The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-26
THE HERO OF MOUNT DEFIANCE.
Col. Ebenezer Allen.

The fame Of Ethan Allen so overshad-
ows that Of all the other Allens that there
is some danger of forgetting the debt of
grateful remembrance which we owe to
them. But Ira served Vermont as efficient
ly with tongue and pen as Ethan did with
the sword, and fIeman, Heber and Zimri,
in their several spheres, were not unworthy
brothers of the two who were more con-
spicuous than they. Nor ought II to go
out of remembrance that another Allen,
kindred to them in bravery, though. not in
blood, rendered services, both civil and
military, which had a great and good ipflu-
ence upon the destinies of Vermont. The
purpose of this paper is to record such
facts concerning him as can be rescued
from oblivion. 1853 -A
EbeneZer Allen, son of Samuel Allen,
was born in Northampton, Mass, nth
October, 1743, and was baptized IN infancy
by that eminent divine, the Rev. Jonathan
Edwards, ID. ID. When he was but a few
years old his parents moved to Marlboro,
where his father died, leaving him and
other children almost entirely dependent
upon the Industry and management of the
mother. AT the early age of twenty he
married a Miss Richards, and, with her
and their two or three children, he moved
in April, III, 10 Poultney, VT, of which
place he and his brother-in-law, Thomas
Ashley, were the first settlers. When the
controversies with New York and Great
Britain began, he became an active parti.
san, and did good service as civilian and
soldier He was one of the immortal
eighty-three, who, with Ethan Allen at
their head. surprised and captured Ticon-
deroga. He also became captain of CON-
pany of minute men, connected with Col.
Samuel Herrick's regiment of rangers.
After few years residence in Poultney,
he removed to Tinmouth and was one of
the delegates from that town to the con-
vention which met at Dorset, 25th Septem-
Der, 177G, and which, at an adjourned
meeting, declared Vermont an Independent
state. He was also a delegate TO the con.
vention which met Mt Windsor, I'd July,
1777, to adopt the constitution of Yer
mont '" A'et guar
He participated in the battle of Benning
ton, 10th August, l777, and at one time
during the battle, with only thirty men,
taking advantage of natural breast work
of rock, he successfully fought the main
body of Banms troops, and compelled
their temporary retreat. After the Ameri-
cans were driven from Ticouderoga and
defeated at Hubbardton, Gen. Lincoln
determined to make diversion in the rear
of the British lines, in the hope of retriev-
ing their disaster. Three detachments of
men were ordered forward from Manches.
ter, one towards Fort Independence,
another in the direction of, Skenesboro
(Dow WhitehalD and Fort Ann, and a
third towards Ticonderoga and Lake
George, all of which places were to be at
tackled at the same time IL circumstances
favored. Capt. Allen with his rangers
constituted part of the third detachment,
and to him was assigned the honorable and
dangerous duty of taking Mount Defiance.
This Is hill about seven hundred and fifty
feet high, on the south side of the outlet of
Lake George With immense labor Bur
goyne had opened road up the northern
slope of the hill, and had dragged battery
OF heavy artillery to the summit, from
which point he commanded the entire area
of Fort Ticonderoga. and compelled it's
evacuation without firing a gun, 9-
Allen attempted the surprise and capture
of this stronghold 18th September, TIT.
With only one subordinate officer. Lieut..
Isaac Clark, afterwards famous as "Rifle"
Clark, and forty Green. Mountain boys, he
made his way with great difficulty and dan
ger up the preclpltous hill side. When they
had nearly reached the summit, they came
to cliff so nearly perpendicular that they
could not climb 1t in the ordinary way.
Allen ordered one of his men to stoop, and