The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-13
lant disgust of the CAPTAIN command

nant disgust of the captain command
ing the vessel.
After many wanderings and much
adventure Colonel Allen arrived off
Staten Island, and was conducted to q
sloop in the harbor, where he awaited
the arrival Of Lieutenant-C Colonel
Campbell. for whom he was to be ex-
changed. The two prisoners met on
the 5th of May 1878, and drank a glass
of wine together in celebration of thei1
mutual happiness. Colonel Allen had
been a prisoner of war for two years
and seven months. After his release
he at once reported to Washington at
Valley Forge, before turning his face
towards home in the Green Mountains
His welcome home was an ovation
Cannon were fired in honor of the
event. and demonstrations of joy
were universal After his return Con-
gress conferred on him the commits
sion of brevet-colonel in the Cont
mental Army, and it was voted that
he should receive the pay of lieu
tenant-colonel during the time Of his
Imprisonment.
dence of Vermont was renewed on AL
lens return, and he entered into 1t
with all his wonted spirit Young
Vermont, in gratitude for past SER
vices, appointed him general and COM
mander of the state militia. No
stronger proof of their confidence in
him could have been given at this time
by the hardy yeomanry of the Green
Mountains. During the progress of
the disputes there was an attempt
made to gain Aliens influence in a
project to unite Vermont with the
British provinces in Canada. AS might
l., go II
failure. At last the difficulties were
settled, and Vermont, chiefly through
the efforts of Allen, was accorded the
place of independence she claimed.
AT the next election after his return
from captivity, General Allen was
chosen a representative to the As
sembly of his state, and after the res
toration of peace he devoted himself
to the pursuit of agriculture. At this
time his thoughts seemed set in a new
channel, and he wrote a book entitled
Reason the Only Oracle of Man, or
a Compendium System Of Natural Re
ligion." 1t was published at Benning-
ton-in the year 1884.
A good many stories are told of AL
len which are characteristic of the
man, and throw out in bold relief the
strong points of his nature. Perhaps
these incidents are more indicative of
character than anything else. AT one
time during Aliens Imprisonment he
was released on parole in New York.
An incident is told of this time by
one of the actors in the affair: "Riv-
ington, the Kings printer, a forcible
and venomous writer, had incurred AL
lens enmity by his caustic illusions
to him. and the hero of Ticonderoga
swore he would lick Rivington the
very first opportunity he had"
This is how he escaped the threat
ene1 castigation: Il was sitting"
says Rfvington, after good dinner,
alone with my bottle of Madeira be-
fore me, when 1 heard an unusual
noise in the street and a huzza from
the boys. l was in the second story,
and, stepping to the window, saw a
tall figure in furnished regimentals,
with a large cooked hat and an enor-
nous long sword, followed by a crowd
of bo-s who occasionally cheered him
with huzzas of which he seemed in
sensible. He came up to my door and
stopped. L could see no more. My
heart told me it was Ethan Allen.
shut my window and retired behind
my table and my bottle. 1 was GER
tain the hour Of reckoning had come.
There was no retreat. Mr.. Staples,