Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-11-20
SWIMMING LAKE CuAMPLAIN.


/ n true Iuciuent oil the Revolutionary War.
written tor the Free Press by Pcrsis .Cnascl
| The battle of Bennington, it will be re
membered, was fought on the 10th of
| August III. Resulting as it did in the
victory Of the Americans, it inspired them
to attempt to retake Fort Ticonderoga
on the shore Of Lake Champaign, in which
! Gen. Burgoyne had left a garrison.
! The British shipping mad full possession
of the lake, rendering it extremely diff
cult for our troops at Mount lndepen-
dence to hold any communication with
those who were on the west side beseging
the Fort. The olly way this could be ac-
conplished, was by swimming the lake, Il
distance of two miles. This was a very
hazardous attempt to make, as it was then
late in the fall, and the water would be
very cold. The men were informed Of
the urgent necessity of sending des-
patches to General Lincoln, and the
inquiry was made IF there were any two
of them who would volunteer to swim
the lake in the evening and carry the des-
patches" There was silence for Il few
moments then = young man by name of
Wallace, Vermont boy, stepped forward
and said, he would make the attempt; then
a young man named Webster of New
Hampshire, said he would accompany
him. These young men were ia ken by
! an officer. to an cmlnenCe overlooking
the lake. and showed the course they
must pursue to avoid discovery by the
British shipping, and the point on the
other side where they would probably
ind the American camp, The dispatches
were prepared, and when the shades of
night were settling down along the lake
shore, Wallace and Webster babe good
bye to their comrades, who had come
down to the shore to see them start, and
entered the water. The dispatches were
rolled up i'll their clothing, and the bun
die bound upon the back part of the neck
by cords passing round their fOreheads.
Sadly their friends watched them swi m
out Of sight, having but little hope OF
ever seeing them again. I've can never
stand it, the water is 50 cold, " said Wallace,
after Il while, but neither thought of re
linguishing the enterprise. When about
midway OF the lake the cords which fast
ened Wallace's clothing slipped down to
his throat, and nearly stranVled him, but
he succeeded in replacing the string.
They passed so near the British ships,
as to hear ON board the oft-repeated cry,
"Alfs well" On they went with stout
hearts. They kept in company until they
came near the western shore, when Web
ster seemed to tall into the rear Il few
rods. just as Wallace struck the twigs
Of II tree which lay extended into the
lake, he heard Webster say, Help, Wal
ii stick, and rushing into the water eX-
tended 1t TO Webster, just as he was
sinking, and drew him to the shore
Webster could not stand and seemed
much exhausted, but was revived by Il
vigorous rubbing, so he could soon get his
clothes on. Webster afterwards said he
. could never have reached the shore only
for the timely assistance of his friend.
AS soon as they were little rested
they started to find the American camp
1t was very dark, and they were in 1
strange place. The enemy was near, and
! had their sentnels ON shore, and what
, rendered their progress more dangerous
. they knew not the Countersign of the
Americans on that side of the lake Afte
walking about nearly an hour they wer,
hailed by British sentinel, but man
aged to escape. They then decided that i
, was betterlOr each to take "A different direC
ton. Wallace gave both dispatches to Web
, ster, and told him to keep in the rear, anC
, he would 20 forward, and If he SHOULD
fall in the enemy's hands he must try Il
escape with the dispatches.
They had not proceeded far before Wal
lace was hailed by a sentinel: "Who come
there ~ "A friend said Wallace. -
:, friend to whom :" said the sentinel. "Ad
. vance and give the countersgn" Thi
was fearful moment to the young man
! lie hesitated for an instant, and then re
= piled Yankee like, by asking: "Whos
9 friend are youy" The sentinel responded
"A friend to America" 80 am t. sale
: Wallace, land have important u-, "a, che,
-. for Gen. Lincoln" Wallace and Webste
We're Immediately conducted to tn
generals quarters, and the despatche
: delivered into his hands, Whel
>. General Lincoln was informed L
! what peril the young men had exposed
y themselves to accomplish the wish of thei
= commander, he cOmplimented them upol
y y their brave conduct, and also expressed
= much gratitude for what they had done.
= Wallace never fully recovered from
u this almost incredible effort, but Wei
, ster's health was not permanently injur
y ed /; both men lived to tell their children
;, how they swan Lake Champain in OctC
u Der to carry dispatches to Gen. Lincoln.
4 Take little annoyances ont of the way.
! you are suffering with cough or cold, us