The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-05-08
Written for the BANNER.l
ALLEN AND ARNOLD AT TICONDER-
OGA.
BY GEO. w. HARMAN.

ally, the time of the capture was the |
10th of May, 1775. But, is now claimed |
by some to have been on the eleUenh of |
The same May. Historically, Benedict |
Arnold entered the fort by the side of
Allen. Now, however, in book designed
for popular reading, this is denied. His
Allen demanded the surrender
of the fort in the name of the Great
Jehovah and the Continental Congress"
This again, is denied and words of very
import substituted.
purpose to treat Of these diversities
in detail. First, as to the true date of
the capture. A very reliable and con-
vincing piece of evidence is the journal
of Capt. Edward Mott, as copied into the
first volume of the Connecticut Histori-
cal Society's Collections. He says:
Friday, 2Sth April, 1775.-Set out for
Hartford" 'and Saturday, the
10Th April, in the afternoon, we set out
on said expedition" 1.-The next
day, being Sunday, the 30th April, on
our way to Salisbury land that
day arrived at Salisbury. II arried all
night; and the next day" list OF
May) I'VE arrived at
Mr.. Deweys in Sheffield" THAT
night we arrived at Col. Easton's,
in Pittsfeld;" land, on Sunday
night, the It'll of May, we all arrived at
Cassel Town, the place where we had
appointed for the men all to meet; and
on Monday, the Sth of May, the Commit
tee all got together "of which
Committee l was Chairman"
THAT a party of thirty men, under the
command, of Capt. Herrick, should, the
next day, 9th of May take into custody
Major Skenen land that the rest
of the men, which consisted of about 140,
should go through ShOreham to the lake,
opposite to Ticonderoga;" I'm
the evening, Col. Arnold came to us, We "
and the next" (ninth) morning he proceed
ed forward to Overtake Col. Allen"
"the whole party followed him, for fear
he should prevail on Col. Allen to resign
the commando "r' twas
obliged to leave the party that 1 was
with, and go with the pack-horses with
the provisions, and could not overtake
them till the first division had crossed
the lake. We followed them, as soon as
the boats got back, and when we got
over, they were in possession of the
fort" 'This was done on We'd
nesday, the 10th of May"
CorrOborative evidence is found in
Ethan Aliens letter to the Congress, or
Council of War of Massachusetts, Bay,
dated May IL, 1775, saying, that on the
break of the day of tenth of May, 1775,"
= II took the fortress of TiconderOga
by storm" In Benedict Arnold's letter
to the Committee of Safety of Massachu-
sets, dated May IL, 1775, saying, I'VE
had taken the fort at four o'clock yester-
day morning." Elisha Phelps letter to
the General Assembly of Connecticut,
dated May 10, IT'S, saying, 1.-THE army
pressed on, and on the 10th day of May
instant, took Fort TicOnderoga." In the
Worcester Spy of May II, 1775, in which
"a correspondent whose veracity can be
depended upon" says, Immediately
marched, with great silence, to the gates
of the fortress, and at the break of day,
May 10th, made the assault with great
intrepidity." In Captain William Della
places memorial to the General Assem-
bly, of Connecticut, dated May "a, 1715,
stating, THAT on the morning of the
tenth of May instant, the garrison of the
Fortress of TiconderOga, in the Province
of New York, was surprised by party
of armed men, under the command OF
one Ethan Allen"
The commanders of the two opposing
forces, with others, thus concurring in
designating the tenth of May as the date
of the capture-a date adopted and fol-
lowed by all historians the enquiry
arises, Why should the correctness of
this historical date be questioned? And
here follows the answer:
DR.. Charles WOOdhouse, of Rutland,
VT, has an original autographs letter of
Ethan Allen which have seen, and, up
on careful examination thereof, | have
no doubt whatever of its genuineness.
The doctor gave me a full account of his
acquiring the letter from the former
owner in the city of Albany. The letter
is without date. Dr. W. has copyrighted
a Photographic copy of the letter and
has kindly permitted me to publish it in
this communication. And, so far as
can persuade the types, the following is
literal copy:
Gentlemen | Have the Inexpressible
Satisfaction to Acquaint You that al
Day break of the Eleventh Instant (Pur
suant to my Directions from Sundry
Leading Gentlemen in the Colonies OF
Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut)
Took the Fortress of TicondarOga with
About one Hundred and thirty Greer
Mountain Boys Colo Easton with about
Forty seven Veteran Soldiers Disting
uised themselves in the action Col. ArnO
Entered the fortress with me side by
side the Guard were So Surprised thai
Contrary our Expectation Did Not fire
on us but fled with Precippitancy We
immediately Entered the fortress anC
Took the Garrison Prisoners without
Bloodshead or any opposition they Con.
sisted of one Captain and Lieutinant
and forty Two men Little more Need be
said You Know Governor Carlton Of
| Canada will Exert himself to retake il
and as Your County is Nearer than any
| Other Part of the Colonies and as You
Inhabitants have throwly Manifested
their Zeal in the Cause of their Country
| Expect Immediate Assistance from
| You Both in men and Provision You
Cannot Exert Your Selves too much il
So Glorious Cause the number of mel
Need be More at the first Till the Othe
| Colonies Can have time to Muster l an
apprehensive of SUDDEN and Quicl
Attack Pray be Quick to our relief anC
Send us five Hundred men Immediatel!
| Fail Not From Your Friend and Humid,
Servant Ethan Allen Commander of ii
| cOndarOga'
1.-The Honorable To
Committee of Correspondence for the
City and County of Albany
The letter was folded and the addres
placed upon the back. And, at the lief
of the address, at right angles with it
neatly written in different hand, is thu
filing
ETHAN Allen
Reed 18th May 1775."
| | have said that the letter is withOu