St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-08-31

bury. They were expected at Rye.
Eighteen ships were seen above Peeks-
kill. Cmleton's boats were said to be
at Split Rock, forty miles from Ticon-
deroga. A cry is raised in New Hamp-
shire and Connecticut of Ediabolical
attempt by the enemy to spread coun-
terfeit money. Entrenching tools are
found under barn in Hollis, and fire
arms at Groton. Half the men of Straf-
ford have joined the regulars. "The
tories" wrote Sullivan, "are every
where lifting THERE heads" Secret
combinations are discovered in Hills
borough, in western Massachusetts and
northern New Hampshire. The New
Hampshire committee of safety recon-
mend to all persons capable of bearing
arms, constantly to carry them ''tO pub
lie worship and all places where busi
ness leads them for we know not the
day nor the hour of an attack on the
borders, and we must stop these infer
nal traitors amOng ourselves"
But where get the arms? The same
committee, two days later, informed
their Congressman that great number
of their militia are without firearms,
and in the half-manned fortress of I'll
conderoga not one man in ten has Il
bayOnet
On the first of July Il line of forty
gunboats and two frigates hove in sight
of TicOnderOga, stretching across the
lake from east to west. The garrison
declared themselves ready for ''blOOdy
fray :" and Parson Allen was willing to
''leave this body of his corpse on the
spot" On the morning of the fifth they
were amazed to see body of red coats
planting Il battery on Mount Defiance,
commanding every corner of their for
tress. That night came the order to
evacuate. 1t was received in the for
tress literally with curses and with
tears, and a cry of eXecratiOn and la
ment swept through the country. "Such
a retreat" wrote one of the garrison,
twas never heard of since the creation
of the world" Men talked of treachery.
1--WE never shall hold fort" said
strict John Adams, ''tili we shoot gen.
eral.n BurgOyne wrote home, "The
rebels have no man of military science"
King George rushed into the Queens
apartments shouting, 81 have beaten
them, have beaten all the Americans"
and he talked of the Red Ribbon of
Bath for his general. But they were
all mistaken. The rebels had men of
science. Col. John Trumbull had found
on the spot year before that this very
thing could happen. Schuyler and st.
Clair were no traitors. They only blum
dered. 1t was grave error in Schuy-
Ter to accumulate such precious stores
and priceless arms for capture in an i'll
provisioned and half defended fortress.
1t was a most lame and impotent con-
clusion for st. Clair to boast, ''lf the
enemy come hither, he will go back faster
than he came" and, within one week
he stole away by night.
The news of the loss of TicOnderOga
fell on this whole region like the burst
ing of water-spout. For miles along
the lake and up the Otter Creek
the settlers claimed British protection
or fled from their homes. The inhabi
tants of Albany ran about their street:
in terror. WilliamStOwn and Stock
bridge were crowded with fugtives
The New Hampshire towns from Wal
pole to Haverhill were sending off mes
sages of alarm. Bera Woodward sen
at midnight, ''FOr Gods sake, com,
without delay"
But George had not beaten all the
|
the Red Ribbon. There were then, il
these New Hampshire Grants, i'll the
words of Congress, .'thOse called tn,
Green Mountain Boys" and they wer,
not ready to resign their homestead
after the struggles of dozen years
And that song, though unwritteu then
was sung through their hearts:
Here we halt our march and pitch tent
On the rugged forest ground.
And light our fires with the borders rent
BY winds from the borders round.
Wild storms have torn the ancieut wood
But a wilder is at hand,
With hail of iron and rain of blood,
TO sweep and desolate the land"
Down in Berkshire, there was Il com
pany that had been disappointed of -
fight" Over in New Hampshire, ther
were gallant body of men, who ha,
held their own at Bunker Hill till tn
very last, had led the van at Princeton
was bound for Saltwater and Saratoga
and Monmouth and Yorktown. Their
was Il man whose name was Seth War
ner, clear-headed, resOlute, untlinching
every inch a soldier, and acquainte,
with every foot of this ground. Their
was also Il man whose name was Johl
Stark, ii born and bred warrior, Il ma
of genuine military instinct and genius
who could find his place, and hold
too, ready when he knew he was right
to take all risks, whether it were til
anger of Schuyler, the censure of Con
gress, or the widowhood of "MOll
: Stark" There was Il noted tavern i
, the town, and there were gathered ther
Ira Allen, Thomas Chittenden, iona
Fay and their staunch comrades. Ther
was one catamount on the signpOst, an
| twelve catamounts within. There wa
l another committee of safety at Exeter
l and, while it contained such men Il
| Meshech, Weare, Nicholas Gilmore
= Josiah Bartlette, the Republic was DC
4 lost. awe can repulse them," wrot
r Ira Allen, ''if we have assistance"
l three days New Hampshire voted sue
assistance-twenty-fi companies
e StaTk's brigade. 1t was then, whe
n there was no money i'll the treasury an
= no light ahead, that up rose John Lang
= don l.. his place, rendering his none,
= his merchandise, his plate. "If we gai
It our independence, shall be repaid
= not, what matters my property" II
e legislature adjourned on Saturday nigh
= All that night and the next day d
d American was riding from Exeter I
: Concord. Tuesday afternoon, he di
n mounted at the church door, and wall
e ed up the aisle. The minister stOppe
o and said, Captain Hutchins, are yc
l. the bearer of a message ?" Eyes, Blu
II goyne, is on his march to Albany. Stal
- will command the New Hampshire me
II and, if we all turn out, we can cut hi
e off" "My hearers" said the Rev. Tin
e othy Walker, ''you who are ready
% go, better leave at once" All the m,
l. left the house." But Poneas Virgir h;