New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-10
MAY 10, 1875!
CAPTURE OF r1coNDERoGA.

One hundred years ago to-day the surrender OF
Fort Ticonderoga demanded by Ethan Allen z" IN
the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental
Congress- II was the first strictly offensive opera
ton of the Revolution Mr.. John Adams in his
Diary under date of Jan. %, l776 thus describes
the spoils of the captured stronghold: About 10
Mr.. Gerry called on me, and we rode to
birmingham, where we dined. Col. Buck
minister. after dinner, showed the train
Of artillery brought down from Ticonderoga
by Col Knox. 1t consists of iron. eighteen
Founders, 10 of twelve, of SIX, OF nine,
thirteen-inch mOrtars eight-inch howitzer aud
of six l of eight and half; brass, three-pound-
ers, l four-pounder, 2 six-pOunders, OF eighteen
and of twenty-four, eight-inch mortar, l seven
and half and 8 cohOrnA" To understand the inn
portance of this daring enterprise the military posi-
ton of Ticonderoga must be understood. 1t had
cost the British fsOOO,0O0 succession of cam
paigns, and many lives; and it won in ten
minutes by few undiscplned men without the
loss of life or limb
Tconderoga is now a township of Essex County,
i'll the State of NewYork. The old fertilization was
situated on an angle of land forming the western
shore of Lake Champlan, rather what Is called
South Bay II miles south of the old fort at Crown
Point. 1t was surrounded on three sides by water,
aud on the north west side it was well defended by
the old French lines, and by several block
houses As early as 1875, the French
had here established fertilization command
ing the passage of the lake; and 10 this
they gave the name OF Canllon dell
chime fanciful alusion ii is stated, to the sound
of the neghbOring falls. This fort thus covered the
direct passage from Canada to the provinces Of
New-York and New-Engand. Sir William
Johnson bad intended in 1865 to reduce it; but
better knowledge of its strength induced him to
abandon the enterprise In the Summer of 1858 an
expedition nnder Gen. Abcrcrombie attempted the
reduction of Fort Carlton, crossing Lake George
with =, 600 men, but an assault, July s, re-
pulsed with loss Of 1000 men. The fort was sur
rendered to Gen Amherst July 30, 1859, the French
abandoning both this aud Crown Point, their Oc-
crrpation being preliminary to the conquest of
Canada by the English and Provincial Army. The
captOrs spared neither pains money TO strengthen
the place the fort and feld-wOrks being stretched
over an enlarged area of several miles
At the beginning of our Revolutionary struggle,
TiconderOga was held by very slender garrison,
while its ordnance and the military stores there
gathered offered tempting prize. 1t was COM
mauded by Capt De la Place with a mere handful
at soldiers the total Carrisons of TcOnderOga and
Crown Point being stated at only GO men, The
place. Importance being considered, seems to have
been guarded with singular negligence One cor
ner of the fort had fallen down, and, worse
than all, the powder swet at the time
of its capture There has been much diff
ference of opinion and some feeling as to those
10 whom the credit of suggesting this enter
prise is due The honor has been given to Arnold,
who acted under the orders of the Massachusetts
Committee of Safety Ethan Allen is and has always
been the prominent historical figure in all narratives
of this event. Irving in his Life of Washington"
says that the scheme was set on foot IN the pureus
OF the Provincial Legislature of Connecticut" II
was not specially sanctioned by that body, but Sc
erety favored and money lent from the treasury to
those engagedin it. A committee was also appointed
10 accompany the expedition to the frontier, and to
exercise over il degree of superntendence But
even before the affair at Lexington, the expediency
of Selling Ticonderoga and Crown Point had been
suggested to the Massachusetts, Committee OF Safety
Benedict Arnold. vino was commanding company
of volunteers in the camp before Boston, again
called the attention of the Committee OF
Safety 10 the subject. Possibly he derived the
idea from those who had already discussed
IT in Connecticut. he having held captain COM
mission in the militia of that Province. The Massa-
chusetts authorities commissioned him as colonel,
authorizipp him TO raise a force in Western Massa-
cbusetts not exceeding 400 men; and he also re-
ceived some money. But Ethan Allen had been
before him. and already arOusing the bold spirits
OF the New-I Hampshire Grants" for the expedition
Connecticut seems TO have furnished only Is men;
Massachusetts greater number; but the bulk OF the
forces came from "the New-Hampshire Grants" ~
from Vermont.
CHARACTER OF ETHAN ALLEN.
Perbaps no figure of the Revolution is more pic
turesque and characteristic than that of Allen. tie
was a native of Connecticut, but had been brought
up among the Green Mountains, where he was re-
l. nd ne a
,ndulged himself in the pleasures of instruction.
1.-The Grants region having the Connecticut
River on one side, and Lake Champaln and the
Hudson on the other constituted disputed terri
ritOry claimed alike by New-York and New-Hamp-
shire Ii had been definitely awarded by the crown
to the former province; but New-Hampshre mad
already made grants of large number OF townships
in the territory The settlers and holders OF them
resisted the attempts of New-YOrk to dispOssess
them and the moving spirit of the resistaLc3 had
been Ethan Allen. Outlawed by the Legis-
lature of New-YOrk, be had IN turn set
that body at defiance. He was man OF
singular force of character eccentric fearless ana
with all the peculiarties of a pioneer. Washington
said THAT there was original something IN nm
that commanded admiration." he had been trained
10 hardihood and endurance. and in early life had
been q mighty and successful hunter pursuing deer
nm foot and running them down. The Purltanism OF
his native State had alienated his heart from all
religious faith; he notorious as free thinker
and as bold utterer of his free thought. His His
tory of His Captivity" is one of the oldest books
ever written. Its style has been characterized as
"a singular compound of local barbarsm scriptural
phrases and oriental wldness and though unclassc,
and sometimes ungrammatical, highly animated and
forcible." To his account of the capture OF icon
deroga we shall have occasion to recur.
Thus. while Capt. De la Place was enjoying the
quiet of his ghold happy In the society OF his