The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-04-25
ALLEN AT rICoNDERoGA.
BY GEORGE W. HARTMAN.

BY GEORGE W. HARTMAN
Upon page $50 of The New England
Historical and Genealogical Register,
Volume Al, an article commences with
these passages 1.-The writer lost years
ago much Of his faith in history and ira
dition. Events are misstated; good and
wise men are represented as wicked ana
foolish, and virtue and greatness be-
slowed on the undeserving. After CEN
turIes, often, men and actions are shown
10 have been entirely misjudged, and, IN
some cases, as in that of William Tell,
history becomes pure fiction.
IAN amusing illustration OF one OF
these persistent and popularity cherished
fictions has recently come to the knowl,
edge Of the writer. According to all
histories Of the United States, Ethan
Allen demanded from the British COM
mander the surrender of TIconderoga,
In the name of the Great Jehovah and
the Continental Congress- Prof. James
D. Butler of Madison, Wisconsin, has
informed me that his grandfather Israel
Harris was present, and had often told
him that Ethan Aliens real language
was, Come out of here, you ID old
rat
Now, this is rather hasty criticism.
Most assuredly, the testimony Of "all
histories" ought to be taken, at least, as
priuld fdcie evidence of the truth, and
not to be overthrown or shaken by the
statement, not inconsistent Herewith, of
q person who though present, does not
even saw he did not hear the demand as
historically claimed; much less does he
DENY 1t. But Allen, himself, in his
H., ,sfrnlt,nfipn IN which
bears the date Bennington, March 20,
1779"-less than four years after the
event-relates the circumstances OF the
surrender, thus 81 demanded OF MN
Zone Of the sentries) 1.-THE place where
the commanding officer kept; he showed
me q pair OF stairs in front OF a barrack,
on the west part of the garrison, which
led up to a second story in said barrack,
10 which / Immediately repaired, ana
ordered the commander, Capt. Delaplace,
10 come forth instantly, or would sac
rifice the whole garrison at which the
captain came Immediately to the door,
with his breeches in his hand
when l ordered him to deliver to
me the fort instantly; he asked me by
what authority l demanded it; l an
swered him, In the name OF the great
Jehovah, and the Continental Congress,
The authority of the Congress being
very little known at that time, he began
to speak again; but l interrupted him,
and, with my drawn sword over his
head, again demanded an immediate
surrender of the garrison; with when
he complied, and ordered his men to be
forthwith paraded without arms, as he
had given up the garrison"
After reading the sentences quoted at
the head of this article, wrote to my
whilom friend, Prof Butler, and he re
piled, affirming his recollection OF his
Grandfather telling him the story and
that his version of the words was
"Come out of your hole you ID old
rat"
The Hon. Lucius E. Chittenden, one
OF Vermont's gifted sons, in his cap
ture of Ticonderoga," has admirably
summarized the events of the capture 10
language which l will repeat, merely
interpolating the incident related by Mr.
Harris.
"Allen heads the center file, For
ward = is the word of command. d.
rected BY Beeman, they follow Allen
through covered way to the gate
Here, a sentinel, confused by their ap'
prosch, forgets to give the alarm, but
aims his musket at Allen, and pulls the
trigger. 1t misses fire. Allen PUSHES al
him; he gives a shout, end retreats into
the fort, under the shelter OF oomb'
proof, The men pass on inside the walls
to the parade, where, facing the barracks
they form like regulars, and give three
huzzas, which arouse the sleeping gar
rlson, A guard thrusts at an officer Of
the invading force with his bayonet, ano
slightly wounds him. Allen strikes uI
the weapon and deals a blow at thu
assailsnt's head. His life is saved by
comb, which turns the force Of the blow
he drops his gun and asks for quarter
Where is the officer in command
thunders the leader. He is shown TO
room on the second floor of the officers
quarters; he summons Capt. Delapiac'
to come forth saying, Come out OF you
hole you id old rat, or he will sacrl
fee the garrison. Aroused from nj
sleep, half naked and half stuplhed
clothes in hand, he appears, and, in re
ply to Aliens demand for instant sur
render, asks, BY what authority II
THE NAME OF THE GREAT JEHOVAH, AM
THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ! Is TIT
answer. He hestates, of Congress, hi
knows but little. The demand is re
peated. He submits, and orders his mel
to parade without arms, for he has Civ
en- up the garrison"
Cayilers have Used another objection
That the surrender could not have beer
required in the name of Congress be
cause that body did not commence 1t
session until few hours after the for
had been taken; and therefore, coulC
not have given an order for its reduction
The fallacy of this objection consists IL
supposing that Allen, upon due dellber'
alton, intended to reply to Captain Della
Place in strict conformity with existing
facts. No such thing. Heuttered the frs
words the impulse of the moment sugges
ted. Aliens style was peculiar to hlmsel
--forcible, but not elegant. In early llf
he had read much of the scanty llteratur
accessible. With the Bible he was espec
tally familiar, and drew upon 1t Target.
in his daily conversation, and by
shaped many of his rhetorical tlourishes
or one occasion during his captivit.
he says 1.-TWO clergymen came to So
me. We discoursed on several parts o
moral philosophy and Christianity; AM
they seemed to be surprised, that
should be acquainted with such topics, o
that should understand syllogism, o
regular mode of augmentation"
At another time, speaking of tn
Tories he says they forgot the Lor'
their God" and served Howe, Burgoyn
and Knyphausen-and therefore Co.
gave them oyer to strong decisions L
believe lie, that they all might b
damned"
In short, he threw off his scripture
language with an air of utter abandon
And in announcing to Capt. DelaPlace
his authority, he gave the supreme II
religion and what by succession has be
come the highest in civil affairs.
Had the exigencies of the moment per
unitted, what would it have availed ha'
Allen replied that the colonies of Massa
chusetts and Connecticut and the New
Hampshire Grants had empowered hin
to capture the fort The Captain nigh
we'll have replied, REBELS, ALL" Ant
they might have chartered the remain
der Of the day over the question of au
thoriLy. Allen was not 10 be caught II
that manner. His instincts, his tralnln!
and his habits all served him well, and
rising to the sublimity of the occasion
he uttered the majestic words-"ln Tn
name Of the Great Jehovah and the Con
tinental Congress J"