Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-01-16
ETHAN ALLEN IN CAPTIVITY.

ETHAN ALLEN IN CAPTIVITY.
Among the episodes of the Revolution
ary war none is more strange than that
Of the queer genius, Ethan Allen. In
England, the event and the man being
equally uncommon, Allen seemed to have
curious combination Of a Hercules, q
Joe Miller, a Bayard, and Tom Hyer.
He had person like the Belgium giant,
mountain music like Swiss, and heart
plump as Ceur de Lions. Though born
in New England, he exhibited no traces
Of her character, except that his heart
beat wildly for his country's freedom.-
He was frank, bluff, companionable as a
harvest.
For the most part Aliens manner while
in England was scornful and ferocious in
the last degree. although qualified at
times by heroic sort Of levity. Aside
from the inevitable egotism relatively per-
tanning to pine trees, spires and giants.
there were, perhaps, two special, inciden-
tai reasons for the Titanic Vermonter's g
singular demeanor abroad. Taken cap.
tive while heading a forlorn hope before
Montreal, he was treated with inexcusa-
BILE cruelty and dignity. Immediately
upon his capture, he would have been de-
liberately suffered to have been butcher
ed by the Indian allies in cold blood up
on the spot had he not with desperate in
trepidity svailed himself Of his enormous
physica! strength by twitching q British
officer and using him for target, whirl>
ing him around and round against the
murderous tomahawk of the Savages-
Shortly afterwards, led into the town
fenced about with bayonets of the guard
the commander Of the enemy, one Col.
McClOud, aOurished his cane over his
captive's head with brutal insults, pro-
missing him rebels halter at Tyburn.-
During his passage to England in the
same shlp wherein went passenger Col.
Guy johnson. the implaoable Tory, he was
kept heavily ironed in tue hold, and in all
respects was treated as a mutineer or it
may be. rather AS lion Of Asia, which,
though Gagged. was too dreadful to behold
without fear and trembling, and conse-
quently cruelty. And, no wonder, at
least. for on ono occasion. when chained
hand and foot, he was insulted by an Of
ticer with his teeth he twisted off the nail
that went through the mortice of his hand
cuffs, and so having his arms at liberty,
challenged the insulter to mortal combat.
Often when at Pendennis castle, when no
other revengement was at hand he would
hurl on his foes such bowling tempest
Of anathemas as fairly shook them into re-
treat. Prompted by somewhat similar
motives on shipboard and in England, he
would often make the most vociterous all
lusions to Ticonderoga and the part he
played in its capture we'll knowing that ol
all the American names TieonderOga was
at that period BY far the most famous and
CALLING to Englishmen.
Israel Potter, an exile American, while
strolling around Pendennis Castle, where
Allen was confined, chanced to hear him
in one of his outbursts OF indignation and
madness. of which the following is q sPe-
cimen
Brag no more. old England consid-
er that you are only an island Order
back your broken battallions. and repent
IN ashes Long enough have you hired
tories across the ses-torgotten the Lord
their God, and bowed down to Howe aud
kniPhausen-the Hessianl Hands off,
redskinned jackall! WesEing the Kings
plate, as l do, (mesning. probably. GER
tain manacles. have treasures oI
wrath against you British"
Then came clanking. as Of chains
many vengeful sounds, all confusedly to-
gether. Then again the voice.
Ye brought me out here, from my
dungeon, to this green. afronting You
Sabbath sun, to see how 8 rebel looks
But I'll show you how true gentleman
and christian can conduct in adversely
Back, dogs respect gentleman and g
christian though he be in rags and smell
of bilgewster. Yes, shine on glorious
sun it is the same that warns the hearts
Of my Green mountain boys, and lights
up with its rays the golden hills Of Yer
mont !" 4.. -. -.--...
Filled with sstonishment at these words.
which came from over massive wall. in
cluding what seemed an open parade
space, Israel pressed forward. and soor
came, to black archway leading fal
within, underneath. to grassy tract
through a tower. Like two bosr's tuskt
two sentries stood at either side of the
arch. Scrutinizing. cur adyenturer amor
iment they signed him to enter.
i Arriving at,the end Of the arched way,
4 where the sun shope, Israel stood trans
fixed at the scene.-e5 af3 a. rr8zw
] Like some baited bull in the ring
crouehed the gigantic captive, hsndcuffed