The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-05-28

: necticut, 10 raise the Green Mountain
boys, and, II possible, with thom 70 sur.
) prise and take the fortress of Ticonder.
: oga. This enterprise cheerefully under.
took, and, after first guarding all the
several passes that led thither, to cut Of
all the intelligence between the garrison
and the country, I made forced march
TO Bennington, and arrived at the lake
opposite to Ticonderoga on the evening
of the 9th of May, 1775, with 236 valiant
; Green Mountain boys. 1t was with the
utmost difficulty that secured boats to
cross the lake. However, I landed eighty
three men near the garrison, and sent
the boats back for the rear guard, COM
manded by Col. Seth Warner, but the
day began to dawn, and found myself
under the necessity to attack the fort
before the rear guard could cross the
lake, and, as it was viewed zarlous,
l harangned the officers and men as fol
lows:
"'FRRNDs AND FELLOW SOLDIERS
You have for a number of years past
been a scourge aud terror to arbitrary
power. Your valor has been famed
abroad, as appears by advice and orders
to me from the General Assembly of
Connecticut to surprise and take the
garrison before us. 1 now propose to ad-
vance before you and in person conduct
you through the wicket gate; for we
must this morning either quit our pre-
tensions to valor or possess ourselves of
the fortress in few minutes, and mas
much as it is desperate attempt, which
none but the bravest of men dare under
take, I do not urge it on any contrary to
his will. You that will undertake volun-
tarily poise your frelocks.
"Themen being at this time drawn
up in three ranks each poised his fire
lock. / ordered them to face to the
right, and, at the head of the center file
marched them Immediately to the wick
ct gate aforesaid, where found a cen
try posted, who instantly snapped his
fusee at me. 1 ran Immediately toward
him and he retreated through the COW
cred way to the parade within the gar
rison gave halloo and ran under a
bomb proof.
my party. who followed me into the
fort, formed in such manner as to
face the two barracks, which faced each
other. The garrison being asleep, ex-
cept the sentrfes, we gave three huzzas,
which greatly surprised them. One of
the sentries made pass at one of my
officers with charged bayonet and
slightly wounded him. My first thought
was to kill him with my sword, but in
an instant altered the design and fury
Of the blow to slight cut on the side of
the head upon which he dropped his
gun and asked quarter, which 1 readily
granted him, and demanded of him the
place where the commanding officer
'lept. He showed me a pair of stairs
n the front of barrack, on the west
oartof the garrison, which led up to sec
md story in said barrack, to which 1 !
repaired and ordered the
Commander, Captain De La Place, to
come forth instantly or would sacrifice
She whole garrison, at which De La
Place came Immediately to the door with
MS breeches in his hand, when ordered
lim to deliver me the fort instantly. He
lsked me by what authority demanded
t. answered him, 'In thename of the
yreat Jehovah and the Continental Con
yress. The authority of Congress be-
ng very little known at the time, he be-
yan to speak again. interrupted him,
md with my drawn sword over his head,
gain demanded an immediate surrender
If the garrison, with which he then COM
'lied, and ordered his men to be forth
With paraded without arms, as he had
yiven up the garrison. In the mean
ime some of my officers had given or
lers, and in consequence thereof sundry
If the barrack doors were beat down,
md about one-third of the garrison i'm
orisoned, which consisted of said COM
nander, Lieutenant Feltham, con
luctor of artillery, a gunner, two Ser
yeants, and forty-four rank and file, be-
Iides one 13-inch mortar, and a number
If swivela. This surprise was carried
nto execution in the gray of the morn
ng of the 10th of May, ITS.
"THE FIRST HEALTH TO CONGRESS-"
"The sun seemed to rise on that morn
ng with superior luster, and Ticon-
leroga and its dependencies smiled to
is conquerors, who tossed about the
lowing bowl and wished success to Con
yress and the liberty and freedom of
America"
Thus we have in his own words
plain, simple, but exceedingly graphic
the circumstances of the event, which,
IN Monday next, people will flock hither
rom all sections of the country to COM
The line of march of Aber-
,rombie from Lake George to Lake
the towering submits of
Defiance, the ruins Of the old fort, all
-. Il l. 1. j 4