Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-12-17
who Took Ticondcroga '

A writer. "B i. d, in the last Galaxy,
denies that Ethan Allen had anything to
do with originating the attack ON Ticon-
derogs and seriously questions the cur
rent statements respecting the part which
he took in the actual capture OF that for
tress
The writer says that the person who
first suggested the enterprise was Col
John Brown, n lawyer Of pittsheld, Mass,
who fell in the service Of his country at
Stone Arabia. \. Y, in lis0. This gen.
tleman visited Canada, in February, l,i5,
at the request Of General Joseph War
rem and Samuel Adams, to secure th"'co-
operation of the Canadians in our strug-
gle for independence He failed in that
undertaking, bat hr wrote ~ General
Warren and Mr. Adams, from MoI-
treal, in March. that "thc fort II Tt
conderoga must be seized rs soon - posi-
ble, should hostilities he commenced 10y
the Kings troops" and added. that the
people on the New Hampshire Grants -
AS the territory Of Vermont was then
called-had engaged to do the business
and were the proper persons for the job
But Ethan Allen was not one. of these
persons, and knew nothing then Of this
project
The next step in the enterprise was
taken by number of gentlemen who met
with the Governor Of Connecticut, April
9th following, and resolved on the cap
ture of 1iconderoga. drew 800 pounds
from the Treasury for the purpose, and
dispatched, the same day, Capt Noah
Phelps and Barnard Romans, towards the
scene Of action. directing them to stop at
Pittsfeld, and confer with Colonel. Brown
Samuel Adams was in Hartford about
this time, on his way to Philadelphia and
with other gentlemen from Massachusetts
doubtless advised the Governor Of Con-
necticut and the Hartford patriots Of
Browns suggestion, and aided in the CON
ference which resulted in the dispatch OF
Phelps and Romans of fittsticl1 On route
to Vermont
In few days after thi, MASSACHUSETTS
decided to Join in the enterprise, and des.
patched Benedict Arnold to raise men.
After reaching Vermont Romans hunted
up Allen, sending an express l20 miles to
find him and to him and Arnold was
given Joint and equal command over the
troops which had been in the meantime
raised to capture the important fortress.
! The two commanders marched side by
| side, at the head or their men and entered
the sallyport together, Arnold rather
ahead.
But not content with stripping Allen Of
ali the glory of having originated and
alone executed this brilliant feat Of cap
turing a British fortress without hring
gun, the writer of the article under con-
| sideration questions whether there was
really any formal surrender of the font,
and more especially, whether Allen pi't'
| the demand for il. or uttered, III demand =
ing the surrender, the famous wards
which history has mmor,alized IN 81"
name of the Great jehovah and th' 'un-
tinental Congress " For Allen dld Hot
believe in the existence Of the Great 10
hovah )" and there certainly was no Con-
| tinental Congress in existence until some
hours after the capture OF Ticondcroga
and the captors had no commission to tax,
this fort, except from the Governof "i
Connecticut and the Massachusetts COM
mittee of Public Safety.
II the statements of this writer cannot
be controverted-ap we really do not see
how they can be, for he fortities them
yery strorsiy-then we shall have 10 give
up tho nice little story which for half a
century has been woven into story books,
and school books, into orations and decla-
nations, and even into stately history
that Col. Ethan Allen originated and exc
cuted the capture of Ticonderoga, taking
it by surprise, and demanding its surren-
der of the amazed British commander, III
the name of the Great Jehovah and the
Continental Congress. What next = Bos-
ton 7rarcIer.