Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-07-16

'What name, madam Why-JurlrER
ToNANs!'
AN ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF T1CON-
DEROGA BY COLONEL ETHAN ALLEN.
['Thc following is his account of that affair
The first systcmatical and bloody attempt
at Lexington to enslave America, thoroughly |
electrified my mind, and fully determined
me to take "A part with my country, and while |
l was wishing for an opportunity to signalize
myself in its behalf, directions were privately
sent to me from the then colony, now state
of Connecticut, to raise the Green Mountain
boys, and, if possible, with them to surprise
and take the fortress of Tconderoga. This
enterprise l checrfully undertook and after
first guarding all the several passes that led
thither, TO cut off all intelligence between
the garrison and the country, made a fore
ed march from Bennington, and arrived at
the lake opposite Ticonderoga, on the even
ing of the 9th day of May, 1775, with 23O
valiant Green Mountain boys; and it was
with the utmost difficulty that procured
boats to cross the lake. However, landed
eighty-three men near the garrison, and sent
the boats back for the rear guard, command
ed by Col. Seth Warner; but the day began
to dawn, and found myself ncccssi,ated to
attack the fort, before the rear could cross
!. the lake; and as it seemed hazardous,
harrangued the officers and soldiers in the
manner following Friends and fellow SOL
J. diers-you have for number of years past
been scourge and terror to arbitrary power.
Your valor has been famed abroad, and ac-
knowledged, as appears by the advice and
orders to me from the General Assembly of
Connecticut, TO surprise and take the garr-
son now before us. | now purpose to adj
vance before you, and in person conduct
p you through the wicket gate for we must
this morning either quit our pretensions to
valor, or possess ourselves of this fortress
in few minutes and inasmucll as it is
desperate attempt, which none but the brav-
> est of men dare undertake, do not urge it
II Oh any contra to his will you that will UNI
II dertake voluntarily, pose your frelock,
n 1.-THE men being at this time drawn up in three
ranks, )each poised his firelock. l ordered
n them to face to the right, and at the head of
r: the centre file marched them Immediately to
II the wicket gate aforesaid, where found a
sentry posted, who instantly snapped his
IS fusee at nc !; I ran Immediately towards him,
Z! and he rctreatcd through the covered way into
the parade within the garrison, gave halo,
u and ran under "A bomb proof. My party,
= who followed me into the fort, l formed on
&c the parade in such manner as to face the
ID barracks, which faced each other, the garri-
'e son being asleep except the sentries, we
"a gave three huzzas, which greatly surprised
them. One of the sentries made pass at
: one of my officers, with charged bayonet,
"a and slightly wounded him q; my first thought
is was to kill him with my sword, but in an in
ID slant altered the design and fury of the
l. blow TO slight cut on the side of the head
J. upon which he dropped his gun and asked
e quarters, which readily granted him, and
ID demanded the place where the commanding
lie officer kept he showed me pair of stairs
to in the front of the garrison, which led up to
y a second story in said barracks, to which
J. Immediately repaired, and ordered the COM
"a mander, Capt. Delapacc, to come forth in.
Il, stantly, or | would sacrifice the whole garri-
Of son. at which time the Captain came i'm
: medIately to the door with his brecches il
N his hand, when 1 ordered HIM to deliver tc
}! me the fort instantly; he asked me by wha
l. authority demanded it, | answered him, il
I! tinental Congress. The authority of Con.
gress being very little known at that time, he
- began to speak again, but interrupted him
= and with my drawn sword near his head
n. again demanded an immediate surrender O
'g the garrison with which he then complied
" and ordered his men to be forthwith paraded
le without arms, as he had given up the garri
son. In the mean time some OF my officer
H. had given orders, and in consequence there
is of, sundry of the harrack doors were bea
down, and about one third of the garrison
n imprisoned, which consisted of said com
Il mander, Lieutenant Feltham, conducto
c. of Artillery, gunner, two sergcans, am
te for,y-tour rank and file =; about one hundred
as pieces of cannon, one thirteen inch mortar
r. and a number of swives. The surprise wa
es carried into execution in the gray of tn
to morning of the tenth of May, IT'S; the SUI
~ seemed TO rise that morning with superio
H. lustre, and TicOnderoga and its Dependence
smiled on its cOnqucrors, who tossed abou
ed the flowing bowl, and wished success TO Con
to gress, and the liberty and freedom of Anne
elf RIGA. Happy it was for me at that time, tina
er the future pages of the book of fate, whic
'al afterwards untolded miserable scene of tw
ed years and eight months Imprisonment, wer
hid from my view.
SOI. w dTHeI ulu nOt arrive I'LL AFTER IN
th place surrendered, but he took the comman
OK ola party who set Off for Crown Point, l.
in miles distant ; at that place there were on
ties ly sergeant and twelve men to perform gar
err, rison duty,-they surrendered upon the frs
nd summons, and Warner took possession O
Crown Point on the same day that Ticon
led deroga was given up. Another party sur
priscd Skeensborough, made a prisoner c
en-. MAJOR Skeen. In the above forts they foun
above two hundred pieces of cannon, som
led mortars, howitzers, and large quantities c
ammunition and military stores, and ware
NY: house full materials for carrying on the bus
- mess of building boats. The above was &C
for complishcd without losing man.
seq One WHO SERVED IN THE ABOVE WAR.
md
)it- LEMON SYRUP!