The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-06-30
MIR. cRocKETTs HISTORY

will on July LIST begin his duties as
editor of the new Morning Journal at
Montpelier. Mr.. Crockett has spent
mucn time studying the history of
Vermont and northern New York and
is a recognized authority on the sub
ject. His latest work establishes him
as historian of no mean ability.
The book deals with the interesting
and romantic happenings which go to
make up the history of Lake Cham
plain and the surrounding country
from its discovery by the famous
French explorer, Samuel Champlain,
Father of New France" to the pres
ent time. The struggles of the early
French colonists and their expeditions
against the hostile Indians are wildly
described in pure concise English. The
arrival of the missionaries, the found
ing of the first chapel devoted to the
Catholic worship on Isle La Motto in
1866 and the Jealous labors of Cham
plain and his followers to further the
interests of Christianity in the new
world are narrated by the author at
much length.
The following chapters deal with
the fierce struggle of France and Great
Britain for the territory bordering on
tho hicforio 1alra u,bioh oontfn,ad
throughout the seventeenth century
After resisting the forces of the Eng
lish and Indians for many years the
French were finally compelled to give
up their title to the lands and the lake
and surrounding country passed into
the hands of England. English set
tiers poured in Immediately from the
colonies and soon many
thriving settlements were founded.
The revolution breaks out and the
lake is again the scene of many bat
ties. The brilliant capture of Fort
Ticonderoga and the defeat of Bur
goyne's army brings the story near to
Bennington and the thrilling scenes
which were being enacted here while
the main British forces were coming
down the lake from tne Canadian Dor
der. Although giving no description
of the fight the writer speaks of the
battle of Bennington and of it's inn
portance in checking the advance of
the English general. He says in part,
Not only did Burgoyne fail in his
quest for supplies, but the Americans
killed or disabled a considerable num-
Der of his soldiers and he lost pres
tige, thereby encouraging the people
roundabout to flock to the American
standard in ever increasing numbers"
The chapter after the war deals with
the growth of the settlements and the
founding of cities.
Again in the war of 1912 the lake is
the seat of action for a great naval
battle. The building OF Macdonough's
feet and it's signal victory over the
English squadron in Plattsburg har-
Dor consumes two chapters and makes
most interesting and instructive read
ing. The comparison of the cost of
Macdonoughs ships and the modern
battleship plainly shows the great
strides made in battleship building
during the past century.
A chapter is devoted to navigation
on Lake Champlain from the building
and operation of sailing craft to pal
atial steamers that ply on the lake at
the present day. A lengthy descrip-
tion is given of the first steamer Yer
mont" which was the worlds second
successful steamboat. The boat was
built in Burlington in 1903, only one
year after Fultons Clermont made its
first successful voyage on the Hudson.
The concluding chapter Some Lake
Cnamplain Incidents" is in reality a
concise history of the territory border
ing on the lake from the war of 1872
to the present day. While for two
centuries Champlain Valley was chief
ly the scene of warfare the author
predicts that with its natural advan-
| tages second to none in any region, II
is destined in the future to become
one of the great Fairgrounds of Amer
lea.
The volume contains several illus
trations including "Champlain,' "The
Site of Fort st. Anne" Fort Ticonder-
oga" and "The Battle of Plattsburgh. -
AS whole the book is interesting
and instructive to read and being