
flood-wood and fallen trees. This difficulty was overcome by building a
dam at the outlet of Otsego Lake, raising its level to such a point
that, when the water was released, the more than two hundred bateaux
were readily guided down the swollen stream.

The preparation for this feat preceded the encampment of the brigade on
the shore of the lake. On June 21, before Clinton had left Canajoharie,
Colonel William Butler, who had marched his Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment
over from Cherry Valley to Springfield, "ordered a party of men to the
foot of the Lake to dam the same,[49] that the water might be raised to
carry the boats down the Susquehanna River; Captain Benjamin Warren, of
the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, commanded the party.... The water in
the Lake was raised one foot." General Clinton says "at least two,"
while another account claims that the surface of the lake was raised as
much as three feet.

Another reference to this exploit is found in the journal of Lieut.
Beatty, who says, under date of June 22, "On the lower end of the lake
we found two companies of Col. Alden's (Sixth Mass.) Reg't, who had made
a dam across the neck that runs out of the lake, so as to raise the
water to carry the boats down the creek."

On Friday, August 6, the following conversation took place at a
conference between General Clinton and Chaplain Gano:[50]

"Chaplain," said the General, "you will have your last preaching service
here day after to-morrow."

"Ah indeed! Are we to march soon? Before another Sunday?"

"Yes, but I do not want the men to know it."

"Nor shall I tell them; but General, am I at liberty to preach from any
text I choose?"

"Certainly, Chaplain."

"And you will not, in any event, tax me with violation of confidence?"

"No! only stick to your Bible, and I'll give the official orders."

On the following Sunday, beneath the arches of their forest cathedral,
the brigade of nearly two thousand men was gathered for religious
service. Chaplain Gano chose the text of the sermon from Acts xx. 7:
"Ready to depart on the morrow."

Immediately on the conclusion of the religious service, before the
congregation had dispersed, "the general rose up," says the chaplain's
record, "and ordered each captain to appoint a certain number of men out
of his company to draw the boats from the lake and string them along