Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1847-07-15
~. rodrc,;or of Ticondeyoea and Crown

by the Legislature Oh NOhheChCS' ." NSs''
cert with several Of the most eminent men
in other parts of New England, Commits
Zee was appointed 10 proceed 10 the frontier
towns, ascertain the strength Of the garri>
sons, and, should they think proper, raise
men for their capture. At Pins6eld, Mass.
the Committee were joined by Col Easton,
and some fifty volunteers and at Benning>
ton, by Col. Allen with his Green Mountain
Boys.
On reaching Castleton, May 7, council
Of war was held, and Ethan Allen, James
Easton and Seth Warner, were appointed to
command the expedition. The surprize and
capture of Ticonderogo, by Allen, on the
10th of May, are familiar 10 every Ameri>
can. Warner had succeeded in crossing
the lake with his men, just in time TO find
that the garrison had surrendered. As
soon as the prisoners were properly secured,
Warner set out with detachment Of men
to take Crown Point. Strong head>winds
drove back the boats, and the whole party
returned the same evening. The expedi-
ton was, however, renewed on the follows
ing day, and the result was all that could
have been desired. The men were made
prisoners: and one hundred and thirteen.
cannon were captured. Just previous to
This, Col. Allen had sent a messenger to
Capt. Remember Baker, who was at Onion
River, requesting him 10 ioin the armv ..
1lconderoga with as large a number of
men as ne could assemble. Baker oteved
Inc summons; and when he was coming nm
the lake with his party, he met Two small
ooa's' which had been despatched from
crown Point to carry intelligence of the re-
duct'on Of Ticonderoga 10 ST. Johns and
Montreal, and solicit reinforcements. The
ooa's were seized by Baker, and he arrived
al Grown Point just in time to unite with
warner in taking possession of that most
crown Point, next to Ticonderoga. was
the strongest and most important garrison
on Lake Champlain. For many years p,e>
vious to 1859, it had been in possession Of
Inc French In that year, an ex,edi,ion
was fitted out by the British Government
comprising $4,000 men and arms and am>
innnltion in proportion, for the express OBJ.
Ject OF capturing those two formidable Gar>
tresses The command of the expedition
was given to Sir Jeffrey Amherst, wbe suc.
leeded In accomplishing the great objects of
the expedition. Crown Point and Ticon-
defoSa remained in possession of The Bril-
ism from that lime until they were captured
oy the Invlncihle Warner and Allen. and
Inc heroic spirits under their command.
congress subsequently ratified the doines
Oh W afher anu Allen, and ordered that all the
oflcerS and soldiers who marched against
the lorlreSses on Lake Champain should
receive the same pay that they would had
they belonged to the continental army,-
Their men now returned home. havino
served Out their time; and these twin
| chiefs" forthwith proceeded 10 the cou,i>
mental congress with view of Obtaining
pay for their soldiers, and Of soliciting ans
| thoriiy to raise new regiment. In both
these objects they were successful. Ry an
order of Congress they were introduced ON
the floor of the House. and they communi.
Gated verbally TO the members such informs
alton as was desired. In the congress of
New York, the same consideration was ex-
TENDED TO them, Notwithstanding they were
objected TO as outlaws by some of the mem>
bers.
Warner aud Allen, having finished their
mission, returned 10 their friends The
committees of the several towns assembled
at Dorset 10 choose officers for the new re-
glmcnt; which was 10 be commanded BY il
lieutenant colonel. The choice fell upon
Seth Warner for lieutenant colonel, and on
Samuel Stafford for major. DIR. Jared
Sparks, in his biogral ny of Ethan Alien,
commenting upon The result! of this election,
says" Whether Col. Allen declined being
candidate, or whether it was expected
that the regiment would ultimately have
| colonel and that he would be advanced to
that post, OF. whether his name was omitted
for any other reason, / have no means of
determining" The subjeined extract from
| a communication from the Hon. Daniel
Chapman, Of Vermont, the editor of the
Enquirer, will solve the querie. Referring
10 the above passage by Sparks, he Justly
remarks" This, it is obvious, is calcula>
to lessen the real merits of Warner with
posteriiy. To prevent this false impression,
they should be Informed that in the con-
vention which met at Dorset on the 9Th
of July, l775, for the purpose of nominating
field officers, Warner was nominated by
vote Of al to S; and this was a fair ex>
preston of public opinion of the two men
| at that time"
The nomination of Warner and Stafford
were confirmed by the congress Of New
| York.
Col. Warner was an active and able par
ticipant in the Battle of Bennington. Gen.
Stark, in his official account of that fierce
engagement, expresses his particular otli~
cations to Colonies Warner aAd Herrick,
"whose superior skill was Of his great ser
vice to him."
He continued in the service of his coun>
try until the close Of the War OF ludepen'
dence, when he returned to his native Town,
and died there while yet in the meridian
of life, in 1884.