Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1860-01-14
From the New HI psllire Patriot.


! The true character of this distinguished
pioneer of liberty and the liberty and th,
wilderness, is fast fading away, like tht
lights Of the setting sun, even from the
Iaged- Fashionable fanatic:sp', 10 the ex
ercise Of its despotic power, has but toe
successfully attempted to cast dark, CD
.1livious mantle over his beneyolence aad
philanthropy as citizen, and his chiyairic
achievements is soldier. Memory should
mot tire, nor national gratitude be with
held, from our patriotic grandsires, BY
whose labors and sacrifices our birthrights
were secured, and our liberties made free
from Danger. Cf Col. Allen, little is to
be found in the deathless pages Of our ma
tional history that gives anything like a
lair picture Of his true character. The nu-
merous diyerging religious sects in New
1England, regardless who contributed to
give them the sacred privilege tc worship
their God according 10 tie dictates Of
their own conscience and reason, seemed
to have joined in one grand chorus, to
chant the infideliiy of Ethan Allen. His
Ipatriotic services for his country which pro-
cured the liberty to religious sectarianism
TO e9jSt, is by them written upon water,
while all his expressions of faith, differing
from the measure Of their several creeds,
seem to have been engraved on brass and
marble. Allen was as bold and indepen-
dant moralist, as Ne was brave and dar-
ling as a soldier, which proves him TO have
possessed as much honesty Of heart before
has God, in the one, as patriotism and
courage before his country in the exercise
Iof the other.
4 Hetoism is not confined to deeds Of chiv-
Ialry in war, or true courage exclusively to
the battlefield. 1t required as much
moral courage in Thomas Jefferson to break
over the bounds Of ills, ,itimate slavery
to trample under foot the political creeds
of heartless despots, and to storm THEN
lstopg fortresses BY the Declaration Of In
dependence, as it did for Ethan Allen, two
or three months before, and without even
the authority of that declaration, to storm
the fortress of Ticonderoga, capture Grown
Point aud the only R.itish armed vessel
upon Lake Champlaia.
Where was Ethan Allen about the
break Of day on the 9th Of May, 1910, tive
months lacking five days, before indepen-
dence was declared? He was at the head
lof 83 men, close under the guns of the
British fort, Ticonderoga; addressing hi
brave volunteers. 81 am going" says he
Ito lead you forward. The attempt i:
desperate. | wish to urge no man agains'
his will. Those who win follow me, poise
Ifire-locks!p They were all poised. "On
ward, my brave fellowsp Said Allen
and led the way through the picket-gate
passed the covered way, and formed hi
men in the fort, and instantly rushed into
1.-The quarters of De la Place. the haIfdress
ed and terror struck commanders, and de
manded the instantaneous surrender of the
fort. "In whose name do you demand it r.
asked the trembling De la Place. Itsure-
Ily must have been at that time under all
circumstances; rather hard question to
answer. 'sIn the name Of the Great Je-
hovah and the Continental Congress,
shouted Allen. De la Place concluded
that If the "Great Jehovah" had sent such
desperate looking fellow at that time il
The morning to take the fort, be had bet
ter give it up, asd so accordingly. Hay-
ing secured that important garrison for
his country, he fastened onward and be-
fore the brilliant sun Of that day set, took
Crown Point, and captured bis Majesty
only armed vessel on Lake Champlain.
This was the first conquest our couatry
ever presumed to call for herself, and this
was our first acceptable offering upon the
alter Of liberty, at which, may it never be
! forgotten, Ethan Allen oficiated as high
priest. His after services and sufferings 10
the cause of his country during the seven
years war of the Revolution, though but
partially known or appreciated, come not
within the limits of this communication,
and are passed over.
At the close of the war, Col. Allen took
Up large tract Of land in Colchester, Vi,
upon which he labored with great indus.
try and skill until be found himselfin the
possession Of the largest and best farms
Tor that day IN the State. His great barns
were filed with good hay. His granaries
were overlooking with wheat, rye, corn
and oats. His mansion from cellar to gar
ret, was we'll stored with all the comfort
able things the country afforded.
/ Mrs. Allen was benevolent, Kind
motherly, minister-loving matron, whoney-
er permitted hunger to remain unsatisied
one minute in her house. Above all
things, she esteemed it her especial prigil-
eye 70 wait upon ''ministors Of the Gospel
Of all denominations, & to see them refresh
themselves, with ''nut-cakes," ''tiap jacks"
"pumpkin pies" aspare ribs sroast iur-
keys" "sausages," &c, washed down with
plentiful libations of good tea and cider.
Equal care and liberaliLy was extended to
the beasts in The barn, as to the man in
the house, until man and beast thought il
"good 10 be there"
In that early day in the history of Yer
mont rarely a meeting house was to be
seen 10 the towns about Colchester, and
those few seen. Col. Ethan Allen had,
without any regard to creeds, most gener-
Iously contributed to erect, until, in order
10 build a new meeting house anywhere
lin the neiohbOrirO towns. the first thine