Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-19
From the New York Observer.

Rev. Thomas Allen, Of Pittsfeld,
was one Of the ablest and most efficient
upholders Of the right of the people
in Massachusetts,. Although Of slender
frame, he was strYg and wiry. and
capable of great endurance. With a
keen, piercing eye ardent feelings, and
hating wrong and OPPRESSION. he threw
his whole soul into the cause Of the
colonies, aud became so marked man,
that when, in June, 1774, the select
men Of the town called meeting and
seven men were appointed a standing
committee of salty and correspondence,
he was chosen chairman. This, Of
course, brought him into communication
with the leading patriots of the colony
and caused him to be watched closely
by Gage in Boston Mr.. Allen was
the leading rebel in the western part
of the State, and the British general
kept him environed with spies bus
the wary Clergyman outwitt6d him
and had some Of these put in jail and
others driven over the borders of the
State.
The family have preserved his diary
and much OF his correspondence with
the leading generals, which, Of itself,
would make seperate biography. He
took great interest in the expedition
against Ticonderoga, and aided it in
every way in his power. He travelled
everywhere and gathered information
from every quarter. Anticipating the
need there would be at Boston for the
cannon taken at Ticonderoga, he
offered to collect thousand oxen to
transport them thithcr. This was done
next winter on sleds, and they were
soon frowning from Dorchester heights,
compelling the British feet to drop
down the bay.
After the battle Of Long Island, he
could stay at home no longer, and,
joining the army at Kingsbridge,
remained with It till it began its retreat
through New Jersey, and then returned
home to the duties that awaited him
there. One day, burdened down
with the cares that demanded all his
attention, he received an urgent request
from Arnold for recruits. In twenty
four hours he sent him eighteen.
The invasion Of Burgoyne aroused
all his patriotism, and he hastened to
Ticonderoga, where St. Clair was sta
toned to stop the invaders march
His feelings ere wildly portrayed in an
address he made to the soldiers on the
morning the British appeared before
the fort. The two neighboring heights
pere crowded with artillery and glitter
ing in scarlet uniforms, while the Thun-
derer was anchored alongside with her
batteries bearing full on the fort. 4
council Of war was called, of which
Mr. Allen knew nothing, and while it
was discussing the best plan Of retreat,
he mounted the platform Of gun and,
pointing to the bristling heights, made
an earnest appeal TO the soldiers, He
commenced: ''Yaliant soldiers-Yon-
der are the enemies Of your country,
who have come to lay waste and de-
stroy and spread havoc and desola-
ton through this pleasant land" It
was stirring address, and that young
clergyman, his eye flashing fire and
his hand pointing to the enemies of
his country, was an exciting picture.
Among other things, he said: Il ex-
hort and conjure you to play the man,
aud, Gods grace assisting me, l am
determined to fight and die by your side,
rather than flee before om. enemies.
* x x Rather than quit this ground
with infamy and disgrace, I should
prefer leaving this body Of mine a
corpse on the spot.
Brave, high-souIed man. how his