The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-21
ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF TICON-
DEROGA.
1.-THE following is his account Of that AFFAIR."
by ETHAN ALLEN,

The following is his account Of that affair
The first systematical and bloody attempt at
Lexington to enslave America thoroughly cleo
trifed my mind, and fully determined me TO take
part with my country, and while | was wish
ing for an opportunity to sgnalize 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 pos
sible with them TO surprise and take the fortress
of Ticonderoga. This enterprise cheerfully
undertook; and after first guarding all the seve-
raj passes that led thither TO cut of all intelli
gence between the garrison and the country,
made a force march from Bennington, and ar
rived at the lake, opposite Ticonderoga, on the
evening of the Sth day of May, 1775, with 900
valiant Green Mountain boys and il was with
difficulty that procured boats to cross the lake.
However, | landed SO men near the garrison,
and sent the boats back for the rear guard, com
manded by Col. Seth Warner; but the day be-
gan to dawn, and ! found myself necessitated to
attack the fort, before the rear guard could cross
the lake: and as il seemed hazardous, har.
rangued the officers and soldiers in the manner
following 80 Friends and fellow soldiers--you
have for number of years past been scourge
and terror to arbitrary power Your valor has
been famed abroad, and acknowledged, as APP
pears by the advice and orders TO me from the
General Assembly of Connecticut 10 surprise
and take the garrison now before us. ] now
propose TO advance before you, and in person
conduct you through the wicket gate for we
must this morning quit our pretensions 10 valor,
or possess ourselves of this fortress in few mi
nutes and inasmuch as il is desperate attempt,
which none but the bravest Of men dare under
take, do not urge II on any contrary 10 his WILL
you that will undertake voluntarily, pose your
irelocks,' Che men being at this time drawn up
in three ranks,) each poised his iirclock. order
ed them to the right and at the head of the centre
fire marched them Immediately TO the wicket
gate aforesaid, where ! found sentry posted,
who instantly snapped his fuscc at me ] ran
through the covered way into the parade within
the garrison, gave haoo, and run under
bomb proof My party who followed me into
the fort, | formed on the parade in such man
ner as TO face the barracks, which faced each
other. the garrison being asleep. except the sen
Tries, we gave three huzzas, which greatly sur
priscd them
One of the men made pass at one Of my
officers, with charged bayonet and slightly
wounded HIM my first thought was 10 kill HIM
with my sword, but in an instant altered the
design and fury of the blow 10 slight cut on
the side of the head upon which he dropped
his gun and asked quarters, which readily
granted him, and demanded the place where
the commanding officer slept; he showed me a
pair of stairs in front of the garrison, which led
up to a second story in SAID barracks, TO which
Immediately repaired, and ordered the com
mander, Capt. Delaplace, TO come forth instant
w, or would sacrifice the whole garrison, at