The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-09-21
An Unrecordcd Hero How Blodgei
Captured The Red Conts on the way
to Ticonderogn.

An Unrecordod Hero How Blodsei
Captured The Red Conts on the way
to TiconderOgn.
We have all read OF the intrepid coul-
age of "Grcen Mountain Bov.@ at the
time of the Revolutionary war. and thc
usual supposition is that all those OF
patriotic spirit were to be found in the
ranks of the American army, but inans
n brave man, perhaps by the force uf
circumstances, was obliged to tarry at
homc
AT the time the following incident oc-
Cured. the British were in possession of
Fort Ticonderoga, and the towns for
many miles arousd were subjected 10
the lawless dcpredaiions of cred
coats, which around the just indigna-
ton of all who favored the "patriot
cause But rs little free speech often
deprived a man of liberty. il was
thought best (using homoly express
sion) to 'grin and bear ii
One day company of British SOL
dlers, numbering about 20, in passing
through the town of Cornwall. VI. lin
gered around long enough to place Il
certain secret mark on the house of
every person suspected or known to la-
yor the patriots, that other of the ISino's
Own" who should follow after would
know by this mystic sign where TO find
friend or foe
Now this raised the ire ofon man in
particular who determined TO circum-
vent them by little plot he had formed
i'll his own mind. SO taking the Bri. h
officer aside and speaking in a cautious
manner, This person (Blodget by namc)
said, "Say, now, be yOu ooin' TO Ticon-
derogue!' but without waiting for n
reply, continued, "for if YOU be. me and
some ofmy neighbors want TO 90 'lonr
with ye. We've been watin' for some
chance like this for long time. and il
you'll just march out Of town, so as not
to excite suspicion, you see. and will
wait for MS at certain spot | can tel We
of, why, I'll see the other men and we'll
join there. What say you?"
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 willingl,
acceded to the proposal of Blodget, who
thereupon proceeded to appoint a rem
dezvous which was where the public
|
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 a certain 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 intention. II
needed but few words in those DAYS to
arouse a persons patriotism, so eacll
man taking down his trustv frelock.
OF old fusec, with no military outfit, ex-
cept the three-cornered hat of (Gen. y
Blodget, which he fortunately discov.
cred in some old resiing-placc' they pro-
ceeded by much shorter route to the
point ofrendezvous, so that they had
time to secrete themselves among thl
bushes at the farther end of the lime.
stone pass before the Britishers came up
According to "AIorsc's History" pub
lished some six years ago, military tac-
ticts in those days were not bv any
means perfect: even Gen. Putnam over
powered by strategy rather than num-
bers. Soon was heard the tramp, tramp
tramp of the soldiers as they marched
into the pass, where they were expect
ing to halt at the forther end and wait
for the recruits to join them, but when
midway between either opening. will
the great rocks, as impenetrable IL.
prison walls, rising on two sides OF
them, even obstructing the sunlight fol
time, they were astonished at hearing
stentorian voice cry "halt :" They stop
ped, surprised, when the impromptu
Gen. Blodget, who had reincd his horse
directly in front of the opening. COM
manded them to lay down their arms and
surrender. AT first the officer attempt
ed to parley, but Blodget knew il would
not do TO give time to consider the pro-
position, so he again cried in 4 loud
voice, amid great flourish of arms (in
the background) ,"First platoon, rise and
- But there was no necessity for
him to add fire as the captain (sup-
posing themselves surrounded by Il large
body of American solders) by a sign
gave the other to understand that he
would surrender Then Blodget order
ed the twenty men TO walk off a mum.
Der of PAGES, stack their arms, and fall
back again. Having done so. he order
ed five ofhis one company to take pos
session of them, as the five were all the
men he could muster. Strange rs il
may appear, they really marched the
twenty as prisoners of war. not to Ii
condcroga, but to Gen. Stark, then al
Bennngton.- Rochester, n. y. Tn
ion.