The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-05-27
The Green Maintain Rors.

The Centennial anniversary of the
capture Of Fort Ticonderoga, brings to
mind some interesting remembrances of
that memorable occasion. The capture
of Fort Ticonderoga By the Green Noun
tain Boys under Ethan Allen on the
10Th of May, 1875, was the most strik
ing occurrence in the Revolutionary days
between the Concord fight and the battle
of Bunker Hill. The two forts, Tcon-
deroga and Crown Point, cost Great
Britain millions in money and many val
liable lives in numerous fights. They
were both Of great importance Ticon
deroga being the key to Canada, was the
objective point in many desperate strug-
les in the old French and Indian wars.
No sooner had the last breath Of the stir
ring news from Lexington and Concord
died away upon the air, than the patriot
leaders determined upon the capture of
OF these two fortresses, which had been
carelesely lett almost ungarriSoned. III
conderoga was defended by only forty
eight men, and Crown Point by only
twelve On the 9th of April, Parsons,
Wyllys and Deane, three patriots of Hart
ford, drew G30o from the State Treasury
On their individual receipts tor the OK
penses Of the expedition, and on the
10Th they started band Of eight men to
carry out the plan. On the 5th Of May
the Connecticut party, now increased to
thirty men, rrrived at Bennington, W,
where they met with Ethan Allen,
already hero among the Green Noun
tain Boys. The sturdy young patriot
entered with spirit into the plan of the
leaders, and within twenty four hours
bis messenger had visited all the towns
within radius Of sixty miles. On the
Sth Of May little army, 270 strong, I'M
der the command of Ethan Allen, who
had been unanimously elected captain,
began the march. On the evening Of
the 9Th halt was made at Orwell, OPP
posite Ticonderoga. There were no
means Of transportation across the lake.
Two parties had been sent forward for
boats, butno had been procured. Butt
after some delay a scow was found, and
subsequently skiif belonging 10 the
British garrison. Allen crossed with
eightv-thrce men, and sent the boats |
back for Seth Warner and another de- |
tachment of his followers. While he |
waited for reinforcemcnts day began to |
break, and it was unsafe to delay longer. !
lie drew the cighty-three men up IN I
three ranks, and thus addressed them:
"FRIESDS AND FELLOw-soLDIERs: |
now propose TO advance before you and .
ia person conduct you through the wick
ct gate; fer we must this morning either
quit our prctcnsions to vaior or possess
ourselves Of the fortress in a few min
utes. lnasmuch as it is a desperate at
tempt which mono but the bravest OF
men dare undertake, J do not urge it on
any contrary TO his will. You that will
undertake voluntarily poise pour fire
locks" Every piece was up. "Face TO
the right cried the captain; and, leading
the centre file, he marched down a COW
cred way to the gate, The wicket was
open, and the solitary sentry snapped
his fusce in A liens face, but WAS seized
before he couldd give the alarm. The
Americans now inside the fort gave
mouth to an Indian yell, and Allen or
dered the commander Of the fort TO come
forth or he would sacrifice the whole
garrison. Capt. De la Place obcyed
the summons and appeared in the quad
rangle with the most Of his clothing in
his hand. Deliver TO me the fort with
out delay" said Allen. "On what au-
thority Z" said the commander. "1n the
name of the Great jehovah and the Con
tinental Congress- tbundercd Ethan
Allen.
The surrender was made at once.
Fifty prisoners were taken and 1870 can
non. On the same day Col. Seth War
ner captured Crown Point with its little
garrison of twelve. The news Of these
victories on the very day of the assem-.
bling of the Continental Con gress gave
increased encouragement TO the people,
and infused into them a spirit which new
err weakened during the long struggle
which followed.