Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-27
CHAMPLAIN HISTORY.
Graphic Pioturos OF Three wars-Our
storied Lake and Valley.
(Prof. L. S. Packard.)

to romance, beginning in fable and myth,
It's tireless stream still flows on, an unfin-
ished story. The Red Man, the French
man, the Englishman and the American
have all pressed back and forth through
the interesting -Champlan valley; each
bent on his own purpose. They wrought
for themselves. We read the story of their
achievements and CAL 1t history; the
stream flows on; our doings of to-day are
added to theirs and become history for
those who will come after us. 1t Is not my
purpose now. to embark on this stream.
But rather 10 select few historical pic
lures striving to show their pointings
the courses lying behind them and the con-
sequences of the acts which they portray.
But first permit me as an egotist and alone
to view in memory's glass q few pictures
of my own. 1 recall an old red school
house, one mile from my home in Central
Massachusetts,. where I used to study
geography. What lake lies between YER
mont and New York;" was a question
which often attracted and fixed my atten-
ton. To my boy ish mind, Vermont was
the land of maple sugar and New York
that far distant State, whence came great
loads of flour, made from pure Genesee
wheat. And as | looked at the map and
saw Lake Champlain, with Its pouting
lips, kissing the queens dominion. / used
to wonder If l should ever travel so far
from home as to see that beautiful lake.
The providential circumstances of the man
have answered the wondering question of
the boy. | have seen it from the deck OF
the steamer when the crisp breeze of one
of September's fairest days brought brac-
ing health to every fibre of a sick and
weary body. The surmised pictures of
youth were enlarged and gilded with a
new charm. l rowed over Its dancing
waters when the waves tossed their white
caps into my boat, and the possibility of
danger added keener zest to the sense of
safety; and still the charm grew. / have
fioated upon 1t when 1t lay in perfect still
ness at set of sun. Was it the lake? Nay!
Twas the Sea of Glass. And earth, and
air. and sky, and water all were beautiful
beautiful as the promised mansions of
rest.
But enough of fancy.
There are other pictures of wider scope
and greater significance. Back of them lie
causes big with destiny: and out of them a
hand points to the then future greatness of
our country. They are not wholly pleasing
pictures Some are red, couded with the
smoke of battle. Shouts and groans and
| the clash OF sabre: the musket's rattle and
| the lannon's roar are the music to which
the panorama moves by.
The date of our first is Sept. II. 1914. The
scene. Pittsburgh and Cumberland bay.
| England has a SECOND time determined to
but costly and deceptive waterway. For
| this purpose she has built on the Sorrel
| river powerful vessels of war and fleet
gunboats For this purpose she has sent
over 1900 troops, trained TO fighting in
European wars, and drawn from the vic
torious army of Wellington.
| In the gray mists of this morning 70 900
Englishmen threaten 1900 Americans upon
the land. Upon the waters t6 vessels, car
/ ryng "a guns and 1000 men, bear down
upon the American fleet of IA vessels, 81
guns and $50 men. Strong odds in favor OF
the invader. But the battle is not always
to the strong. The God of battles Is here
ana who can invade when men guard their
hearthstones? 1t Is Sunday; the bells will
not toll for church to-day, but they will
toll for the dead. For, to-day, as oft be-
! fore, hearts must bleed, and men must die
! that country may live. and other hearts be
glad. The contest begins; and upon land
and upon water for two hours destruction
and death fill the air. And then-the Il. OOC
veterans hastily retreat, and few unhurt
gunboats creep away, All the rest Is ours.
But what matters If we have so many hun
dred prisoners and so many shattered ves-
sells or war at our mercy? We shall see.
The most potent cause of this second wal
with Great Britain was her arrogant as
sumption of the right to take from the
deck of American vessels, wherever met
from her service. This assumed right was
enforced for many years. until an outraged
nation would endure 1t no longer. War
was declared-a war in which, by the di-
vine order of a Just recompense, the mos,
daring feats were performed, the most gal
liant actions fought, and the greatest VIC
tories won upon the water. The real bat
tie of Pittsburgh was the naval battle: It
has been called the decisive battle of the
war. And when on that day the flag OF
England went down before the stars and
stripes, the claim TO the odious right OF
search went, too, and England virtually
acknowledged that our own beautiful fiag
not only was the equal of all flags of al
nations. but more, that whoever stood
claiming protection, beneath its sacred
folds was safe.
! Our next picture bears date of July 8
HI. The scene is Ticonderoga. 1t wa.
sketched across the ocean. The English
government had marked out the plan ant
provided the prominent figure. Sever
years before the date just named Gen
Carlton. commanding in Canada, had pro
fessed to possess the water line between
the Gulf of st. Lawrence and New Yorl
bay I'm order to hold the colonies. Wa.
not New England the head of the rebel
lion? Was not Boston in New Engla nd
And did not George the Third so cordial,
hate its people as to say, 81 would as lie
fight Bostonians as to fight the French?'
And had not Ethan Alien and his Greer
Mountain boys come out of New England
and ncontinently turned English soldier,
out of Fort Ticonderoga- New England
must be cut off. And as fitting leader fol
this great and sure expedition Gen. Johr
Burgoyne was selected. The man who hac
bcasted that with 10000 men he coult
march anywhere through America. II,
reached Quebec on the 9th of May and wa.
m m "a al in nj 700
trained troops, the flower of the English
army, Indians and Canadians to severa
thousands were added. Never has LAX,
Champlain seen so grand a sight as wheY
Burgoyne and his hosts moved up the val
ley. The canoes of the Indians and hi.
own boats covered the water from shore t
shore. On the east side his German me
ceneries, on the west his English troops.
To withstand this overwhelming force, st
Clair had only 1000 men, holding Forts In
dependence and Ticonderoga. So small
was his force that although he fully knew
the danger, 1t was impossible for him t,
take or fortify Mt. Sugar Loaf, now called
Mt. Defiance. The evening of July l. For
Ticonderoga is fully invested. The morn
ing of the 9th sees II rendered untenable b,
the guns of Burgoyne. dragged to the tol
of the mountain during the night. TIL
, hours OF that momentous day are spent b,
st. Clair In quiet preparation, and at nigh
he silently slips away. The fort was aban
doned, and the glorious work OF Etha,
Allen done two years before was we'll un
done. The Central figure of this pictur
which / wish to point out Is, not Burgoyne
looking down from Mt. Defiance into al
empty fort; but England herself, LOOKING
down from the height of her power on thl
Western continent. Never again shall he
, flag float safely over so broad an area a
, on the 9Th day of July 1777 Never agail