Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-10
THE CAp71-RE 0FFUR7 7IC0NDh H0G-f

ginius business.
THE CAp71'RE OFFORT 7ICONDh H0Gf.
From an article in the New York Herald we
take the following account Of the capture OF H.
corderoga one hundred years ago.
There is little stretch of land just opposite
Fort Ticonderoga named Shoreham, and thither,
under the cover of darkness Allen, with the main
branch of the army cautiously repaired. Captain
IIerrick was TO proceed, with thirty men, to
Scarborough, TWENTY-FIVE miles away, capture
all the boats he could find and rejoin Allen at
Shoreham. Another officer, Captain Douglas,
was to 90 to Psnton and seize every batscau he
could lay hand upon.
Just when all these plans were being quietly de-
veloped, Benedict Arnold, who subsequently be.
trayed his country, appeared upon the scene. lie
had by some unknown means heard that an expe,
dition was moving sganst Fort Ticonderoga, and
members of the Committee Of Safety at Cam
bridge, and by means of piece of parchment 81
ambiguously worded that double meaning could
be placed upon all it contained, confronted Ethan
Allen and insisted upon being made chief OF all
the soldiery. This occurred ON May 9, l775. A
bitter quarrel ensued. Allen, proud, brave, def
ant and solid as the rocks Of his eternal hills,
could not be persuaded to yield one iota. Ar
mold, petted and Aattered, leaping into nominal
commandershp by single jump, imagined that,
independent OF MS untrleu untestcu pIoWcss, SUI
cess had no abode, wrangled with Allen, until the
latter called his Ren together and demanded their
decision. The soldiers to man refused to follow
any other leader than Allen, while Arnold, cha
grined, Inundated and enraged, declared that
wherever Allen went he would find him, Arnold,
at his side.
Shoreham, where Allen was in bivouac, stands
back from Lake Champlain, and under the cover of
darkness he led his soldiers down to the beach.
There the brave Green Mountain Boys saw their
duty. Even in the darkness they could catch
glance of the dusky outlines of the fort, and be-
held the flashing and cleaning of its lights. The
promontory upon which Fort Ticonderoga rests
contains about 500 acres Of territory and is over
100 feet above the level Of the lake. 1t is sur
rounded with water upon three sides, and at the
from approach by deep marshy, miry swamp.
The guns of the fort swept the waters of Lake
Champlain in every direction, and its cold hard
outlines Of dingy brick and stone doomed up be-
fore the Green Mountain Boys like an o'ershad-
ering Goliah as they stood mutely awaiting their
officers command
Before leaving Shoreham for the margin of the
lake Allen applied to farmer for guide. While
the old man was making his apologies and ex-
cuses, his young son, Nathan Brennan, came up
and volunteered his assistance. Something in
Aliens heart went out Respectively to the boy,
and, though young in years and slight in frame
the hero of Ticonderoga accepted him as guide
Young Nathan, withsl, had been accustomed to
visit the fort, play with the children Of the Off
GERS, and hence was familiar with all its avenues
and entrances.
1t was long after midDight-it was, in fact, the
morning of the 10th of May, l775. No word had
yet reached Allen from the forces detailed to seize
boats at Skenesborough or Panton. and the boats
at Shoreham were only sufficiently capacious to
carry over eighty-three men.
The night was gradually giving way. Through
the eastern horizon faint streaks of coming day
we're plainly discernible. Delay was ruinous; dis
covery was death. Allen ordered the eighty-three
men to the boats. They were instructed to make
no noise the clothes they wore upon their backs
were cut into shreds that they might mufae their
oars. All were embarked, and still the rear divis-
ion of the force was nowhere in sight Allen,
with handful Of men, must 60 alone. The course
across the river was painful; had they been de-
tected one shell would have destroyed them all.
But they kept under the shadow Of the hill, with
oars which made no sound and in little while
gained the opposite bank
They could see above them the black mouths Of
the cannon, and they knew that should these can
mons speak not one soul would be left to tell the
story of Ticonderoga. Away up above them
stood the fort, grded about with carthworks and
bitches, and guarded on one side with vgilant and
effective pickets. The odds were dreadful. The
future Of the men hung suspended on thread.
Allen passed from man to man and to each whis-
pered word Of courage. 1t was not necessary.
for every soul of the valiant eighty-three had come
there to win or to die They were not regulars.
They understood the risks before they joined in
the enterprise.
At last the line was ready to move; little line,
but every man who helped to make it up hero.
fort stands, and right underneath the powder-be-
grimed lips of the hungry cannon. Benedict Ar
mold, keeping his word followed closely by Aliens
side. But ahead of both of them, and apparently
unmindful Of all danger, clambered their noble
little guide, the farmers son Nathan. The men
moved ste althily and STILL not stone rolled from
their path. nor did a twig snap underneath their
feet They scarcely breathed. Each of the
eighty three felt that success depended solely up
on him, and stole on hands and knees up the rag
ged heights as if he was alone.
Daylight was more strongly dawning. There
could be no further delay. The height was
reached, and the men were only stones throw
from the enemy. No sooner had they reached
the height than sentinel, detecting them, ut
tered cry of warning then pointed his gun full
at Ethan Aliens heart and pulled the trigger.
The gun missed fire, and the life Of the hero was
spared. Another sentinel made thrust at Colonel
Easton but, ere he could execute his intentions,
his head was cleft in twain by the ponderous
weight of Ethan Aliens sword.
The little farmer guide shouted to Allen to fol-
low him under the covered archway, in the ave-
nues of which the first sentinel had fled. Allen
did so, and all the soldiers followed. Passing in,
the men divided themselves into two groups, one
hurrying to the southwestern and the other to the
dsrs, aroused from their sleep. rushed from their
barracks into the quadrangle and were all taken
prisoners. The little guide, taking advantage of
the moment, conveyed Ethan Allen to the very
door beyond which Deaplace, commandant ofthe
fort, was sleeping.
Allen struck the door three vigorous blows with
the hilt of his sword, Delsplace appeared at the
Threshold backed up by his crouching, terror
stricken wife.
~ order you instantly to surrender" cried
Allen.
"By what authority do you order me to surren-
deri" returned Delaplace.
"In the name Of the Great Jehovah and the Con-
tinental Congress" shouted Allen.
Delaplace surrendered, there and them on May
10, l775-l00 years ago.
Thus, without losing one of his own men and
walking over only one corpse OF the enemy,
Ethan Allen took the Fort of Ticonderoga, and in
doing SO became one of the greatest heroes Of
Revolutionary history.
EOLIIICAL.
has. "A Ia,