Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-04-18
TIE c1CERONE OF TICONDEROGA.
ro0,,,..iontel 1sss. bu Far,k 3 Raqnall


A. the old sIake House, at the head of
Lake George, long before the spacious
aeFort William Henry" caravansary was
bnilt. I became acquainted with a charm
inc Young woman and her brother, from
The Vicinity of the lofty Kaatsbergs firing
ing the Hudson Valley. They were max
ing brief pleasure tour. A sudden temp
est of wind, rain and lightning had kept us
all within the parlors during sultry even
ing in July, 1S48, and there the acquaint-
anoe began. We voyaged down the lake
together the next morning in bright SUM-
shine and invigorating air.
The young lady was model tourist-ln-
telligent, sensible, vivacious and enthusiast
tic. With her brother she had encamped
among the charcoal-burners of the Kaats.
bergs. hunted in the mountains, and tished
for days in the glens, and was a favorite
companion of Thomas Cole, the artist, IN
his sketching excursions. While others
were afraid of spelling their compilations
in the sunlight or of crumpling their smooth
dresses or soling their fine bcnnets and
gloves. she babe defiance to dust and
crowds, for her brown linen sacque, with
its snacious pockets for a guide book and
other accessories her lisle-thread gloves,
her iaunty sun-hat and her free but sweet
and modest demeanor toward all, gave her.
self and brother no uneasiness. And when,
at the foot of the lake, climbed to the
lofty and broad seat of the driver OF an
old-fashioned stage-coach, for ride OF four
miles through most picturesque region,
10 Ticonderoga, on Lake Champlain, she
too sprang up, as nimble as a squirrel, to
the notable perch of observation for trav-
eler. AS we journeyed among the hills,
caught glimpses of the Green Mountains,
and heard droll stories of his experience
from the lips of our Jehu of slow speech,
her ringing laughter awoke responsive
echoes.
A glance, from our seat, of the gray old
ruins of Fort Ticonderoga, as we drew near
the "Pavilion' on the lake shore, made us
as impatient as children to be among them.
With these pleasant companions, and alone,
l spent hours among the remains of the old
fortress, listening to the stories of vener-
able soldier, who in body haunted the place
in the pleasant summer time. We were
about to send to the Pavilion for guide
and an interpreter of the mysteries around
us, when this white haired man, supported
by rude staff, came from the ruins of the
northern line of barracks and offered his
services. They were accepted, and after
my companions for day had departed
=
of one of the crumbling walls and listened
to the old mans interesting stories. His
name was Isaac Rice his age was eighty
five no kindred of his was left on the
earth by technical error he lost just
title to pension for military services in
the Revolution, and he was obtaining a
precarious support from the free-will offer
ings of summer visitors for whom he acted
as cicerone. Though feeble in body, his
mind appeared clear and vigorous.
"Did you assist in the capture of this
fort ?" I inquired.
''No," he replied, "but my oldest brother
did. l was then nearly thirteen years old.
When Burgoyne took the fort I was a
drummer boy of the garrison that escaped,
and saw the British General deliver bis
sword to our General Gates three months
afterward. My brother was twenty years
old on the day when the fort was TAKEN
We lived near the old "Catamount
Tavern" in Vermont-did you ever hear
of it?-where Ethan Allen lived long
time, and where the Green Mountain Boys
mustered in the troublesome times before
the Revolutionary War. I've heard my
brother tell many things about the taking
of the fort on that morning."
'Didn't they get into the fort by covert
eyes, and there's where it was,' he
said, pointing to hollow among a mass of
stones and earth. s'My brother, who was
a sergeant, led squad of men just behind
Colonels Allen and Arnold"
s'Arnold-Benedict Arnold? ?" l said, in
quiringly.
eyes. Arnold Joined the Vermonters
and others at Castleton on the evening be-
fore the capture" The veteran then told
the story clearly as his brother had related
it to him. Arnold came without officers OF
troops-only one servant. He introduced
himself TO Colonies AlleH and Easton-
Easton Of Pittsfeld-and taking from his
pocket a commission as colonel from the
Massachusetts Committee of Safety be
claimed the right to command the whole
force gathered there for the expedition
Allen disputed his claim. Arnold persisted,
when the indignant Green Mountain Boys
declared that only Colonel Allen should
lead them or they would shoulder their
musksts and go home.
Arnold was compelled to yield, and all
prepared to cross the narrow lake that
night. Boats we're scarce, and only about
eighty men were enabled to cross over. AL
len took with him Nathan Bemap, farm
er's boy, who had been much at the fort
were ready to climb the bank to the sally
port of the fort, when Arnold again claim
ed the right to command. Allen disputed
his claim. Arnold swore he acould COM
mand Allen swore he shouldn't. This
quarrel was in undertones, SO as not TO be
heard by the sentinels above. The men
interfered, and it was arranged that Allen
and Arnold should enter side by side, Al
len on the right as commander. Then they
all moved to the sally-pOrt at the covert
way, led by Allen and Arnold. The senti-
mel snapped his fusee and ran into the fort,
followed by the Americans close upon his
heels and before the garris On could spring
from their pallets and seIzs their arms the
invaders had possession of the parade with
in the fort and took them all prisoners as
they came out. Young Beman then led
Allen up rickety stairway to the apart
ments of Captain De Laplace, the COM
mander. Knocking loudly on the door
with his sword-hil he commanded the
captain, in a stern voice, to appear instant
ly or the garrison would perish. At that
moment De Laplace, who had been awak-
ened by the commotion on the parade, clad
only in shirt and drawers, sprang to the
door, the frightened face of his pretty little
wife appearing over his shoulder.
Surrender shouted Allen.
They were old acquaintance.
''By what authority do you command me
to surrender this fort % said De Laplace,
Indignantly.
SIN the name of the Great Jehovah and
the Continental Congress p Numbered Al
len, raising his sword over the captains
head.
De Laplace began to speak, when Allen
shouted "Silence ~ The commander
obeyed and an unconditional surrender fol-
lowed.
''You said you were drummer boy here
when Burgoyne took the fort ?''
eyes" replied the veteran 81 was then
lusty lad nearly thirteen years old. My
brother was one of the garrison"
sand SO you became well acquainted
with every part of the fort, suppose. Will
you point out the principal localities ?"
asked.
"sYonder," said the guide, pointing to-
ward the best preserved line of the bar
racks, built of stone, two stories in height
and forming quadrangle, "were the Off
GERS quarters. A wooden balcony extend
ed along the second story, which was
reached by flight of stairs. The first door
on the second story, on the left, was the
entrance to the commandments apartments.
Between the ruined wall on the extreme