The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-07


der0ga on Lake Cnamplain. large number or
men were ready TO proceed to Cambridge 10 take
part in the seigc or Boston, and II the Fort
or Ticonderoga, then ia the hands OF
the British, could be captured, sufficient
ammunition would be seized to fully fit
ont all the volunteers. Two men were ap-
pointed to carry the scheme 10 completion. The
name OF the one was Edward Mott, and OF the
other Noah Phelps. They were gwen $1,000
cash with which to gather soldiers anywhere in
New England to capture Fort 'Ty.u
Travelling in the most likely sections OF Connec
ticnt Mott and Phelps collected sixteen men. A
little discouraged, they subsequently laid their
plans before Colonel Easton and through his in
nuence finally passed rom Connecticut into Ben
nlngton. w., with iorty soldiers In line. Here
they met Colonel Ethan Allen and his Green Noun
tain Boys.
ALLEN JOINS THE EXP EDITION.
The two deputies of the Provincial Assembly
Immediately unfolded their plans to Colonel Allen.
when he, with all his associates, fell In ranks and
swelled the number OF men to 27O.
This little expedition, moving cautiously, ar
rived at Castleton, fourteen miles east OF White
hall, at dusk on the 7th OF May, 1775. council OF
war was held at once. The news OF Ethan Aliens
courage and sagacity had by this time spread over
all New England. and he was appointed chief
ofncer by unanimous approval. Colonel Easton
was made second of1cer and Seth Warner third.
ALIENS FIRST MOVE.
There is O little stretch OF land Just opposite
Fort Tic0nderoga. named Shorehan, and thitner,
under the cover OF darkness Allen, with the main
branch OF the army, cautiously repaired Captain
HerrlcK was TO proceed, with thirty men, 70
Skenesborough, twenty-five mics away, capture
all the boats he could and and rejoin ALE n az
Snoreham Another oficer, Captain Douglas, was
to 60 TO Panton and seize every batteau he could
lay hand upon.
TRAITOR INSISTS UPON COMMANDING,
Just when all these plans were being quietly de-
veloped, Benedict Arnold, who subsequently be-
trayed his country appeared upon the scene. He
had by some unknown means heard that An ex-
petition was moving against Fort nconderoga,
and through influential frieads. many OF whom
were members OF thu Committee OF Safety at
Cambridge, ana by Leans or piece OF parchment
so ambiguously worded shat o double meaning
could be placed upon all IL contained, confronted
Ethan Allen and insisted upon being made chief
or all the s0diery. This occurred on May O. 1775
bitter quarrel ensued. Allen, proud, brave, de-
nant and solid as the rocks OF his eternal hills,
could NOT be persuaded TO yield one iota. Arnold,
petted ana battered, leaping into nominal COM
mandershlp by single jump, imagined
that independent OF his untried, IN
tested proves, success had no abode,
wrangled with Allen, until the latter called his
men together and demanded their decision. The
soldiers to q man refused 10 follow any other
leader than Allen while Arnold, chagrined, humil-
lated and enraged, declared that wherever Allen
went he would find him, Arnold, at his side.
THE MARCH TO THE LAKE.
Shoreham, where Allen was In blvouac. 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
dufu Eve In he af0h0
glance OF the dusky outlines OF the FORT and
beheld the MASKING ana cleaning OF It's lights. The
promentory upon which Fort nconderoga rests
contains about 500 acres OF territory and Is over
100 feet above the level OF the lake. It
Is surrounded with water upon three sides, aud
at the time OF which speak the fourth side was
cut or from approach by o deep marsny, miry
swamp. Tne guns OF the fort swept the waters OF
Lake champlain in every direction, and Its cold
hard outlines OF dingy brick and stone loomed up
before the Green Mountain Boys Ike an o'ersnad-
ering Goliah a. they stood mutely awaiting their
oficer,s command
THE CHILD HERO.
Before leaving Shoreham for the margin or the
lake Allen applied to q farmer for guIde. While
the old man was making his apologies and ex-
cuses, his young son, Nathan Brennan, came mp
and vol unteered his assistance. Something In
Aliens heart went out responsively 10 the boy,
and, though young In years ana slgnt In frame,
the hero OF T1conderoRa accepted MIN as guide.
Young Nathan, witaal, had been accustomed to
visit the tort play with the children OF the ocers
and hence was familiar with ali It's avenues and
entrances.
rHr MOUNTAIN BOYS CROSS the LAKE.
II was long after midnight-it was, In fact, the
morning OF the 10th or MAY, ITS. No word had
yet reached Allen from the forces detailed 10 seize
boats at skeneasborough or Panton, and the boats
at Shoreham were only sufficiently capacious to
carry over eignty.rnree men.
the night was gradually giving way. Through
the eastern horizon faint streaKs or coming day
were plainly dlscerniDle. Delay was ruinous; dis
covery was death. Allen ordered the eignty-three
men to the boats. They we're instructed to make
no noise; the clothes they wore upon their backs
were cut into shreds that they might muf1e their
oars. All we're embarked, and still the rear divis-
Ion OF the force was nowhere In sight. Allen, with
ahandIu OF men, must so alone. The course across
the river was painful; had they been detected one
shell would have destroyed them all. Bus they
kept under the shadow OF the hill, ana, with oars
which made no sound, In little while gained the
opposite bank.
Tney could see above them IN . black mouths OF
the cannon, and they knew that should these can
non speak not one soul would be LETT 10 tell the
story OF Tieonderoga. Away up above them stood
bitches. and guarded on one side with viglIant
and encctive pickets. The odds were dreadful.
The future OF the men hung suspended on q
thread. Alien passed from man to mau aud TO
each whispered o word OF courage. II was not
necessary, for every soul or the valiant eighty.
three had come there 20 win or TO die. Tney were
not regulars. but volunteers. They Understood
the rsks before yhsy joined in the enterprise.
THE ATTACK.
At last the line was ready TO move; little line,
but every man VINO helped TO make 1t up q hero
II moved up the steep proollvity upon which the
fort stands, and right underneath the pcwder.be.
grimed lips OF the hungry cannon. Benedict Ar.
mold Keeping his word, followed closely by Aliens
side. But ahead or both OF them and
apparently unmindlul OF oil DANGER, clambered
their noble little guide the farmers son Nathan.
The men moved steaitntly and stni; not stone