The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-10-18
MisFelzanenns.
AN UNRECORDED HERO.
How BIOdgett Captured the Red Goats
on the way to IlcOnderOga.
ROchester IN. " union.)

Colchester IN. " Union.)
We have all read Of the intrepid cour'
age of the "Green Mountain Boys" al
the time of the Revolutionary war, and
the usual supposition is that all Of those
of a patriotic spirit were found in the
ranks of-the American army, but many
a brave man, perhaps by the force Of
circumstances, was obliged to tarry at
home. .N
At the time the following occurred, the
British were in full possession of Ticon-
deroga, and the several towns for many
miles around were subjected to the law
less depredations Of the "red coats, p"
which aroused the just indignation of all
who favored the patriotic cause" But,
as a little free speech often deprived
a man Of liberty, it was thought best
(using homely expressionlto grin and
bear it. I
One day company Of British soldiers
numbering about twenty, in passing the
town Of Cornwall, VT, fingered around
long enough to place certain mark on
the house Of every person suspected or
known to favor the patriots, that others
Ofthe kings 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 a
little plot he had formed in his own mind.
So, taking the British officer aside, and
speaking in cautious manner, this per-
son (Blodgett by name) said. "Say, be
YOU goin' to Ticonderoga ?" but without
waiting for reply continued. "FOr if
you be, me and some Of my neighbors
want to go long with ye. We've been
waiting for some chance like this for a
long time, and if you'll march out of
town so as not to excite suspicion, you
see, and will wait for us at certain
spot can tell ye Of, why I'll see the 9th.
er men, and we'll join there. What say
you1"
Now the amy, both on the American
and British sides, was always ready to
take new recruits whenever offered, and
this man s story seemed plausible enough.
The British captain acceded to the pros
position Of Blodgett, who thereupon pro-
ceeded to appoint rendezvous, which
was where the public highway or road
was cut through ledge Of limestone
rock, forming a wall some ten feet high
on either side, on the top Of which was
a stunted growth of trees. Blodgett re,
quested the officer to waitthere certain
length of time, and they would make all
expedition in joining him. g,.s.
AS soon as Blodgett saw the soldiers
out Of sight he hastily mounted his horse
and started out to inform his good Wing
neighbors of his intentions. 1t needed
but a few words in those days to arouse
a persons patriotism, so each man TAX
ing down his trusty firelock, or old fusee,
with no military outfit, except the three~
cornered hat of (GeneraD Blodgett, which
he fortunately discovered in some old
resting place, they proceeded by much
shorter route to the point Of rendezvous,
so that they had no time to secrete them>
selves among the bushes at the further
end of the limestone pass before the
Britishers came up,
According to "Morse's History" pub
lished some sixty years ago, military tac~
tics in those days were not by any means
perfect; even General Putnam over
powered by strategy rather than by mum
bers. ',vs. 'N
Soon was heard the 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 re
cruits to join them; but, when midway
between either opening, with the great
rocks as impenetrable as prison walls ris.
ing on two sides of them, even obstruct>
ing the sunlight for time, they were as
tonished to hear a stentorian voice cry
"halt !" They stopped, surprised, when
the impromptu General Blodgett, who
had reined his horse directly in front Of
the opening, commanded them to lay
down their arms and surrender. At first
the officer attempted to parley. Blodgett
knew that it would not do to give them
time to consider the position, so he began
in loud voice, amid a great flourish of
lin the back ground). First platoon, rise
and -. But there were no necessity
for him to add "fre !" as the Captain,
supposing themselves surrounded by
large body Of American soldiers, by
sign gave the other to understand that he
would surrender.
Then Blodgett 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
possession Of them, as the FIVE were all
the men he could muster. Strange as it
may appear, they really marched the
twenty as prisoners Of war, not to Ticon-
deroga, but to General Stark, then at
Bennington.