Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-05-21

The Boston Advertiser pleasantly tells
the story Of the event, the one hundredlh
anniversary of which was celebrated on
the 10th inst:
This was famous historic illustration of
the virtue of "taking tlme by the forelock."
General Gage and the British ministry had
been talking OF reinforcing Ticonderoga
and Crown Point, for six months before
the American Revolution broke out
There were fortresses built at the narrow
strait where Lake George parts the noun
tains, which, like lines of sentinels, arise
along those inland seas. They stood in the
gateway through which savage invaders
had poured for centuries, and which France
had barred against the English colonists,
that she might keep Canada secure. In
their construction she had expended many
millions of dollars; and England long
fought TO acquire them with fruitless ef-
fusion of blood. But at this critical mo-
ment, when the crown needed to guard
them with vigilance, Ticonderoga the key
Of Canada on the side of the colonies, had
but fOrty-eight men TO defend it.
The rude farmers of Vermont were aware
of this negligence, and resolved TO profit
by it. But they were busy upon their
lands, and needed first impulse from
abroad, to bear the cost of the undertaking.
One week only after the raid upon Lexing-
ton and Concord, a conference was held at
Hartford, at which it was resolved TO bor-
row three hundred pounds from the treas
urv Of the state TO hire men for this secret
service. To avoid noticeit was determined
to raise none until near the forts. The
agents arrived at Bennington, the home of
Ethan Allen, on the fiflh Of May. He was
already conspicuous in the feuds with New
York, and had the confidence of every set
tier in Vermont. He Immediately threw
out guards on the roads to the west and
north, and sent summons 10 his confeder-
.N~a - Al. -..-l-N
senger, Beach, made circuit OF sixty
miles in twenty-four hours, and what is
wonderful, made it on foot. 1t was "the
war-gatherlng of Clan Alpine"
'The fisherman forsook the strand,
The swarthy smith took drink and brand
With changed cheer the mower blithe
Left in the half cut swath his scythe
The pow was in the midfurrow stayed
The herds without keeper strayed
Prompt at the signal Of alarms
Each son Of Alpine rushed to arms"
"Allen knows they will not fail him
they know what Allen expects. The rifle,
the bullet-nouch are always ready among
The piountains. by twos, or threes or sim
gly, they move toward the place of muster.
Below every steady lip, beneath each buck
skin jacket, beats patriotic heart" The
little army, two hundred and seventy
| strong, arrived at the shore of the lake af-
ter dark on the ninth of May. An unex-
pected obstacle arrests them here. Though
two parties had been sent forward to col
lect boats, neither had arrived. There was
scow near by, and they sent to bring it.
Means were fouud TO decoy a negro, having
charge of boat belonging to the fort aud
these two were their navy. Too small they
were for the purpose; but Allen would not
wait. The night was passing, and he en-
barked, with eighty-two men, to cross the
strait two miles wide, where Ticonderoga,
raised hundred feet above the the lake
showed her iron teeth, and frowned de-
| tiance. Just as the dawn began to break,
they landed in silence, and sent back the
boats. But, before they could return, the
cannon's breath would make all invasion
| helpless. Allen addressed his men in a
suppressed breath, and bids them poise
their irelocks If they meant to rush on.
Every tirelock is poised. A boy had come
with them as guide. Allen heads the CEN
| ter file along covered way.
The sentinel at the gate astonlshed at the
| apparition, forgets TO shoot, and only snaps
| his gun. Allen rushes at him, and follows
him into the bomb-prooE. His men press
through the easements, into the parade
| ground form into lines along the barracks,
| and give three cheers, to rouse the garri
son. "Where is the officer in command?"
| thuuders Allen; and Captain Delaplace
comes from his bed chamber, pantaloons
| surrender, he asks, "In whose name ?"
| "In the name of the great Jehovah and
| Continental Congress ~ is the answer.
Meanwhile, the surrender is needless, for
| the impatient Vermonters have beaten
| down the door and captured half the gar
| rison in their shirts. A fortress of the first
| consequence, which costs, says Bancroft,
| forty millions of dollars, had been taken in
| ten minutes by eighty-three men.