The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-09-15
FROM the Boston Gazette.
MEMORANDA OF 4 SHORT ToUl

G66f 'RHhpidth, JufY -. lh&5.
Yesterday afternoon | Visited the
l'ori ut licouderoga. or rather the II:
ms of the fort. 'iie0udcroga. the
old Journals say, is an hd'an word,
signirying n confluence Of waief9.--.
The walls arc mostly thrown down.
hut exhibit sufficient marks Of their
axtcnt and solidity 30 prove that this
foitifcation was built with great
care aud skill, aud with the atrong
belief that it was to remain in pos.
session of the builders for many years
lit is near the shore oil lake Cham
plain, on a peninsula, aud on one
side Of which is the outlet Of Lake
George, and on the other side are the
still waters Of Champlain. The
works. a3 now distinctly appear by
the ruins. extended IN the main land.
and show that il must have been a
very formidable place TO those who
would attack directly: but aps QUO
in the slightest degree acquainted
with milItnry matters, Nigh, have
secn at glance that there we're two
emincnecs W,thin almost point blank
shot, either of which would command
this ratification. Mount frdepcn-
dencc, in Vermont. OF Mount Def
ancc, on the south OF the tortress :
and it was the duty of tho engineer
To have explored them, but il il pro-
bable tina. from their steep, rugged
and lofty appearance. il was taken
for matter of certainty that they
were inaccessible.
This spot is full OF deep interest 10
the historian. 1t has often changed
masters, and from once being place
of immense Importance IN war. ii
has become Of no possible conec-
quenCc, but as a subject Tor the TIA
weller to mnralize upon as he passes
on hi, journey.
! he French commenced building
this work pre,ious IL 1T5f, but il
was not in n finished state III 1853.
when attacked by the army Of Bri-
fish and ProvinCials under Lord
Howe and Gctcral AberCrombic.--
IN the year l759,when General Am
herst, man Of sense, aud brave
ard scientific soldier, took command
Of the army in that quarter, he made
such dispositions TO take the fort.
that the French Thought il tie wiacst
course To eVacuatc it, az also the fort
at Grown Point, a. or nearly at the
same time and it was held by them
until taken by Col. Ethan Alien. IN
May, 1-75. After tic battle Of Lex
ington in April, l775, and before the
battle of Bunker Hill, in Juno. he
assembled about two hundred Yer
monters, and went 10 Iicondcroga
in the night and entering the fort
without resistance. ordered the com
mander IN surrender. The aston
ished commander inquired TO whom,
for his country, as hr tho't, WAS NJ
I pcare with all the world. News of the
tight at Lexington had not reached
him in this wilderness, aud il il had
. he could not have conjccturrd that
such bold step would have been Ia
ken IN fact, although Alien detnan-
name OF The Continental 8rpY s. GOO
.Hmigktg, it is probable that it was
a bold adventure of his own, without
a semblanch ri authority. 1t was Il
daring achievement. roc th"ra we're
eight hundred men in the garrison
and he had no means Of securing ~
feeding prisoners. Congress. loac
yer, considered il Il fortunate affair
and took measures instantly 10 secure
the acquisition. Allen received ia,
thanks OF Congress, aad aas held it
high estimation as a man Of courage
tie WAS one of those men fitted ~
nature and education, il education
q" TINT can be cailed 7chich Is foHe,'
to live on Wild frontier at such &
> period. With q stroGg, rude mint
aud bodv. he was fearless Of danger
and at that time so persevering a. wi
ley, that the Indian rs he hunted wa
. terror struck at his name but tht
nation wanted such daring spirits ot
the frontiers at such IL moment, auf
If Allen had been content with Biz
! military fame, he would have gone
down to posterily known only as q
brave man. WHO he'd done his coun-
Try some service. bat to the weah
ness and folly OF man there is no end.
Alien, without learning. regeetion or
mental resomces. and totally dcsti-
lutc Of the slightest particle Of platy
or dercncy, undertook to wage war
With the christian religion. II MAS
j, most piti.ul effort ignorance and