Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-12-21
Which Was the Correct Date.

Which Was the Correct Date.
The following, from the columns of a
patriotic exchange, may be of interest to
our readers:
NOBTH BENNINGTON. VT, Nov. -, 1894.
The Editor Of the Spirit Of '76.-SIR:
The November number of your excellent
publication contains a communication
from Col. d. S. LamSOn, C. W., Weston,
Mass, stating that ne sends you copy
of a Photographic reproduction, made
from a recently discovered letter of
Ethan Aliens.
Colonel Lamson says: 1.-THE letter
(Which you give entire) is important, as
it settles the, date of the capture of Fort
Ticonderoga, which in history has been
enormously given"
On page 100, appendix, of the Hon L.
E. Chittenden's published address, THE
Capture of Ticonderoga," read before
the Vermont Historical Society, at Ii
conderoga, on June 10th, 1872, you will
find this letter:
"TICoNDEROGA, May 18th, 1775.
"Gentlemen:-I have the inexpressible
satisfaction to acquaint you, that at day
break on the 10th instant, pursuant to
my directions from sundry leading gem
tlemen of Massachusetts Bay and Con-
necticut, | took the Fortress of Ticonder-
oga, with about one hundred and thirty
Green Mountain Boys. Col. EastOn, with
about forty-seven valiant soldiers, dis
tinguished themselves in the action.
Col. Arnold entered the fortress with me
side by side The guard was so sur
prsed, that contrary to expectation, they
did not fire on us, but retreated with pre-
cipitancy. We Immediately entered the
without blOodshed or any opposition.
They consisted of one captain and a
lieutenant, and forty-two men.
Little more need be said. You know
Governor Carlton, of Canada, will exert
is nearer than any other part of the col
onies, and as your inhabitants have
thoroughly manifested their zeal in the
cause of the country, | ectimmediate
assistance from you, both in men and
provisions. You cannot exert yourself
too much in so glorious a cause. The
number Of men need be more at first, till
the other colonies have time to muster.
| am apprehensive of sudden and quick
attack. Pray be quick to our relief, and
send us five hundred men Immediately;
fail not.
From your friend and humble ser
want, ETHAN ALLEN,
Commander of Ticonderoga.
ABRAHAM YATES,
chairman of the Committee, Albany"
The above in most respects seems lden-
teal with the letter published by you.
A comparison of the text, however, will
reveal essential discrepancies, notably
the date of the capture, the continuity of
the sentence in above copy beginning:
"The number of men need" is preserved,
and the address is supplied. Which let
ter is correct?
Again, on the same day, May Il, 1775,
Allen wrote: ITO the Honorable con-
| gress of the Province of Massachusetts,
Bay or council of war;" saying: ~ have
to inform you, with pleasure unfelt be-
| fore, that on the break of day of 10th of
of May, 1915, by order of the General as
sembly of the colony of connecticut,
took the Fortress of Ticonderoga by
| storm" etc, etc. In his narrative of
his captivity, Allen also fixes the date as
the 10th of May.
We will now resort to the enemy for
confirmation. Captain Delaplace from
his confinement at Hartford, Conn.,, on
May oath, in his petition for liberty,
among other things writes: "Your Me-
morialist would represent, that on the
morning of the 10th of May instant, the
garrison of the Fortress of Ticonderoga
in the province of New York was sur
I prised by party of armed men, under
the command of one Ethan Allen"
1t would seem as though the prepon-
derence of evidence was on the side of
the 10th, as established by many well
known historians.
Very respectfully, S. B. HALL.