St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-08-18
THE VERMONT OF OTHER DAYS.

teen years ago perhaps you will give
this precis of Brigadier Simon
Fraser's letter dated from the Camp
at Skeensborough on Wood Creek,
July 10, 1777, containing the move
ments of Burgoyne's Inflated expe-
dition.
Perhaps YOU will also let me trace
the narrative of this campaign to
little later date than that of General
Fraser's letter and so shadow out
the origins OF our republicanism.
General Fraser says: "Burgoyne
arrived at Quebec 6 May, 1777; his
appearance a coup de oudre to
Carleton; Carleton, a proud, mar
row minded man, surrounded by
f1atterers; starting of the advanced
corps on the 29th May; general
rendezvous to be at Cumberland
Head on Lake Champlain; Fraser
asks and receives permission to take
post on the R. Bouquet; information
as to the environs of Ticonderoga
and Mt. Independence obtained from
a settler, James MacIntosh details
of various movements from the 18th
to 25th June; on the Goth the whole
army at Crown Point; on the 1st
July Fraser moved the advanced
corps to Three Mile Point: conversa-
tion between Burgoyne, Phillips, and
Fraser about future opera tons for
reducing the lines, I'd July; Captain
Fraser with Canadians and Indians
sent forward on 4th July; Indians
drunk and very irregular; copy of
letter written to the general describ-
ing the movement; survey of Sugar
Mountain and determinati ton to
fortify it as it commanded everything
at Ticonderoga and Mount Independ-
ence; news of the abandonment of
Ticonderoga and Mount Independ-
ence by the Americans, who retreat
bv land towards Castletown, and
by water to Skeensborough, leaving
cannon, provisions and ammunition
behind; Brigadier Fraser takes pos
session of the forts, ETC., and pursues
the rebels; is Joined by Mai. Gen.
Riedesel; the rebels are attacked and
repulsed at Huberton; mention of
the death of Major Grant arrival at
Skeensborough on the 9th Tulv."
The very great interest of this un-
published letter awakens some thrill
ing memories.
By the advance of General Bur-
goyne's army to Skeensborough, from
which place Brig. General Fraser
wrote, the inhabitants, for near
hundred miles on the west side of
the Green Mountains, were left with
out any protection by an American
army. The Green Mountain Bows
attributed the loss of the Battle of
Hubbardton to the death of their
Colonel Francis and the consequent
retreat and confusion at the moment
of changing the positions mentioned
by Brigadier Fraser.
From Skeensborough General Red
esel with his Hessian troops pushed
on to Castleton.
A convention of the Green Mount
ain Boys met at Windsor on July 4,
day of ever blessed memory, and
following days, to consider the draft
constitution for the state of Yer
mont. This constitution was under
consideration when the news of the
evacuation of Ticonderoga by the
Americans arrived. The Convention
finished the considera ton of the con-
st1tut1on, appointed Council of
safety" to act during the recess, and
adjourned. The council of safety
proceeded to Manchester and thence
adjourned to Sunderland. 1t had no
money or revenue and there was
urgent need of means for defence. 1t
was resolved to appoint commits
sloners of sequestration to seize
goods and chattels of all persons
who had joined, or should
join, the British, to sell all the pro
perty by public auction and paw
the proceeds to the treasurer of this
council of safety. This is it believed
was the first instance in America of
SEEING and selling the property OF
the British. The council adjourned
to Bennington
III LIZ AlNCLlll1O lLlC NV vi lIC dQ-
vance of the British had been sprea d
and the general court of New Hamp-
shire ordered General John Stark to
consult with the Vermont council OF
safety and to act in conjunction with
the Green Mountain Boys This is
the General Stark who, year OF
two earlier, had prophesied that il
TIT a powerful army would come
from the North. which he, with the
Green Mountain Boys, would cut of
wing by wing. General Stark pro
ceeded instantly from Charlestown
New Hampshire, to Manchester il
Vermont, TO join the Green Mount
ain Boys under Colonies Warner