Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-12-28
Selected for the amer.
RECOLLECTlONS OF SETENTY-SiX.
CAPTURE OF TlCONDEROGA.
BY Az OLD SOLDIER.

II was = serene and lovely night In
Nav. Although the moon had not yet
risen to gid the Mountain scenery with
its clear and liquid light. and the stars.
those bright and beautiful jewols Of the
h.mament. shone like vivid diamonds in
the pure snd placid sea Of azure. floating
dreamily over head. There was nothing
20 disturb the deep silence Of the scene.
save the OCCASIONAL call Of whip poor
will from the marshes. and the shady
edges of the northern shore Of the lake.
or the silvery ch;rp Of the cricket. as it
SCARED from It's grassy perch FAR away in
80 the tangled thickcts spreading gloom
i,y upon either side.
The hour could scarcely have been la
Ter than ten o'clok. when a distsnt and
measured tramp might have been heard
over the grouRd and . small body of men
seen rapidly approaching the southern
margin of the silver-bosomed lake, that
lay serenely in advance. A strong hardy
Bodied set of men they were; with nerves
Of iron and forms that in these modern
and degenerate days would be deemed
he,culesn as the Antinous of early sges.
tn. little army did no, possess the sp-
rearance of q regular force. though many
Of them were unlformly sttired ia green
bunting shirts and oil were armed either
With the huntsmans rife. or the less
substantial. but nearly as effective. FRO
locks. Some few wore the military
mushets and all wore in their belts the
csnteax de ehasse, either for the substan-
tiai service Of haying tho mountain deer.
or for use at their hcmely meals when
"eanping out" or more deadly purpose
when engaged in close conflict with the
enemy. They looked like. what they
really were. the hardy pioneers Of the
wcs,, with souls and hearts ready for
eny enterprise. no matter how perilous
And on a perilous enterprise they were
now enssg.d. Before the m lay the broad
and lovely waters OF Ticonderogn and far
away on the opposite shore, between
them and :he sky. loomsd tho naughty
fortress of the same nsme over which
fiosted in tho evening breeze. the then
powerful lion banner Of the mother. coun-
Try. Here and there light might have
been observed peering from some on. oi
the hoop holes Of the fort and playing
with long waving glare over the rip.
pling surface Of the waters. The distant
football of the sentinel. pacing on his
lonely tramp over the parape:, and the
faint "All's" we'll IS he was relieved ron
his weary duty by the relief guard, YER
borne lightly by the gentle wind to III
ears Of the new comers,
On and on they came. that fearless lit
.ls band till the waters lay a quiet bu
firm barrier. between the m and their foes
Not word broke on the silence Of tht
nigh.-no, one All were still as the
Sss.e! Every man knew the fearful ct
fempt. they were about to make and eaci
felt as il on his own courage and actions
dwel, the entire success of the enterprise
Suddenly q whisper, for il was scarce
4, more burst from the lips of the com
msnding officer. "Halt!" and as il b.
magic ever man was in the line and fix
I'd as though he were a statue Of stone.
Several men then stepped hastily from
the ranks and gathering but few yard
apar. from the main body under the dar
shade of lofty oak busily and hastil.
conversed IS to the plans to be adopted
TO achieve the passage to the other shore
4, occupied but q very few moments. TO
then. time was everything and a'resd.
the night was on its wane. Ehe com
msnderin chief. q tall and powerful
man. stepped forward to the main body
sergeant Miles,"
Here"
Take twenty men and proceed wit
ell expedition in the direction OF Ticon
dsrogs. Secure ell the boass you ca
p..eeably. if not. forcibly. for oil depend
upon our rspidity at this dangerous mo
n.snt. We either hold yon fort to- night
or. to morrow's snn shines on US as pris
oued rebels, or bleeding corses ! iesI
your course of conduct TO Jour own juds
men. Forward"
An instant ami the little band ha
catered the wood md soon. very soor