Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-07-05
VOLUME VI. NO. 81.
From the Green Mountain Repository.
The Plot River.


This IS small mill stream in Chittenden Co.
Vt. 1t rises in the southeastern part of Hines.
borough, and running northwesterly through q
corner of Charlotte and through Shelburn' falls
into the head of Shelburn Bay. It is about ff-
teen miles in length.
AS everything relative to the early history Of
Vermont must be interesting to tile Inhabitants
of this State, have thought that the readers of
the Repository, in this section of the country
particularly, might be pleased with the narrative
OF the event which gave name to The Plot river,
or La Plot, as it IS sometimes called An &C.
count of this event has not, 10 my knowledge,
ever been recorded butthe circumstances were
frequently related to me in early life, and, as
was born and bred within 100 rods of the fatal
spot, have no doubt of their correctness.
1t is well known that the hostilites of the In
dams, instigated as they were by the French in
0"nnda rendered the first settlement in VT, ex-
tremely difficult and dangerous, Pu..,--r-,, -
the borders of Lake Champlain, and the constant
exposure of the settlers to be attacked and plum
dered by a bloodthirsty and rapacious foe, for
some years very much retarded the progress of
the settlement. The repeated assaults Of the
Indians compelled the settlers to arm in self-de-
fence, and to hold themselves in readiness to
march at moments warning, to the assistance
of their friends and neighbors. 1t was in this
state of things, in the fall of the year l775, that
a party of Indians were discovered making heir
way up Shelburn Bay in their bark canoes. -
Their motions were watched, and expresses sent
to alarm and assemble the few scattered inhablt-
ants. The Indians having proceeded to the head
of the Bay entered the river and landed about
100 rods above the mouth on the west side, and
having drawn their canoes on shore at this place
they proceeded tn small settlement about half
mile Distant where they began their work Of
plumber.
The inhabitants having collected, to the num-
Der af ten, consultation was held respecting
the course proper to be pursued. Believing that
the Indians, if vigorously attacked, would make
prccpitate retreat to their canoes, and hasten
back to the opposite side Of the Lake, they now
formed the plot, which finally resulted in the de-
struction of every individual of the enemy
Three of the settlers were despatched to scuttIe,
and thus render useless, the canoes, which The
Indians had artiully concealed in the bank otthe
river, and there in ambush, await the result ;
Il nl,oa
sault upon the Indians, who were maraudlng the
settlement, and, if possible, to compel them sud
denly to betake themselves to their disabled ca
noes, rightly supposing they would Immediately
fill with wafer, and so discomfort the savages as
to render them an easy prey.
The plot succeeded to the utmost of their ex
4svpesssaes-s4 sfls arset &c tho esevrsaa.,
the approach of night, was made with such 81
der and spirit load the Indians 70 snppos
that their only chance of escape consisted in {
hasty retreat to their canoes. They accordingly
betook themselves to flight, and being closely
pursued by the settlers, they made directly to
their canoes. seized and hurried them into the
river, and embarked with the utmost precipita
ton. But what was their surprise when they
found their canoes were filling with water! 1t
was IN this forlorn condition that they were at
tackled by the three men who were concealed
upon the bank of the river; and The pursuing
party soon coming to their assistance, the Indi-
aus were all, in few moments, either shot,
while struggling to keep themselves out of the
water, or sunk to rise no more-not an indlvldu-
al being permitted to escape to tell the tale OF
wo. At low water the bones and arrow heads oil
this Inflated band, may be found upon the spot
at the present day. This well contrived and
successful plot gave name to THE PLOT RIv-
Err. L. T.