Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-09-24

Pitkins, of Hartford, Writes Governor
Trumbul that for ten days he his kepta
night watch at his powder mill, at an ex-
pense of rs per night, because, he said,
sthreats have leaked out from Skene and
other inimical monsters, that it should be
deslroved if art or money could effect It,"
During the summer arrangements are
made for the exchange Of Skene for James
Lowell; owing to the delay in Lovell's ar
rival from Halifax, it is as late as the 9th
of October, when Washington writes to
Sir William Howe, that on the following
day he should send Skene on board one Of
the ships-of-war in North River.
In the Resolution of Congress, and in
the correspondence of Washington and
Howe. upon the subject Of his exchange,
Skene is always called sGovernon Skene,"
and in an obituary notice in the Gentle
mems Magazine, he is called "formerly
Lieutenant Governor of Crown Point and
Ticon deroga, and Surveyor of His Majes
tvs woods and forests bordering on Lake
Champlain.n
On the 18th of August, 1776, Richard
! Varrick write from Albany to Gen. Gates
that he has proeered s'three new sails,
which were ordered to be made for the
schooner Liberty, on Lake Champlain by
Gov Skene before the commencement Of
his misfortunes.o
On the 2Sth of December, l776, Skene
writes from New York to Gov. Trumbull,
for the release Of his two servants, Litch-
field and Ludlow, alleging as reasons
therefor that they had not anfwould not
bear arms, and saying, among other
things, that 'sthe inhabitants OF Skenes-
borough are all my tenants under rent"
In the beginning of the year l777, he
returns to England, volunteers to join the
army of Burgoyne, and we next find him
after the evacuation of Ticonderoga and
the battle of Hubardton, at Skenesbor-
rough, under Burgoyne, with the rank of
Colonel-and for seventeen days Skenes
borough House is Burgoyne's head
quarters.
And what now may we imagine his SEN
sations to be, after two years exasperating
absence, returning as conquering enemy
among his old tenants and naighbors, the
beloved scene of his former labors and
successes Is he flushed with the Inso-
lence of triumph Does he see himself,
in prospect, reinstalled lord of wider
realm his wealth and power increased
in reward for persistent loyalty and signal
services for the Crown2
A hundred days later his dreams
will vanish, but now the present
county of Rutland, aud all north of it.
lie at the mercy Of the British army, and
Burgoyne may almost work his Will there
in.
The extent of his ambition and hopes
is indicated by the following, 10 wit
The Legislature Of Vermont being in
session at Windsor, the 18th of Februa-
ry, 1871, the House in Committee of the
whole, Hon. Joseph Rowker Chairman,
made report in which these memorable
words occur, VIZ;
''And, whereas, it appears, by the best
accounts hitherto obtained, that there was
government established by the Crown
CT Great Britain, before the era Of Amer
lean Independence, including all the lands
this state at present exercises jurisdiction
over; as also much greater western ex-
tent, over which Governor Philip Skene
was to have presided" etc., etc.
This report of the Committee was M
bald assertion or idle dream, ipgeniouslv
urged as argument. Evidence exists. al
ready published, that Skene had been At
work, founding this new empire. assisted bv
VIM. Gilliland and the work upon GilIland
now IN course OF preparation, by Mr..
Joel Munsell, of Albany, will probably
more fully disclose the particulars thereof.
In view OF this chapter OF our early histo-
ry, what becomes Of New York's claim
to exclusive jurisdiction over Vermont
The Vermont delegation at the Chi
cago Presidential Convention did not sup
port Mr.. Seward. When a DELEGATION
from our State called upon the new Sec
retary of State in March, 1861, thew
Were tauntngly told that Vermont was
founded IN secession, The good taste Of
this is patent to all-its utter faIsehood
may be made more apparent by a full
4 knowledge Of Skene's history.
To return from this DEPRESSION .-Skene
is th man Of all others in the British
army, regular or provincial, upon whom
reliance Is placed for counsel and guid-
ance IN all matters relative to The con-
| quest and government of the people inhab-
itlng the present counties of Rutland and
Bennington, from his knowledge both
of the peopleand the territory.
On the 10th ef July, 1777, Burgoyne
issues a proclamation, commanding the in
habitants Of Castleton, Rutland, Hub
bardton, Tinmouth, Wells, Pawlet, Gran
vile, &c, 70 send ten or more delegates
from each town sto meet Colonel Skene at
Castleton on Wednesday, July 18th, at
ten o'clock in the morning, who will have
instructions not only to give further en-
ceuragement to those who complied with
the terms of my late manifesto. but also
to communicate conditions upon which the
persons and properties Of the disobedient
may yet be spared" Two days later. Bur-
goyne's order reads, ''Governor Skene is an
pointed to act as Commissary, to admlnis-
ter the oath OF allegiance and to grant
certificates of protection to such inhabi-
tants as sue properly for the same, and to