The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-05-12
hattie of YiconAcroSa.


account of the capture of Ticondcroga, on
the 10th May, l775:
The frs, systematical and bloody attempt
ut Lexington, to enslave America, thor
oughlv electrified my mind and | fully de-
termined to take a part with my country.
And while was wishing for an oppoItunl-
ty to signaize myself in its behalf, dircc-
tions were privately sent to me from the
then COLONY new State of Connecticut, to
raise the Green Mountain Boys, and, it pos
sibe, to surprise and take the fortress OF
Ticonderoga. This enterprise ! cheerful
" undertook; and after guarding all the
several passages that led thither, to cut OIL
all Intelligence between the garrison and the
country, made forced march from Ben
ington and arrived at the lake at liconde-
roga, 177J, with $50 valiant Green Noun
tuin Bows; and it was with the utmost dit
fculty that | procured boats to cross the
lake. However, had landed S3 men near
the garrison, and sent the boats back Tor
the rear guard, commanded by Col. Seth
Warner; but the day began to dawn, and
found myself ncce ssitated to attack the
fort before the rear could pass the lake;
and as it was viewed hazardous, harangn
ed the officers and soldiers III the following
manner:
"Fricnds and fellow soldiers: You have for
a number Of wears past been the scourge and
terror of arbitrary power. Your valor has
been famed abroad, and acknowledged, as
appears by the ortlers to me from the Cen
eral Assembly of Connecticut, to surprise
and take the garrison now before us. l now
propose to advance before YOU, and, in person
conduct YOU through the wicket gate; for we
must this morning either quit our pretenslons
90 fsioi, y. I>',s~~.~ i.,ec ~f tltie fnrtrpSs
in few minutes; and inasmuch as it is a
desperate attempt, which none but the
braVest men dare undertake, I do not urge it
on any, contrary to his will. You that will
undertake, voluntarily, poise your tirelock %
The men being at this time drawn up in
three ranks, each poised his firelock. | or
dered them to face to the right; and at the
head of the centre file, marched them i'm
mediatcly to the wicket gate, aforesaid,
where found sentry posted, who instant
IL snapped his fnzee at me. ran immcdi-
atelv towards him, and he retrcated through
the covered way into the parade with the
garrison, gave a halloo, and ran under a
bomb proof Ny party followed me into the
fort; formed on the parade III such man
ner as TO face the barracks, which faced
each other. The garrison being asleep, cH-
cept the sentries, We gave three huxzas,
which greatly surprised them. One of the
sentrics made pass at one of my officers
with a cha,' ed bayanet, and slightly wound
ed him. NY first thought was to kill him
with my sword, but in that instant altered
the design and fury of the blow, to slight
cut on the side Of the head; upon which he
dropped his gun, asked quarters which
readily granted him; and demanding where
the commanding officer slept he showed nc
a pair OF stairs III front Of the garrison, which
led up to the second story in said barracks,
to which Immediately repaired, and order
ed the commander, Captain Dciaplane, to
come forth instantly, or ! would sacrifice
the whole garrison. At which the captain
came Immediately to the door, with his
brooches in his hand, when | ordered him
to dcliverup the fort, instantly. He asked
BY what authority demanded it. | answer
cd hinl-'sin tho name of the great Jehovah
--and Continental Congress" The author
ity Of Congress being very little known at
that time, he began to speak again, but ! in
terrupted him, ana with drawn sword near
I his head, demanded an immediate surrender
of the garrison; with which he then compi-
ed, and ordered his men to be forthwith pa.
raded without arms, as he had given up the
garrison. In the meantime, some of my Of
iicers had given orders, and in consequence
thereof, sundry of the barrack doors were
beaten down, and about one third of the gar
rison imprisoned which consisted of said
commandcr, Lieut.. Fclham, a conductor Of
artillery, a gunner, two sergeants and forty
four rank and file, about one hundred lieccs
of cannon, one thirteen inch morter and a
number Of swivels. This enterprise wa.
carried into execution in the gray of the
morning of the 10th of May, 1775. The sur
seemed to rise that morning with a superio,
lustre; and Ticondei oga and its dcpenden,
cies smiled upon its couqucrers, who tossee
about the flowing bowl, and drank success t,
Congress, and liberty, and freedom to Amer
ica.
James l1ardie of New York has publishes
a pamphlet in which he has stated from hi
own personal knowledge the fact of tn,
building of sixteen hundred and twenty -fou
houses in that city, in the course of last year
Of this number five hundred and three wer,
erected with brick fronts-four hundrc,
and one of wood-forty-n of one stor,
and twelve hundred and twenty eight O
two; and two hundred and twenty eight o
a.