Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-29
Capture and Confinement OF Ethan Allen,

"A. D. r. Randolph, in Congregdiiondlst.
Capture and Confinement OF Ethan Allen.
Br BENSON J. LOSING.
Ethan Allen is a grand, picturesque,
quaint and almost grotesque figure in Ameri-
can history. True, honest, blunt, conscien-
tious, having courage equal to his convic-
tions, he was natural leader among his
fellows. Born among the Litchfeld hills in
Connecticut, he received the bare rudiments
of an English education. Ia due time he
and three of his five brothers settled in the
wild regions of the Green Mountains in
Vermont, receiving titles for their lands
from Governor Wentworth of New Hamp-
shire. Over the territory of these New
Hampshire grants the state of New York
obtained, by legal decisions, territorial juris-
diction, when it asserted its possession of
property in the soil and proceeded to issue
tiers opposed this claim, when the new pa
tentees sent sheriffs to dispossess the occu-
pants. A fierce controversy ensued, lasting
seven years, in which Ethan Allen was the
acknowledged leader of the opposed Green
Mountain Boys. He was backed not only
by New Hampshire but all New England.
The purity of Aliens principles aud his
integrity are illustrated by a single Incl
dent. He owed citizen of Boston sixty
pounds, for which he gave promissory
note. 1t was sent to Vermont for collection.
1t was inconvenient for Allen to pay the
note when it became due, and it was put in
suit. Allen employed lawyer to attend
the court and have the judgment postponed.
As the readiest way to postpone the matter
his lawyer determined to deny the genuine
ness of the signature, in which case wit
ness in Boston would have to be sent for,
and so the matter would be delayed. Allen
happened to be in remote part of the
courtroom when the case was called, and
with astonishment and indignation he heard
the lawyer gravely deny the signature to the
note. With long and fierce strides Allen
rushed through the crowd, and, confronting
his attorney, he said, in voice that was
heard beyond the court room, Mr.. -, l
did not hire you to come here and lie.
That's true note; l signed it'll swear
to it-and I'll pay it. l want no shutting.
| want time. What | employed you for
was to get this business put over to the
next court, not to come here and lie and
juggle about it." The postponement Of the
claim was amicably settled.
When the quarrel between England and
her American colonies resulted in blows,
Allen led his Green Mountain boys in an at
tack and the capture of Fort Ticonderoga.
He and they became active partisans on the
frontier. He was sent into Canada by Cen
eral Schuyler to ascertain the temper of the
Canadians in relation to the controversy
and when General Montgomery took active
command of the northern army he directed
Allen to go into Canada and arouse the peo-
pla IN rahallipn Han ur0ta hanR IN
Montgomery that in three days he would
Join him, with more than five hundred Can
adams, in laying siege to st. John on the
Sorel. While marching in that direction
Allen fell in with Major John Brown,
another frontier partisan, with small force
of Americans and Canadians. He informed
Allen that Montreal-the next object of at
tack by Montgomery after he should reduce
| st. John-was weak and defenceless, and
| proposed joint attack upon the city. Ready
for any adventure, and regarding the scheme
as feasible, Allen agreed to the proposition
He was to hasten to Longueil, a little below,
| opposite to Montreal, secure canoes and
cross the ST. Lawrence on the night Of Sep
| tember Oath, 1775. Brown with two hun
| dred men was to cross the river above the
town at the same time, and, giving signal
they were to attack the city at opposite
points simultaneously.
| The night was dark, the wind was high
and the usually gentle rapids were turbulent
and foaming; but before the dawn Allen
had crossed the stream with some Ameri
cans, Canadians and Indians in all less
than three hundred fifty men. Day dawned
the sun arose, but Brown did not give the
signal. He had not crossed the river, it was
never known why. The invaders were dis.
covered, and Allen would have retreated
but his boats were too few to take his whole
force across at one time. Forty British reg
ulars, two hundred Canadians and some In
dans marched rapidly from the city and at
tackled the Americans. Allen and few Of
his men fought desperately, and the strug
gle lasted almost two hours when the brave
leader, finding his Indians and Canadian,
had deserted him and he had only twenty
eight men left, of whom seven were wounded
agreed to surrender, being promised honor
able terms.
The prisoner was conducted in triumph
to Montreal and delivered to General Pres
colt, narrow-minded, petty tyrant, wht
seldom exercised the common courtesies o.
life toward any one whom he had occasion
TO dislike. Toward man like Allen, unde
the circumstances, he was disposed to b,
specially cruel. The very sight of his pris
oner, coarsely clad, rude hammered anS
rough visaged, and albeit rebel TO his king
kindled Prescott's anger into hot flame
Aliens was tall quaint figure, clad in
jacket made of deer-skin; his under yes
and breeches of sagathy (or coarse woolel
stuff his shoes of cow-skin, the sole wei
fortified with hob-nails and on his heai
was shabby red woolen cap. He appeareI
more like freebooter than a soldier.
When Allen was brought TO Prescott tn
brigadier inquired in a loud and angr
/ tone, "Who are you What is your name ?
When Allen informed him, the brigade
in a rage roared out, Are you the scoun
drel who took Ticonderoga 2" az am tn
very man." answered Allen firmly. Prescott
stormed; called him hard names, denounce'
, him as rebel in bitter terms, and shool
/, his cane over Aliens head, threatening b
beat him. 81 told him." says Allen in hi
quaint narrative of the affair, "he woul'
do we'll not to cane me, for | was not accus
! toned to it and l shook my fist at him
telling him it was the beetle of mortalit
for him if he offered TO strike" A Britisl
officer standing by whispered to Prescott
when the latter contented himself with nj
tering few curses against the rebel" an
, assuring him that halter awaited him a
Tyburn. He ordered the prisoners to b
taken on board the /" Casper" war schooner
lying in Montreal, placed in irons, an
thrust into the hold of the vessel. Allen
shackles were 30 tight that he could not Ii
down excepting on his back. To those o
his legs an iron bar eight feet long wa
riveted, and this he was compelled to endur
several days. His fellow prisoners were fa
. tened together in pairs with handouts, anC
5 by Prescott's orders they were made as VI
D comfortable as possible. Ia this conditio
: they were kept about six weeks, when ALE
4 was sent to Quebec and thence to Euglan
TO be tried for treason.
AS soon as they had put to sea the HI
!, name captain of the vessel relieved Colon,
: Allen of his shackles and treated him as
4 prisoner of war according to his rank. O
T his landing in England great crowds flocke
TO SEQ him, for the fame of his exploits ha