The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-06-12
Miscellaneous.
Revolutionary Sketches.

Revolutionary Sketches.
According to request made through the
Voice, few weeks since, Lieut.. Elias Hall,
Revolutionary times, has forwarded the fol-
lowing interesting, and in part affecting
sketches of what he was an eye witness to, in
the struggle of Our foreiathers for themselves
and their posterity. Let the young read it.,
and contrast their advantages with those
who periled their lives, and suffered priva-
tons, to accomplish the work they consider
ed themselves in duty bound TO engage in.-
Voice Of Freedom. CdStieton, April 20, IS47.
Dear Sir-You will find in Morse's Univer-
sal Geography, vol. ], page 504, an account
of Gen, Burguoyne's conveying quantity Of
ammunition and stores, number of cannon,
and portion of his troops, to the summit of
Mount Defiance. You will also see that il is
there stated that he raised them to that posi-
ton by means of brass tackles, over rocks,
from tree to tree, and over dens of rattle
snakes, to the summit which commanded the
works of Ticonderoga. You will also notice
that this circumstance was in itself juslifica-
ton of St. Clnr's retreat from the fact that
he saved a State although he lost a post to
save il.
In l777 was taken prisoner at the battle
in Castleton, with my brother, Elijah Kel-
were taken to TIconderoga, and confined in
a barn, in company with some three TO four
hundred others, with double centres to guard
us on the outside.
What wish to lay before your readers is
this;-I was one who helped To get single
cannon on TO the top ofthat summit. and this
was drawn 10y span of horses, instead of
being hauled up by tackles, and our business
was to litt at the hard places; but think
grunred more than lifted. A kind of road
was made on the northeast side, instead of
the south, as stated by Mr. Morse. This took
place on Friday, August 10, 1777. On Sun
day, the 10th, we had to do some work, such
as landing stores, hauling in boats, &c, We
were allowed to 90 off at some distance, if
we had guard, and we accordingly went TO
a spot of woods. While taking this walk,
we found that our guard had not got his
musket loaded, and on our return, Elijah
Kellogg, my brother, and myseifrau for the
woods aud secreted ourselves, as il was near
ly dark At our escape we were loudly hail
ed to return. We crossed the path which
led to the spot where the cannon was placed,
at distance of 40 rods, as ! should Judge.
A halt was made, when we had arrived at
the height ofthe land, to devise the best means
ofmaking good our escape, and we accord
ingly made an arrangementto go off the de-
elivty, and follow down the lake until we
should arrive at certain place, two miles be-
low, where we intended 10 make raft, and
cross over to Vermont. With much troubl G
we descended the Steep by letting ourselves
down by means of the bushes, and drop
ping from rock to rock uniil we found our
selves at the bottom, by the lake shore. The
were intricate, and attended with
some danger: yet it was trife when compar-
n1 X1ifl, orr fn1r1ar cOpIifinn. and tho
pect ofescaping from bondage, and of seeing
our friends were strong incentives for running
many hazardous risks, saying nothing of the
state ofour little patriot band, who were suf-
ering for the want ofour assistance. AS |
have stated we had made calculations TO go
lown by the lake shore for some two miles,
and construct raft. But fortune favored us
for we had gone but short distance, when
we found two boats lashed together and drift
ed ashore. We cut them apart and with
muffled oars made preparations for our escape.
You might suppose that no danger attended
us now. But the Royal George lay in the
middle oft the lake below us, with ample
means to take us back again, or to destroy us
at pleasure. But we silently passed down
on the west side ofihem under the cover of
night, for half a mile below, and crossed over
to the east side, where we landed, pushed off
our boat,a lay down, with no British sentry
for protectors! and slept till break of day,
when we again took up our march, and arriv
ed in Castleton about II o'clock the same
day. Our mother was oveuoyed to see us,as
she had feared we should be carried to Eng
and.
Yet a sorry scene awaited our return. The
first expression ofjoy was hardly passed,when
he sad and mournfiil intelligence of our faith
,r's death gave fresh grief to our hearts. My
ather received wound in the lower portion
IF the abdomen, and died of the wound few
weeks after. My mother had all her house.
loId furniture taken away, and thus was
plunged from comfort ard plenty to want
md destitution. The British drove off five
COWS, yoke of oxen, two horses and some
,oung cattle. About this time l became
in General Gates army. where
emained until Burgoyne was besieged and
aiken.
AT the surrender of Burgoyne, was in
manner satisfied for my loss and injury.
vas standing near the staff, on headquarters
when Burgoyne at the head ofiis army,rode
nj for surrender; and noble sight it was too,