The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-08
T H E F I G H T.
Ethan Aliens Address to the
Green Mountain Boys.
The Vicissitudes and Victories of
the Colonial Soldiery.
PROGRAMME OF THE COMING FESTIVITIES.

and Champlain, being just two miles distant from
each other. The outlet OF the former, leaping in
cataracts ana tumbling over rocks, runs right
through the hearS OF the village, and, before the
Are, moved It's factories and turned It's mills.
Hence, flowing In circuitous course, it
finally empties itself into Lake Cnamplain.
On every side OF ITS boiling, seething waters
tall mountains ascend heavenward, dangerously
precipitous, but grand and picturesque in the
extreme. II was along these mountain sides that
one hundred years ago were enacted some OF the
most exciting scenes or the Revolution. IL was
beside this stream that the magnificent army or
AoercromDie MADE its historical passage from
lake to lake, and just above the spot where the
waters mingle with Champlain below, that their
grand army suffered It's overwhelming defeat
On Monday next ali these events will be CON-
mcmorared In story and IN song, and hence there
% no moro interesting theme at present Khan .
description OF the celebrated march, review of
the country over which the journey was made,
and the account OF Its attack, repuse and retreat.
Your correspondent, securing an admirable guide,
one Mr. Mccormick, gentleman familiar with the
territory and well versed in its historic recollec-
lions, proceeded to Lake George his morning,
and from thence journeyed to Lake Cnamplain.
pursuing exactly the same route that Apercrom-
bic traversed more than century ago. The fol-
lowing are the details of the Journey
ABERCRoMBIE's ARMY.
1t may be safely said that one OF the grandest
historic scenes ever witnessed was the celebrated
passage OF Abercromble's army down the waters
M the HORIZON now known as Lake George.
This passage was effected on the morning OF
July 9, 1858. The sun rode glorlously in the
heavens, and the TALL oversnadowing fountains,
which everywhere enclose the lake, echoed the
sound Of martial music, and the cam,
quiet depths OF the waters reflected the
CLEAN and glitter OF FURNISHED arms
AbercromDe had under his command q
notllla made up OF 1000 batteaux, large
number Of rats mounted with artillery and 900
men. slowly but grandly did the expedition pass
down the lakes, the rangers ana light infantry oc-
cupylng the 'front.' tine regulars the centre and the
provincials the right ana left wings. In the grand
solitude and silence OF the morning, disturbed only
By the snrill voice OF BIRDS the sight, though
remely beautiful. was for the locality, more than
usually strange. The notilla pauslng little while
1T Sabbath Day Point nnally disembarked
nc Howe's landing ana 1t was to this point tina;
your correspondent early this morning repaired.
The landing is sui known to the travelling pub
lie, aud Is located in little cove. On the MORN
Ing OF the TIN Abercromble began TO move. anJ,
starting from this landing, your correspondent
took up the same line OF march, the ruggedness Of
the path rendering IL necessary for hira to walk.
history has q ratser detailed description OF the
~and 1t was only now and then that my guide and
were puzzled concerning the actual advance.
never saw wilder country than that through
which this army passed, as 1t Ia even now and we
can Wen imagine that the route pursued was
painful and slow In the extreme. IL was prtnc-
pally along mountain upgands and through raw
lnes-the one made up OF sharply pointed crags
and the other 1led with brush and bramble-thas
the soldiers proceeded. These mountain SIDES are
T.
and as rule al are dangerous to
any save by the most cautious ascent The
sheep feed upon their tops; ana this pasturage,
where 1t exists Is hence richer aud more verdant
on the sides than on the SUBMITS. The scenery
al along the rough broken course Is always grand
and very often alarming shower came up as
passed down. The sky seemed to change color
svery moment. and the mountain tops were en-
Teoped In clouds ana sombre darkness saw q
gorge so well protected by lis overlapping rock
mat after the shower was over It was
10 dry as before the rain. At every step
tebk my ears we're greeted with tne
sarill CRY OF frightened birds and the crash and
thunder OF waterfall ana cataract Now ana
then nndInR my way up some steep proclivity
view would burst upon my eyes so magnin.
cent that 1 could out pause and regard IL with
speechless admiration; almost every variety Of
tree and bush Rirced the mountains edge-the
ash, poplar walnut, birch, hemlocK. CEDAR butter
nut, Eastwood ana beech-all strictly Indigenous
20 the soil and growing unattended by any NOR.
bal hand. such was the line or march OF
that GOOD army; we can wen believe
that even the oflcers we're forced 10 cut their
way onward through this wilderness win their
swords. AZ they advanced the ieet or the men
were cut BY the rock and pierced with the BRAN.
BILE, and everywhere tney journeyed 1.-THE and
poisonous serpents rose In their path and dis.
puied their rignr OF way. At last, after many
hours or weary, painful and almost dlsheartening
marching, Abercromble reached the point where
This little village now Is and paused right over
mere across the stream, which ne bad followed
MI the way nom Lake George to 11conderoga. The
fort he was wanting to besieRe was only Two miles
away.
LEr THE READER ADVANCE
ahead OF the English army aud see what s being
done about the fort. In those earshworks thrown
up Thousands OF yards from the walls Irownlng
Al.h aoovo Lake Champain the French were &C.
lively ENGAGED strengthening their works and
throwing out new, Strong and spearliKo abattis
Their movements we're concealed. and the almost
lmpenetraole forest rendered their enemy inca.
pable OF correctly estimating their atrengtn. Thls
was shown by the fact that wnen ADercromole
sent out an English engineer to report concern
ing the fortincauons he returned with the answer
that they were very weaE, poorly manned,
and that TIE English army could capture
them without any serious trouble or great
loss Of lifc Out, then, IRON the borders Of THIS
now ruined village Abcrcrombe marched his
soldiers In all the magnincence oil military dis
play. lie did not wait Tor his artillery slowly APP
preaching iron the rear, but proceeded con1-
dcntly without 1t. Down tue naturas path that
can see from my window as | write the soldiers
continued tnes STEADY tramp on ward, the great
soncoursa oil so.diery making up o strange bur
i'm, Uaing spectacle. Toe army was formed In
three lnes-iirst camo the rangers, Dattcau ucn
AMI the hgn. infantry next were tbs provincias,
marching VITA 1teat spaces between each req.
msnt whhe behind these tho regulars we're
tOrmes ia rolaaan.