, 1877-11-09
An UnrecOrded Hero,
HOW BLoDdET CAPTURED THE RED COATS
ON THE WAY TO TICONDERoGA.


We have all read of the intrepid cour.
age of the Screen Mountain Boys" at the
time of the revolutionary war, and the usual
supposition is that all those of patriotic
spirit were to be found in the ranks of
the American army, but many brave
man, perhaps by the force of circum.
stances, was obliged to tarry at home.
AT the time the following incident
occurred, the British were in full posses
sion of TiConderoga, and the towns for
many miles around were subjected to the
lawless depredations of the "red coats"
which aroused the just indignation of all
who favored the patriotic cause" But
as little free speech often deprived a
man of liberty, it was thought best
Cusing homely expression) to grin and
bear it,"
One day company of British soldiers,
numbering about twenty, in passing
through the town at Cornwall, VT, lin
gered around long enough to place a
certain mark on the house of every
person suspected or known to favor
the patriots, that others of the "King's
Own" who should follow after would
know by this mystic sign where to find
friend or foe.
Now this raised the ire of one man in
particular, who determined to circumvent
them by little plot he had formed in
his own mind. SO, taking the British
officer aside and speaking in cautious
manner, this person (Blodget by name)
said, "say, now, be you goin' to Ticon-
derogue9" but without waiting for re-
ply, continued, "for if you be, me and
some of my neighbors want to 60 long
with ye. We've been waiting for some
chance like this for long time, and if
you'll just march out of town, so as not
to excite suspicion, you see, and will wait
for us at a certain spot can tell ye of,
why I'll see the other men and we'll join
there. What say you2"
Now the army, both on the American
and British side, was always willing to
take new recruits whenever offered, and
as this mans story seemed plausible
enough, the British captain willingly ac-
ceded to the proposal of Blodget, who
thereupon proceeded to appoint rendez-
vous which was where the public high
way or road was cut through ledge of
limestone rock, forming wall some ten
feet high on either side. on top of which
was stunted growth Of trees. Blodget
requested the officer to wait there GER
tain length of time, and they would make
all expedition in joining him.
AS soon as Blodget saw the soldiers
out of sight, he hastily mounted his horse
and started out to inform his good
"Whig" neighbors of his intentions. 1t
needed but few words in those days to
arouse persons patriotism, SO each man,
taking down his trusty tirelock, or old
fusee, with no military outfit, except the
three-cornered hat of (Gen.D Blodget,
which he fortunately discovered in some
old restihg-place, they proceeded by q
much shorter route to the point of rem
devious, so that they had time to secrete
themselves among the bushes at the far
thsr end of the limestone pass before the
Britishers came up. According to
"Morse'S History" published some sixty
years ago, military tactics in these days
were not by any means perfect; even Gen.
Putnam overpowered by strategy rather
than numbers. Soon was heard the tramp,
tramp, tramp of the soldiers as they
marched into the pass, where they were
expecting to halt at the further end and
wait for the recruits to join them, but
when midway between either opening,
with the great rocks, as impenetrable as
prison walls, rising on two sides of them,
even obstructing the sunlight for time,
they were astonished at hearing a stem
torian voice cry "halt" They stopped,
surprised, when the impromptu Gen.
Blodget, who had reigned his horse di-
rectly in front of the opening, command
ed them to lay down their arms and sur
render. At first the officer attempted to
parley, but Blodget knew it would not do
to give time to consider the position, so
he began in q loud voice, amid great
flourish of arms lin the background,
"First platoon, rise and" But there
was no necessity for him to add "frep'
as the captain (supposing themselves
surrounded by large body Of American
soldiers) by sign gave the other to un-
derstand that he would surrender. Then
Blodget ordered the twenty men to walk
off few PAGES, stack their arms, and fall
back again. Having done so, he ordered
five of his own company to take posses
sion of them, as the five were all the men
he could muster. Strange as 1t may ap-
pear, they really marched the twenty as
prisoners of war, not to Ticonderoga, but
to Gen. Stark, then at Bennington
Rochester IN. ~ Union.
JAKE was heard calling across the
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