Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-24

ground room, walled and arched with stone
laid in cement. Its entrance is by low
passage way, and when once in an erect
position can be maintained in walking a
distance of some thirty feet It has safe but
sufficient ventilation by protected air pas
Sages, and is fully guarded by an earth cover
ing. The principal Notifications were laid
with stone and mortar, and would hardly
stand seige with the improved artillery of
the present day. Southwest of these forth
ications, about one and one fourth miles, lies
Mount Defiance, high wooded bluff, which
commands the fortress and was really the
key of the whole position. A practical
engineer with our party suggested that to
have made Fort III impregnable, its builders
should have annihilated Mount Defiance, and
stipulated that rifed cannon should not be
invented, and no improvements in the i'm
plements Of war be allowed. With the
present improved means of beseiging fort,
the jewellers behind the stone works of this
fortress would hardly be safer than in an
open field. 1t however answered the purpose
for which it was built by the French more
than a hundred and thirty years ago. 1t was
doubtless greatly improved and strengthened
after its capture by the English in 1859. and
they held possession of it till Allen and his
boys surprised and captured it without the
loss of man.
Lake Champlain and the country bordering
it have an historic interest, seldom found in
any other section. From time immemorial,
almost, it has witnessed the conflicts and
battles of contendng parties. Successive
tribes of Indians, the French, English and
Americans, have successfully overruu, con-
quered and held it. The waters of the lake
have been crimsonod by the blood of all these
nationalities There is scarcely mile of the
land skirting its borders, but has been the
scene of deadly warfare, and proved last
resting place to the braves of these different
ages Now, the commerce and travellers Of
/ the nation float swiftly over its waves in the
magnificent and luxurious palace steamboats,
of this day. The pleasant lands blossom in
beauty and bring forth abundant fruits and
harvests under the peaceful arts Of the hus-
bandman. Flocks and herds Of domesticated
ANIMALS are seen upon all the surrounding
hIllsides. The ores and metals for the useful
arts are dug from the bowels of the earth
where the Indian pursued his game, and
transferred into articles of use and beauty
on the very borders of these once wild wastes
War is known no more. and while we look
back and study with deep interest the things
that were, We feel grateful that all these
have passed away. aud cannot wish them
back again. The present is best as it is
u Mess it can be made still better in the
future.
On the return to the hotel we found we
had several hours at our disposal before the
boat would come up to take rs home This
time was pleasantly occupied in looking
over the encampment and the fancy articles
on sale by the Indians who were making the
place their continuing city for a season. in
loi teriug amid the shrubbery of the bluffs
skirtiug the lake. and later in listening t.
the music and songs improvised in the par
Tors Of the hotel In this amatuer musical
cote RE, among others we noticed Gov Stewart
D Midilebury. the leader Of the evening en-
tertainment, Hon @. G Benedict of Burliug-
ton, and Rev DR. Lord ofMontpeler, all mus
cllly inclined if not accomplished musicians
The ladies Of the party smiIngly seconded
the efforts Of the gentlemen in causing the
hours to fit by on rosy wings and ten anC
nne half clock and the good steamer Yer
mont came all too quickly to suit the gay
and festive crowd.
We viii not dwell at length upon the ride
up tile lake in the soft moonlight of a COO
delightful night The luxurious parl1rs and
cosy, inviting state rooms of the IS Vermont
were too tempting to tired mortals. who
had already drank their fiji of beauty and
variety through the day Sleep weighed
heavily on mo st eyelids. aud the comforts
about us InvItel t. repose We slept the
sleep Of the tired. if not of the Just, till
Burlington was reached. and our party again
found rest and conJentment in fue cal
which we ioreiblv possessed until we were
carried forward 10 our respective homes
The field day Of the Vermont Historical
Society at Teonderoga was pleasant gather
Ing despite the rain, and only lacked fair
weather To have made 1t a complete success.
Hose who dared TO rave the early morning
rain regretted not their venture and will
when the Society proclaims another field day
doubtless be there to see and enjoy.