THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 COMMODORE BYRON MCCANDLESS
 
 ETHAN ALLEN 
 
 OF 
 GREEN MOUNTAIN FAME.
 
 Kinney's Heroic Statue of 
 ETHAN ALLEN
 
 ETHAN ALLEN 
 
 OF GREEN MOUNTAIN FAME 
 A HERO OF THE REVOLUTION 
 
 By Charles Walter Brown, A.M. 
 
 Author of "Nathan Hale," "John Paul Jones," "La Fayette," "Paul 
 Revere," "Pulaski," Etc., Etc. 
 
 "The cause 1 was engaged in. I ever viewed worthy 
 hazarding my life for, nor was I, in the most critical 
 moments of trouble, sorry that I engaged in it." 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 CHICAGO 
 M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 
 
 407-429 DEARBORN ST.
 
 Copyright 1902 
 M. A. DONOHUE & Co. 
 CHICAGO.
 
 THIS VOLUME Is DEDICATED 
 
 To 
 MY MOTHER. 
 
 , . 
 
 *-/^ **-S-Jv^ *' -"^-i-
 
 BY THE SAME AUTHOR: 
 
 JOHN PAUL JONES 
 
 OF NAVAL FAME 
 
 12mo. Cloth, 272 Pages. Illustrated. $1.00 
 
 This biography of a patriot by Charles Walter Brown 
 is well worthy a place in the library of the youth of our 
 land. . . . It is simple and dignified and may be read 
 by old and young with interest. The Bookseller. 
 
 Certainly John Paul Jones during his life furnished 
 enough material for a host of historians and it has been 
 used to good advantage by Mr. Brown. The publication is 
 a careful and commendable one. Chicago Journal. 
 
 " You have done your work well. You excel in the 
 narrative. I wish this book could be read by every youth 
 in the land. All your books are read with interest and 
 profit by the students of McKendree." M. H. Chamberlin, 
 LL.D., President McKendree College, Lebanon, 111. 
 
 Charles Walter Brown, author of " Nathan Hale," 
 "Paul Revere," and other histories of noted men has 
 brought out a life of John Paul Jones. The book deals 
 principally with the incidents in the life of the famous 
 sailor so far as they helped to make the naval history of 
 the United States. In order, however, to make the narra- 
 tive complete, Mr. Brown has given a brief account of the 
 adventures of Paul Jones under other flags, and has re- 
 produced some correspondence passing between thedoughty 
 sea fighter and the great men and women of his time. 
 These serve to thow the light on all sides of his character 
 and show that from whatever direction he was approached 
 his love of liberty stood out as the predominating trait. 
 Chicago Tribune. 
 
 M. A. DONOHUE & CO. 
 
 407-429 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Chapter Page 
 
 Introduction . . . . ...'.. 9 
 
 I. Early Life of Ethan Allen . . '.13 
 
 II. The New Hampshire Grants ... 17 
 
 III. Controversy Concerning Claims . . 33 
 
 IV. Reward for his Apprehension . . 41 
 V. Defying the Authorities . . .59 
 
 VI. Beginnings of the Revolution . . 70 
 
 VII. The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga . . 83 
 
 VIII. Carried a Prisoner to England . . 101 
 
 IX. Return to America . . . . 115 
 
 X. Scientific Barbarity of Great Britain . 135 
 
 XI. Release from Captivity . . . .151 
 
 XII. A Counter Proclamation . . . 175 
 
 XIII. Admission of Vermont into the Union . 199 
 
 XIV. Incidents, Anecdotes, Adventures . .211 
 XV. Character Religious Views Death . 22G 
 
 XVI. Correspondence, State Papers, Docu- 
 ments . . . . . . 243 
 
 XVII. The Allen Family .... 265
 
 " The mountains green that witnessed first his fame, 
 From rocks to rocks resounded far his name. 
 As the tough horn beam, (peering o'er those rocks) 
 With gnarled grain the rising thunder mocks. 
 Indignant ALLEN, manacled in vain, 
 With soul revolting, bit the British chain." 
 
 HUMPHREYS.
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 I. Ethan Allen . . . . Frontispiece 
 
 II. Autograph Letter of Ethan Allen . . 32 
 
 III. General George Washington ... 48 
 
 IV. George the Third, King of England . . 64 
 V. Old Fort Ticonderoga .... 80 
 
 VI. Capture of Captain de la Place Ticonderoga 96 
 
 VII. Map of Saratoga and Vicinity . . .112 
 
 VIII. Major-General Horatio Gates . . .128 
 
 IX. General Benedict Arnold . . . 144 
 
 X. Reading the Declaration of Independence 
 
 to the array . ... . 160 
 
 XI. General John Burgoyne . '. .176 
 
 XII. Major John Andre . ... 192 
 
 XIII. General Sir Henry Clinton . . . 208 
 
 XIV. Admiral John Paul Jones . . 224 
 XV. General Lord Cornwallis . .. . 240 
 
 XVI. Ira Allen 272
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The American Revolution called forth the latent ener- 
 gies of many individuals who, in a more peaceable state of 
 political affairs, would have slumbered in obscurity and 
 gone down to the grave unhonored and unknown. The 
 very nature of the policy of Great Britain toward the 
 Colonies a policy every way tyrannical and oppressive 
 was calculated to call into action the efforts of every friend 
 of liberty. It was an attempt to strip the people of their 
 rights and manacle them with the fetters of slavery; 
 but, thanks to the spirit which prevailed among our 
 fathers thanks to the patriotism which then warmed 
 the hearts of the people the mercenaries of a foreign 
 power were unequal to the task of accomplishing the 
 designs of their masters. 
 
 True-hearted volunteers rallied to the calls of the 
 brave and wise men of our country Washington, Adams, 
 Jefferson, Franklin, Lee, Patrick Henry all imbued 
 with a spirit worthy of the little band of Greeks which 
 defended the pass of Thermopylae and their national 
 liberty. They fought and conquered, these doughty 
 sons of Columbia, and their declining years were cheered 
 with the knowledge that the country for which they had 
 struggled so long and at such fearful sacrifices, was now 
 free and her people prosperous and happy. That their 
 deeds of heroism, privation and sufferings were gratefully
 
 10 Introduction. 
 
 remembered by those who profited most in that hour of 
 supreme national rejoicing, is best shown in the firm, 
 unyielding spirit in which they flung defiance back upon 
 the enemy in the immortal utterances of July 4, 1776. 
 
 Perhaps no individual of equal advantages, and in 
 the station he occupied, contributed more toward estab- 
 lishing the independence of our country than Ethan 
 Allen, of Vermont, unless it be the single exception 
 of John Paul Jones. The mass of people among whom 
 Allen resided were rude and uncultured, yet bold in 
 spirit and insanely zealous in action. It consequently 
 follows that no one but a man of strong, natural endow- 
 ments of much decision, energy and bravery could 
 control their prejudices and inclinations. Habit had 
 rendered them familiar with danger and impatient of 
 restraint; hence it followed that no policy, unless pro- 
 ceeding from a source in which they had confidence, ever 
 gained their approbation. 
 
 Upon Ethan Allen whose courage was undoubted, 
 and whose zealous devotion to their interests was uni- 
 versally acknowledged, they implicitly relied. They had 
 known him in adversity and in prosperity; they had 
 weighed him and found nothing lacking. To friend or 
 foe, he was ever the same unyielding advocate of the rights 
 of man and universal liberty, unconditionally and without 
 reserve. Therefore the policy he upheld as beneficial 
 to the common cause of American liberty, ever found 
 strong and sufficient supporters among the friends with 
 whom he associated and by whom he was best known. 
 We see the same spirit manifested to a marked degree in
 
 Introduction. 11 
 
 action as well as in all of the public utterances of Paul 
 Jones, and it is even more manifest in the dying thoughts 
 of Nathan Hale, who exclaimed, even with the noose 
 about his neck: "If I had ten thousand lives I would 
 lay them down one at a time for my injured, bleeding 
 country." 
 
 From the commencement of our revolutionary strug- 
 gle for liberty until victory crowned their efforts, Ethan 
 Allen proved an ardent and strenuous supporter of the 
 Cause. Whether in the field or council whether at 
 home, a freeman among the green hills of Vermont, or 
 loaded with the manacles of despotism in a foreign coun- 
 try, his spirit never quailed beneath the sneer of the 
 Tory, or the harsh threats of insolent authority. A 
 stranger to fear, his opinions were ever given without 
 disguise or hesitation; and, as an enemy to oppression, 
 he sought every opportunity to redress the wrongs of 
 the oppressed. It is not to be supposed, however, that 
 he was faultless. Like other men he had his faults 
 sins; like other men, he had his foibles his weak- 
 nesses; yet he was not willfully stubborn. When con- 
 vinced of an erroneous position, he was ever willing to 
 yield; but in theory, as in practice, he contested every 
 inch of the ground and only yielded when inadequately 
 supported or when he had no weapons left to meet his 
 adversary. This trait in his character serves at least 
 to prove that he was honest in his conclusions however 
 erroneous the premises from which they were deduced. 
 Ethan Allen was ever the zealous friend of the section 
 in which he resided. He was ever the champion of the
 
 12 Introduction. 
 
 humble citizen contending for the rights of individual 
 property and human justice. In these offices of friendship 
 and duty he had the confidence and esteem of his neigh- 
 bors. He had evinced a spirit of patriotism and a love 
 of freedom which warmly recommended him to the 
 notice and the admiration of the most determined and 
 able advocates of American liberty. That he should 
 have been selected as a leader in an enterprise of the 
 highest moment to the cause of liberty, was alike due 
 to his principles, his services, his position, and to a con- 
 stitution more rugged than any of his compatriots of the 
 plains and malaria-infested inlets of the South. 
 
 Fortunately, Colonel Allen took the precaution to 
 furnish abundant material out of which an innumerable 
 number of memoirs or biographical sketches could be 
 evolved, and succeeding generations have the assurance 
 that few writers who have attempted to portray the 
 character of this eccentric mountaineer have dared to 
 wander far from this hero's estimate of his own services 
 or the part he played in defense of his country's liberty. 
 No excuse is offered in the present instance for a liberal 
 extraction from so authentic a source, for the author 
 believes a biographical work is materially strengthened 
 by permitting the subject of his sketch to add a line here 
 and there,thus giving color as well as realism to the whole. 
 The memory of so eminent, so unselfish, so devoted a 
 patriot and defender of his country's flag as Colonel 
 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain fame should be held 
 in veneration by every American.
 
 ETHAN ALLEN 
 
 OF " 
 
 GREEN MOUNTAIN FAME. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 / 
 
 EARLY LIFE OF ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 Little is known of the early life of Ethan Allen of 
 Green Mountain fame the hero of Ticonderoga. His 
 father, Joseph Allen, was a native of Coventry, Tolland 
 County, Connecticut, where the family had resided 
 many years. It is indeed a singular coincidence that 
 so small a village as Coventry, with scarcely a score of 
 dwellings, should also have been the birthplace of Cap- 
 tain Nathan Hale, the martyr spy, as well as other mem- 
 bers of these two illustrious families which the Revo- 
 lution called from obscurity to imperishable fame. 
 
 Joseph Allen was a sober, industrious farmer, of kind 
 and generous character. He was ready at all times to 
 give liberally of his sustenance, which though not great 
 was ample for his small but increasing family. After 
 his marriage in 1736 to Mary Baker, the daughter of 
 another Tolland County patriot, Allen removed to Litch- 
 field, the county seat of a large and prosperous county 
 of the same name, some hundred or more miles distant 
 from his native village. He had bargained for the pur- 
 chase of a large farm near Litchfield, but not finding 
 
 18
 
 14 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 things to his liking, Allen with his young wife took up 
 their abode on a smaller farm a short distance from town. 
 It was here on the tenth of January, 1737, that their 
 first child was born, and they named him Ethan after 
 his paternal great grandfather. 
 
 Shortly after the birth of Ethan the family again 
 moved farther west, settling near Cornwall on the west 
 bank of the Housatonic river, not far from the present 
 village of Ellsworth. Here other children were born, 
 eight in all. Ethan, being the oldest, was followed in 
 the order named by Heman, Lydia, Heber, Levi, Lucy, 
 Zimri and Ira. All grew to maturity, for they were 
 nature's children and had the good fortune to have been 
 born where grass and flowers and trees grow untended; 
 where waters gush from nature's own fountains and 
 where the air is not polluted with gas from sewers 
 and smoke from factory, mill and shop. The girls, mar- 
 rying early, remained near the old homestead, while the 
 boys, influenced by their elder brother Ethan, emi- 
 grated northward and settled in the hills west of the 
 Green Mountains, then a wilderness in southern Vermont. 
 They were as bold and fearless a lot of patriots as were 
 those intrepid scouts of the plains Custer, Cody, Boone, 
 Carson, Crocket and others whose names are synonyms 
 for bold and enterprising deeds. 
 
 About the year 1772 or 73 Ethan Allen, then about 
 thirty-five years of age, moved to Bennington, a small 
 but promising village in southwestern Vermont. Here 
 he married his first wife who did not long survive. His 
 second wife, after the death of Allen, married a Doctor
 
 Early Life of Ethan Allen. 15 
 
 Penniman, a physician of prominence at Colchester, 
 in upper Vermont. 
 
 Ethan's education, like that of a great majority of 
 the people of that period and locality, was quite limited 
 owing to the fact that few schools were then in operation 
 and books were neither as plentiful nor as easy to pro- 
 cure as they are today even in localities farther removed 
 from commercial centers than was Vermont when Boston 
 and New York were without railroads, telegraphs or 
 telephones. The necessity of a thorough education 
 was not deemed as essential to a successful career then 
 as it is today. More attention was given to the moral 
 welfare of a sturdy manhood and womanhood than to 
 the acquirements and spread of scientific information 
 which is of little value unless applied for the betterment 
 of the race. Notwithstanding the difficulties under 
 which these sturdy pioneers labored, a vast fund of prac- 
 tical knowledge was possessed by the majority of settlers; 
 knowing nothing of the ways of Dartmouth, Harvard 
 or Yale then in their prime Ethan Allen possessed 
 an abundance of rare common sense; he was a self-made 
 man a born leader of men. He was enterprising; he 
 was ambitious; he sought fame notoriety, and like 
 Paul Jones, Lafayette and Casimir Pulaski, he early 
 espoused the cause of the Colonies as the surest means 
 of obtaining recognition for himself and freedom for 
 the oppressed from all lands. He was endowed with 
 rare observing faculties, which, on the clear and supe- 
 rior mind that he possessed, led him to explore every 
 avenue that led toward his cherished goal.
 
 16 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 A warm attachment to liberty, freedom, independ- 
 ence component parts of the elements, which, entering 
 into the physical man and manifesting its assimilation 
 in a frenzy, took on the aspect of a religion; the longing 
 for these led Allen to freely and boldly express his con- 
 tempt for the oppressive policy manifested by Great 
 Britain toward her Colonies in America. "Ever since 
 I arrived at the state of manhood, and acquainted my- 
 self with the general history of mankind, I have felt a sin- 
 cere passion for liberty. The history of nations, doomed 
 to perpetual slavery, in consequence of yielding up to 
 tyrants their natural born liberties, I read with a sort 
 of philosophical horror." 
 
 To such sentiments as these, is to be attributed the 
 zeal with which he sought on every occasion to instill 
 into the minds of his associates an aversion for the polit- 
 ical power by which the Colonies were controlled, and 
 the people held in thraldom. Convinced that man was 
 designed by nature to be the arbiter of his own actions, 
 and that he was fitted to act for himself in matters con- 
 cerning the affairs of the country in which he lived, he 
 entertained, as he uniquely observes, a "philosophical 
 horror" of every species of tyranny and oppression. 
 It is not singular, therefore, that the friends of the Amer- 
 ican Revolution found in him an efficient leader ready 
 for any emergency and any danger, and that wherever 
 any evils existed affecting the interests of the commu- 
 nity in which he lived, he was the first to apply the lan- 
 guage of persuasion or the rod of correction.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS. 
 
 We hear little of Ethan Allen until we find him a 
 resident in the New Hampshire Grants now the State 
 of Vermont. At the period of his removal to this terri- 
 tory, a controversy was pending between the authorities 
 of New York and the settlers in relation to the validity 
 of the original titles to their lands and other matters 
 connected with their rights and property. The first set- 
 tlements were made under grants from the Provincial 
 Government of Massachusetts, but in the year 1740, by 
 a recommendation of King George II., the father and 
 immediate predecessor of George the Third, through 
 whose insane belief in the divine right of kings the Amer- 
 ican colonies were lost to Great Britain, the territory 
 was placed under the jurisdiction of New Hampshire. 
 A correspondence, however, was opened between the 
 Governors of New Hampshire and New York in which 
 the governor of the latter commonwealth claimed exclu- 
 sive jurisdiction over the territory. Notwithstanding 
 this claim, the New Hampshire governor proceeded to 
 make further grants, and by advice of his Council in the 
 year 1760, ordered a survey of all lands lying on both 
 sides of the Connecticut river for sixty miles above the 
 former survey made by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 
 
 The applications for lands being numerous, other 
 
 17
 
 18 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 surveys rapidly followed, and during the year 1761 about 
 sixty townships were apportioned among the settlers. 
 In return for these, the Governor was liberally paid by 
 the settlers, receiving besides fees allowed by law, a res- 
 ervation of five hundred acres in each township for him- 
 self. This state of affairs excited the jealousies of the 
 New York authorities, who determined if possible to 
 check the operations of the Governor of New Hampshire. 
 In view of this result the Lieutenant-Governor of New 
 York issued a proclamation in which he referred to the 
 grants made by Charles II. to the Duke of York in 1664, 
 which embraced "all the lands from the west side of the 
 Connecticut river, on the east side of Delaware Bay to 
 the most northerly parts below the St. Lawrence." 
 
 Relying upon this title to the territory, he ordered 
 the Sheriff of Albany County, New York, to furnish him 
 with the names of all persons occupying lands on the 
 west side of the Connecticut river under the New Hamp- 
 shire Grants. In answer to this proclamation the Gov- 
 ernor of New Hampshire issued a counter one in which 
 the grant to the Duke of York was declared obsolete. 
 The settlers were urged to be diligent and industrious, 
 and not to fear the threats of the New York authorities. 
 In this state of things, application was made by the Gov- 
 ernor of New York, William Tryon, directly to the 
 Crown, for a confirmation of New York's claims; and 
 in consequence of this application, the king ordered 
 that the "Western bank of the Connecticut river from 
 where it enters the province of Massachusetts Bay, as 
 far north as the forty-fifth degree of north latitude, be 
 the boundary line between the said provinces of New
 
 The New Hampshire Grants. 19 
 
 Hampshire and Vermont." This decision surprised and 
 irritated the settlers on the grants, yet it produced no 
 serious alarm. It was merely regarded as extending the 
 jurisdiction of New York over the territory without 
 affecting in any manner their title to the lands upon 
 which they had settled, for they had paid for them and 
 obtained deeds to the same under the Crown. The Gov- 
 ernor of New Hampshire at first remonstrated against 
 the decision of the king in relation to extending the juris- 
 diction of New York, but finally submitted to the change 
 and issued a Proclamation to that effect. 
 
 The Governor of New York, immediately after the 
 decision of the Crown, proceeded to extend his jurisdiction 
 over the New Hampshire Grants, dividing the territory 
 into four counties and establishing courts of justice in 
 each. The settlers were imperatively commanded to 
 surrender their charters and repurchase their lands under 
 grants from New York. A few complied with this order, 
 but a large majority peremptorily refused. The lands 
 of the latter were granted to others in whose names writs 
 of ejectment were issued and judgments obtained in the 
 New York courts. A determined resistance was made 
 by the settlers against these unjust and arbitrary meas- 
 ures, and for the purpose of rendering the resistance 
 more effectual, a number of associations of the people 
 were formed and a convention finally called composed 
 of representatives from the different towns of the Green 
 Mountain district. After much deliberation the con- 
 vention appointed Samuel Robinson agent to go to London 
 and represent to the king the grievances suffered by the 
 settlers and to obtain a confirmation of the New Hamp-
 
 20 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 shire grants. The report of the agent was favorably 
 received by the king: "His Majesty was pleased with 
 the advice of his Private Council, to approve thereof, 
 and doth hereby strictly charge, require and command, 
 that the Governor or Commander-in-chief of His Majes- 
 ty's Province of New York, for the time being, do not, 
 upon His Majesty's highest displeasure, presume to make 
 any grant, whatsoever, of any part of the lands described 
 in the said report, until His Majesty's further pleasure 
 shall be known, concerning the same." 
 
 This explicit prohibition of the king, however, was 
 of little or no avail. The Governor of New York con- 
 tinued to make grants, and writs of ejectment were issued 
 as formerly. Thus, compelled to resort to more effective 
 measures than mere argument, the people assembled in 
 convention at Bennington and "Resolved to support 
 their rights and property under the New Hampshire 
 Grants, against the usurpation and unjust claims of the 
 Governor and Council of New York by force, as law and 
 justice were denied them." 
 
 The adoption of this resolution was followed by a 
 resolute and spirited resistance to the Civil officers of 
 New York. Many of them were siezed by the people 
 and severely "chastised with twigs of the wilderness." 
 A military association was also formed of which Ethan 
 Allen was appointed Colonel-Commandant and Seth 
 Warner, Remember Baker, Robert Cochran, Gideon 
 Warner and others were appointed Captains. Commit- 
 tees of safety were likewise appointed in several towns 
 west of the Green Mountains. 
 
 The authorities of New York directed the Sheriff of
 
 The New Hampshire Grants. 21 
 
 Albany County to raise a posse comitatus to assist in the 
 execution of his office and a proclamation was issued by 
 the Governor of New York offering a reward of one hun- 
 dred and fifty pounds ($750) for the apprehension of 
 Ethan Allen, and fifty pounds ($250) each for the 
 apprehension of Seth Warner, and five others named in 
 the writ. Allen and the other proscribed persons, in 
 turn, issued a Proclamation offering five pounds ($25) 
 for apprehending and delivering to any officer of the 
 Green Mountain Boys, the Attorney-General of the Colony 
 of New York. 
 
 At this crisis of the controversy, Governor Tryon of 
 New York addressed a communication "To the Rev. Mr. 
 Dewey [an ancestor of Admiral George Dewey] and the 
 inhabitants of Bennington and the adjacent country on 
 the east side of Hudson's River," in which he unequivo- 
 cally pointed out what he termed the "illegal acts" com- 
 mitted by the settlers against the authority of New 
 York. He also extended an invitation to Mr. Dewey 
 to lay before the government the causes of the proceed- 
 ings. "That there may be no obstruction to your laying 
 before me, in Council, as soon as possible, a fair repre- 
 sentation of your conduct, I do hereby engage full security 
 and protection to all persons whom you shall choose to 
 send on this business, to New York, from the time they 
 leave their homes to the time of their return, except 
 Robert Cochran, as also Ethan Allen, Remember Baker, 
 and William Sevil, mentioned in my Proclamation of the 
 9th of December last, and Seth Warner, whose audacious 
 behavior to a Civil Magistrate, has subjected him to the 
 penalties of the laws of his country." To this commu-
 
 22 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 nication a respectful but firm answer was returned, detail- 
 ing the oppressions under which the settlers suffered, and 
 beseeching his Excellency to be friendly disposed towards 
 them and lend his assistance to quiet them in their pos- 
 sessions "until his Majesty, in his royal wisdom, should 
 be graciously pleased to settle the controversy." In 
 addition to this reply, the following special communi- 
 cation was made to the Governor at the same time : 
 
 BENNINGTON, June 5, 1772. 
 To His EXCELLENCY, WILLIAM TRYON, ESQ., ETC. 
 
 May it please your Excellency We, his Majesty's 
 loyal subjects, whose names are to this piece affixed, 
 inhabitants on that tract of land your Excellency de- 
 scribes by the name of Bennington, and the adjacent 
 country, etc., and who were, by your Excellency's 
 letter of the 19th of May last, prohibited the privilege 
 of going to New York, and personally vindicate either 
 ourselves or country, before your Excellency, and being 
 put to the extremity of informing your Excellency by 
 writing the reason of our discontent, and also of our be- 
 havior, which we shall more largely set forth, than is in 
 the foregoing general answer to your Excellency's letter; 
 and also exhibit more arguments deduced from reason 
 and the nature of things; we hope your Excellency will 
 be graciously pleased to view this our defence with that 
 tenderness and candor, a gentleman in so elevated a 
 station should do, and, therefore, beg leave to observe, 
 that, as, on the one hand, no consideration whatever, 
 shall induce us to remit, in the least, of our loyalty and 
 gratitude to our most gracious Sovereign, nor of a rea- 
 sonable subjection to your Excellency; so on the other
 
 The New Hampshire Grants. 23 
 
 hand, no tyrannical exertions of the powers of the gov- 
 ernment can deter us from asserting and vindicating 
 our undoubted rights and privileges as Englishmen. We 
 expected an answer from your Excellency, to our humble 
 petition to you delivered, soon after your Excellency's 
 accession to the administration of the government; 
 but for reasons to us unknown, your Excellency passed 
 it by in silence. However, we cheerfully embrace this 
 opportunity of laying before your Excellency in Council 
 the true state of our controversy, which, we can no other- 
 wise do but by absorbing our personal distinction into 
 the community, and general cause, to which we have 
 obtained the character of faithful. We assure your Excel- 
 lency that we assent to your authority of jurisdiction, 
 inasmuch as his Majesty's Proclamation assures us, 
 it is his will and pleasure, we be under the jurisdiction 
 of New York; and not only now assent to it, but have 
 ever done the same, except in instances where such per- 
 verse use has been made thereof as would dispossess 
 us of our property and country. We are truly desirous 
 of petitioning his Majesty to re-annex us to the Province 
 of New Hampshire. But this is not the ground of our 
 discontent, or at least, is far from being the principal 
 ground for it, though it was done ex parte, and we appre- 
 hend there were more or less wrong representations 'made 
 to his Majesty, to obtain the jurisdiction. However, 
 it is the unreasonable and unconstitutional exercise of 
 it, that is the present bone of contention our properties 
 are all at stake; this we contend for, as the following 
 known facts will demonstrate: A certain number of de- 
 signing men in New York (and elsewhere) procured pat-
 
 24 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 ents under the great seal of that Province, and those 
 grantees, being non-residents, brought writs of ejectment 
 against the New Hampshire settlers on the same land, 
 covered by both patents, as aforesaid, and obtained judg- 
 ment against them, and proceeded further and took out 
 writs of possession, and actually dispossessed several of 
 them by order of Law of their houses and farms, leaving 
 them to suffer the inclemency of the weather, bereaved 
 of all the necessaries of life, their new masters having 
 monopolized their earthly all to themselves. These indi- 
 gent families, having in the first place expended their 
 several fortunes, in bringing their farms out of a wilder- 
 ness state, into that of fruitful fields, gardens and orchards, 
 the whole country consisting of more than fifteen hun- 
 dred families, was greatly alarmed at the event which 
 had already begun to take place, and in the greatest 
 consternation; each individual, from these instances, 
 reading their own intolerable and universal destruction. 
 Still the writs of ejectment came thicker and faster, and 
 universal slavery, poverty and horror, emblematically 
 appeared in every countenance. 
 
 Thus, things having come to this pass, the oppression 
 was too great for human nature, under English Consti- 
 tution, to grope under, for those unparalleled instances 
 struck an infinitely more terrible idea, than that of the 
 exertion of the Powers of Government. 
 
 Law and society compacts were made to protect and 
 secure the subjects in their peaceable possessions and 
 properties, and not to subvert them. No person or com- 
 munity of persons can be supposed to be under any par- 
 ticular compact of Law, except it presupposeth, that that
 
 The New Hampshire Grants. 25 
 
 Law will protect such persons or community of persons 
 in his or their properties; for otherwise, the subject 
 would, by Law, be bound to be accessory to his own 
 ruin and destruction, which is inconsistent with the 
 Law of self-preservation; but this Law, being natural as 
 well as eternal, can never be abrogated by the Law of 
 men. 
 
 We would acquaint your Excellency, that since our 
 misfortune in being annexed to the Province of New 
 York, law has been rather used as a tool than a rule of 
 equity, to cheat us out of the country we have made 
 vastly valuable by labor and expense of our fortunes. 
 We conclude these things are yet unknown, or in a great 
 measure so to your Excellency, as your Excellency's com- 
 mencement of the administration, hath not been long, 
 and a set of artful, wicked men, concealing the truth from 
 your Excellency, purposing to make a booty of us, char- 
 acterizing us (speaking of our inhabitants in general) as 
 so many rioters, if not rebels ; and we being a poor people, 
 at a great distance from your Excellency's place of resi- 
 dence, fatigued in settling a wilderness country, have 
 little or no opportunity of acquainting your Excellency 
 of our grievances, except by one short petition delivered 
 to your Excellency, soon after your first taking the admin- 
 istration and as our cause is represented before his 
 Majesty and Council, we did not expect your Excellency 
 to determine the controversy, nor do we yet expect it. 
 We are sensible those men that seek our ruin, thereby, to 
 enrich themselves, do, by stratagems of every kind, rep- 
 resent us to your Excellency as breakers of the peace, 
 and enemies to the government ; and under this pretense,
 
 26 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 they hope to catch a number of the boldest of our inhab- 
 itants, and punish them in the New York Inquisition, 
 with that severity that the residue may be frightened 
 out of both liberty and property; for otherwise, they 
 would soon be indicted rioters, and thus, under color of 
 punishing rioters, and a zeal of loyalty and veneration 
 for good government, rob the inhabitants of their coun- 
 try. ' If we do not oppose the Sheriff and his Posse, he 
 takes immediate possession of our houses and farms; if 
 we do, we are immediately indicted rioters; and when 
 others oppose officers in taking such, their friends, so 
 indicted, they are also indicted and so on, there being 
 no end of indictments against us, so long as we act the 
 bold and manly part, and stand by our liberty. 
 
 This is a short sketch of the disingenuous cunning 
 of Messieurs Duane and Kemp, and their associates; and 
 it comes to this, at last, that we must tamely be dispos- 
 sessed, or oppose officers in taking possession; and as a 
 next necessary step, oppose taking of rioters, so called, 
 or run away like so many cowards, and quit the country 
 to a number of cringing, polite gentlemen, who have, 
 ideally, possessed themselves of it already. 
 
 As to sundry men, who have eloped lately from our 
 grants, and fled to New York for protection, self-pres- 
 ervation necessitated us to treat some of them roughly; 
 and others, viz., Ebenezer Cowl, and Jonathan Wheat, 
 of Shaftesbury, fled to New York, on account of their own 
 guilt, not being hurt or threatened. Would time permit, 
 we could give a rational account for most, or all of our 
 late conduct towards these men. The general reason is 
 this, namely, they were a set of men that loved them-
 
 The New Hampshire Grants. 27 
 
 selves, and not their country; they busied themselves 
 in planning and assisting to take rioters, so called. In 
 fine, they were the emissaries of that mercenary corps of 
 Yorkers, and did more, in oppressing the people, than 
 their preposterous benefactors. 
 
 The assault, made upon Mr. Baker, at daybreak, of 
 the night of the 22d of March last, by a number of 
 ruffians, under the command of the infamous John Munro, 
 Esq., was a notorious riot, and gave energy and motion, 
 to the subsequent acts, your Excellency denominates 
 illegal. This Munro, and his bloody party, by cutting, 
 wounding and maiming, Mr. Baker, his wife -and children, 
 in such an inhuman and savage manner, was no less than 
 proclaiming himself in a public manner, to be a malicious 
 and bloody enemy, not only to Mr. Baker, but also to 
 all those men on our grants who manfully adhere to 
 maintaining liberty and property; and inasmuch as the 
 murderous villain is alive, he has no cause of complaint 
 for, after his assault upon Mr. Baker, he made another 
 assault upon Mr. Seth Warner; but not having so strong 
 a party of ruffians with him, as in his other expedition, 
 it was riot attended with the like consequences, for Mr. 
 Warner struck his head with a cutlass, and leveled him 
 to the ground; but the blow proved not mortal; and 
 after this, for his satisfaction for the wound, threatened 
 the lives of a number of New Hampshire settlers. Your 
 Excellency will undoubtedly consider, as our opponents 
 have had the manufactory of the civil laws so much 
 under their power, that this merciless man could not be 
 brought to justice, nor could others among us be safe 
 any other way, but by using him in his own play; he set
 
 28 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 the example and enraged the people to mimic him from 
 that natural principle in every man's own breast. 
 
 As to the perfidious and treacherous Bliss Willoughby, 
 he always pretended to be a friend of the said Baker's, 
 and Baker had ever been truly a friend of his this hypo- 
 crite, two days before Baker was taken, made a frivolous 
 excuse of business, went to said Baker's house, viewed 
 the strength of it, perceived Baker was somewhat care- 
 less and secure, and made report to the said Munro. In 
 fine, Willoughby was the planner and instigator of that 
 savage cruelty, exercised to said Baker, which was per- 
 petrated and brought into action by the detestable Munro. 
 As to the history of our late transactions, whether they 
 be all right or not, we, on our part, have a few arguments 
 and considerations more to lay before your Excellency, 
 as to the cause of our discontent, as well as to the cause 
 of our late actions your Excellency denominates illegal. 
 
 The alteration of jurisdiction in 1764, could not affect 
 private property. Surely his Majesty by this alteration, 
 did not purpose to take away the personal property of a 
 large number of his loyal subjects, and transfer it to 
 other subjects; the English Constitutions will, by no 
 means, admit of this, for the transferring or alienation of 
 property is a sacred prerogative of the true owner. Kings 
 and Governors cannot intermeddle therewith. Further- 
 more, your Excellency and Council must needs be informed 
 that we have a petition lying before his Majesty and 
 Council, for redress of grievances. That is an impartial 
 board; pray why may it not be determined here? For 
 the very identical matters in dispute are now, and for 
 several years past have been lying before that Court,
 
 The New Hampshire Grants. 29 
 
 except the accusations of riotousness, disorderly, etc., 
 which is improved as a handle to subvert property, and 
 that only. 
 
 Furthermore, in the time of Sir Henry Moore's admin- 
 istration, his Majesty was pleased to lay the govern- 
 ment of New York under absolute prohibition not to 
 grant or patent any of the lands antecedently granted 
 under the great seal of the Province of New Hampshire; 
 and furthermore forbade the government to disturb or 
 molest the settlers. This rightly understood, amounts 
 to a supersedeas over the authority of common law, 
 and absolutely controls the cognizance thereof. As to 
 the particular matters in the prohibition set forth, or 
 matters lying before his Majesty by petition, the import 
 of the prohibition must needs be thus, namely: that his 
 Majesty by it informs the government of New York that 
 he has taken the controversy, to him made known by 
 petition, under his royal consideration, and that, after 
 due information and evidence of the state of the case, 
 determines to settle the controversy; consequently for- 
 bids the government taking cognizance thereof; and 
 common sense teaches us that under such prohibition, 
 if a judgment at common law be supposed to be valid, it 
 would invalidate the authority of the Crown and subvert 
 and overthrow the authority of the kingdom, as it would 
 render the prohibitions of the crown perfectly impertinent. 
 Therefore, common law in the case before us, is not 
 clothed with cognizance of this case, much less with au- 
 thority to dispossess us; consequently, every party of 
 men, that have, with officers, or otherwise, come into 
 these parts to dispossess us, came in open defiance and
 
 30 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 direct opposition to his Majesty's orders and authority; 
 and though they style us rioters, for opposing them, and 
 seek to catch and punish us as such ; yet, in reality, them- 
 selves are the rioters, the tumultuous, disorderly, stim- 
 ulating faction, or, in fine, the land-robbers; and every 
 violent act they have done to compass their designs, 
 though ever so much under pretence of law, is, in reality, 
 a violation of law, and an insult on the constitution and 
 authority of the Crown, as well as to many of us, in person 
 who have been great sufferers from such inhuman exer- 
 tions of pretended legality of law. Right and wrong 
 are eternally the same, to all periods of time, places and 
 nations; and coloring a crime with a specious pretence 
 of law, only adds to the criminality of it; for, it subverts 
 the very design of law, prostituting it to the vilest pur- 
 poses. Can any man in the exercise of reason make 
 himself believe that a number of attorneys and other 
 gentlemen, with all their tackle of ornaments and com- 
 pliments, and French finesse, together with their boasted 
 legality of law can these gentlemen have just right to 
 the lands, labors and fortunes of the New Hampshire 
 settlers? Certainly they cannot. Yet, this is the object 
 they had in view by mercenary fraternity. 
 
 We do not suppose, may it please your Excellency, 
 we are making opposition to a government, as such; it 
 is nothing more than a party, chiefly carried on by a 
 number of gentlemen attorneys (if it be not abuse to 
 gentlemen of merit to call them so), who manifest a sur- 
 prising and enterprising thirst of avarice after our coun- 
 try; but, for a collection of such intriguers, to plan matters 
 of influence of a party, so as eventually to become judges
 
 ^fH ^^^ 
 
 Hibk ft 
 
 u fc r ^ ^ s! 
 
 u rh^ 
 
 M ^ ^\vS A
 
 The New Hampshire Grants. 31 
 
 in their own case, and, thereby cheat us out of our country, 
 appears to us so audaciously unreasonable and tyran- 
 nical, that we view it with the utmost detestation and 
 indignation, and our breasts glow with a martial fury to 
 defend our persons and fortunes from the ravages of 
 those that would destroy us ; but not against your Excel- 
 lency's person or government. 
 
 We are fully persuaded, your Excellency's ears have 
 been much abused by subtle and designing men; for, we 
 are informed, from credible authority, your Excellency 
 has, lately, made application to your Assembly to raise 
 an armed force to subdue us, but that the motion was 
 negatived. We apprehend your Excellency views us as 
 opposing your Excellency's jurisdiction, and that the 
 violent acts by us done were in rebellion to his Majes- 
 ty's authority, or your Excellency had never proposed 
 the subduing of us; we are morally certain we can con- 
 vince your Excellency that it is not so; but that on the 
 other hand Messieurs Duane, Kemp and their associates, 
 are the aggressors. 
 
 We have chosen two men from among us, viz., Capt. 
 Stephen Fay and Mr. Jonas Fay, to treat with your 
 Excellency in person; who, we hope, will answer such 
 queries and give your Excellency the satisfaction you 
 hope for. 
 
 We view your Excellency as our Governor and polit- 
 ical father, and hope and expect, from the sincerity and 
 candor of your Excellency's letter, you will be friendly 
 and favorably disposed towards us, when your Excel- 
 lency, by these lines, perceives the grounds of our discon- 
 tent; for, we are conscious that our cause is good, and
 
 32 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 that it was oppression which has been the ground of our 
 discontent, and that self-preservation hath, hitherto urged 
 us to the measure lately taken. And we now earnestly 
 intreat your Excellency's aid and assistance to quiet us 
 in our possessions and properties till his Majesty, in his 
 royal wisdom, settle the controversy. If your Excellency 
 should do this, there would be an end to riots, so called, 
 and our tongues unable to express our gratitude to your 
 Excellency for such protection. 
 
 Therefore, relying on your Excellency's great wisdom 
 and goodness, as members of your Government, his Majes- 
 ty's loyal and liege subjects, we subscribe ourselves your 
 Excellency's ever faithful and humble servants, 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 SETH WARNER. 
 REMEMBER BAKER. 
 ROBERT COCHRAN. 
 
 Upon the receipt of the foregoing communications, 
 Governor Tryon immediately laid them before his Coun- 
 cil, who advised the Governor to afford the inhabitants 
 of those townships all the relief in his power by suspend- 
 ing all prosecutions in behalf of the crown on account 
 of the crimes alleged against them, until the pleasure of 
 the King should be knpwn. 
 
 It was further recommended that the owners of the 
 contested lands, under grants from the Province of New 
 York should not be disturbed and a stay be made in all 
 civil suits then pending relative to the lands during the 
 same period. This advice met the approbation of the 
 Governor, who communicated it to the inhabitants of 
 Bennington and the vicinity, in a lengthy proclamation 
 issued June 12, 1772.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CONTROVERSY CONCERNING CLAIMS. 
 
 Pending these negotiations, the Green Mountain Boys, 
 urged on by the numerous wrongs under which they 
 suffered by the policy of the government of New York, 
 through its governor Sir William Tryon, proceeded 
 to eject a number of settlers on Otter Creek, a small 
 stream in southwestern Vermont, who held their lands 
 under titles from the Governor of New York. This ag- 
 gression led Governor Tryon to issue a proclamation or 
 "letter" to the inhabitants of Bennington and the country 
 adjacent, in which he expresssed his "high displeasure 
 at the breach of faith and honor of some of the inhabitants 
 in dispossessing the settlers on Otter Creek and its neigh- 
 borhood, of their possessions, and required the assistance 
 of the people in putting, forthwith, those families, who 
 have been thus dispossessed, into re-possession of their 
 lands and tenements." 
 
 In reply to this letter, the following lengthy commu- 
 nication from Ethan Allen was addressed to the Governor 
 on behalf of a majority of the settlers on Otter Creek: 
 
 BENNINGTON, Aug. 25, 1772. 
 To His EXCELLENCY, WILLIAM TRYON, ESQ., ETC. 
 
 May it please your Excellency We, his Majesty's 
 liege and loyal subjects, inhabitants of Bennington, and 
 the adjacent country have received your Excellency's 
 
 S3
 
 34 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 letter of the llth of August inst., by which, we are in- 
 formed of your Excellency's high displeasure towards 
 us by reason of a body of our people's dispossessing sev- 
 eral settlers on Otter Creek, and its neighborhood, of their 
 possessions during the very time our messengers attended 
 on your Excellency at New York and were waiting the 
 determination of the government on our petition that 
 we might remain unmolested in our possessions till 
 the king's pleasure could be obtained. Your Excellency 
 further informs us that you look on our late proceedings 
 with great concern, viewing them as daring insults to the 
 government, a violation of public faith and the condi- 
 tions granted to our petition. We would, with proper 
 submission, give your Excellency and Council a short 
 narrative of facts, with a few reflections and reasons 
 thereon. And, 
 
 First, we would observe that our messengers your 
 Excellency styles Commissioners, were not authorized to 
 establish and complete articles of public faith for their 
 constituents. The business assigned them was to deliver 
 the written petition and inform your Excellency and 
 Council of the facts of the controversy subsisting, and 
 further negotiate and forward the matter of our petition 
 and return to us the determination of the government, 
 reserving to ourselves the power of assenting to or dis- 
 senting therefrom; though true it is when the articles 
 of amicable settlement or order of government was read 
 at a public meeting held at Bennington on the 15th day 
 of July ult. the said order and proposals were universally 
 complied with by those present; from which time we 
 reasonably compute the date of public faith and sacred
 
 Controversy Concerning Claims. 35 
 
 bond of friendship. But in the interim the conditions 
 of faith were forming, and before a ratification thereof, 
 Mr. Kockburn, a noted surveyor, unknown (as we suppose) 
 to your Excellency and Council, by the contrivance, aid 
 and employ of certain monopolizing adversaries of ours, 
 took a tour to the northerly parts of the New Hamp- 
 shire Grants to survey and make locations on our land. 
 Such locating we view as a manifest plan and intention 
 of invading our property the same as intrenching round 
 a city, portends a siege thereof. 
 
 Our people, having notice of Mr. Kockburn 's intrusion 
 on our borders, rallied a small party and pursued and over- 
 took him and his party and in their pursuit passed the 
 towns of Panton and New Haven, near the mouth of 
 Otter Creek; dispossessed Col. Reed of a saw mill, in 
 said Panton, which, by force, and without color or even 
 pretence of recourse to law, he had taken from the original 
 owners and builders, more than three years before, and 
 did at the same time extend his force, terrors and threats 
 into the town of New Haven; who, by the vicious and 
 haughty aid of Mr. Benzell, the famed Engineer, with a 
 number of assistants under their command, so terrified 
 the inhabitants (which were about twelve in number) 
 that they left their possessions and farms to the conquer- 
 ors, and escaped with the skin of their teeth, although 
 they had expended large sums of money in cutting roads 
 to, and settling in that new country as well as fatigued 
 and labored hard in cultivating their farms. Colonel 
 Reed at the same time and with the same force did take 
 possession of one hundred and thirty saw logs and four- 
 teen thousand feet of pine boards, which boards were made
 
 36 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 in the same mill and all lying thereby; all of which he con- 
 verted to his own use. Not long after the original pro- 
 prietor of the said saw mill did re-enter and take posses- 
 sion thereof but was a second time attacked by Colonel 
 Reed's steward, with a number of armed men under his 
 (supposed) instructions and by their superior force and 
 threats, obliged to quit the premises again all which 
 tenements said Reed occupied and enjoyed until dis- 
 possessed as your Excellency's letter complains of. 
 
 But to return to Kockburn again. Our party having 
 taken him as aforesaid, brought him to the town of Castle- 
 ton, near South Bay, where, being first informed of your 
 Excellency's clemency, as well as that of the honorable 
 Council, in granting the prayer of our petition; and in 
 conformity to the articles of settlement agreed on, dis- 
 missed him on honorable terms. 
 
 This is a short narrative of facts, for the proof of 
 which, sufficient affidavits can be educed. 
 
 We are apprehensive, your Excellency has been 
 hitherto unacqainted with these facts and have, there- 
 fore exhibited them in this letter; although it appears 
 strange to us, according as your Excellency's own letter 
 states the matter, that we should be suspected or taxed 
 with violation of public faith, and that our disingenuous 
 and dishonorable violation thereof, hath nullified and 
 made void the late amicable settlement; for at the same 
 time your Excellency charges us with breach of faith and 
 settlement, the very preliminaries of this faith were not 
 known on our part, and consequently could not have 
 been complied with; the very stipulations and faith 
 spoken of did not then exist; for it must be the meeting
 
 Controversy Concerning Claims. 37 
 
 of the minds of the contracting parties, which consti- 
 tutes such faith and agreement and of course cannot be 
 broken before its existence. 
 
 Mr. Kockburn's locating our lands, in the mean time 
 the preliminaries of public faith were forming, was at 
 least as much a breach of that with which we are 
 charged. Nay, according to our conception of the matter, 
 more so; as he made the first movement towards the in- 
 vasion of our property. 
 
 Soon after our messengers returned from New York, 
 and read the Minutes of Council and your Excellency's 
 letter of compliance therewith, to a large auditory, con- 
 vened at Bennington for that purpose, composed of 
 inhabitants of that place, the adjacent country, and 
 sundry respectable gentlemen from the neighboring Pro- 
 vinces; your Excellency's gracious, wise and benevolent 
 proposals for settling unity and concord in our part of 
 the Province were by those present unanimously applaud- 
 ed and conceded to; and all possible public testimony 
 of honor and respect paid to your Excellency and Council 
 by sundry discharges of cannon and small arms; your 
 Excellency's health, long life and prosperity, as well as 
 that of the honorable Council's, was the toast; your name 
 commanded reverence and esteem and your Excel- 
 lency's person in particular, became precious in our 
 eyes. 
 
 And we do humbly assure your ExceUency we have 
 no disposition of alienation of affections towards you, 
 or knowingly break any article of public faith. 
 
 There are two propositions which are the objects of 
 our attention:
 
 38 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 Firstly: The protection of and the maintaining of our 
 property. 
 
 And secondly: To use the greatest care and prudence 
 not to break the article of public faith, or insult govern- 
 mental authority. 
 
 These two propositions, we mean strictly and religi- 
 ously to adhere to. And for the more explicit knowledge 
 of the preliminaries and conditions of public faith and 
 trust, we would inform your Excellency and Council, that 
 our acceptation of those conditions on the part of New 
 York, is that they make no further settlements or loca- 
 tions on our lands, granted under the great seal of the 
 Providence of New Hampshire, until his Majesty's 
 pleasure be obtained, as to the validity of the grants. 
 Although this was not so fully expressed, yet we suppose 
 it was implied in the abstract of the Minutes of Council; 
 if it was not, we pray your Excellency and Council would 
 undeceive us in that particular, for if we are deceived in 
 this, then on this hypothesis your Excellency and Coun- 
 cil's lenient and friendly disposition towards us will not 
 for the future (by us) be viewed as such; for such loca- 
 tion and settlements on our lands would be incompatible 
 with friendship and a manifest infringement upon our 
 property, which has all along been the bone of con- 
 tention. 
 
 The last part of your Excellency's letter to us con- 
 tains a requirement of our immediate assistance in repos- 
 sessing Col. Reed's tenants of said tenements. As to 
 this particular, had your Excellency have known by 
 what means Colonel Reed obtained possession of these 
 lands and tenements, undoubtedly your Excellency
 
 Controversy Concerning Claims. 39 
 
 would not have required our assistance in repossessing 
 him; or have viewed with concern our dispossessing him, 
 as a daring insult to government; for the case rightly 
 understood, it appears that his conduct was a daring 
 insult to government and continued violation of more 
 than three years of the laws, restrictions, regulations, and 
 economy both of God and man; a notorious breach of 
 the tenth commandment of the decalogue, which says, 
 "Thou shalt not covet, " etc. -He, coveting, did take the 
 saw-mill, logs, boards and also the lands, labors, posses- 
 sions, farms, tenements, etc., etc., from the rightful 
 owners, proprietors and first occupants thereof, without 
 a process at law, as aforesaid, to the exclusion from 
 the premises more than three years; all which time he 
 has been enriching himself by the improvements of their 
 estates; and should we repossess him of the premises 
 again, we should become co-partners with him, in his 
 wickedness. Such an act we could not reconcile to our 
 own consciences; it being apparently immoral and most 
 flagrantly cruel and unjust. 
 
 When your Excellency and Council view these facts 
 and arguments, we humbly conceive we shall not be re- 
 quired to repossess Colonel Reed of the premises, nor do 
 we expect your Excellency and Council will adjudge us 
 to be violators of the late articles of public faith, all of 
 which, with due submission, we refer to your Excellency 
 and Council. 
 
 At a general meeting held at Manchester on the 27th 
 day of August, 1772, by the Committee of the towns of 
 Bennington, Sunderland, Manchester, Dorset, Rupert, 
 Pawlet, Wells, Poultney, Castleton, Pittsford and Rut-
 
 40 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 land the foregoing answer to his Excellency's letter of the 
 llth inst. was read to the said committees, and the vote 
 was called by Mr. Nathan Clark, Chairman, whether the 
 said answer be approved of by the said Committees and 
 it was voted in the affirmative. 
 
 And we do now, with due reverence, ask the favor of a 
 few lines which may certify to us the determination of the 
 government, relative to the particulars litigated in this 
 paper, and remain your ever faithful and most obedient 
 and humble servants. 
 
 ATTEST, ETHAN ALLEN, 
 
 Clerk of Said Committees.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 REWARD FOR HIS APPREHENSION. 
 
 The settlers on the New Hampshire Grants were a 
 brave, zealous and hardy body of men and the numerous 
 wrongs to which they had been subjected by the New 
 York authorities had led them to a firm resistance in 
 defence of their rights. In view of the British act of pro- 
 hibition heretofore referred to, the government of New 
 York, urged on by its imperious governor, proceeded to 
 ^ convey lands occupied under grants from royal authority, 
 while the Albany courts uniformly decided in favor of the 
 grantees of New York. Writs of possession having been 
 issued, and every means put in requisition to defraud the 
 settlers of their just rights, they had no alternative left 
 but open resistance. At their head stood Ethan Allen, 
 who was chosen by common consent to become their 
 leader; bold, even to desperation, he was fitted in every 
 respect for the important character he sustained in the 
 drama which enabled him, in stage parlance, to assume 
 the role of "leading man" with productions ranging from 
 farce-comedy to tragedy. The settlers confidently relied 
 upon his skill, his zeal and his well-known reputation for 
 bravery, for the successful termination of their difficul- 
 ties; that their confidence in him was increased by the 
 plans he originated and carried into effect was evident 
 from the fact that he was chosen to command rather than 
 
 41
 
 42 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 to obey. He wrote and distributed several pamphlets, 
 addressed more particularly to the feelings of the settlers, 
 in which the injustice of the New York authorities was 
 strongly depicted and the proceedings of the Green 
 Mountain Boys triumphantly vindicated. He contri- 
 buted much by voice and pen to inform the minds, arouse 
 the zeal and unite the efforts of the settlers in an assault 
 upon the enemies of liberty. 
 
 For the purpose of enforcing such measures as the 
 exigency of the situation required, the inhabitants of 
 Rutland and Bennington counties met at Bennington 
 and formed an organization with accredited delegates, 
 which was to meet only on extraordinary occasions. 
 Among other measures adopted by this body, was, "that 
 no person should take grants, or confirmation of grants, 
 under the government of New York." Again "all the 
 inhabitants in the district of the New Hampshire Grants, 
 were forbidden to hold, take or accept any office of honor 
 or profit under the Colony of New York, and all civil and 
 military officers who had acted under the authority of the 
 Governor or Legislature of New York, were required to 
 suspend their functions on pain of being chastized." 
 
 These decrees were rigidly and severely enforced 
 whenever an occasion necessitated action; the more com- 
 mon mode of punishment being an application of the 
 "beach seal" on the naked back, and banishment from 
 the settlements. A few instances, while they may serve 
 to amuse, will also show the spirit which actuated the 
 settlers in punishing their enemies. A certain Doctor of 
 Arlington whose name is unknown to the author, was a 
 warm partisan of New York and had often spoken in dis-
 
 Reward for His Apprehension. 43 
 
 respectful terms of the settlers and the resolutions adopted 
 by the Bennington Convention. He was frequently re- 
 quested to desist, and, disregarding these requests, he was 
 carried to the Green Mountain Tavern, in Bennington, 
 where the Vigilance Committee heard his defence and 
 then ordered him to be tied in an armed chair, and hoisted 
 up to the sign of the Inn which was a catamount's skin 
 stuffed. The sign was fastened upon a post twenty-five 
 feet from the ground, looking towards the State of New 
 York. The doctor sat there for two hours, in sight of the 
 people facing the grinning catamount sign, "as a punish- 
 ment merited by his enmity to the rights and liberties 
 of the people of the New Hampshire Grants." The 
 punishment was executed doubtless to the no small mer- 
 riment of a large crowd of people. The Doctor was finally 
 let down and dismissed by the Committee with an ad- 
 monition "to go and sin no more." 
 
 A certain Benjamin Hough was also punished under 
 one of the decrees of the Convention. He had accepted 
 and officiated in the office of Justice of the Peace under 
 the authority of New York, and being arrested, was 
 brought before the Committee of Safety at Sunderland. 
 He offered in plea the jurisdiction of New York, but was 
 answered by the decree of the convention which forbade 
 all persons holding any civil or military office under the 
 authority of New York. The following judgment was 
 pronounced against him before a large assemblage of 
 people: "That the prisoner be taken from the bar of 
 this Committee of Safety and tied to a tree, and there on 
 his naked back to receive two hundred stripes; his back 
 being dressed, he should depart out of the district; and on
 
 44 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 return to suffer death, unless by special leave of the Con- 
 vention." He received the chastisement and departed 
 a sadder but wiser man. 
 
 Notwithstanding these evidences that the Green 
 Mountain Boys would not submit to the terms proposed 
 by New York, the authorities of that state did not relax 
 their exertions to make them submit to their author- 
 ity. At a session of the General Assembly, held 
 February 5, 1774, the following resolutions were 
 adopted : 
 
 1. That it appears to this Committee that there at 
 present prevails in part of the county of Charlotte and in 
 the northeastern district of the county of Albany, a dan- 
 gerous and destructive spirit of riot and licentiousness, 
 subversive of all order and good government; and that it 
 has become an intolerable grievance, which requires im- 
 mediate redress. 
 
 2. Resolved, That it appears to this Committee, 
 that many acts of outrage, cruelty, and oppression have 
 been there perpetrated by a number of lawless persons, 
 calling themselves the Bennington Mob, who have seized, 
 insulted and terrified several magistrates and other civil 
 officers so that they dare not exercise their respective 
 functions; rescued prisoners for debt, assumed to them- 
 selves military commands, and judicial power; burned 
 and demolished the houses and property and beat and 
 abused the persons of many of his Majesty's subjects; 
 expelled them from their possessions, and put a period to 
 the administration of its justice and spread terror and 
 destruction through that part of the country which is ex- 
 posed to their oppression.
 
 Keward for His Apprehension. 45 
 
 3. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee 
 that the Complainants before this house and others, who 
 inhabit part of that colony and from respect to govern- 
 ment will not countenance or be concerned in the said 
 riotous proceedings, are exposed from the violence of the 
 rioters to imminent danger, both in person and properties, 
 and that they stand in need of immediate protection 
 and succor. 
 
 4. Resolved, That it appears to this Committee that 
 Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, Remember Baker, Robert 
 Cochran, Peleg Sunderland, Sylvanus Brown, James 
 Brackenridge and John Smith are principal ring-leaders 
 of and actors in the riots and disturbances aforesaid, 
 and that it is therefore the opinion of this Committee that 
 an humble address be presented to his Excellency, desir- 
 ing that he would be pleased to issue a Proclamation 
 offering a reward of fifty pounds for apprehending and 
 securing any or either of the persons above named, in 
 his Majesty's gaol in Albany; and commanding the mag- 
 istrates and other civil officers of the counties of Albany 
 and Charlotte to be active and vigilant in suppressing 
 the said riols and preserving peace and good order, as 
 well as in bringing to justice the perpetrators and authors 
 of said riots. 
 
 5. Resolved, That it is the opinion of the Committee, 
 that a bill be brought in more effectually to suppress the 
 said riotous and disorderly proceedings, maintain the 
 free course of justice and for bringing the offenders to 
 condign punishment. Which report he read in his place 
 and afterwards delivered it in at the table, where the 
 said resolutions were severally read a second time and
 
 46 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 it was resolved that this house doth agree with the Com- 
 mittee in their said resolutions. 
 
 Ordered. That a bill be brought in pursuant to the 
 last resolution, and that Mr. Brush and Col. Ten Broeck, 
 prepare and bring in the same. Ordered that Capt. 
 Delancy and Mr. Walton, wait on his Excellency the 
 Governor with the foregoing address and resolutions of 
 the house. 
 
 These resolutions, as may be expected, created much 
 excitement among the settlers and led them to the speedy 
 adoption of counter-measures. A general meeting of all 
 the Committees for the seveial townships on the west 
 side of the range of Green Mountains, was held at 
 Manchester on the first day of March, 1774, at which the 
 grievances of the people were freely discussed as well as 
 the extraordinary "proceedings of the New York Legis- 
 lature." In the conclusion of the answer adopted by 
 the meeting it was resolved "that as a county, we will 
 stand by and defend our friends and neighbors indicted 
 as rioters, at the expense of our lives and fortunes"; and 
 "that for the future every necessary preparation be made 
 and that our inhabitants hold themselves in readiness 
 at a minute's warning to aid and defend such friends of 
 our cause who for their merit to the great and general cause 
 are falsely denominated rioters; but that we will not 
 act anything more or less but on the defensive and always 
 encourage due execution of law in civil cases, and also 
 in criminal prosecution, that are so, indeed; and that 
 we will assist to the utmost of our power, the officers 
 appointed for that purpose."
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON.
 
 Reward for His Apprehension. 47 
 
 On the 9th of March, and previous to the time the 
 proceedings of the Manchester Convention were received, 
 the General Assembly of New York proceeded to carry 
 into effect their resolutions of the 5th of February and 
 enacted the following law: 
 
 An Act for preventing tumultuous and riotous Assem- 
 blies in the places therein mentioned, and for the more 
 speedy and effectual punishing of the rioters. 
 
 Whereas, a spirit of riot and licentiousness has of late 
 prevailed in some parts of the counties of Charlotte and 
 Albany, and many acts of outrage and cruelty have been 
 perpetrated by a number of turbulent men who, assem- 
 bling from time to time in arms, have seized, insulted 
 and menaced several magistrates and other civil officers, 
 so that they dare not execute their functions rescued 
 prisoners for debt assumed to themselves military com- 
 mands, and judicial powers burned and demolished 
 houses and property, and beat and abused the persons 
 of many of his Majesty's subjects expelled others from 
 their possessions and finally have put a period to the 
 administration of justice within and spread terror and 
 destruction throughout that part of the country which 
 is exposed to their oppression. Therefore, for the pre- 
 venting and suppressing of such riots and tumults, and 
 for the more speedy and effectual punishing of the of- 
 fenders therein, 
 
 Be it enacted by his Excellency, the Governor, 
 the Council, and the General Assembly, and it is hereby 
 enacted by the authority of the same, That if any persons 
 to the number of three or more being unlawfully riot- 
 ously or tumultuously assembled within either of the said
 
 48 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 counties to the disturbance of the public peace, at any 
 time after the passing of this act, and being required or 
 commanded by any one or more justice or justices of the 
 peace, or by the high sheriff or his under sheriff, or by 
 any one of the coroners of the county, where such assem- 
 bly shall be, by proclamation to be made in the King's 
 name, in the form hereinafter directed, to disperse them- 
 selves and peaceably to depart to their habitations or to 
 their lawful business, shall to the number of three or 
 more notwithstanding such proclamation made, unlaw- 
 fully, riotously, and tumultuously remain or continue 
 together to the number of three or more, after such com- 
 mand or request made by proclamation, shall for every 
 such offence, upon conviction thereof, in due form of law 
 either in the supreme court of judicature of this colony, 
 or at the courts of oyer and terminer, and general gaol 
 delivery, or at the general sessions of the peace to be 
 held respectively in and for the said counties of Albany 
 and Charlotte, or either of them, suffer twelve months, 
 imprisonment, without bail or mainprize, and such 
 further corporal punishment as the respective courts 
 before which he or she or they shall be convicted, shall 
 judge fit, not extending to life or limb; and before his or 
 her discharge shall enter into recognizance with two 
 sufficient sureties in such sum as the said courts shall 
 respectively direct, to be of good behavior and keep the 
 peace towards his Majesty and all his subjects, for the term 
 of three years from such his, her, or their discharge out 
 of prison. 
 
 And be it further enacted by the authority afore- 
 said, That the order and form of the proclamation which
 
 Reward for His Apprehension. 49 
 
 shall be made by the authority of this act, shall be as 
 hereafter follows, that is to say: The justice or other 
 person authorized by this act to make the said proclama- 
 tion, shall among the said rioters or as near them as he 
 can safely come, with a loud voice, command or cause 
 to be commanded silence to be kept while proclamation 
 is making; and shall then openly with a loud voice make, 
 or cause to be made, a proclamation in these words, or to 
 the like effect: Our Sovereign. Lord, the King, chargeth 
 and commandeth all persons being assembled, immedi- 
 ately to disperse themselves and peaceably to depart to 
 their habitations or to theirlawful business, upon the pain 
 contained in the act made in the fourteenth year of the 
 reign of King George the Third, to prevent tumultuous 
 and riotous assemblies. And every such justice or 
 justices of the peace, sheriff, under sheriff, or coroner, 
 within the limits of the respective counties where they 
 reside are hereby authorized, empowered and required 
 on notice or knowledge of any such unlawful, riotous 
 and tumultuous assembly, forthwith to repair to the place 
 where such unlawful, riotous and tumultuous assembly 
 shall be, to the number of three or more, and there to 
 make or cause to be made, the proclamation in the manner 
 aforesaid. 
 
 And be it further enacted, by the authority afore- 
 said, That if any person or persons do, or shall, with force 
 and arms, wilfully and knowingly oppose, obstruct or 
 in any manner wilfully and knowingly let, hinder or hurt 
 any person or persons who -shall begin to proclaim, or 
 go to proclaim, according to the proclamation hereby 
 directed to be made, whereby such proclamation shall
 
 50 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 not be made; that then every such opposing, letting 
 hindering or hurting such person or persons so being or 
 going to make such proclamation as aforesaid, shall be 
 
 adjudged felony, without benefit of clergy; and that the 
 offenders therein shall be judged felons and shall suffer 
 death as in cases of felony without benefit of clergy. 
 And that also every such person or persons so being un- 
 lawfully, riotously and tumultuously assembled to the 
 number of three as aforesaid, or more to whom procla- 
 mation should or ought to have been made, if the same 
 had not been hindered as aforesaid, shall in case they or 
 any of them to the number of three or more, shall con- 
 tinue together and not disperse themselves, after such 
 let or hindrance, having knowledge of such let or hin- 
 drance, shall, likewise, for every such offense, upon convic- 
 tion thereof in manner aforesaid, suffer the same pains and 
 penalties as are hereby inflicted on those who shall con- 
 tinue together to the number of three or more, after they 
 shall be commanded to depart to their habitations, or 
 lawful business by proclamation as aforesaid. 
 
 And be it further enacted by the authority afore- 
 said, That if such persons so unlawfully, riotously and tu- 
 multuously assembled, or any three or more of them 
 after proclamation made in manner aforesaid, shall con- 
 tinue together, and not forthwith disperse themselves, 
 it shall and may be lawful to and for every such justice 
 of the peace, sheriff, under sheriff, coroner or constable, 
 of any county or township where such assembly shall be, 
 and to and for such person or persons as shall be com- 
 manded to be assisting unto such justice of the peace, 
 sheriff, under sheriff, coroner or constable (who are hereby
 
 Reward for His Apprehension. 51 
 
 authorized and empowered to command all his Majesty's 
 subjects of age and ability, to be aiding and assisting 
 to them therein) to seize and apprehend, and they are 
 hereby required to seize and apprehend such persons so 
 unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously assembled togeth- 
 er, after proclamation made as aforesaid, and forthwith 
 to carry the persons so apprehended, before any one or 
 more of his Majesty's justices of the peace of the said 
 counties of Charlotte or Albany in order to their being 
 proceeded against for such of their offences according 
 to law. 
 
 And that if such persons so unlawfully, riotously and 
 tumultuously assembled, or any of them, shall happen to 
 be killed, maimed or hurt in the dispersing, seizing or ap- 
 prehending them, by reason of their resisting the persons 
 so dispersing, seizing or apprehending, or endeavoring 
 to disperse, seize or apprehend them; and then, every 
 such justice of the peace, sheriff, under sheriff, coroner 
 or constable and all and singular persons aiding and 
 assisting to them, or any of them, shall be freed, dis- 
 charged and indemnified, as well against the King's Maj- 
 esty, his heirs and successors, as against all and every other 
 person or persons, of, for or concerning the killing, maim- 
 ing or hurting of any such person or persons so unlaw- 
 fully, riotously and tumultuously assembled, that shall 
 happen to be so killed, maimed or hurt as aforesaid. 
 
 And be it further enacted by the authority afore- 
 said, That if any person or persons within the said coun- 
 ties, or either of them, not being lawfully authorized a 
 judge, justice or magistrate, shall assume judicial power 
 or shall try, fine, sentence or condemn any person who
 
 52 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 shall either be absent or shall unlawfully or forcibly be 
 seized, taken or brought before him or them, for trial or 
 punishment; or if any person or persons shall aid or 
 assist in such illegal proceedings, or shall enforce, execute 
 or carry into effect; or if any person or persons shall un- 
 lawfully seize, detain or confine or assault and beat any 
 magistrate or civil officer, for or in the respect of any act or 
 proceeding in the due exercise of his function, or in order 
 to compel him to resign, renounce or surcease his com- 
 mission or authority, or to terrify, hinder or prevent him 
 from performing and discharging the duties thereof; or 
 if any person or persons either secretly or openly shall 
 unlawfully, wilfully and maliciously burn or destroy the 
 grain, corn or hay of any other person, being in any en- 
 closure; or if any persons unlawfully, riotously and tu- 
 multuously assembled together, to the disturbance of the 
 public peace, shall, unlawfully and with force, demolish 
 or pull down, or begin to demolish or pull down, any 
 dwelling house, barn, stable, grist mill, saw mill, or out- 
 house, within either of the said counties, that then each of 
 the said offences, respectively, shall be adjudged felony 
 without benefit of clergy; and the offenders therein shall 
 be adjudged felons, and shall suffer death, as in cases of 
 felony, without benefit of clergy. 
 
 And whereas complaint and proofs have been made 
 as well before his Excellency the Governor and Coun- 
 cil, as before the General Assembly, that Ethan Allen, 
 sometime of Salisbury, in the Colony of Connecticut, 
 but late of Bennington, in the county of Albany, yeoman; 
 Seth Warner, late of Bennington, in said county, yeoman; 
 Remember Baker, late of Arlington, in the said county,
 
 Reward for His Apprehension. 53 
 
 yeoman; Robert Cochran, late of Rupert, in the county 
 of Charlotte, yeoman; Peleg Sunderland and Silvanus 
 Brown, late of Socialborough, in the same county, yeo- 
 man; James Breckenridge, late of Wallumschack, in the 
 county of Albany, yeoman; and John Smith, late of 
 Socialborough, yeoman, have been principal ringleaders 
 of and actors in the riots and disturbances aforesaid; 
 and the General Assembly have thereupon addressed 
 his Excellency the Governor to issue a proclamation 
 offering certain rewards for apprehending and securing 
 the said offenders, and for bringing them and the other 
 perpetrators and authors of the riots to justice: And 
 forasmuch as such disorderly practices are highly criminal 
 and destructive to the peace and settlement of the coun- 
 try, and it is indispensably necessary for want of process 
 to outlawry (which is not used in this colony) that special 
 provision be made for bringing such offenders, in future, 
 to trial and punishment without exposing the colony to 
 the expense of extraordinary rewards and bounties for 
 apprehending such offenders, 
 
 Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
 it shall and may be lawful to and for his Excellency the 
 Governor or the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, for 
 the time being, by and with the advice of the council 
 as often as either of the above named persons, or any 
 other person shall be indicted in either of the counties 
 aforesaid, for any offence perpetrated after the passing 
 of this act, made capital by this or any other law, or 
 where any person may stand indicted for any of the 
 offences above mentioned, not made felony by this act, 
 to make his order in council, thereby requiring and com-
 
 54 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 manding such offender or offenders to surrender them- 
 selves, respectively, within the space of seventy days 
 next after the first publication thereof in the New York 
 Gazette and Weekly Mercury, to one of his Majesty's 
 justices of the peace, for either of the said counties re- 
 spectively, who are hereby required thereupon to commit 
 him or them, without bail or mainprize, to the gaol of 
 the city of New York or of the city and county of Albany, 
 to the end that he or they may be forthcoming to answer 
 the offence or offences wherewith he or they shall stand 
 charged, according to the ordinary course of law; which 
 order the clerk of his Majesty's Council or his deputy 
 shall cause forthwith to be printed and published, in 
 eight successive papers of the New York Gazette" and 
 Weekly Mercury; the first two of which to be forthwith 
 transmitted to the sheriffs of the counties of Albany and 
 Charlotte; and the said sheriffs, respectively, shall within 
 six days after the receipt thereof cause the same 
 printed orders to be affixed upon the door of the court- 
 house of the county of Albany and upon the door of the 
 dwelling-house of Patrick Smith, Esq., where the courts 
 are now usually held for the said county of Charlotte, and 
 upon the doors of two other public houses in each of their 
 respective counties. And in case the said offenders 
 shall not respectively surrender themselves, pursuant 
 to such orders of his Excellency the Governor, or of the 
 Governor and Commander-in-Chief for the time being, 
 to be made in council as aforesaid, he or they so neglect- 
 ing or refusing to surrender himself or themselves as 
 aforesaid, shall from the day appointed for his or their 
 surrender as aforesaid, be adjudged, deemed and (if in-
 
 Reward for His Apprehension. 55 
 
 dieted for a capital offence hereafter to be perpetrated) 
 to be convicted and attainted of felony and shall suffer 
 death as in cases of persons convicted and attainted of 
 felony, by verdict and judgment without benefit of clergy; 
 and that it shall and may be lawful for and by the supreme 
 court of judicature of this colony, or the courts of oyer 
 and terminer, or general gaol delivery for the respective 
 counties aforesaid, to award execution against such 
 offender or offenders, so indicted for a capital offence 
 perpetrated after the passing of this act, in such a manner 
 as if he or they had been convicted or attainted in the 
 said supreme courts of judicature, or before such courts 
 of oyer and terminer of general gaol delivery respectively. 
 And if any offender, being indicted for a lesser offence, 
 under the degree of felony, shall not surrender himself 
 within the time fixed by such order, and after such notice 
 aforesaid, he shall thenceforth be deemed guilty of the 
 offence for which he may be charged by such indictment ; 
 and it shall be lawful for the court wherein such indict- 
 ment is found, to proceed to pronounce such judgment 
 against the offender as might lawfully be done if he was 
 present :'n court and convicted in the ordinary course 
 of law of the crime wherewith he shall so stand charged 
 as aforesaid Provided always 
 
 And be it further enacted by the same authority 
 aforesaid, That if any person so neglecting to surrender 
 himself as aforesaid within the said seventy days shall 
 at any time after surrender himself to the sheriff of the 
 city of New York or Albany, or of the counties of Dutch- 
 ess or West Chester (who are to receive and safely keep 
 such offenders) and being actually in custody, shall ex-
 
 56 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 hibit reasonable proof to the satisfaction of the judges 
 of the supreme court of this colony, or either of them, 
 that he was not within either of the said counties of Cum- 
 berland or Gloucester, at any time after the publication 
 and notices above directed, and before such surrender 
 of himself as aforesaid; then such judge before whom 
 such proof is made, shall forthwith notify the same in 
 writing to the sheriff to whom any warrant of execution 
 for the executing of such offender, or any other process for 
 any lesser punishment hath been or may be issued; and 
 thenceforth such prisoner or offender shall not be liable 
 to suffer death or any other punishment for not surren- 
 dering himself Provided also that nothing in this act 
 contained shall be construed to exempt any offender so 
 surrendering himself after the seventy days as aforesaid, 
 from any punishment to which he may be liable for any 
 other crime than for not surrendering himself within the 
 said seventy days as aforesaid ; nor to deprive any person 
 who shall so surrender himself within the seventy days 
 from being bailed, in cases where he shall be bailable by 
 law; anything herein contained to the contrary thereof, 
 in any wise, notwithstanding. 
 
 And be it further enacted by the same authority 
 aforesaid, that all and every person or persons who shall, 
 after the expiration of the time to be appointed, as afore- 
 said, for the surrender of the respective offenders herein 
 before named, harbor, receive, conceal, abet or succor 
 such offender or offenders, knowing him or them to have 
 been required to surrender him or themselves by such 
 order or orders as aforesaid, and not to have surrendered 
 pursuant thereto, shall upon conviction thereof, in due
 
 Reward for His Apprehension. 57 
 
 form of law, suffer the same pains and penalties as are, by 
 this act inflicted on those who shall continue together to 
 the number of three or more after they shall be commanded 
 to depart to their habitation or lawful business by pro- 
 clamation as aforesaid. 
 
 And whereas the said county of Charlotte hath but 
 lately been set off from the said county of Albany and 
 there is yet no gaol or court-house erected within the same; 
 and a great part of the said county being involved in a 
 state of anarchy and confusion by reason of the violent 
 proceedings of the aforesaid riotous and disorderly people, 
 from whence it must at present be extremely difficult, if 
 not impracticable, to bring offenders to justice within the 
 said county 
 
 Be it therefore further enacted by the authority afore- 
 said, That all treasons, felonies, crimes, misdemeanors 
 and offences whatsoever, at any time hereafter to be com- 
 mitted or perpetrated, within the said county of Char- 
 lotte, shall and may be proceeded against and presented 
 by any grand jury for the county of Albany, from time to 
 time to be impaneled and sworn at any court of criminal 
 jurisdiction to be held in and for the said county of Albany; 
 who shall and may charge any of the said offences to have 
 been committed in any part of the said county of Char- 
 lotte; and all indictments so found by them shall be ad- 
 judged to be good and valid, notwithstanding that the 
 place of perpetrating any of the said offences be in the said 
 indictments alleged to be out of the said county of Albany; 
 and all such offences and offenders which shall be present- 
 ed or indicted as aforesaid, shall and may be tried within 
 the county of Albany, and by a jury thereof and there
 
 58 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 heard, determined and punished in the same manner and 
 as if such treason, felony, crime, misdemeanor or offence 
 had arisen and been perpetrated within the said county of 
 Albany. 
 
 Provided always, and be it further enacted, That 
 if at any time hereafter the justices to be appointed for 
 holding courts of oyer and terminer and general gaol de- 
 livery for the said county of Charlotte, in cases cognizable 
 before them, or the justices of the general sessions of the 
 peace for the said county of Charlotte, in cases cognizable 
 before them, shall conceive that any prisoner or offender 
 may be safely brought to justice within, and by a jury of 
 the said county of Charlotte, that then it shall and may be 
 lawful to and for each of the said courts respectively, to 
 proceed against and try such prisoner or offender, having 
 lawful cognizance of his cause, within and by a jury of the 
 said county of Charlotte; and him there to acquit or sen- 
 tence, condemn, and punish, as the law directs; anything 
 in this act to the contrary thereof notwithstanding. 
 
 And be it further enacted by the authority afore- 
 said, That this act shall be publicly read in every court of 
 general sessions of the peace, to be held in each of the said 
 counties of Albany and Charlotte respectively. 
 
 And be it further enacted by the authority afore- 
 said, That this act shall remain and continue in full force 
 and effect from the passing thereof until the first day of 
 January which will be in the year of our Lord, one thou- 
 sand seven hundred and seventy six.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 DEFYING THE AUTHORITIES. 
 
 The passage of the foregoing law blasted every prospect 
 of amity or peace between the belligerents. The Green 
 Mountain Boys regarded it as an act to frighten them into 
 submission to what they regarded as unjust and arbitrary 
 measures. Under this impression, therefore, the threats 
 were regarded with contempt, and only served to rivet 
 still closer their attachment to the position they had as- 
 sumed. As an evidence of this, we find the following 
 remonstrance to the law, signed by Ethan Allen and 
 others, which presents a fair specimen of the views and 
 feelings of the great body of the New Hampshire grantees 
 at this trying period; 
 
 His Excellency, Governor Tryon, in conformity to 
 the addresses of the General Assembly of the colony of 
 New York, having on the 9th day of March, 1774, with 
 the advice of his Council, issued his proclamation offering 
 therein large sums of money for the purpose of apprehend- 
 ing and imprisoning the following persons, viz: Ethan 
 Allen, Seth Warner, Remember Baker, Robert Cochran, 
 Peleg Sunderland, Silvanus Brown, James Brackenridge 
 and James Smith. 
 
 And whereas his Excellency the Governor, by the same 
 proclamation, hath strictly enjoined and commanded all 
 
 59
 
 60 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 magistrates, justices of the peace, sheriffs and other civil 
 officers of the counties of Albany and Charlotte to be act- 
 ive and vigilant in apprehending and imprisoning the per- 
 sons above named ; and we, the aforesaid persons who have 
 hereunto subscribed, being conscious that our cause is 
 good and equitable in the sight of God, and all unpreju- 
 diced and honest men, are determined at all events, to 
 maintain and defend the same till his Majesty's pleasure 
 shall be known concerning the validity of the New Hamp- 
 shire Grants. And we now proclaim to the public, not 
 only for ourselves but for the New Hampshire grantees 
 and occupants in general that the spring and moving 
 cause of our opposition to the government of New York 
 was self-preservation, viz.: Firstly, the preservation and 
 maintaining of our property; and secondly, since that 
 government is so incensed against us, therefore it stands 
 us in hand to defend our lives; for it appears by a late set 
 of laws passed by the legislature thereof that the lives and 
 property of the New Hampshire settlers are manifestly 
 struck at; but that the public may rightly understand the 
 essence of the controversy, we now proclaim to those law- 
 givers and to the world that if the New York patentees 
 will remove their patents that have been subsequently 
 lapsed and laid on the New Hampshire charters, and 
 quiet us in our possessions, agreeable to his Majesty's di- 
 rections, and suspend those criminal prosecutions against 
 us for being rioters (as we are unjustly denominated) then 
 will our settlers be orderly and submissive subjects to 
 government; but, be it known to that despotic fraternity 
 of law-makers and law-breakers that we will not be fooled 
 or frightened out of our property. They have broke over
 
 Defying the Authorities. 61 
 
 his Majesty's express prohibitions in patenting those 
 lands and when they act in conformity to the regal author- 
 ity of Great Britain it will be soon enough for us to obey 
 them. It is well known by all wise and sensible persons 
 in the neighboring governments (that have animadverted 
 on the controversy) that their pretended zeal for good 
 order and government is fallacious and that they aim at 
 the lands and labors of the grantees and settlers aforesaid ; 
 and that they subvert the good and wholesome laws of the 
 realm to corroborate with and bring about their vile and 
 mercenary purposes. 
 
 And, inasmuch as the malignity of their disposition 
 towards us hath flamed to an immeasurable and murder- 
 ous degree, they have in their new fangled laws, calculated 
 for the meridian of the New Hampshire Grants, passed the 
 9th of March, 1774, so calculated them as to correspond 
 with the depravedness of their minds and morals; in 
 these laws they have exhibited their genuine pictures. 
 The emblems of their insatiable, avaricious, over-bearing, 
 inhuman, barbarous and blood-guiltiness of disposition 
 and intention are therein portrayed in that transparent 
 image of themselves which cannot fail to be a blot and an 
 infamous reproach to them, to posterity. We cannot sup- 
 pose that every one of his Majesty's Council or that all the 
 members of the General Assembly were active in passing 
 so bloody and unconstitutional a set of laws. Undoubt- 
 edly some of them disapproved thereof, and it is altogether 
 possible that many who were active in making the law were 
 imposed upon by false representations, and acted under 
 mistaken views of doing honor to the government ; but be 
 this as it will, it appears that there was a majority , and
 
 62 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 it has been too much the case with the government for a 
 number of designing schemers and land jockeys to rule the 
 same. Let us take a view of their former narrow and cir- 
 cumscribed boundaries, and how, by that legerdemain, 
 bribery and deceptions of one sort or other, they have ex- 
 tended their domain far and wide. They have wrangled 
 with and encroached upon their neighboring governments 
 and have used all manner of deceit and fraud to accom- 
 plish their designs; their tenants groan under their usury 
 and oppression; and they have gained, as well as merited, 
 the disapprobation and abhorrence of their neighbors ; and 
 the innocent blood they have already shed calls for 
 heaven's vengeance on their heads; and if they should 
 come forth in arms against us, thousands of their injured 
 and dissatisfied neighbors in the several governments will 
 join with us to cut off and extirpate such an execrable 
 race from the face of the earth. This remontrance is not 
 supposed to contain a full answer to the newly constructed 
 laws aforesaid, for such a large two year old hath never 
 been before seen in America, it being of an enormous and 
 monstrous birth; nor is it supposed to give the legislators 
 their full characters, but so much may suffice for the pres- 
 ent. To quote the laws and make remarks thereon would 
 be matter sufficient for a volume; however, we will yet 
 make some short observations : 
 
 1st. Negatively, it is not a law for the Province of 
 New York in general, but 
 
 2d. Positively it is a law but for part of the counties 
 of Charlotte and Albany, viz. : such parts thereof as are 
 covered with the New Hampshire charters; and it is well 
 known these grants compose but a minor part of the in-
 
 KINO GEORGE I7L
 
 Defying the Authorities. 63 
 
 habitants of said Province ; and we have no representative 
 in that assembly. The first knowledge we had of said 
 laws was the completion of them which informed us that 
 if we assembled, three* or "more of us together, to oppose 
 (that which they call legal) authority we shall be adjudged 
 felons and suffer the pains of death; and that same fra- 
 ternity of plotters knew, as well as we, and the generality 
 of the people in the adjacent colonies, that they have for 
 a number of years last past endeavored to exercise such a 
 course of what they call law, that had they not been op- 
 posed by the people of these grants (called the Mob) in 
 executing the same, they would, before this time, have 
 been in possession of that territory for which the laws 
 aforesaid are calculated. Therefore the case stands thus: 
 If we oppose the civil officers in taking possession of our 
 farms, we are by these laws denominated felons; or if we 
 defend our neighbors who have been indicted rioters, only 
 for defending our property; we are likewise adjudged 
 felons. In fine, every opposition to their monarchical 
 government is deemed felony and at the end of every sen- 
 tence there is the word Death ! And the same laws further 
 empowered the respective judges, provided any persons 
 to the number of three or more, that shall oppose any 
 Magistrate or other civil officer, and be not taken, that 
 after a legal warning of seventy days, if they do not come 
 and yield themselves up to certain officers appointed for 
 the purpose of securing them, then it shall be lawful for 
 the judges aforesaid to award execution of Death, the 
 same as though he or they had been convicted or attainted 
 before a proper court of judicature, etc. The candid 
 reader will doubtless observe that the diabolical design of
 
 64 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 this law is to obtain possession of the New Hamp- 
 shire Grants or to make the people that defend them 
 outlaws, and so kill them whenever they can catch 
 them. 
 
 Those bloody law-givers know we are necessitated to 
 oppose their execution of law, where it points directly at 
 our property, or give up the same; but there is one thing 
 that is a matter of consolation to us, viz., that printed 
 sentences of death will not kill us when we are at a distance, 
 and if the executioners approach us they will be as likely 
 to fall victims to death as we ; and that persons, or country 
 of persons are cowards indeed if they cannot, as manfully, 
 fight for their liberty, property and lives as villains can do 
 to deprive them thereof. 
 
 The New York schemers accuse us of many things, 
 part of which are true, and part not. With respect to 
 rescuing prisoners for debt, it is false. As to assuming 
 judicial powers we have not, except a well regulated com- 
 bination of the people to defend their just rights may be 
 called so. As to forming ourselves into military order and 
 assuming military commands, the New York posses, and 
 military preparations, oppressions etc., obliged us to do 
 it. Probably Messrs. Duane and Kemp and Banyar, of 
 New York, will not discommend us for so expedient a prep- 
 aration, more especially since the decrees of the 9th of 
 March are yet to be put in execution, and we flatter our- 
 selves, upon occasion we can muster as good a regiment of 
 marksmen and scalpers as America can afford ; and we now 
 give the gentlemen above named, together with Mr. Brush 
 and Col. Ten Broeck, and in fine, all the land jobbers of 
 New York, an invitation to come and view the dexterity
 
 Defying the Authorities. 65 
 
 of our regiment ; and we cannot think of a better time for 
 that purpose than when the executioners come to kill us, 
 by virtue of the authority their judges have lately received 
 to award and sentence us to death in our absence. There 
 is still one more notable complaint against us, viz., that 
 we had insulted and menaced several magistrates and 
 other civil officers so that they dare not execute their re- 
 spective functions. This is true so far as it relates to the 
 magistrates. But the public should be informed what the 
 functions of these magistrates are: They are commis- 
 sioned for the sole purpose of doing us all the harm and 
 mischief they possibly can, through their administration 
 and influence; and that they might be subservient to the 
 wicked designs of the New York schemers. These are 
 their functions ; and the public needs no further proof than 
 the consideration that they are the tools of those extrava- 
 gant law-makers; and it must be owned they acted with 
 great judgment in choosing the most infernal instruments 
 for their purposes. 
 
 Draco, the Athenian law-giver, caused a number of 
 laws (in many respects analogous to those we have been 
 speaking of) to be written in blood. But our modern 
 Dracos determine to have theirs verified in blood. They 
 well know we shall, more than three, nay, more than three 
 hundred times three, assemble together, if need be, to 
 maintain our common cause, till his Majesty determines 
 who shall be and remain the owners of the land in contest. 
 "Wilt not thou possess that which Chemoth, thy God, 
 giveth thee to possess?" So will we possess that which 
 the Lord our God (and King) giveth us to possess. 
 
 And lastly, we address ourselves to the people of the
 
 66 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 counties of Albany and Charlotte, which inhabit to the 
 westward of and are situated contiguous to, the New 
 Hampshire Grants. 
 
 GENTLEMEN, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS: 
 
 Providence having allotted and fixed the bounds of 
 our habitations in the same vicinity, which together with 
 the intercourse of trade and commerce, hath formed an 
 almost universal acquaintance and tie of friendship be- 
 tween us, and hath laid such a foundation of knowledge 
 that your people, in general, cannot but be sensible that 
 the title of our land is, in reality the bone of contention; 
 and that as a people we behave ourselves orderly and are 
 industrious and honestly disposed; and pay just deference 
 to order and good government ; and that we mean no more 
 by that which is called the Mob but to defend our just 
 rights and property. We appeal to the gentlemen mer- 
 chants to inform us whether our people in general, do not 
 exert themselves to pay their just debts; and whether they 
 have been hindered by the country's Mob in the collection 
 of their dues. But as the magistrates, sheriffs, under 
 sheriffs, coroners and constables of the respective counties, 
 that hold their posts of honor and profit under our bitter 
 enemies, we have a jealousy that some of them may be in- 
 duced (to recommend themselves to those on whom they 
 are dependent, and for the wages of unrighteousness, offer- 
 ed by proclamation) to presume to apprehend some of us, 
 or our friends. We therefore advertise such officers and 
 all persons whatsoever, that we are resolved to inflict im- 
 mediate death on whomsoever may attempt the same. 
 And provided any of us or our party shall be taken and
 
 Defying the Authorities. 67 
 
 we have not notice sufficient to relieve them, or whether 
 we relieve them or not, we are resolved to surround such 
 person or persons, whether at his or their own house or 
 houses, or anywhere that we can find him or them, and 
 shoot such person or persons dead. And furthermore 
 that we will kill and destroy any person or persons whom- 
 soever that shall presume to be accessory, aiding or as- 
 sisting in taking any of us as aforesaid ; for by these pres- 
 ents we give any such disposed person or persons to un- 
 derstand that although they have a license by the law 
 aforesaid, to kill us, and an indemnification for such mur- 
 der, from the same authority; yet they have no indemni- 
 fication for so doing from the Green Mountain Boys; forour 
 lives, liberties and properties are as verily precious to us 
 as to any. of the king's subjects; and we are as loyal to his 
 Majesty or his government as any subjects in the Province: 
 but if the governmental authority of New York will judge 
 in their own case, and act in opposition to that of Great 
 Britain, and insist upon killing us, to take possession of 
 our "vineyards" come on, we are ready for a game of 
 scalping with them ; for our martial spirits glow with bitter 
 indignation and consummate fury to blast their infernal 
 projections. 
 
 It may be, the reader, not having seen the law 
 referred to in this remonstrance and not being thor- 
 oughly acquainted with the long and spirited conflict 
 that hath subsisted between the claimants under New 
 Hampshire and New York, nor of the progressive arbi- 
 trary and monopolizing disposition of the court party of 
 the latter of those Provinces, may be apt to imagine 
 that the spirit of this writing is too severe, inasmuch
 
 68 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 as it destines whoever presumes to take us as felons or 
 rioters, to immediate death; but let the wise consider the 
 state of the case. 
 
 1. Provided we on our part be taken, we have by their 
 laws, the sentence of death already pronounced against 
 us, on proviso that more than three of us assemble to- 
 gether to maintain and defend our property, till his 
 Majesty determines the controversy; and 
 
 2. If it be considered, that the legislative authority 
 of the Province of New York has no constitutional right 
 or power to make such laws; and consequently that 
 they are null and void from the nature and energy of the 
 English constitution; therefore as they merit no place 
 among the laws of the realm of Great Britain, but are 
 the arbitrary league and combination of our bitter and 
 merciless enemies, who to obtain our property, have 
 inhumanly, barbarously and maliciously, under the 
 specious and hypocritical pretense of legal authority 
 and veneration for order and government, laid a snare 
 for our lives; can the public censure us for exerting our- 
 selves nervously to preserve our lives in so critical a 
 situation? For, by the laws of the Province into which 
 we are unfortunately fallen, we cannot be protected 
 in either property or life, except we give up the former 
 to secure the latter; so we are resolved to maintain both, 
 or to hazard or lose both. 
 
 From hence follows a necessary inference. That 
 inasmuch as our property, nay, our lives, cannot be 
 protected (but manifestly struck at) by the highest 
 authority in the Province to which we at present belong, 
 therefore, in the interim, while his Majesty is determining
 
 Defying the Authorities. 69 
 
 the controversy, and till he shall interpose his royal 
 authority, and subject the authority aforesaid to their 
 duty, or re-annex the district of disputed lands to the 
 Province of New Hampshire, in his great wisdom and 
 fatherly clemency, put the distressed settlers under 
 New Hampshire on an equal footing with our brother- 
 subjects in his realm, we are under necessity of resisting, 
 even unto blood, every person who may attempt to 
 take us as felons or rioters as aforesaid; for in this case 
 it is not resisting law, but only opposing force by force; 
 therefore inasmuch as by the oppression aforesaid 
 the New Hampshire settlers are reduced to the disagree- 
 able state of anarchy and confusion, in which state we 
 hope for wisdom, patience and fortitude, till the happy 
 hour his Majesty shall graciously be pleased to restore 
 us to the privileges of Englishmen. 
 Signed by 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN, 
 SETH WARNER, 
 REMEMBER BAKER, 
 ROBERT COCHRAN, 
 PELEG SUNDERLAND, 
 JOHN SMITH, 
 SILVANUS BROWN. 
 BENNINGTON, April 26, 1774.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 BEGINNINGS OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 The seeds of disunion, sown by the unwise policy of 
 the British Ministry, urged on by the king's advisers in 
 America, were at this advanced state of the controversy 
 between New York and the New Hampshire Grants rapidly 
 springing into life. The oppressive measures of Great Britain 
 the attempt to burden the Colonists with the system of 
 unequal taxation aroused a spirit among them, indica- 
 tive of a sanguinary struggle, which could have but one 
 termination war with all of its attending horrors. 
 So threatening was the aspect of affairs that preparatory 
 measures were taken for convening a Continental 
 Congress; and Delegates were accordingly chosen 
 from the twelve Colonies to meet at Philadelphia on 
 the 5th day of Sepetmber, 1774. New Hampshire sub- 
 sequently sent delegates to the Convention which also 
 met in Philadelphia when the Declaration of Independ- 
 ence was adopted July 4, 1776. 
 
 This important step towards an organization of the 
 political power of the colonies was followed, as may 
 naturally be imagined by an almost total suspension 
 of royal authority. The courts of justice, either ad- 
 journed or concluded to go out of business, and every 
 attempt on the part of the King's officers to extend 
 their authority over the people was followed by a strong 
 
 70
 
 Beginnings of the Revolution. 71 
 
 and decided opposition. The first interruption of this 
 kind occured at Westminster, in the county of Cumber- 
 land, in the New Hampshire Grants, over which the 
 jurisdiction of New York had been extended. The 
 occurrence is fully described in the following document : 
 "A RELATION OF THE PROCEEDING OF THE PEOPLE OF THE 
 
 COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND, PROVINCE OF NEW YORK. 
 
 "In June, 1774, some letters came to the supervisors 
 of said county from the Committee of Correspondence at 
 New York signed by their chairman, Mr. Low; which 
 letters, said supervisors, through ignorance or intention, 
 kept until September, when they had another meeting; 
 and it is supposed that they intended always to have 
 kept them, and the good people would have remained 
 in ignorance about them until this time, had it not been 
 by accident that it was whispered abroad so that Dr. 
 Reuben Jones, of Rockingham, and Capt. Azaria Wright, 
 of Westminster, heard of it and took proper care to notify 
 those towns. A meeting was called in the two towns 
 aforesaid and a committee was chosen by each town, to 
 wait on the supervisors at their meeting in September, to 
 see if there were any papers that should be laid before 
 the several towns in the county; and they found that 
 there were papers come from the Committee of Corre- 
 spondence, that should have been laid before the towns 
 in June. The supervisors made many excuses for their 
 conduct ; some pled ignorance, and some one thing and 
 some another; but the most of them did seem to think 
 that they could send a return to the committee at New 
 York without ever laying them before their constituents, 
 which principle at this day so much prevails that it is
 
 72 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 the undoing of the people. Men at this day are so un- 
 fortunately tainted with the principles of tyranny that 
 they would fain believe that as they are chosen by the 
 people to any kind of office, for any particular thing, that 
 they have the sole power of that people by whom they 
 are chosen and can act in the name of that people in any 
 matter or thing, though it is not in any connection with 
 what they were chosen for. But the committees would 
 not consent to have a return made until every town in 
 the county had Mr. Low's letters laid before them; which 
 was done and a County Congress was called; return was 
 made, a committee was chosen to see that it was put in 
 print; but through interest or otherwise, it was never 
 published in any of the papers. 
 
 Immediately after, the people of the county aforesaid 
 received the resolves of the Continental Congress. They 
 called a County Congress, and did adopt all the resolves 
 of the Continental Congress at their resolves, promising 
 religiously to adhere to that agreement or association. 
 There was a Committee of Inspection moved for, to be 
 chosen by the county, according to the second resolve of 
 the association aforesaid; but being much spoken against 
 by a justice and an attorney and looked upon by them as 
 an impertinent thing, the delegates dared not to choose 
 one. At this time there were tory parties forming, al- 
 though they were under disguise, and had laid a plan to 
 bring the lower sort of the people into a state of bondage 
 and slavery. They saw that there was no cash stirring 
 and they took that opportunity to collect debts, know- 
 ing that men had no other way to pay them than by hav- 
 ing their estates taken by execution and sold at vendue.
 
 Beginnings of the Revolution. *73 
 
 There were but very few men among us that were able to 
 buy; and those men among us that were so disposed, that 
 they would take all the world into their own hands with- 
 out paying anything for it, if they could, by law; which 
 would soon bring the country into slavery. Most, or all 
 of our men in authority, and all that wanted court favors 
 seemed much enraged and stirred up many vexatious 
 lawsuits and imprisoned many, contrary to the laws of 
 this Province, and the statutes of the -Crown. One 
 man they put into close prison for high treason, and all 
 that they proved against him was that he said if the king 
 had signed the Quebec bill, it was his opinion that he had 
 broken his coronation oath. But the good people went 
 and opened the prison door and let him go and did no 
 violence to any man's person or property. Our men in 
 office would say that they did like the resolutions of the 
 Continental Congress and they ought to be strictly ad- 
 hered to until our General Assembly voted against them. 
 Then they said that this would do for the Bay-Province, 
 but it was childish for us to pay any regard to them. 
 Some of our court would boldly say that the king had a 
 just right to make the revenue-acts, for he had a supreme 
 power ; and he that said otherwise was guilty of high trea- 
 son, and they did hope that they would be executed ac- 
 cordingly. The people were of opinion that such men 
 were not suitable to rule over them, and as the general 
 assembly of this Province would not accede to the asso- 
 ciation of the Continental Congress, the good people were 
 of the opinion that if they did accede to any power from 
 or under them they should be guilty of the breach of the 
 4th article of that association and may justly be dealt
 
 74 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 with, accordingly, by all America. When the good people 
 considered that the general assembly were for bringing 
 them into a state of slavery (which did appear plain by 
 their not acceding to the best method to procure their 
 liberties, and the executive power so strongly acquiescing 
 in all that they did, whether it was right or wrong) the 
 good people of said county thought it time to look to 
 themselves. And they thought that it was dangerous to 
 trust their lives and fortunes in the hands of such enemies 
 to American liberty, but more particularly unreasonable 
 that there should be any court held, since thereby we 
 must accede to what our General Assembly had done in 
 not acceding to what the whole continent had recom- 
 mended ; and that all America would break off all dealings 
 and commerce with us, and bring us into a state of slavery 
 at once. Therefore in duty to God, ourselves and pos- 
 terity, we thought ourselves under the strongest obli- 
 gations to resist and to oppose all authority that would 
 not accede to the resolves of the Continental Congress. 
 But knowing that many of our court were men that 
 neither feared or regarded men, but thought it was most 
 prudent to go and persuade the judges to stay at home. 
 Accordingly there were about forty good, true men who 
 went from Rockingham to Chester, to dissuade Colonel 
 Chandler, the chief judge, from attending court. He said 
 he believed it would be for the good of the county not to 
 have any court as things were, but there was one case of 
 murder that they must see to, and if it was not agreeable 
 to the people, they would not have any other case. One 
 of the committee told him that the sheriff would raise a 
 number with arms and that there would be bloodshed.
 
 Beginnings of the Revolution. 75 
 
 The Colonel said that he would give his word of honor 
 that there should not be any arms brought against us ; and 
 he would go down to court on Monday the 13th of March, 
 inst., which was the day that the court was to be opened. 
 We told him that we would wait on him if it was his will. 
 He said that our company would be very agreeable; like- 
 wise he returned us his hearty thanks for our civility, and 
 so we parted with him. We heard from the southern 
 part of the state that Judge Sabin was very earnest to 
 have the law go on, as well as many petty officers. There 
 were but two judges in the county at that time, Col. 
 Wells being gone to New York. There was a great deal 
 of talk in what manner to stop the court and at length it 
 was agreed to let the court come together, and lay the 
 reasons we had against their proceeding before them, 
 thinking they were men of such sense that they would 
 hear them. But on Friday we heard that the court was 
 going to take possession of the house on the 13th inst. and 
 to keep a strong guard at the doors of said house, that we 
 could not come in. We being justly alarmed at the 
 deceit of our court, though it was not strange, therefore 
 we thought proper to get to court before the armed 
 guards were placed; for we were determined that our 
 grievances should be laid before the court, before it was 
 opened. On Monday the 13th of March there were 
 about 100 of us entered the court house about four o'clock 
 in the afternoon. But we had but just entered before we 
 were alarmed by a large number of men, armed with guns, 
 swords, and pistols. But we in the house had not any 
 weapons of war among us and were determined that they 
 should not come in with their weapons of war, except by
 
 76 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 force of them. Squire Patterson came up at the head of 
 his armed company, within about five yards of the door, 
 and commanded us to disperse ; to which he got no answer. 
 He then caused the king's Proclamation to be read, and 
 told us that if we did not disperse in fifteen minutes, by 
 G d he would blow a lane through us. We told him 
 that we would not disperse. We told them that they 
 might come in if they would unarm themselves, but not 
 without. One of our men went out at the door and asked 
 them if they were come for war; told them that we were 
 come for peace and that we should be glad to hold a parley 
 with them. At that, Mr. Gale, the clerk of the court, 
 drew a pistol, held it up and said, " D n the parley with 
 such d d rascals as you are; I will hold no parley with 
 such d d rascals but by this!" (holding up his pistol.) 
 They gave us very harsh language, told us we should be 
 in h before morning; but after a little while they drew 
 a little off from the house and seemed to be in consultation. 
 Three of us went out to treat with them, but the most or 
 all that we could get from them was that they would not 
 talk with such d d rascals "as we were; and we soon 
 returned to the house and they soon went off. 
 
 Colonel Chandler came in and we laid the case before 
 him and told him that we had his word that there should 
 not be any arms brought against us. He said that the 
 arms were brought without his consent, but he would go 
 and take them away from them, and we should enjoy the 
 house undisturbed until morning; and that the court 
 should come in the morning without arms, and should 
 hear what we had to lay before them, and then he went 
 away. We then went out of the house and choose a
 
 Beginnings of the Revolution. 77 
 
 committee which drew up articles to stand for, and read 
 them to the company ; and they all voted nemine 
 contradicente [nobody disagreeing] and some of our men 
 went to the neighbors and as many as the court and their 
 party saw, they bound. 
 
 About midnight, or a little before, the sentry at the 
 door espied some men with guns and he gave the word 
 to man the doors, and the walk was crowded. Immedi- 
 ately the sheriff and his company marched up fast, within 
 about ten rods of the door, and then the word was given, 
 "Take Aim!" and then, "Fire!" Three fired immediately. 
 The word fire was repeated; "G d d n you, fire; send 
 them to h ! " were the most or all of the words that were 
 to be heard for some time; on which there were several 
 men wounded; one was shot with four bullets, one of 
 which went through his brain, of which wound he died 
 next day. Then they rushed in with their guns, swords, 
 and clubs and did most cruelly bruise several more and 
 took some that were not wounded, and those that were 
 and crowded them into close prison together, and told 
 them that they should all be in h before the next night, 
 and that they did wish there were forty more in the same 
 case with that dying man. When they put him into 
 prison then took and dragged him as one would a dog, 
 and would mock him as he lay gasping, and make sport 
 for themselves at his dying motions. The people that 
 escaped took prudent care to notify the people in the 
 country, and also in the government of New Hampshire 
 and the Bay, which, being justly alarmed at such an 
 unheard of and aggravated piece of murder, did kindly 
 interpose in our favor.
 
 78 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 On Tuesday, the 14th inst., about 12 o'clock, nearly 
 200 men, well armed came from New Hampshire govern- 
 ment, and before night there were several of the people 
 of Cumberland county returned, and took up all they 
 knew of that were in the horrid massacre and confined 
 them under a strong guard; afterwards they con- 
 fined as many as they could get evidence against, except 
 several that did escape for their lives. On the 15th inst., 
 the body formed chose a moderator and clerk, and chose 
 a committee to see that the coroner's jury of inquest 
 were just, impartial men; which jury on their oath did 
 bring in, that " W. Patterson, etc., did on the 13th day of 
 March, by force and arms, make an assault on the body 
 of one William French then and there, and shot him 
 through the head with a bullet, of which wound he died, 
 and not other wise." Then the criminals were confined in 
 close prisons and on the evening of the same day and 
 early the next morning, a large number came from 
 the southern part of the county of Cumberland and 
 the Bay Province. It is computed that in the whole 
 there were 500 good, martial soldiers, well equipped for 
 war, that had gathered. On the 16th inst., the body 
 assembled, but being so numerous they could not do 
 business, there was a vote passed to choose a large com- 
 mittee to represent the whole and that this committee 
 should consist of men who did not belong to the county 
 of Cumberland, as well as those that did belong thereto; 
 which was done. After the most critical and impartial 
 examination of evidence, voted, that the leaders of them 
 should be confined in Northampton jail till they could 
 have a fair trial, and those that did not appear so guilty
 
 Beginnings of the Revolution. Y9 
 
 should be under bonds, holden to answer at the next court 
 of oyer and terminer in the county aforesaid; which was 
 agreed to. On the 17th inst. bonds were taken for those 
 that were to be bound, and the rest set out under a strong 
 guard for Northampton. 
 
 We, the committee aforesaid, embrace this opportu- 
 nity to return our most grateful acknowledgments and 
 sincere thanks to our truly wise and patriotic friends in 
 the government of New Hampshire and the Massachusetts 
 Bay, for their kind and benevolent interposition in our 
 favor at such a time of distress and confusion aforesaid; 
 strongly assuring them that we shall always be ready for 
 their aid and assistance, if by the dispensation of divine 
 providence, we are called thereto. 
 
 Signed, by order of the Committee : 
 
 REUBEN JONES, Clerk. 
 
 CUMBERLAND COUNTY, March 23, 1775. 
 
 The effect of this massacre, as it was termed, was 
 electrical upon the people of Cumberland, and in fact 
 upon the whole mass of settlers on the New Hampshire 
 Grants. The opposition to the claims of New York had 
 thus far mostly been confined to the inhabitants on the 
 western side of the Green Mountains a majority of the 
 grantees in the vicinity of the Connecticut River having 
 surrendered their original charters, taken new grants under 
 New York and quietly submitted to the jurisdiction of 
 that Colony. They entered fully, however, into the spirit 
 which pervaded the people of the Massachusetts and 
 Connecticut in relation to the oppressive policy of Great 
 Britain towards her American Colonies. This state of
 
 80 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 public sentiment together with the fact that the Provin- 
 cial Assembly of New York had withheld its approbation 
 from the political measures recommended by the Conti- 
 nental Congress, and which had received the sanction of 
 every other colony, induced them to an open resistance 
 to the administration of New York. In pursuance of 
 this determination, a meeting of a large body of people 
 was held at Westminster on the llth of April, 1775, at 
 which the following measures were adopted : 
 
 1. Voted, that Major Abijah Lovejoy be the Moderator 
 of this meeting. 
 
 2. Voted that Dr. Reuben Jones be the Clerk. 
 
 3. Voted, as our opinion, That our inhabitants are 
 in great danger of having their property unjustly, cruelly 
 and unconstitutionally taken from them, by the arbitrary 
 and designing administration of the government of New 
 York; sundry instances having already taken place. 
 
 4. Voted, as our opinion, That the lives of those 
 inhabitants are in the utmost hazard and imminent 
 danger, under the present administration. Witness the 
 malicious and horrid massacre of the night of the 13th 
 ult. 
 
 5. Voted, as our opinion, That it is the duty of said 
 inhabitants, as predicated on the eternal and immutable 
 law of self-preservation, to wholly renounce and resist the 
 administration of the government of New York, till such 
 time as the lives and property of those inhabitants may 
 be secured by it ; or till such time as they can have oppor- 
 tunity to lay their grievances before his most gracious 
 Majesty in council, together with proper remonstrances 
 against the unjustifiable conduct of that government,
 
 Beginnings of the Revolution. 81 
 
 with an humble petition to be taken out of so oppressive 
 a jurisdiction and either annexed to some other govern- 
 ment, or erected and incorporated into a new one, as may 
 appear best to the said inhabitants, to the royal wisdom 
 and clemency, and till such time as his Majesty shall settle 
 this controversy. 
 
 6. Voted, That Colonel Ethan Allen, Colonel John 
 Hazeltine, and Charles Phelps, Esquire, be a Committee 
 to prepare such remonstrance and petition for the purpose 
 aforesaid. 
 
 In this situation of affairs, the people of Vermont were 
 electrified by the commencement of hostilities, between 
 America and Great Britain, at Lexington, on the memorable 
 19th of April, 1775. This exciting prelude to an eventful 
 drama, produced a startling effect from one extremity of 
 the Colonies to the other. "Local and Provincial con- 
 tests, were at once, " says Williams, in his History of 
 Vermont, "swallowed up by the novelty, the grandeur and 
 the importance of the contest thus opened." 
 
 Although the settlers on the New Hampshire Grants 
 yielded to the importance of the American cause, and used 
 their endeavors to assist in carrying into effect the meas- 
 ures agreed upon by the sister Colonies, yet they did not 
 relax their exertions to improve their internal condition 
 and substantiate the righteousness and justness of their 
 proceedings in regard to the claims of New York. To a 
 firm adherence to their primary position, and to their 
 patriotic exertions in behalf of the common cause may 
 be attributed the no small amount of trouble they after- 
 wards experienced in obtaining an amicable and satis- 
 factory settlement of their difficulties with the Congress
 
 82 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 when the three delegates, Josiah Bartlett,William Whipple 
 and Matthew Thornton, were admitted as members to its 
 deliberations, affixing their names to the Declaration of 
 Independence, July 4, 1776, as delegates from New Hamp- 
 shire.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE CAPTURE OP FORT TICONDEROGA. 
 
 The period at which we have now arrived in the life of 
 Ethan Allen, places him before the reader in a broader 
 and far more interesting position. Heretofore he has 
 been seen only as the zealous friend of the people among 
 whom he resided only as the champion of the humble 
 citizen, contending for the rights of property and human 
 justice. In these offices of friendship and duty, however, 
 he had rendered himself conspicuous and trustworthy. He 
 had evinced a spirit of patriotism and a love of freedom 
 which warmly recommended him to the confidence, the 
 esteem and the friendship of the most conspicuous advo- 
 cates of American liberty Washington, Adams, Lee, 
 Hancock, Jefferson. That he should have been selected, 
 therefore, as a leader in a measure fraught with important 
 incidents to the cause of liberty, is a reward due both to 
 his patriotic principles and important public services. 
 
 Soon after the result of the battle of Lexington was 
 known, instructions were sent to Allen from the General 
 Assembly of Connecticut to enlist a body of the settlers 
 on the New Hampshire Grants, and, if it were thought 
 possible, to surprise and take the British fortress at Ticon- 
 deroga, at the lower end of Lake Champlain. This en- 
 terprise was cheerfully undertaken by him. A goodly 
 number of men were speedily enrolled, and preparations 
 
 83
 
 84 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 hastily made for the attack. The several passes leading 
 to the fortress were carefully guarded and all communica- 
 tion between the garrison and the adjoining country inter- 
 cepted. By a forced march Allen arrived at Lake Cham- 
 plain opposite Ticonderoga on the evening of the 9th of 
 May, 1775, with two hundred and thirty brave Green 
 Mountain Boys. Considerable difficulty was experienced 
 in procuring boats to cross the lake. This difficulty, 
 however, was partially overcome at last and eighty-three 
 were landed near the garrison and the boats sent back for 
 the rear guard, commanded by Colonel Seth Warner. 
 As the day began to dawn, Allen found himself compelled 
 to attack the enemy before the arrival of Colonel War- 
 ner's detachment. As this, says Allen in his narrative, 
 was viewed as hazardous, I harangued the officers and 
 soldiers in the following manner : 
 
 Friends and fellow soldiers: You have for a number 
 of years past been a scourge and terror to arbitrary 
 power. Your valor has been famed abroad, and acknowl- 
 edged, as appears by the advice and orders to me from the 
 General Assembly of Connecticut to surprise and take 
 the garrison now before us. I now propose to advance 
 before you, and in person conduct you through the 
 wicket-gate; for we must, this morning, either quit our 
 pretensions to valor or possess ourselves of this fortress 
 in a few minutes. And inasmuch as it is a desperate 
 attempt, which none but the bravest of men dare under- 
 take, I do not urge it on any one contrary to his will. You 
 that will undertake, voluntarily, poise your firelocks. 
 
 As might be conjectured, among such a body of hardy 
 and fearless men, the musket of every one was brought
 
 The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga. 85 
 
 to a poise. Allen, with his men immediately advanced 
 to the wicket-gate where a sentry was found posted who 
 snapped his musket at him, and immediately retreated 
 through the covered way into the parade grounds within 
 the garrison, gave the alarm and then sought safety be- 
 hind a stone wall. Allen rushed in immediately, followed 
 by his men, whom he formed on the parade in such a 
 manner that they faced the two barracks which were 
 opposite each other. The garrison being asleep, except 
 the sentries, three loud shouts were given by Allen and 
 his men, very much to the surprise of the sentinels. One 
 of the sentries made a pass at one of the American officers 
 with a bayonet, and slightly wounded him. My first 
 thought, says Allen, was to kill him with my sword, but 
 in an instant I altered the design and fury of the blow to 
 a slight cut on the side of the head upon which he dropped 
 his gun and asked for quarter which I readily granted 
 him, and demanded of him the place where the command- 
 ing officer could be found. He showed me a pair of stairs 
 in the front of the barracks on the west part of the garrison 
 which led up to a second story in said barrack, to which I 
 immediately repaired and ordered the commander, 
 Captain de la Place, to come forth instantly or I would 
 sacrifice the whole garrison; the Captain came imme- 
 diately to a door with his small clothes in his hand. When 
 I ordered him to deliver me the fort instantly, he asked 
 me by what authority I demanded it. I answered him: 
 In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental 
 Congress! The authority of the Congress being very 
 little known at that time, he began to speak again, but I 
 interrupted him and with my drawn sword over his head
 
 86 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 again demanded an immediate surrender of the garrison, 
 with which he then complied and ordered his men to be 
 forthwith paraded without arms as he had given up the 
 garrison. In the mean time some of my officers had given 
 orders, and in consequence thereof sundry of the barrack's 
 doors were beaten down and about one-third of the 
 garrison imprisoned, which consisted of the commander, 
 a Lieutenant Feltham, a conductor of artillery, a gunner, 
 two sergeants and forty rank and file, together with 
 about one hundred pieces of cannon, one thirteen-inch 
 mortar, and a number of swivels. This surprise was 
 carried into execution in the gray of the morning of the 
 10th of May, 1775. The sun, continues Allen, seemed to rise 
 that morning with a superior luster and Ticonderoga and 
 its dependencies smiled on its conquerors who tossed 
 about the flowing bowl and wished success to Congress 
 and the liberty and freedom of America. 
 
 Colonel Warner, with the rear guard, crossed the 
 lake and joined the conquerors early in the morning; 
 shortly thereafter Warner was dispatched with about 
 one hundred men to take possession of Crown Point, 
 which was garrisoned with only a sergeant and twelve 
 men. 
 
 This was effected the same day and about one hun- 
 dred pieces of cannon together with other munitions 
 of war were secured. Only one thing now remained 
 to be done in order to obtain the control of Lake Cham- 
 plain; this was to capture a sloop of war which was then 
 lying at St. Johns, to effect which it was agreed in a 
 council of war to arm and man a certain schooner lying 
 at South Bay and place, Captain afterwards General,
 
 The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga. 87 
 
 Benedict Arnold in command, while Allen was to com- 
 mand the smaller boats. The necessary preparations 
 being made, they set sail from Ticonderoga in quest 
 of the sloop which was much larger and carried more 
 and heavier guns than the schooner. The schooner, 
 sailing much more rapidly than the bateaux, arrived at 
 St. Johns and Arnold possessed himself of the sloop 
 before the arrival of Allen. He also captured a sergeant 
 and twelve men who were stationed at that place. It 
 is also worthy of notice that as soon as General Arnold 
 had secured the prisoners on board and made preparations 
 for sailing, the wind, which but a few hours before was 
 fresh from the South and well served to carry them to 
 St. Johns, now shifted and came fresh from the North, 
 and in about an hour thereafter, General Arnold 
 sailed with the prize and schooner for Ticonderoga. 
 He was met by Allen within a few miles of St. Johns and 
 saluted with a discharge of cannon, which was returned 
 with a volley of "small arms." After several repetitions 
 of this compliment, Allen and his officers went on board 
 the sloop, where several loyal healths were drunk to the 
 Congress. 
 
 The result of this victory was of great import- 
 ance to the American cause, as it utterly destroyed 
 the military force of the British upon Lake Champlain 
 and strengthened the cause of the patriots among the 
 colonists. It cannot be denied that the Americans em- 
 barked in the cause of freedom with many misgivings. 
 They were well aware of their own weakness and they 
 were equally apprised of the gigantic power with which 
 they had to contend. The capture, therefore, of so
 
 88 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 strong and well fortified a fortress as Ticonderoga, 
 resulting in the entire overthrow of the British power 
 on Lake Champlain, tended to raise their depressed 
 spirits and create a confidence among them which was 
 of vast importance to the cause. First results, whether 
 favorable or the reverse, exercise a powerful influence 
 upon succeeding incidents, and in proportion to their 
 importance are their effects to be considered. 
 
 Commenting upon the success which attended the 
 attack upon Ticonderoga and the expedition to St. Johns, 
 Allen remarks in his Narrative: This success I viewed 
 as of consequence in the scale of American politics, for if 
 a settlement between the then Colonies of Great Britain 
 had soon taken place, it would have been easy to have 
 restored these acquisitions, but in viewing the then 
 future consequences of a civil war, as it has already 
 proved to be, and the command of that Lake, garrisons, 
 artillery, etc., it must be viewed to be of signal import- 
 ance to the American cause, and it is marvelous to me 
 that we ever lost the command of it. Nothing but tak- 
 ing a Burgoyne with a whole British army, could in my 
 opinion, atone for it; and notwithstanding such an 
 extraordinary victory, we must be obliged to regain 
 the command of that lake again, be the cost what it 
 will. By doing this, Canada will easily be brought 
 into union and confederacy with the United States oi 
 America. Such an event would put it out of the power 
 of the Western tribes of Indians to carry on a war with 
 us and be a solid and durable bar against any farther 
 inhuman barbarities committed on our frontier inhabit- 
 ants by cruel and blood-thirsty savages, for it is impos-
 
 The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga. 89 
 
 sible to carry on a war except they are supported by 
 the trade and commerce of some civilized nation, which, 
 to them would be impracticable, did Canada compose 
 a part of the American Empire. Had Allen's plans 
 been successful, Canada might now be divided into im- 
 portant and populous states with representation at 
 Washington, instead of being a dependency of Great 
 Britain. 
 
 Early in the ensuing fall, the American army, under 
 the command of Generals Schuyler and Montgomery, 
 received orders to advance into Canada. Allen was 
 at Ticonderoga when this order arrived. He received 
 pressing requests from Montgomery and a majority of 
 the field officers to accompany the expedition it being 
 stipulated that, although he held no regular commis- 
 sion from Congress, he should be considered as an of- 
 ficer and as occasion might require, command certain 
 detachments of the army. This being considered by 
 him an honorable offer, and having a desire to assist 
 to the extent of his ability in any expedition having 
 for its object the good of the country, he complied with 
 the requests and advanced northward with the army 
 to Isle aux Noix. From this place he was ordered, by 
 Schuyler, to accompany Major Brown and certain inter- 
 preters through the woods into Canada with letters to 
 the Canadians, informing them that the design of the 
 army was only against the English garrisons, and not 
 the country, their liberties or their religion. Having, 
 with much difficulty, arranged this business Allen re- 
 turned to Isle aux Noix early in September. 
 
 General Schuyler having returned to Albany, the
 
 90 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 command devolved upon General Montgomery, from 
 whom Allen soon after received orders to make a second 
 tour of Canada for the purpose of observing the sit- 
 uation there and communicating to him the designs and 
 movements of the inhabitants as well as the British. 
 This journey was undertaken with reluctance by Allen, 
 who chose rather to assist at the siege of St. Johns, which 
 was then entirely surrounded ; but his esteem, he says, for 
 the General's person and opinion of him as a politician 
 induced him to proceed to Canada at once. 
 
 The route taken by Allen led him through all the 
 parishes on the river Sorrel to a town at its mouth bear- 
 ing the same name. The inhabitants were addressed 
 by him upon the policy of General Montgomery in be- 
 sieging St. Johns and every argument used to quiet 
 their fears and enlist their support in behalf of the Amer- 
 icans. From the village of Sorrel he directed his course 
 to the St. Lawrence, and thence through the many 
 small settlements to Longueil, where he arrived on the 
 22d of September. He was accompanied by a Can- 
 adian guard, an interpreter, and a few American attend- 
 ants. 
 
 On the morning of the 24th of September he left 
 Longueil, with a guard of about eighty men, for La Prairie, 
 from whence it was his determination to proceed directly 
 to General Montgomery's camp on the St. Lawrence. 
 He had advanced about two miles, however, when he 
 met Major Brown, who informed him that he had im- 
 portant intelligence to communicate, the import of which 
 was that, provided Allen would return to Longueil and 
 procure a few canoes to enable the party to effect a pass-
 
 The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga. 91 
 
 age across the St. Lawrence a short distance below 
 Montreal, he (Major Brown) would cross the river above 
 the town with two hundred men, as he had a sufficient 
 number of boats and thus effect the capture of Mont- 
 real. This plan, although somewhat chimerical and 
 ill-planned, was readily approved by Allen and those 
 in council; in consequence of which they immediately 
 returned to Longueil, collected a few canoes, and after 
 adding about thirty men to the party, crossed the river 
 on the night of the 24th, agreeable to the proposed plan. 
 The whole effective force of Allen consisted of only one 
 hundred and ten men, about eighty of whom were Can- 
 adians. We were most of the night, says Allen, in 
 crossing the river, as we had so few canoes that they had 
 to pass and repass three times to carry my party across. 
 Soon after day-break I set a guard between me and the 
 town with special orders to let no person pass or repass 
 them, and another guard at the other end of the road 
 with like directions. In the mean time I reconnoitered 
 the best ground to make a defence expecting Major 
 Brown's party was landed on the other side of the town, 
 he having, the day before, agreed to give three huzzas 
 with his men early in the morning, which signal I was to 
 return, that we might know that both parties were landed. 
 But the sun, by this time, being near two hours high, 
 and the sign failing, I began to conclude myself to be in 
 a sad dilemma and would have crossed the river back 
 again, but I knew the enemy would discover such an 
 attempt, and as there could not more than one third 
 part of my troops cross at one time, the other two thirds 
 would of course, fall into their hands. This I could
 
 92 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 not reconcile to my own feelings as a man, much less 
 as an officer. I therefore concluded to maintain the 
 ground, if possible, and share the fate of the others. 
 In consequence of this resolution, I despatched two 
 messengers one to La Prairie to Major Brown and 
 the other to L'Assomption, a French settlement, to a 
 Mr. Walker, who was in our interest, requesting speedy 
 assistance, giving them at the same time to understand 
 my critical situation. In the meantime sundry persons 
 came to my guards, pretending to be friends, who were 
 by them taken prisoners and brought to me. These I 
 ordered to confinement until their friendship could 
 be farther confirmed for I was jealous they were spies, 
 as they proved to be afterwards. One of the principal 
 of them, making his escape, exposed the weakness of 
 my party, which was the final cause of my misfortune, 
 for I have since been informed that Mr. Walker, agree- 
 ably to desire, exerted himself and raised a considerable 
 number of men for my assistance, but, -hearing of my 
 misfortune, he disbanded them. 
 
 The news of the arrival of Allen and his followers 
 created much excitement and alarm in and about Mont- 
 real. General Carlton and the royal party with him made 
 every preparation to go on board their armed vessels, and 
 would probably have done so had they not been influenced 
 by the information received from the spy, who made his 
 escape from the Americans. This occasioned an altera- 
 tion in their determination and resulted in General Carlton 
 sending an armed force against the invaders. Allen had 
 previously chosen his ground, but when he saw the number 
 of the enemy as they sallied out of the town, he saw
 
 The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga. OS 
 
 that it would be a day of trouble if not of rebuke. But, 
 pays he, I had no chance to flee, as Montreal is situated on 
 an island, and the river St. Lawrence cut off my communi- 
 cation with General Montgomery's camp. I encouraged 
 my soldiery to bravely defend themselves observing 
 that we should soon have help, and that we should be able 
 to keep the ground, if no more. This, and much more, I 
 affirmed with the greatest seeming assurance and which 
 in reality I thought to be in some degree probable. 
 
 The enemy consisted of not more than forty regular 
 troops together with a mixed multitude, chiefly Canadians, 
 with a number of English who lived in the town, and a 
 few Indians, in all, amounting to about five hundred men. 
 The reader will notice that a majority of my party were 
 Canadians. Indeed, it was a motley parcel of soldiery 
 which composed both parties. However, the enemy 
 began the attack from woodpiles, ditches, buildings and 
 such like places, at a considerable distance and I returned 
 them from a situation more than equally advantageous. 
 The attack began between two and three o'clock in the 
 afternoon, just before which I ordered a volunteer by the 
 name of Richard Young, with a detatchment of nine men, 
 as a flank guard, to annoy the enemy under cover of the 
 bank of the river and at the same time to serve as flank 
 guard to the left wing of the main body. 
 
 The fire continued for some time on both sides, but I 
 was confident that such a remote method of attack could 
 not carry the ground, provided it even continued until 
 night. But about half the body of the enemy began to 
 flank round to my right, upon which I ordered a volunteer 
 by the name of John Dugan, who had lived many years
 
 94 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 in Canada and understood the French language, to detach 
 about fifty of the Canadians and post himself in an advan- 
 tageous ditch which was on my right, to prevent my 
 being surrounded. He advanced with the detachment 
 but instead of occupying the post, made his escape as 
 did likewise, Mr. Young, upon the left with their detach- 
 ments. I soon perceived that the enemy was in possession 
 of the ground which Dugan should have occupied. At 
 this time I had but about forty-five men with me, some 
 of whom were wounded. The enemy continued to close 
 around me; nor was it in my power to prevent it; by 
 which means my situation, if advantageous in the begin- 
 ning of the attack, ceased to be so at its close. Being 
 almost entirely surrounded by such unequal numbers, I 
 ordered a retreat, but found that those of the enemy who 
 were of the country, and their Indians could run as fast 
 as my men, though the regulars could not. Thus I re- 
 treated nearly a mile, and some of the enemy, with the 
 savages, were continually flanking me, and others crowding 
 hard in the rear. In short, I expected, in a very short 
 time, to try the world of spirits; for I was apprehensive 
 that no quarter would be given to me, and therefore, I had 
 determined to sell my life as dearly as I could. 
 
 One of the enemy's officers, boldly pressing in the rear, 
 discharged his fusee at me. The ball whistled near me, as 
 did many others that day. I returned the salute but 
 missed him, as running had put us both nearly out of 
 breath, for I conclude we were not frightened. I then 
 saluted him with my tongue in a harsh manner and told 
 him that inasmuch as his numbers were so far superior 
 to mine, I would surrender, provided I could be treated
 
 The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga. 95 
 
 with honor, and be assured of good quarter for myself and 
 the men who were with me. He answered that I should. 
 Another officer coming up soon after, confirmed the treaty 
 upon which I agreed to surrender with my party, which 
 then consisted of thirty-one effective men, and some 
 wounded. I ordered them to ground their arms, which 
 they did. 
 
 The officer I capitulated to then directed me and my 
 party to advance towards him, which was done. I handed 
 him my sword, and in half a minute after, a savage, part 
 of whose head was shaved, being almost naked and painted, 
 with feathers intermixed with the hair on the other side 
 of his head, came running towards me with incredible 
 swiftness. He seemed to advance with more than mortal 
 speed. As he approached near me, his hellish visage was 
 beyond all description. Snakes' eyes appear innocent in 
 comparison with his. His features were distorted, and 
 malice, death and murder were depicted upon his counte- 
 nance; and, when within less than twelve feet of me, 
 presented his musket. At the instant of his presenting, I 
 twitched the officer to whom I gave my sword, between 
 myself and him. He flew round with great fury, trying 
 to single me out to shoot me without killing the officer, 
 but by this time I was nearly as nimble as he keeping the 
 officer in such a position that his danger was my defence. 
 In less than a minute afterwards, I was attacked by just 
 such another imp. I then made the officer fly around with 
 incredible swiftness. One of the Canadians lost an eye, 
 as it appeared afterwards, in taking my part; and soon 
 after an Irishman came to my assistance with a fixed 
 bayonet, and drove away the savages, swearing that he
 
 96 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 would kill them. This tragic scene composed my mind. 
 The escape from so awful a death made even imprison- 
 ment happy, the more so as my conquerors on the field 
 treated me with great civility and politeness. 
 
 The regular officers said they were very happy to see 
 Colonel Allen. I answered them that I should rather 
 chosen to have seen them at General Montgomery's 
 camp. They replied that they gave full credit to what I 
 said; and I walked into the town, which was, as I should 
 think, a distance of more than two miles a British officer 
 walking at my right hand and one of the French noblesse 
 at my left. The latter was in the action and had his brow 
 carried away by a glancing shot, but was, nevertheless, 
 very facetious. No abuse was offered me, until I came 
 to the barrack yard, where I met General Orescott, who 
 asked me my name, which I told him. He then asked me 
 whether I was the Colonel Allen who took Ticonderoga. 
 I told him I was the very man. He then shook his cane 
 over my head calling me many hard names; among 
 which he frequently used the word rebel and put himself 
 in a great rage. I told him he would do well not to cane 
 me, as I was not accustomed to it, and shook my fist at him, 
 telling him that that was the beetle of mortality for him, 
 if he offered to strike; upon which Captain McCloud, of 
 the British, pulled him by the coat and whispered to him, 
 as he afterwards told me, to the import that it would 
 be inconsistent with his honor to strike a prisoner. He 
 then ordered a sergeant's command, with fixed bayonets, 
 to come forward and kill thirteen Canadians, which were 
 included in the treaty aforesaid. It cut me to the heart 
 to see the Canadians in so hard a case, in consequence of
 
 The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga. 97 
 
 their having been true to me; they were wringing their 
 hands, saying their prayers, as I concluded and expected 
 immediate death. I therefore stepped between the exe- 
 cutioners and the Canadians, opened my clothes and told 
 General Prescott to thrust his bayonet into my breast for 
 I was the sole cause of the Canadians taking up arms. 
 
 The guards, in the meantime, were rolling their eye- 
 balls from the General to me, as though impatiently 
 waiting his dread commands to sheath their bayonets in 
 my heart. I could, however, plainly discern that he was 
 in a suspense and quandary about the matter. This gave 
 me additional hopes of succeeding, for my design was not 
 to die, but to save the Canadians by a finesse. The Gen- 
 eral stood a minute, when he made me the following reply: 
 " I will not execute you now but you shall grace a halter 
 at Tyburn, G d d n you." 
 
 I remember I disdained his mentioning such a place. 
 I was, notwithstanding, a little pleased with the expres- 
 sion, as it significantly conveyed to me the idea of post- 
 poning the present appearance of death; besides his 
 sentence was by no means final as to gracing a halter, 
 although I had anxiety about it after I landed in England. 
 
 General Prescott then ordered one of his officers to 
 take me on board the Gaspee schooner of war, and confine 
 me, hands and feet, in irons, which was done the same 
 afternoon I was taken. 
 
 The action continued an hour and three quarters, by 
 the watch, and I know not to this day how many of my 
 men were killed, though I think there were but few; if 
 I remember right, seven were wounded. One of them, 
 William Stewart by name, was wounded by a savage with
 
 98 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 a tomahawk after he was taken prisoner and disarmed, 
 but was rescued be some of the generous enemy and so 
 far recovered of his wounds that he afterwards went with 
 the other prisoners to England. 
 
 Of the enemy killed was a Major Garden, who had been 
 wounded in eleven different battles, and an eminent 
 merchant, Patterson, of Montreal, and some others; but 
 I never knew their loss, as their accounts were different. 
 I am apprehensive that it is rare that so much ammuni- 
 tion was expended, and so little execution done by it, 
 though such of my party as stood their ground behaved 
 with great fortitude, much exceeding that of the enemy, 
 but were not the best of marksmen and I am apprehensive 
 were all killed or taken; the wounded were all put into 
 the hospital at Montreal, and those who were not, were 
 put on board of different vessels in the river and shackled 
 together by pairs, viz., two men fastened together by one 
 handcuff being closely fixed to one wrist of each of 
 them, and treated with the greatest severity, nay, as 
 criminals. 
 
 Now as to the description of the irons that were put 
 on me. The hand-cuff was of a common size and form, 
 but my leg irons, .1 should imagine, would weigh forty 
 pounds. The bar was eight feet long and very substantial; 
 the shackles, which encompassed my ankles were very 
 tight. I was told by the officer who put them on that it 
 was the King's plate, and I heard another of their officers 
 say that it too would weigh forty-weight. The irons were so 
 close upon my ankles that I could not lie down in any 
 other manner than on my back. I was put into the 
 lowest and most wretched part of the vessel, where I got
 
 The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga. 99 
 
 the favor of a chest to sit on; the same answered for my 
 bed at night, and having procured some little blocks of 
 the guard, who day and night with fixed bayonets, 
 watched over me, to lie under each end of the large bar 
 of my leg-irons to preserve my ankles from galling, while 
 I sat on the chest or lay back on the same, though most of 
 the time, night and day, I sat on it ; but at length, having a 
 desire to lie down on my side, which the closeness of the 
 irons forbid, I desired the Captain to loosen them for that 
 purpose, but was denied the favor. The Captain's name 
 was Royal, who did not seem to be an ill-natured man, but 
 oftentimes said that his express orders were to treat me 
 with such severity which was disagreeable to his own 
 feelings; nor did he ever insult me, though many others 
 who came on board did. One of the officers by the name 
 of Bradley was very generous to me ; he would often send 
 me victuals from his own table, nor did a day fail but he 
 sent me a good drink of grog. 
 
 The reader is now invited back to the time I was put 
 into irons. I requested the privilege to write to General 
 Prescott, which was granted. I reminded him of the kind 
 and generous manner of my treatment of the prisoners I 
 took at Ticonderoga; the injustice and ungentleman-like 
 usage which I had met with from him, and demanded 
 gentleman-like usage, but received no answer from him. 
 I soon after wrote to General Carlton which met the same 
 success. In the meanwhile, many of those who were 
 permitted to see me were very insulting. 
 
 I was confined in the manner I have related, on board 
 the Gaspee schooner for about six weeks; during which 
 time I was obliged to throw out plenty of extravagant
 
 100 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 language which answered certain purposes at that time 
 better than to grace a history. 
 
 To give an instance upon being insulted, in a fit of 
 anger, I twisted off a nail with my teeth which I took to 
 be a ten-penny nail; it went through the mortice of the 
 bar of my hand-cuff, and at the same time I swaggered 
 over those who abused me, particularly a Doctor Dauce, 
 who told me that I was outlawed by New York and de- 
 served death for several years past, was at last fully 
 ripened for the halter and in a fair way to obtain it. When 
 I challenged him, he excused himself in consequence, as he 
 said, of my being a criminal; but I flung such a flood of 
 language at him that it shocked him and the spectators, 
 for my anger was very great. I heard one say, damn 
 him, can he eat iron? After that a small padlock was 
 fixed to the hand-cuff instead of the nail, and as they were 
 mean spirited in their treatment of me so it appeared to 
 me, that they were equally timorous and cowardly.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 CARRIED A PRISONER TO ENGLAND. 
 
 Colonel Allen, with the other prisoners, was taken to 
 an armed vessel which was lying before Quebec, under 
 the command of Captain McCloud of the British Admi- 
 ralty, who extended toward him the courtesy due from 
 one officer to another, and the kindness due misfortune. 
 The next day, however, he apparently with reluctance 
 bade Allen farewell, but his good fortune still continued. 
 Captain Little John, the officer to whose vessel he was 
 transferred, was polite, generous and friendly, while the 
 under officers were equally as kind in their treatment of 
 him. The best the vessel afforded was at Allen's dis- 
 posal, and what was equally gratifying to his feelings, 
 he was permitted to occupy comfortable quarter in the 
 cabin, the irons having been removed. Captain Little- 
 john declared that a brave man should not be used as 
 a rascal on board his ship. 
 
 In his "Narrative," Allen relates the following inci- 
 dent which occurred while he was on board this vessel 
 
 > 
 
 which will give the reader an insight into the confidence 
 entertained by the commander for his honor and upright- 
 ness, and also to show his willingness at any time and 
 under any circumstances to brave any and all dangers. 
 Captain Little John used to go to Quebec almost every 
 
 day, in order to pay his respects to certain ladies and gent- 
 
 101
 
 102 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 lemen; being there on a certain day he happened to meet 
 with some disagreeable treatment, as he imagined, from 
 the Lieutenant of a man-of-war, and one word brought on 
 another, until the Lieutenant challenged him to a duel 
 on the plains of Abraham. Captain Little John was a 
 gentleman who entertained a high sense of honor and 
 could do no less than accept the challenge. They were to 
 fight at nine o'clock the next morning. The Captain re- 
 turned in the evening and acquainted his Lieutenant and 
 Allen with the affair. His Lieutenant was a high blooded 
 Scotchman as well as himself, who replied to his Captain 
 that he should not want for a second. With this, says Allen, 
 I interrupted him and gave the Captain to understand that 
 since an opportunity had presented, I would be glad to 
 testify my gratitude to him, by acting the part of a faithful 
 second, on which he gave me his hand and said that he 
 wanted no better man. Says he, I am a King's officer 
 and you a prisoner under my care; you must therefore, 
 go with me to the place appointed under disguise; he 
 further added, you must engage me upon the honor of a 
 gentleman, that whether I die or live, or whatever happens, 
 provided you live, that you will return to my Lieutenant, 
 on board this ship. All this I solemnly promised him. 
 The combatants were to discharge each a pocket pistol 
 and then to fall on with their iron hilted muckle whangers ; 
 and one of that sort was allotted for me; but some British 
 officers who interposed early in the morning settled the 
 controversy without fighting 
 
 After enjoying eight or nine days comparative freedom 
 from the polite and generous treatment of Captain Little- 
 John and his officers, Allen parted with them in a friendly
 
 Carried a Prisoner to England. 103 
 
 manner, and with much regret. At the period of his re- 
 moval, a detachment from the army under General Arnold 
 appeared at Point Levi opposite Quebec. The troops 
 had performed an extraordinary march through the wil- 
 derness for the purpose of surprising the capital city of 
 Canada; to this fact perhaps is to be attributed Allen's 
 change of quarters. He was now removed to a vessel 
 called the "Adamant" together with the other American 
 prisoners and put under the guard of an English mer- 
 chant from London named Brook Watson; he is said to 
 have been of a malicious and cruel disposition and easily 
 excited when exercising his authority. His advisers 
 were Colonel Guy Johnson, Colonel Gloss and their attend- 
 ants and associates, to the number of about thirty, mostly 
 tories. The ship's crew, however, with the exception of 
 Colonel Gloss, in his personal behavior, treated the pris- 
 oners with that spirit of bitterness, which, says Allen, is 
 the peculiar characteristic of tories, when they have the 
 friend of America in their power measuring their loyalty 
 to the English king by the barbarity, fraud and deceit 
 which they exercise towards the whigs. 
 
 A small place in the vessel enclosed with rough boards 
 had been prepared for the prisoners, Allen among the 
 rest it being about twenty feet one way and twenty-two 
 the other. Into this confined place they were all, to the 
 number of thirty-four, thrust and hand-cuffed. In this 
 circumference, we were obliged, says Allen, to eat and 
 sleep during the voyage to England; and were insulted 
 by every blackguard sailor and tory on board in the 
 crudest manner; but what is the most surprising, not 
 one of us died during the passage. When I was first
 
 104 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 ordered to go into the filthy enclosure, through a small 
 door, I positively refused, and endeavored to reason the 
 before named Brook Watson out of a conduct so deroga- 
 tory to every sentiment of honor and humanity, but all 
 to no purpose, my men being forced into the den already, 
 the rascal, who had charge of the prisoners, commanded 
 me to go immediately in among the rest. He further 
 added that the place was good enough for a rebel that 
 it was impertinent for a capital offender to talk of honor 
 or humanity; that anything short of a halter was too 
 good for me; and that that would be my portion soon 
 after I landed in England and for which purpose only I was 
 sent thither. About the same time a Lieutenant among 
 the tories insulted me in a grievous manner, saying that 
 I ought to have been executed for my rebellion against 
 New York, and spit in my face; upon which, though I 
 was hand-cuffed, I sprang at him, with both hands and 
 knocked him partly down, but he scrambled along into 
 the cabin and I after him. There he got under the pro- 
 tection of some men with fixed bayonets, who were orderd 
 to make ready to drive me into the place afore-mentioned, 
 I challenged him to fight, notwithstanding the impedi- 
 ments that were on my hands, and had the exalted pleasure 
 to see the rascal tremble for fear; his name I have for- 
 gotten, but Watson ordered his guard to get me into the 
 place with the other prisoners, dead or alive; and I had 
 almost as leave die as do it, standing out till they sur- 
 rounded me with bayonets brutish, prejudiced, aban- 
 doned wretches they were, from whom I could expect 
 nothing but death or wounds. However, I told them 
 that they were good honest fellows; that I could not blame
 
 Carried a Prisoner to England. 105 
 
 them; that I was only in dispute with a calico merchant, 
 who knew not how to behave towards a gentleman of the 
 military establishment. This I spoke rather to appease 
 them for my own preservation, as well as to treat Watson 
 with contempt; but still I found that they were deter- 
 mined to force me into the wretched circumstances, which 
 their prejudiced and depraved minds had prepared for me. 
 Therefore, rather than die, I submitted to their indignities, 
 being driven with bayonets into the filthy dungeon with 
 the other prisoners, where we were denied fresh water, 
 except a small allowance which was very inadequate to 
 our wants; and, in consequence of the stench of the place, 
 each of us was soon followed with a dysentery and fever, 
 which occasioned an intolerable thirst. When we asked 
 for water we were most commonly, instead of obtaining 
 it, insulted and derided; and to add to all the horrors of 
 the place, it was so dark that we could not see each other, 
 and were overspread with body lice. We had, notwith- 
 standing these severities full allowance of salt provisions, 
 and a gill of rum per day ; the latter of which was of the 
 utmost service to us and probably was the means of 
 saving several of our lives. 
 
 About forty days we existed in this manner, when 
 Land's End, England, was discovered from the mast- 
 head, soon after the prisoners were taken from their 
 gloomy abode, being permitted to see the light of the sun 
 and breathe fresh air, which to us was very refreshing. 
 The day following we landed at Falmouth. A few days 
 before I was taken prisoner, I shifted my clothes, in which 
 I happened to be taken; a Canadian dress, viz., a short 
 fawn skin jacket, double breasted, an under vest and
 
 106 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 breeches of sagathy, worsted stockings, a decent pair of 
 shoes, two plain shirts and a red worsted cap. This was 
 all the clothing I had, in which I made my appearance 
 in England. The landing of the prisoners at Falmouth 
 created considerable commotion among the citizens of that 
 place, excited as they were by the report that the con- 
 queror of Ticonderoga was among them. Numbers of the 
 people were on the roofs of the houses, and the rising 
 grounds adjacent were covered with both sexes. The 
 throng was so great that the King's officers were obliged 
 to draw their swords and force a passage to Pendennis 
 castle, which was about a mile from the town, where the 
 prisoners, upon arrival, were closely confined in conse- 
 quence of orders from General Carlton who was then in 
 command of the English forces in Canada. 
 
 Brook Watson, who had so shamefully abused and 
 insulted the prisoners, immediately upon landing, started 
 for London, expecting to receive a reward for his inhu- 
 manity; but the Ministry received him with contempt 
 the whigs, who were in the minority in Parliament, 
 arguing that the opposition of America to Great Britain 
 was not a rebellion, but a measure justified by the nu- 
 merous evils to which they had been subjected by the 
 oppressive policy of the Ministry. This was the position 
 assumed by Pitt, Burke and other friends of America. If 
 it be a rebellion, they urged, why do you not execute 
 Allen according to law? Why not give him an impartial 
 trial? Why destroy his life by a course of slow and 
 humiliating punishment? The majority (the Tories), 
 maintained that the opposition of the Americans was 
 really a rebellion, and that Allen deserved death; but that
 
 Carried a Prisoner to England. 107 
 
 policy obliged them to spare his life, inasmuch as the 
 Americans were in possession of the greatest number of 
 prisoners. So that Allen being sent to England for the 
 purpose of being executed was rather a foil of their laws 
 and authority ; many strongly disapproving of his having 
 been sent there. The result of the deliberations of Parlia- 
 ment, as well as the public sentiment however, never came 
 to Allen's knowledge until after his arrival in America. 
 
 The reader will readily perceive that Allen was anxious 
 about his preservation, knowing that he was a prisoner 
 in a foreign country, and his keepers cruel and brutal. 
 Therefore, says Allen, the first proposition which I deter- 
 mined in my own mind was that humanity and moral 
 suasion would not be consulted in the determining of 
 my fate, and those that daily came in great numbers, 
 out of curiosity to see me, both gentle and simple, united 
 in this, that I would be hanged. A gentleman from 
 America, by the name of Temple, and who was friendly 
 to me just whispered to me in the ear, and told me that 
 bets were laid in London that I would be executed; he 
 likewise privately gave me a guinea, but durst say very 
 little to me. 
 
 However, agreeable to my first negative proposition 
 that moral virtue would not influence my destiny, I had 
 recourse to stratagem, which I was in hopes would move 
 in the circle of their policy. I requested of the com- 
 mander of the castle the privilege of writing to Congress, 
 who after consulting with an officer that lived in town, of 
 a superior rank, permitted me to write. I wrote in the 
 fore part of my letter a short narrative of my ill treatment, 
 but withal let them know that though I was treated as
 
 108 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 a criminal in England, and continued in irons, together 
 with those taken with me, yet it was in consequence of the 
 orders which the commander of the castle received from 
 General Carlton; I therefore, desired Congress to desist 
 from matters of retaliation until they should know the 
 result of the government in England respecting their ill 
 treatment towards me and govern themselves accord- 
 ingly, with a particular request that if retaliation should 
 be found necessary, it might be exercised not according 
 to the smallness of my character in America, but in pro- 
 portion to the importance of the cause for which I suf- 
 fered. This is according to my present recollection, the 
 substance of the letter, inscribed, "To the Illustrious 
 Continental Congress." This letter was written with a 
 view that it should be sent to the Ministry at London, 
 rather than to Congress, with a design to intimidate the 
 haughty English government and screen my neck from 
 the halter. 
 
 The next day the officer, from whom I obtained license 
 to write , came to see me and frowned on me on account 
 of the impudence of the letter, as he phrased it, and 
 further added, Do you think we are fools in England and 
 would send your letter to Congress with instructions to 
 retaliate on our own people? I have sent orders to Lord 
 North. This gave me inward satisfaction, though I 
 carefully concealed it with a pretended resentment, for I 
 found I had come Yankee over him, and that the letter 
 had gone to the identical person I had designed it for. 
 Nor do I know to this day but that it had the desired 
 effect, though I have not heard anything of the letter 
 since.
 
 Carried a Prisoner to England. 109 
 
 My personal treatment by Lieutenant Hamilton, wh 
 commanded the castle, was very generous. He sent mt 
 every day a fine breakfast and dinner from his own table, 
 and a bottle of good wine. Another aged gentleman, 
 whose name I cannot recollect, sent me a good supper; 
 but there was no distinction in public support between me 
 and the privates. We were all lodged in a sort of Dutch 
 bunk, in one common apartment and were allowed straw. 
 The privates were well supplied with fresh provisions, and, 
 with me, took effectual measures to rid themselves of 
 lice. 
 
 I could not but feel inwardly, extremely anxious for 
 my fate. This, however, I concealed from the prisoners 
 as well as from the enemy who were perpetually shaking 
 the halter at me. Nevertheless I treated them with 
 scorn and contempt; and, having sent my letter to the 
 ministry, could conceive of nothing more in my power 
 but to keep up my spirits, behave in a daring, soldier-like 
 manner, that I might exhibit a good sample of American 
 fortitude. Such conduct, I judged, would have a more 
 probable tendency to my preservation than concession 
 and timidity. This, therefore, was my deportment; and 
 I had lastly determined, in my own mind, that if a cruel 
 death must inevitably be my portion, I would face it 
 undaunted, and though I greatly rejoice that I have 
 returned to my country and friends, and to see the 
 power and pride of Great Britain humbled, yet I am con- 
 fident I could then have died without the least appearance 
 of dismay. 
 
 I now clearly recollect that my mind was so resolved 
 that I would not have trembled or shown the least fear,
 
 110 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 as I was sensible it could not alter my fate, nor do more 
 than reproach my memory, make my last act despicable 
 to my enemies, and eclipse the other actions of my life- 
 For I reasoned thus, that nothing was more common than 
 for men to die with their friends around them, weeping 
 and lamenting over them, but not able to help them, 
 which was, in reality, not different in the consequence of 
 it, from such a death as I was apprehensive of; and as 
 death was the natural consequence of animal life, to which 
 the laws of nature subject mankind, to be timorous and 
 uneasy as to the event or the manner of it, was incon- 
 sistent with the character of a philosopher or soldier. 
 The cause I was engaged in I ever viewed worthy hazard- 
 ing my life for; nor was I in the most critical moments 
 of trouble, sorry that I engaged in it. And as to the 
 world of spirits, though I knew nothing of the mode or 
 manner of it, I expected, nevertheless, when I should 
 arrive at such a world, that I should be as well treated as 
 other gentlemen of my merit. 
 
 Among the great numbers of people who came to the 
 castle to see the prisoners, some gentlemen told me that 
 they had come fifty miles on purpose to see me and de- 
 sired to ask me a number of questions and to make free 
 with me in conversation. I gave for my answer that I 
 chose freedom in every sense of the word. Then one of 
 them asked me what my occupation in life had been? I 
 answered him that in my younger days I had studied 
 divinity, but. was a conjurer by profession. He replied 
 that I conjured wrong at the time I was taken; and I 
 was obliged to own that I mistook a figure at that time, 
 but that I had conjured them out of Ticonderoga. This
 
 MAP 
 
 Showing the route 
 
 qf- Crown Po 
 
 GEN. BURGOYNE, 
 
 Note. The rout 
 army under G 
 foyne, it tea 
 double line _
 
 Carried a Prisoner to England. Ill 
 
 was a place of great notoriety in England, so that the joke 
 seemed to go in my favor. 
 
 It was a common thing for me to be taken out of close 
 confinement into a spacious green in the castle or rather 
 parade, where numbers of gentlemen and ladies were 
 ready to see and hear me. I often entertained such 
 audiences with harangues on the impracticability of Great 
 Britain conquering the colonies of America. At one of 
 these times I asked a gentlemen for a bowl of punch, and 
 he ordered his servant to bring it, which he did, and 
 offered it to me ; but I refused to take it from the hand of 
 his servant he then gave it to me with his own hand, 
 refusing to drink with me, in consequence of my being a 
 state criminal. However, I took the punch and drank 
 it all down at one draught, and handed the gentleman the 
 bowl. This made the spectators, as well as myself, merry. 
 
 I expatiated on American freedom. This gained the 
 resentment of a young beardless gentleman of the com- 
 pany who gave himself very great airs and replied, that 
 he "knew the Americans very well, and was certain that 
 they could not bear the smell of powder. " I replied that 
 I accepted it as a challenge and was ready to convince 
 him on the spot, that an American could bear the smell 
 of powder; at which he answered that he should not put 
 himself on a par with me. I then demanded of him to 
 treat the character of the Americans with due respect. 
 He answered that I was an Irishman; but I assured him, 
 that I was a full-blooded Yankee; and in fine, bantered 
 him so much that he left me in possession of the ground, 
 and the laugh went against him. Two clergymen came 
 to see me and, inasmuch as they behaved with civility, I
 
 112 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 returned them the same. We discoursed on several parts 
 of moral philosophy and Christianity and they seemed to 
 be surprised that I should be acquainted with such topics 
 or that I should understand a syllogism, or regular mode 
 of argumentation. I am apprehensive my Canadian 
 dress contributed not a little to the surprise, and excite- 
 ment of curiosity. To see a gentleman in England, 
 regularly dressed, and well behaved would be no sight at 
 all; but such a rebel as they were pleased to call me, it 
 is probable, was never before seen in England. 
 
 The prisoners were landed at Falmouth a few days 
 before Christmas and ordered on board the Solbay frigate 
 commanded by Captain Symonds, the 8th day of January, 
 1776, when our hand irons were taken off. This remove 
 was in consequence, as I have been since informed, of a 
 writ of habeas corpus which had been procured by some 
 gentlemen in England, in order to obtain me my liberty. 
 The Solbay, with sundry other men-of-war and about 
 forty transports, rendezvoused at the cove of Cork in 
 Ireland, to take in provisions and water. 
 
 When we were first brought on board, Captain Symonds 
 ordered all the prisoners and most of the hands on board 
 to go on deck, and caused to be read in their hearing, a 
 certain code of laws, or rules for the regulation and order- 
 ing of their behavior; and then, in a sovereign manner, 
 ordered the prisoners, me in particular off the deck, and 
 never to come on it again for, he said, this is a place for 
 gentlemen to walk. So I went off, an officer following 
 me, who told me that he would show me the place allotted 
 for me and took me down to the cable tire, saying to me, 
 This is your place.
 
 Carried a Prisoner to England. 113 
 
 Prior to' this I had taken cold by which I was in an ill 
 state of health, and did not say much to the officer, but 
 stayed there that night consulted my policy, and found 
 I was in an evil case ; that a Captain of a man-of-war was 
 more arbitrary than a king, as he could view his territory 
 with a look of his eye, and a movement of his finger com- 
 manded obedience. I felt myself more despondent than 
 I had at any time before ; for I concluded it to be a govern- 
 mental scheme to do that, clandestinely, which policy 
 forbid to be done under sanction of public justice and law. 
 
 However, two days later, I shaved and cleaned myself 
 as well as I could and went on deck. The Captain spoke 
 to me in a great rage, and said, Did I not order you not to 
 come on deck? I answered him that at the same time he 
 said that it was the place for gentlemen to walk; that I 
 was Colonel Allen, but had not been prpoperly introduced 
 to him. He replied, G d d n you, sir, be careful not 
 to walk the same side of the deck that I do. This gave 
 me encouragement, and ever after that I walked in the 
 manner he had directed, except when he at certain times 
 afterwards ordered me off in a passion, and I then would 
 directly afterwards go on again, telling him to command 
 his slaves, that I was a gentleman and had a right to walk 
 the deck; yet, when he expressly ordered me off, I obeyed, 
 not out of obedience to him but to set an example to his 
 ship's crew, who ought to obey him. 
 
 To walk to the windward side of the deck is, according 
 to custom, the prerogative of the Captain of a man-of-war, 
 though he oftentimes, nay, commonly, walks with his 
 Lieutenants, when no strangers are by. When a Captain 
 of another man-of-war comes on board the two Captains
 
 114 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 walk to the windward side while the other officers walk 
 on the leeward side. 
 
 It was but a few nights I lodged in the cable tire before 
 I gained an acquaintance with the master of arms. His 
 name was Gillegan, an Irishman, who was a generous and 
 well-disposed man, and in a friendly manner made me 
 an offer of living with him in a little berth which was 
 allotted him between decks and enclosed with canvas; his 
 preferment on board was about equal to that of sergeant 
 in a regiment. I was comparatively happy in acceptance 
 of this clemency and lived with him in friendship till the 
 frigate anchored in the harbor of Cape Fear, North Caro- 
 lina.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 RETURN TO AMERICA. 
 
 Allen's detention in England was of short duration. 
 When removed from the dungeon, in which he was con- 
 fined during the six weeks' voyage across the Atlantic, he 
 little expected ever again to step aboard a ship. He had 
 bid farewell to his friends and country when taken aboard 
 the Gaspee in the harbor of Quebec, bound for England. 
 He had been told on many occasions that he would grace 
 the end of a halter as soon as he was safely landed in 
 England, and from all indications, he fully expected the 
 fulfilment of this promised reward. He was very much 
 surprised, therefore, and doubtless rejoiced inwardly, 
 when ordered aboard the Solbay, which he soon learned 
 was bound for the Carolinas. 
 
 The chief reason not only for Allen's early return to 
 America, as it afterwards transpired, but also those who 
 were taken prisoners at the same time, was to enable the 
 British, at short notice, to effect an exchange of officers 
 of equal rank, together with as many prisoners as they 
 could conveniently carry back to America in the Solbay. 
 
 The Americans had been unusually active during the 
 winter of 1775 and '76, and in consequence had effected 
 the capture not only of men and stores but also of a 
 number of British officers and troops. These, Lord Howe 
 was anxious to regain and doubtless urged the return to 
 
 115
 
 116 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 America, not only of Allen, but of all other acknowledged 
 leaders of the Revolution then confined in British dun- 
 geons. While Allen did not hold a Colonel's commission, 
 the services he rendered the patriot cause in the taking 
 of Fort Ticonderoga placed him little below Washington 
 in the esteem of his countrymen. 
 
 Among the officers captured by the Americans was a 
 Colonel Archibald Campbell, whose release the British 
 were very desirous of effecting, and since Allen held the 
 rank of Colonel by common consent, Lord Howe reasoned 
 that the Americans would be quite willing to make the 
 exchange. It was decided, therefore, to await the return 
 of Allen when Washington would immediately be in- 
 formed of the desired action with respect to their 
 prisoners. 
 
 Nothing of material consequence happened while the 
 fleet rendezvoused at the Cove of Cork, Ireland except a 
 violent storm, which brought old, hardy sailors to their 
 prayers. It was rumored in Cork that Allen was on board 
 the Solbay, with a number of prisoners from America, on 
 which Messrs. Clark and Hays, merchants, together with 
 a number of other benevolently disposed gentlemen, 
 contributed largely to the relief and support of the 
 prisoners, who were thirty-four in number, and in very 
 needy circumstances. A suit of clothes from head to foot 
 including an overcoat or surtout, and two shirts, were 
 bestowed on each of them. I received, says Allen, in super- 
 fine broadcloths, sufficient for two jackets, and two pairs 
 of breeches, overplus of a suit throughout, eight fine 
 Holland shirts and socks ready made, with a number of 
 pairs of silk and worsted hose, two pair shoes, two beaver
 
 Return to America. 117 
 
 hats, one of which was sent me richly laced with gold, by 
 Mr. James Bonwell. The Irish gentlemen furthermore 
 made a large gratuity of wines of the best sort, old spirits, 
 loaf and brown sugar, coffee, tea, chocolate, with a large 
 round of pickled beef and a number of fat turkeys, with 
 many other articles for my sea stores, too tedious to 
 mention here. To the privates, they bestowed on each 
 man, two pounds of tea and six pounds of brown sugar. 
 These articles were received on board at a time when the 
 Captain and First Lieutenant were gone on shore, by 
 permission of the second Lieutenant, a handsome young 
 gentleman who was then under twenty-two years of age ; 
 his name was Douglas, the son of Admiral Douglas, as 
 I was informed. 
 
 As this munificence was so unexpected and plentiful, 
 I may add, needful, it impressed on my mind the highest 
 sense of gratitude towards my benefactors, for I was not 
 only supplied with the necessaries and conveniences of 
 life, but with the grandeur and superfluities of it. Mr. 
 Hays, one of the donors before mentioned, came on board 
 and behaved in the most obliging manner, telling me that 
 he hoped my troubles were past; he was determined, he 
 said, to make my sea stores equal to those of the Captain 
 of the Solbay. He made an offer of live stock and where- 
 with to support them, but I knew this would be denied; 
 and to crown all he sent me by another person, fifty 
 guineas; but I could not be reconciled to receiving the 
 whole, as it might have the appearance of avarice; I 
 therefore only received seven, and am confident not only 
 from the exercise of the present well-timed generosity, 
 but from a large acquaintance with gentlemen of this
 
 118 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 nation, that as a people the Irish excel in liberality and 
 bravery. 
 
 Two days after the receipt of the aforesaid donations, 
 Captain Symonds came on board full of envy towards the 
 prisoners, and swore by all that is good, that the d d 
 American rebels should not be feasted at this rate, by the 
 d d rebels of Ireland; he therefore took away all my 
 liquors before mentioned, except some of the wine which 
 was secreted, and a two gallon jug of old spirits, which was 
 reserved for me per favor of Lieutenant Douglas. The 
 taking of my liquors was abominable in the sight of 
 Lieutenant Douglas ; he therefore spoke in my behalf, till 
 the Captain was angry with him and in consequence 
 proceeded to take away all the tea and sugar which had 
 been given to the prisoners and confiscated it to the use 
 of the ship's crew. Our clothing was not taken away, 
 but the privates were forced to do duty on board. Soon 
 after this there came a boat to the side of the ship and 
 Captain Symonds asked a gentleman who was in it, in 
 my hearing, what his business was. He answered that 
 he was sent to deliver some sea-stores to Colonel Ethan 
 Allen which, if I remember right, he said were sent from 
 Dublin, but the Captain damned him heartily, ordered 
 him away from the ship, and would not suffer him to 
 deliver the stores. I was furthermore informed that the 
 gentlemen from Cork requested of Captain Symonds, that 
 I might be allowed to come into the city and that they 
 would be responsible I should return to the frigate at a 
 given time, which was denied them. 
 
 We sailed from England the 8th day of January, and 
 from the Cove of Cork on the 12th day of February. Just
 
 Return to America. 119 
 
 before we sailed the prisoners who were with me were 
 divided and put on board three different ships of war. 
 This gave me some uneasiness, for they were to a man 
 zealous in the cause of liberty and behaved with a be- 
 coming fortitude in the various scenes of their captivity; 
 but those who were distributed on board other ships of 
 war, were much better used than those who tarried with 
 me, as appeared afterwards. When the fleet, which con- 
 sisted of about forty-five sail, including five men-of-war, 
 sailed from the Cove with a fresh breeze, the appearance 
 was beautiful, abstracted from the unjust and bloody 
 designs they had in view. We had not sailed many days 
 before a mighty storm arose which lasted nearly twenty- 
 four hours without intermission. The wind blew with 
 relentless fury and no man could remain on deck except 
 he was lashed fast, for the waves rolled over the deck by 
 turns, with a forcible rapidity, and every soul on board 
 was anxious for the preservation of the ship, and their 
 lives. In this storm the Thunder-bomb man-of-war 
 sprang a leak and was afterwards floated to some part of 
 the coast of England, and the crew saved. We were then 
 said to be in the Bay of Biscay. After the storm had 
 abated, I could plainly discern that the prisoners were 
 better used for some considerable time. 
 
 Nothing of consequence happened after this, till we 
 had sailed to the Island of Madeira, except a certain 
 favor which I received of Captain Symonds, in conse- 
 quence of an application I made to him for the privilege 
 of his tailor to make me a suit of clothes of the cloth be- 
 stowed on me in Ireland, which he generously granted. 
 I could then walk the deck with a seeming better grace.
 
 120 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 When we had reached Maderia, and anchored, sundry 
 gentlemen with the Captain went on shore, who I con- 
 clude gave the rumor that I was in the frigate, upon 
 which I soon after found Irish generosity was again 
 excited, for a gentleman of that nation sent his clerk on 
 board to know of me if I would accept a sea-store from him, 
 particularly of wine. This matter I made known to the 
 generous Lieutenant Douglas who readily granted me the 
 favor, provided the articles could be brought on board 
 during the time of his command; adding that it would 
 be a pleasure to him to serve me, notwithstanding the 
 opposition he met with before. So I directed the gentle- 
 man's clerk to inform him that I was greatly in need of 
 so signal a charity and desired the young gentleman to 
 make the utmost dispatch, which he did ; but in the mean- 
 time Captain Symonds and his officers came on board, 
 and immediately made ready for sailing. The wind at 
 the same time being fair, we set sail when the young gentle- 
 man was in fair sight with the aforesaid store. 
 
 The reader will doubtless recollect the seven guineas 
 I received at the Cove of Cork. These enabled me to 
 purchase of the purser what I wanted, had not the Captain 
 strictly forbidden it, though I made sundry applications 
 to him for that purpose, but his answer to me when I was 
 sick that it was no matter how soon I was dead, and that 
 he was nowise anxious to preserve the lives of rebels, but 
 wished them all dead; that was indeed the language of 
 most of the ship's crew. I expostulated not only with 
 the Captain, but with other gentlemen on board, on the 
 unreasonableness of such usage ; inferring that, inasmuch 
 as the government in England did not proceed against
 
 Return to America. 121 
 
 me as a capital offender, they should not; for that they 
 were by no i-ieans empowered by any authority, either 
 civil or military, to do so; for the English government 
 had acquitted me by sending me back a prisoner of war 
 to America, and that they should treat me as such. I 
 further drew an inference of impolicy on them, provided 
 they should by hard usage destroy my -life; inasmuch as 
 I might, if living, redeem one of their officers; but the 
 Captain replied that he needed no directions of mine how 
 to treat a rebel; that the British would conquer the 
 American rebels, hang the Congress and such as pro- 
 moted the rebellion, me in particular, and take their own 
 prisoners; so that my life was of no consequence in the 
 scale of their policy. I gave him for answer that if they 
 stayed till they conquered America, before they hanged, 
 I should die of old age, and desired that till such an event 
 should take place, he would at least allow me to purchase 
 of the purser with my own money, such articles as I 
 greatly needed; but he would not permit it, and when I 
 reminded him of the generous and civil usage that the 
 prisoners held in captivity by the Americans met with, 
 he said that it was not owing to their goodness, but to 
 their timidity for. he said, they expect to be conquered 
 and therefore dare not misuse our prisoners, and in fact 
 this was the language of the British officers, till General 
 Burgoyne was taken, happy event, and not only of the 
 officers but of the whole British army. I appeal to all 
 my brother prisoners, who have been with the British in 
 the southern department, for a confirmation of what I 
 have advanced on this subject. The surgeon of the Sol- 
 bay, whose name was North, was a very humane and
 
 122 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 obliging man and took the best care of the prisoners who 
 were sick. 
 
 The 3d of May, the Solbay cast anchor in the harbor of 
 Cape Fear, in North Carolina, as did Sir Peter Parker's 
 ship of fifty guns, a little back of the bar; for there was 
 no depth of water for him to come into the harbor. These 
 two men-of-war and fourteen sail of transports and others, 
 came after so that most of the fleet rendezvoused at Cape 
 Fear for three weeks. The soldiers on board the trans- 
 ports were sickly in consequence of so long a voyage; added 
 to this, the small-pox carried off many of them. They 
 landed on the mainland and formed a camp, but the 
 riflemen annoyed them and caused them to move to an 
 island in the harbor; such cursing of riflemen I have never 
 heard. 
 
 A detachment of regulars was sent up Brunswick 
 river; as they landed they were fired on by those marks- 
 men, and they came back next day damning the rebels 
 for their unmanly ways of fighting and swearing that they 
 would give no quarter for they took sight at them, and 
 were behind timber skulking about. One of the de- 
 tachments said they lost one man, but a negro who was 
 with them and heard what they said, soon after told ms 
 that he helped to bury thirty-one of them. This did me 
 some good to find my countrymen giving them battle, 
 for I never heard such swaggering as among General 
 Clinton's little army, who commanded at that time, and I 
 am apt to think there were four thousand men, though 
 not two-thirds of them fit for duty. I heard numbers of 
 them say that the trees in America should hang well with 
 fruit that campaign, for they would give no quarter.
 
 Return to America. 123 
 
 This was in the mouths of those whom I heard speak on the 
 subject, officers as well as soldiers. I wished at that time 
 my countrymen knew as well as I did what a murdering 
 and cruel enemy they had to deal with; but experience 
 has since taught this country what they are to expect at 
 the hands of Britons, when in their power. 
 
 The prisoners, who had been sent on board different 
 men-of-war, at the Cove of Cork, were collected together 
 and the whole of them put on board the Mercury frigate, 
 Captain Montague, except one of the Canadians who died 
 on the passage from Ireland, and Peter Noble who made 
 his escape from the Sphinx man-of-war, in this harbor 
 and by extraordinary swimming, got safe home to New 
 England and gave intelligence of the usage of his brother 
 prisoners. The Mercury set sail from this port for Halifax 
 about the 20th of May, and Sir Peter Parker was about 
 to sail with the land force, under the command of General 
 Clinton, for the reduction of Charleston in South Caro- 
 lina, and when I heard of his defeat in Halifax, it gave 
 me inexpressible satisfaction. 
 
 I now found myself under a worse captain than Symonds , 
 for Montague was loaded with prejudice against every- 
 body and everything that was not stamped with royalty; 
 and being by nature underwitted, his wrath was heavier 
 than the others, or at least his mind was in no instance 
 liable to be diverted by good sense, humor or bravery, of 
 which Symonds was, by turns, susceptible. A Captain 
 Francis Proctor was added to our number of prisoners 
 when we were first put on board this ship. This gentle- 
 man had formerly belonged to the English service. The 
 Captain, and in fact, all the gentlemen of the ship were
 
 124 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 very much incensed against him, and put him in irons 
 without the least provocation, and he was continued in 
 this miserable situation about three months. In this 
 passage, the prisoners were infected with the scurvy, 
 some of them more than others, but all quite severely. 
 The ship's crew was to a great degree troubled with it, and 
 I concluded it was catching. Several of the crew died 
 with it on their passage. I was weak and feeble in conse- 
 quence of so long and cruel a captivity, yet had but little 
 of the scurvy. 
 
 The purser was again expressly forbidden by the Cap- 
 tain to let me have anything out of his store, upon which 
 I went on deck and in the handsomest manner, requested 
 the favor of purchasing a few necessaries of the purser, 
 which was denied me. He further told me that I should 
 be hanged as soon as I arrived at Halifax. I tried to 
 reason the matter with him, but found him proof against 
 reason. I also held up his honor to view and his be- 
 havior to me and the prisoners in general as being de- 
 rogatory in the extreme, but found his honor impene- 
 trable. I then endeavored to touch his humanity, but 
 found he had none, for his preposession of bigotry to his 
 own party had confirmed him in an opinion that no 
 humanity was due to unroyalists, but seemed to think 
 that heaven and earth were made merely to gratify the 
 King and his creatures. He uttered many unintelligible 
 and grovelling ideas, a little tinctured with monarchy, 
 but stood well to his text of hanging me. He afterwards 
 forbade his surgeon to administer any help to the sick 
 prisoners. I was every night shut down in the cable 
 tire with the rest of the prisoners, and we all lived miser-
 
 Return to America. 125 
 
 ably while under his power. But I received some gen- 
 erosity from several of the midshipmen who, in a degree, 
 alleviated my misery; one of their names was Putrass 
 the names of the others I do not now recollect; but they 
 were obliged to be private in the bestowment of their 
 favor which was sometimes good wine bitters, and at 
 other times, a generous drink of grog. 
 
 Some time in the first week of June, we came to 
 anchor at the Hook, off New York, where we remained but 
 three days, in which time Governor Tryon, Mr. Kemp, 
 the old attorney-general of New York, and several other 
 perfidious and overgrown tories and land-jobbers came 
 on board. Tryon viewed me with a stern countenance as I 
 was walking on the leeward side of the deck with the 
 midshipmen; he and his companions were walking with 
 the Captain and Lieutenant, on the windward side of the 
 ship, but never spoke to me, though it is altogether prob- 
 able that he thought of the old quarrel between him,the 
 old government of New York, and the Green Mountain 
 boys. They went with the Captain into the cabin and 
 the same afternoon returned on board a vessel which lay 
 near the Hook, where, at that time, they took sanctuary 
 from the resentment of their injured country. What 
 passed between the officers of the ship and these visitors 
 I know not ; but this I know, that my treatment from the 
 principal officers was more severe afterwards. 
 
 We arrived at Halifax not far from the middle of June, 
 where the ship's crew, which was infected with the scurvy, 
 were taken on shore and shallow trenches dug, into which 
 they were put and partly covered with earth. Indeed 
 every proper measure was taken for their relief. The
 
 126 Ethan Alien of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 prisoners were not permitted any sort of medicine, but 
 were put on board a sloop which lay in the harbor near the 
 town of Halifax, surrounded with several men-of-war 
 and their tenders, and a guard constantly set over them, 
 night and day. The sloop we had wholly to ourselves, 
 except the guard who occupied the forecastle; here we 
 were cruelly pinched with hunger. It seemed to me that 
 we had not more than one-third of the common allowance. 
 We were all seized with violent hunger and faintness. 
 We divided our scanty allowance as exact as possible. I 
 shared the same fate with the rest, and though they 
 offered me more than an even share, I refused to accept 
 it, as it was a time of substantial distress, which in my 
 opinion I ought to partake equally with the rest, and set 
 an example of virtue and fortitude to our little common- 
 wealth. 
 
 I sent letter after letter to Captain Montague, who 
 still had the care of us, and also to his lieutenant, whose 
 name I cannot call to mind, but could obtain no answer, 
 much less a redress of grievances; and to add to the 
 calamity, near a dozen of the prisoners were dangerously 
 ill of the scurvy. I wrote private letters to the doctors 
 to procure if possible some remedy for the sick, but in 
 vain. The chief physician came by in a boat so close 
 that the oars touched the sloop we were in and I uttered 
 my complaint in the 'gentlest manner to him, but he 
 never so much as turned his head, or made me any answer, 
 though I continued speaking till he was out of hearing. 
 Our cause then became yery deplorable. Still I kept 
 writing to the Captain, till he ordered the guards, as they 
 told me, not to bring any more letters from me to him.
 
 Return to America. 127 
 
 In the meantime an event happened worth relating. 
 One of the men, almost dead of the scurvy, lay by the 
 side of the sloop and a canoe of Indians coming by, he 
 purchased two quarts of strawberries, and ate them at 
 once and it almost cured him. The money he gave for 
 them was all the money he had in the world. After that 
 we tried every way to procure more of that fruit, reason- 
 ing from analogy that they might have the same effect on 
 others infected with the same disease, but could obtain 
 none. 
 
 Meanwhile the doctor's mate of the Mercury came pri- 
 vately on board the prison sloop and presented me with 
 a large vial of smart drops, which proved to be good for 
 the scurvy, though vegetables and some other ingredients 
 were requisite for a cure; but the drops gave at least a 
 check to the disease. This was a well-timed exertion 
 of humanity, but the doctor's name has slipped my 
 mind, and in my opinion, it was the means of saving the 
 lives of several men. 
 
 The guard which was set over us, was by this time 
 touched with the feelings of compassion, and I finally 
 trusted one of them with a letter of complaint to Gov- 
 ernor Arbuthnot of Halifax, which he found means to 
 communicate, and which had the desired effect; for the 
 Governor sent an officer and surgeon on board the prison- 
 sloop to know the truth of the complaint. The officer's 
 name was Russell, and held the rank of lieutenant, and 
 treated me in a friendly and polite manner, and was 
 really angry at the cruel and unmanly usage the prisoners 
 met with, and with the surgeon made a true report of 
 matters to Governor Arbuthnot, who, either by his order
 
 128 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 or influence, took us next day from the prison-sloop to 
 Halifax gaol, where I became acquainted with the now 
 Honorable James Lovell, one of the members of Congress, 
 for the State of Massachusetts Bay. The sick were taken 
 to the hospital, and the Canadians who were effective, 
 were employed in the King's works; and when their 
 countrymen were recovered from the scurvy and joined 
 them, they all deserted the King's employ and were not 
 heard of at Halifax as long as the remainder of the prison- 
 ers continued there, which was till the middle of October. 
 We were on board the prison-sloop about six weeks, and 
 were landed at Halifax near the middle of August. Sev- 
 eral of our English-American prisoners who were cured 
 of the scurvy at the hospital, made their escape from 
 thence, and after a long time, reached their old habita- 
 tions. 
 
 I had now but thirteen with me of those who were 
 taken in Canada, and remained in jail with me in Halifax, 
 who, in addition to those who were imprisoned before, 
 made our number about thirty-four; we were all locked 
 up in one common large room without regard to rank, 
 education or any other accomplishment, where we con- 
 tinued from the setting to the rising sun, as sundry of 
 them were infected with the scurvy and other distempers, 
 the furniture of this spacious room consisted principally 
 of excrement tubs. We petitioned for a removal of the 
 sick to the hospitals, but were denied. We remon- 
 strated against the ungenerous usage of being confined 
 with the privates, as being contrary to the laws and cus- 
 toms of nations, and particularly ungrateful in them in 
 consequence of the gentleman-like usage which the
 
 Return to America. 129 
 
 British imprisoned officers met with in America ; and thus 
 we wearied ourselves petitioning and remonstrating, but 
 to no purpose at all, for General Massey, who commanded 
 at Halifax, was as inflexible as the devil himself a fine 
 preparation this for Mr. Lovell, member of the Conti- 
 nental Congress. 
 
 Lieutenant Russell, whom I have mentioned before, 
 came to visit me in prison, and assured me that he had 
 done his utmost to procure my parole for enlargement; 
 at which a British captain, who was then the town major, 
 expressed compassion for the gentlemen confined in the 
 filthy place, and assured me that he had used his influence 
 to procure their enlargement; his name was near like 
 Ramsay. Among the prisoners there were six in number 
 who had a legal claim to a parole, viz., James Lovell, Esq., 
 Captain Francis Proctor, a Mr. Howland, master of a 
 Continental armed vessel, a Mr. Taylor, his mate, and 
 myself. 
 
 As to the article of provision, we were all served much 
 better than in any part of my captivity; and since it was 
 Mr. LovelFs misfortune and mine to be prisoners, and in so 
 wretched circumstances, I was happy that we were to- 
 gether, as a mutual support to each other, and to the un- 
 fortunate prisoners with us. Our first attention was the 
 preservation of ourselves and our injured little republic; 
 the rest of our time we devoted interchangeably to 
 politics and philosophy, as patience was a needful exercise 
 in so evil a situation. 
 
 I had not been in this jail many days before a worthy 
 and charitable woman, Mrs. Blackden, by name, supplied 
 me with a good dinner of fresh meats every day, with
 
 130 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 garden fruit, and sometimes with a bottle of wine; not- 
 withstanding which, I had not been more than three 
 weeks in the place before I lost all appetite for the most 
 delicious food, as also did sundry of the prisoners, particu- 
 larly a Sergeant Moore, a man of courage and fidelity. I 
 have several times seen him hold the boatswain of the 
 Solbay frigate when he attempted to strike him, and 
 laughed him out of the conceit of using him as a slave. 
 
 A doctor visited the sick and did the best (as I suppose) 
 he could for them, to no apparent purpose. I grew 
 weaker and weaker, as did the rest. Several of them 
 could not help themselves. At last I reasoned in my own 
 mind that raw onions would be good. I made use of 
 them and found immediate relief, as did the sick in 
 general, particularly Sergeant Moore, who soon recovered 
 almost from the shades. Though I had met with a little 
 revival, still I found the malignant hand of Britain had 
 greatly reduced my constitution with stroke upon stroke. 
 Mr. Lovell and myself used every argument and entreaty 
 that could be well conceived of in order to obtain gentle- 
 manly-like usage, to no purpose. I then wrote General 
 Massey as severe a letter as I possibly could, with my 
 friend Lovell's assistance. The contents of it were to 
 give the British, as a nation, and him, as an individual, 
 their true character. This roused the rascal, for he could 
 not bear to see his and the nation's deformity in that 
 transparent letter which I sent him. He therefore put 
 himself in a great rage about it, and showed the letter to 
 a number of British officers, particularly to Captain 
 Smith, of the Lark frigate, who, instead of joining with 
 him in disapprobation, commended the spirit of it, upon
 
 Return to America. 131 
 
 which General Massey said to him, "Do you take the 
 part of a rebel against me?" Captain Smith answered 
 that he rather spoke his sentiments, and there was a dis- 
 sension in opinion between them. Some officers took the 
 part of the General, and others, of the Captain. Thii I 
 was informed of by a gentleman who had it from Captain 
 Smith. 
 
 In a few days after this the prisoners were ordered to 
 go on board of a man-of-war which was bound for New 
 York, but two of them were not able to go on board, and 
 were left at Halifax; one died and the other recovered. 
 This was about the twentieth of October, and soon after 
 we had got on board the Captain sent for me in particular 
 to come on the quarter deck. I went, not knowing that 
 it was Captain Smith or his ship at that time, and ex- 
 pected to meet the same rigorous usage I had commonly 
 met with, and prepared my mind accordingly, but when I 
 came on deck the captain met me with his hand, wel- 
 comed me to his ship, invited me to dine with him that 
 day and assured me that I should be treated as a gentle- 
 man, and that he had given orders that I should be treated 
 with respect by the ship's crew. This was so unexpected 
 and sudden a transition that it drew tears from my eyes, 
 which all the ill usage I had before met with was not able 
 to produce, nor could I at first hardly speak, but soon 
 recovered myself and expressed my gratitude for so unex- 
 pected a favor; and let him know that I felt anxiety of 
 mind in reflecting that his situation and mine were such 
 that it was not probable that it would ever be in my 
 power to return the favor. Captain Smith replied that 
 he had no reward in view, but only treated me as a
 
 132 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 gentleman ought to be treated; he said, "This is a 
 mutable world, and one gentleman never knows but that 
 it may be in his power to help another." Soon after I 
 found this to be the same Captain Smith who took my 
 part against General Massey; but he never mentioned 
 anything of it to me, and I thought it impolite in me to in- 
 terrogate him as to any disputes which might have arisen 
 between him and the General on my account, as I was a 
 prisoner, and that it was at his option to make free with 
 me on the subject if he pleased; and if he did not, I 
 might take it for granted that it would be unpleasant for 
 me to query about it, though I had a strong propensity to 
 converse with him on that subject. 
 
 I dined with the Captain, agreeable to his invitation, 
 and oftentimes with the Lieutenant in the gun room, but 
 in general ate and drank with my friend Lovell and the 
 other gentlemen who were prisoners with me, where I 
 also slept. 
 
 We had a little berth enclosed with canvas, between 
 decks, where we enjoyed ourselves very well, in hopes of 
 an exchange; besides our friends at Halifax had a little 
 notice of our departure, and supplied us with spirituous 
 liquor and many articles of provision for the cost. Cap- 
 tain Burke, having been taken prisoner, was added to our 
 company (he had commanded an American armed 
 vessel) and was generously treated by the Captain, and 
 all the officers of the ship, as well as myself. We now had 
 in all near thirty prisoners on board, and as we were sail- 
 ing along the coast, if I recollect right, off Rhode Island, Cap- 
 tain Burke, with an under-officer of the ship, whose name 
 I do not recollect, came to our little berth, proposed to
 
 Return to America. 133 
 
 kill Captain Smith and the principal officers of the frigate 
 and take it, adding that there were thirty-five thousand 
 pounds sterling in the same. Captain Burke likewise 
 averred that a strong party out of the ship's crew was in 
 the conspiracy, and urged me and the gentleman that was 
 with me, to use our influence with the private prisoners 
 to execute the design and take the ship with the cash into 
 one of our own ports. 
 
 Upon which I replied that we had been too well used 
 on board to murder the officers, that -I could by no 
 means reconcile it to my conscience, and that in fact it 
 should not be done; and while I was yet speaking, my 
 friend Lovell confirmed what I had said, and further 
 pointed out the ungratefulness of such an act; that it did 
 not fall short of murder; and in fine, all the gentlemen in 
 the berth opposed Captain Burke and his colleague; but 
 they strenuously urged that the conspiracy would be 
 found out, and that it would cost them their lives, pro- 
 vided they did not execute their design. I then inter- 
 posed spiritedly, and put an end to further argument on 
 the subject, and told them that they might depend upon 
 it, upon my honor, that I would faithfully guard Captain 
 Smith's life. If they should attempt the assault I would 
 assist him (for they desired me to remain neutral), and 
 that the same honor that guarded Captain Smith's life 
 would guard their's; and it was agreed by those present 
 not to reveal the conspiracy, to the intent that no man 
 should be put to death in consequence of what had been 
 projected; and Captain Burke and his colleague went to 
 stifle the matter among their associates. I could not 
 help calling to mind what Captain Smith said to me when
 
 134 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 I first came on board: "This is a mutable world, and one 
 gentleman never knows but that it may be in his power 
 to help another." Captain Smith and his officers still 
 behaved with their usual courtesy, and I never heard any 
 more of the conspiracy.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 SCIENTIFIC BARBARITY OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 In the latter part of October, 1776, the sloop in which 
 Allen and his fellow prisoners were confined, and which 
 had been converted into a floating prison at Halifax, 
 arrived in New York harbor. The city had just been 
 re-taken by the British under Admiral and Lord 
 Howe. The battle of Long Island, which resulted so 
 disastrously to the Americans, the capture and execution 
 of Captain Nathan Hale, the martyr spy, the evacuation 
 of New York City by Washington and his disheartened 
 army of less than one-third of the strength of the enemy 
 these were the determining causes which led the Howes to 
 concentrate their scattered forces in front of the newly- 
 acquired city which had afforded the patriot army the 
 few comforts they enjoyed throughout the seven years of 
 their struggle for freedom. 
 
 During the period of the sloop's stay, which was only 
 a few days, Captain Smith informed Colonel Allen that 
 he had recommended him to Admiral Richard Howe and 
 General William Howe, as a gentleman of honor and 
 veracity, and desired they might treat him as such. Cap- 
 tain Burke was ordered on board a prison ship in the 
 harbor, and Colonel Allen, with the other prisoners, to a 
 transport ship, commanded by Captain Craige, who re- 
 ceived him into the cabin with himself and officers. 
 
 135
 
 136 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 I fared, says Allen, as they did, and was in every respect 
 well treated, in consequence of directions from Captain 
 Smith. 
 
 In a few weeks after this I had the happiness to part 
 with my friend Lovell, for his sake, whom the enemy 
 affected to treat as a private. He was a gentleman of 
 merit, and liberally educated, but had no commission. 
 They maligned him on account of his unshaken attach- 
 ment to the cause of his country. He was exchanged for 
 a Governor Philip Skene, of the British. I continued in 
 this ship until the latter part of November, where I con- 
 tracted an acquaintance with a British captain whose 
 name has slipped my memory. He was what we may 
 call a genteel, hearty fellow. I remember an expression 
 of his over a bottle of wine, to this import: "That there 
 is greatness of soul for personal friendship to subsist be- 
 tween you and me, as we are upon opposite sides, and may 
 at another day be obliged to face each other in the field." 
 I am confident that he was as faithful as any officer in the 
 British army. At another sitting he offered to bet a 
 dozen of wine that Fort Washington would be in the hands 
 of the British in three days. I took the bet, and would, 
 had I known that that would have been the case, and the 
 third day afterwards we heard a prodigious heavy can- 
 nonade, and that day the fort was taken, sure enough. 
 Some months after, when I was on parole, he called upon 
 me with his usual humor and mentioned the bet. I ac- 
 knowledged I had lost it , but he said he did not mean to 
 take it then, as I was a prisoner; that he would, another 
 day, call on me, when their army came to Bennington, I 
 replied that he was quite too generous, as I had fairly lost
 
 Scientific Barbarity of Great Britain. 137 
 
 it; besides the Green Mountain Boys would not suffer them 
 to come to Bennington. This was all in good humor. I 
 should have been glad to have seen him after the defeat 
 at Bennington, but did not. It was customary for a guard 
 to attend the prisoners, which was often changed. One 
 ~was composed of tories from Connecticut, in the vicinity 
 of Fairfield and Green Farms. The sergeant's name was 
 Hoit. They were very full of their invectives against the 
 country, swaggered of their loyalty to their King and 
 exclaimed bitterly against the "cowardly Yankees," as 
 they were pleased to term them, but finally contented 
 themselves with saying that when the country was over- 
 come, they should be well rewarded for their loyalty, out 
 of the estates of the whigs, which would be confiscated. 
 This I found to be the general language of tories after I 
 arrived from England on the American coasts. I heard 
 sundry of them relate that the British generals had en- 
 gaged them as ample reward for all their losses, disap- 
 pointments and expenditures, out of the forfeited rebels' 
 estate. This language early taught me what to do with 
 tories' estates, as far as my influence can go. For it is 
 really a game of hazard between whig and tory. The 
 whigs must inevitably have lost all, in consequence of the 
 abilities of the tories, and their good friends, the British, 
 and it is no more than right the tories should run the same 
 risk, in consequence of the abilities of the whigs. But of 
 this, more will be observed in the sequel of this narrative. 
 Some time near the last of November, the prisoners 
 were landed at New York, and I was admitted to parole, 
 with the other officers, viz., Proctor, Howland and Taylor. 
 The privates were put into the filthy churches in New
 
 138 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 York, with the distressed prisoners that were taken at 
 Fort Washington; and the second night, Sergeant Roger 
 Moore, who was bold and enterprising, found means to 
 make his escape, with every one of the remaining pris- 
 oners that were taken with me, except three, who were 
 soon after exchanged, so that out of thirty-one prisoners 
 who went with me only two died with the enemy and 
 three only were exchanged, one of whom died after he 
 came within our lines. All the rest at different times 
 made their escape from the enemy. 
 
 I now found myself on parole and restricted to the 
 limits of the city of New York, where I soon projected 
 means to live in some measure agreeable to my rank, 
 though I was destitute of cash. My constitution was 
 almost worn out by such a long and barbarous captivity. 
 The enemy gave out that I was crazy, and wholly un- 
 manned; but my vitals held sound; nor was I delirious 
 any more than I have been from my youth up; but my 
 extreme circumstances, at certain times, rendered it 
 politic to act, in some measure, the madman; and in con- 
 sequence of a regular diet and exercise, my blood recruited 
 and my nerves in a great measure recovered their former 
 tone, strength, and usefulness, in the course of six months. 
 
 The reader is next invited to a retrospective view of 
 the doleful scene of inhumanity, exercised by General 
 Howe, and the army under his command, towards the 
 prisoners taken on Long Island, on the 27th day of Au- 
 gust, 1776; many of these men were inhumanly and bar- 
 barously murdered after they had surrendered their arms , 
 particularly a General Odel, of Woodhull, belonging to 
 the militia, who was hacked to pieces with cutlasses
 
 Scientific Barbarity of Great Britain. 139 
 
 while yet alive, by the light horsemen, and also a Captain 
 Fellows of the Continental army, who was thrust through 
 with a bayonet of which wound he died instantly. 
 
 Many others, among whom was a Captain Nathan 
 Hale of the Connecticut Rangers, were hanged by the neck 
 till they were dead; five were strung to the limb of a white 
 oak tree, and without any reason assigned, except that they 
 were fighting in defense of the only blessing worth pre- 
 serving. And, indeed, those who had the misfortune to 
 fall into their hands at Fort Washington, in the month of 
 November following, met with but very little better 
 usage, except that they were reserved from immediate 
 death to famish and die with hunger; in fine, the word 
 rebel applied to all vanquished persons, without regard 
 to rank, who were in the continental service on the 27th 
 day of August aforesaid, was thought by the enemy, 
 sufficient to sanctify whatever cruelties they were pleased 
 to inflict, death itself not excepted. 
 
 The private soldiers who were brought to New York, 
 continues Allen, were crowded into churches, and en- 
 vironed with slavish Hessian guards, a people of a strange 
 language, who were sent to America for no other design 
 but cruelty and desolation; and again by merciless 
 Britons whose mode of communicating ideas being in- 
 telligible in this country, served only to tantalize and in- 
 sult the helpless and perishing; but above all, the hellish 
 delight and triumphs of the tories over them, as they were 
 dying by hundreds. This was too much for me to bear 
 as a spectator, for I saw the tories exulting over the dead 
 bodies of their murdered countrymen. I have gone into 
 the churches and seen many of the prisoners in the agonies
 
 140 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 of death in consequence of hunger, and others speechless, 
 and near death, biting pieces of chips ; others pleading for 
 God's sake for something to eat, and at the same time 
 shivering with the cold. Hollow groans saluted the 
 ears, and despair seemed to be imprinted on every one of 
 their countenances. The filth of these churches, in con- 
 sequence of the fluxes, was almost beyond description. 
 The floors were covered with excrements. I have care- 
 fully sought to direct my steps so as to avoid it, but could 
 not. They would beg for God's sake for one copper or 
 morsel of bread. I have seen in one of these churches, 
 seven dead, at the same time, lying among the excre- 
 ments of their bodies. 
 
 It was a common practice with the enemy to convey 
 the dead from these filthy places in carts, to be slightly 
 buried; but I have seen whole gangs of tories making de- 
 rision and exulting over the dead, saying, "There goes 
 another load of damned rebels." I have observed the 
 British soldiers to be full of their blackguard jokes, and 
 vaunting on these occasions; but they appeared to me 
 to be less malignant than the tories. 
 
 The provisions dealt out to the prisoners was by no 
 means sufficient for the support of life. It was deficient 
 in quantity, and much more in quality. The prisoners 
 often presented me with a sample of their bread which 
 I certify was damaged to that degree that it was loathsome 
 and unfit to be eaten, and I am bold to aver that it had 
 been condemned and was of the very worst sort. I have 
 seen and been fed upon damaged bread in the course of 
 my captivity and observed the quality of such bread as 
 has been condemned by the enemy, among which was very
 
 Scientific Barbarity of Great Britain. 141 
 
 little so effectually spoiled as that which was dealt out to 
 these prisoners. Their allowance of meat (as they told 
 me) was quite trifling and of the basest sort. I never 
 saw any of it, but was informed, bad as it was, it was 
 swallowed almost as quickly as they got hold of it. I saw 
 some of them sucking bones after they were speechless; 
 others, who could yet speak and had the use of their 
 reason, urged me in the strongest and most pathetic man- 
 ner, to use my interest in their behalf . " For you plainly 
 see," said they, "that we are devoted to death and de- 
 struction." And after I had examined more particularly 
 into their truly deplorable condition, and had become 
 more fully apprized of the essential facts, I was per- 
 suaded that it was a premeditated and systematical plan 
 of the British council to destroy the youths of our land, 
 with a view thereby to deter the country, and make it 
 submit to their despotism ; but that I could not do them 
 any material service, and that, by any public attempt for 
 that purpose, I might endanger myself by frequenting 
 places the most nauseous and contagious that could be 
 conceived of. I refrained from going into the churches, but 
 frequently conversed with such of the prisoners as were 
 permitted to come into the yard, and found that the sys- 
 tematical misusage still continued. The guard would often 
 drive me away with their fixed bayonets. A Hessian one 
 day followed me five or six rods, but by making use of my 
 legs I got rid of the lubber. Sometimes I could obtain a 
 little conversation notwithstanding their severities. 
 
 I was in one of the church yards, and it was rumored 
 among those in the church when many of the prisoners 
 came with their usual complaints to me, and among the
 
 142 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 rest, a large-boned, tall young man, from Pennsylvania, 
 as he told me, who was reduced to a mere skeleton. He 
 said he was glad to see me before he died, which he ex- 
 pected to have done last night, but was a little revived; 
 he furthermore informed me that he and his brother had 
 been urged to enlist into the British service, but both had 
 resolved to die first; that his brother had died last night 
 in consequence of that resolution, and that he expected 
 shortly to follow him. But I made the other prisoners 
 stand a little off, and told him with a low voice to enlist. 
 He then asked whether it was right in the sight of God? 
 I assured him to deceive the British by enlisting, and 
 desert the first opportunity afforded; upon which he 
 answered with transport, that he would enlist. I charged 
 him not to mention my name, as his adviser lest it should 
 get air, and I should be closely confined, in consequence 
 of it. 
 
 The integrity of these suffering prisoners is hardly 
 credible. Many hundreds, I am confident, submitted to 
 death rather than enlist in the British service, which I 
 am informed they most generally were pressed to do. I 
 was astonished at the resolution of the brothers particu- 
 larly. It seems that they could not be stimulated to 
 such exertions of heroism from ambition, as they were 
 but obscure soldiers; strong indeed must be the internal 
 principle of virtue, which supported them to the 
 death, and one of them actually gave up his life as 
 did many hundred others. I readily grant that instances 
 of public virtue are no excitement to the sordid and 
 vicious; nor on the other hand, will all the barbarity of 
 Britain and Heshland awaken them to a sense of their
 
 Scientific Barbarity of Great Britain. 143 
 
 duty to the public; but these things will have their 
 proper effect on the generous and brave. The officers on 
 parole were most of them zealous if possible to afford the 
 miserable soldiery relief, and often consulted with one 
 another on the subject, but to no effect, being destitute 
 of the means of subsistence which they needed. Nor could 
 the officers conceive any measure which they thought 
 would alter their fate, or so much as be a means of getting 
 them out of those filthy places, and into the fresh air. 
 Some thought that all the officers should go in procession 
 to General Howe and plead the cause of the perishing 
 soldiers; but this proposal was negatived, because Gen- 
 eral Howe must needs be well acquainted and have a 
 thorough knowledge of the state and condition of the 
 prisoners, in every one of their wretched apartments, and 
 that much more particular and exact than any officer on 
 parole could be supposed to have, as the General had a 
 return of the circumstances of the prisoners by his own 
 officers, every morning, of the number which were alive 
 as also the number which died every twenty-four hours; 
 and consequently the bill of mortality, as collected from 
 the daily returns lay before him, with all the material 
 situations and circumstances of the prisoners; and pro- 
 vided the officers should go in procession to General 
 Howe, according to the projection, it would give him the 
 greatest affront, and that he would either retort upon 
 them that it was no part of their parole to instruct him 
 in his conduct to prisoners; that they were mutinying 
 against his authority, and by affronting him, had for- 
 feited their parole; or that more probably, instead of 
 saying one word to them, would order them all into as
 
 144 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 wretched a confinement as the soldiers, whom they sought 
 to relieve; for at that time, the British, from the General 
 to the private sentinel, were confident, and did not hesi- 
 tate to express their belief, that they would yet conquer 
 the country. Thus the consultation of the officers was 
 confounded in consequence of the dread which at that 
 time lay on their minds of offending General Howe ; for 
 they knew so murderous a tyrant would not be too good 
 to destroy even the officers on the least pretense of an 
 affront, and they were as much in his power as were the 
 soldiers. As General Howe perfectly understood the con- 
 dition of the private soldiers, it was argued that it was 
 exactly such as he and his council had advised, and as he 
 meant to destroy them it would be to no purpose for the 
 paroled officers to try to dissuade him from it, as they 
 were helpless and liable to the same fate on giving the 
 least affront; indeed, anxious apprehensions disturbed 
 them in their distressing circumstances. 
 
 In the meantime mortality raged to such an intoler- 
 able degree among the prisoners that the very school boys 
 in the streets knew the mental design of it in some measure ; 
 at least, they knew that they were starved to death. 
 Some poor women contributed to their necessities till 
 their children were almost starved, and all persons of 
 common understanding knew that they were doomed to 
 the cruelest and worst of deaths. It was also proposed 
 by some to make a written representation, signed by the 
 officers, of the condition of the soldiery, and that it 
 should be couched in such terms as though they were 
 apprehensive that the General was imposed upon by his 
 officers in their daily returns to him of the state and con-
 
 Scientific Barbarity of Great Britain. 145 
 
 dition of the prisoners and that, therefore, the officers, 
 moved with compassion, were constrained to communicate 
 to him the facts relative to them, nothing doubting but 
 that they would meet with a speedy redress; but this 
 proposal was most generally negatived also, and for much 
 the same reasons offered in the other case ; for it was con- 
 jectured that General Howe's indignation would be moved 
 against such officers as should attempt to whip him over 
 his officers' backs; that he would discern that he himself 
 was really struck at, and not the officers who made the 
 daily returns; therefore, self-preservation deterred the 
 officers from either petitioning or remonstrating with 
 General Howe, either verbally or in writing, as also the 
 consideration that no valuable purpose to the distressed 
 would be obtained. 
 
 I made several rough drafts on the subject, one of 
 which I exhibited to Colonels Magaw, Miles and Atlee, and 
 they said that they would consider the matter. Soon after 
 I called on them, and some of the gentlemen informed me 
 that they had written to the General on the subject, and 
 I concluded that the gentlemen thought it best that they 
 should write without me, as there was such spirited 
 aversion subsisting between the British and me. 
 
 In the meantime a Colonel Hussecker, who claimed to 
 belong to the Continental army, was taken prisoner, and 
 brought to New York. He reported that the country was 
 almost universally submitting to British authority, and 
 that there would be little or no more opposition to Great 
 Britain. This at first gave the enemy no small amount 
 of surprise, but in a few days they recovered from the 
 shock; Colonel Hussecker, being a German, was per-
 
 146 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 mitted to dine with General De Heister, a countryman of 
 his serving in the British army, and from his conduct they 
 thought he was a spy, at least he was considered so by 
 most of the officers, and his actions were closely watched. 
 At this time our little army was retreating across New 
 Jersey, while our men were being murdered by hundreds 
 in New York. The army of British and Hessian hirelings 
 prevailed for a little while, as though it was ordered by 
 Providence to show to the latest posterity what the 
 British would have done if they could, and what the 
 general result would have been in consequence of their 
 success in conquering the Americans. This only excited 
 every man to exert himself all the more in the defence of 
 liberty, for the establishment of the independency of the 
 United States of America now seemed no longer impos- 
 sible. In the face of these obstacles and scenes of adverse 
 fortune Washington remained immovable and obstinate. 
 He had taken up his sword in the cause of liberty and he 
 was determined to win or perish in the attempt. This 
 determination was his support and consolation in the day 
 of his humiliation when he retreated before the enemy 
 through New Jersey into Pennsylvania. To add to the 
 troubles and discomfitures of the Americans, General 
 Lee, together with a small force, was surprised and taken 
 prisoner at Baskenridge. The patriot army was greatly 
 reduced by the loss of several hundred men taken 
 prisoners as well as disabled by disease or death on the 
 field and expiration of terms of enlistment. Washington 
 was obliged to retreat with his prisoners towards Phila- 
 delphia. General Howe went in pursuit, notwithstanding 
 the severity of the weather.
 
 Scientific Barbarity of Great Britain. 147 
 
 During this gloomy state of affairs many persons 
 joined the British army in order to secure food, raiment 
 and protection. But a small band of heroes checked the 
 tide of British success. A division of Hessians had ad- 
 vanced to Trenton, where they rested in apparent security. 
 Washington was on the opposite side of the Delaware 
 with about three thousand men, many of whom were 
 without shoes or sufficient clothing while the river between 
 them was covered with floating ice. Washington in 
 the meantime was not idle; he knew the importance of 
 striking a decisive blow if only to encourage the slowly 
 expiring hopes of his countrymen; so, on the night of 
 December 25th, 1776, he crossed the river and took the 
 enemy by surprise. The whole body, consisting of about 
 nine hundred men, was captured with little or no 
 resistance. Few of the Hessians were killed, among 
 those who were, howerer, was a Colonel Rahl, who was 
 in command of this detachment. 
 
 This surprise and capture of the Hessians greatly 
 enraged the British, who were still vastly more numerous 
 than the Continental troops. They collected their 
 forces at once and marched from Princeton to attack 
 Washington, who was then at Trenton, leaving a 
 detachment from their main body at Princeton for 
 the support of that place. On the 2nd of January, 1777, 
 Lord Cornwallis appeared near Trenton, with a strong 
 body of troops. Much skirmishing was done, which im- 
 peded the march of the British army until the Americans 
 had removed their artillery and baggage to places of safety, 
 after which they retired to the southward, repulsing the 
 enemy in their attempt to pass the bridge. This was a
 
 148 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 trying time for Washington ; who, though in possession of 
 more than a thousand prisoners, and still exulting over 
 a most astonishing victory, was by no means able to with- 
 stand the collective force of the enemy. His sagacity, 
 however, soon suggested a stratagem, for an engagement 
 would certainly have meant overwhelming defeat. He 
 gave orders for the troops to light fires in their camp 
 (which were intended to deceive the enemy) and he pre- 
 pared to make a night march. Accordingly at 12 o'clock 
 the troops left their camps and by a circuitous march 
 eluded the vigilance of the enemy, and early in the morn- 
 ing appeared at Princeton. A sharp action ensued but the 
 British troops gave way. A party of nearly a hundred 
 took refuge in an old college, but were forced to surrender. 
 The main body perceiving their rear was attacked hurried 
 back but found that Washington had- out-generaled 
 them and had retired with his little army towards Morris- 
 town. The enemy lost in killed, wounded and prisoners, 
 about five hundred men. The Americans lost but few 
 men, but among them was General Mercer, a most valu- 
 able officer and accomplished gentleman. 
 
 These repeated successes, one following the other in 
 quick succession, disheartened the enemy and had an 
 amazing effect on the success of the American arms, and 
 undoubtedly was one of the corner-stones on which the 
 structure of American liberty was so speedily raised. The 
 country at no time had been so depressed as just before 
 the morning of these glorious successes, which dispelled 
 in part, the gloom which had spread like a pall over the 
 American people. These successes, too, had a mighty 
 effect on General Howe and his council, for it roused them
 
 Scientific Barbarity of Great Britain. 149 
 
 to a sense of their own weakness, and convinced them 
 that they were neither omniscient nor omnipresent. 
 Their obduracy and death-designing malevolence in some 
 measure abated or was suspended. The prisoners, who 
 were condemmed to the most wretched and cruelest of 
 deaths, and who had survived to this period (though most 
 of them died before), were immediately ordered to be sent 
 within General Washington's lines for an exchange; 
 consequently they were taken out of their filthy and 
 poisonous places of confinement and sent out of New 
 York in haste; several of them fell dead in the streets of 
 New York as they attempted to walk to the vessels in 
 the harbor for their intended embarkation. The number 
 of those who died before reaching the lines was never 
 accurately ascertained, but from reports received from 
 those who were finally exchanged, it is know r n that all 
 died in consequence of inhuman treatment and unsani- 
 tary conditions while confined in the filthy prisons. Dur- 
 ing the war, the provost jails at New York and Philadel- 
 phia, were in charge of one, Cunningham, whose cruelties 
 and crimes were notorious and monstrous. Upon the 
 scaffold in England, years afterward, he confessed that 
 he had, by starvation and otherwise, caused the death of 
 fully two thousand prisoners under his charge at New 
 York. At times he put poison into their food, and again 
 he sold their rations for his own benefit. This statement is 
 further verified by Colonel Allen, himself a prisoner under 
 this notorious character, who says: 
 
 Some of us who were eye-witnesses of that scene of 
 mortality, more especially of that part which continued 
 after the exchange took place, are of the opinion that it
 
 150 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 was partly in consequence of a slow poison. Upon the 
 best calculation I have been able to make from personal 
 knowledge and the many evidences I have collected in 
 support of facts, I learn that of the prisoners taken on 
 Long Island, Fort Washington and some few others, at 
 different times and places, about two thousand perished 
 from poison, or with hunger, cold, and sickness occasioned 
 by the filth of their prison at New York, and a number 
 more on their passage to the continental lines; most of 
 the residue who reached their homes could not be restored 
 by the assistance of physicians and friends, but like their 
 brother prisoners, fell a sacrifice to the relentless and 
 scientific barbarity of Britain. I took as much pains as 
 my circumstances would admit of, to inform myself not 
 only of matters of fact but likewise of the very design 
 and aims of General Howe and his council; the latter of 
 which I predicated on the former, and submit it to a 
 candid public. The success of the American arms had a 
 happy effect on the continental officers who were on 
 parole in New York. A number of us assembled, but not 
 in a public manner, and with full bowls and glasses 
 drank General Washington's health, and were not un- 
 mindful of Congress and our worthy friends on the conti- 
 nent, and almost forgot that we were prisoners.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 RELEASED FROM CAPTIVITY. 
 
 The brief respite from a loathsome dungeon, reeking 
 with filth, would seem to have been sufficient cause for 
 great rejoicing and thanksgiving to most men; but when 
 Allen learned that this release was for the purpose of 
 inducing him to desert the cause for which he had suffered 
 untold hardships and for which he had undergone a 
 punishment that few men could have survived, his con- 
 tempt for his traducers knew no bounds. 
 
 A British officer of rank and importance in their army, 
 says Allen, whose name I shall not mention for certain 
 reasons at present, though I have mentioned it to some 
 of my close friends and confidants, sent for me to come 
 to his lodgings, and told me that "faithfulness, though 
 in a wrong cause, had nevertheless recommended me to 
 General Howe, who was minded to make me a Colonel of 
 a regiment of new levies, in the British service; and 
 proposed that I should go to England, with him and 
 some other officers who would embark for that purpose 
 in a few days, and there be introduced to Lord G. Ger- 
 maine, and probably to the King; and that previously 
 I should be clothed equal to such an introduction, and 
 instead of paper rags, be paid in hard guineas; after this, 
 should embark with General Burgoyne and assist in the 
 reduction of the country, which infallibly would be con- 
 
 151
 
 152 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 quered, and when that should be done I should have a 
 large tract of land, either in the New Hampshire Grants 
 or in Connecticut, it would make no odds, as the country 
 would be forfeited to the crown. I then replied, That 
 if by faithfulness I had recommended myself to General 
 Howe I should be loth by unfaithfulness to lose the Gen- 
 eral's good opinion; besides, that I viewed the offer of 
 land to be similar to that which the devil offered Jesus 
 Christ "To give him all the kingdoms of the world if he 
 would fall down and worship him," when, at the same 
 time, the damned soul had not one foot of land upon 
 earth. This closed the conversation and the gentleman 
 turned from me with an air of dislike, saying I was a bigot; 
 upon which I retired to my lodgings. 
 
 Near the last of November I was admitted to parole 
 in New York, with many other American officers, and on 
 the 22nd day of January, 1777, was with them directed 
 by the British commissary of prisoners, to be quartered 
 on the westerly part of Long Island, and our parole con- 
 tinued. During my imprisonment there, no occurrences 
 worthy of observation happened. I obtained the means 
 of living as well as I desired, which in a great measure, 
 repaired my constitution, which had been greatly injured 
 by the severities of an inhuman captivity. I now began 
 to feel 'myself composed, expecting either an exchange 
 or continuance in good and honorable treatment; but 
 alas ! my visionary expectations soon vanished. The news 
 of the conquest of Ticonderoga by General Burgoyne 
 and the advance of his army into the country made the 
 haughty Britons again to feel their importance, and with 
 that came their insatiable thirst for cruelty.
 
 Released from Captivity. 153 
 
 In June, 1777, the British army, amounting to seven 
 thousand men, besides Indians and Canadians, com- 
 manded by General Burgoyne, crossed Lake Champlain 
 and laid siege to Fort Ticonderoga. In a short time, the 
 enemy gained possession of Sugar Hill, which commanded 
 the American lines, and General St. Glair, with the advice 
 of a council of war, ordered the posts to be abandoned. 
 The retreat of the Americans was conducted under every 
 possible disadvantage part of their force embarked in 
 open boats and landed at Skenesborough, while the rest 
 marched by way of Castleton; but they were obliged to 
 leave their heavy cannon, and on their march lost a large 
 part of their baggage and stores, while their rear was 
 harassed by the British troops. An action took place 
 between Colonel Warner, with a body of Americans, and 
 General Frazer, in which the Americans were defeated, 
 after a brave resistance, with the loss of a valuable officer, 
 a Colonel Francis. 
 
 The prisoners under Cunningham at New York and 
 some of the officers on parole felt the severity of this disas- 
 ter. Burgoyne was their demi-god. To him they paid 
 adoration, says Allen, and forgot the Lord, their God, 
 and served Howe, Burgoyne and Knyphausen; they 
 became vile in their own imaginations, and their foolish 
 hearts were darkened, while professing to be great politi- 
 cians, they relied on foreign and merciless invaders, and 
 with seeking the ruin, bloodshed and destruction of their 
 country, became fools, expecting with them to share a 
 dividend in the confiscated estates of their neighbors and 
 countrymen, who fought for the whole country, and the 
 religion and liberties thereof. Therefore, God gave them
 
 154 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 over to strong delusions, to believe a lie, that they might 
 all be damned. 
 
 The 25th day of August I was apprehended, and, under 
 pretext of artful, mean and pitiful pretences that I had 
 infringed on my parole, taken from a tavern where there 
 were more than a dozen officers present, and in the very 
 place where those officers and myself were directed to be 
 quartered, put under a strong guard, and taken to New 
 York, where I expected to make my defence before the 
 commanding officer; but contrary to my expectations, 
 and without the least solid pretence of justice or a trial, 
 was again encircled with a strong guard, with fixed bayo- 
 nets, and conducted to the provost gaol, in a lonely 
 apartment next above the dungeon, and was denied all 
 manner of subsistence, either by purchase or allowance. 
 The second day I offered a guinea for a meal of victuals 
 but was denied it; and the third day I offered eight 
 Spanish milled dollars for a like favor, but was denied, and 
 all I could get out of the sergeant's mouth was that by 
 G d he would obey his orders. 
 
 I now perceived myself to be again in substantial 
 trouble. In this condition I formed an acquaintance 
 with a Captain Travis of Virginia, who was in the dungeon 
 below me, by communication through a little hole which 
 was cut with a penknife through the floor of my apart- 
 ment into the dungeon. It was a small crevice and 
 through it I could discern but a very small part of his 
 face at once when he applied it to the hole; but from the 
 discovery of him in the situation which we were both then 
 in, I could not have known him whom I found to be true 
 by an after acquaintance. I could, nevertheless, hold a
 
 Released from Captivity. 155 
 
 conversation with him, and soon perceived him to be a 
 gentleman of high spirits, who had a high sense of honor 
 and felt as big as though he had been in a palace, yet he 
 had treasures of wrath in store against the British. In 
 fine, I was charmed by the spirit of the man. He had 
 been almost or quite four months in that dungeon with 
 murderers, thieves and every species of criminals and all 
 for the sole crime of unshaken fidelity to his country; but 
 his spirits were above dejection and his mind uncon- 
 querable. I engaged to do him every service in my power, 
 and in a few weeks afterwards, with the united petitions 
 of the officers in the provost, procured his dismission from 
 the dark mansion of fiends to the apartments of his peti- 
 tioners. 
 
 And it came to pass on the third day, at the going 
 down of the sun, that I was presented with a piece of 
 boiled pork, and some biscuit which the sergeant gave 
 me to understand was my allowance, and I fed sweetly 
 on the same ; but I indulged my appetite by degrees, and 
 in a few days more was taken from that apartment and 
 conducted to the next loft or story, where there were 
 above twenty continental and some militia officers, who 
 had been taken and imprisoned there, besides some private 
 gentlemen who had been dragged from their own homes 
 to that filthy place by tories. Several of every denomina- 
 tion mentioned died there, some before and others after I 
 was put there. 
 
 Captain Vandyke bore, with an uncommon fortitude, 
 nearly twenty months' confinement in this place, and in 
 the meantime was very serviceable to others who were 
 confined with him. The allegation against him, as the
 
 156 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 cause of his confinement, was very extraordinary. He 
 was accused of setting fire to the city of New York, at the 
 time the west part of it was consumed, when it was a 
 known fact that he had been in the provost a week before 
 the fire broke out, and was confined in the same cell with 
 Captain Nathan Hale, whom I did not see but who was 
 cruelly hanged on the morning of the 22d, on the charge 
 of being a spy. Frivolous were the ostensible accusations 
 against most of those who were there confined except the 
 case of two militia officers who were taken in their at- 
 tempting to escape from their parole and were deliber- 
 ately starved to death. 
 
 Mr. William Miller, a committeeman from West 
 Chester county, state of New York, was taken from 
 his bed in the dead of the night by his tory neighbors and 
 was starved for three days and nights in an apartment of 
 the same gaol; add to this the denial of fire and that in 
 a cold season of the year, in which time he walked day 
 and night to defend himself against the frost, and when 
 he complained of such reprehensible conduct, the word 
 rebel or committeeman was deemed by the enemy a 
 sufficient atonement for any inhumanity that they could 
 invent or inflict. He was a man of good natural under- 
 standing, a close and sincere friend to the liberties of 
 America, and endured fourteen months' cruel imprison- 
 ment with that magnaminity of soul which reflects honor 
 on himself and country. 
 
 Major Levi Wells, and Captain Ozias Bissell were 
 apprehended and taken under guard from their parole on 
 Long Island to the provost on as fallacious pretences as 
 the former, and were there continued till their exchange
 
 Released from Captivity. 157 
 
 took place, which was near five months. Their fidelity 
 and zealous attachment to their country's cause, which 
 was more than commonly conspicuous, was undoubtedly 
 the real cause of their confinement. 
 
 Major Brinton Payne, Captain Flahaven and Captain 
 Randolph, who had at different times distinguished them- 
 selves by their bravery, especially at the several actions 
 in which they were taken, were all the provocations they 
 gave, for being arrested and for which they suffered about 
 a year's confinement each in the same filthy gaol. 
 
 A few weeks after my confinement on the like falla- 
 cious and wicked pretences, they brought to the same place 
 from his parole on Long Island, Major Otho Holland 
 Williams, of the continental army. In his character were 
 united the gentleman, officer, soldier and friend. He 
 walked through the prison with an air of great disdain. 
 Said he, "Is this the treatment which gentlemen of the 
 continental army are to expect from the rascally British 
 when in their power? Heaven forbid it!" He was con- 
 tinued there about five months and then exchanged for 
 a British Major. 
 
 John Fell, Esq. afterward a member of Congress from 
 the state of New Jersey, was taken from his own house by 
 a gang of infamous tories and by order of a British general 
 was sent to the provost where he was continued near one 
 year. The stench of the gaol, which was very loathsome 
 and unhealthy, occasioned a hoarseness of the lungs 
 which proved fatal to many who were there confined, and 
 reduced this gentleman near to the point of death; he was, 
 indeed, given over by his friends who were about him, and 
 he himself concluded he must die. I could not endure
 
 158 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 the thought that so worthy a friend to America should 
 have his life stolen from him in such a mean, base and 
 scandalous manner, and that his family and friends 
 should be bereaved of so great and desirable a blessing 
 as his further care, usefulness and example might prove 
 to them. I therefore wrote a letter to General Robertson 
 who commanded in town, and was touched with the 
 most sensible feelings of humanity, which dictated my 
 pen to paint dying distress in such lively colors that it 
 wrought conviction even on the obduracy of a British 
 general and produced his order to remove the now hon- 
 orable John Fell, out of a gaol to private lodgings in town; 
 in consequence of which he slowly recovered his health. 
 There is so extraordinary a circumstance which inter- 
 vened concerning this letter that it is worth noticing. 
 Previous to sending it I exhibited the same to the gentle- 
 man on whose behalf it was written, for his approbation, 
 and he forbid me to send it in the most positive and 
 explicit terms; the reason he gave was that the enemy 
 knew, by every morning's report, the condition of all the 
 prisoners, his in particular he said, as he had been gradu- 
 ally coming to his end for a considerable time, and they 
 very well knew it, and likewise determined it should be 
 accomplished, as they had served many others; that to 
 ask a favor would give the merciless enemy occasion to 
 triumph over him in his last moments and therefore he 
 would ask no favors from them, but had resigned himself 
 to his fate. But the letter I sent without his knowledge, 
 and I confess I had but little expectations from it, yet 
 could not be easy till I had sent it. It may be worth a 
 remark, that this gentleman was an Englishman born, and
 
 THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BEAD TO THE ARMY.
 
 Released from Captivity. 159 
 
 from the beginning of the revolution, has invariably 
 asserted and maintained the cause of liberty. 
 
 The British have made so extensive an improvement 
 of the provost during the present revolution, till of late, 
 that a very short definition will be sufficient for the dullest 
 apprehensions. It may be with propriety called the 
 British Inquisition, and is calculated to support their op- 
 pressive measures and designs by suppressing the spirit 
 of liberty. Here were promiscuously confined not only 
 gentlemen of the American army and American citizens 
 who were not soldiers, but also the criminals of every 
 species and the most infamous wretches of the British 
 troops. The different classes, however, separated into 
 companies and held as much aloof from one another as 
 circumstances would allow. It was at the option of a 
 villainous sergeant who had charge of the provost to take 
 any gentleman from his room and put him into the 
 dungeon and this was often done. At two different times 
 I was taken down stairs for that purpose by a file of sol- 
 diers, with fixed bayonets and the sergeant brandishing his 
 sword at the same time, but having been brought to the 
 door of the dungeon, I there flattered the vanity of the 
 sergeant whose name was Keef , by which means I secured 
 the surprising favor of being returned to my companions. 
 But some of the high mettled young gentlemen could not 
 bear his insolence and determined to keep at a distance, and 
 neither please nor displease the villain, but none could keep 
 clear of his abuse; however, mild measures were the best. 
 
 He did not hesitate to call us d d rebels, and abuse us 
 
 with the coarsest language. Captains Flahaven, Ran- 
 dolph and Mercer were the objects of his most flagrant
 
 160 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 and repeated abuses, who were many times taken to the 
 dungeon and there continued at his pleasure. Captain 
 Flahaven took cold in the dungeon and was in a declining 
 state of health, but an exchange delivered him and in all 
 probability saved his life. 
 
 It was very mortifying to bear with the insolence of 
 such a vicious and ill-bred imperious rascal, as well as 
 with Cunningham, the provost marshal. Remonstrances 
 against him were preferred to the commander of the town, 
 but no relief could be obtained; for his superiors were 
 undoubtedly well pleased with his abusive conduct to the 
 gentlemen under the severities of his power; and remon- 
 strating against his infernal conduct only served to con- 
 firm him in authority; and for this reason I never made 
 any remonstrances on the subject but only stroked him 
 for I knew that he was but a cat's paw in the hands of the 
 British officers and provost, and that if he should use us 
 well, he would immediately be put out of that trust and a 
 worse man appointed to succeed him. But there was no 
 need of making a new appointment for Cunningham, their 
 provost marshal and Keef his deputy were as great 
 rascals as their army could boast of except one Joshua 
 Loring, an infamous tory, who was Commissary of pris- 
 oners; nor can any of these be supposed to be equally 
 criminal with General William Howe and his associates 
 who prescribed and directed the murders and cruelties 
 which were by them perpetrated. This Loring is a mon- 
 ster. There is not his like in human shape unless it be 
 Cunningham himself. Loring exhibits a smiling counte- 
 nance, seems to wear a phiz of humanity but has been 
 instrumentally capable of the most consummate acts of
 
 Released from Captivity. 161 
 
 wickedness which were first projected by an abandoned 
 British council, clothed with the authority of Howe, 
 murdering premeditatedly in cold blood, near or quite 
 two thousand helpless prisoners, and that in the most 
 clandestine, mean and shameful manner, at New York. 
 
 The sixth day of July, 1777, General St. Clair and 
 the army under his command, evacuated Ticonderoga, 
 and retreated with the main body through Rutland 
 county to Hubbardton and on to Castleton. St. Glair's 
 rear guard, commanded by Colonel Seth Warner, was 
 attacked at Hubbardton by the enemy, two thousand 
 strong, commanded by General Frazer. Warner's com- 
 mand consisted of his own and two other regiments, 
 commanded by Generals Francis and Hale and some 
 scattering and enfeebled soldiers. His whole force, ac- 
 cording to reliable information, did not exceed one thou- 
 sand men, part of whom were Green Mountain Boys; 
 about three hundred were not brought into action but 
 held in reserve. The enemy advanced boldly and began 
 to form within sixty yards of the Americans. Colonel War- 
 ner and General Francis having formed their regiments did 
 not wait for the enemy to attack; but gave them a heavy 
 fire from their whole line which was instantly returned 
 with great bravery. General Hale, being apprized of the 
 danger, left Warner and Francis to stand the blunt of 
 attack and fled, but in attempting to escape was attacked 
 by a considerable number of the enemy acting as a rear 
 guard, and with his entire regiment surrendered with 
 little or no resistance. 
 
 The engagement was short but decisive. General 
 Francis fell at the first charge, but Colonel Warner and
 
 162 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 the officers under his command fought with great despera- 
 tion. The enemy gave way on the right and left but 
 formed again, and renewed the attack. In the meantime 
 the British grenadiers who occupied the center of the 
 enemy's line maintained their ground and finally carried 
 it with the point of the bayonet; Warner retreated with 
 reluctance. The American loss was about thirty men 
 killed while that of the enemy was three hundred killed, 
 including a Major Grant. Colonel Allen says that the 
 British complained because the Green Mountain Boys 
 took sight before firing, which was the cause they as- 
 signed for the heavy mortality. This seems to be an 
 inherent quality in American soldiers, judging from the 
 results of our recent war with Spain. 
 
 The next movement of the enemy of any material 
 consequence was their attack on Bennington. For this 
 purpose General Burgoyne detached Colonel Baum with 
 five hundred British and one hundred Indians. Colonel 
 Brayman with about five hundred men was sent to rein- 
 force him but did not arrive in time. On the sixteenth 
 of August, General Stark with about eight hundred 
 militiamen atttacked Colonel Baum in his entrenched 
 camp about six miles from Bennington and killed or took 
 prisoners nearly the whole detachment. The next day 
 General Stark attacked and defeated Brayman who had 
 been sent to reinforce Baum. In these actions the British 
 lost one hundred and forty men killed and wounded and 
 about seven hundred captured, while the Americans 
 practically sustained no loss. These successes it may 
 well be imagined served to revive the spirits of the 
 people. However, the advantages gained by the British
 
 Keleased from Captivity. 163 
 
 on the Mohawk by Colonel St. Leger practically coun- 
 ter-balanced the successes, but this officer attacking Fort 
 Stanwix was repelled with severe losses and obliged to 
 abandon a further attempt. 
 
 The purpose of the attack on Bennington was to 
 demolish it and subject its inhabitants, to whom they had 
 a great aversion, to all the indignities of which they were 
 capable. With one hundred and fifty well-chosen men and 
 with the fullest expectations of success, the enemy chose a 
 strong eminence, fortified it by throwing up breastworks, 
 and with two pieces of cannon made ready for the attack. 
 But the citizens of Bennington being aware of the inten- 
 tions of the enemy, had in the meantime procured a 
 number of militiamen from New Hampshire, together 
 with a number of the militia from Berkshire county, 
 Massachusetts, and with a number of the Green Mountain 
 Boys, under the command of the intrepid General John 
 Stark, awaited the British advance. In numbers the 
 Americans were about equal to the enemy. Colonel 
 Herrick, who commanded the Green Mountain Rangers, 
 was second in command; he was thoroughly acquainted 
 with the territory fortified by the enemy; he proposed to 
 make an attack from all sides at once so as to prevent 
 reinforcements from reaching the fortifications. This plan 
 being approved by General Stark and his advisers, the 
 little brigade of undisciplined militiamen, with their long, 
 brown firelocks, without bayonets and without cannon, 
 made a desperate assault on the enemy. The battle 
 occurred on the morning of the 16th of August, 1777, and 
 in the face of a dreadful fire, in less than a quarter of an hour 
 the Americans had silenced the enemy's cannon, and in
 
 164 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 another quarter had swept over the breastworks, taken 
 possession of their fortifications, killing and capturing 
 more than two-thirds of the enemy. This victory im- 
 mortalized General Stark and made Bennington famous 
 in American history. 
 
 Among the enemy's killed was found Colonel Baum, 
 their commander, a Colonel Pfester, who headed an in- 
 famous gang of tories, and a large part of his command; 
 in fact Baum's force was practically annihilated. Among 
 the prisoners, all more or less wounded, was Major Mel- 
 bome, second in command, a number of British and 
 Hessian officers, surgeons, etc., and more than one hun- 
 dred of Pfester's command. The prisoners after being 
 gathered together were sent to the meeting house in the 
 town, under a strong guard; General Stark not apprehend- 
 ing any immediate danger, the militia were ordered to 
 stack their arms and were permitted to scatter about 
 town to rest and to obtain food and drink which they 
 had been without for more than twenty-four hours. 
 In this situation they were suddenly attacked by a rein- 
 forcment of eleven hundred of the enemy, commanded 
 by Governor Skene, with two field pieces. They ad- 
 vanced in regular order and kept up an incessant fire with 
 their field pieces while the militia, who in the meantime 
 recovered their arms, were slowly retreating before them. 
 In the meantime Colonel Warner, with about one hundred 
 and thirty men of his regiment who were not in the first 
 action, arrived and attacked the enemy with great fury. 
 Warner was eager for revenge on account of the surprise 
 at Hubbardton where the brave Colonel Francis was killed. 
 Soon after, General Stark and Colonel Herrick brought
 
 Released from Captivity. 165 
 
 on more of the scattered militia and the action became 
 general. In a few minutes the enemy was forced from 
 their cannon and fled in disorder in all directions; the 
 shouts of victory were a second time proclaimed in favor 
 of the militia. 
 
 The enemy's loss in killed and prisoners in these two 
 actions amounted to more than one thousand two 
 hundred men, while that of the Americans did not exceed 
 fifty men. This was a hard stroke for the enemy, but 
 their pride would not permit them to hesitate in their 
 attempt to vanquish the country. As an illustration of 
 their assumption and arrogancy the following proclama- 
 tion by General Burgoyne will be found both interesting 
 and amusing: 
 
 BURGOYNE 'S PROCLAMATION. 
 
 By John Burgoyne, Esq. Lieutenant-General of his 
 Majesty's armies in America, Colonel of the Queen's 
 regiment of light dragoons, Governor of Fort William in 
 North Britain, one of the Representatives of the Com- 
 mons of Great Britain in Parliament, and commanding 
 an army and fleet employed on an expedition from Canada 
 etc., etc., etc. 
 
 The forces entrusted to my command are designed to 
 act in concert and upon a common principle with the 
 numerous armies and fleets which already display, in 
 every quarter of America, the power, the justice and when 
 properly sought, the mercy of the King. 
 
 The cause in which the British arms are thus exerted 
 applies to the most affecting interests of the human heart ; 
 and the military servants of the crown, at first called 
 forth for the sole purpose of restoring the rights of the
 
 166 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 constitution, now combine with love of their country, and 
 duty to their sovereign the other extensive incitements 
 which spring from a due sense of the general privileges of 
 mankind. To the eyes and ears of the temperate part of 
 the public, and to the breasts of suffering thousands in 
 the provinces, be the melancholy appeal, whether the 
 present unnatural rebellion has not been made a founda- 
 tion for the completest system of tyranny that ever God 
 in his displeasure suffered for a time to be exercised over 
 the forward and stubborn generation. 
 
 Arbitrary imprisonment, confiscation of property, 
 persecution and torture, unprecedented in the inquisitions 
 of the Romish church, are among the palpable enormities 
 that verify the affirmative. These are inflicted by assem- 
 blies and communities who dare to profess themselves 
 friends to liberty, upon the most quiet subjects, without 
 distinction of age or sex, for the sole crime, often for the 
 sole suspicion, of having adhered in principle to the gov- 
 ernment under which they were born, and to which by 
 every tie, divine and human, they owe allegiance. To 
 consummate these shocking proceedings, the profanation 
 of religion is added to the most profligate prostitution of 
 common reason ; the consciences of men are set at naught 
 and multitudes are compelled, not only to bear arms but 
 also to swear subjection to an usurpation they abhor. 
 
 Animated by these considerations at the head of 
 troops in the full powers of health, discipline and valor, 
 determined to strike where necessary, and anxious to 
 spare where possible, I, by these presents, invite and 
 exhort all persons in all places, where the progress of the 
 army may point and by the blessing of God, I will extend
 
 Released from Captivity. 167 
 
 it far to maintain such a conduct as may justify me in 
 protecting their lands, habitations and families. The 
 intention of this address is to hold forth security, not 
 depredation, to the country. To those whom spirit and 
 principle may induce to partake of the glorious task of 
 redeeming their countrymen from dungeons, and re-estab- 
 lishing the blessings of legal government, I offer encour- 
 agement and employment, and upon the first intelligence 
 of their associations, I will find means to assist their 
 undertakings. The domestic, the industrious, the infirm 
 and even the timid inhabitants, I am desirous to protect, 
 provided they remain quietly in their houses; that they 
 do not suffer their cattle to be removed, nor their corn, nor 
 forage to be secreted nor destroyed; that they do not 
 break up their bridges or roads; nor by any other act, 
 directly or indirectly, endeavor to obstruct the operations 
 of the King's troops or supply or assist those of the enemy. 
 Every species of provisions brought to my camp, will be 
 paid for at an equitable rate, and in solid coin. 
 
 In consciousness of Christianity, my royal master's 
 clemency, and the honor of soldiership, I have dwelt upon 
 this invitation and wished for more persuasive terms to 
 give it impression. And let not people be led to disregard 
 it, by considering their distance from the immediate situa- 
 tion of my camp. I have but to give stretch to the 
 Indian forces under my direction and they amount to 
 thousands, to overtake the hardened enemies of Great 
 Britain and America. I consider them the same wherever 
 they may be. 
 
 If, notwithstanding these endeavors and sincere incli- 
 nations to effect them, the frenzy of hostility should
 
 168 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 remain, I trust I shall stand acquitted in the eyes of God 
 and men, in denouncing and executing the vengeance of 
 the State against the wilful outcasts. The messengers of 
 justice and of wrath await them in the field; and devasta- 
 tion, famine and every concomitant horror that a reluc- 
 tant but indispensable prosecution of military duty must 
 occasion, will bar the way to their return. 
 
 J. BURGOYNE. 
 By his excellency the Lieutenant-General, 
 
 ROBT. KINGSTON, Sec'y. 
 Camp near Ticonderoga, 4th July, 1777. 
 
 General Burgoyne was still the toast among the British, 
 and the hardships of their prisoners were, in a great 
 measure, increased or diminished in proportion to the 
 expectation of ultimate success. Burgoyne's very osten- 
 tatious Proclamation was on the tongue of most of the 
 soldiery, especially the tories, and from it their faith in 
 victory was raised to assurance. I wish, says Allen, that 
 my countrymen in general could but have an idea of the 
 assuming tyranny, and haughty, malevolent and insolent 
 behavior of the enemy, at that time; and from thence 
 discern the intolerable calamities which the men of this 
 country have extricated themselves from, by their public 
 spiritedness and bravery. 
 
 General Burgoyne, after collecting his forces and stores, 
 crossed the Hudson with a view of reaching Albany, but 
 the American army after the many recent victories was 
 being reinforced daily, which resulted in his detention at 
 Saratoga. General Horatio Gates now took the command 
 and was aided by Generals Lincoln and Benedict Arnold.
 
 Released from Captivity. 169 
 
 On the evening of the 19th of September, the Americans 
 attacked the British army with great determination and 
 bravery, but darkness put an end to the action. The 
 loss of the enemy was about five hundred kiUed and 
 wounded. General Burgoyne was confined in a narrow 
 pass, having the Hudson on one side and impassable 
 woods on the other; a body of Americans was in his rear; 
 he had ordered his boats burned so that retreat would 
 be impossible; an army of thirteen thousand men 
 had been collected and opposed him in front. On the 
 7th of October, the armies came to a second action, 
 this time at Saratoga, in which the British lost General 
 Frazer together with a large number of officers and men. 
 On the part of the Americans, the loss was not great, but 
 Generals Benjamin Lincoln and Benedict Arnold were 
 wounded. 
 
 In an admirable selection entitled the " Black Horse 
 and His Rider, " Charles Sheppard describes this engage- 
 ment more vividly and truthfully than any historian has 
 yet attempted. When defeat seemed certain Benedict 
 Arnold, riding a black horse, appeared before the retreating 
 Americans and with drawn sword, shouted: " Now, cowards, 
 advance another step and I'll strike you to the heart! 
 What ! You Americans, men, and fly before British soldiers ! 
 Back again and face them once more! or I myself will 
 ride you down!" The appeal was not in vain, the Ameri- 
 cans turned, and before night they had carried the heights 
 and Saratoga had fallen into the hands of the patriots, 
 with few fatalities. 
 
 The downfall of General Burgoyne and surrender of 
 his whole army ten days later, together with 5,100 men, as
 
 170 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame, 
 
 many guns and forty-two cannon, dashed the aspiring 
 hopes and expectations of the enemy and broke the spirit 
 of haughty general and opulent nation, and made the tories 
 bite the dust with anguish. The valor of the sons of 
 liberty, together with that of their brave officers, seemed 
 in an instant raised to the clouds, and immortalize;! 
 Horatio Gates,and has had a tendency to lessen the stigma 
 which afterward rested on the name of the brave but 
 misguided Benedict Arnold. 
 
 No sooner had the knowledge of this interesting and 
 important event reached Louis XVI, King of France, 
 than that unfortunate but just ruler "auspiciously in- 
 fluenced by heaven to promote the reciprocal interests 
 and happiness of the ancient kingdom of France, and the 
 new and rising states of America," passed the decisive 
 decree that the United States of America should be free 
 and independent. Vaunt no more, Old England, says an 
 early chronicler, consider you are but an Island and that 
 your power has been continued longer than the exercise 
 of your humanity. Order your broken and vanquished 
 battalions to retire from America, the scene of your 
 cruelties. Go home and repent in dust and sackcloth for 
 your aggravated crimes. The cries of bereaved parents, 
 widows and orphans reach heaven, and you are abominated 
 by every friend of America. Take your friends, the tories 
 with you and be gone, and drink deep of the cup of humil- 
 iation. Make peace with the Princess of the house of 
 Bourbon, for you are in no condition to wage war with 
 them. Your veteran soldiers are fallen in America and 
 your glory is departed. Be quiet and pay your debts, 
 especially for the hire of the Hessians. There is no other
 
 Released from Captivity. 171 
 
 way for you to get into credit again, but by reformation 
 and plain honesty, which you have despised; for your 
 power is by no means sufficient to support your vanity. 
 
 I have had an opportunity to see a great deal of British 
 vanity, and felt its severe effects, and learned lessons of 
 wisdom and policy, says Allen, when I wore her heavy 
 irons, and bore her bitter revilings and reproaches. I 
 have something of a smattering of philosophy and under- 
 stand human nature in all its stages tolerably well; am 
 thoroughly acquainted with her national crimes, and 
 have assured her that they not only cry aloud for heaven's 
 vengeance, but incite mankind to rise up against her. 
 Virtue, wisdom and policy are in a national sense always 
 connected with power, or in other words power is their 
 offspring, and such power as is directed by virtue, wisdom 
 and policy, never fails finally to destroy itself as England's 
 has done. It is so in the nature of things, and unfit that 
 it should be otherwise; for if it was not so, vanity, injus- 
 tice and oppression might reign triumphant forever. I 
 know there are still individuals in England who retain 
 their virtue and consequently their honor and humanity. 
 Those I really pity as they must more or less suffer in the 
 calamity in which the nation is plunged headlong; but 
 as a nation, I hate and despise them. My affections are 
 Frenchified I glory in Louis the Sixteenth, the generous 
 and powerful ally of these States ; am fond of a connection 
 with so enterprising, learned, polite, courteous and com- 
 mercial a nation, and am sure that I express the senti- 
 ments and feelings of all of the friends of the present 
 revolution. I have begun to learn the French tongue 
 and recommend it to my countrymen before Hebrew,
 
 172 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 Greek, or Latin (provided but one of them is to be at- 
 tended to). 
 
 Nothing could have served so effectually to illuminate, 
 polish and enrich these States as the present revolution, 
 as well as to preserve their liberty. Mankind is naturally 
 too national, even to a degree of bigotry. Commercial 
 intercourse with foreign nations has a great and necessary 
 tendency to improve mankind and erase the superstition 
 of the mind by acquainting them that human nature, 
 policy and interest are the same in all nations, yet at the 
 same time they are bartering commodities for the con- 
 venience and happiness of each nation; they may re- 
 ciprocally exchange such part of their customs and man- 
 ners as may be beneficial, yet learn to extend charity and 
 goodwill to the whole world of mankind. 
 
 I was confined in the provost gaol at New York, the 
 26th day of August, 1777, and continued there to the 3rd 
 day of May, 1778, when I was taken out under guard, and 
 conducted to a sloop in the harbor at New York, in which 
 I was guarded to Staten Island, to General Campbell's 
 quarters where I was admitted to eat and drink with the 
 General, and several other British officers and treated for 
 two days in a polite manner. As I was drinking wine 
 with them one evening, I made an observation on my 
 transition from the provost criminals to the company of 
 gentlemen; adding that I was the same man still and 
 should give the British credit through him (speaking to 
 the General) for two days' good usage. 
 
 The next day Colonel Archibald Campbell, who was 
 exchanged for me, came to this place, conducted by Mr. 
 Boudinot, the then American Commissary of prisoners
 
 Released from Captivity. 173 
 
 and saluted me in a handsome manner, saying that he 
 never was more glad to see any gentleman in his life ; and 
 I gave him to understand that I was equally glad to see 
 him, and was apprehensive that it was from the same 
 motive. The gentlemen present laughed at the fancy and 
 conjectured that sweet liberty was the foundation of our 
 gladness; so we took a glass of wine together, and then 
 I was accompanied by General Campbell, Colonel Camp- 
 bell, Mr. Boudinot and a number of British officers to 
 the boat which was ready to sail to Elizabethtown Point. 
 Meanwhile I entertained them with a rehearsal of the 
 cruelties exercised towards our prisoners and assured them 
 that I should use my influence that their prisoners should 
 be treated in future in the same manner as they should in 
 future treat ours; that I thought their example should 
 be applied to their own prisoners. Then we exchanged the 
 decent ceremonies of compliment and parted. I sailed 
 to the point aforesaid and, in a transport of joy, landed 
 on liberty ground, and as I advanced into the country, 
 received the acclamations of a grateful people. 
 
 I soon fell into company with Colonel Sheldon of the 
 light horse, who in a polite and obliging manner accom- 
 panied me to general headquarters at Valley Forge, where 
 I was courteously received by General Washington, with 
 peculiar marks of approbation and esteem, and was intro- 
 duced to most of the generals and many of the principal 
 officers of the army, who treated me with respect; and 
 after having offered General Washington my further 
 services in behalf of my country as soon as my health, 
 which was very much impaired, would admit, and obtain- 
 ing his license to return home, I took my leave of his Excel-
 
 174 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 lency and set out from Valley Forge with General Gates 
 and his suit for Fishkill, where we arrived the latter end 
 of May. In this tour the General was pleased to treat 
 me with the familiarity of a companion, and generosity 
 of a lord, and to him I made known some striking circum- 
 stances which occured in the course of my captivity. I 
 then bid farewell to my noble general and the gentlemen 
 of his retinue, and set out for Bennington, the capital of 
 the Green Mountain Boys, where I arrived the evening 
 of the last day of May, to their great surprise ; for I was 
 to them as one risen from the dead, and now both their 
 joy and mine was complete. Three cannon were fired 
 that evening, and next morning Colonel Herrick gave 
 orders, and fourteen more were discharged, welcoming 
 me to Bennington, my usual place of abode; thirteen 
 were fired for the United States and one for young Ver- 
 mont.
 
 GENERAL BURGOYNE.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A COUNTER PROCLAMATION. 
 
 Having completed the history of the events connected 
 with the captivity of Ethan Allen, we now resume the 
 account of the controversy between the settlers on the 
 New Hampshire Grants and the authorities of New York, 
 which continued until the war with Great Britain was 
 well advanced. 
 
 The inhabitants of the Grants were at this period 
 (1775) without any settled form of government. Com- 
 munity of interests had thus far kept them together and 
 given energy and unanimity to their proceedings. The 
 partial relief from the interference of the New York au- 
 thorities experienced at the commencement of the war, 
 served to convince them of the weakness of their po- 
 litical ties, and of the necessity of a better internal organ- 
 ization. Accordingly, at the close of the year 1775, a 
 number of influential individuals went to Philadelphia 
 where the Continental Congress was then in session, to 
 procure the advice of that body relative to the best policy 
 to be pursued under the existing circumstances. No 
 formal measures were adopted by the Congress, however, 
 in relation to the disputes of the settlers; but upon the 
 return of the delegates, a large number of circulars 
 setting forth the opinions of several influential members 
 of Congress in favor of a temporary association under 
 
 175
 
 176 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame, 
 
 proper regulations were distributed among the people of 
 New Hampshire and Vermont. 
 
 In pursuance of these recommendations, a convention 
 of delegates from all sections of the Green Mountain 
 country assembled at Dorset, N. H., on the 16th of Jan- 
 uary, 1776. A petition was forwarded to Congress in 
 which a brief sketch of the controversy with New York 
 was given, expressing a willingness to bear their pro- 
 portionate share of the burdens arising from the war then 
 in progress. They also declared their unwillingness to be 
 considered in any manner subjects to the authority or 
 jurisdiction of New York. The Congressional Com- 
 mittee to which the petition was referred, recommended 
 the petitioners to submit for the present, to the Govern- 
 ment of New York, and assist their fellow countrymen in 
 the great contest with Great Britain; the committee de- 
 clared that such submission would not prejudice their 
 right to any land in controversy, or be construed as ad- 
 mitting the jurisdiction of New York over the Green 
 Mountain country when the troubles with England 
 should be ended. Not being considered favorable to the 
 settlers on the Grants, the delegate who presented the 
 petition to Congress withdrew it before it received the 
 final action of that body. 
 
 On the 4th of July, following the presentation of the 
 petition, Congress announced to the world the passage of 
 the immortal Declaration of Independence. This placed 
 the people of Vermont in a situation more difficult and 
 embarrassing than they were before and much speculation 
 was indulged in by the settlers in regard to the course 
 they should pursue. It was urged by some that they
 
 A Counter Proclamation. 177 
 
 should immediately place themselves under the jurisdic- 
 tion of New Hampshire, while others thought that they 
 should submit to the authority of New York. The more 
 resolute and influential, among whom was Ethan Allen, 
 Seth Warren and Remember Baker, were, however, in 
 favor of assuming the powers of independent state gov- 
 ernment and hazarding the consequences. That the 
 difficulty might be amicably settled, or at least an attempt 
 be made, the people assembled in convention at Dorset 
 on the 24th of July, 1776. An association was agreed 
 upon for the defense of their common country. A reso- 
 lution was also adopted declaring that they would not 
 associate with, or submit, to the provincial government 
 of either New Hampshire or New York pending the war 
 with England. The Convention adjourned to meet on 
 the 25th of September, when it was unanimously resolved 
 "to take suitable measures, as soon as may be, to declare 
 the New Hampshire Grants a free and separate District. ' ' 
 At the third session of the Convention, held on the 15th 
 of January, 1777, it was declared that' "this Convention, 
 whose members are duly chosen by the free voice of their 
 constitutents, in the several towns on the New Hamp- 
 shire Grants, in our names, and in behalf of our con- 
 stitutuents, do hereby proclaim and publicly declare that 
 the district or territory comprehending and usually known 
 by the* name and description of the New Hampshire 
 Grants, of right ought to be, and is hereby declared ever 
 after to be, a free and independent jurisdiction, or State ? 
 and to be hereafter called, known and distinguished 
 by the name of New Connecticut or Vermont. This 
 declaration was unanimously adopted by the Convention,
 
 178 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 and a petition, or rather, a copy of the above resolution, 
 was forwarded to the Congress at Philadelphia in which 
 it was announced "to all the world" that the territory to 
 be known as Vermont, but formerly called the New 
 Hampshire Grants, was now and henceforth a free and 
 independent State. The so-called petition closed by 
 praying that they might be acknowledged by Congress, 
 and that delegates from Vermont might be admitted to 
 seats in that body. 
 
 These measures were considered by the legislatures 
 of the neighboring States. New Hampshire, Massa- 
 chusetts and Connecticut were willing that Vermont 
 should become a member of the confederacy, but New 
 York regarded the request as treason and rebellion to her 
 authority. In this state of things, communications 
 emanating from two different conventions of the people 
 of New York, were addressed to the Congress in which the 
 proceedings of Vermont were represented as resulting 
 from the acts and instigations of designing men, and not 
 from a desire of the inhabitants to renounce their alle- 
 giance to the authority of New York. Ethan Allen, of 
 Bennington, was named as the chief instigator and the 
 principal in most of the disturbances on the Grants. 
 
 After the adoption of various measures by both Ver- 
 mont and New York, Congress at last took up the matter, 
 and the communications of both parties were referred to 
 a committee of the whole; the committee, among other 
 things, resolved "That Congress would not recommend 
 or countenance anything injurious to the rights and juris- 
 diction of the several communities herein represented." 
 "That the inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants
 
 A Counter Proclamation. 179 
 
 cannot be justified in their declaration of Independence, 
 by the example of the United Colonies nor by any act 
 or resolution of Congress." "That the petition of Ver- 
 mont to be recognized as an independent State, and to 
 have her delegates admitted to seats in Congress, be dis- 
 missed." 
 
 While these important matters were being con- 
 sidered by Congress, the people of Vermont were engaged 
 in forming a constitution for the regulation of their civil 
 government. A convention, composed of the same 
 delegates which declared the independence of Vermont 
 met at Windsor oh the first Wednesday in June, 1777, 
 and appointed a committee to make a draft of a state 
 constitution. A resolution was also adopted recom- 
 mending that each town elect delegates to meet in con- 
 vention at Windsor on the second day of the following 
 June for the purpose of discussing and adopting said 
 constitution. The Convention assembled at the ap- 
 pointed time, and after a long and serious discussion 
 a constitution was read and adopted. It was, however, 
 revised at a subsequent Convention, which met at Wind- 
 sor, and the first election under the new constitution was 
 ordered to be held on the first Tuesday in March, 1778. 
 
 The determination of Vermont to maintain her inde- 
 pendence at all hazards evidently contributed to effect 
 an alteration in the policy of New York. On the 23rd of 
 February, 1778, Governor Clinton issued a proclamation 
 in which he confirmed the titles of the settlers to their 
 lands in certain cases, and made several concessions in 
 their favor, but the right of New York to extend her 
 jurisdiction over the Grants was not relinquished. The
 
 180 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 people were commanded, " at their peril to yield obedience 
 and allegiance' ' to New York, and in all respects to gov- 
 ern themselves as peaceable and quiet citizens. To this 
 proclamation Ethan Allen, ever on the alert to detect 
 political cunning and always willing to expose it, pub- 
 lished the following answer: 
 
 This Proclamation [the one issued by Governor Clin- 
 ton, May 23, 1778], after mentioning a disaffection of 
 many persons, inhabiting the northeast parts of the 
 county of Albany and certain parts of the counties of 
 Charlotte, Cumberland and Gloucester, proceeds to affirm 
 that these tracts of country were clearly included within 
 the ancient, original, true and lately established bounds 
 of the state of New York. 
 
 That many, nay almost the whole of the inhabitants 
 in those counties, viz. the State of Vermont, are disaffected 
 to the government of New York, will not be disputed. 
 This is a fact; but it is not a fact that the ancient, original 
 and true bounds of New York included those lands. The 
 first intimation that ever saluted the ears of the public 
 asserting this doctrine, was from a proclamation of Gov- 
 ernor Tryon, dated the llth day of December, 1771. 
 which begins thus: "Whereas, it is the ancient and in- 
 contestable right of this colony to extend to the Connecticut 
 river as its eastern boundary." This assertion has been 
 answered at large, in my treatise on the conduct of this 
 government towards the New Hampshire settlers; to 
 which I refer the reader, and at present observe that as the 
 quoted assertions in these Proclamations are wholly with- 
 out foundation, they need only to be as positively denied 
 as they are asserted. The fact is that the tract of land
 
 A Counter Proclamation. 181 
 
 which now comprehends the State of Vermont was univer- 
 sally known to be a part of the government of New Hamp- 
 shire. Thus it was placed by all Geographers in their 
 maps until the year 1764, when the English King, for 
 certain political reasons, which I shall mention, extended 
 the jurisdiction of New York over the premises, by his 
 special authority. At the time of the alteration of this 
 jurisdiction, jealousies had fired the minds of King and 
 Parliament against the growth and rising power of 
 America, and at this time they began to advance men and 
 governments into power, with a political design to crush 
 the liberties of America. New York had ever been their 
 favorite government. They could almost vie with Great 
 Britain in the art of vassalaging common people, and in 
 erasing every idea of liberty from the human mind, by 
 making and keeping them poor and servile. This, Great 
 Britain well knew and therefore fleeced a large territory 
 from New Hampshire and added it to New York, to de- 
 press the power of the one and enlarge and extend the 
 other. A well-concerted plan; but the Green Mountain 
 Boys disconcerted it by throwing their weight into the 
 scale of Congress, which, thank God, has fairly prepond- 
 erated. Thus may be seen the design as well as date, of 
 the original, ancient and true bounds of the state of Ver- 
 mont; and for the same reason it was thus extended by 
 Great Britain, it will undoubtedly be curtailed by Con- 
 gress. 
 
 As to the acts of outlawry, mentioned .in the Procla- 
 mation, they died a natural death the first day of January, 
 1776, as may be seen from the act itself, here quoted: 
 "And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
 
 182 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 that this act shall remain and continue in full force and 
 effect from the passing thereof until the first day of Jan- 
 uary, which will be in the year of our Lord, one thousand 
 seven hundred and seventy-six." 
 
 The subjects of the State of Vermont were under no 
 apprehensions from these old lifeless acts. Nor do I con- 
 ceive that the present legislature of the State of New York 
 has laid them under any obligation, in granting them a 
 pardon. It was a matter which formerly respected 
 Governor Tryon, the old legislature of New York and the 
 Green Mountain Boys; and the party last mentioned 
 chose to settle that old quarrel with Mr. Tryon, and 
 resent it that the legislature of the State of New York 
 has so late in the day, undertaken to give an "uncondi- 
 tional discharge and remission of all penalties and forfeit- 
 ures incurred," under an act which had been long dead; 
 and which, when alive, served only to discover to the 
 world the wickedness and depravity of that legislative 
 body which enacted them. In the lifetime of this act, I 
 was called by the Yorkers an outlaw, and afterwards, by 
 the British, was called a rebel; and I humbly conceive 
 that there was as much propriety in the one name as the 
 other; and I verily believe that the King's commissioners 
 would now be as willing to pardon me for the sin of rebel- 
 lion, provided I would afterwards be subject to Britain, 
 as the legislature above mentioned, provided I would be 
 subject to New York; and I must confess I had as lief be a 
 subject to the one as the other; and it is well known, I have 
 had great experience in them both. 
 
 Next, I propose to consider that part of the Proclama- 
 tion called overtures, which are contained in the three
 
 A Counter Proclamation. 183 
 
 first articles. Article 1st. "That all persons, actually 
 possessing and improving lands, by title under grants 
 from New Hampshire or Massachusetts Bay, and not 
 granted under New York, shall be confirmed in their re- 
 spective possessions." 
 
 This article cannot be considered of any material con- 
 sequence, inasmuch as among almost the whole posses- 
 sions referred to in the article, there are but very few, if 
 any, but what are covered with New York grants. 
 
 The second article is as follows: "That all persons 
 possessing and improving lands, not granted by either of 
 the three governments, shall be confirmed in their respect- 
 ive possessions, together with such additional quantity of 
 vacant land lying contiguous to each respective possession 
 as may be necessary to form the same into a convenient 
 farm, so as the quantity of land to be confirmed to each 
 respective possessor shall not exceed three hundred acres.' ' 
 
 Neither of these articles, called overtures, affect the 
 controversy, except in some very few instances; all the 
 possessions spoken of were first granted by New Hamp- 
 shire, except some few which were granted by Massa- 
 chusetts Bay; and then, lastly, almost the whole of 
 those possessions were re-granted by New York. This 
 being the case, what has been hitherto proposed does not 
 reach the essence of the controversy as the New Yorkers 
 very well know, besides it is not in the power of the gov- 
 ernment to confirm any of these possessions, which have 
 been already granted, and therefore become the property 
 of the grantees, as will be more fully discussed in its 
 proper place. I proceed to the third article of the much 
 discussed overtures. "That where lands have been
 
 184 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 heretofore granted by New Hampshire and Massachusetts 
 Bay, or either of them, and actually possessed in conse- 
 quence thereof, and being so possessed, were afterwards 
 granted by New York, such possessions shall be con- 
 firmed the posterior grant under New York notwith- 
 standing. ' ' 
 
 Though it is absolutely out of the power of the said 
 legislative authority to confirm the possessions men- 
 tioned, yet to discover their want of generosity in their 
 proposal, I shall in the first place consider what a trifling 
 proportion of those possessions could be confirmed upon 
 their own stating, inasmuch as the confirming clause in the 
 article only confirms the possessor, who was so possessed 
 at the time that the New York grant was made, and has no 
 respect to any additional possession carried on after the 
 grant took place. The identical words are, "And being 
 so possessed," etc. After such possession was actually 
 made, and the possessor being so in possession at the time 
 the grant took place that such possession shall be con- 
 firmed by any later possession cannot be included in the 
 condition of "being so possessed; for a later possession 
 was no possession at all at the time the condition of pos- 
 session took place; and consequently every possession 
 which has been begun in the State of Vermont, since the 
 lands were granted by New York, must be lost to the 
 possessor and fall into the hands of the New York 
 grantees with all other uncultivated lands in the State; 
 and all our purchases of those lands from New Hampshire 
 and Massachusetts Bay fall to the ground, together with 
 our possessions, which have been increased an hundred 
 fold."
 
 A Counter Proclamation. 185 
 
 i 
 
 These overtures have hitherto been considered only in 
 a grammatical and logical sense, allowing them their own 
 construction. I now proceed to consider them in a legal 
 sense. A legislative authority, within its own jurisdic- 
 tion, may confirm a possession on vacant land, by making 
 a grant of the same to the possessor; but for the legislative 
 authority of the State of New York to pretend, as they 
 do in their Proclamation, to vacate any grants made by 
 their own authority, in favor of any possession, and to 
 confirm such possessions, by nullifying and defeating their 
 own grants, is the height of folly and stupidity; for the 
 lands being once granted, the property passeth to the 
 gran uee; who is become the sole proprietor of the same; 
 and he is as independent of that legislative authority 
 which granted it as any person may be supposed to be, 
 who purchased a farm of land of me by deed of convey- 
 ance, and it is as much out of the power of the legisla- 
 ture to vacate a grant made by them, or the same author- 
 ity, in favor of any possessor, as it is out of my power to 
 vacate my deed of conveyance in favor of some second 
 person. It is contrary to common sense to suppose that 
 the property of the subject is at the arbitrary disposal 
 of the legislature; if it was, they might give a grant to- 
 day and vacate it tomorrow, and so on, ad infinitum. 
 This would destroy the very nature and existence of per- 
 sonal property, as the whole would depend on the sover- 
 eign will and last act of the legislature; but the truth of 
 the matter is, the first conveyance will, and ought to hold 
 good ; and this defeats all subsequent conveyances. 
 
 From what has been said on this subject, it appears 
 that the overtures in the Proclamation set forth, are
 
 186 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 either romantic or calculated to deceive woods people, 
 who, in general, may not be supposed to understand law 
 or the power of a legislative authority. 
 
 I have further to evince- my arguments on this subject 
 by the concurring opinion of the Lords of the Board of 
 Trade, on complaint made to them from those very per- 
 sons possessing the land we are speaking of. That clause 
 of their report which is similar to what I have argued, 
 is in these words: "Such subsequent grants made by the 
 government of New York, however unwarrantable, can- 
 not be set aside by any authority from his Majesty, in 
 case the grantees shall insist on their title." 
 
 Thus it appears, in a trial (of the same case we are 
 treating of) before the Board of Trade, that the King, 
 under whose authority the government of New York had 
 in an oppressive manner granted those very lands, could 
 not, by his royal authority, vacate or set aside the grants; 
 yet, the present legislative authority of the State of New 
 York proclaim to the world and pledge the faith of 
 government that they will do it. But enough has been 
 said on the impossibility of it, as well as on the ungener- 
 ousness of the proposal; and as to the writ-rents, the 
 general assembly of the State of Vermont will determine 
 their expediency and probably release them all. 
 
 What has here been observed, answers every part 
 of the Proclamation worth notice, as the five last articles 
 had an entire reference to the three first; though it may 
 be worth observing that the time of compliance with those 
 overtures has expired; and it is my opinion that but few 
 of the subjects of the State of Vermont have closed with 
 them. The main inducement I had in answering them
 
 A Counter Proclamation. 187 
 
 was to draw a full and convincing proof from the same, 
 that the shortest, best and most eligible, I had almost 
 said, the only possible way of vacating those New York 
 interfering grants, is to maintain inviolable the supremacy 
 of the legislative authority of the independent State of 
 Vermont. This, at one stroke, overturns every New 
 York scheme which may be calculated for our ruin, makes 
 us free men, confirms our property, "and puts it fairly in 
 our power to help ourselves" to the enjoyment of the 
 great blessings of a free, uncorrupted and virtuous civil 
 
 government. 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 Bennington, August 9, 1778. 
 
 The declaration of their independence by the people 
 of Vermont gave occasion to numerous and perplexing 
 difficulties. No sooner had Vermont organized a govern- 
 ment than the inhabitants of sixteen towns bordering on 
 the Connecticut river, in New Hampshire, manifested a 
 disposition to dissolve their connection with that State 
 and unite with Vermont. In justification of the separa- 
 tion it was contended "that all the lands west of the 
 Mason Line being royal grants had been held in subjection 
 to the government of New Hampshire by force of the 
 royal commissions which were vacated by the assumed 
 independence of the American Colonies, and therefore 
 the inhabitants of those grants had reverted to a state of 
 nature, "and were at liberty to form whatever govern- 
 ment they thought proper." In pursuance of this deter- 
 mination they persented a petition to the legislature of 
 Vermont on the 12th of March, 1778, praying for annex- 
 ation. This application greatly embarrassed the Legis-
 
 188 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 lature, but at its June session it was voted that the union 
 take place; thirty-seven members voted in the affirmative 
 and twelve in the negative. 
 
 The government of New Hampshire was justly in- 
 censed at these proceedings. William Ware, President 
 of the Council of that State, addressed a letter to the 
 Federal Congress on the 19th of August asking advice 
 in relation to the subject, and on the 22nd of August, in 
 the name of the General Assembly, he wrote to Governor 
 Chittenden of Vermont claiming the sixteen towns as a 
 part of New Hampshire. On the reception of this com- 
 munication the Governor convened the Council, and it 
 was agreed that Colonel Ethan Allen should proceed to 
 Philadelphia and learn in what light the proceedings of 
 Vermont were regarded by the Congress. On his return, 
 Allen made the following report: 
 
 To his Excellency the Governor, the Honorable Coun- 
 cil and to the Representatives of the freemen of the State of 
 Vermont, in General Assembly met. 
 GENTLEMEN : 
 
 The subscriber hereto begs leave to make the following 
 report, viz: 
 
 By the desire of his Excellency, and at the request of 
 several of the members of the honorable the council, to me 
 made in September last, I have taken a journey to Phila- 
 delphia, in order to- gain knowledge how the political sit- 
 uation of the State of Vermont stood, in the view of Con- 
 gress; which I here exhibit. 
 
 On the 16th day of September last I was informed by 
 members of Congress that the delegates from the State 
 of New Hampshire exhibited to Congress a remonstrance
 
 A Counter Proclamation. 189 
 
 (which they had previously received from the council and 
 assembly of said State) against the proceedings of the 
 State of Vermont, with respect to their taking into union 
 a number of towns on the east side of the Connecticut 
 river, and in their inviting other towns to revolt from 
 New Hampshire; a copy of which I herewith exhibit; a 
 matter which they allege was incompatible with the right 
 of New Hampshire, and an infringement on the confed- 
 eracy of the United States of America, and therefore 
 desire the Congress to take the matter under consideration, 
 and grant some order thereon, to prevent the effusion of 
 blood and the confusion and disorders which would 
 otherwise inevitably ensue. 
 
 The delegates from New York, at the same time, 
 exhibited to Congress sundry papers containing allega- 
 tions against the State of Vermont, which after some 
 altercations were admitted; and it was agreed that the 
 same, together with the remonstrance from the State of 
 New Hampshire, should be taken under consideration on 
 the afternoon of the 18th by a committee of the whole 
 house; at which time it was moved to be brought for- 
 ward, but urgent business occasioned its being deferred 
 to the 19th, at which time I arrived at Philadelphia, and 
 being immediately informed of the business by some of 
 the members of Congress, I used my influence against 
 its being hastily determined ex parte; and particularly 
 objected to the complaints from the State of New Hamp- 
 shire and New York, their being both considered at the 
 same time, alleging that they were of a very different na- 
 ture. In consequence of this, together with my earnest 
 request and application, I obtained assurance that the
 
 190 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 matter should not be brought to a decision before I 
 could have an opportunity to lay the matter before this 
 people, as I had previously let the members of Congress 
 know that the assembly of this state was to set at this 
 time and I engaged to transmit the proceedings of this 
 assembly to Congress as soon as they transpired, at their 
 request. 
 
 The allegations thrown out by New York, received a 
 most severe shock on the perusal of my late pamphlet in 
 answer to his Excellency, Governor Clinton's proclama- 
 tion, dated in February last, containing certain overtures 
 to the inhabitants of this State, as well as from my 
 treatise on the nature and merit of the New York claim, 
 and their treatment of the inhabitants of this the now 
 State of Vermont. In fact, the New York complaints 
 will never prove of sufficient force in Congress to prevent 
 the establishment of this State. But from what I have 
 heard and seen of the disapprobation in Congress of the 
 union with sundry towns east of the Connecticut river, I 
 am sufficiently convinced to offer it as my opinion that 
 except this State recede from such union immediately 
 the whole power of the confederacy of the United States 
 of America will join to annihilate the State of Vermont 
 and to vindicate the right of New Hampshire and to 
 maintain, inviolate, the articles of confederation which 
 guarantee to each State its privileges and immunities. 
 
 Thus, gentlemen, I have given you a short representa- 
 tion of the political situation in this State as it now 
 stands in the general Congress of the United States of 
 America, upon which I stake my honor.
 
 s
 
 A Counter Proclamation. 191 
 
 Given under my hand at Windsor this 10th day of 
 October, A. D. 1778. 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 The discussion of the question relative to the union 
 with the sixteen towns in New Hampshire occupied the 
 consideration of the Vermont legislature for several 
 successive sessions, but on the 12th of February, 1779, it 
 was voted that the union be dissolved. This determina- 
 tion was immediately communicated to the government 
 of New Hampshire by Ira Allen, the youngest brother of 
 Ethan Allen, and the legislature of that State, encouraged 
 by the concession of Vermont and by the dissatisfaction 
 existing in many of her frontier towns, resolved to lay 
 claim not only to the sixteen towns which had united 
 with Vermont but to the whole territory as grants 
 originally made to that Province. Congress was applied 
 to for a confirmation of this claim, while at the same time 
 New York made a similar application to the same body. 
 In this position of affairs, the State of Massachusetts 
 interposed, and laid a claim to a portion of the territory, 
 claiming that a part lay within her jurisdiction. Thus by 
 the rival claims of these adjoining States were the in- 
 habitants of Vermont subjected to humiliation without 
 aid from the Continental Congress to which she had a 
 right to look for protection and assistance in her internal 
 as well as external difficulties. 
 
 On the 7th of July, 1778, Governor Clinton of New 
 York wrote to his adherents in Vermont, recommending 
 that wherever the friends of New York were sufficiently
 
 192 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame 
 
 powerful, "firm resistance should be made to the drafting 
 of men, the raising of taxes," and to all the acts of the 
 "ideal State of Vermont;" and that "associations be 
 formed for mutual defense against this usurpation." 
 
 In conformity to the expressed wishes of Governor 
 Clinton, a convention of the friends of New York met at 
 Brattleboro, Vermont, on the 4th of May, 1779. After 
 perfecting an organization, a petition to the Governor of 
 New York was drawn up in which was asserted that the 
 "ideal State of Vermont" was proceeding to confiscate 
 their property, and they therefore "entreated his 
 Excellency to take immediate measures for protecting 
 the legal subjects of that part of the state, and for con- 
 vincing Congress of the impropriety of delaying a decision 
 in a matter which so nearly concerned the peace, welfare 
 and lives of so many of their firm adherents." A military 
 association was, also, formed about the same time for the 
 purpose of resisting the authority of Vermont. 
 
 In consequence of these proceedings on the part of 
 New York, the governor of Vermont gave orders to Ethan 
 Allen to call out the militia. When informed of this 
 movement, Colonel Patterson, who held a commission in 
 the County of Cumberland under the New York authority, 
 addressed a letter to Governor Clinton in which he asked 
 for directions relative to the emergency of the case 
 suggesting the propriety and necessity of receiving assist- 
 ance from the military force of the County of Albany. 
 In answer to this communication, the Governor gave 
 assurance of protection and recommended that "the 
 authority of Vermont should not be acknowledged ex- 
 cept in the alternative of submission or inevitable ruin."
 
 A Counter Proclamation. 193 
 
 Governor Clinton, on the 18th of May following, 
 wrote to the President of Congress at Philadelphia (John 
 Hancock) in regard to the difficulties existing between 
 the two states declaring that "matters were fast ap- 
 proaching a very serious crisis, which nothing but the im- 
 mediate action of Congress could possibly prevent;" that 
 he daily "expected he should be obliged to order out a 
 force for the defense of those who adhered to New York;" 
 and "that the wisdom of Congress would suggest to them 
 what could be the consequence of submitting the con- 
 troversy, especially at this juncture, to the decision of the 
 sword; but that justice, the faith of government, the 
 peace and safety of society, would not permit them to 
 continue any longer passive spectators of the violence 
 committed on their fellow citizens.' ' This letter, together 
 with several other documents relating to the controversy, 
 was laid before Congress on the 29th of May, 1779 and was 
 referred to a committee of the whole. On the first day of 
 June, Congress resolved that "a committee be appointed 
 to repair to the inhabitants of a certain district known by 
 the name of the New Hampshire Grants, and inquire into 
 the reasons why they refuse to continue citizens of the 
 respective states which have claimed jurisdiction over 
 the said district and that they take every prudent 
 measure to promote an amicable settlement and to pre- 
 vent divisions and animosities so prejudicial to the 
 United States." 
 
 While the foregoing matters were engaging the atten- 
 tion of Congress, Colonel Allen marched with an armed 
 force and made prisoners of Colonel Patterson and others 
 acting under the New York authority. Complaint was
 
 194 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 immediately made to Governor Clinton and a letter was 
 addressed by him to Congress wherein he stated what 
 had taken place, that he strongly disapproved of the 
 resolutions adopted by Congress and requested that the 
 committee appointed to go in person to the New Hamp- 
 shire Grants postpone their visit until after the ensuing 
 session of the New York legislature. 
 
 On the 16th of June it was resolved by Congress that 
 the officers captured by Colonel Allen should be set at 
 liberty, and that the committee referred to be directed 
 to inquire into the circumstances connected with the 
 hasty action of Colonel Allen. Only two of the com- 
 mittee appointed by Congress attended to the duty 
 assigned them; owing to the excited state of public 
 feeling, however, they failed to accomplish the object of 
 their mission. Upon their return to Philadelphia they sub- 
 mitted their report to Congress without recommenda- 
 tion. 
 
 Several communications were forwarded to Congress 
 by the people of Vermont in relation to their rights, but 
 the consideration of them was postponed until the 2nd 
 Tuesday in September, 1780. Ira Allen and Stephen 
 R. Bradley of Vermont were appointed a committee 
 to proceed to Congress to see that the State received 
 fair treatment on the part of the delegates. The mat- 
 ter was taken up by Congress on the 19th of September 
 the "Agents" of Vermont being permitted to be present, 
 but not as the representatives or as the delegates of a body 
 of people invested with legislative authority. Efforts 
 were made by both New Hampshire and New York, to 
 prove their respective claims to the disputed territory; it
 
 A Counter Proclamation. 195 
 
 soon became evident to Allen and Bradley that Vermont 
 was not regarded as a party to the controversy, but 
 that Congress in attempting to decide between New 
 Hampshire and New York did not recognize her exist- 
 ence as a distinct jurisdiction. 
 
 These proceedings "were viewed with alarm and 
 indignation by the agents of Vermont/' and an imme- 
 diate withdrawal of their attendance was the conse- 
 quence. On the 22nd of September, they transmitted a 
 remonstrance to Congress in which they lamented "the ne- 
 cessity which obliges us to say that we can no longer sit 
 as idle spectators without betraying the trust reposed 
 in us, and doing violence to our own feelings, to see 
 partial modes pursued, plans adopted, ex-parte evidence 
 exhibited, which derives all authority from the attesta- 
 tion of the party passages in writings selected, giving 
 a very false representation of facts, to answer no other 
 end but to prejudice your Honorable body against the 
 State of Vermont; thereby to intrigue and baffle a brave 
 and meritorious people out of their rights and liberties." 
 They further say that they "are willing to agree upon 
 some one or more of the legislatures of the disinterested 
 states, to interpose as mediators and settle the dispute," 
 and conclude by observing that if Congress continue the 
 exercise of her unjust policy, they "stand ready to appeal 
 to God and the world, who must be accountable for the 
 awful consequences that must ensue." The subject of 
 the controversy again occupied the attention of Congress 
 on the 27th of September when the further consideration 
 of it was postponed. 
 
 The policy of Congress in postponing the decision of
 
 196 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 the controversy did not receive the cordial acquiescence 
 of Vermont. It showed it is true that her claims to inde- 
 pendence were partially recognized yet it had a direct 
 tendency to delay the final adjustment of those claims. 
 In this condition of affairs the State of Vermont resolved 
 upon the policy of extending her territory, thereby in- 
 creasing her power and placing herself in a more imposing 
 attitude. She was not unaware that a majority of the 
 inhabitants in the western part of New Hampshire were 
 still anxious to come within her jurisdiction, and to facili- 
 tate the accomplishment of this object a convention com- 
 posed of representatives from forty-three towns assembled 
 at Charlestown, New Hampshire, on the 16th of January, 
 1781; but the result was extremely mortifying to 
 the adherents of Vermont, for it was found that a 
 majority of the representatives were opposed to the con- 
 templated union. A committee, however, was appointed by 
 the Convention for the purpose of conferring with Ver- 
 mont on the subject, and on the 10th of February, they 
 informed the Legislature of Vermont, then in session at 
 Windsor, that "the Convention of the New Hampshire 
 towns was desirous of being united with Vermont in one 
 separate government upon such principles as should be 
 mutually thought the most equitable and beneficial to the 
 State." Upon the report of the committee to whom it 
 had been referred, the Legislature resolved that "in order 
 to quiet the present disturbances on the two sides of the 
 Connecticut river, and the better to enable the inhabit- 
 ants to defend their frontier, the Legislature of this State 
 does lay a jurisdictional claim to all the lands east of the
 
 A Counter Proclamation. 197 
 
 Connecticut river, north of Massachusetts, west of 
 Mason's line, and south of latitude 45; but they will 
 not, for the time being, exercise said jurisdiction." 
 
 A convention of the towns in New Hampshire anxious 
 for the proposed union was then in session at Cornish on 
 the opposite side of the river from Windsor; communi- 
 cations by boat or ferry in relation to the matter in ques- 
 tion were repeatedly exchanged between the committees 
 of this body and the Legislature of Vermont. Articles of 
 union were finally agreed upon stipulating that the 
 Vermont Constitution should be adopted by the towns in 
 New Hampshire, that application should be made to 
 Congress for admission into the union,, that "full act of 
 oblivion be passed for former offences by persons who 
 professed themselves subjects of the State of New York," 
 and that the Legislature should inform all the towns in 
 the State of Vermont as well as all the towns on the New 
 Hampshire Grants east of the Connecticut river, of the action 
 thus taken relative to the projected union, and that "the 
 votes of each town should be returned to the Assembly at 
 their adjourned session, on the first Wednesday of April 
 following; and on condition that two-thirds of the towns 
 in the State of Vermont, at a legal town meeting, vote for 
 the union, and also two-thirds of the towns on the New 
 Hampshire Grants, east of the Connecticut river," then 
 the union should take place, and the New Hampshire 
 towns be at liberty to send representatives to the Legis- 
 lature. At the session of the Legislature in the April follow- 
 ing, it appeared that thirty-six towns were in favor of the 
 union and seven opposed to it. The union was therefore
 
 198 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 consummated; in accordance with the consummation 
 thirty-five Representatives from the towns on the east 
 side of the Connecticut river took their seats in the Ver- 
 mont Legislature. 
 
 In consequence of the measures adopted by the State 
 of New York, and the repeated solicitations from several 
 towns in that State bordering on Vermont asking to be 
 received into the Union, the Legislature on the 14th of 
 February, 1781, laid jurisdictional claim to all the lands 
 west of her present territory and east of the Hudson 
 River to its source, and east of the North line, extending 
 to the 45th degree of north latitude providing that this 
 jurisdiction should not be exercised for the time being. 
 On the llth of April, however, the Legislature of Ver- 
 mont appointed a committee to attend a convention of 
 delegates from the towns in New York desiring the union 
 and to make the necessary arrangements for effecting it. 
 This Convention met at Cambridge, N. Y., on the 15th 
 of May the articles of union were agreed to by both 
 parties, and on the 16th of June following, were confirmed 
 by the Legislature of Vermont and representatives from 
 these towns were admitted to seats in that body.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 ADMISSION OF VERMONT INTO THE UNION. 
 
 The people of Vermont having become exasperated by 
 the refusal of Congress to recognize their claims to inde- 
 pendence, and by the opposition they experienced in 
 seeking admission into the Union, determined to pur- 
 sue a course which would secure their safety and inde-. 
 pendence against the encroachments of the British on 
 the north and the annoyance and interference from their 
 fellow countrymen in other sections, east, west and 
 south. The English, through their representatives in 
 America, had for a long period entertained the hope of 
 turning the disputes between Vermont and the other 
 states to their own advantage by detaching that section 
 of territory from the American cause, and making it a 
 British province. 
 
 The first intimation of this plan was communicated by 
 Colonel Beverly Robinson to Colonel Ethan Allen in a 
 letter dated the 30th of March, 1780. It was delivered 
 to Colonel Allen by a British soldier in disguise in the 
 streets of Arlington. Colonel Robinson commenced his 
 letter by saying that he hoped that his proposals would 
 be received in the same spirit with which he made them 
 after which he proceeded to say that he had often been 
 informed that Colonel Allen and most of the inhabitants 
 of Vermont were opposed to the wild and chimerical 
 
 199
 
 200 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 scheme of the Americans in attempting to separate 
 from Great Britain and to establish an independent 
 government of their own; and that he would willingly 
 assist in uniting America to Great Britain, and in 
 restoring that happy constitution so wantonly and unad- 
 visedly destroyed. "If I have been rightly informed," 
 proceeds the writer, "and these should be your senti- 
 ments and inclinations, I beg that you will communicate 
 to me, without reserve, whatever proposals you would 
 wish to make to the commander-in-chief, and I hereby 
 promise that I will faithfully lay them before him accord- 
 ing to your directions, and I natter myself I can do it to 
 as good effect as any person whatever. I can make no 
 proposals to you until I know your sentiments; but 
 think, upon your taking an active part and persuading 
 the inhabitants of Vermont in favor of the crown of 
 England, to act as the commander-in-chief shall direct, 
 that you may obtain a separate government under the 
 king and constitution of England, and the men, 
 formed into regiments under such officers as you shall 
 recommend, be on the same footing as all the provincial 
 corps are. If you should think proper to send a friend 
 of your own here, with proposals to the General, he shall 
 be protected and well treated, and allowed to return 
 whenever he pleases." The contents of this letter were 
 immediately communicated by Colonel Allen to the 
 Governor and other influential persons, who unanimously 
 agreed that it would be impolitic to return an answer. 
 
 On the 2nd of February, 1781, nearly a year after the 
 receipt of the foregoing communication, Colonel Robinson 
 addressed a second letter to Colonel Allen, inclosing a
 
 Admission of Vermont into the Union. 201 
 
 copy of the former one in which he says, "The frequent 
 accounts we have had, for three months past, from your 
 part of the country, confirms me in the opinion I had, 
 of your inclination to join the king's cause, and assist in 
 restoring America to her former peaceable and happy 
 constitution. This induces me to make another trial in 
 sending this to you, especially as I can write with more 
 authority, and assure you that you may obtain the terms 
 mentioned in the above letter, provided you and the 
 people of Vermont take a decisive and active part with 
 us.' ' To this communication Colonel Robinson requested 
 an answer, stating also that some method might be pointed 
 out for carrying on a future correspondence. 
 
 No answer was returned to either of these letters by 
 Colonel Allen, but on the 9th of March, 1781, he en- 
 closed them in a communication to Congress. From 
 the best of motives, and convinced of his own integrity, 
 yet all the while smarting under the insults of the officials 
 of the neighboring States, while seeking independence 
 and legal separation from the "Empire State," he ob- 
 served in his note to Congress: "I am confident Congress 
 will not dispute my sincere attachment to the cause 
 of my country, though I do not hesitate to say, I am 
 fully grounded in opinion that Vermont has an indubi- 
 table right to agree on terms of a cessation of hostilities 
 with Great Britain, providing the United States persists 
 in rejecting her application for a union with them; for 
 Vermont, of all people, would be the most miserable, 
 were she obliged to defend the independence of the United 
 (claiming) States, and they at the same time at full liberty 
 to overturn and ruin the independence of Vermont. I
 
 202 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 am persuaded that when Congress considers the circum- 
 stances of this State, they will be more surprised that I 
 have transmitted them the inclosed letters, than that I 
 have kept them in custody so long; for I am as resolutely 
 determined to defend the independence of Vermont, as 
 Congress is that of the United States; and rather than 
 fail, will retire with the hardy Green Mountain Boys into 
 the desolate caverns of the mountains and wage war 
 with human nature at large." 
 
 This negotiation was continued between the State of 
 Vermont and the representatives of Great Britain until 
 the year 1782 having in its effect not only the protection 
 of the State from the ravages of the British troops, but 
 also to lessen the difficulties attendant upon her admission 
 into the Union. To the firmness and undaunted patriotism 
 of Colonel Allen in this circumstance may be attributed, 
 in a great measure, the many lasting advantages which 
 resulted from it. 
 
 During the negotiations with the British authorities, 
 the primary cause of it was not forgotten or neglected by 
 Allen or the people of Vermont. Their efforts were still 
 to continue to advance her internal interests and procure 
 an acknowledgment of her claim to admission into the 
 Union. On the 20th of August, 1781, in consequence of 
 Allen's unceasing efforts, a committee appointed by Con- 
 gress, made a report to that body in relation to the sub- 
 ject, whereupon, the following resolution was adopted: 
 
 "Resolved, That it be an indispensable preliminary to 
 the recognition of the independence of the people inhabit- 
 ing the territory called Vermont, and their admission into 
 the federal union, that they explicitly relinquish all de-
 
 Admission of Vermont into the Union. 203 
 
 mands of lands or jurisdiction on the east side of the west 
 bank of the Connecticut River, and on the west side of a 
 line beginning at the Northwest corner of the State of 
 Massachusetts, thence running twenty miles east of Hud- 
 son's River, so far as the said river runs northeasterly in 
 its general course ; then by the west bounds of the town- 
 ships granted by the late government of New Hampshire, 
 to the river running from South Bay to Lake Champlain, 
 thence along the said Lake George to Lake Champlain, to 
 the latitude of 45 degrees north; excepting a neck of land 
 between Missisque Bay and the waters of Lake Cham- 
 plain." 
 
 Both the States of Vermont and New York were dis- 
 satisfied with this resolution the one because it stipu- 
 lated as the condition of her admission into the confeder- 
 acy, the dissolutions of her unions with the adjoining 
 States, and the other because it recognized the justness of 
 a claim against which she had long and strenuously con- 
 tended. The subject was taken up by a committee of the 
 Legislature of Vermont on the 17th of October, 1781 
 when it was resolved as the "opinion of this committee 
 that the Legislature cannot comply with the resolution 
 without destroying the foundation of the present univer- 
 sal harmony and agreement that subsists in this State, 
 and a violation of solemn compact entered into by articles 
 of union and confederation." 
 
 The political condition of Vermont was now in every 
 respect extremely alarming; and "all parties trembled at 
 the fearful approach of civil war." Fortunately, however, 
 for those concerned, Governor Chittenden received 
 a letter from General Washington dated January 1,
 
 204 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 1782, in which he remarked "It is not my business, 
 nor do I think it necessary now to discuss the origin of the 
 right of a number of inhabitants of that tract of country 
 formerly distinguished by the name of the New Hamp- 
 shire Grants, and now by that of Vermont. I will take it 
 for granted that their right was good because Congress 
 by their resolution of the 7th of August implied it; and 
 by that of the 20th are willing fully to confirm it pro- 
 vided the new State is confined to certain described 
 bounds. It appears therefore to me that the dispute of 
 boundary is the only one that exists; and, that being re- 
 moved all other difficulties would be removed also, and 
 the matter terminate to the satisfaction of all parties. 
 You have nothing to do but to withdraw your jurisdiction 
 to the confines of your own limits and obtain an acknowl- 
 edgement of independence and sovereignty, under the 
 resolution of the 20th of August, for so much territory as 
 does not interfere with the ancient established bounds of 
 New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts. In my 
 private opinion, while it behooves the delegates to do 
 ample justice to a people sufficiently respectable by their 
 numbers, and entitled by other claims to be admitted 
 into the confederation, it becomes them also to attend to 
 the interests of their constituents and see that under the 
 appearance of justice to one, they do not materially injure 
 the others. I am inclined to think this is the prevailing 
 opinion of Congress." 
 
 The advice of Washington had a soothing effect upon 
 the minds of the people of Vermont. He was endeared to 
 them by his many sacrifices in the cause of freedom, and 
 by the examples of his personal conduct during those
 
 Admission of Vermont into the Union. 205 
 
 trying times. At the next meeting of the Legislature, 
 held at Bennington, the communication was laid before 
 them; and on the 22nd of February, it was resolved to 
 comply with the preliminary requirement of the resolution 
 of Congress and relinquish all claims to the territory 
 described, originally attached to other districts. 
 
 The decision of the Vermont Legislature, as shown 
 by the vote taken on the 18th of October, was com- 
 municated to the Congress; the debate which followed 
 was exciting and caused much hard feeling between 
 the friends of the contending states. It was resolved, 
 among other things, "that, if Vermont did not, within one 
 month from the time this resolution was communicated 
 to Governor Chittenden, comply with the resolution of the 
 20th of August, and relinquish her jurisdiction beyond 
 the bounds therein named, such neglect and refusal would 
 be regarded as an indication of hostility to the United 
 States." Previous to the adoption of this resolution, the 
 representatives of Vermont had arrived at Philadelphia 
 and had immediately informed Congress that the re- 
 quirements preliminary to the recognition of Vermont's 
 independence had been complied with; the "agents" 
 contended that the former resolution passed by Congress 
 was binding upon Congress, as well as upon Vermont. 
 The subject, however, did not receive the attention the 
 commissioners anticipated or had hoped for, so they 
 returned home to consider other means of enlisting 
 Congress in their behalf. 
 
 The subject was again taken up by Congress on the 
 5th of December, but instead of fulfilling its promise to 
 the "agents" of Vermont, made by the resolution of the
 
 206 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 20th of August, 1781, the proceedings were characterized 
 by abuse against the people of that State for having ex- 
 ercised authority over certain individuals professing alle- 
 giance to New York, in violation of the resolutions of 
 Congress, passed on the 24th of September, 1779, and on 
 the 2nd of June, 1780. It was finally resolved, "that Ver- 
 mont be required to make full restitution to the persons 
 condemned to banishment or confiscation of property, and 
 that they be not molested on their return to said District.' ' 
 It was further resolved, "that the United States will take 
 effectual measures to enforce a compliance with the 
 aforesaid resolution in case the same shall be disobeyed 
 by the people of the said District." 
 
 These measures completely weakened the faith of 
 the people of Vermont in the wisdom and integrity of 
 Congress, declared Allen, and nearly destroyed their hopes 
 of obtaining redress from that body. However, a spirited 
 remonstrance to the foregoing proceedings was for- 
 warded to Congress by the Governor of Vermont, at 
 the direction of its Legislature, in which the whole facts 
 in the case were set forth in plain and unmistakable 
 language, and concluding with a request that Vermont 
 be admitted into the Union. In consequence of this re- 
 monstrance, and other corresponding measures, Congress 
 did not judge it politic to attempt to carry into effect 
 her resolutions of the 5th of December. 
 
 In the southeastern section of the State of Vermont, 
 at its first organization, were many individuals opposed 
 to its independence and of course friendly to the claims 
 of New York. These persons eagerly embraced every 
 opportunity to embarrass the State, and on several
 
 SIR HENRY CLINTON.
 
 Admission of Vermont into the Union. 207 
 
 occasions openly resisted its authority. This opposi- 
 tion was principally confined to the town of Guilf ord at 
 that time the most populous village in the State. The 
 two factions here (the friends of Vermont and those of 
 New York) had each an organization of their own and 
 not infrequently were there two sets of town officers . 
 Between these and their friends, frequent disturbances 
 occurred which not infrequently ended in bloodshed. The 
 enmity of these parties was carried to an alarming 
 extent during the years 1783 and 1784. Social order 
 was entirely at an end, and even physicians were not 
 allowed to pursue their avocations without procuring 
 a permit from the several committees. In this unpleasant 
 state of affairs, Colonel Ethan Allen, then in command 
 of the military forces of Vermont, was directed to call out 
 the militia for the purpose of enforcing the laws and 
 suppressing the factional disturbances among the people 
 of Windham County. In accordance with these directions, 
 he marched from Bennington with a force of about one 
 hundred Green Mountain Boys, and upon his arrival at 
 Guilf ord issued the following unique proclamation: "I, 
 Ethan Allen, declare that unless the people of Guilford 
 peaceably submit to the authority of Vermont, I will 
 make the town as desolate as were the cities of Sodom 
 and Gomorrah!" The "Yorkers" were fired upon by 
 Colonel Allen, and after several pitched battles the dis- 
 turbers were all either taken prisoners or disbanded 
 without arms. Martial law was proclaimed by Colonel 
 Allen, and under it a large proportion of the property 
 belonging to the tories and enemies of Vermont was sold 
 for the benefit of the State.
 
 208 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 Very little alteration was effected in the government 
 of Vermont for several years after the close of the war. 
 After the adoption of the Federal constitution, however, 
 the proceedings of Congress were viewed by the people 
 of that State in a more friendly spirit. Proceedings in that 
 body certainly were more conservative and had the 
 effect of gaining the confidence of the people of Vermont 
 by removing the aversion to a federation which Allen and 
 others had opposed on former occasions. The former 
 controversy with the State of New York, which had 
 already caused much ill feeling, still remained unsettled, 
 however. The authorities of that State were now fully 
 aware that Vermont would succeed in maintaining her 
 independence. 
 
 The former Governors of New York had, however, made 
 grants of extensive tracts of land in Vermont, the validity 
 of which was not admitted by the government of Vermont. 
 The authorities of New York did not consider that they 
 were under any particular obligations to refund the money 
 received for these lands they being grants of the royal 
 governors. A disposition was manifested, however, to 
 effect a compromise, on just and amicable terms, and at a 
 session of the Legislature held at Albany on the 15th of 
 July, 1789, an act was passed appointing a certain number 
 of commissioners to acknowledge the sovereignty of Ver- 
 mont and adjust all difficulties which exist or had existed 
 with neighboring states. Commissioners were also ap- 
 pointed on the part of Vermont to treat with those of New 
 York and remove whatever obstructions existed to pre- 
 vent her admission into the Union. 
 
 On the 7th of October, 1790, the following resolutions
 
 Admission of Vermont into the Union. 209 
 
 were adopted by the New York Legislature: "Resolved, 
 That the commissioners for New York, by virtue of the 
 powers to them granted for that purpose, declared the 
 consent of the Legislature of New York, that the State of 
 Vermont be admitted into the Union of the United States 
 of America; and that immediately upon such admission 
 all claims of jurisdiction of the State of New York within 
 the State of Vermont shall cease ; and thenceforth the per- 
 petual line between the State of New York and the State 
 of Vermont, shall be as was then held and possessed by 
 Vermont; that is, the west lines of the most western towns 
 which had been granted by New Hampshire, and the mid- 
 dle channel of Lake Champlain." In regard to the lands 
 granted under the Provincial government of New York, 
 the resolution further says: "That the commissioners, by 
 virtue of the powers to them granted, declare the will of 
 the Legislature of New York, that if the Legislature of the 
 State of Vermont should on, or before, the first day of Janu- 
 ary, 1792, declare that on the first day of June, 1794, the 
 State of Vermont would pay the State of New York, the sum 
 of thirty thousand dollars, that immediately from such 
 declaration, by the Legislature of the State of Vermont, 
 all rights and titles to lands within the State of Vermont, 
 under grants from the government of the colony of New 
 York, or from the State of New York, should cease, ex- 
 cepting those which had been made in confirmation of the 
 grants of New Hampshire," This proposal was readily 
 agreed to by Vermont and on the 28th of October, 1790, 
 an act was passed directing the Treasurer of the State to 
 pay the sum of thirty thousand dollars to the State of New 
 York at the proposed time. In this amicable manner
 
 210 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 was terminated a controversy which had been carried on, 
 with great animosity, for twenth-six years. 
 
 The General Assembly of Vermont commenced its 
 sessions at Bennington on the 10th of January, 1791; and 
 appointed the Honorable Nathaniel Chipman and Lewis 
 R. Morris, Esq., Commissioners to attend Congress, and 
 negotiate the admission of the State into the Union. 
 
 Accompanied by Colonel Allen, they repaired to Phila- 
 delphia and laid before Washington, then President of the 
 United States, the proceedings of the Convention and 
 Legislature and on the 15th of February, 1791, Vermont 
 was admitted into the Union, without debate or a dissent- 
 ing vote.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES IN THE LIFE OF 
 COLONEL ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 The reader has been given a concise view of all the 
 principal events in which Colonel Allen was concerned, 
 and it is truly gratifying to consider that in all the trying 
 scenes of his life in all the vicissitudes attendant upon a 
 protracted captivity he was never forgetful of the rights 
 of his fellowmen; or the cause of liberty in which his 
 countrymen were engaged. We have seen him cast aside 
 the proffered honors and their accompanying emolu- 
 ments of the British authorities rather than betray his 
 allegiance to his contry. We have seen him adhering 
 with patriotic devotion to the interests of his country 
 even while her efforts were directed to crush the rising 
 prospects of his adopted State. What individual then 
 will deny him the tribute of gratitude or withhold from 
 his memory that mysterious feeling of veneration which 
 patriotism exacts from the friends of liberty? 
 
 Colonel Allen was the author of several political and 
 religious works. The former were principally illustrative 
 of the measures adopted by the people of the New Hamp- 
 shire Grants in relation to the position they assumed in 
 the controversy with the New York authorities, while the 
 latter were probably written more with a view of gratify- 
 ing a desire to occupy the attention of the public than for 
 
 an
 
 212 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 any other purpose. His religious sentiments as promul- 
 gated in his writings were nearly allied to Deism, yet it is 
 quite probable from the following anecdote that his real 
 opinions were based upon a different creed: A Doctor 
 Elliot, who removed from Guilford, Connecticut, to Ver- 
 mont, was well acquainted with Colonel Allen and visited 
 him at a time when his daughter was very dangerously 
 sick. He was conducted into the library, where the 
 Colonel read to him some of his writings. While thus 
 engaged, a messenger entered the room and informed 
 Colonel Allen that his daughter was dying and desired to 
 speak to him. He immediately went to her chamber, ac- 
 companied by Doctor Elliot who was desirous of witness- 
 ing the interview. The wife of Colonel Allen was a pious 
 woman and had faithfully instructed her daughter in the 
 principles of Christianity. As soon as her father appeared 
 at her bedside, she said to him, "I am about to die; shall 
 I believe in the principles you have taught me or shall I 
 believe in what my mother has taught me?" Colonel 
 Allen became extremely agitated. His chin quivered 
 his whole frame shook; and, after a lapse of a few minutes, 
 he replied, "Believe what your mother has taught you." 
 It would appear from this that however much Colonel 
 Allen might have indulged in the exercise of his fancy 
 upon religious matters he was still in principle attached 
 to the beautiful and holy precepts inculcated by our 
 Saviour. 
 
 Colonel Allen was brave even to rashness. In support 
 of this position we submit to the reader the following 
 adventure, related by a gentleman remotely connected 
 with him. Soon after the Proclamation of the Provin-
 
 Incidents and Anecdotes. 213 
 
 cial Governor of New York was received by the people of 
 Vermont, in which a reward of five hundred dollars was 
 offered for the apprehension of Allen, much anxiety was 
 felt by his friends for his safety, on account of the many 
 opportunities offered for arresting him. Allen, however, 
 laughed at their fears and offered to bet that he could go 
 to Albany, alight at the most prominent house of enter- 
 tainment the Tavern drink a bowl of punch and finally 
 escape unharmed. The bet was accepted. All necessary 
 arrangements being made, he proceeded to Albany and 
 after alighting as proposed, called for a bowl of punch ac- 
 cording to the terms of the bet. It was soon whispered 
 about that Ethan Allen was in the city and a large con- 
 course of people collected about the Tavern among whom 
 was the Sheriff of Albany county. Allen, however, re- 
 mained apparently unconcerned. Having finished his 
 punch, he went to the door, mounted his horse and after 
 giving a hearty "huzza for Vermont" departed, un- 
 harmed before the astonished and gaping multitude had 
 time to collect their scattered senses. 
 
 The following anecdote, derived from a source entitled 
 to credit, exhibits good evidence of the singularity as well 
 as the firm resolution of Colonel Allen. He was a resident 
 of Tinmouth, Vermont, for a short time and was as cele- 
 brated among his townsmen for acts of boldness and a 
 perfect contempt of everything pertaining to cowardice 
 as he had been during his previous military career. Being 
 one day on a visit to a neighboring town (Middletown 
 Springs) he happened in at the house of a gentleman who, 
 though not a regular dentist, was nevertheless in the habit 
 of extracting teeth. A woman came in suffering from the
 
 214 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 pain of a decayed tooth, but without sufficient courage to 
 permit an extraction. Several times she approached the 
 "fatal" seat assigned for that purpose, and as often re- 
 treated. Allen, in the meantime, a very uneasy specta- 
 tor, could restrain his feelings no longer. "Here," he 
 said to the dentist, "take out one of my teeth." " But they 
 are all sound, General." "Never mind, do as I direct 
 you." A tooth was extracted. "Now take courage, 
 madam, from the example I have given you," said Allen, 
 to the trembling woman. Pride overcame her fears and 
 she was soon relieved from apprehension and pain. 
 
 An idea of the honesty and love of veracity of Colonel 
 Allen may be obtained from the following anecdote: A 
 certain individual, to whom he was indebted, had com- 
 menced a suit against him and he had engaged a lawyer 
 to attend to it, seeking to get judgment postponed if 
 possible. As an easy method to effect this the lawyer 
 denied the signature of the note, knowing it would be 
 almost impossible for the plaintiff to prove it genuine. 
 Allen, who was present, could not submit to this trick of 
 the law. Walking forward through the crowd he thus 
 addressed the astonished lawyer: "Mr. , I did not em- 
 ploy you to come here and lie; I employed you to tell the 
 truth. The note is a true one; the signature is mine. 
 All I ask of the court is to grant me sufficient time to 
 meet the payment." It is almost needless to add that the 
 plaintiff acceded to his wish. 
 
 While Allen was on his way to lay his schemes before 
 the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, he visited 
 Bennington where the Reverend Mr. Dewey, an ancestor 
 of Admiral George Dewey, preached. In his prayer Mr.
 
 Incidents and Anecdotes. 215 
 
 Dewey, with much fervor, poured forth his thanks to the 
 Lord for having given possession of Fort Ticonderoga into 
 the hands of a people struggling for their liberty and the 
 defense of their property. Allen was considerably dis- 
 pleased and as the preacher continued in this strain of 
 thanksgiving, the bluff old hero cried out, "Parson 
 Dewey!" The reverend gentleman gave no heed to the 
 interruption. Allen exclaimed still louder, "Parson 
 Dewey!" But as the minister pursued his prayer, Allen 
 sprang to his feet and roared out in a voice of thunder, 
 "Parson Dewey." The clergyman opened his eyes and 
 gazed with astonishment at Allen. The latter exclaimed 
 with great energy, "Parson Dewey, please make mention 
 of my being there." 
 
 Burgoyne's defeat gave Ethan Allen a welcome oppor- 
 tunity to return the ridicule with which the (British officers 
 had been accustomed to speak of the Continental troops, 
 and he was not the man to keep silent against biting sar- 
 casms hurled against his countrymen. Like Paul Jones, 
 he was not the man to speak deprecatingly of his own 
 merits either. He seldom lost an opportunity of placing 
 himself in the most favorable position before his superiors. 
 On one occasion, during his captivity, while boasting of 
 the impossibility of conquering the Americans, he boast- 
 ingly spoke of himself and his brothers, all of whom were 
 in the Continental army, as patriots of uncompromising 
 valor, saying there was never a woman who had seven 
 sons that could equal those of his mother. A British 
 officer tartly insisted that Allen ought to except Mary 
 Magdalen, who also was delivered of seven devils. 
 
 A man named John Redding had been convicted of
 
 216 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 supplying the British with provisions and had been 
 sentenced by a jury of six to be hung on the following 
 Friday. A lawyer interposed for a new trial, as twelve 
 and not six must constitute a legal jury. The public 
 was disappointed at the reprieve. Allen addressed them 
 with an oath, advising patience, and to wait for the day 
 suggested by the lawyer, promising, "You shall see 
 somebody hung at all events, for if Redding is not then 
 hung, I will be hung myself." Redding was later con- 
 victed and hanged within the month. 
 
 An anecdote of a different character is told of Allen's 
 sojourn in New York. Rivington, the King's printer, a 
 forcible and venomous writer, had incurred Allen's 
 enmity by his caustic allusions to him, and the hero of 
 Ticonderoga swore he would whip Rivington the very 
 first opportunity he had. How the printer escaped the 
 threatened chastisement is narrated in his own words: 
 I was sitting (says Rivington) after a good dinner, alone, 
 with my bottle of Madeira before me when I heard an 
 unusual noise in the street and a huzza from the boys. I 
 was in the second story and stepping to the window, 
 saw a tall figure in tarnished regimentals, with a large 
 cocked hat and an enormously long sword, followed by a 
 crowd of boys who occasionally cheered him with huzzas 
 of which he seemed insensible. He came up to my door 
 and stopped. I could see no more. My heart told me 
 it was Ethan Allen. I shut my window and retired behind 
 my table and my bottle. I was certain the hour of reck- 
 oning had come. There was no retreat. Mr. Staples, 
 my clerk, came in paler than ever and, clasping his hands, 
 said, "Master, he has come!" "I know it." He en-
 
 Incidents and Anecdotes. 21 Y 
 
 tered the store and asked whether James Rivington 
 lived there. I answered, "Yes, sir." "Is he at home?" 
 "I will go and see, sir," I said; "and now, master, what is 
 to be done? There he is in the store, and the boys peep- 
 ing at him from the street." I had made up my mind. 
 I looked at the Madeira, possibly took a glass. "Show 
 him up, said I ; and if such Madeira cannot mollify him, 
 he must be harder than adamant. There was a fearful 
 moment of suspense. I heard him on the stairs, his long 
 sword clanking at every step. In he stalked. " Is your 
 name James Rivington?" "It is, sir, said I, and no 
 man could be more happy than I am to see Colonel 
 Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga. "Sir, I have 
 come "Not another word, my dear Colonel, until 
 you have taken a seat and a glass of old Madeira." " But, 
 sir, I do not think it proper " "Not another word, 
 Colonel. Taste this wine. I have had it in glass for ten 
 years. Old wine, you know, unless it is originally sound, 
 never improves by age." He took the glass, swallowed 
 the wine smacked his lips, and shook his head approvingly. 
 "Sir I come "Not another word until you have 
 taken another glass, and then, my dear Colonel, we will 
 talk of old affairs, and I have some queer events to de- 
 tail." In short, we finished two bottles of Madeira, and 
 parted as good friends as if we had never had cause to 
 be otherwise. 
 
 Levi, one of Ethan Allen's brothers, joined the tories 
 and fled with them to Canada. This greatly incensed 
 Ethan and he applied to the proper authorities for the 
 confiscation of his brother's property for the benefit of the 
 State. Levi heard of this and challenged his brother
 
 218 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 to fight a duel. This Ethan refused to do on the ground 
 that it would be disgraceful to fight a tory!" Levi, 
 however, abandoned the royal cause and became a staunch 
 patriot. The following is a literal copy of Ethan Allen's 
 complaint, concerning his brother: 
 
 Bennington, County, ss. Arlington, 9th of January 
 1779. 
 
 To the Honorable the Court of Confiscation, come, 
 Colonel Ethan Allen in the name of the freemen of this 
 State, and complaint makes that Levi Allen, late of 
 Salisbury, in Connecticut, is of tory principles, and holds 
 in fee sundry tracts and parcels of land in this State. 
 The said Levi has been detected in trying to supply the 
 enemy on Long Island, and in attempting to circulate 
 counterfeit currency, and is guilty of holding treasonable 
 correspondence with the enemy, under cover of doing 
 favors to me when a prisoner at New York and Long 
 Island; and in talking and in using influence in favor of 
 the enemy, associating with inimical persons to this 
 country, and with them monopolizing the necessaries of 
 life, in endeavoring to lessen the credit of the conti- 
 nental currency, and in particular, hath exerted himself 
 in the most falacious manner, to injure the property and 
 character of some of the most zealous friends to the inde- 
 pendency of the United States, and of this State like- 
 wise; all which inimical conduct is against the peace and 
 dignity of the freemen of this State. I therefore prey the 
 Honorable Court to take the matter under their consid- 
 eration, and make confiscation of the estate of said 
 Levi Allen, before mentioned, according 'to the laws
 
 Incidents and Anecdotes. 219 
 
 and customs of this State in such case made and 
 provided. 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 Colonel Allen talked and wrote much on the subject 
 of religion, and expressed his skeptical views on all con- 
 venient occasions. At one time, while he was at West- 
 minster, Vermont, Judge Sessions and Stephen R. 
 Bradley, who were zealous Christians, were discussing the 
 affairs of the Church. Allen, who entered the room at 
 the time, interrupted them by an argument against the 
 divine origin of the Bible. Judge Sessions, not liking to 
 hear his reasoning, said, "Mr. Bradley, I think we had 
 better retire and not hear this man talk." Allen ex- 
 claimed, "Deacon Sessions, you belong to the church 
 militant. I belong to the church military; and without 
 that," he continued with an oath, "you can never belong 
 to the church triumphant." 
 
 Colonel Allen's kindness of heart was proverbial, and 
 he was always ready to afford relief to the suffering. At 
 one time, two little girls, daughters of one of the pioneers 
 of Vermont, wandered into the woods. The distressed 
 parents with a few neighbors, commenced a search, 
 which was continued through the night without success. 
 The next day a large number of persons from the neigh- 
 boring towns joined them and the search was continued 
 till the afternoon of the third day, when it was relin- 
 quished, and the people who had been out were about to 
 return to their homes. Among them, however, was one 
 who thought the search should not be abandoned; this 
 was Ethan Allen. He mounted a stump, and soon all eyes
 
 220 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 were fixed upon him. In his laconic manner, he pointed 
 to the father and mother of the lost children, now almost 
 terrified with grief and despair and bade each individual 
 present, and especially those who were parents, make 
 the case of these parents his own, and then say whether 
 they could go contentedly home without one further 
 effort to save those little ones who were probably now 
 alive but perishing with hunger and spending their last 
 strength crying for father and mother to give them some- 
 thing to eat. As he spoke, his giant frame was agitated ; 
 the tears rolled down his cheeks, and in the assembly of 
 several hundred men, but few eyes were dry. "I'll go! 
 I'll go!" was at length heard from every part of the crowd. 
 They betook themselves to the woods, and before night 
 the lost children were restored in safety to the arms of the 
 distracted parents. 
 
 Colonel Allen, who at times had resided at Benning- 
 ton, Arlington and Tinmouth, at last took up his resi- 
 dence on the Winooski river not far from Bennington. 
 His first wife had never removed from Connecticut, but 
 died there during the war. His courtship with his 
 second wife was characteristic. During a session of the 
 court at Westminster, Allen appeared with a magnificent 
 pair of horses and a colored driver. Chief Justice Robin- 
 son and Stephen R. Bradley, an eminent lawyer, were 
 there, and as their breakfast was on the table they asked 
 Colonel Allen to join them. He replied that he had 
 breakfasted, and while they were at the table he would 
 go in and see Mrs. Buchanan, a handsome widow who was 
 visiting there at the time. He entered the sitting room, 
 and at once said to Mrs. Buchanan, "Well, Fanny, if we
 
 Incidents and Anecdotes. 221 
 
 are to be married, let us be about it." "Very well," 
 she promptly replied, "give me time to fix up." In a 
 few minutes she was ready, and Judge Robinson was at 
 once called upon by them to perform the customary 
 ceremony. Said Allen, "Judge, Mrs. Buchanan and I 
 have concluded to be married. I don't care much about 
 the ceremony, and as near as I can find out, Fanny cares 
 as little for it as I do. But as a decent respect for the 
 customs of society require it of us, we are willing to have 
 the ceremony performed." The gentlemen present were 
 much surprised, and Judge Robinson replied, "General 
 Allen, this in an important matter. Have you thought 
 seriously of it?" "Yes, yes," exclaimed Allen, looking 
 at Mrs. Buchanan, "but it don't require much thought." 
 Judge Robinson then rose from his seat and said, "Join 
 your hands together. Ethan Allen, you take this woman 
 to be your lawful and wedded wife; you promise to love 
 and protect her according to the law of God and 
 "Stop, stop, Judge. The law of God," said Allen look- 
 ing forth upon the fields, "all nature is full of it. Yes, 
 go on. My team is at the door." As soon as the cere- 
 mony was ended, General . Allen and his bride entered 
 his carriage and drove off. 
 
 On one occasion Allen's temerity came very near re- 
 sulting in his capture, or perhaps death. While travel- 
 ing along the shores of Lake Champlain opposite Crown 
 Point, with but a single companion, he stopped at the 
 house of a Mr. Richards. It happened that at the same 
 time a party of six or eight soldiers from the neighbor- 
 ing fortress, Ticonderoga, fully armed, were at the house, 
 with the intention of remaining during the night. Know-
 
 222 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 ing Allen, they determined to arrest him, and thus obtain 
 the liberal reward offered by the New York authorities 
 for his apprehension. Mrs. Richards, a staunch patriot, 
 overheard enough of their conversation to warrant her 
 in warning Allen of their designs, which she did while 
 conducting him and his companion to their room. Upon 
 reaching their room they quietly raised their window, 
 and dropping to the ground they hurriedly made their 
 escape. 
 
 When the soldiers discovered that Allen and his com- 
 panion had fled, they threatened Mrs. Richards for 
 aiding the "rebels" in escaping; but she apologized on 
 the ground that if she had failed to do so, the settlers 
 would have torn down her house and driven herself and 
 family out of the country. 
 
 Notwithstanding the frequency of proclamations and 
 the offering of rewards for the capture of the leaders, both 
 colonist and tory, it is not known whether any one was 
 ever apprehended in consequence of their being issued, 
 which is a proof that the people residing near the bound- 
 ary lines of New York, Vermont and the New Hamp- 
 shire Grants were more favorable to the settlers than 
 were the appointees from the Crown, otherwise the allure- 
 ments of the rewards would have been an incentive for 
 seizing individual offenders, particularly as the people 
 were required by law to assist the sheriffs in the execution 
 of their office. Allen never denied that the conduct of 
 himself and his mountaineer neighbors was properly 
 called riotous, but he contended that they were 
 driven to this extremity by the oppression of their tory 
 neighbors; that no other means was left by which they
 
 Incidents and Anecdotes. 223 
 
 could defend their property, and that, under such cir- 
 cumstances, they were perfectly justified in resorting to 
 this means. It has not been shown that the settlers en- 
 croached upon the possessions of other people, but re- 
 mained on their own lands, and if riots existed, they were 
 caused by those who sought to deprive them of their 
 lands by writs of ejectment issued by the New York 
 authorities appointees of the Crown. 
 
 Viewing things in this light, Allen thought it hard that 
 he should be called a rioter, afterwards a criminal, and 
 lastly denounced as a felon, with a price set upon his 
 liberty and life. But being brave, even to rashness, 
 he was in no degree intimidated by the rewards offered 
 for his apprehension, as has been shown in his visit to 
 Albany, the very seat of royal and tory power and 
 influence in America. As often as the New York author- 
 ities issued a proclamation or offered a reward for any 
 of the Green Mountain Boys, Allen and his associates 
 issued one to counteract its effect, which tended to in- 
 crease the hilarity of the occasion. Among the most 
 conspicuous characters at Albany who either held appoint- 
 ments from the Crown or served in some capacity under 
 the royal governors none were held in greater contempt 
 by the inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants than 
 James Duane and John Kempe, and Allen nearly 
 always included the names of these two men when offer- 
 ing rewards; in fact their names were "posted" about 
 every ninety days. Allen did not wish to be outdone by 
 the New York authorities even in the matter of offering 
 rewards for the apprehension of persons particularly 
 offensive; doubtless the act of issuing rewards was never
 
 224 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 taken seriously by either party, particularly the Green 
 Mountain Boys, who were without sufficient funds to 
 meet the requirements of life, not to mention the pay- 
 ing of rewards for the apprehension of their enemies. 
 It is altogether probable, however, that the only com- 
 pensation the average Green Mountain patriot would have 
 accepted, should they have chanced upon either Duane or 
 Kempe, would have been the thanks of their acknowledged 
 leaders, Ethan Allen, Remember Baker, Robert Cockran, 
 and others, and a further opportunity to render substantial 
 aid in behalf of the cause for which they had sacrificed 
 everything they had acquired through years of patient 
 toil in the settlement of a new country. 
 
 It was doubtless in a spirit of mockery a satire upon 
 royal and tory presumption that, in exercising the pre- 
 rogatives of sovereignty, Allen and his associates issued 
 the following reward in retaliation presumably for the one 
 offered by the General Assembly of New York, increas- 
 ing the bounty already "posted" for Allen to 150 and a 
 proportionate increase for five others. 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 25 REWARD. 
 
 Whereas James Duane and John Kempe of New York, 
 have by their menaces and threats greatly disturbed the 
 public Peace and Repose of the honest Peasants of 
 Bennington and the settlements to the northward, which 
 peasants are now and ever have been in the Peace of 
 God and the king, and are patriotic and liege subjects of 
 George the Third any person that will apprehend those 
 common disturbers, viz., James Duane and John Kempe,
 
 Incidents and Anecdotes. 225 
 
 and will bring them to Landlord Fays at Bennington, 
 shall have 15 reward for James Duane and 10 or 
 John Kempe paid by 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN, 
 REMEMBER BAKER, 
 ROBERT COCKRAN. 
 Dated at Poultney, 
 Feb. 5th, 1772.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 CHARACTER RELIGIOUS VIEWS DEATH. 
 
 When peace was again restored, and the colonies, now 
 united, took their places among the recognized nations of 
 the world, there was nothing left for Ethan Allen but to 
 retire to the green hills of his beloved Vermont and leave 
 the settlement of international and state questions to those 
 who championed the cause of freedom by voice and pen 
 Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John 
 Jay, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and others. 
 
 Allen was a practical farmer, accustomed to labor 
 with his own hands, and submit to the privations and 
 hardships which necessarily attend the condition of 
 pioneers in a new country. He moved to Burlington in 
 the spring of 1787, with the view of devoting himself to 
 farming, having selected for his residence the beautiful 
 tract of intervale north of the village, now generally 
 known as the Van Ness farm. He removed his family 
 there in the course of the summer, and that was their 
 home till the time of his death, which took place less than 
 two years later. 
 
 In this retirement he published a work on a series of 
 topics very different from those which had heretofore em- 
 ployed his pen. The book is entitled, "Reason the Only 
 Oracle of Man, or a Compendious System of Natural Re- 
 ligion." It was published at Bennington in the year 1784. 
 
 226
 
 Character Religious Views Death. 227 
 
 The preface is dated July 2, 1782. In this preface Allen 
 states that he had been from his youth addicted to con- 
 templation and had from time to time committed his 
 thoughts to paper. This book purports to be the result 
 of his labors, revised, arranged and prepared with much 
 labor for the press. In its literary execution it is much 
 superior to any of his other writings and was ^evidently 
 prepared with care and reflection. It is nevertheless, a 
 crude and worthless production, in which truth and error, 
 reason and sophistry, knowledge and ignorance, ingenuity 
 and presumption are mingled together in a chaos, which 
 the author denominated a "system." Some of the chap- 
 ters on natural religion, the being and attributes of God, 
 and the principles and obligations of morality, should, 
 perhaps, be "excepted from this sweeping assertion, for, 
 although they contain little that is new, yet they are 
 written in a labored tone, and express sentiments which 
 may screen them from so heavy a censure. 
 
 Founding religion on the attributes of the Deity and 
 the nature of things, as interpreted by reason, Allen took 
 it for granted that there was no necessity for a revelation 
 and hence inferred that the Christian Revelation and 
 miracles were false. He also argued against Old Testa- 
 ment teachings upon the same principles. Historical 
 facts and internal evidence, the only basis of correct rea- 
 soning on this subject, are passed over in silence. There 
 is no proof or reason to believe that the author ever ex- 
 amined this part of the manuscript after its first draft. 
 It is thought, however, that he mistook some of the errors 
 of Christian sects for the true doctrines of revealed re- 
 ligion, and that his views, as to the reality and nature
 
 228 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 of the system itself, were perverted by this misappre- 
 hension. 
 
 If we may judge also from various passages in this 
 book, some of his biographers have not done him strict 
 justice in regard to his religious opinions. Some have 
 affirmed that he believed in the metempsychosis of the 
 ancients, or the transmigration of souls after death into 
 beasts, or fishes, and that he often informed his friends 
 that he himself expected to live again in the form of a 
 large white horse. If Allen was absurd and frivolous 
 enough to say such a thing in conversation, he has cer- 
 tainly expressed very different sentiments in his writings. 
 No person could declare more explicitly his belief in a 
 future state of rewards and punishments and a just retri- 
 bution than he has done in the following passages con- 
 tained in this book on Natural Religion: 
 
 "We should so far divest ourselves of the incum- 
 brances of this world, which are too apt to engross our 
 attention, as to acquire a consistent system of the knowl- 
 edge of our duty and make it our constant endeavor in 
 life to act conformably to it. The knowledge of the 
 being, perfections, creation and providence of God, and 
 the immortality of our souls, is the foundation of our 
 religion." Again, "As true as mankind now exists and is 
 endowed with reason and understanding, and has the 
 power of agency and proficiency in morals good and evil, 
 so true it is that he must ultimately be rewarded or pun- 
 ished according to his respective merits or demerits; and 
 it is as true as this world exists, and rational and account- 
 able beings inhabit it, that the distribution of justice 
 therein is partial, unequal and uncertain; and it is con-
 
 Character Religious Views Death. 229 
 
 sequently as true as that there is a God, that there must 
 be a future state of existence, in which the disorder, in- 
 justice, oppression and viciousness, which are acted and 
 transacted by mankind in this life, shall be righteously 
 adjusted, and the delinquents suitably punished." To 
 what extent these doctrines bear out the charge of a be- 
 lief in the transmigration of souls, let the reader himself 
 judge. 
 
 It has been reported that in his youth Allen was fitted 
 for college, but was denied admission on account of his 
 well-known atheistic opinions. But, says the Rev. Zadock 
 Thompson, I never found any substantial corrobora- 
 tions of this statement, and since it is totally inconsistent 
 with what Allen has said of himself, I believe it to be 
 wholly unfounded. In his Oracle of Reason, page 426, 
 he says : " I do not understand Latin or Greek or Hebrew." 
 And in his introduction to that work he further says that 
 his knowledge of grammar and language had been 
 acquired by his practice of scribbling. But notwith- 
 standing these statements, I think it not at all improb- 
 able that he at one time contemplated getting a college 
 education, and that he dabbled a little in Latin. I was 
 told by the late Mr. Jehial Johns, who died in Huntington 
 in 1840, aged 85 years, and who knew Ethan Allen in 
 Connecticut, that he was certain that Allen spent some 
 time studying with the Reverend Lee of Salisbury, with 
 a view of fitting himself for college; and the occasional 
 occurrences of Latin phrases in his writings strongly 
 corroborate this opinion. Mr. Johns also informed me 
 that Allen was about that time on very intimate terms 
 with that noted infidel and historical writer, Dr. Thomas
 
 230 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 Young, and that from him he derived his own infidel 
 notions, and the principal arguments by which he de- 
 fended them. 
 
 Of the history of Allen's greatest work, his book on 
 theology, even his biographers seem to be entirely 
 ignorant. From information derived from various 
 sources, principally from the late Mr. Johns, I am enabled 
 to make the following statements, which I am inclined to 
 regard as substantially true: 
 
 At the time of Ethan Allen's youth there were in 
 Litchfield County, Connecticut, and in Dutchess County, 
 New York, which lies adjacent, a number of professed 
 infidels, among whom a Dr. Thomas Young was prom- 
 inent, both on account of his education and abilities, and 
 also on account of his daring profaneness, amounting 
 sometimes to blasphemy, for which he was once prose- 
 cuted, convicted and punished. Young was living on 
 what was called the Oblong in Dutchess County, and very 
 near the Connecticut state line. At the time Jonathan 
 Edwards proposed his famous theological questions, 
 Young engaged in their discussion, and boldly espoused 
 the infidel side, and argued in opposition to the necessity 
 of a Divine Revelation. Ethan Allen had previously 
 to this time been on very intimate terms with Young; 
 he had spent much time at his house, and fully imbibed 
 all of his infidel notions. Allen, therefore, entered at 
 once upon this discussion, supporting the same views 
 with Young, and spending a large share of his time in 
 writing. ^Mrs. Wadhams, in whose family he resided, 
 said some years later that Ethan Allen spent one sum- 
 mer at her house and was employed nearly the whole
 
 Character Religious Views Death. 231 
 
 time in writing. She did not know what he was writing, 
 but she recollected that once when she called him 
 to dinner he said that he was very sorry she called so 
 soon, for "he had got clear up into the upper regions." 
 It seemed to be generally understood at this time that he 
 and Young were engaged in the preparation of a work in 
 support of infidel principles, and that there was an agree- 
 ment between them that the one who outlived the other 
 should publish it. When Ethan Allen went to Vermont 
 his manuscripts were left in possession of Young. The 
 latter engaged, soon after this, very warmly in the cause 
 of the American colonies, and became distinguished as 
 a political writer. He spent some time in Albany and 
 after that a while in Boston, and at the time of the com- 
 mencement of the Revolution removed with his family 
 to Philadelphia. In April, 1777, he wrote his celebrated 
 letter to the people of Vermont, advising them to form 
 forthwith a state government; for God, said he, had 
 fairly put it in their power to help themselves. He died 
 in Philadelphia in the latter part of the year, and his 
 family returned to their residence in Dutchess County, 
 New York. On Allen's return to Vermont, after his 
 exile in the spring of 1778, he called upon Young's fam- 
 ily, procured his own and Young's manuscripts and took 
 them with him to Vermont. These, as he had leisure, 
 he re-wrote, altered and arranged in the form of a 
 book with this title, "Reason the Only Oracle of Man, 
 or a Compendious System of Natural Religion." It 
 was published by Anthony Haswell in 1784. But 
 a few copies of this work were bound at first, and 
 while the bulk of the edition was stored in Mr. Has-
 
 232 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 well's office in sheets, the office and its contents were 
 consumed by fire, and Mr. Has well, to the hour of his 
 death, regarded this calamity as a judgment upon him 
 for being concerned in publishing an infidel work, and 
 as an interposition of Divine Providence to prevent 
 its circulation. In consequence of this destruction of 
 the sheets, copies of the original edition are exceedingly 
 rare. 
 
 Allen took much pains to circulate his Oracle among 
 the literati of America and in foreign countries. He 
 sent copies not only to the learned men but to several 
 literary and scientific societies of England. In a 
 letter to the Hon. St. Johns, a copy of which I have 
 in my possession, says the Rev. Mr. Thompson, Allen 
 writes, "I transmit to you my Theological book, styled 
 "Oracle of Reason," which you will please to lay before 
 the Academy of Arts and Science of Paris, by whose 
 sentence I expect to stand or fall." Allen, although 
 never renouncing his infidelity, changed his views, some- 
 what, after the publication of his Oracle, and toward the 
 close of his life he spent much time in preparing an elab- 
 orate appendix to it. This appendix, in his own hand- 
 writing, is now, or was recently, in the possession of 
 Udney H. Penniman, Esq., of Colchester, a son of Ethan 
 Allen's widow, after her marriage to Dr. Penniman. 
 On the cover of this manuscript is written as follows: 
 
 "This appendix is to be published whenever it can 
 be without infringing upon my present or future living. 
 
 (signed) ETHAN ALLEN."
 
 Character Keligious Views Death. 233 
 
 in few words. It consisted in a belief in the existence of 
 a Supreme Creator and Governor of the Universe; in a 
 belief that man would be rewarded or punished in a 
 future state, in accordance with his doings in this life; 
 that reason is a sufficient guide for man, and that a reve- 
 lation is unnecessary; and, being unnecessary, has never 
 been made and is not to be expected. Whether the 
 "Oracle of Reason" was the sole production of Ethan 
 Allen, or the joint production of him and Dr. Young, 
 may, perhaps, never be ascertained. 
 
 No person who is familiar with Allen's other writings, 
 can read the "Oracle of Reason" without suspicion 
 that some other person was concerned in its composi- 
 tion. 
 
 Allen prided himself very much upon this, his great 
 work on theology, and would not patiently brook any- 
 thing said to its disparagement. A clergyman, in the 
 course of his religious services, at which Allen was present, 
 once read Dr. Watts' version of the 119th Psalm, begin- 
 ning thus : 
 
 " Let all the heathen writers join, 
 To form one perfect book, 
 Great God, if once compared with Thine, 
 How mean their writings look." 
 
 Allen hearing this and supposing the relation made with 
 reference to himself, is said to have been very indignant 
 and to have left the house in rage. 
 
 Illustrative of the difference often met by the historian 
 in the narration of the same anecdote, the author gives 
 another version of the above: Allen, who prided him-
 
 234 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 self upon his hospitality, kept an open door for the clergy 
 visiting his neighborhood professedly on his wife's 
 account (his first wife being a religious woman), but 
 apparently as much from his predilection for argu- 
 ment and pride of his talent in a theological debate. 
 At one time a Methodist preacher, says our narrator, 
 came on a missionary tour into the place, who proposed 
 to hold a meeting at Allen's house. Ethan readily as- 
 sented and notice was sent around to the neighbors. 
 However, as the people began to gather, the old hero's 
 love of controversy and fun began to awaken, and he 
 assured the minister very positively that if he preached 
 in his house it must be out of his bible no definite 
 answer was given to the proposition the time for the 
 opening of the meeting had arrived. Allen defiantly 
 laid his Oracle of Reason on the stand. The preacher 
 without a remark took out a Testament and Watts' hymns 
 from his side pocket; the Testament laid by the side of 
 Allen's "bible"; he opened the hymn-book and com- 
 menced significantly to read, 
 
 " Let all the heathen writers join, 
 To form one perfect book 
 
 (pointing to Allen's work as he read, and then to the 
 work of God beside), 
 
 Great God, when once compared with Thine, 
 How mean their writings look." 
 
 It is said Allen snatched his book, with an oath, from 
 the table, and the preacher proceeded without further 
 interference to fulfill his appointment.
 
 Character Keligious Views Death. 235 
 
 There is also another very general anecdote bearing 
 upon the theology of Allen, embodied in the following 
 verses, clipped from a nameless fragment of an old news- 
 paper: 
 
 "THE INFIDEL AND HIS DAUGHTER." 
 
 Suggested by reading a recent newspaper paragraph describ- 
 ing the scene between the brave old Ethan Allen and his daughter 
 Lorain on the eve of her death, when she asked the stern infidel 
 in whose faith he would have her to die, his or her mother's: 
 
 " ' The damps of death are coming fast, 
 My father, o'er my brow; 
 The past with all its scenes has fled, 
 And I must turn me now 
 To that dim future which in vain 
 My eyes seek to descry ; 
 Tell me, my father, in this hour, 
 In whose belief to die. 
 
 " ' In thine? I've watched thy scornful smile 
 And heard thy withering tone, 
 Whene'er the Christian's humble hope 
 Was placed above thine own ; 
 I've heard thee speak of coming death 
 Without a shade of gloom, 
 And laugh at all the childish fears 
 That cluster round the tomb. 
 
 " ' Or, is it in my mother's faith? 
 How fondly do I trace 
 Through many a weary year long past, 
 That calm and saintly face ! 
 How often do I call to mind, 
 Now she's beneath the sod, 
 The place, the hour, in which she drew 
 My early thoughts to God!
 
 236 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 " ' 'Twos then she took this sacred book, 
 And from its burning page 
 Read how its truths support the soul 
 In faith and failing age, 
 And bade me in its precepts live 
 And by its precepts die, 
 That I might share a home of love 
 In worlds beyond the sky. 
 
 " ' My father, shall I look above, 
 Amid this gathering gloom, 
 To Him whose promises of Love 
 Extend beyond the tomb? 
 Or curse the Being who hath blessed 
 This checkered heart of mine? 
 Must I embrace my mother's faith, 
 Or die, my sire, in thine?' 
 
 "The frown upon that warrior brow 
 Passed like a cloud away, 
 And tears coursed down the rugged cheek, 
 That flowed not till that day. 
 ' Not, not in mine, ' with choking voice, 
 The skeptic made reply 
 ' But in thy mother's holy faith, 
 My daughter, may'st thou die.' " 
 
 With regard to the general character of Ethan Allen, 
 the conspicuous and commendable traits upon which 
 his fame rests were his unwavering patriotism, his love 
 of freedom, his wisdom, his boldness, courage, energy, 
 perseverance, his aptitude to command, his ability to 
 inspire those under him with respect and confidence, his 
 high sense of honor and probity and justice, his gener- 
 osity and kindness and sympathy in the afflictions and 
 sufferings of others. Opposed to these good qualities
 
 Character Religious Views Death. 237 
 
 were his self-sufficiency, his personal vanity, his occa- 
 sional rashness and his sometimes harsh and vulgar lan-^ 
 guage. All of these characteristic traits could be abun- 
 dantly proved by well-known facts and authentic anec- 
 dotes. Many have formed the opinion that Ethan Allen 
 was a barbarian, a well-nigh savage, that he was cruel and 
 revengeful, and as a warrior, delighted in the massacre and 
 destruction of his enemies; but such opinions are entirely 
 erroneous. Instead of being cruel, he was a man of re- 
 markably susceptable and tender feelings, and instead of 
 seeking the lives of his enemies who fell into his power, 
 there is no proof that he ever took the life of a human 
 being with his own hand. 
 
 Ethan Allen, like all other men, had his good and bad 
 qualities, his virtues and his vices, and these were all 
 exhibited in him in bold relief, like the objects in a pic- 
 ture which is weh 1 wrought and true to nature. The 
 lights and shades, the beauties and deformities of his 
 character stand out with remarkable prominence and 
 distinctness, and it is necessary to consider all these in 
 connection, in order to form a true estimate of the man. 
 Those who look only at his generosity, his honesty, his 
 bravery, and his unconquerable love of freedom, will 
 be disposed to regard him as a paragon of great and god- 
 like qualities; while others who look chiefly at his self- 
 confidence, his personal vanity and his often profane 
 and vulgar language, will regard him as the personifica- 
 tion of vice and meanness. Allen's character, as a whole, 
 was not unlike that of our native mountain forest scenery. 
 It was wild and uncultivated, and at the same time ex- 
 hibited much of the sublime and beautiful. We find in it
 
 238 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 very much to approve and admire, and not a little to 
 condemn and despise. We are at one time surprised and 
 astonished at his heroism and magnanimity, and at 
 another disgusted and made ashamed by his profanity 
 and vulgarity. Or, he may be compared to the stately 
 oak, growing in all its luxuriance and majesty in the 
 midst of our native forests, and whose form was never 
 made symmetrical by the judicious application of the 
 pruning knife, whose asperities were never removed by 
 the hand of cultivation; the roughness and extravagance 
 of his character were only the natural excrescences which 
 resulted from the uncommon vigor of his growth. 
 
 Vermont is indebted for her independence and the 
 establishment of her government mainly to three indi- 
 viduals; these were Ethan and Ira Allen and Thomas 
 Chittenden. Thos. Chittenden was her chief magistrate, 
 Ira Allen, her diplomatist and Ethan Allen her military 
 chieftain. Each deserves honorable commemoration 
 by the state, especially the first and last. As Washington 
 was the father of his country so was Thomas Chittenden 
 the father of Vermont, and as Washington was a terror 
 to the enemies of American Independence, so was Ethan 
 Allen a terror to the enemies of Vermont. 
 
 In considering the various events in the life of Colonel 
 Allen, we must concede that he was a staunch friend 
 of his country, a brave soldier, a good citizen and an 
 honest and just man. To the poor his hand was ever open, 
 and in behalf of the oppressed, his energies were ever 
 directed. He was, in brief, of that class of men who 
 freely offered up their all in defense of the liberties of this 
 now happy and prosperous nation, and as such, his
 
 LOK.il
 
 Character Religious Views Death. 239 
 
 deeds and his fame are associated with all our political 
 and civil privileges and blessings. 
 
 Washington's masterly knowledge of human nature 
 gives value to this brief portrait of Allen. Immediately 
 on being released from captivity Colonel Allen, visited 
 Washington at Valley Forge. Shortly thereafter Wash- 
 ington addressed the Congress in regard to Allen as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 "His fortitude and firmness seem to have placed him 
 out of the reach of misfortune. There is an original 
 something about him that commands admiration, and 
 his long captivity and sufferings have only served to 
 increase, if possible, his enthusiastic zeal. He appears 
 very desirous of rendering his services to the States and 
 of being employed, and at the same time he does not 
 display any ambition for high rank." 
 
 Senator Edmunds of Vermont says : ' 'Colonel Ethan 
 Allen was a man of gifts rather than acquirements, al- 
 though he was not by any means deficient in that knowl- 
 edge obtained from reading and from intercourse with 
 men. But it was the natural force of his character that 
 made him eminent among the worthiest who founded 
 the republic, and pre-eminent among those who founded 
 the State of Vermont." 
 
 Colonel John A. Graham, who knew Allen well the 
 last two or three years of his life, published a book in 
 England a few years after Allen's death, and therein says: 
 "Ethan Allen was a man of extraordinary character. 
 He possessed great talents but was deficient in education. 
 In all his dealings he displayed the strictest sense of 
 honor, integrity and uprightness."
 
 240 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 The Honorable Daniel P. Thompson attributes to 
 him "wisdom, aptitude to command, ability to inspire 
 respect and confidence, a high sense of honor, generosity 
 and kindness." 
 
 Jared Sparks calls him "brave, generous, consistent, 
 true to his friends, true to his country, seeking at all 
 times to promote the best interests of mankind." 
 
 Governor Hiland Hall says: "He acquired much 
 information by reading and observation. His knowl- 
 edge of the political situation of the state and country 
 was general and accurate. As a writer, he was ready, 
 clear and forcible. His style attracted and fixed atten- 
 tion and inspired confidence in his sincerity and 
 justice." 
 
 John Jay speaks of Allen's writings as having "wit, 
 quaintness and impudence." 
 
 In all the trying scenes of his life ; in all the vicissitudes 
 of a long and cruel captivity, Allen was never forgetful 
 of the rights of his fellow men, or of the cause of his 
 country's liberty. He nobly spurned, the honors which 
 were offered him to join the royal standard, as unworthy of 
 the principles which governed him. He stood firm in his 
 resolution to see his country free or die in its defense. The 
 last years of his life were spent in Burlington, Vermont, 
 where he pursued the avocation of a farmer. Several 
 letters written by him and his brother Ira during that 
 period are still preserved. From them it appears that 
 on account of a partial failure of the crops and the great 
 ingress of settlers into that part of the country, there 
 was a distressing scarcity of food, both for man and 
 beast. Colonel Ebenezer Allen, who commanded a
 
 Character Religious Views Death. 241 
 
 company of rangers during the Revolution and who 
 rendered himself famous by many daring exploits, was 
 at this time located at the place now called Allen's Point. 
 He and Ethan were on terms of intimacy, and hay being 
 scarce in the winter of 1789, and Ethan's supply 
 being short, Ebenezer told him that if he would come 
 over to the island with his team and make him a 
 visit, he would furnish him with a load of hay on his 
 return. Accordingly on the 10th of February, Ethan, 
 with his sleigh and a span of horses and his colored 
 driver, crossed over on the ice to the island. Ebenezer 
 invited in some neighbors, who were old acquaintances 
 of Ethan's, and the afternoon and evening were passed 
 very agreeably in recalling past incidents and telling 
 stories. Ethan had intended to return in the evening, 
 and the hay was loaded and in readiness, but on ac- 
 count of the urgency of Ebenezer, he remained till nearly 
 morning, when he got upon the load of hay and with his 
 driver started for his home in Burlington. The driver 
 called to him several times on the way, but received no 
 answer; he did not suspect that anything unusual was 
 the matter until he arrived at Ethan's residence. He 
 then went to his master and found him dead, or in a fit, 
 from which he shortly afterward died. Ira Allen in a 
 a letter to Levi (then in London), says, in relation to this 
 event: "I arrived at Burlington on the 12th of February 
 and was surprised with the solemn news of the death of 
 General Allen, who departed this life that day in a fit of 
 apoplexy. On the 16th his remains were interred with 
 the honors of war. His military friends from Bennington 
 and parts adjacent attended, and the procession was truly
 
 242 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 solemn and numerous." His remains rest in a pleasant 
 valley near the little city of Winooski on the banks 
 of the beautiful Winooski river, where his grave is 
 surrounded by those of many of his kindred. His 
 burial place is marked by a marble slab on which is the 
 following inscription: 
 
 The 
 Corporeal Part 
 
 of 
 GENERAL ETHAN ALLEN 
 
 Rests beneath this stone 
 The 12th day of February, 1789, 
 
 Aged 52 Years. 
 
 His spirit tried the mercies of his God, 
 In whom he believed, and strongly trusted.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE STATE PAPERS DOCUMENTS. 
 
 The character of Ethan Allen is so plainly manifest 
 all through this narrative, which, is to a large extent 
 a memoir, that little need be said in conclusion. A few 
 letters, state papers, etc., that have been overlooked 
 in the general discussion may, with propriety, form the 
 concluding chapter of the life story of one of the most 
 striking characters that the Revolution produced. 
 
 The following letters written by Colonel Allen furnish 
 us with additional information on the taking of Fort 
 Ticonderoga, which makes the incident stand out more 
 vividly for twentieth century readers, few among whom 
 remember little more than the name of this hero of 
 Green Mountain fame: 
 
 Ticonderoga, May 11, 1775. 
 To the Massachusetts Congress: 
 
 Gentlemen: I have to inform you with pleasure 
 unfelt before, that on break of day of the 10th of May, 
 1775, by the order of the General Assembly of the Colony 
 of Connecticut, I took the fortress of Ticonderoga by 
 storm. The soldiery was composed of about one hundred 
 Green Mountain Boys and near fifty veteran soldiers 
 from the Province of the Massachusetts Bay. The 
 latter was under the command of Colonel James Easton, 
 
 243
 
 244 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 who behaved with great zeal and fortitude not only in 
 council, but in the assault. The soldiery behaved with 
 such resistless fury, that they so terrified the King's 
 Troops that they durst not fire on their assailants, and 
 our soldiery was agreeably disappointed. The soldiery 
 behaved with uncommon rancor when they leaped into 
 the Fort; and it must be confessed that the Colonel has 
 greatly contributed to the taking of that Fortress, as 
 well as John Brown, Esq., Attorney at Law, who was 
 also an able counselor, and was personally in the attack. 
 I expect the Colonies will maintain this Fort. As to 
 the cannon and warlike stores, I hope they may serve 
 the cause of liberty instead of tyranny, and I humbly 
 implore your assistance in immediately assisting the 
 Government of Connecticut in establishing a garrison 
 in the reduced premises. Colonel Easton will inform 
 you at large. 
 
 From, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 Ticonderoga, May 12th, 1775. 
 
 To the Honorable Congress of the Province of the Massa- 
 chusetts Bay or Council of War. 
 
 Honorable Sirs: I make you a present of a major, 
 a captain, and two lieutenants in the regular establish- 
 ment of George the Third. I hope they may serve as 
 ransoms for some of our friends at Boston, and particu- 
 larly for Captain Brown of Rhode Island. A party of 
 men under the command of Captain Herrick has taken 
 possession of Skenesborough, imprisoned Major Skene, 
 and seized a schooner of his. I expect in ten days' time
 
 Correspondence. 245 
 
 to have it rigged, manned, and armed with six or eight 
 pieces of cannon, which, with the boats in our posses- 
 sion, I propose to make an attack on the armed 
 sloop of George the Third, which is now cruising on Lake 
 Ghamplain, and is about twice as big as the schoonor. 
 I hope in a short time to be authorized to acquaint your 
 Honor that Lake Champlain and the fortifications 
 thereon, are subject to the Colonies. The enterprise has 
 been approved by the officers and the soldiery of the 
 Green Mountain Boys, nor do I hesitate as to the success. 
 I expect lives must be lost in the attack, as the com- 
 mander of George's sloop is a man of courage, etc. I 
 conclude Captain Warner is by this time in possession of 
 Crown Point, the ordinance, stores, etc. I conclude 
 Governor Carleton will exert himself to oppose us, and 
 command the Lake, etc. Messrs. Hickok, Halsey and 
 Nichols have the charge of conducting the officers to Hart- 
 ford. These gentlemen have been very assiduous and 
 active in the late expedition. I depend upon your 
 Honor's aid and assistance in a situation so contiguous 
 to Canada. I subscribe myself your Honor's ever faith- 
 ful, most obedient and humble servant. 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 At present Commander of Ticonderoga. 
 To the Honorable Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., Captain 
 General and Governor of the Colony of Connecticut. 
 
 St. Johns', May 18th, 1775. 
 To Mr. James Morrison and the Merchants that are 
 
 friendly to the Cause of Liberty in Montreal. 
 Gentlemen: I have the pleasure to acquaint you that
 
 240) Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 Lakes George and Champlain, with the fortresses, artil- 
 lery, etc, particularly the armed sloop of. George the 
 Third, with all water carriages of these lakes, are now in 
 possession of the Colonies. I expect the English mer- 
 chants, as well as all virtuously disposed gentlemen will 
 be in the interest of the Colonies. The advanced guard 
 of the army is now at St. Johns' and desire immediately 
 to have a personal interview with you. Your imme- 
 diate assistance as to provisions, ammunition, and spirit- 
 uous liquors is wanted and forthwith expected, not as a 
 donation, for I am empowered by the Colonies to pur- 
 chase the same; and I desire you would forthwith and 
 without further notice prepare for the use of the army 
 those articles to the amount of five hundred pounds, and 
 deliver the same to me at St. Johns, 'or at least a part of it, 
 almost instantaneously, as the soldiers press on faster 
 than provisions. 
 
 I need not inform you that my directions from the 
 Colonies are, not to contend with or in any way injure or 
 molest the Canadians or Indians; but on the other hand, 
 treat them with the greatest friendship and kindness. 
 You will be pleased to communicate the same to them, 
 and some of you immediately visit me at this place, 
 while others are active in delivering the provisions. 
 I am, Gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 On May 24th, 1775, Allen addressed the following 
 letter to the Indians of Canada:
 
 Correspondence. 247 
 
 Headquarters of the Army, Crown Point. 
 
 By advice of council of the officers, I recommend our 
 trusty and well-beloved friend and brother, Captain 
 Abraham Ninham of Stockbridge, as our ambassador of 
 peace to our good brother Indians of the four tribes, 
 viz., the Hocnaurigoes, the Surgaches, the Canesdauguas 
 and the Saint Fransawas. 
 
 Loving brothers and friends, I have to inform you 
 that George the Third, King of England, has made war 
 with the English colonies in America, who have ever until 
 now been his good subjects, and sent his army and killed 
 some of your good friends and brothers at Boston, in 
 the Prince of the Massachusetts Bay. Then your good 
 brothers in that Province, and in all the Colonies of Eng- 
 lish America, made war with King George and have be- 
 gun to kill the men of his army, and have taken Ticon- 
 deroga and Crown Point from him, and all the artillery, 
 and also a great sloop which was at St. Johns', and all 
 the boats in the lake, and have raised and are raising two 
 great armies; one is destined for Boston, and the other 
 for the fortresses and department of Lake Champlain, 
 to fight the King's troops that oppose the Colonies from 
 Canada; and as King George's soldiers killed our broth- 
 ers and friends in a time of peace, I hope, as Indians 
 are good and honest men, you will not fight for King 
 George against your friends in America, as they have 
 done you no wrong, and desire to live with you as broth- 
 ers. You know it is good for my warriors and Indians 
 too, to kill the Regulars, because they first begun to kill 
 our brothers in this country without cause.
 
 248 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 I was always a friend to the Indians, and have hunted 
 with them many times, and know how to shoot and am- 
 bush like Indians, and am a great hunter. I want to have 
 your warriors come and see me, and help me fight the 
 King's regular troops. You know they stand all along 
 close together rank and file, and my men will fight as the 
 Indians do, and I want your warriors to join with me and 
 my warriors like brothers and ambush the regulars ; if you 
 will, I will give you money, blankets, tomahawks, knives, 
 paint and anything there is in the army, just like broth- 
 ers; and I will go with you into the woods to scout, 
 and my men and your men will sleep together and eat and 
 drink together, and fight Regulars because they first 
 killed our brothers and will fight against us; therefore I 
 want our brother Indians to help us fight, for I know 
 Indians are good warriors and can fight well in the bush. 
 
 Ye know my warriors must fight, but if you, our 
 brother Indians, do not fight on either side, we will still 
 be friends and brothers; and you may come and hunt in 
 our woods, and come with your canoes in the lake, and 
 let us have venison at our forest on the lake, and have 
 rum, bread, and what you want, and be like brothers. 
 I have sent our friend Winthrop Hoit to treat with you 
 on our behalf in friendship. You know him, for he has 
 lived with you, and is your adopted son, and is a good 
 man ; Captain Ninham of Stockb ridge and he will tell you 
 about the whole matter more than I can write. I hope 
 your warriors will come and see me. So I bid all my 
 brother Indians farewell. 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN, 
 Colonel of the Green Mountain Boys.
 
 Correspondence. 249 
 
 On May 2yth, 1775, from Crown Point, Allen ad- 
 dressed the Continental Congress as follows: 
 
 An abstract of the action of Congress has just come 
 to hand: and though it approves of the taking the for- 
 tress on Lake Champlain and the artillery, etc., I am, 
 nevertheless, much surprised that your Honors should 
 recommend it to us to remove the artillery to the south 
 end of Lake George, and there to make a stand; the 
 consequences of which must ruin the frontier settlements, 
 which are extended at least one hundered miles to the 
 northward from that place. Probably your Honors 
 were not informed of these settlements, which consist of 
 several thousand families who are seated on that tract of 
 country, called the New Hampshire Grants. Those in- 
 habitants, by making those valuable acquisitions for 
 the Colonies, have incensed Governor Carleton and all 
 the ministerial party in Canada against them; and pro- 
 vided they should, after all their good service in behalf 
 of their country, be neglected and left exposed, they will 
 be of all men the most consummately miserably. 
 
 If the King's troops be again in possession of Ticon- 
 deroga, and Crown Point, and command the Lake, the 
 Indians and Canadians will be much more inclined to 
 join with them and make incursions into the heart of our 
 country. But the Colonies are now in possession and in 
 actual command of the Lake, having taken the armed 
 sloop from George the Third, which was cruising in the 
 Lake, also seized a schooner belonging to Major Skene 
 at South Bay, and have armed and manned them both. 
 The Canadians (all except the noblesse) and also the In- 
 dians appear at present to be very friendly to us ; and it
 
 250 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 is my humble opinion that the more vigorous the Colonies 
 push the war against the King's troops in Canada, the 
 more friends we shall find in that country. Provided 
 I had but 500 men with me at St. Johns' (18th May) when 
 we took the King's sloop, I would have advanced to Mon- 
 treal. Nothing strengthens our friends in Canada equal 
 to our prosperity in taking the sovereignty of Lake 
 Champlain, and should the Colonies forthwith send an 
 army of two or three thousand men and attack Mon- 
 treal, we should, have little to fear from the Canadians 
 or Indians, and should easily make a conquest of that 
 place, and set up the standard of liberty in the extensive 
 province of Quebec, whose limit was enlarged purely 
 to subvert the liberties of America. Striking such a blow 
 would intimidate the tory party in Canada, the same as 
 the commencement of the war at Boston intimidated the 
 tories in the Colonies. They are a set of gentlemen that 
 will not be converted by reason, but are easily wrought 
 upon by fear. 
 
 By a council of war held on board the sloop the 27th 
 inst., it was agreed to advance to Point Aufere with the 
 sloop and schooner, and a number of armed boats well 
 manned, and there make a stand, act on the defensive, 
 and by all means command the lake and defend the fron- 
 tiers. Point Aufere is about six miles this side of forty- 
 five degrees north latitude, but if the wisdom of the 
 Continental Congress should view the proposed invasion 
 of the King's troops in Canada as premature and im- 
 politic, nevertheless I humbly conceive, when your 
 Honors come to the knowledge of the before-mentioned 
 facts, you will at least establish some advantageous situ-
 
 Correspondence. 251 
 
 ation toward the northerly part of Lake Champlain, as 
 a frontier, instead of the south promontory of George. 
 Commanding the northerly part of the lake, puts it in our 
 power to work our policy with the Canadians and Indians. 
 We have made considerable proficiency this way already. 
 Sundry tribes have been to visit us, and have returned 
 to their tribes to use their influence in our favor. We 
 have just sent Captain Graham Ninham, a Stockb ridge 
 Indian, as our ambassador of peace to the several tribes 
 of Indians in Canada. He was accompanied by Mr. 
 Winthrop Hoit, who has been a prisoner with the Indians 
 and understands their tongue. I do not imagine, pro- 
 vided we command Lake Champlain, there will be any 
 need of a war with the Canadians or Indians. 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 To the Honorable Provincial Congress, New York. 
 
 Crownpoint, 2d of June, 1775. 
 Respectable Gentlemen: Before this time, you have, 
 undoubtedly, received intelligence not only of the taking 
 of the fortified places on Lake Champlain, and also the 
 armed sloop and boats therein, and the taking possession 
 of a schooner which is the property of Major Skene, 
 and armed and manned it, and of the conversion of them, 
 with a large train of artillery, to the defense of the liberty 
 and constitutional rights of America. You have, like- 
 wise, undoubtedly, been informed that the expedition 
 was undertaken at the special encouragement and re- 
 quest of a number of respectable gentlemen in the Colony 
 of Connecticut. The pork forwarded to subsist the 
 army, by your Honors' directions, evinces your approba-
 
 252 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 tion of the procedure, and as it was a private expedition, 
 and common fame reports that there are a number of over- 
 grown tories in the province, your Honors will the readier 
 excuse me in not first taking your advice in the matter, 
 lest the enterprises might have been prevented by their 
 treachery. It is here reported, that some of them have 
 lately been savagely converted, and that others have 
 lost their influence. If, in those achievements, there be 
 anything honorary, the subjects of your government, 
 viz., the New Hampshire settlers, are justly entitled to a 
 large share, as they had a great majority of numbers of 
 the soldiery, as well as the command in making acquisi- 
 tions; and, as your Honors justify and approve the 
 same, I desire and expect your Honors already have, or 
 soon will, lay before the grand Continental Congress, the 
 great disadvantage it must eventually be to the Colonies 
 to evacuate Lake Champlain and give up to the enemies 
 of our country those invaluable acquisitions, the key of 
 either Canada or of our country, according as which 
 party holds the same in possession, and makes a proper 
 improvement of it. The key is ours as yet; and, pro- 
 vided the Colonies would suddenly push an army of 
 two or three thousand men into Canada, they might 
 make a conquest of all that would oppose them in the 
 extensive Province of Quebec, except reinforcements from 
 England should prevent it. Such a diversion would 
 weaken General Gage, or insure us of Canada. I wish 
 in God, America would, at this critical juncture, exert 
 herself agreeable to the indignity offered her by a tyran- 
 nical ministry. She might rise, on eagles' wings, and 
 mount up to glory, freedom and immortal honor if
 
 Correspondence. 253 
 
 she did know and exert her strength. Fame is now 
 hovering over her head. A vast continent must 
 now sink to slavery, freedom, immense wealth, inex- 
 pressible felicity and immortal fame. I will lay my life 
 on it, that with fifteen hundred men and a proper artil- 
 lery, I will take Montreal; provided I could thus be 
 furnished; and if an army could command the field, it 
 would be no insuperable difficulty to take Quebec. This 
 object should be pursued, though it should take ten 
 thousand men to accomplish the end proposed, for Eng- 
 land cannot spare but a certain number that are disci- 
 plined, and it is as long as it is broad, the more that are sent 
 to Quebec, the less they can send to Boston or to any 
 other part of the continent, and there will be this un- 
 speakable advantage in directing the war into Canada, 
 that instead of turning the Canadians and Indians against 
 us (as is wrongly suggested by many), it would unavoid- 
 ably attain and connect them to our interest. Our 
 friends in Canada can never help us, till we first help 
 them, except in a passive or inactive manner. There are 
 now but about seven hundred regular troops in Canada. 
 I have lately had sundry conferences with the Indians; 
 they are very friendly. Captain Abraham Ninham, a 
 Stockbridge Indian and Mr. Winthrop Hoit, who has 
 sundry years lived with the Cachnewagas, in the capacity 
 of a prisoner, and was made an adopted son to a motherly 
 squaw of that tribe, have both been gone ten days to 
 treat with the Indians as our ambassadors of peace and 
 friendship. I expect, in a few weeks, to hear from them. 
 By them I sent a friendly letter to the Indians which 
 Mr. Hoit can explain to them in Indian. The thing that
 
 254 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 so unites the temper of the Indians to us, is our taking the 
 sovereignty of Lake Champlain. They have wit enough 
 to make a good bargain, and stand by the strongest side ; 
 much the same may be said of the Canadians. They 
 have no personal controversy with us, but act on political 
 principles. If we evacuate Lake Champlain and retire to 
 Lake George, Governor Carleton can and will by intrigue 
 draw them into his interest. If we hold the suprem- 
 acy we shall do the same, for cunning and power are 
 but the same thing, be it exercised either by Carleton or 
 by us; but cunning without power can hold no equal 
 contest with that which is armed with it. It may be 
 thought that to push an army into Canada would be too 
 premature and imprudent; if so, I propose to make a 
 stand at the Isle aux Noix, which the French fortified by 
 entrenchment the last war, and greatly fatigued our 
 enemy to take it. It is about fifteen miles this side of 
 Saint Johns', and is an island in the river, on which a 
 small artillery, placed, would command it. An establish^ 
 ment of a frontier so far north would not only better se- 
 cure our own frontier, but put it into our power to better 
 work our policy with the Canadians and Indians; or, if 
 need be, to make incursions into the territory of Canada, 
 the same as they could into our country, provided they 
 had the sovereignty of Lake Champlain, and had erected 
 headquarters at, or near, Skenesborough. Our only 
 having it in our power to thus make incursions into Canada 
 might probably be the very reason why it would be unnec- 
 essary so to do, even if the Canadians should prove more 
 refractory than I think for. Lastly with submission, I 
 would propose to your Honors to raise a small regiment
 
 Correspondence. 255 
 
 of rangers, which I could easily do, and that mostly in 
 the counties of Albany and Charlotte, provided your 
 Honors should think it expedient to grant commissions, 
 and thus regulate and put the same under pay. Probably 
 your Honors may think this an important proposal. It is 
 truly, the first favor I ever asked of the Government; and 
 if it be granted, I shall be zealously ambitious to conduct 
 for the best good of my country, and the honor of the 
 Government. 
 
 I subscribe myself, Gentlemen, with due respect, your 
 Honors' most obedient, humble servant, 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 P. S. Gentlemen, in the narrative contained in the 
 enclosed was too materially omitted the valor and intre- 
 pidity of Colonel James Easton, and forty-six veteran 
 soldiers from the Massachusetts Bay, who assisted in the 
 taking of Ticonderoga. Colonel Easton is just returned 
 from the Provincial Congress of Massachussetts Bay to 
 this place, and expects he will soon have the command 
 of a regiment from that province. 
 
 Yours, etc., 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 Ticonderoga, the 4th of June, 1775. 
 
 To our worthy and respectable friends and country, 
 and the French People of Canada. 
 
 GREETING 
 
 Friends and fellow-countrymen : You are, undoubtedly, 
 more of less acquainted with the unnatural and un- 
 happy controversy subsisting between Great Britain 
 and her colonies, the particulars of which, in this letter,
 
 256 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 we do not expatiate upon, but refer your consideration 
 to the justice and equitableness thereof, on the part of 
 the colonies, to the former knowledge that you have had 
 of this matter. We need only observe that the inhabit- 
 ants of the colonies view the controversy, on their part, 
 to be justifiable in the sight of God and all unprejudiced 
 and honest men that have, or may have, opportunity 
 and ability to examine into the merits of it. Upon this 
 principle, those inhabitants determine to vindicate their 
 cause, and maintain their natural and constitutional 
 rights and liberties, at the expense of their lives and 
 fortunes; but have not the least disposition to injure 
 molest or in any way deprive our fellow subjects, the 
 Canadians, of their liberty or property; nor have they any 
 design to wage war against them; and from all intima- 
 tions that the inhabitants of the said colonies have re- 
 ceived from the Canadians, it has appeared that they 
 were alike disposed for friendship and neutrality, and 
 not at all disposed to take part with the King's troops 
 in the present civil war, against the colonies. We were, 
 nevertheless, surprised to hear that a number of about 
 thirty Canadians attacked our reconnoitering party, con- 
 sisting of four men fired on them, and pursued them 
 and obliged them to return the fire. This is the account 
 of the party which have since arrived at Headquarters. 
 We desire to know of any gentleman Canadian, the facts 
 of the case, as one story is good till another is told. Our 
 general orders to the soldiery was that they should not 
 on pain of death, molest of kill any of your people, but 
 if it shall appear, upon examination that our reconnoi- 
 tering party commenced hostilities against your people,
 
 Correspondence. 257 
 
 they shall suffer agreeable to the sentence of a Court 
 Martial, for our special orders from the colonies are to 
 befriend and protect you if need be, so that if you desire 
 their friendship, you are invited to embrace it, for noth- 
 ing can be more undesirable to your friends in the 
 colonies, than a war with their fellow subjects, the Cana- 
 dians, or with the Indians. You are very sensible that 
 war has already commenced between England and the 
 colonies. Hostilities have already begun. To fight 
 the King's troops has become a necessary and incumbent 
 duty. The colonies cannot avoid it, but pray is it neces- 
 sary that the Canadians and the inhabitants of the Eng- 
 lish colonies should butcher one another? God forbid! 
 There is no controversy subsisting between you and them. 
 Pray let old England and the colonies fight it out, and 
 you, Canadians, stand by and see what an arm of flesh 
 can do. We are apprehensive that the conduct of your 
 people before complained of, had not a general approba- 
 tion; and are still confident that your country, as such, 
 will not wage war with the colonies or approve the afore- 
 said hostile conduct of your people, as we conceive it to 
 be impolitic to the last degree, for the Canadians to enter 
 into a bloody war without either a provocation or motive; 
 and when at the same time, every motive of interest, 
 virtue and honor, are ready at hand to dissuade you 
 from it. In fine, we conclude Saint Luke, Captain McCoy, 
 and other evil minded persons, whose interest and incli- 
 nation it is that the Canadians and the people of those 
 colonies should cut one another's throats, have enveigled 
 some of the baser sort of your people to attack our said 
 reconnoitering party. We expect, gentlemen, as to these
 
 258 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 particulars, you will in good time, inform us; and sub- 
 scribe ourselves, your real friends. 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN, f At present, theprinci- 
 T pal commanders of 
 
 JAMES EASTON, | the army. 
 
 A copy of the foregoing letter was, this day sent to 
 Mr. Walker, our trusty friend, at Montreal, per favor 
 of Mr. Jeffers, whose fidelity is unquestionable, and it 
 is wholly left with Mr. Walker to make its contents the 
 most public that he possibly can, whether by printing 
 it and translating it into French, etc. We furthermore 
 thought it expedient your Honors should have a copy 
 communicated to you. Yours at command, 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN 
 JAMES EASTMAN. 
 
 On June 9th Colonel Allen again addressed the Massa- 
 chusetts Congress as follows: 
 
 These armed vessels are at present abundantly suffi- 
 cient to command the Lake. The taking of these ac- 
 quisitions has greatly attached the Canadians, and more 
 especially the Indians, to our interest. They have no 
 personal prejudice or controversy with the United Colo- 
 nies, but act upon political principles and consequently 
 are inclined to fall in with the strongest side. At pres- 
 ent ours has the appearance of it ; as there are at present 
 but seven hundred regular troops in all the different 
 parts of Canada. Add to this the consideration of the 
 imperious and haughty conduct of the troops there 
 should be no great difficulty in drawing the Cana- 
 dians and Indians from them. Probably there may soon
 
 Correspondence. 259 
 
 be more troops from England sent there, but at present 
 you may rely on it that Canada is in a weak and helpless 
 condition. Two or three thousand men, conducted by 
 intrepid commanders, would at this juncture make a 
 conquest of the ministerial party in Canada with such 
 additional numbers as may be supposed to vie with the 
 reinforcements that may be sent from England. Such 
 a plan would make a diversion in favor of the Massa- 
 chusetts Bay, which has been too much burdened with 
 the calamity that should be more general, as all partake 
 of the salutary effects of their valor and merit in the de- 
 fence of the liberties of America. I hope, gentlemen, 
 you will use your influence in forwarding men, provisions, 
 and every article for the army that may be thought 
 necessary. Blankets, provisions and powder are scarce. 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 Ticonderoga, August 3, 1775. 
 
 Honored Sir: General Schuyler exerts his utmost 
 in building boats and making preparations for the army 
 to advance, as I suppose, to St. Johns', etc. We have 
 an insufficient store of provisions for such an undertaking 
 though the projection is now universally approved. Pro- 
 visions are hurrying forward, but not so fast as I could 
 hope for. General Wooster's corps has not arrived. I 
 fear there is some treachery among the New York tory 
 party relative to forwarding the expedition, though I am 
 confident that the General is faithful. No troops from 
 New York, except some officers, have arrived, though 
 it is given out that they will soon be here. The General 
 tells me he does not want any more troops till more pro-
 
 260 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 visions come to hand, which he is hurrying and ordered 
 the troops under General Wooster, part to be stationed 
 in the meantime at Albany and part to mend the road 
 from there to Lake George. 
 
 It is indeed an arduous work to furnish an army to 
 prosecute an enterprise. In the interim, I am appre- 
 hensive, the enemy are forming one against us; witness 
 the sailing of the transports and two men-of-war from 
 Boston, as it is supposed for Quebec. Probably, it ap- 
 pears that the King's Troops are discouraged in making 
 incursions into the Province of the Massachusetts Bay. 
 Likely they will send part of their force to overawe the 
 Canadians, and inveigle the Indians into their interest. 
 I fear the Colonies have been too slow in their resolutions 
 and preparations relative to this department; but hope 
 they may still succeed. 
 
 Notwithstanding, my zeal and success in my country's 
 cause, the old farmers on the New Hampshire Grants 
 (who do not incline to go to war) have met in a committee 
 meeting and in their nomination of officers for the regi- 
 ment of Green Mountain Boys (who are quickly to be 
 raised) have wholly omitted me; but as the commissions 
 will come from the Continental Congress, I hope they 
 will remember me, as I desire to remain in the service, 
 and remain your Honors' most obedient and humble 
 servant. ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 To the Honorable Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of the 
 Colony of Connecticut. 
 
 N. B. General Schuyler will transmit to your Honors 
 a copy of the affidavits of two intelligent friends, who
 
 Correspondence. 261 
 
 have just arrived from Canada. I apprehend that what 
 they have delivered is truth. I find myself in the favor 
 of the officers of the Army and the young Green Moun- 
 tain Boys. How the old men came to reject me I cannot 
 conceive, inasmuch as I saved them from the encroach- 
 ments of New York. 
 
 NOTE. This same Jonathan Trumbull, it should 
 be remembered, was the original "Brother Jonathan," 
 Speaker of the House of Representatives, U. S. Senator 
 and Governor of Connecticut. 
 
 St. TOURS, September, 20, 1775. 
 General Montgomery. 
 
 Excellent Sir: I am now in the parish of St. Tours, 
 four leagues to the south; have two hundred and fifty 
 Canadians under arms; as I march they gather fast. 
 These are the objects of taking the vessels in Sorel and 
 General Carleton. These objects I passed by to assist 
 the army besieging St. Johns'. If this place be taken the 
 country is ours; if we miscarry in this, all other achiev- 
 ments will profit but little. I am fearful our army may 
 be too sickly, and that the siege may be hard; therefore 
 choose to assist in conquering St. Johns', which of con- 
 sequence, conquers the whole. You may rely on it that 
 I shall join you in about three days with three hundred 
 or more Canadian volunteers. I could raise one or two 
 thousand in a week's time, but will first visit the army 
 with a less number, and if necessary will go again recruit- 
 ing. Those that used to be enemies to our cause come cap 
 in hand to me, and I swear by the Lord I can raise three
 
 262 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 times the number of our army in Canada, provided you 
 continue the siege; all depends on that. It is the advice 
 of the officers with me, that I speedily repair to the army. 
 God grant you wisdom, fortitude and every accomplish- 
 ment of a victorious general; the eyes of all America, 
 nay, of Europe, are, or will be, on the economy of this 
 army, and the consequences attending it. I am your 
 most obedient humble servant, 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 P. S. I have purchased six hogsheads of rum, and sent 
 a sergeant with a small party to deliver it at headquarters. 
 Mr. Livingston, and others under him, will provide what 
 fresh beef you need ; as to bread and flour, I am forwarding 
 what I can. You may rely on my utmost attention to this 
 object, as well as raising auxiliaries. I know the ground 
 is swampy and bad for raising batteries, but pray let no 
 object of obstructions be insurmountable. The glory 
 of a victory, which will be attended with such -important 
 consequences, will crown all our fatigue, risks and labors, 
 to fail of victory will be an eternal disgrace; but to ob- 
 tain it will elevate us on the wings of fame. 
 
 Yours, etc., 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 General Prescott. 
 Honorable Sir: 
 
 In the wheel of transitory events I find myself a 
 prisoner and in irons. Probably your Honor has cer- 
 tain reasons to me inconceivable, though I challenge an 
 instance of this sort of economy of the Americans during 
 the late war towards any officers of the crown. On my
 
 Correspondence. 263 
 
 part I have to assure your Honor that when I had the 
 command I took Captain Delaplace and Lieutenant 
 Felton, with the garrison, at Ticonderoga. I treated 
 them with every rank of friendship and generosity, the 
 evidence of which is notorious, even in Canada. I have 
 only to add that I expect an honorable and humane 
 treatment, as an officer of my rank should have, and 
 subscribe myself your Honor's most obedient, humble 
 servant. 
 
 ETHAN ALLEN. 
 
 It should be said to the praise of Allen, considering 
 the scenes he had passed through, that on no occasion 
 did he encourage or countenance laxness in government, 
 or disobedience to the laws and magistrates, recognized 
 as such by the people themselves. "Anyone who is 
 acquainted with mankind and things, must know, "says 
 Allen, "that it is impossible to manage the political mat- 
 ters of the country without assistance of civil govern- 
 ment. A large body of people destitute of it, is like a 
 ship at sea without a helm or mariner, tossed by the 
 impetuous waves. We could not enjoy domestic peace 
 and security, set aside the consequences of a British 
 war and the New York strife, without civil regulations. 
 The last two considerations do, in the most striking man- 
 ner, excite us to strengthen and confirm the government 
 already set up by the authority of the people, which is 
 the foundation of all temporal power, and from which 
 the subjects of the State of Vermont have already received 
 such signal advantages. " These sentiments he repeatedly 
 asserted, and even when he was stirring up strife, organ-
 
 264 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 izmg so-called mobs in and about Bennington, declared 
 it was in self-defence the result of a necessity forced 
 upon them by their enemies.. He never ceased to urge 
 submission to the laws, as essential to the prosperity 
 and happiness of the community.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE ALLEN FAMILY. 
 
 The following unpublished lecture, delivered at 
 Burlington, Vermont, by the Reverend Zadock Thompson, 
 on the 16th day of March, 1852, has for us more than a 
 passing interest, since it was delivered in the presence 
 not only of many of the descendants of Ethan Allen, 
 but many who knew him intimately. Notwithstanding 
 the repetition (though in a condensed form) of the pre- 
 ceding chapter, Mr Thompson's address is here given 
 almost in its entirety, to which is added short sketches of 
 other members of the Allen family. Space forbids includ- 
 ing many of the beautiful and noteworthy tributes to the 
 brave and zealous Allen by the men and women who knew 
 and loved him for his zeal and devotion to his country's 
 liberty, and above all, to the section in which he resided. 
 The poetic tributes, many exceedingly meritorious, and 
 others possessing less merit, that have appeared from 
 time to time, would be sufficient in themselves to make 
 a volume little less pretentious than the present effort. 
 One or two, however, are given, not because of especial 
 merit, but because they were written more than a century 
 ago, when the name and deeds of Ethan Allen had not 
 yet passed into history: 
 
 During the last few weeks you have had an oppor- 
 tunity of seeing and admiring the first heroic statue ever 
 
 265
 
 266 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 erected in Vermont. The subject of that statue is a name 
 familiar to you all. There is no Vermonter who has not 
 heard of the name and the fame of Ethan Allen. And, 
 there are, perhaps, few who have not formed in their own 
 minds an ideal of his personal appearance. And, I ven- 
 ture to say, that all who have long and carefully ex- 
 amined his statue, will admit that the artist, Mr. Kinney, 
 our respected townsman, has embodied and presented to 
 the eye the ideal in a most masterly manner. 
 
 And, while they remember Ethan Allen as the first of 
 heroes, they will regard this, his statue, as alike honorable 
 to him and to the mind which conceived and the hand 
 which fashioned it. The subject and the author of this 
 statue are both Vermonters, and they are both an honor 
 to our State. The one is now beyond the reach of our 
 personal attentions, the other is with us, and I trust he 
 will receive from us, that honor and that patronage too, 
 which he so justly merits. I hope in this case at least, 
 the well-known saying of Poor Richarcf, that " Honor buys 
 no meat in the market," will not be forgotten, and that 
 it will also be remembered that in this world, creative 
 genius must be nourished and supported by corporeat 
 as well as intellectual sustenance. 
 
 Mr. Kinney spent some time in Burlington, in per- 
 fecting the work and exhibiting his statue of Ethan 
 Allen. The statue was examined by several aged people, 
 who had known Allen personally, and all pronounced it 
 an excellent likeness of him. 
 
 The exhibition of Mr. Kinney 's statue of Ethan Allen^ 
 has led me to think that some reminiscences of him and 
 the Allen family might be acceptable at the present
 
 The Allen Family. 267 
 
 time. I have therefore thrown together in a desultory 
 manner, a few of the materials which I happen to have 
 on hand, which relate to these subjects. Whenever we 
 know or hear of a man who has distinguished himself 
 any way considerably in the affairs of the world, we are 
 always anxious to gain some information concerning his 
 origin, his family, and particularly in regard to his child- 
 hood and youth; and to learn whether these shadowed 
 forth those peculiar traits which were the characteristics 
 of his maturer years. And hence, the first subjects which 
 we expect to have presented to us in his biography are 
 those of his parentage, his birth and his childhood. But 
 upon none of these subjects do we find anything satisfac- 
 tory in the published biographies or memoirs of Ethan 
 Allen. 
 
 They all agree that he was born somewhere in Con- 
 necticut; but none of them seem to have any reliable 
 information, either with regard to the place or the time 
 of his birth. Indeed, they furnish scarcely any knowl- 
 edge of him previous to his making himself conspicuous 
 in the celebrated controversy between New York and 
 and the New Hampshire grants. And at that time he 
 was about thirty years old, and as he died at the age of 
 fifty-two, near three-fifths of his life is a blank in all the 
 histories and memoirs of it. For myself, I should like 
 exceedingly to see a minute history of Ethan Allen. The 
 history of the last twenty years of his life is all inter- 
 woven with the history of Vermont, and is as familiar to 
 the people as household words. And the characteristics 
 which were so conspicuously manifested through this 
 period, warrant the conclusion that there must have been
 
 268 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 something marked and peculiar in his character previous 
 to his entering upon his public career. But the associates 
 of his childhood and youth, have, with him, all gone to 
 to their graves. And however desirable it might be to 
 trace minutely his early history, it is doubtless already 
 too late to obtain material needful for a full and satis- 
 factory biography of him. Still I believe that something 
 might yet be done to supply this deficiency by suitable 
 efforts. I have no doubt that many interesting and im- 
 portant facts and incidents in the early history of Ethan 
 Allen, might yet be rescued from oblivion. A few of these 
 which have never yet appeared in print, I am happy in 
 having it in my power to supply. Having instituted a 
 careful inquiry with regard to the time and place of his 
 birth, I succeeded several years ago in obtaining from the 
 town clerk of Litchfield, in the state of Connecticut, a 
 certified copy of records in the town clerk's office in that 
 town, from which I derive the following facts, viz. : That 
 Joseph Allen, father of Ethan Allen, resided in that town 
 in 1728, v/ith his mother, Mercy Allen, who was then a 
 widow; that or the llth day of March, 1736, he was mar- 
 ried to Mary Baker by the Reverend Anthony Stoddard 
 of Woodbury. 
 
 Succeeding these facts in the records of the town of 
 Litchfield, we here give the following statement, verbatim 
 et literatim : 
 
 "Ethen Allen ye son of Joseph Allen and Mary, his 
 wife, was born January ye 10th, 1737." Litchfield, Corn- 
 wall, Salisbury, Roxbury, and, I think, Woodbury, Con- 
 necticut, have all been honored as the birthplace of Ethan 
 Allen. But the records of the town of Litchfield, which
 
 The Allen Family. 269 
 
 I have cited, make it certain that he was born there. 
 Joseph Allen, the father of Ethan, removed with his 
 family to Cornwall, Connecticut, about the year 1740, 
 and in that town were most of his children born, and there 
 he died on the 14th of April, 1755. 
 
 Soon after Joseph Allen's death, Heman, his second 
 son, engaged in mercantile business in Salisbury, and after 
 that period his house became the home of the family. 
 Joseph Allen had six sons, of whom Ethan was the eldest. 
 There names were as follows in the order of their birth: 
 Ethan, Heman, Levi, Zimri and Ira. He also had two 
 daughters, Lydia and Lucy. Lydia married a Mr. Finch 
 and lived and died in Goshen, Connecticut; Lucy married 
 a Dr. Bebee, and lived and died in Sheffield, Mass. Heber 
 and Zimri, unlike their brothers, never rendered them- 
 selves conspicuous in connection with political affairs. 
 Heber died many years ago in Poultney, Vermont. He 
 had two sons, Heber and Heman. Heber went into the 
 western country and I know nothing further of his history. 
 Heman, the late Hon. Heman Allen of Highgate, after 
 the death of his father, was adopted into the family of 
 his uncle Ira. Zimri died at Sheffield, Mass. 
 
 Heman Allen, the second son of Joseph Allen was, 
 as already remarked, a respected merchant of Salisbury, 
 Connecticut. He is represented to have been a man of 
 more than ordinary natural abilities and of sound judg- 
 ment, but cool and deliberate, free from the eccentricities 
 and that impetuosity which was manifest in the character 
 of several of his brothers. Ho never settled permanently 
 in Vermont, but being engaged with his brothers in Ver- 
 mont, in land speculations, he spent considerable time here
 
 270 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 about the period of the organization of our government, 
 and was one of the delegates from Rutland to the con- 
 vention which met at Westminster on the 15th of Janu- 
 ary, 1777, that declared the independence of Vermont. 
 He afterwards returned to Salisbury, where he died, 
 leaving a widow and one daughter, Lucinda, who after- 
 wards became the wife of Moses Catlin, Esq., for many 
 years and at the time of his death a respected inhabitant 
 of Burlington. After the death of Heman Allen, his widow 
 married a Mr. Wadhams, and resided in Goshen, Con- 
 necticut. And Mrs. Catlin, who died in Burlington 
 a few years since much respected, was her daughter by 
 her second marriage. 
 
 Levi Allen, the fourth son of Joseph Allen, if he was not 
 the most remarkable, was certainly the most eccentric 
 of the six brothers; and as his history is much less gen- 
 erally known, I will here allude to a few of the incidents 
 of his life. A faithful biography of him would exhibit 
 romance in real life as fully, perhaps, as that of any in- 
 dividual who ever lived. It was my good fortune some 
 years ago to get possession of the greater part of the 
 letters, journals and MSS. left by Levi Allen; among 
 which were about thirty letters from Ira Allen; several 
 from Ethan and many from other prominent individuals, 
 besides numerous copies which he had preserved of his 
 own letters. From these and other manuscripts I gath- 
 ered the following facts: He was born in Cornwall, Con- 
 necticut, January 16th, 1745, and by his own acknowl- 
 edgement, was a very obstinate and wayward youth. 
 When he grew up, he, like his brothers, engaged in land 
 speculations in Vermont, but did not come here to reside.
 
 The Allen Family. 271 
 
 At the commencement of the Revolution, while his 
 brothers engaged with ardor in the cause of liberty, and 
 independence, he espoused the cause of the enemy, or 
 in other words was a tory, and was advertised as such 
 in the Connecticut Courant, and other newspapers, and 
 was declared to be a man who was dangerous to the coun- 
 try. Being detected in supplying the British ships, 
 which lay at Long Island, with provisions, he was arrested 
 and confined as a prisoner in the jail at New London. At 
 about this time, at the instigation and on the complaint 
 of his brothers Ethan and Ira, his large estate in Vermont 
 was advertised for sale, agreeably to the confiscation 
 act of this state. After lying in jail six months and three 
 days he obtained his enlargement, but by what means it 
 was effected I have not been able to ascertain. He was, 
 however, no sooner at his liberty than he sent to his 
 brother Ethan a formal challenge to single combat with 
 pistols. I do not find that Ethan took any notice of this 
 challenge, but I find Levi, in one of his letters long after- 
 wards, apologizing for him by saying: "I have no doubt 
 he would have fought me, but all his friends jointly put 
 in their arguments that Levi was only mad through long 
 confinement, etc." Soon after Levi obtained his liberty 
 he joined the British forces in South Carolina, and re- 
 mained with the army till the close of the war in 1783. 
 After the peace which established the independence of 
 the United States, Levi Allen returned to the North, 
 and being abused, as he thought, in attempting to collect 
 some small debts in New England, he swore that he would 
 not reside in the United States. He accordingly proceeded 
 to Canada, where he purchased a house, and in 1789, after
 
 272 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 a residence of four years in Canada, he went to England 
 on some commercial speculation, where he spent the most 
 of three years. While there he took offense at something 
 said to him by a Maj. Edward Jessup, and challenged to 
 fight a duel. Jessup declined the challenge, whereupon 
 Allen, in a note, proclaimed him to the world as a coward. 
 I have in my possession a copy of the challenge and Jes- 
 sup's reply in the original. After Levi Allen returned from 
 England he had no permanent resting place, but called 
 himself a citizen of the world. And notwithstanding his 
 oath to the contrary, resided for the most part in Bur- 
 lington. He made several journeys to Pennsylvania, 
 where he had placed his daughter for education in the 
 Bethlehem school, and to the Southern states to attend 
 to his land speculations. In the fall of 1801 he died in 
 Burlington and was, if I have been rightly informed 
 the first person ever buried in the village graveyard. 
 Whether there is any stone there that bears his name and 
 marks the spot where he lies, I cannot say. I once 
 searched, but searched in vain, to find one. 
 
 Levi Allen was in jail for debt at the time of his death. 
 Under that interpretation of the law which claimed that 
 by the removal of the body of the debtor, dead or alive, the 
 debt was transferred ; after his death, the village grave- 
 yard was surveyed and "laid out " before his burial, that 
 he might be interred within the limits of the jail. Thus 
 all question is removed as to his being the first person 
 buried therein. 
 
 Ira Allen, the diplomatist and manager in civil affairs 
 the ablest and most successful speculator of the brothers, 
 with them at one time, claimed nearly all of the lands
 
 The Allen Family. 273 
 
 for fifty miles along Lake Champlain. Ira probably did 
 more toward the settlement and interests of this 
 part of the country than any other man. By his 
 unwearied efforts and profuse generosity the Vermont 
 University was located in Burlington. He was the sec- 
 retary of that well-nigh omnipotent body, the "Council 
 of Safety," who recommended to the Council the confisca- 
 tion of tory property to support the military forces 
 of the state ; he was the chief negotiator with the British 
 in Canada, by which a large army was kept inactive on 
 our northern frontier the last three years of the Revolu- 
 tion ; and lastly he was the first treasurer of Vermont. 
 
 As already remarked, very few of the incidents of 
 Ethan Allen's youth have been preserved and handed 
 down to our time. But from what is known of him 
 during that period, as well as from all traditions, it would 
 appear that he was generally regarded as a bold, spirited 
 and somewhat reckless young man, possessing unusual 
 energy and independence of character; and that then, 
 among the associates of his own age, he put himself for- 
 ward, and was tacitly acknowledged as leader, a distinc- 
 tion to which he thought himself entitled at all periods of 
 his life. It would appear that personal subordination on 
 his own part never once entered into his thoughts. Much 
 less did he feel any want of confidence in his own ability 
 to plan, and execute, too, any enterprise which was within 
 the sphere of human achievement. 
 
 About the year 1762, Ethan Allen was married to 
 Miss Mary Bronson, of Woodbury, Connecticut. He 
 resided with his family, first at Salisbury, and afterwards 
 at Sheffield, Mass. He came to Vermont (then the New
 
 274 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 Hampshire Grants) about the year 1766, leaving his family 
 at Sheffield, and from that time he regarded this state as 
 his home. At the time Ethan Allen came to the New 
 Hampshire grants, the controversy between the settlers 
 and the claimants under New York had already com- 
 menced, and several actions had been brought in the courts 
 at Albany, for the ejectment of the settlers, under New 
 Hampshire titles. Allen immediately espoused the cause 
 cf the settlers, and undertook their defense before the 
 legal tribunals. He proceeded to New Hampshire where 
 he procured the necessary documents. He then went to 
 Connecticut, and engaged the services of Mr. Ingersoll, 
 an eminent lawyer, and with these he appeared before 
 the Court at Albany. But it was of no avail. 
 
 The causes had all been prejudged without regard to 
 evidence, law or justice, and judgment was rendered in 
 all cases against the defendants. Allen and his lawyer 
 retired from the court, which was proceeding to annihilate 
 the New Hampshire titles, to the lands of their employers; 
 but they were waited on in the evening by Mr. Kemp, the 
 King's attorney, and several lawyers and land speculators, 
 \\}\o told Allen to go home and advise the settlers to 
 make the best terms they could with their new landlords, 
 signifying to him that might often prevails against right. 
 Allen coolly replied, that the gods of the valleys were not 
 the gods of the hills. Kemp asked an explanation, but 
 Allen only answered that if he would accompany him to 
 Bennington, the meaning of the phrase should be made 
 clear. On Allen's return to. Bennington, a convention of 
 the settlers was called, their grievances discussed, and, 
 although the whole number who had assembled did not
 
 The Allen Family. 275 
 
 exceed 100 men, they formally resolved that they would 
 defend their rights by force against the arbitrary proceed- 
 ings of the colony of New York, since law and justice were 
 denied them. And when the civil officers of New York 
 came to the Grants, to carry into effect the decisions of 
 their courts, they met with a determined opposition 
 on the part of the settlers, and were not permitted to dis- 
 charge their duties. The leading settlers were conse- 
 quently indicted as rioters, and the New York sheriffs 
 were sent to apprehend them. But these officers, as the 
 writers of that period observe, were seized by the people 
 and severely chastised with the twigs of the wilderness. 
 
 Ethan Allen was acknowledged everywhere by friends 
 and foes to be the head and leader, the master spirit of 
 the opposition to New York. He was, at all times, the 
 resort and the confidence of the Green Mountain Boys, 
 and the terror and dismay of the Yorkers. So great was 
 their estimate of his power and influence, that the au- 
 thorities of New York at first attempted to bribe him over 
 to their interests, but failing in that, when they afterward 
 offered rewards for the apprehension of the ring-leaders of 
 the opposition on the Grants, the reward offered for Allen 
 was 150, while only 50 was offered for either of the 
 others. 
 
 There seems to be some difference of opinion with 
 regard to the part taken by the noted Benedict Arnold 
 in the capture of Ticonderoga. Dr. Williams and Ira 
 Allen, in their histories of Vermont, both state that Arnold 
 with the commission of colonel from the board of war in 
 Massachusetts, arrived at Castleton before Allen left there 
 with his Green Mountain Boys, and endeavored, without
 
 276 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 success, to supplant him in the command of the expedi- 
 tion; and that the attempt was repeated en the morning 
 of the 10th of May, just before they entered the fort; but 
 that the troops decided that Allen should continue chief in 
 command, and that Arnold might be second, with the 
 privilege of entering the fort at Allen's left hand. On the 
 other hand, Nathan Beeman, who was Allen's guide to 
 the fort, asserts in the most positive terms, that Arnold 
 did not accompany the expedition, was not present at 
 the surrender of the fort, and that he did not arrive 
 at Ticonderoga till some days after its capture. This 
 statement of Mr. Beeman was confirmed by the late Mrs. 
 Hitchcock, in a conversation I had with her on the subject 
 several years ago. Allen, in his narrative, makes no 
 mention of Arnold, till after the capture of Ticonderoga. 
 From the time of the capture of the garrison at Ticonder- 
 oga, Ethan Allen considered himself enlisted in the cause 
 of American freedom. 
 
 In regard to Allen's services and sufferings in the cause 
 of his country, Congress conferred upon him the rank 
 and emoluments of Lieutenant-colonel in the service of 
 the United States; but he never after his captivity 
 joined the continental army. But he engaged warmly 
 in support of the government of Vermont, which had been 
 organized during his absence, against the machinations 
 of New York; and also in carrying on the negotiations 
 with the British in Canada by which the operations of a 
 powerful British army were three years paralyzed and 
 rendered innoxious. 
 
 Allen was made brigadier-general of the state militia, 
 and in 1783, at the requisition of the civil authority, led
 
 The Allen Family. 277 
 
 over 100 Green Mountain Boys for the purpose of sub- 
 jecting the disorganizing Yorkers in Guilford in the south- 
 eastern part of Windham county to the authority of 
 Vermont. It was on that occasion that he put forth the 
 following characteristic proclamation: "I, Ethan Allen, 
 declare that unless the people of Guilford peacefully sub-, 
 mit to the authority of Vermont, the town shall be made 
 as desolate as Sodom and Gomorrah." 
 
 Ethan Allen was twice married. By his first wife 
 he had five children, one son and four daughters, all of 
 whom were born, I think, before the family came to 
 Vermont. The names of these children were Lorain, 
 Joseph, Lucy, Mary Ann and Parmelia. Joseph died at 
 Sheffield while his father was in captivity, being 11 years 
 old. Lorain died unmarried, Lucy married the Hon. 
 S. Hitchcock, and Parmelia married Eleazer W. Keyes, 
 Esq., and these both resided and died at Burlington. 
 Ethan's first wife died in Sunderland, in the early part of 
 1783, and was an excellent and pious woman. One of 
 Ethan's few attempts at writing poetry was some lines on 
 the death of his wife, published in the Bennington Gazette 
 July 10th, 1783. 
 
 A monumental inscription for the tomb of Mary Allen, 
 of Sunderland, wife of General Allen is said to have 
 been written by him: 
 
 Farewell, my friends, this fleeting world, adieu, 
 My residence no longer is with you, 
 My children I commend to Heaven's care, 
 And humbly raise my hopes above despair 
 And conscious of a virtuous transient strife, 
 Anticipate the joys of the next life;
 
 278 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 Yet such celestial and ecstatic bliss 
 Is but in part conferred on us in this. 
 Confiding in the power of God most high, 
 His wisdom, goodness and infinity, 
 Displayed, securely I resign my breath, 
 To the cold, unrelenting stroke of death; 
 Trusting that God, who gave me life before 
 Will still preserve me, in a state much more 
 Exalted mentally beyond decay, 
 In the blest regions of eternal day. 
 
 "From this poetry we might infer that Mars was no 
 great favorite of the muses." 
 
 Allen married his second wife in 1784. This marriage 
 is thus pompously announced in the Vermont Gazette 
 for February 21st of that year: " Married at Westminister, 
 on the 9th of February, the Honorable General Ethan 
 Allen, to the amiable Mrs. Lydia Buchanan, a lady pos- 
 sessing in an eminent degree every graceful qualification 
 requisite to render the hymenial bonds felicitous." There 
 appears to have been a slight mistake in this announce- 
 ment. The lady's name was not Lydia, but Fanny. By 
 his second marriage he had three children, Ethan A., Han- 
 nibal and one daughter, Fanny. Fanny, after she was 
 grown up to womanhood, entered a nunnery in Canada, 
 where she died. Hannibal and Ethan A. Allen both 
 held offices in the United States Army. Hannibal died 
 many years ago at Norfolk, Virginia, and his widow 
 was not long since residing in the State of Michigan. 
 Ethan A. Allen died in Norfolk County, Virginia, January 
 6th, 1845. He left one son, Ethan A. Allen, who now 
 resides in the city of New York. 
 
 By a memorandum in the copy of the "Oracle of
 
 The Allen Family. 279 
 
 Reason" in Ethan Allen's handwriting, it would appear 
 that Ethan Allen was born January 21st, 1739; Fanny, 
 his second wife, April 4th, 1760; married February 16th, 
 1784. Children: Fanny Allen, born November 13th, 
 1784; Ethan Voltaire, born February 3d, 1786; Han- 
 nibal, born November 24th, 1787. The difference be- 
 tween the ages of Ethan Allen and his second wife at the 
 time of their marriage was 23 years, he being 47 she 24. 
 At the time of his death she was 29. She spent most of 
 three years after his death with her mother at West- 
 minister. 
 
 Ethan Allen's third daughter by his first wife, was 
 Mary Ann. She died in Burlington about two years 
 after the death of her father. When Ethan Allen lived 
 on the Van Ness farm, horse teams were hardly known 
 in this part of the country. Mrs. Forbes says there were 
 three or four families near the lake shore, where Burling- 
 ton village now is, and the settlement was called the 
 Bay. When Ethan and his lady visited these families 
 in the winter they used to ride in an ox sled, and it was 
 with an ox sled that Ethan went over to Col. Ebenezer 
 Allen's on the island for hay. She says that Ethan was 
 alive, but in a fit, when the black man with the team 
 arrived at home, and that he died at his house. Mrs. 
 Stephen Law remembers her father was sent for and 
 tried to bleed him, but without success, and he remained 
 insensible till he died. Mr. Law practised extracting teeth 
 and blood letting occasionally. The funeral was at- 
 tended at Ira's in Colchester, and guns were fired over 
 the grave, on the Burlington side of the river. 
 
 Heber Allen died in Poultney. He had five children,
 
 280 Ethan Allen of Green Mountain Fame. 
 
 Heber, Sarah, Joseph, Lucy and Heman. Heber taught 
 school in Milton, Georgia, and went west. Sarah 
 married a Mr. Evarts, and settled in Georgia. Lucy 
 married Orange Smith, and lived a while in Swanton, Vt. 
 After Heber 's death his widow kept house for Ira, until 
 her death, about 1788. She was buried at the Falls. 
 She says: "Ethan Allen was a man of remarkably tender 
 feelings. The block house built by Ira Allen and Re- 
 member Baker, was southwest of Ira's log house, and 
 nearer the river. Ethan's family came to Burlington 
 about July, and lived at the Bay, at Mr. Collins', till after 
 the birth of Hannibal, which was in November 24th, 1787." 
 
 In November, 1855, the Legislature of Vermont passed 
 an act providing for the erection of a monument over 
 Allen's grave at Burlington, which was completed in com- 
 pliance with the act. It consists of a Tuscan column of 
 granite, 42 feet in height and 4 feet in diameter at its 
 base, with a pedestal 6 feet square, in which are inserted 
 four plates of white marble, having the following in- 
 scriptions, to wit: 
 
 (West side) Vermont to Ethan Allen born in 
 Litchfield, Connecticut, 10th January, 1737, o. s. died 
 in Burlington, Vermont, 12th February, 1789 and 
 buried near the site of this monument. 
 
 (South Side) The leader of the Green Mountain 
 Boys in the surprise and capture of Ticonderoga, 
 which he demanded "in the name of the Great Jehovah 
 and the Continental Congress." 
 
 A Pamphlet, the ceremonies of the erection of the 
 monument, has been published . Hon. F. E. Woodbridge 
 delivered the oration, which eloquent tribute was re-read
 
 The Allen Family. 281 
 
 by request at the last meeting of the State Historical 
 Society, February 16th, 1863. 
 
 THE GRAVE OF ALLEN. 
 
 " Upon Winooski's pleasant shore 
 Brave Allen sleeps. 
 
 And there beneath the murmuring pine 
 Is freedom's consecrated shrine. 
 And every patriot heart will swell 
 
 As bending o'er that lowly grave 
 He pays his homage to the brave, 
 
 Then let it be our earnest aim 
 
 To cherish every noble name; 
 
 That ages yet to come may read 
 
 Each worthy name, each valiant deed, 
 
 And know with what a fearless hand 
 
 Our fathers struck for life and land. 
 
 Their names are many : but among 
 
 That matchless crowd, that fearless throng 
 
 There's one that shines for us alone, 
 
 Whose deathless glory is our own. 
 
 His memory then should ever be 
 
 Dear to our hearts as liberty; 
 
 And while our country has a name 
 
 Let us preserve our Allen's fame."
 
 Lives *f Famous Men 
 
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 lishers have included only such books as will interest and instruct 
 the youth of both sexes. A copy should be in every public, school 
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 LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
 
 By George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son 
 of our first president, doth, 664 pages, large, 12mo' 
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 LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 By Hon. Joseph H. Barrett, ex-member of Congress. 
 Cloth, 842 pages, large, 12mo. Price, $1.00. 
 
 LIFE OF U. S. GRANT. 
 
 By Hon. B. P. Poore and Rev. O. H. Tiffany, D D. Cloth, 
 
 594 pages, large, 12mo. Price, $1.00. 
 LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY. 
 
 By Murat Halstead, Chauncey M. Depew and John Sher- 
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 LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 
 
 By Thomas W. Handford. Cloth, 255 pages, large, 16nto, 
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