The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-10
TODAY IN HISTORY
The Surrender of Ticonderosa-May 10,
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1910.

Tier battle of Lexington, practically
the nrst conflict OF the American revolu
tion, having been fought on April 10, li15,
the whole country was now aroused, and
mo prospect OF peace without resort 10
arms was not considered by the coonlsts.
In New York the patriots set the royal
officials at defiance. and seized the munt-
tions of war; New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania rejected all ovcrtures or reconcilla-
ton and began 10 train their militia;
Governor Dunmore fed from the lniu-
rated people OF Virginia, and from the
far south the voice of Georgia Joined in
tho general chorus.
Exactly three weeks after the LeXing-
ton fight on May 10. IT'S, fhe fine Eng
lIsh fortress OF Ticonderoga, which guard
ed with It's 100 cannon the water shed
between the great valleys OF the st
Lawrence and the Hudson, was surren-
dered to Ethan Allen with less than n
hundred Green mountain boys" at his
command.
AT Ticonderoga wns an immense store
or military supplies that would be of
great use 10 the colonisjs Immediately
upon news Of Lexington Allen laid plans
TO capture II. He wrote the New York
government; but that ,,lo body thought the
safety OF Cambridge, Mass. however.
voted favorabIy, and Benedict Arnold was
commissioned TO raise 400 men in west
crn Massachusetts
Arnold had but forty when he joined
Allen, who commanded $50 Vermontcrs.
Allen decided the disputed question OF
'DfnTll6n0 IN MS own IaNor. In Orqer TO
save time he took but eighty three men.
and. rushing into the fort at dawn, or
dered the bewlldered commander TO sur
render.
Unaware that Britain had an enemy
on the continent (?), De la Place asked.
by whose huthorlty?"
"Of Great Jehovah and the continental
congress." (Which met on that day) cried
Allen.
When Allen made the attack the garri
son was sound asleep. IL the cheers OF
the patriots were heard. the British took
care to keep quiet. Only one sentinel
was on guard, and as he resisted Allen
gave him n neat sword cut, which made
him drop his gun and his courage at one
and the same time.
The sentinel was ordered 10 lead tho
way 10 the Commandant's quarters. and
the fellow showed Allen n pair Of stairs
leading up to the second story OF the
barracks, which Allen Immediately
mounted. two steps at time. finding
himself at a door at the top. This door
was locked on the inside. Allen dealt
II two or three furious blows with the
hllt OF his sword. at the same time call
ing out to the terrified commandant that
II he did not instantly come forth the
garrison should all be put TO the sword.
When he appeared he stood only In his
shirt. with his brooches in his hand. not
having had time 10 pull them on, When
Allen requested him to surrender he STAN
mered out some objections. which Allen,
however. cut short by hrandishing his
naked sword over the half-naked officers
head. repeating his demand in still
more peremptory voice, To this display
OF force the unlucky commandant incon-
tinently yielded. orders were given for
the garrison to parade, as prisoners of
war TO "the Great Jehovah and the conti-
mental congress-"
On this same expedition and two days
later Crown Point, another fortress near
by, fell into the hands Of another Yer
monter. Seth Warner. and other defenses
on the lake, as we'll as n British sloop
Ia NiAE
peditlon The whole Champlan region
was In his hands, Including great stores
Of captured arms, ammunition and pro-
visions.