Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-09-17

pearance Of reconciliation, Yet the secas q
misrhiefwere not eradicaied, and they im-
mediately began to spring uP~i'h their i''-
mer vigOr.
Jtwas unfortunate, that an example occur
red while the negotiation was pending
Soon after the commissioners set ON Tor New
York. intelligence was brought to Benning-
ton. that a noted surveyor, employed by the
New York claimants, had found his way in
m some of the border townships, and was
busy in running out lands. A small party
rallied. with Colonel Allen at their head,
went in pursuit of the surveyor, fell upon
his track in the woods, overlook and seized
him, intending to punish him in a manner
suited to their ideas of the audaciousneSs OF
his offence. They broke his instruments
examined and tried him before court or
eanized according TO their manner, found
him guilty, and passed sentence of Danish
ment, threatening the penalty OF deatn'
should he ever again be caught within the
limits of the interdicted territory. AT this
juncture they heard of the success of the
mission to New York, which occasioned
them 10 dismiss the surveyor without per-
sonal iainry, and to rescind their harsh SEN
tencc. %
Dl;'iag this expedition Colonel Allen and
his p2rty also dispossessed the tenants of an
inuu:tr, near the mouth Of Otter Creek,
where under the shield Of New York title,
he h. taken a saw-mill and other property
from tie original settlers, and appropriating
them to himself adding tenements and i'm
provements for his laborerS. Colonel Allen
expelled the tenants, burnt their habitations,
restored the Sawmill to its first owner, and
broke the millstones of gristmill, which
he could not burn without endangering the
sawmill.
The fame of these exploits travelled with
speed to New York, and kindled the anger of
Governor Tryon and the members of his
council. The governor wrote letter OF
sharp rebuke 10 the inhabitants the Grants,
complaining of this conduct as an insult to
government, and a violation of public faith.
This letter was taken into consideration by
the committees of several townships assem-
bled at Manchester, who voted to return an
answer, which was drafted by Ethan
Allen, secretary to the convention.
DIR. Sparks adds "
The assembled committees declared expic-
lilly, that, BY the terms OF reconciliation, they
cid not expect any settlements or locations
would be attempted on the lands in question,
till his Maiest,'s pleasure should be known -
If such were not the meaning aud intent OF the
governor, in the proposal he had sent by the
commissioners, then their act Of ratification
was nullity. l...
To this pitch Of legalzed infatuaiion on the
one pert, and Of amnesty and violence on the
other, had the controversy attained by imbi-
bing new ailment at every stage, when it was
suddenly arrested by events OF vastly greater
moment, which drew away the attention Of
the political leaders in New York from these
border feuds to affairs of more vital interest -
The revolution was on the eve OF breaking
out, and the ferment, which had already begun
to agitatc the public mind from one end Of the
continent to the other was NOT less aeti~o in
New York than in other places. From this
time, therefore, the Green Mountain settlers
were permitted to remain in comparative tram
guilty. o..>.s .. 3..er.7
Early in the wear 1775. soon as it was
made manif.-, by the attitude assumed on the
mari of -Ie British government against the COL
nn;~, against the colonies, and by the conduct
General Gage in Boston, that open HOSTILE
ties must inevitably commence in short time,
1t began TO be secretly whispered among the
principal politicians in New England, that
the capture of Ticonderoga was an object de-
mandiag the first attention. Several gentle-
men at that time attending the Assembly in
Hartford, Connecticut, concerted plan for
surprising Ticondsroga, and Selling the can
non IN that fortress, for the use Of the army,
then marching irLm all quarters to the environs
Of Boston. Although these gentlemen we're
members Of the Assembly, yet the scheme was
wholly OF private nature, without any overt
sanction from the authority of the colony. A
committee vas appointed, at the head Of which
were Edward Mott and Noah Phelps, with in
struct!ons to proceed to the frontier towns, in.
9uire INTO the state of the garrison, and, should
aney tney mink proper, 20 raise men and take
possession Of the sane. To aid The project.
one thousand dollars were obtained from the
~
On their way the committee collected SIX
teen men in Conhscticut, and went forward to
Pittsfeld, in Massachusetts,, Whete they ls;;;' O.
pen their plan to Coo,ss!. Easton and Mr.. John
Brown, who agreed to join them, and they pro.
ceeded in company to Bennington Colonel
Easton, being in command of regiment Of
militia, proposed 10 engage some Of them in
the expedition, and enlisted volunteers as be
passed along, between forty and fifty Of whom
reached Bennington the next day. Asno time
was to be lost. council of war was immediate
ly called. inewhich it was voted that Colonel
Ethan Allen should send out parties to the
northward, secure the roads. and prevent intel
ligence from passing in that direction. This
was accordingly done. Colonel Aliens Green
Mountain Boys having been collected as speed
lily az possible, the little army marched, ant
arrived at Castleton on the evening OF the Ut
of May. r..,s. .ss7sg, .tas.e4.o - ...ge...
Here another council OF war was held, ant
Ethan Alien was appointed the commander o
the expedition, James Easton the second in
command, and Seth Waraer the third. Bei..e
thus organized they proceeded to fix plan q
operations 1t was decided that Colonel Allen
and the principal officers, with the main bod,
of their forces conStstins Sfa kr.,t ono h,p