Ethan Allen and the Green-Mountain heroes of '76

Front matter

Siiiiilil

Glass _j~_Ol!&=^ Book J]^S

Jlii9

Chapter I. Eaklt History Of Vermont

Early Discoveries— Cavtier at Hotchelaga— Interview with the Natives — Return to France — Cbamplain — His Discoveries— Hudson — The Green Mountains— The Six Nation* — The Adirondacks — Fire Arms — Torture of a Prisoner — War between the French and Indians — Corlear — French Expedition against the Mohawks — First EngHsh Prisouei-8 in Canada— Montreal attacked by the Indians — Massacre at Schenectady— French Invasion of New Hampshire- Death of Major Waldron— English Expedition against Canada — Sir William Phipps— Captain John Schuyler— French Emulation of Indian Cruelty— Burning of Deerfield— Rev. John Williams— The March over the Green Mountains— Death of Mrs. Williams— The" Forest Sermon— The Daring Boy— Sufferings of the Captives- Ransom of Rev. Mr. Williams— The Bell of St. Regis— Border Warfare— Colonial Wtir with Canada— English Army on Lake Champlain— Fleet on the St. Lawrence— Peace— First Settlements in Vermont— Frontignac — Joliet — Exploration of the Mississippi—Lake Champlain— Crown Point— Progress of the English and French Colonies— Fort Dummer — LovewelTs War — The Jesuit Rolle— Siege of Louisbourg— Indian Depredations— Massacre at Fort Massachusetts- Heroic Defense of " Number F(.ur "— Captain Hobbs— Saratoga— The Abbo Picquet— French War of 175fi_Sir William Johnson— Expedition against the French- Johnson's Victory over Dicskau— Indian Depredations— Captain Johnson— Subjugation of Canada again undertaken -General Abercrombie— John Stark— His Intrepidity— Montcalm's Advances toward Fort William Henry— Massacre at Fort Edward— IsRABi. Putnam- William Pitt— Putnam's Battle with Firft

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Abercrorabie's Defeat at Ticonderoga— Capture of Putnam— Cmelties inflicted upon him— Attempt to burn him— Rescue— Th« Fair Captive—Amherst takes Ticonderogia and Crown Point- Destruction of the Village of St Francis— General Wolfe— His Death and Victory at Quebec— Death of Montcalm— Vaudreuil defeated at Montreal— Canada surrendered to the English— Close of the French War, 13 to 116

Chapter II The New-hampshire Grants

The Peace of 1763— Advance of the English Settlements— The Delius Grant— Conflicting Grants by the British Crown— Controversies arising therefrom— New-York Charter— Correspondence

between the Governors of New Hampshire and New Yoik

Charter of Bennington — Grants of Laijds by the Governor of New Hampshire — Proclamation of Governor Colden — Counter-Proolamation— Appeal to the King — An Ambiguous Decree— Excitement among the People— Agent sent to England— Determination to repel the New-York Claimants— Ethan Allen— His early Life—' He becomes interested in the New-Hampshire Grants— Journal of Ira Allen— Scheme of a Land Speculator— The Aliens in New York— Ira Allen's Foresight — Adventure with a Ghost— Seth Warner— Personal Appearance of Warner — His Favorite Pursuits — Capt. Remember Baker — Is a Soldier in the French War — Removes to the New-Hampshire Grants— Samuel Robinson — Settlement of Bennington — Establishment of a Church and a School — Jedediah Dewey — Oppressive Measures of New York — Indictments— Convention of the Settlers— Samuel Robinson— The King's Order— It is disregarded by Governor Tryon— Proclamation— Indictments— Ejectment Trials at Albany— Anecdote of Allen — New Attempts to deprive the People of their Property — Defensive Measures — " Hideous Groans " — The Green-Mountain Boys— Reward offered for the Arrest of Allen — Allen's Proclamation—His Courage— Attack upon Captain Baker's House— His ' Capture and Rescue- Attempt to arrest Warner- A Rumored

Invasion — Conciliation — Allen's Protej^t— Joy in Bennington

Quarrel Renewed — Letter to Governor Tryon — The " Beech- Seal " — The Scotch Emigrants — Proceedings in Clarendon — " The

CONTlwNIS. VU

Bloody Law " — Allen's Opinion of it — Public Meetings — Doctor Samuel Adanas — Benjamin Hough — Allen's Certificate — Trials of the Pioneers — Tyranny of the Government — Rescue of a Prisoner — Treason Trials — Murder of William French — Dawn of the Bevolution, 116 to 196

Chapter III. * Ethan Allen

Character of the Patriots of '76 — Ethan Allen — His Position — Reriew of the Causes which produced the Revolution — The Stamp Act — The Tea Tax— The First Congress— Measures of Resistance — Contemplated Entei-prise against Ticonderoga — Ethan Allen chosen its Leader — His Plan — The Boy-Guide — Alien crosses the Lake — The Fortress attacked — Confusion of the Enemy — Allen and Deiaplace — Surrender of the Garrison — Crown Point and Skenesborough Secured — Arnold's Naval Victory — Allen and Congress — Allen and Parson Dewey — Capture of Allen — Narrative of Allen's Captivity — His Account of the Victory at Ticonderoga — He falls into the Hands of the Enemy — A Singular Shield — Barbarity of Colonel Prescott — Allen put in Irons — The Tenpenny Nail — Allen's Challenge of Doctor Dace — Magnanimity of Captain Littlejohn — The Duel — Reliance upon Allen's Honor — Cruel Treatment of Prisoners — The Petty Tyrant — Voyage to England — Allen's Sufferings — Landing at Falmouth — Expected Execution of Allen — His Letter to Congress — Reflections upon Death — Conversations with his Visitors — Captain Symonds — The Generous Irishmen — Allen sails from England — The Voyage — Arrival in America — From Bad to Worse — Meeting with old Enemies — Illness — Cruelty and Kindness — Mrs. Blacden — Removal to New York — A Humane Commander — Allen's Gratitude — The Prison Ship — Battle of Bennington — Allen on Parole — The American Prisoners in New York — Barbarity of the British — Incredible Sufferings — Starvation, Disease and Death — Washington — General Howe — The British Bribe — Allen's Reply — Allen and Rivington — Captain Vandyke — Mr. Miller — Majors Wells and Paine — Mr. Fell — Evacuation ,of Ticonderoga — Battle of Hubbardton — Triumph of Allen — Burgoyne's Surrender — BuTgoyne's Proclamation — Allen and the British Officer — Allen's Liberation — His Return to Vermont, 196 to 27 J

Vm OONTENTS.

Chapter IV. The Gkeen-mountatn Herges

Charter of the Early Settlers of this Country— Influence of their Example— The Puritans and the Followers of Penn— Indian Converts— Otigi| of the Revolution — Reflections on the Character and Services of Congress— Declaratiox of Independence — Bunker Hill— Ticonderoga— Campaign of 1775 — General Montgomery — General Schuyler — Montgomery enters Canada — Death of Captain Baker — Etha.x Allen— Siege of St. John's— Mutiny— James Livingston — Surrender of Fort Chambly— Seth Warner— The Green-Mountain Rangers— Repulse of Carleton— Surrender of St John's — Carleton's Retreat from Montreal — Extraordinary March of Arnold— The British retire to Quebec — The Assault Begun — Death of Montgomery — The Cowardly Commanders— Honors to Montgomery- His Character — His Widow — Arnold — Major Morgan — Retreat of the Americans — Reinforcements — Energy of Warner— General Gates— Naval Preparations — Battle on Lake Champlain— Plans of the British— Supplies for Ticonderoga — Close of the Campaign of 1776— Geneial Carleton — The Green- Mountain Pledge— Burgoyne — The Campaign Opened — Evacuation of Ticonderoga — General St. Clair — Retreat of the Americans — Battle of Hubbardton — Advance of the British — Jane McCrea— Account of her Murder— A New-Hampshire Patriot— General Stark— Movements of Burgoyne — The Foray upon the Green Mountains— Battle at Cambridge — Skirmishing — Rain — The Bellicose Parson — Stark's Speecli — Battle of Bennington — The British Reinforced — The Victory at Bennington — General Stark's Account — Colonels Warner and Herrick — Honor to General Stark's Genius — Important Consequences of this Victory — Censure of Stark in Congress changed to Thanks — General Burgoyne's Opinion of his Antagonist changed — Spoils and Trophies — Expenses of Stark's Brigade — Traveled Cannon — British, German and Tory Prisoners — Lions and Lambs — Curiosity to see Lord Napier — A Bereaved Mother — General Lincoln — Colonels Brown and Johnson at Lake George — Brown's Sticcess — Generals Gates and Bureroyne — Engagement at Saratoga — British Testimony to American Patriotism — The Spirit of '76 ; Death rather than Dishonor — Burgoyne's DifficultiGB thicken — He Surrenders — Medal and Thanks to General

CONTENTS. IX

Gates — Feats of the Green-Mountain Boys — British Retreat from Ticonderoga, with loss — Difficulties of the Inhabitants of the New- Hampshire Grants — Their Need of a Government — Declare their Independence as a State — Congress refuses to receive them — They form a Constitution — Council of Safety — Its Officers and Powers — Ira Allen on Ways and Means — A Regiment raised and paid from Tory Property — Governor Chittenden — Incidents of his Life —Ira Allen Secretary of State— His Appearance and Services — Measures of Vermont opposed — Ethan Allen's Return — His Welcome — His Military Distinction — Is Agent from Vermont to Congress — Governor Clinton's Proclamation — General Allen's Counter-Proclamation — He advocates Law and Order — A Hanging Postponed — Excitement in consequence — General Allen's Sppech — "Somebody shall be Hanged " — General Allen's Quarrel with his Brother Levi — The Tooth-drawing — Colonel Seth Warner — Dies in Poverty — Inscription on his Tomb — His Widow's Petition to Congress — Widow Storey — Her Secret Retreat — Destruction of Royalton — Pursuit of the Indians — Their Kindness to Female Prisoners — Anecdotes of the Indians — Daring of Mrs. Stone — Mrs. Barker and her Infants — Adverse Claims for Vermont Territory — Congress censures Vermont — Vermont extends its Territory- Poetry for the Green-Mountaineers — British Overtures to Ethan Allen — Allen's Letter to Congress — General Haldimand negotiates privately with Vermont Leaders — Allen and Fay mislead the English — Their Commission — General Haldimand's Instmction to his Agent — The Agent's Notes of Interviews — Ira Allen's Ingenious Delays— Notice of his Career — Washington reconciles Vermont and Congress— Feeling of the People— Difficulties with New- York — Ethan Allen suppresses Insurrection — His Characteristic Proclamation — Vermont admitted an Independent State, 1789 — Ethan Allen's Retirement— Becomes an Author— Chancter of his Book — A popular Anecdote of him Contradicted — His Integrity — Scene in Courts-Changes his Residence— Characteristic Courtship of his Second Wife— Amusing Account of the Marriage — "The Church Militant and the Church Military "—Allen's Kindness— The Lost Children Fftund— Tribute to his Patriotism— His Death — Inscription on his Toiub *279 to 42A

Introduction

«» Far be from me or my friends," says a vlistinguished writer, "such frigid philosophy, as may conduct us, indifferent and unmoved, over any ground that has been dignified by wisdom, ' bravery or virtue. The man is little to be envied whose patiiotism would not gain force upon the plains of Marathon, or whose pietv would not grow warm among the ruins of lona." And thus, among the objects that attract the attention of people, in all countries, as they advance in civilization, few are sought with more avidity than the facts concerning their early history.

Our patriotism is warmed, and our virtue is strengthened, while gazing upon the fields where the blood of our ancestors was shed in defense of hberty, or while perusing the story of the perils, sufferings, and self-sacrificing heroism of those who won our national independence. Nothing, therefore, can tend more strongly to the preservation of the liberties of our own favoied and happy country, than a familiarity with the deeds, and an admiration for the character, of our revolutionary ancestoi-s. Our glorious institutions can be in no danger while there is a ientiraent of patriotism among the people, which glows at the recital of our countr>''s renown, and which cherishes the

Xll I N T K O D U C T lO ^i .

memory of it& heroes. To foster this feeling, as well as to direct attention to a class of patiiots whose claims to the grateful remembrance of those who enjoy the blessings of free institutions have been too much disregarded, is the design of the present volume.

No portion of our country has a history so replete witii stirring events as that bordering upon Lake Champlain. Situ ated between the French province of Canada and the English colonies, and simultaneously claimed by each, it was, for one hundred and fifty years, the grand highway of their warlike expeditions against each other, and the scene upon which their bloodiest and most hotly contested battles were fought. Here many of the heroes of the American Revolution received their first experience in the art of war, and achieved that renown which afterward placed them at the head of armies whose noble purpose sanctified their resort to the awful arbitrament of battle. There, too, the most powerful and thi-eatening army sent out to crush the freedom of this country, began its march in triumph, and there ended it in a most disastrous defeat. The history of the Green-Mountain state, which stretches along the ,east shore of Lake Champlain, is so closely interwoven with that of the armies which have trodden its soil, and of the wars in which they were engaged, that the one cannot be fairly written to the exclusion of the other.

In addition to the usual authorities on American histftry consulted in the preparation of this volume, especial indebtedness to the following is acknowledged — Slade's Vermont State

IN TK O D U C TI ON. XIU

Papeis — Williams' and Thompson's Histories of Vermont — and Chipman's Lives of Warner, Chittenden and Chipman. These are all Vermont aiithoi-?,. Rev. Samuel Williams, D. D^ author of the first History of Vermont, was the grandson of Rev. John Williams, the " Deerfield Captive," and father of Charles K. Williams, for many years Chief Justice of Vermont, and recently the popular governor of that state. He was one of the founders and the principal benefactor of the Univei-sity of Vermont, at Burlington. For several years he employed his talents, almost if not quite gratuitously, in delivering lectures in natural philosophy, and in forwarding the progress of the University. With only four hundred and eighty dollars raised by subscription, he purchased the first philosophical apparatus for the institution. That this apparatus might be as complete as possible, Dr. Williams expended the money in the most frugal manner, admitting nothing of foreign manufacture which eould be made at home, and nothing of brass where it might be made of wood. Dr. Williams had removed to Vermont as early as 1777, and resided at Rutland. In 1793, he published his History of Vermont, in one volume. The narrative was- then brought down to the Revolutionary war ; but the work was afterward greatly enlarged, and, in 1809, was published in two 'olumes of about five hundred pages each. The history of the rtate was brought down to the period of the publication of the vork. The few copies of it yet in existence are highly prized. The copy which the writer of this obtained, although much worn, printed on coai-se paper, and roughly bound, cost as much

Xiv INTBODUCTION.

as a dozen volumes of new works got up in the most faultless modern style. Kev. Zadock Thompson, of Burlington, has also published a large work of six hundred pages of small type, comprising the Natural and Civil History and a Gazetteer of the state. It is a work of great research and value, and as a larga portion of it can be of especial interest to Vermontei-s only, it should hold a prominent place in the library of every citizen of that state. '

The compiler is indebted to the courtesy of several gentlemen of Vermont for important assistance in the preparation of these pages. From the Hon. Charles K. Williams was received a file of the "State Banner," published at Bennington in ] 841, and containing a series of "Historical Readings," by Hon. Hiland Hall, which have been freely used in the portion of this work relatino- to the difficulties between Kew York and the New- Hampshire Grants. From George F. Houghton, Esq., of St. Albans, many valuable suggestions were derived, as well as a most eloquent address on the Life of Seth Warner, delivered by him before the Vermont legislature. This and two other ad dresses, by Prof. James D. Butler, on the early history of Vermont, have supplied these pages with several important incidents not found elsewhere. Chauncey Goodrich, Esq., of Burlington, and Brigadier-general Ethan Allen Hitchcock, (grandson of the " Hero of Ticonderoga," ) also comumnicated facts which have enriched the present work.

Hon. Henry Stevens, the distinguished antiquary of Vermont, courteously placed a considerable portion of his large and

INTRODUCTION. XV

invaluable collection of State Papers at the disposal of tiie compiler. For many years, Mr. Stevens has been indefatigable in collectiijg documents concerning the early history of Vermont. The papers of the early settlers of the state — the correspondence of Revolutionary officers — and the documents in the ai'chi\es of the nation, or copies of them, have been treasured up by Mr. Stevens. Vermont is under great obligations to him for his sei-vices in searching for and arranging official papei-s and other testimony touching the origin, progress, and final consummation of the struggle which resulted in giving to the American Switzerland that proud individuality of which it so justly boasts. Vermont will only do justice to itself, its founders, and to Mr. Stevens, when these records of a state whose history is more remaikable than that of any other in the union, are placed before the public. When this is done, the world will be satisfied that these early settlers weie men of no common mould, and their services will be better understood and more gratefully appreciated than at present.

For a mere handful of men to resist the combined efforts of New York on the one side and Xew Hampshire on the other, while repulsed if not rejected by the home government, and menaced by a foreign foe — involved the exercise of no ordinary sagacity, and an amount of nerve and energy with which, in this day, we are not familiar. But so it was. While maintaining an open war with the neighboring states, they protected the whole line of our frontier by keeping on terms with the common enemy, while at the same time they rendered moie efficient aid

XVI INTRODUCTION.

to the government which discarded them, than either of the states alluded to. The official correspondence with Washington — comprised in the Papei's of Mr. Stevens — goes to demonstrate this beyond a doubt.

The engraving of the Heroic Statue of Gen. Ethan Allen will be reofarded as an attractive feature of the present volume. The Statue is the production of B. H. liinney Esq., a young and selftaught Vermont artist; and, although his first great undertaking, is of promising excellence, and gives evidence of a high order of artistic ability. It is the length and breadth, the depth and power of Ethan Allen, morally and historically considered, and in his physical no less than in his intellectual characteristics, — an artistic realization of one of the most practical and common-sense characters that ever lived. Those who look upon it are at once oonvinced that it is an actual likeness of the Hero of Ticonderoga. This is the best evidence of the genius of the sculptor, that his work is invai'iably regarded as a truthful representation. The statue is of heroic size — one-third larger than life — and represents the subject in a bold, commanding attitude; his camp cloak thrown from his left and resting on his right shoulder; his hand grasping the sword at his side; and his whole expression resolute and full of enei-gy — as if he had just uttered those memorable words at Ticonderoga, and intended to see his demands complied with at all hazards. The engraving is the more valuable as it is the only picture of the statue that the sculptor has permitted to be engraved. As the reader may be interested to know something more of Mr. Kinney, the following

INTRODUCTION. XVll

notice of his career, iis furnished by himself in a private letter to a friend, will appropriately close this notice of his statue :

" I was bred, from infancy to manhood, in the town of Sunderland, Bennington county, Vermont — the town in which Ethan Allen first lived, and which for nearly twenty years was his residence. During my boyhood I listened to the tales respecting the great hero of the Green Monntnins. with those thrilling emotions and the wild delight which are only known to mountaineers. Many were the acts of "desperate valor," performed by my schoolmates and myself, in sham fights emulating the daring deeds of the Green-Mountain Heroes of '76. And the impression which I received at that time of the noble spirit of patriotism which stimulated the fearless and true-hearted Hero of Ticonderoga, has grown brighter and brighter as I have grown to years of manhood, and witnessed the neglect of duty to their country, in the pursuit of selfish ends, so characteristic of a considerable portion of the prominent men of this age. This is the reason of my selecting Ethan Allen as the first great subject of my labors in iny favorite art"

MOUNTAIN HEROES.