Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-04-14
THE C1CRRoNE of TICONDEROGA
Copyrighted. lSss, by FUNK & wAGSArts.

coach, at The gray old RUNS OF fotl
Ticondcruga, as VIC drew near the
Pavilion un Lake Champlain. made
us rs impatient rs children to be Il
mnng lhcm. With pleasant compan-
ions, aud alone. | spent hours among
the remains OF the old fortress, listen
ing 20 the stories of a venerable SOL
dicr. who in body haunted the place
in the pleasant summer tinnc, We
were about to send TO the Pavilion for
a guide and interpreter Of the mystic
rirs around us. when this white haired
man. supported by n rude staff. came
from the ruins nf the northern line OF
barracks and Offered his services. They
were accepted. and | sat at the foot OF
one OF the crumbling walls and listen
ed 20 the oil | mans interesting stories.
His name was Isaac Rice; aged s.; no
Kindred of his was LEFT on the earth :;
and he was obtaining a p%recarlous
support from the iree-will offerings OF
summer visitors for whom lac acted as
riccronr. Though feeble in body. lis
mind appeared clear aud vigorous.
Did YOU assist in the capture of
This tort?' | inquired.
NO" he replied, but my eldest bro
Their did. was then nearly thirteen
wears old. When Burgoyne took the
tort, | was 4 drummer boy OF the gar.
rison that escaped. and | saw the Brit.
ish General deliver his sword to our
Gent Gates three months atterward.
My brother vas 20 years old the day
the fort was taken. We lived near the
old "Catamount Tavern" in Vermont,
where Ethan Allen lived q long time,
and where the Green Mountain Boys
mustered in the troublesome times be-
fore the Revolutionary War. Eve
heard my brother tell many things a.
bout the taking of the fort on that
morning"
Didn't they get into the fort by a
covert way - | asked.
ayes. and there's were it was" he
said, pointing to a hollow among a
mass of stones and earth. My bro.
ther, who was a sergeant, led n squad
of men just behind Coils. Allen ard
Arnold"
"Arnold-Bencdict Arnold" said.
ayes. Arnold Joined the Vermont
ers and others at Castleton on the eve
ming before the capture" The vcte-
ran then told the story clearly as his
brother had related it to him. Arnold
came without officers or tro0ps--only
one servant. lie introduced himself
to Coils. Allen and Easton-Easlon of
Pittsfcld-and taking from his pocket
a commission as colonel from the Mas.
sachusctts Committee of Safety, he
claimed tie right to command the
whole force gathered there for the ex.
petition. Allen disputed his claim.--
Arnold persisted, when the indignant
Green Mountain Boys declared that
only Col. Allen should lead them or
they would shoulder their muskets
and 90 home. Arnold was compelled
to Yield, aud all prepared TO cross the
Lake that night. Boats were scarce
and only about so men were enabled
to cross over. Allen took with him
Nathan Beman. a farmers boy, who
had been much at the Fort and knew
all about it. AT daybreak they were
ready to climb the bank to the sally.
port of the fort, when Arnold again
claimed the light to command. Allen
disputed his claim. Arnold swOrc he
wOuW command. Allen swore he
shouldn't. The men intcricrcd and il
was arranged that Allen and Arnold
should enter side by side. Allen on the
right as commander. Then they all
moved to the sally-port at the cover,
way, led by Allen and Arnold. The
sentinel snapped his fuscc and ran in
to the fort, followed by the Americans
close upon his heels: and before the
garrison could spring from their pal.
lets and seize their arms. the invaders
had possession of the parade within
the fort, and took them all prisoners
as they came ont. Young Beman led
Allen up a rickctv stairway to the a
partments of Capt. DeLaplace, the
commander. Knocking loudly on the
door with his sword.hilt, he command
Z" WV ."P'"'"' !" 7'''" 'o'.'' W "P
pear instantly, or the garrison woult
PERISH. AT mat moment DE i-"place
who had been awakened BY the com
Inotion on Inc parade clad ohly II
'h'rt ana drawers sprans 10 inc aoor
me irish'chcu lace OF MS pretty iltti'
Wlle appearing over ms shoulder.
"Surrehder', shou'eu Allen,
lhey were DIG ar4nallitanccs'
by ~hat al'hority 40 gon com
manu- mc 10 SURRENDER 'his Iort! SAT-
De al ,ace Indignantly, -,
IN lhe name o l ,le treat JenoVa
ana 'he Eoh'ilch.al congress! 'h"h
uereu hllen, rals'ng MS SWORD eve
'hG Japan u
ci.a.lace oesah 10 speak, wEei
AiIen shou'eu oilchce! Inc coI
m'hdcr ooeyed ana III "hcohd''loha
surrender followed.
on SAN you were drummer 10.
nero wheh burgoyhc ook the iort!'
les, repiiea 'he veteran wa
'neh ,us,! IA" nearly thirteen year
o!u. NY orother was one OF the gar
rlson: