116-mile kayak trip retraces steps of Revolutionary War generals

WELLSBURG -- During the week, Don Williams is an attorney in Philadelphia and David Buck runs a canoe/kayak rental business on the Susquehanna River in Sugar Run, Pa.

But on Friday morning, the pair launched their kayaks onto the Chemung River in Wellsburg and started a 116-mile trip to Wilkes-Barre to retrace the 1779 return trip of Revolutionary War generals James Clinton and John Sullivan after their battles with the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy.

You might wonder why two grown men would want to float down the river during the unseasonable weather predicted for this weekend, camping out or staying in cabins along the way.

"We've been talking about doing this for the past four or five years," said Buck. "We want to retrace the route that Clinton and Sullivan took on their return trip down the rivers 230 years ago. We also want to help connect the two rivers and make the public aware they are one."

Buck is also one of the founders of the 100-mile-long North Branch Water Trail and its support group, Friends of the North Branch Water Trail. The group promotes the Susquehanna and Chemung rivers and encourages the public to use and enjoy them. Starting the boat trip in New York allows the Pennsylvania group to "shake hands" with the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, a similar group based in Elmira that promotes the Chemung River.

"They've done an excellent job with their water trail and we'd like to follow suit by installing signs, trails and rest stops along the (Susquehanna River)," said Buck.

The four-day trip began at the Toll Bridge boat launch at the Wellsburg end of the Wellsburg-Lowman Crossover. Friday's leg took the men 22 miles down river to Hornbrook Park in Towanda. Saturday, they plan to paddle 30 miles to Sugar Run or 38 miles to Laceyville. The trip ends Monday in Wilkes-Barre.

"During the trip up the river, Wilkes-Barre was the base camp for the expedition's supplies, soldiers and support people," said Williams, who has read several journals written by soldiers who were part of the campaign. He has also kayaked on the Susquehanna for the past 10 years, but Friday was his first time on the Chemung.

"They all came up the river at the same time, but they returned back in waves," Williams said. "I've read the journals and the return trip included about 1,000 pack horses, the same number of cattle and about 120 boats. They began to leave in late September, so the timing of our trip is about right."

Buck said that earlier this week, he was anticipating four boats would take part in the trip. However, the weather and last-minute issues cut the number down to Buck and Williams, who put their kayaks in the water shortly after 9 a.m. Friday in a mix of snow flurries and light rain.

"But we might get people to join us along the way," he said.