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y. 
 
 
CURIOSITIES IN AMERICAN HISTORY 
 
 THE 
 
 GREEN MOUIsTAm BOYS : 
 
 OR 
 
 Vermont and the New York Land Jobbers 
 
 BY 
 
 PHILIP H. SMITH, 
 
 author op 
 
 " ACADIA: A LOST CHAPTER IN AMERICAN HISTORY}" 
 ''HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY}" ETC. 
 
 PAWLING, N Y.: 
 • r" Philip H. JSmith, Publisher 
 
 1885 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1885, by 
 
 Philip H. Smith, 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 n 
 
 .5^ 
 
 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 .— -o- 
 
 ^1 
 
 In the history of a country whose growth has 
 been under circumstances like our own, every lo- 
 caUty abounds in unrecorded deeds of moral hero- 
 ism as worthy of notice as are many facts and 
 events which have become fixed in the historic 
 literature current among the masses. Even were 
 such deeds to find a place in local history, they 
 will necessarily be circumscribed in their influ- 
 ence, and at best be so hidden among common- 
 place matter as almost to escape notice ; while to 
 attempt giving them the attention they deserve 
 in a general history would be futile. 
 
 In the present attempt to render a compara- 
 tively unknown episode of our country's history 
 the theme of a small volume, both these diffi- 
 
4 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 culties will be avoided ; and by so giving it the 
 prominence it deserves, thereby afford a better 
 understanding of the inner workings of the stu- 
 pendous machinery of our system of government. 
 The by-ways of our country's annals are fruitful 
 in just such mteresting and instructive themes. 
 
 One of the lessons herein taught ia that posi- 
 tions of honor and trust are not always proof 
 agamst cupidity and corruption ;- or, to speak 
 more plainly, under color of law men have been 
 known to perform the most lawless acts. The 
 story of ihe Vermont troubles has one rare qual- 
 ity — the poor hard-working tettlers were ulti- 
 mately successful ; and for once the cause of the 
 humble cottager prevailed against the machina- 
 tions of the favorites of royalty. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 — Introduction - - 7-10 
 
 I. Geographical Outline and Settlement 11-14 
 
 II. Origin of the Land Troubles. ...... 15-23 
 
 III. Resisting New York Claimants 24 44 
 
 IV. Mandatory Laws of New York 45-48 
 
 V. Affair at Westminster 49-52 
 
 VI. Attitude of Congress 53-56 
 
 VII. Fall of Ticonderoga , 57-69 
 
 VIII. Expedition into Canada 70-90 
 
 IX. Establishm't of a Civil Government. 91-97 
 
 X. Battle of Bennington 98 109 
 
 XI. PrivateNegotiat'ns with the British. 110-127 
 
 XII. Conclusion 128-130 
 
n 
 
 \\ ' ' -i 
 
' .J 
 
 *m 
 
 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 i: 
 
 IT 
 
 Mm*' 
 
 Some one has truthfully remarked that the 
 charactei' of a people is largely determined by 
 the natural features of the country they inhabit. 
 The peasantry of mountainous Switzerland are 
 proverbial for their bravery and hardihood, their 
 strong and innate love of liberty, and their pure 
 and exalted patriotism. Accustomed from infan- 
 cy to danger, dependent upon their own resourc- 
 es, mingling day by day among the sublimest 
 works of Creation, their aspirations acquire a 
 buoyancy, and their spiiits an independence, that 
 leaves an impress on their lives amounting to a 
 national characteristic. 
 
 Thus the biave pioneer, innured to hardship, 
 and depending on his ax for shelter, and on his 
 
 i 
 
8 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 1 iiJ«! lor food and piotection from wild beast and 
 lurking Indian, will acquire a fertility of re- 
 source and vigor of limb, as in a measure to re- 
 mujieiute hiui for the privaiioiis he endures. 
 
 The original settlers of the New Hampshire 
 Grants, — that territory now known as the State 
 of Vermont, — were of tins sturdy, fearless, and 
 indejjendent sort. It seemed as though they had 
 drawn inspiration from the snow-ciad, storm-riven 
 mountains, at whose base their lowly thatched 
 cabins were nestled. The long and hard winters 
 taxed the energies of the new settlers for the 
 necessaries of life, and precluded the introduc- 
 tion of luxuries that only degenerate. The stub- 
 born Wilderness was to be felled ; the latent pro- 
 ductiveness of the soil developed ; hand to hand 
 encounters with wild beasts were not infrequent; 
 common safety demanded a unity of strength 
 against the crafty foe, and necessily begat friends 
 at the same time it rendered friendship a mutual 
 saleguard ; and this unity of purpose, thus nur- 
 tured and sustained, afterward displayed itself in 
 
THK OREEN MOUNT MN BOYS 
 
 one of the most unique chapters in the umial- of 
 American history. 
 
 The people of these Grants, known to Ihe 
 world as the Green Mountain Boys, were worthy 
 the wild and romantic country in whirh they 
 lived, and the stirring times in which they acted. 
 Vermont was never oi'ganized as a separate cr»lo- 
 ny under En;;^hind, and from t^3 first tbfii plucky 
 little oinmunitv refused to suhmi' to the domi- 
 nation of the older colonies on her bord^)rs. Her 
 people seemed to imbibe a spirit of indeprndence 
 from the fiee air and the everlastinj^^ mountains. 
 
 New York claimed a jurisdiction over her soil, 
 and a like demand was put forward by New 
 Hampshire and Massachusetts. But the brave 
 Green Mountain Boys, under the guidance of 
 Buch natural leaders as the Aliens, Baker, Warner, 
 and (Others of like invincible spirit, kept the pfreedy 
 land-grabbers at bay. In short, Vei*mont never 
 had a government other than the supreme will of 
 her own people, nor acknowledged the authority 
 of any earthly potentate, until she was admitted 
 
10 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNT \ IN BOYS 
 
 on an equal footing into the Union of States, as 
 the ronrteenth luminary in the blue field of the 
 nation's rmblem. 
 
 Yet had this people no inconsiderable share 
 in the work of achieving that independence which 
 made the present of our country a glorious possi- 
 bility. They secured what they believed to be 
 thHrown rights, at the same time they contrib- 
 uted to the adjustment of the claims of her sis- 
 ter communities. 
 
 There is no pretension, in the present pages, 
 to giving what will be new to specialists in Ver- 
 mont history. But to the general reader, and to 
 the student of the philosophy of human events, 
 there if much, we hope, both new and instructive. 
 The firm bearing of the brave and hardy settlers 
 of the Hampshire Grants, and the important part 
 they played in the War of the Revolution, give 
 to the material of this little book somewhat of a 
 national interest. Indeed, but for timely services 
 of the Green Mountain Boys, it is more than pos- 
 sible the cause of America might have been lost. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 GEOGRAPHICAL OUTLINE AND SETTLEMENT. 
 
 StpphpD A. Douglas has been credited witb the 
 remark that Vermont is an excellent place to emi- 
 grate from. Though small in area, with a surface 
 Bingiilarly broken by mountain ranges, wracked 
 by frosts and covered with snows five months of 
 the year, yet her internal economy has proved fa- 
 vorable to the growth of both brain and brawn : 
 in the halls of Congress, as w(5ll as in the pur- 
 suits of sdence and literature, she maintains her 
 place right gallantly. 
 
 That long and irregular lake on the north- 
 west boundary bears the name of the great Eu- 
 ropean discoverer and explorer, Champlain, who 
 here sought, and vainly, for a northwest passage 
 to Cathay. The loveliness of its shores, and the 
 
12 
 
 THE GKEEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 unsnrpassecl pictnresqiieness of its islands, endear 
 it to the tourist. Twice it has been the scene of 
 a naval comhat. 
 
 The Green Mountains,* from which the state 
 takes its name, run lengthwise throup-h the cen- 
 tral portion, about midway between the Connec- 
 ticut River on the east and Lnke (^hamplain on 
 the west. The sides of these mountains are clad 
 with the perpetual verdure of their hardy ever- 
 greens, the verdant mosses and winter grasses 
 
 *Tn 17fi3. Rev. Snmnel Pe^^frs. the first clfrsrymftn who 
 pnid a visit to the tliirtv thoiisarri settlors in that country, in 
 the presence of n nnmber of lanrlerl proprietors, performed 
 the ceremony of crivin^ a new name to the province, **on the 
 top of a rock standincr on a hif]:h monntain. then named Pis- 
 pnh, because it provirled the company n clear siorht of Imke 
 Champlnin to the west, nnd of the Oonnecticnt River to the 
 east, nnd which overlnokerl all th<^ trees and liills in the vast 
 wilderness nt the north and sonth," . . which new name 
 is " Verd Mont." in token that her monntains and hills shoU 
 ever he cn'fcn nnd never die. He then ponred the spirits 
 ahont him and cast the bottle at the rock. The ceremony be- 
 mrf over, the compony descended Monnt Pisc'nh. and took 
 refreshments in a locr honse, kept by Captain Otley, where 
 they spent the night with great pleasure. — Hist. Mag. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 13 
 
 clinging to their towering summits. The princi- 
 pal streams, rising among these mountains and 
 following the natural declivities, lind their way in- 
 to this river and lake, except those flowing nor- 
 therly into Lake Memphremagog. 
 
 It was not until after the conquest of Canada 
 that any considerable settlements were effected in 
 the territory now known as Vermont. Situate 
 about midway between the French districts on 
 the Hiver St. Lawrence and the New England set- 
 tlements along the Atlantic coast, it had very nat- 
 urally become the battle-ground of the contend- 
 ing powers, and a lurking-place of their respective 
 Indian allies. The early colonists of Massachu- 
 setts and Connecticut, in their frequent expedi- 
 tions against the French in Canada, and while 
 traversing these woods as hunters and scouting 
 parties, had become familiar with the fertility of 
 the lands between the Connecticut Eiver and Lake 
 Champlain. As soon as the danger attending 
 their settlement was in a measure removed, by 
 reason of Canada and New England coming un- 
 
vr 
 
 14 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 der the same King, swarms of emigrants from the 
 adjacent colonies poured into the country, and the 
 most available and valuable portions were imme- 
 diately taken up ; and, as though by magic, the 
 wilderness developed into fruitful fields, and gar- 
 dens flourished where the wild rabbit had made 
 its home. At the beginning of the Revolution 
 the population was estimated at from twenty to 
 thirty thousand. 
 
 If not to be governed at all is to be governed 
 well, — and so it would seem to be in this in- 
 stance, — the remarkable exemption of the State 
 of Vermont from taxation at the close of the Rev- 
 olution, as compared with other States, added to 
 the fertility and cheapness of the land, attracted 
 settlers from many of the older communities, re- 
 sulting in large additions to population and re- 
 sources. 
 
 t. .'' 
 
CHAPTEK IT. 
 
 ORIGIN OF THE LAND TROUBLES. 
 
 Vermont, as has been well said, was born in 
 the midst of tumult and the clash of arms. No 
 other State, we can safely affirm, came up out of 
 such tribulation. Her experience is that of a 
 people exposed to the avarice and gi-eed of offi- 
 cials who scruple not to use the necessities of 
 their helpless subjects as a means of securing 
 their own selfish ends. 
 
 It was in pursuance to instructions from his 
 Britannic Majesty that Benning Wentworth, Gov- 
 ernor of New Hampshire, proceeded, in 1749, to 
 grant lands on the west side of the Connecticut 
 Kiver, in the present State of Vermont, to such 
 persons as would settle and cultivate the same. 
 After the declaiation of peace between France 
 
 I 
 

 16 
 
 THE GRHIEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 aij(l Eiigiaijcl, VVeiitworth ordered that a survey 
 bt made of the river for sixty miles, aud that 
 three tiers of townships be laid out on either 
 bide. In 1764 about one hundred and forty 
 townships had been granted to New England 
 settlers. 
 
 The lands went under the title of the "New 
 Hampshire Giants," numbering sixty-eight pro- 
 prietors, each grant being six miles square, the 
 Governor reserving to himself five hundred acres 
 at the corner of each township. There were also 
 reserved four public rights, viz.: one to the soci- 
 ety fur the propagation of the Gospel in foreign 
 parts ; one for a perpetual glebe to the estab- 
 lished Church of England ; one for the first set- 
 tled minister of the Gospel in town ; and one for 
 the support of a school. The patentees, that is 
 to say, the possessois, were after ten years to pay 
 liinepence sterling per annum on each hundred 
 acies as quit-rent to his Majesty. 
 
 In addition to the five hundred acres at the 
 corner of each * .wnship, Governor Wentworth 
 
THE GREEN MOUNT MN BOYS 
 
 17 
 
 jrecdved fees and other emoluments in his official 
 capacity in making these grants. But he was 
 not always to pursue this career of pecuniary 
 prosperity* Other scheming brains, jealous of 
 his rapidly accumulating fortune, sought to de- 
 prive him of his monopoly of land giving. This 
 menace lay in the persons of Cadwallader Golden, 
 Lieut.-Gov. of New York, and some associates 
 composed of lawyers and land speculators of New 
 York city. 
 
 As an initiative, Lieut.-Gov. Golden issued a 
 proclamation to the settlers on the west bank of 
 the Gonnecticut, Dec. 28, 1763, arrogating to the 
 government of New York sole juiisdiction over 
 the territory, founding the claim on the grant 
 made by Gharles II to the Duke of York in 1664 
 and 1674, embracing among other parts " all the 
 lands from the west side of the Gonnecticut Riv- 
 er to the east side of the Delaware Bay." Golden 
 at once commenced making grants of land in his 
 newly acquired territory, and by the first of No- 
 vember following, his patents covered a large 
 
 > 
 
18 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 i. .'. 
 
 portion of the lands occupied by the settlers who 
 had jnst paid for their titles to the Governor of 
 New Hampshire. 
 
 Gov. Wentworth now issued a counter procla- 
 mation intended to inspire confidence in the grants 
 from New Hampshire, and exhorting the people to 
 be diligent in clearing up their lands, and not be 
 intimidated by the threats of New York. The 
 latter province thereupon made application to the 
 Crown for a confirmation of its claims, falsely and 
 fraudulently averring that such an arrangement 
 would meet the wishes of the people of the terri- 
 tory in dispute. These claims were confirmed by 
 Great Britain in July, 1764. 
 
 Wentworth complained of this loss of territo- 
 ry, and represented it to be injurious to the peace 
 and prosperity of the country ; but he was con- 
 strained, by advice of counsel, to recommend to 
 the settlers due obedience to the authority and 
 laws of New York. 
 
 Had this royal decree been interpreted by the 
 Yorkers as simply effecting a change of jurisdio- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 19 
 
 tion, the inhabitants would have quietly submit- 
 ted, as it was immaterial to them, other things 
 being equal, whether they lived in New York or 
 New Hampshiie. Unfortunately, the private in- 
 terests of Golden and the land speculators induced 
 another interpretation. They maintained that 
 the decision had a retroBpective application; that 
 the Connecticut River had always been the east- 
 ern boundary of New York, and hence the grants 
 made by New Hampshire were null and void. 
 
 The people of the Grants were now apprised 
 of the true nature of the diplomatic game that 
 was being played, in which they were the parties 
 likely to be the most affected. They now re- 
 alized that the lauds they had duly bought and 
 paid for, and for which they held deeds under the 
 authoi ity of the Crown, were coveted by the land 
 speculators, and, under color of law, the latter 
 purposed to wrest them from their hands. 
 
 In 1765, a committee from the Grants waited 
 upon the newly-appointed Governor of New York, 
 Sir Henry Moore, to solicit his protection against 
 
20 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 '' ':^fe£ 
 
 ,3 
 
 ■ 1 
 
 J 
 
 I'M 1; 
 
 the New Yoik patents ; but this measure failed of 
 its purpose. The following year an agent was 
 sent to the Court of Great Britain to recount the 
 unjust proceedings against them ; and the King 
 in Council, in response thereto, issued an order 
 bearing date of July 24, 1767, requiring of the 
 Governor of New York that he should not, " up- 
 on pain of his Majesty's highest displeasure, pre- 
 sume to make any grant whatsoever of any part 
 of the lands in question, until his Majesty's fur- 
 ther pleasure should be known concerning the 
 same." This order was obeyed during the ad- 
 ministration of Governor Moore; but after his 
 death, which occurred in the fall of 1769, it was 
 wholly disregarded, and grants were made by 
 successive governors up to the Revolutionary pe- 
 riod. 
 
 After the death of Moore, New York proceed- 
 ed to carry out its plan by attempting to compel 
 the Vermontese to repurchase their lands, or to 
 abandon them. Many of the settlers did not 
 have the ready funds with which to repurchase 
 
TH£ GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 21 
 
 their homes, had they been so minded ; while the 
 great majority peremptorily refused to submit- 
 This bold opposition was followed by actions of 
 ejectment at Albany, and judgments against the 
 protesting settlers, the oiiginal proprietors. 
 
 The Governor of New York exercised a little 
 judicious diplomacy by making a partial distinc- 
 tion between the settlers on the east and west 
 sides of the Green Mountains, and, by winning 
 some of the leading characters over to his inter- 
 est, by that means divided the people. Some set- 
 tlers on the east side, by yielding up their New 
 Hampshire titles, had new or confirmation grants 
 from New York on paj ment of half fees. The 
 usual fee of the former colony for granting a 
 township was about three hundred dollars; but 
 under the latter it generally exceeded two thou- 
 sand dollars. 
 
 To promote a further division between the 
 two sections, New York gave civil and military 
 commissions to settlers on the east side. A new 
 county was erected there, and a log court house 
 
m 
 
 22 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 I Na 
 
 and jail was built in the wilderness, eight miles 
 distant from any settlpment. The Governor, by 
 this stratagrm, partially brought the eastern 
 counties to coincide with New York, thus placing 
 the western district in the interior of the govern- 
 ment. He hoped in that way to compel their 
 submission ; forgetting that men, who had braved 
 every danger and hardship attending the settle- 
 ment of a wild country, would not tamely submit 
 to be dispossessed. The contest now grew warm 
 and seiious. Writs of ejectment were issued and 
 served; some officers were prevented by force 
 from servi ng their writs ; the papers were re- 
 turned to the Supreme Court at Albany. 
 
 Ethan Allen, a proprietor under the Hamp- 
 shire Grants, acconipanied by an eminent barris- 
 ter of Connecticut named Ingersoll, repaired to 
 Albany to answer in behalf of the Grants. When 
 the first case was brought, Ingersoll answered for 
 the defendant, supporting his plea by the royal 
 orders and instructions to Governor Wentworth 
 to make grants of laud in the province of New 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 23 
 
 Hampshire, aud also produced the grant and 
 charter to the settlers. The judge would liofc 
 admit them to be taken as evidence, on which In- 
 gerso)] perceived the cause was already piejudged, 
 and withdrew from the defense. 
 
 it , 
 
 ii 
 
1 
 
 T^ 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 RESISTING THE NEW YORK CLAIMANTS. 
 
 I 
 
 * 
 
 P 
 
 HI 
 
 On the return of Mr. Allen to Bennington, the 
 people met iu convention, and passed a resolution 
 to support their rights and property by force, in- 
 asmuch as justice was denied them by the in- 
 triguing land-jobbers controlling the civil power 
 of New York. This was a bold stroke of one hun- 
 dred men thus to oppose the most favored and in- 
 fluential colony under the Crown ; but the Ver- 
 monters rightly conjectured their quarrel was with 
 the governor of New York and a few land specula- 
 tors only, and not with the body of its inhabitants. 
 
 Matters were daily becoming more serious. 
 Civil officers were opposed by the people of the 
 Giants ; the latter were in turn indicted for riot, 
 and sheiiffs were sent to apprehend the delin- 
 
 *'' 
 
M 1(1 
 
 im 
 
 '.'I- 1 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNT MN BOYS 
 
 25 
 
 quents. These officers were seized and severely 
 chastised with twigs of the wilderness ; that is to 
 say, they were bound to trees and treated to an 
 application of beech rods on then* bare backs, well 
 laid on. Every day produced new events : the 
 settlers resolved to form themselves into a military 
 association for mutual protection. 
 
 Before the close of the year 1770, committees 
 of safety had been organized for purposes of de- 
 fense against the New York claimants. These 
 committees afterwards met in general convention, 
 when important issues were to be determined. 
 Ethan Allen was commissioned Colonel Com- 
 mandant, and Seth Warner, Remember Baker, 
 Robert Cockian, Gideon Warren and others, 
 were appointed captains. 
 
 The Governor of New York had threatened to 
 drive the Vermonters into the Green Mountains, 
 which occasioned their taking the name of "Green 
 Mountain Boys." The committees of safety passed 
 a resolution in general council, in 1771, that no 
 officer from New York be allowed to carry out of 
 
 
 aw'* 
 
2G 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 iii' 
 
 the Hampshire Grants any person, without per- 
 mission given by the committees, or the military 
 commanders. Surveyors of land under New York 
 Were forbidden to run any lines within the Grants; 
 and transgressors in this particular were to be 
 punished according to the judgment of a court 
 formed among the military officers or elders of 
 the people. 
 
 " Hugh Monroe, an old offender, was taken, 
 tried, and ordered to be whipped on his naked back. 
 He was tied to a tree, and flogged till he fainted ; 
 on recovering he was whipped again till he fainted ; 
 be revived and underwent a third lashing till he 
 fainted; his wounds were then dressed, and he 
 Was banished the district of the New Hampshire 
 Grants." These severities proved a salutary les- 
 son, and the Green Mountain Boys became a ter- 
 ror to their adversaries. 
 
 The convention next issued a decree forbidding 
 all persons taldng out grants, or confirmations of 
 grants. Under New York. This had the effect of 
 uniting the settlers very much in the common 
 
THE GREEK MOUNTAIN EOYS 
 
 27 
 
 cause. About the same time the Colonial Assem- 
 bly of New York authorized the sheriffs to call out 
 B. posse comitattts in case of opposition to the ex- 
 ecution of their office ; and the Governor offered a 
 reward of £150 for Colonel Ethan Allen, and £50 
 each for Warner and five others therein named, 
 to any person that should take and confine them 
 in any jail in New York. As a measure of retali- 
 ation, Allen and the other proscribed persons of- 
 fered a reward of £5 for the taking of John Ta- 
 ber Kemp, Attorney General of New York, and 
 published the same in the newspapers of the day. 
 The Supreme Court at Albany, having awarded 
 a judgment on a writ of ejectment against James 
 Breckenridge, of Bennington, the sheriff of Al- 
 bany County summoned p posse to the number 
 of seven hundred and fifty men to go and assist 
 in serving the same. The officers collected about 
 three hundred, and reaching Brcckenridge's house 
 some hours in advance of the sheriff's party, sta- 
 tioned their men in ambuscade in readiness to re- 
 ceive them 
 
 
28 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 An officer and eighteen men were placed inside 
 the house. One hundred and fifty were secreted 
 behind trees, in a wood, near the road by which 
 the sheriff must pass, and where he would nat- 
 urally halt his men while he went to demand pos- 
 session of the premises. The other division was 
 stationed behind a ridge of land, in a meadow, 
 within gun-shot of the house, but out of sight of 
 the sheriff's men. This arrangement of the am- 
 buscade enabled the Green Mountain Boys to 
 have a cross-fire on the Yorkers without endanger- 
 ing themselves ; and they were instructed to hold 
 themselves in readiness to commence the attack 
 in case the sheriff forced the door, the signal to 
 be a red flag hoisted above the chimney top. 
 
 When the sheriff and his party approached, all 
 was silent; and exultingly they marched directly 
 into the trap without being aware of their critic- 
 al situation. Mr. Ten Eyck, the sheriff, went to 
 the house and demanded entrance as Sheriff of 
 the County of Albany ; and threatened in case of 
 refusal, to force the door. The answer was, 
 
■:i il 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 29 
 
 "Attempt it, and you are a dead man." He re- 
 peated his demand ; and was answered by ** hid- 
 eous groans from within." 
 
 At this juncture, the two divisions exhibited 
 their hats on the points of their guns, which made 
 tL M appear more numerous than they really were. 
 The sheriff and his men, realizing the danger of 
 their situation, " and not being interested in the 
 dispute," beat a hasty retreat, without a gun be- 
 ing fired on either side. This affair served not 
 only to cement the union of the people, but also 
 to cause a higher estimate to be placed on them 
 by the neighboring colonies. 
 
 On another occasion, an armed party of fifty 
 men proceeded to Arlington, where they took 
 prisoner Captain Remember Baker, one of the 
 seven proscribed persons, severely wounding both 
 him and his wife. Baker was put into a sleigh, 
 and the party set out with all speed for Albany. 
 An express was dispatched to Bennington with 
 tidings of the occurrence. Ten men promptly 
 mounted fleet horses, and after a ride of thirty 
 
 ;!' I : 
 
 r. 
 
 if 
 
 I: 
 
30 
 
 THE OREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 1 
 
 '3H'! 
 
 miles, intercepted the kiduappiiig party at a cross- 
 road. The ten horsemen impetuously charged 
 upon the hfty Yorkeis; and the latter, supposing 
 them to be the advance guard of a larger t'oice, 
 left their prisoner and fled. Captain Baker was 
 nearly exhausted with loss of blood ; but he was 
 kindly cared for, his wounds dressed, and he was 
 restored to his wife and children, to their no 
 small joy, and that of his friends. 
 
 A report reached Bennington that Governor 
 Try on was on his way by water to Albany, with 
 British Troops, with a purpose to subdue or de- 
 stroy the Green Mountain Boys. This was the 
 more readily credited, as the royal troops had late- 
 ly been used on Bateman's * Patent, in the colony 
 of New York, to quell some disputes about the 
 titles or rents of lands ; and it was known that 
 the subsequent grantees of the New Hampshire 
 
 •Shor^'\ i'ead ' * Beekman's " Patent, in Duchess County, 
 prob . ii , iie present town of Pawling. 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 31 
 
 Grants hftd applied to the Governor of New York 
 for a similar favor. 
 
 The committees of safety met the military of- 
 ficers to consult on the measures proper to be 
 taken. They felt themselves at a crisis that would 
 either compel them to submit, or take the field 
 against a royal Governor and British troops. 
 Having reflected on the justice of their cause, the 
 labor and expense of building and the cultivating 
 of their lands, they unanimously resolved "■ that 
 it was their duty to oppose Governor Tryon and 
 his troops to the utmost of their power, and con- 
 vince him and his council that they were punish- 
 able by the Green Mountain Boys for disobeying 
 his majesty's prohibitory orders of July, 1767." 
 The elders of the people assured the military of- 
 ficers that they would afford them all the assist- 
 ance in their power, and advised them to concert 
 
 among themselves the plans of defense, and then 
 withdrew. 
 
 A messenger was sent to Albany to ascertain 
 the fciuth of the report, and learn the strength of 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
32 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 tl t' eueni}' and the order of nmiching. On Ins re- 
 tiiin, tlie messenger reported that "tbe British 
 ti'oops v.ere wind-bound some distance below Al- 
 bany, and were destined to relieve the garrisons 
 at Oswego, Niagara, and Detroit, and that Gover- 
 nor Trvon was not with them." Of course all 
 prf 1 aiaticns for a battle w^eie suspended. 
 
 The Governor and land agents of New York 
 were in due time apprised of this "note of prep- 
 aiation," and wfre thus assuied the Green Moun- 
 tain Boys w^ould fi^,ht even the King's troops on 
 provocation. This affair served the purposes of 
 Veimont as well as a bloody victory could have 
 done; and prompted the Convention to forbid "all 
 inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants to hold 
 or accept any c fjfice of honor or profit under the 
 colony of New York, and requiring all civil and 
 military cfficeiswhohad acted under New York 
 to suspend their functions under penalty of being 
 viewed.*^'' 
 
 An expression signifying an application of the beech rod. 
 
m 
 
 ^m 
 
 M' 
 
 "Viewing " a New York sheriff with beech rods. 
 
TttE GREEN MOUNTAIN B0V9 
 
 m 
 
 The first settleis of Clarendon were adhorc uta 
 of New York. Disturbances bad often sprung- 
 up in that place, and Mr. Spencer, who had acted 
 fiS Justice of the Peace under New York, had oft- 
 en sent writs against the people. Colonel Allen 
 and a few hundred men set off for Clarendon, to 
 fii^hten Spencer o^jt of the country* Acting on 
 information received of Allen's intended visit, 
 Bpencc-r fled into the woods, and w^as not to be 
 found when the party reached the house. 
 
 After scouting the woods in vain, they marched 
 thiee miles and put up for the night. Tovvarda 
 daylight, Allen and his two men went again to 
 Spencer's house. Forcing the door with a log, 
 they rushed in with their guns and pistols, crying 
 out for Spencer to appear ; but he had not ven- 
 tured to return home. 
 
 : " As they rejoined the main force, a small dog 
 was discovered, which, unfortunately for the dog, 
 bore the name of Try on. This animal they cut 
 into pieces with their swords for no other cause 
 than that its name was Tryon ; they held up the 
 
 iff it ■; 
 
 
34 
 
 THE OREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 t' 
 
 pieces of the dog on the points of their puns and 
 cried out — " Thus will we do with Tiyon I " Spen- 
 cer was so much alarmed at these proceedings 
 that he fled to New York, and matters remained 
 quiet for a time. 
 
 In the spring of 1772, Governor Tryon, through 
 the medium of a minister residing in Bennington, 
 made overtures to the people of the Grants for a 
 pLvjitic'ution. He promised if they would send 
 agents to negotiate an accommodation, they would 
 be ifceived and piotected, only excepting Ethan 
 Allen, Seth Warner, Remember Baker, and Robert 
 Cockran. 
 
 This proposal being accepted. Captain Stephen 
 Fay and Dr. Jonas Fay were sent to represent 
 Vermont before the^ Governor, to arrange for an 
 adjustment of claims. The most tiiat was effect- 
 ed was a cessation of hostilities until bis Majesty's 
 pleasure could be further known. During this 
 armistice, a surveyor named Cockbuin was pri- 
 vately sent to survey out and locate lands within 
 the bounds of the New Hampshire Grants. Ira 
 
THE QUEEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 ti 
 
 Allen and a number of men went in search of him. 
 They found the offender at Bolton, one hundred 
 and thirty miles through an almost unbroken wil- 
 derness to the north of Bennington. They broke 
 his instruments and allowed him to depart, with 
 an admonition never to be seen in those parts 
 again under pain of death. Only the partial arm- 
 istice, and the efforts for a restoration of peace 
 then in progress, saved Mr. Cockburn a severe 
 whipping. 
 
 Governor Try on next essayed the plan of es- 
 tablishing a colony of emigrants under the New 
 York proprietors. The settlers were to be 
 Scotchmen, and the colony was to be located at 
 New Haven Falls, Allen was duly apprised of 
 this, who, with a number of trusty followers, re- 
 paired to the place and began the construction of 
 a block fort. The Scotch emigrants wisely sent 
 some agents to view the country before coming 
 in with their families ; and learning the nature of 
 the dispute as to title, refused to have any more 
 to do in the matter. 
 
 
 
 :i 
 
 .■if 
 
w^ 
 
 d6 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 Oj]o oveuing \yliiJe Cclonel Ethan Allen and 
 Levi Roberta were at the house of a friend by the 
 name of Richardson, they were surprised by two 
 sergeants and ten soldiers from the gairison at 
 at Ci own Point, all of them well armed. Allen 
 and Roberts were well known to the soldiers, and 
 realizf d they were caught in a trap, as, stimulat- 
 ed by the reward on their heads, the soldiers 
 would be cejtain to take them before the Now 
 York authorities. But even in this dilenima, Al- 
 len's ]^resence of mind did not forsake him. Both 
 he and Roberts had their side arms about them, 
 and he judged the soldiers would not immediately 
 risk an open encounter. Calling for liquor, he 
 began to make merry with the men ; and such 
 was his address, and his powers of conversation, 
 that they were actually forced to join in the rev- 
 elry. It was not long before the sergeants were 
 disma^'cd at beholding their men, one by one, 
 yielding to the seductive influence of their po- 
 tations. Yet the doughty Colonel kept lustily 
 calling for more liquor; and with well-feigned 
 
m 
 
 1 ii ' 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 37 
 
 husldness of voice, pressed all to drink, swearing 
 they would merit his eternal displeasure if they 
 i^efused. 
 
 At length, after nearly all had rolled from 
 their chairs, stupefied by the quantities of liquor 
 they had swallowed, Allen demanded to be shown 
 to bed. He was answered that the sergeants had 
 engaged the only spare beds in the house. He 
 refused their offer to give up one of the beds to 
 hijuself and Eoberts, with a maudlin remark that 
 two SLich jolly subjects of the King should have 
 the best the house afforded, and declared his in- 
 tention to sleep in the barn. 
 
 Leaving their guns in the house to disarm 
 suspicion, Allen and lioberts suffered themselves 
 to be conducted to the bain by the sergeants, 
 where they vvt e Jjtked up for the night. The 
 Colonel wa.s cippaiently so far over«;ome with 
 liquor as to re([iiire the assistance oi .. o men to 
 enable him to walk ; and he reeled about, and 
 dropping down helpless upon the .straw, fell off 
 into a diunken slumber. Even Eoborts began to 
 
 
 
 i* 
 
38 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 » 
 
 s 
 
 It 
 
 1 ; 
 
 
 have serious misgivings as to the coDdition of his 
 Colonel, whom he had seen drain glass after glass 
 during the evening, enough to turn the heads of 
 half a dozen men. But no sooner had the foot- 
 steps of the retreating sergeant died away, than 
 the labored breathing of the Colonel suddenly 
 ceased ; and sitting up, drew off his boots and 
 poured therefrom the r^im that Roberts was 
 ready to swear he had seen disappear down Al- 
 len^s throat. 
 
 Allen knew the soldiers had only repaired to the 
 house to allow himself and his companion time to 
 get sound asleep, when they wouid return and 
 surprise them. What was to be done, must be 
 done quickly. But Allen had no intention of 
 leaving without their rifles. While they debated 
 as to the best method of securing them, those 
 coveted weapons were brought them by Miss 
 Richardson, who had found means to privately 
 remove them from a window ; then making their 
 egress from the barn, they hastily sought the 
 safety of the dtak forest. An hour latei* the ser* 
 
 
';■ 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 39 
 
 L^ 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 geants went to secure their j)risouerB, whom they 
 expected to tiud helplessly drunk, but the bh'Js 
 had flown. 
 
 One Hough, of Clarendon, was persuaded to 
 accept the office of Justice of the Peace under 
 xvjvv York, and attempted to officiate as such. He 
 was taken before the committee of safety, where 
 be piead in justification that he was authorized 
 by the coiony of New York. The committee 
 caused the resolution of the Convention of the 
 New Hampshire Grants to be read to him, forbid- 
 dmg all persons holding any office under New 
 York, and then pronounced judgment on the 
 prisoner that he " be taken and tied to a tree, and 
 there, on his naked back, to receive two hundred 
 &t- pes ; his back being dressed, he should depart 
 '^ it of the district ; and in the event of his return, 
 imle^ij leave was granted, he was to suffer death." 
 It is needless to add the sentence of whipping 
 was summarily executed. This occurred in Jan- 
 uary, 1775. Hough had signaUzed himself as be- 
 biiX very active in procuring the outlawry acts 
 
 !■?■ 
 
1 
 
 f ^vm«t 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I i 
 
 ,1. ..p 
 
 
 f\ 
 
 
 . '1 
 
 1 
 
 ,1 
 
 40 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 agaiijst Allen and others of the Greeu Mountain 
 Boys. 
 
 Dv. Samuel Adams, of Arlington, was outspoken 
 in his denunciation of the Green Mountain Boys, 
 aud counseled the people to purchase lands under 
 New York titles. The Djctor was cautioned to 
 keep silent, and not np^>dlessly incur their dis- 
 pleasure; but he deciai.. 'le would fre6 his mind, 
 and, providing' himself with a pair of good horse- 
 pistols and other weapons, said he was ready to 
 silence any man who dared to cross him. He was 
 soon afterward surprised, and carried to the Green 
 Mountain Tavern at Bennington, where the com- 
 mittee heard his defense. Of course judgment 
 was rendered against him, and preparations made 
 to carry his sentence into execution. 
 
 As was common in those days, a post some 
 twenty or more feet in hight held the tavern sign. 
 On the top of this sign-post was a stuffed cata- 
 mount's skin, showing large teeth, looking and 
 grinning towards New York. Dr. Adams was 
 tied in an arm chair and hoisted up to the sign, 
 

 
 .S 
 
 
 -nil 
 
 ' ih ' 5 
 
 ^ . , i ,; ■ 
 
 , ki 
 
 I ,Ma.:,. • 
 
 Old Catamount Tavern. 
 
 ■It: 
 
p ^ 
 
 m 
 
 ill '■ 
 
 
 
 % 
 
 
 k 
 
 
 

 THE GRfiHN MOltNTUTrf BoVd 
 
 41 
 
 where he hung two mortal hours, as a paidsh- 
 nient for his treasonable utterances. A large 
 number of the citizens assembled to see the sen- 
 tence carried out, and they, were loud in theif 
 jeers and merriment at the Doctor's discomfiv- 
 ure. He was then let down, dismisr.ed by the 
 committee, and admonished td go and sin no 
 more. 
 
 Colonel Ethan Allen was once on a tisit td 
 his brother Heraan, who was residing at Salis- 
 bury, Conn. A plot was laid by some Yorkers td 
 capture and convey him to the Poughkeepsie jail^ 
 and so obtain Tryon's promised premium. Rob- 
 ert M'Cormick^ who was on intimate terms with 
 the family, had been engaged to act as decoy^ 
 He was to spend the night with the family as 
 their guest, and at a convenient hour, open the 
 door and conduct the gang to the apartment 
 where the Colonel slept. A sleigh was to be in 
 readiness outside, in which their prisoner could 
 be driven with all speed out of Connecticut. 
 
 M'Cormick parted from his companions at 
 
 at i; 
 
 r 
 
 S! 'I 
 

 I I'. 
 
 ■I i 
 
 
 I 
 
 !«l 
 
 .'. : 
 
 1 
 
 [ 
 
 ■''V 
 
 i 1 
 
 •it 
 
 , »: 
 
 ; 1 
 
 ' J". 
 
 A-. 
 
 
 
 42 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNT MN BOYS 
 
 some distance from Heman Allen's house. He 
 was kindly received, and offered a bed for the 
 ni^ht. It was noticed he was unusually reticent, 
 and quite reserved in his participation in the hos- 
 pitalities tendered him. He made some indirect 
 inquiries after Colonel Allen, who had ridden out 
 that afternoon, but who was momentarily expect- 
 ed to return. 
 
 From these circumstances Heman was led to 
 suspect some plot was on foot against his broth- 
 er, and so cxpiessed himself on that gentleman's 
 return. The Colonel thereupon taxed M'Cormick 
 at his unusual concern, and so pressed the poor 
 fellow that he confessed there was a plot to cap- 
 ture him, and that he had come for the purpose 
 of privately informing him of it. M'Cormick de- 
 parted soon after, and told the gang of what he 
 had done. Preparations were made for defense 
 by the household, but they remained through the 
 night unmolested. 
 
 The scene of this adventure was the birthplace 
 of Ethan and Ira Allen, from which, at an early 
 
TITE Gr.EEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 43 
 
 age, they removed with their parents to the 
 Hampshire Grants. Ethan was remarkable for 
 the boldness with which he declared his opinions, 
 and a self confidence that was abashed bj- no con- 
 sciousness of ignorance. lie acquired a wide no- 
 toriety as a pamphleteer during the Vermont 
 troubles, there being no paper published there at 
 that time. His enemies tried to fix on him the 
 stigma of an outlaw ; and even so careful a histo- 
 rian as Irving is led to make the observation that 
 he was '* a kind of Robin Hood among the moun- 
 tains." The late T. S. Arthur once wrote of him 
 as being a "guerilla chief," forgetting that he 
 acted under the direction of a committee of safe- 
 ty — an authority universally adopted by the other 
 colonies during the Revolution. 
 
 Tva Allen was still further traduced. The 
 Western Sta?\ a paper published at Stockbridge, 
 Mass., in 1797, styles him the "Vermont Land 
 Jobber f and states he was at the time under ar- 
 rest for treasonable designs against the govern- 
 ment of Great Britain, concluding with the ob- 
 
 :•: 
 
 ih 
 
 
 If 
 
 ■^ 
 
1^: 
 
 liii 
 
 in^; 
 
 I , 
 
 44 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 servation — "All humane men should shudder at 
 the idea of a halter ; and many honest men will 
 rejoice if Allen's liberation puts an end to his 
 restless career in future." Allen, it seems, had 
 been charged with supplying the Irish, then in 
 rebellion agaiusfc England, with arms ; after eight 
 years of litigation he was acquitted. 
 
 I: 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ,\.-a 
 
 i';!.!! r.: 
 
 MANDATORY LAWS OF NEW YORK. 
 
 The spirit of opposition and resentment had 
 risen so high because of the events recorded in 
 the preceding chapter, that New York was led to 
 adopt the most stringent measures of coercion. 
 The law which the wisdom of that colony devised 
 to meet the exigencies of the occasion w^as a curi- 
 osity in American Legislation. It enacted that if 
 any person opposed the civil officers of New 
 York, or burned or destroyed property belonging 
 to subjects of that colony, or assembled for riot- 
 ous purposes, such offenders shall be adjudged 
 guilty of felony, without benefit of clerejy, and 
 were to suffer death as felons. The law i^iade it 
 the duty of the Governor to publish the names of 
 offenders indicted for capital offenses, with an or- 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 li'l 
 
46 
 
 THE GREKN MOCJNTAIN BOYS 
 
 If' 
 
 
 (lor roqniring them to deliver tliern selves up in 
 seventy clays; in default of which the courts might 
 award execution against them the same as though 
 they had been tried and convicted — the death 
 penalty to be administered without the benefit of 
 clergy. All crimes, therefore, that had been com- 
 mitted on the Grants, could bo tiied at Albany, 
 and a neglect to obey sumuions to deliver one's 
 person into custody, was equivalent to a convic- 
 tion. Thus was sought to be evaded the danger- 
 ous duty of serving processes on the Green Moun- 
 tain Boys, and they would convict themselves by 
 refusal to surrender without the inconvenience of 
 a trial. 
 
 If this law was remarkable, the answer of the 
 Green Mountain Boys was no less so. Said they : 
 'VBy legerdemain, bribary and deception, they 
 [the New Yorkers] have extended their dominion 
 far and wide. We are resolved to inflict immedi- 
 ate death on whomsoever shall attempt the appre- 
 hension of the persons indicted as rioters. We 
 will kill and destroy any person that shall be pre- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 47 
 
 by 
 
 suraecl to bo accessory, aidiug or assisting in lak- 
 in^^- any of us; although they have a hcenso by 
 the law to kill us, and an indemnilication lor so 
 doing, they have no such iudeainiiication from 
 the Green Mountain iJoys. if New York insists 
 on killing us to take possession of our vineyards, 
 let them come on ; we are ready for a game of 
 scaiping with them."' These sentiments were an- 
 nounced by handbills and in the papers through- 
 out New England, with the design of deterring 
 New York Iroin attempting to enforce the law, 
 as such an attempt would be certain to result in 
 an effusion of blood. The people of Vermont 
 maintained in this that they were merely con- 
 tending for justice, and that the cfficers of New 
 York, who were calling upon the inhabitants of 
 Vermont to obey the royal orders, were them- 
 selves acting in open violation of the express com- 
 mands of their King. 
 
 A new interest may be awakened when the 
 character of the claimants is considered. The 
 Green Mountain Boys were the actual settlers. 
 
 i^(. 
 
 } '•> 
 
 m 
 "it 
 
 I 
 
 II 
 
 
 
 '-v., 
 
48 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 Bi 
 
 II It- 
 
 Each family had its log house in the midst of the 
 cleaiing, ^vith luxuriant crops of corn and pota- 
 t( OS growing among the cbarred stumps. These 
 pioneers had brought notbing into the woods with 
 them excej^fc what could be carried on horseback ; 
 some even brought in their goods on hand-sleds 
 in wintei, the infirm and children being drawn 
 by husbands and brothers. A few cattle, sheep 
 and hogs, shared rude sheds along wicu the hors- 
 es. The rewards of industry and thrift were be- 
 ginning to be rtaliztd. Many families lived re- 
 mote from eac'a other, and weeks might often pass 
 by without meeting a neighbor. There was plen- 
 ty of room for 'he Yorkers if they wished to turn 
 farmers, and were willing to carve a home out of 
 the wilderness as others had done. But such was 
 far from their purpose. Besides, a farm ready 
 cleared, with a snug house and barn, is preferable 
 to one in the unbroken wilderness, when either 
 can be had for the taking — and so thought the 
 New Yoik laud jobbers. 
 
 tt 
 i - 
 
 . ! 
 
>i^t? 
 
 iV. 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 AFFAIR AT Westminster. 
 
 Colonel Allen collected the documents relative 
 to the several grants of the crown, including- that 
 to the Plymouth Colony, to Lord Say and Seal^ 
 to the Duke of York, and some other papers, and 
 and in 1774 published them in a book. This had 
 the fffect of bringing the Vermont troubles into 
 notoriety. The newspapers everywhere were civ- 
 culitting the proceedings, Which resulted in stir- 
 ting up public sentiment against the Crown, as 
 it was supposed the Governor and Cimncil of 
 New York were sustained in their claims by the 
 home government. 
 
 Hitherto the opposition to New Yoik had been 
 confined principally to the inhabitants w^est of the 
 Green Mountains. As already stated, the policy 
 
 kill U-. 
 
 ^.li 
 
 J 
 
 H 
 
[|T ^^ 
 i 
 
 If I 
 
 I? i 
 
 ;o 
 
 THE (5REEN MOtJNTMN B0Y9 
 
 Mil i 
 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 
 ill ) ' 
 
 if! 
 
 m ' 
 
 li!f ! 
 
 of New York had been to divide the people in 
 their sentiment, by a conciliatory course in re* 
 ppeot to those living on the Connecticut Biver. 
 But now an incident occurred which had the ef- 
 fect of arousing the spirit of opposition through- 
 out the whole extent of the Hampshire Grants. 
 
 In September, 1775, a meeting of delegates 
 from the several colonies met at Philadelphia, to 
 consult upon measures for the public safety* 
 This was followed by an almost univeisal suspen- 
 sion of the royal authority, the courts being 
 closed, or adjourned without doing any business. 
 Now York alone refused assent to the patriotic 
 nr?easures recommended by Continental Congress. 
 The court of justice for the County of Cumber- 
 land, on the Hampshire Grants^ was to be held in 
 March of that vear at Westminster. Much dis- 
 satisfaction prevailed throughout the county, be- 
 cause of the course adopted by New York, and at- 
 tempts were made to dissuade the judges from 
 holding the court, without avail. 
 
 Early in the morning of the day appointed, 
 
rr-: 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 51 
 
 the people of Westminster and the adjacent 
 towns took possession of the court house to pre- 
 vent the officers of the court from entering. The 
 opposing- paity appeared, armed with guns, pis- 
 tols and swords, and commanded the people to 
 disperse. This being refused, the judges and 
 their friends retired. About eleven o'clock at 
 night they again appeared and demanded admit- 
 tance ; being again refused, they opened fire, kill- 
 ing one man and wounding several more. The 
 wounded men, and some others, were seized and 
 dragged to prison. 
 
 The next day the people flocked in from every 
 part of the country. A coronor's inquest w^as in- 
 stituted on the body of their fallen comrade, and 
 a verdict returned of " willful murder by the 
 Court Party," some of whom were immediately 
 seized and placed in jail. 
 
 The news of this rvent spread far and wide 
 throughout the Hami)shire Grants, and fired the 
 hearts of the stern yeomanry with an irrepressi- 
 ble bitterness and rage against the authorities of 
 
 III 
 
 (Iff i 
 
 
 <■■ 
 
 m 
 
 inn) 
 
wm 
 
 W 
 
 
 if: 
 
 11 r, 
 
 52 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 New York, A meeting of the committees of safe- 
 ty was held at Westminster the following month, 
 at which spirited and patriotic resolutions were 
 passed, among which was a declaration " that it 
 is the manifest duty of the inhabitants, on the 
 eternal and immutable principles of self-preserva- 
 tion, wholly to renounce and resist the adminis- 
 tration of the province of New York, until such 
 times as the lives and property of the inhabitants 
 can be secured thereby." Indeed, such was the 
 state of feeling, that but for the ominous occur- 
 rences preceding the American Revolution, which 
 for the time absorbed all minor considerations^ 
 New Yovk and Vermont would have been brought 
 to the direful issues of a civil war. 
 
 
 ■i 
 
 L! i I 
 
w 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ATTITUDE OF CONGRESS. 
 
 It must not be supposed, however, that in the 
 overshadowing event of the great drama of the 
 Eevolution, the disputed claims to jurisdiction 
 over Vermont were entirely forgotten. On the 
 contrary, New York improved the very first op- 
 portunity to make appUcation to Congress for a 
 recognition of her title to the territory. Then 
 New Hampshire, inasmuch as she had made the 
 original grants of the soil, memorialized Congress 
 for a recognition of her claims. Next Massachu- 
 setts, fearing lest the others should proceed to 
 carve up ihe disputed territory as they could mu- 
 tually agree, interposed her plea for a portion, as 
 coming rightfully under her jurisdiction. So, 
 while Vermont was battling bravely with the com- 
 
 II'" t 
 
 i 
 
m r^ 
 
 ; ^ 
 
 64 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 11 
 
 M 
 
 ■ : i 
 
 
 i ;. « 
 
 
 ,■ Ml 
 
 mon enemy devastating her borders, she had to 
 contend with the plots and baneful policy of three 
 beleaguering and powerful States ; and she only 
 asked of Congress an independent sovereignty 
 and even-handed justice. 
 
 Thus were four factions asserting a right to a 
 jurisdiction over the territory, and each demand- 
 ing of Congress a recognition of its claims. That 
 body chose the wisest course practicable. It ad- 
 vised each party to refrain from a forcible exer- 
 cise of authority over the disputed territory as a 
 preliminary measure to future adjustment. To 
 this New I'oi k, Massachusetts and New Hampshire 
 readily agreed, and authorized Congress to settle 
 the whole matter in controversy. 
 
 But the Green Mountain State was of differ- 
 ent mettle. She had already declared herself free 
 and independent; she had boldly assuuied the 
 powers of government, and had exercised those 
 powers in every part of her territory. She was 
 not willing to surrender her sovereignty at the 
 behests of a Congress by which her rights were 
 
THE GREEN MOUNmiN BOYS 55 
 
 not respected, and in which she was not lepro- 
 sented. She was ready, as she had ever been, to 
 bear her share oi: the war with Great Britain, and 
 her sturdy Green Mountain i^ojs hud more than 
 once proved their valor and patriotism on the 
 bloody Held ; but she would not consent to resign 
 her just rights to the arbitrament of any body 
 of men under heaven. 
 
 In June, 1780, Congress declared " that the 
 proceedings of the inhabitants on the New Hamp- 
 shire Grants were highly unwirrantable, and sub- 
 versive of the peace and welfare of the United 
 States ; and that they be strictly required to ab- 
 stain in the future from all acts of authority, civil 
 or military, over those inhabitants who profess 
 allegiance to other States." 
 
 Undaunted by this reprimand, Vermont re- 
 sponded, through her Governor and Council, that 
 she considered the same subversive of her in- 
 alienable rights ; that it was not in accord with 
 the principal on which Congress grounded its own 
 independence ; and that it was contrary to the 
 
 II 
 
 iiii 
 
 m 
 
TWW 
 
 w 
 
 > . 
 
 '6 
 
 Tnr GREM M TJNTAIN BOYS 
 
 11;} 
 
 m 
 
 1 
 
 
 pjovisio'i of the FeJrral Constitution forbiddii^g 
 Ci iigiess to mfdclle with the internal policy of 
 unrepresented territory. Vermont farther inti- 
 mated that if the present couivse was persisted in, 
 she would have no motive to continue hostilities 
 with Great Biitain, and maintain an important 
 fi ntier for a country that treated her people as 
 slaves ; but that it would remain for her to finally 
 appeal to God and to an impartial world, to say 
 who would be accountable for the awful conse- 
 quences that must ensue. 
 
 And now having outlined thus much in ad- 
 vance by way of a better understanding of our 
 subject, we will proceed to treat more in detail. 
 
 i*3? 
 
'fll 
 
 11 
 
 CHAPTRR VTI. 
 
 PALL OF TICONDEROGA. 
 
 On thft Tiio-ht of the 17th of April, 1755, a Ian- 
 tern wan bniicf out from an upper winrlow of the 
 North Church of Boston. Never did the beams 
 of a tallow dip go forth on more momentous er- 
 rand. As the feeble rays shot out into the night, 
 few realized therein a symbol of the cause of Lib- 
 ertv that was so soon to be consecrated with pa- 
 triot blood, and that was destined to create a ref- 
 uge for the oppressed of every land. Hostile 
 British troops were silently threading the dark 
 marshes, and this was the signal to the minute 
 men to piepare for tht ir coming. 
 
 The British had placed guards on all the roads 
 leading out of Boston to prevent all intelligence 
 of the midnight sally from getting abroad; but 
 
 
 
 ii 
 
 1 
 
! 
 
 f 
 
 lis 
 
 
 ill' 
 
 I 
 
 4 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 68 
 
 Ttlte GilEEN MOtlNtMN i30Va 
 
 tiio enemy Lad proceeded only a few miles when 
 alarm guns, booming through the night air, and 
 the clanging of village bells, showed that the 
 news of their approach was traveling before them, 
 and tLat the country was rising. An express waa 
 sent back to Boston for a reinforcement, and Ma- 
 jor Pitcairn was detached to press forward with 
 all speed. 
 
 About seventy of the yeomanry of the country 
 had been drawn up in military array near the 
 church on the village green at Lexington. Pit- 
 icairn halted his men within a shoft distance of 
 the church, and ordered them to prime and load. 
 They then advanced at double quick. The Ma- 
 jor, riding forward, shouted, '* Disperse, ye 
 rebels! lav down your arms and disperse! " The 
 pntriots refused to obey; nor were they put to 
 flight until eight of their little band were Inlled 
 and ten wounded. The victors formed on the 
 common, fired a volley, and gave three cheers for 
 their inglorious tiiumph. Colonel Smith now 
 ariived with the remainder of the force, and the 
 
 a 
 
r 
 
 i 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 59 'j 
 
 march was resumed to the little village of Con- ^ 
 
 cord. u* 
 
 There the alarm had preceded them, arousiiinf ih 
 
 the inhabitants in the dead hour of nij^ht. The | 
 
 church bell called together the inhabitants. The ilii 
 
 minute men seized their arms and paraded near 
 the church. Efforts were being made to conceal 
 the military stores. A hoi'senian brought word |f'l 
 
 that the British troops had fired upon the people 
 at Lexington, and were then advancing iu victori- 
 ous array upon Concord. 
 
 The excitement and indignation of the brave 
 patriots were fully roused. Some of the militia 
 marched down the road to meet the English 
 force, and reported it to be three times their 
 own. They now retired to an eminence about a 
 mile from the centre of the to^wn. 
 
 About seven o'clock the British troops hove in 
 Bight, with flags displayed and arms glittering in 
 the morning sun. A strong detachment took post 
 on the green, while parties were sent out to de- 
 stroy the military stores. The yeomanry from 
 
 m 
 
 ii 
 
 I' M 1 
 
 m 
 
K^ 
 
 
 CO 
 
 THE ORKEN MOUNTATN BOYfl 
 
 the surronndingf countiy were pouring in with 
 such arms as thoy coiikl obtain, until the little 
 war-fi^atbeiingf on the hight nuinT)ered nearly five 
 hundred. At ten o'clock a body of three hundred 
 dislodged tbe British from the north bridge, with 
 a loss of two men killed. By this time, the stoies 
 having been destroyed, the enemy prepared to re- 
 treat. 
 
 The British troops were jaded with their long 
 nigbt marcb, but there was no rest or safety for 
 them sbort of Boston. On tbeir return marcb, 
 the adjacent rocks and stone fences formed con 
 venient breastworks, from behind which rustic 
 marksmen sent the deadly bullet full into their 
 ranks. Some were shot down : others dropped 
 from sheer exhaustion: the rest hurried on with 
 no care for their fallen comrades. 
 
 Before reaching Lexington, Colonel Smith 
 
 received a severe wound in the leg. About two 
 
 o'clock in the afternoon, they were met by i 
 
 tachment one thousand strong, with two h d- 
 
 4 pieces. This was the reinforcement that bad 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 Gl 
 
 marclied so gaily through Roxbiiry to the tuiu^ of 
 '' Yankee Doodle," in derision of the rebels. The 
 troops opened to the right and loft, allowing the 
 retreating soldiers to throw themselves into the 
 hollow square to rest. A httie after sunset the 
 purs'jit terminated at Charlestown common. A 
 half hour afterward, a powerful body of men 
 from Marblehead and Salem came up to join in 
 the chase. Thus the ministerial troops narrowly 
 escai)ed being cut off. The iJritish loss was 
 seventy-three killed, and one hundred and seventy- 
 four wounded; that of the patriots forty-nine 
 killed and thirty-nine wounded. 
 
 The cry for vengeance at this desecration of 
 American soil resounded through the land. — 
 Measures were concerted in council ; the outrage 
 was discussed in cabin and palace, and around the 
 camp-fire of the hunter ; while the voice of su23pli- 
 cation from altar and dwelling was heard, asking 
 the Almighty to bless the patriot cause. 
 
 As by common impulse, public attention was 
 turned to the British foi tresses of Ticonderoga 
 
 I 
 
 ! 
 
 1 
 
 
 14 
 
^ 
 
 :f « 
 
 62 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN EOYS 
 
 and crown Point, against which retaliatory meas- 
 ures could be employed witli the best effect. As 
 these forts were located near the homes of the 
 Green Mountain Boys, and their hardy courage 
 fitted them for a duty of this kind, requests were 
 sent simultaneously from several of the proviuces 
 to Ethan Allen* and his followers to surprise aud 
 capture those places. Tlie provincial Legislature 
 of Connecticut, though not openly sauctionii^g the 
 invasion, lent money from its treasury to those 
 engaged in it, and appointed a committee to as- 
 sist in raising troops and supervising their man- 
 agement. The force finally engaging in the ex- 
 pedition was about two hundred and seventy 
 
 ! -t- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 t 
 
 i! 
 
 1 
 
 * Irving describes Allen as "wcll-fittcd for the enterprise 
 by his experience as a frontier chani])ion, his robustness of 
 mind and body, and his fearless spirit, lie liad a rongh 
 kind of eloquence, also, tliat was very effective with his 
 followers." "His style," says another who knew him per- 
 sonally, "was a sinj^ular compound of local bsirbaiisms, scrip- 
 tural phrases, and oriental wildness : and thouj^h unclassic, 
 and sometimes unj^'rammatical, was highly animated and 
 forcible." General Washington wrote, "tliere is uu ori^-inal 
 bouiothiuj^ in him which communda attention. " 
 
m 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 03 
 
 ;*:! 
 
 strong, composed of Green Mountain Rangers, 
 with the exception of sixteen men from Connecti- 
 cut and a score or so from Massachusetts. 
 
 Towards the close of April, 1775, it was evi- 
 dent something of unusual interest was transpir- 
 ing in the Hampshire Grants. The labors of the 
 farm were neglected at a time when they would 
 require most attention, and with one accord each 
 sturdy husbandman shouldered his trusty rifle, 
 and silently betook himself to a journey. 
 
 The course of each led through the wilderness 
 toward a central point near Bennington ; and, be- 
 fore long, a motley array of mountaineers, in 
 rough garb but of tried strength and valor, were 
 gathered as though for some military exploit. 
 Colonel Ethan Allen was placed at the head of 
 the exx)edition, — James Eaton and Seth Warner 
 being second and third in command: the troops 
 arrived at Shoreham, opposite Fort Ticonderoga, 
 on the night of the 7th of May. Detachments 
 were sent off to Skenesborough (now Whitehall), 
 and other points, to secure all the boats they 
 
 i 
 
 
 It 
 
 i .»< 
 
 n 
 
 
 riii 
 
 H 
 
w 
 
 64 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 
 could find for the transportation of the troops to 
 th j^ opposite shore. 
 
 About this time Benedict Arnold appeared 
 among them, thirsting for military glory. He 
 bore a colonel's commission from the Massachu- 
 setts committee of safety, and attempted to as- 
 sume command of the expedition. The Green 
 Mountain Boys, however, would follow no leader 
 but Allen, and Arnold was obliged to yield, en- 
 gaging to act as volunteer, with the rank but not 
 the command of colonel. 
 
 The night of the 9th of May had arrived, but 
 not so the boats for which detachments had been 
 sent in quest. Yet it was deemed best not to de- 
 lay the enterprise, and transportation was com- 
 menced with the few boats at command. The 
 work proceeded slowly ; day was about to break 
 when Allen and Arnold, with only eighty-three 
 men, had crossed. To wait another day would 
 lead to discovery by the garrison. Allen drew up 
 his men and announced to them his purpose. " It 
 is a desperate attempt,'' said he, ''and I ask no 
 
 11, 
 
THE GREEN MOUNT UN BOYS 
 
 65 
 
 man to go against his will. You who are willing 
 to follow, poise your firelocks." Not a soldier 
 shrank from his duty. 
 
 Guided by a boy, they mounted the hill si- 
 lently and at a rapid pace. Day was breaking as 
 Allen, with Arnold at his left hand, arrived at a 
 sally port. A sentry snapped his piece at him 
 and retreated, closely followed by Allen and his 
 men. Another sentinel thrust at Eaton with his 
 bayonet, but was struck down, when he begged 
 lustily for quarter. His life was spared on con- 
 dition of his leading the way instantly to the 
 quarters of the Commandant who was yet in bed. 
 Allen thundered at the door, and demanded a 
 surrender of the fort. The Commandant ap- 
 peared at the door half dressed, " the frightened 
 face of his pretty wife appearing over his shoul- 
 der." By this time the Green Mountain Boys had 
 formed on the parade ground, and were giving 
 ve it to hf^arty chears. Tha garrison were made 
 prisoners as they rushed forth in their confusion, 
 having been startled out of their sleep. The 
 
 ' I 
 
 'ii 
 
 ^, 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
I 
 
 GG 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 iJ - 
 
 Commandant was bewildered at what be beheld, 
 and addressing Allen, cried out, " By wliar au- 
 thority do you act ? " '* In the name of the g Td,-; 
 Jehovah and the Continental Congress ! " wa«: Ibe 
 reply. 
 
 Captain Delaplace with forty-eight of his men, 
 a great supply of much needed military and naval 
 stores, and a valuable fortress, were among the 
 tiophies of this biilliant dash of inexperienced 
 farmer soldiers. 
 
 Colonel Seth Warner, \vho had now come over 
 from Shoreham with the lesidue of the troops, 
 was sent with a detachment against Crown Point, 
 an express having been previously dispatched to 
 Captain Balder, of Onion River, forty miles dis- 
 tant, to c( me with his company to assist. Cap- 
 tains Warner and Baker appeared before Crown 
 Point nearly at the same time; the garrison, con- 
 sisting only of a sergeant and twelve men, surren- 
 dered without tiring a gun. Here were taken up- 
 ward of a hundred cannon. On his way down, 
 Captain Baker intercepted two small boats which 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 67 
 
 bad been sent to give the alarm to St. Johns, on 
 the Sorel River, 
 
 Arnold now insisted on being given the com- 
 mand of the fortress, as being the only officer 
 clothed with legal authority. Allen was too pop- 
 tilar to be eclipsed by the assumptions of Ar- 
 nold ; and the Connecticut committee, which had 
 accompanied the enterprise, gave an instrument 
 in writing investing Allen with fnll command of 
 the fort and its dependencies, until he should be 
 in receipt of orders from the Connecticut Assem- 
 bly or Continental Congress. Arnold was forced 
 to content himself, meanwhile, wdth a statement 
 of his grievances to the Massachusetts Legisla- 
 ture. 
 
 Just at this time a new project was set on foot 
 which had the effect to appease the restless spirit 
 of Arnold. The detachment originally sent to 
 Skenesborough arrived with a schooner and sev- 
 eral bateaux. Allen and Arnold arranged to con- 
 tinue their conquests by an attempt to surprise 
 St. Johns, the frontier post of Canada. Arnold, 
 
 i 
 
r 
 
 68 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BO 73 
 
 ' 
 
 
 who had been a seaman in his youth, took com- 
 mand of the schooner, which had been furnished 
 with cannon and ammunition from the fort, while 
 Arnold and his Green Mountain Boys embarked 
 in the bateaux. 
 
 Arnohl outsailed the other craft, surprised the 
 post of St. Jobris, and made its garrison prisoners; 
 captured the King's sloop of s-eventy tons, with 
 two brass pieces and seven men ; took four bateaux 
 and destroyed several others; and then, learning 
 that troops were on the way from Montreal and 
 Chamblee, spread his sails to the breeze and 
 swept up the lake with his prizes and his prison- 
 eis, and some valuable stores. 
 
 On the way he met Allen and the bateaux. 
 Salutes were exchanged, cannon answering to 
 musketry. Learning from Arnold the particulars 
 of his victory, Allen determined to push on and 
 occupy the vacated post. The Canadian rein- 
 fo cement had already taken possession on his ar- 
 rival, so he returned to Ticouderoija. 
 
 This series of brilliant exploits was hailed as 
 
 K; 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 G9 
 
 if in requital for the recent acts of British atroci- 
 ty, and as an omen of a brighter future for the 
 coh)nies. To the adherents of the Crown it must 
 have been the occasion of astonishment and 
 alarm. It drew public attention to the prowess 
 of the Green Mountain Boys; and their leaders, 
 from being denominated outlaws, were now ex- 
 tolled as patriots. 
 
 The capture of those frontier posts impressed 
 the American people with a sense of their ability 
 to cope with the disciplined soldiers of England, 
 and helped some to decide for independence who 
 bad trembled in the balance, and at the same 
 time contributed to render preparations for de- 
 fense more prompt and effectual. 
 
fT^ 
 
 ^mamma 
 
 \l ? 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 EXPEDITION INTO CANADA 
 
 '5 ■ 
 1' ' • 
 
 f ■■: i 
 
 Ji 
 
 Although these dashing exploits met with the 
 unquahtied approval of public seutimeiit through- 
 out the country, yet Congress for a time wavered 
 as to the disposition of the captured fortresses. 
 An endorsement of those victories by that body 
 would destroy ail chances of an ultimate recon- 
 ciliation with England, of which some entertained 
 strong hopes ; others thought the day for a 
 peaceable settlement had passed, and insisted that 
 those victories should be followed by energetic 
 action. The Gieen Mountain Boys kept posses- 
 sion of the forts until Congiess had, so to speak, 
 legitimated their capture, and by its order, Colo- 
 nel Hin man's regiment of Connecticut troops was 
 dispatched to relieve them. 
 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 71 
 
 Another question had arisen as to which 
 should have the credit of capturing the posts, Al- 
 len or Arnold. Both had sent dispatches to the 
 provincial authorities, with an accouut of the cap- 
 ture, each clainjing the honor of victory. " Colo- 
 nel Allen," wrote Arnold to the Massachusetts 
 committee of safety, " is a proper man to head 
 his own wild people, but is entirely unacquainted 
 with military service ; and as I am the only per- 
 son who has been legally authorized to take com- 
 mand of this place, I am determined to insist on 
 Uiy rights, . . and shall keep the fort at every 
 hazard, until I have further orders." The Massa- 
 chusetts authorities leferred the matter to Con- 
 gress. 
 
 Allen had written to the Albany committee for 
 men and provisions to enable him to maintain his 
 conquest. That committee feared retaliatory 
 measures from Great Britain, and asked advice of 
 the New York committee ; but that body was al- 
 so unequal to the task of acting in a matter of 
 such moment, and referred likewise to Congress. 
 
 :fl| 
 
72 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 Botb Allen and Arnold were ambitious for fur- 
 ther laurels, and each were anxious to lead an ex- 
 pedition into Canada. Allen wrote to the N(iW 
 York authorities in this straui : '* If the Colonies 
 would suddenly push an army of two or three 
 thou!?and strong- into Canada, they might make 
 an easy conquest, except a reinforcement from 
 England should pi event it. Such a diversion 
 would \Neaken Gage, and insure us Canada. I 
 wish to God America wouid, at this critical junc- 
 ture, exert herself agreeably to the indignity of- 
 fered her by a tyrannical ministry. She might 
 rise on eagles' wings, and mount up to gloiy, 
 freedom and immortal honor, if she did but know 
 and exert her strength. Fame is now hoveling 
 over her head. A vast continent must now sink 
 to slavery, poverty, horror and bondage, or rise 
 to unconquerabie freedom, immense wealth, inex- 
 piessible felicity, and immortal fame. I will lay 
 my life on it, that with fifteen hundred men and 
 a proper train of artulery I will take Montreal. 
 Provided I could be thus furnished, and if an ar- 
 
 i 
 
 hi 
 
 I !:■■■« 
 
THE GREEN MOUNT \IN BOYS 
 
 73 
 
 ' 
 
 i 
 
 xny ooukl command the field, it would be no insi- 
 perable difficulty to take Quebec." A letter in 
 similar stiain was written by Arnold to the Gov- 
 ernor of Connecticut. 
 
 About this time Captain Remember liaker was 
 killed by an Indian in the British service. This 
 beinpf the first blood shed in the northern depart- 
 ment, his death made more noise in the country 
 than wou'd the loss of a hundred men toward the 
 close of the war. 
 
 On the arrival, at Ticonderop^a, of Colonel 
 Hi n man's Connecticut troops, the greater part of 
 the Green Mountain Boys returned to their hc^mes. 
 Ethan Allen and Seth Warner repaired to Con- 
 gress to get pay for their men, and to solicit au- 
 thority to raise a new regiment. They were re- 
 ceived with distinguished marks of honor by that 
 body. The same pay was awarded them that was 
 given to the Continental troops ; and it was recom- 
 mended to the New York Convention that a corps 
 of Green Mountain Boys should be raised to serve 
 under tfficers of their own choosing. 
 
74 
 
 TITK aHEEN MOUNTAIN 1)0 YH 
 
 To tho Convention of New York Allen and 
 Warner accordingly repaired — tlie province on 
 whose statute bool^s was recorded an unrepealed 
 act of outlawry against them- — and boldly asked 
 for an audience. There was at first some demur- 
 ring as to their admission to the Hall of Assem- 
 bly ; but patriotism, and an overruling necessity^ 
 plead in their behalf. A regiment of Green 
 Mountain Boys, five hundred strong, was de- 
 creed, and the people of the Grants were notified 
 of the resolve, and requested to raise the regi- 
 ment. 
 
 Congress was not at first inclined to favor an 
 invasion into Canada, but subsequent develop- 
 ments induced a change in its ]>lanR. The recent 
 exploits on the Lake had produced a favorable ef- 
 fect on the Canadians, and it was thought they 
 would flock to the patiiot standard were it un- 
 furled among them with an imposing force. Be- 
 sides, another effectual blow in this quarter might 
 paialyze all hostility, if given before there had 
 been time to rally. 
 
 ! 
 
 
 i 
 
 Vv. 
 
THE ORKKN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 n 
 
 
 
 Tbat body thought Geneial Schuyler a fit 
 leade^r for the undertaking, in which sentiment it 
 was heartily seconded by Washington. Schuyler 
 at once set about his duties amid difliculties that 
 well nigh distracted him. He had calculated on 
 being joined at a certain (hite by the regiment of 
 Green Mountain Boya which Allen and Warner 
 bad undertaken to raise in the Grants. But a 
 quarrel had ensued between those brothers in 
 arms, which filled the Green Mountains wilh dis- 
 cord and party feuds. The election of offi^-ers 
 took place on the 27th of July, by committees 
 from the different townships. Ethan Allen had 
 been passed by, and Seth Warner nominated a 
 Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment. This was a 
 erushing blow to the ambition of Allen. He said 
 in his letters from camp : *' I find myself in the 
 favor of the officers of the army, and the younger 
 Oreen Mountain Boys ; but the old farmers on 
 the Hampshire Grants, who do not incline to go 
 to war, and whom 1 have saved from the en- 
 iiroachments of New York, have met in a commit- 
 
frr^ 
 
 %• 
 
 • *.1 
 
 |U-4: 
 
 ill' 
 
 
 7r> 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOy3 
 
 tee meetijjg, and in their nominations have wholly 
 omitted nie." i^llen rejairtd to Ticonderoga, 
 where he was retained to act as pioneer on the 
 Canadian frontier. 
 
 The expedition against Canada had been de- 
 termined on. Arnoid, more fortunate tliat his ri- 
 val, had attained the object of his ambition, which 
 was no less than the command of a force against 
 Cf.inada: he was to proceed l)y way of the Kenne- 
 bec River. 
 
 At the beginning of Reptember, Gen. Schuy- 
 ler, who commanded the main expedition, was 
 stationed with his little armv at Islo Aux Noix, at 
 the outlet of Lake Chan) plain. From this point 
 he sent out Colonel Ethan Allen and Major 
 Erown to reconnoitre the country, distribute 
 fiiendly addresses anjr)ng the people, and ascer- 
 tain their feelings. Then proceeding along tho 
 Sorel River, he approached the fort at St. Johns, 
 when a cannonade opened, and a slight action en- 
 sued. Night coming on, they cast up a small in- 
 trenchment aud encamped. Owing to unfavora- 
 
 m%i^' 
 
i: 
 
 • 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 77 
 
 ble intelligence they witlidievv to Isle Aux Noix 
 to await the arrival of artillery and reinl'orce- 
 ments. 
 
 Meanwhile, Allen utnrned from his reconnoi- 
 tering- expcditiou, of which he gave a nKjst en- 
 couraging repoit. Th( Canadian captains of the 
 iniHtia were ready, he said, to join the Americans 
 whene'er they .shouLl ap})ear with sutiticient 
 force. He Ijad held talk?, too, with the Indians, 
 and found them well disposed. He was con- 
 vinced tliat an inroad into the province would 
 meet with a hea' ty cooperation. 
 
 Preparations were made for a second invest- 
 ment of St. Johns, and Etiian Allen was sent to 
 beat up for recruita among the people he had 
 lately vi'ritL'd, while Major lirown was dispatched 
 with one huiich'ed and thirty men to make friends 
 in the vicinity of Chambiee, and form a junction 
 with the ainiv as soon as it should arrive at St. 
 Johns. 
 
 General Schuvler had been for some time the 
 victim of a compiicatiou of maladies. When ev- 
 
7§ 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 ery thing was in readiness for his elepjirture, he 
 was attacked by a severe access of liis disorder, 
 wliich compelled him to turn over the conduct of 
 the expedition to General Ilichard jMontgoniery. 
 He then set out in a covered barge for Ticoiider- 
 oga. All hour after his departure he met Colonel 
 Warner with one hundred and lifty Green Moun- 
 tain lioyy, the first that had reported of the new 
 regiment. Some had deserted, and the remain- 
 der were at Crown Point, whence they were about 
 to embark. About three hundred of the regiment 
 filially joined t)'e expedition. 
 
 The investment of St. Johns was begun, yet it 
 proceeded but slowly. A letter had been received, 
 meantime, froui Colonel Allen, giving high hopes 
 of further reinforcement. *• I am now," wrote he, 
 *' at the palish of St. Ours, four leagues from 
 Sorel to tilt; South. I have two hundred and tif- 
 ty Canadiiins under arms. Ah I march they gath- 
 er fa.st. You may rely on it that I shall join you 
 in about thiee days witli live hundred or more 
 Cauadiau VuiuuLeers. I could raise one or two 
 
TIIK (JREIiN MOUNTAIN liOYS 
 
 70 
 
 
 tbonsa^id iii a Bingle week'a time; but I will firyt 
 viisit iij(» ai'iriy with ?» loss iiumbci', and if iiiC(!S- 
 Gavy, go a;^ain locmitiiig. Tiiose who used to be 
 eneinits to our causi:; coiiio, eap in iiaiid, to me ; 
 and I swear by the Lord I ciui raise thi'oe tiuies 
 the numbe'- oi oar army in (Jai:ada, provided y(m 
 contirme the sieg{\ The eyes of all Ameiicu, na}' 
 of Euro].>e, are or will be on the econont}^ ol' this 
 army, and the eousotiueuccs attending it." 
 
 Colonel Ethan Alien wixa on his way to 8t. 
 Johns when he mh;t Mtijur Drown with his detach- 
 ment. A convereation ensutd, during which 
 Brown remarked that the garrison at Montreal 
 divl not exceed thirty nien, and might easily be 
 surprised. Allen's nature was uibtantly aroused. 
 Here was an o[)portunity for another bold stroke 
 like Ihat at Ticonderoga. A. piaji was forthwith 
 agieed upon, Alien wiis to r(?tui-n to a point 
 nearly cipposite Montreal, and cross the river, by 
 means of caiioes, a little below the town in the 
 t ; while Brown aj'reed to cross with two 
 
 nii/i 
 
 *fa 
 
 hundred men a little above; and tiie two deiach. 
 
It ' i <a 
 
 j ' 
 
 hi' 
 
 80 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 i 
 
 
 meuts were to attack Moutreal siinullaiieoualy at 
 o^jpofciite points. 
 
 The two parties, wlio were several miles horn 
 each other, mutually agreed that in the event of 
 either bein<^ hindered i'rcm coining at the tinio 
 appointed, eaily notice should be given to the 
 othei". The night proved windy, and Brown, 
 judging it dangerous to attempt crossing the riv- 
 er in canoes, went quietly to rest. Allen, appre- 
 hending no danger from the wind, on the night 
 of the 24th of September sent the few canoes in 
 his possession repeatedly across the river, lirst 
 taking the precaution of stationing guards in the 
 roads to prevent any alarm reaching Montreal. 
 As he had heard nothing to the contrary from 
 Brown, he supposed that officer to be caiiymg 
 out his part of the enterprise. 
 
 The day advanced, but no sr'gnal came from 
 Major Brown. It was evident he had not crossed. 
 Alien would gladly have retraced the steps he 
 had taken, but it was too late. Information had 
 been conveyed to the town, and a force of fuity 
 
THE GREEN MOUNT \IX BOYS 
 
 ai 
 
 - 
 
 rej^n^ar troops were sent out to attack him. A 
 siuart action ensued ; most of Allen's Canadian 
 recruits i>ave wav and fled ; a number of Araori- 
 cans were slain ; at last he surrendered to Major 
 Campbell, honorable terms being promised, to- 
 gether with thirty -eight of his men who re- 
 mained faithful to him. 
 
 The prisoners were marched into town and 
 delivered up to Colonel Prescott, the Command- 
 ant. Their rough appearance and rude equip- 
 ments became the subject of much adverse com- 
 ment. " Their leader," says Irving, " albeit a 
 Colonel, must have seemed worthv of the band ; 
 for AJlen was arrayed in rough frontier style; a 
 deer- skin jacket, a vest and breeches of coarse 
 serge, worsted stockings, stout shoes, and a red 
 woolen cap." We give Allen's own account of 
 the reception he met with ; 
 
 " He [the Comnjiandant] asked me my name, 
 which I told him. He then asked mo whether I 
 was that Colon< 1 Allen that toolc Ticonderoga. I 
 told Lim I was the very man. Then he shook Lis 
 
It-; 
 
 82 
 
 Tirr. GREKN MOUNT MN BOYH 
 
 cane over my head, calling me maiiy hard names, 
 among which he I'rcqueiitly used the word rebel, 
 and put liimsoir in a gieat rage." 
 
 Notwilhslanding Major Campbell V^ proitiiso 
 of hon(n'aMe treatment of his prisonevp, Allen 
 WRH put on boai d the Gaspe f-chooner of war, and 
 heavily ironed — Prescott giving liim the parting 
 assurance that he would yet gi'ace a halter at Ty- 
 burn. From his place of confinement he wrote 
 the Rubjoiiicd h tt(T to the General : 
 
 HoNORAiJLr: Siii : — In the wheel of transitory 
 events I find myself a prisoiu^]', and in irons. 
 Piobal.'ly your honor has certain reasons to nio 
 inconceivable, though I challenge an instance of 
 this sort of economy of the Americans during the 
 Lite war to any ofTicers of the Crown. On my 
 1 ai t, I have to assuj-e jour honor, ihat when I 
 had the coninumd and took Captain Delaplace 
 and Lieutenant Fultcm, \^itlA the gairison of Ti- 
 conderoga, I treated them with every mark of 
 friendship and generosity, the evidence of which 
 
' 
 
 TITT-: OnEEN MOUNTAIN }10Y3 
 
 83 
 
 is notorions, even in Canada. I havo only to add, 
 
 that I ex])Oct an honorable and hunvano trcat- 
 
 mont, aB an ofUcnr of my rank and merit should 
 
 boar, and snb'^cribo myself, your lionor's most 
 
 obedient servant, 
 
 Ethan Allen." 
 
 The following- is a^^j^^.ndcd by the Britir.h an- 
 noil* tor : "N. B. — The author of tiie above letter 
 is an on Haw, and a reward is offered by the New 
 York xlsscmbly for appreliending him." 
 
 After the prisoners had been eondnefed into 
 Montreal, Cxeneral Preseott gave orders to a ser- 
 |:r''a=d and fde of men, to put to death some Can- 
 adian'.^ who had be^-.n taken in anos v,it,]i Colonel 
 Allen. They forthwith went, witli bayonets 
 fixed, to execute their commision. Allen, uiidor- 
 standing then purpose, stepped between them 
 and the Cae.adians, and told trie gua^d to thrust 
 liim with their bayonets if they must shed hu- 
 man blood, but to spare the Canadians who do- 
 
mi 
 Hi. 
 
 ill 
 
 
 f'W 
 
 1' 
 
 84 
 
 TIIF, GRKEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 servpd no cenanro, as wluit they bad done wjis in 
 obedience to bia ordoia. The guards liosihited, 
 and Prescott beiiig consulted, that ofiicer revoked 
 the order.* 
 
 Puring Allen's imprisonment be was confined 
 on hoard a man-of-war, commnndr'd by T^nntnin 
 J.ittlejohn, who exorcised much clemency tovvards 
 bis prisoner, and removed bis irons except when 
 military officers came on board. A dispute arose 
 between the Captain and an officer, resulting in 
 arrangments for a duel. The ('a}>tfiin rerjr.nstcd 
 Allen to serve as his friend. The latter re]>lird 
 *'if it was consistent with his situation be w^ould 
 do himself the honor." The Captain answered 
 that '\he could chanoe his dress, and ^o on shore 
 in disguise, and no ({uestions would be asked." 
 The parties went ashore, but by the interposition 
 of friends the dispute was settleti. 
 
 At a lat-'^r period, Colonel Alien was put on 
 board a ship nnder comnjand of C/aptain i-jmith. 
 
 il 
 
 *Ira .Ulen.s History c.f Vermo it. 
 
THE (UiKEN MOUNTAIN lOYS 
 
 85 
 
 Ho was lif-avily iruiicJ, uml coutlucd iii the niotst 
 droiuy part of the vossol. \Vlitn fairly out to sea, 
 Ca[)tiiiij Sniitli orueicd AIIlu's irons taken oiT, 
 and requested him to oat at his own table while 
 he remained on bhii; board. The Colonel camo 
 from his dark abode and thanked the Captain for 
 his generous conduct, remarking " ho did not 
 know it would ever bo in his power to return tho 
 compiijuent." That cilicer replied — "j^a'ntlemeu 
 did not know whvUi they mi^ht render essential 
 services to one another." 
 
 On board was i ^reat number of prisoners, 
 who laid a plan to kill Captain Smith, and run olf 
 With the ship. When the project was ripe for ex- 
 ecution, Allen was led into the secret. He firmiy 
 told them if tliey murdered Captain Smith they 
 must also muidcr him, at which they were greatly 
 alarmed. He quieted their fears by Baying, " drop 
 your pians, and I will bo as faiUifui to you as 1 
 have been to Captain Smith." Here the matter 
 ended, and the Captain never knew of his danger, 
 uor of tho service of his I'lateful friend. 
 
«|! 
 
 !1 
 1^ 
 
 Si] 
 
 THE OHEEN :«()TTXTATN liOYS 
 
 IiiforniatiuTi Ijud bcoii received by (3(;n. Wash- 
 ington of tlio iiJcligiiituH hcai)t;(l \..[^on Colonel 
 Allen, 'iipturiiJ by rreycoll when Oi.'UUi'iUiU.r.iit 
 at JMoiitreiil, imd who wiiti now, iiiniHelf, a pi iSun- 
 er in the hands of the Auieiicaus. \Vut-:hii'j;toii 
 wrote to (leneral Howe to :Iio i'oiiowmg iiupurt ; 
 
 ** ^Sui: — We have jnut been iLioiiued ol a eir- 
 cuniistaiice, wLieh, weie it not kg v^ell aullieniic- 
 ated, I should scarcely think credible, it is Lliat 
 Colonel AJien, who, with hi-a bnial party, was de- 
 feated and made prifcuner near Jiiuntieai, iiuxi been 
 trcatedMvithoLtt legard to decency, ijLnhanity, or 
 the ruieb ul war ; that he ha^ teen ihiovvn into 
 iruiiH, and huirerb all the liardbLipb inliicted upon 
 common felonsi. 
 
 " 1 think it is my duty, sir, to demand, and do 
 expect from you, an eclaircissement on thi:> snb- 
 jet'-t. At the uauio time, I flatter myself, from the 
 chai'aotor which Mr. Howe bearis ah; a njan of hon- 
 or, gentleman and soldur, that my demand will 
 me{;t with Ids approbation. I must lake the lib- 
 erty, also, of informing you that I bhall consider 
 
 m 
 
 fSiU 
 
THE GREEN MOUNT/^IN BOYS 
 
 87 
 
 your silence as a coniinnHtion of the report, {iiul 
 fiutlier uHsuriiig }oii, tl)ut wliattvtr tiejitiiiciit 
 Colonel Alltn receives, Nvliattver fate he uiKler- 
 goeH, HiK'h exactly bhall be the fate of JJii^adier 
 Prescott, now in oui hai.dfcj. The law of letuha- 
 tion IB not only justitiabie m the eyes of God and 
 man but absolutely a duty." 
 
 Washiijgton observed in a letter to Congress: 
 **My reason for pointing out Prescott as the ob- 
 ject who is to suffer for Alien's fate, is that I am 
 given to understand that Pj escott is the cause of 
 Allen's sufferings. I thought best to be decisive 
 on the occasion, as did the geneials whom 1 con- 
 Bulted thereon." 
 
 Shortly afterwards, Washington received a 
 letter from Levi Alien, a brother to the Colonel, 
 and of like enterprising and enthusiastic charac- 
 ter. It was dated from Salisbury, Connecticut, 
 and enclosed affidavits of the harsh treatment his 
 brother had experienced, aud of his being confined 
 on board of the Gaspe, "with a bar of iron fixed 
 
 md iron to his hands." Levi 
 
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 proposed to go to England, where be 'uipposed 
 bis brother was, raise a mob and set him fiee, 
 bribe the jailor, or in some way deliver him I'roiu 
 confinement. Washington kindly advised against 
 Levi's wild project. The measure of retaliation 
 was actually meted out to Prescott, of which 
 Washington spoke in his k iter to Howe. 
 
 The efforts of Washington and Congress to 
 effect the exchange of Ethan Allen, "the brave, 
 but eccentric captor of Ticonderoga," were merito 
 rious. The daring exploits of that chieftain had 
 cost him a world of trouble. "Thrown into pris- 
 on as a felon; threatened with a halter; cariied 
 to England to be tiled for treason ; confined in 
 Pendennis Castle ; retran sported to Halifax ; and 
 now a prisoner in New Yoik." He writes: "I 
 have suffered everything short of death. I am 
 fired with adequate indignation to revenge both 
 my own and my country's wrongs. I am experi- 
 mentally certain I have fortitude su:lScient to face 
 the invaders of America in the place of danger, 
 spread with all the horrors of war. Provided you 
 
 f)-r' 
 
THE GREEN MOUNT A.IN BOYS 
 
 89 
 
 can hit upon some measure to procure my liber- 
 ty, I will appropriate my reniaining days, and 
 freely hazard my life in the service of the colony, 
 and maintaining the American Empire. I thought 
 to have enrolled my name in the list of American 
 heroes, but was nipped in the bud." 
 
 Allen was finally exchanged for Colonel Camp- 
 bell, after three yeai's of captivity. Washington, 
 in a letter recommending that something be done 
 for him, observes: "His gratitude and firmness 
 seemed 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 siiffeiings 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 discover any ambition for 
 high rank." On the strength of this recommenda- 
 tion, Congress voted Allen a brevet commission 
 of Colonel. 
 
 Montgomery, duiing his campaign in Canada, 
 
 
ii 
 
 4 
 
 m 
 
 
 90 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 retained Colonel Warner and his regiment of 
 Green Mountain Boys, who contributed their ser- 
 vices \o the downfall of the strongholds of Cham- 
 blee, St. Johns, and Montreal ; having served out 
 the time for which they had enlisted, they were 
 dismissed and returned home. 
 
 In 1776, soon after the death of Montgomery 
 at the storminf^ of Quebec, the Hampshire Grants 
 raised a second regiment under Colonel Warner, 
 wliich marched to Quebec, and gave essential re- 
 lief to the besieging army of that place. At the 
 bep^inning of May the siege was raised in conse- 
 quence of the bad state of hfalth of the troops, 
 and the ariival of reinforcements from England. 
 General Sullivan conducted the retreat in a mas- 
 terly manner; the army arrived at Crown Point 
 in due time, in a deplorable state. 
 
 r* 
 
 
 L 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 ESTA.BLISHMENT OF A CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 This disastrous retreat exposed the frontiers 
 of the Grants to an invasive war; most of the in- 
 habitants of Onion River and along the shore of 
 Lake Champlain instantly removed, and the mili- 
 tia was organized for the general defense. Inter- 
 nal dissensions were rife regarding the establish- 
 ment of a civil .government. Some were for join- 
 ing with New Hampshire; others were in favor 
 of forming a new state; and a few proposed unit- 
 ing with New York during the war; but this last 
 too much effected the title to lands to be serious- 
 ly considered. 
 
 Vermont was likely to be devastated as a com- 
 mon battle ground ; yet the people mel in Con- 
 vention at Dorset, January, 1776, and drew up a 
 
 
nw 
 
 
 ii ! 
 
 ! 
 
 i 
 
 
 VMM > 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 '■■-- 
 
 92 
 
 TIIK GREEN MOUNTAIN BOyS 
 
 potition to Congress, in which they declared their 
 read hi ess to furnish their quota of men in sup- 
 port of the war, and bearing an equal proportion 
 of the expense, and asked that their rights mifjht 
 be secured theni. ConciTess recommended that 
 
 o 
 
 they submit to the authority of New York for the 
 present, and assist their countrymen in the con- 
 test witli Great Britain. 
 
 Colonel Allen being in captivity, Baker dead, 
 AVarner, Cockran, and others, engaged i:i the ar- 
 my, the Council of the New Hampshire Grants 
 was greatly weakened, and moiiths passed with- 
 out any decisive results. Tlie government of the 
 province was conducted by committees and con- 
 ventions as bcfoie the war, though the bitterness 
 of the dispute with Nevv York seemed to be lost 
 ill the common cause of the struggling colonies ; 
 for those who had been outlawed for high treason 
 against the government of New Y^'ork, now passed 
 freely through that province. 
 
 The following were some of the reasons for 
 formin.Q' a new State: 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 93 
 
 A new governiDent woakl pej'potnatG the 
 name of the Green Mountain lioys, and the honor 
 of then* leaders. 
 
 A new government woukl establish the title 
 to their lands under the New Hampshire Grants, 
 and provide that unappropriated lands might bo 
 disposed of to defray the expenses of the war. 
 
 The active part taken by her citizens in the 
 taking of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, would 
 entitle the State to a favorable consideration by 
 Congress. 
 
 That upon the revolutionary principles adopt- 
 ed by Congress, Vermont was the oldest State in 
 America. 
 
 A call was issued for a convention, which, 
 after several adjournments, on the 15th of Jan- 
 iiSLvyy 1111 y declared the district of New ilarnp- 
 shire Grants to be a free and independent State. 
 A declaration and a petition to Congress were 
 drawn up, and a committee appointed to pre- 
 sent the same. 
 
 New York, alarmed at the possible conse- 
 
94 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 t ! 
 
 ill 
 
 i'B 
 
 
 queiKCS of the measure, wrote to Congress, 
 tlirougii the President of the Conimittee of JSsife- 
 ty. as follows : 
 
 "1 am duected to inform Congress that by 
 the arts and influence of certain designing men, 
 a part of this state has been prevailed on to re- 
 volt. Information we have received would lead 
 us to believe some persons in our sister States 
 have fostered and lomented these divisions. Jiut 
 as those informations tend to accuse sume of your 
 honorable body being concerned in this scheme, 
 decency obliges us to suspend our beiief. The 
 Convention are sorry to observe that by confer- 
 ring a commissioQ upon Colonel Warner, with 
 authority to name the officers of a regiment to be 
 raised independently of the Legislature of this 
 State, and within that part of it which hath lately 
 declared itself independent, Congress hath given 
 too much weight to the insinuations of those who 
 pretend that your honoiable body are determined 
 to support those insurgents; especially as this 
 Colonel Wainer hath been constantly and iuvaria- 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN B0Y3 
 
 96 
 
 bly opposed to the legisJature of tbis State, and 
 hath been on that very account proclaimed an 
 outlaw by the late government thereof. It is ab- 
 solutely necessary to recall the commissions given 
 to Colonel Warner, and the olHcars under hiuj, as 
 nothing else vnll do justice to us^ Con<>Tes3 
 voted to dismiss the petition of Vermont. 
 
 Notwithstanding this rebuff, the people re- 
 solved to draft a constitution for the new State. A 
 committee was also appointed to visit the officer 
 in command at Ticonderoga, and consult with 
 him respecting the defense of the frontiers. 
 
 "While the committee was at that post, I3ur- 
 goyne appeared in force on Lake Champlain, and 
 resting at Crown Point sent a d' tachment of 
 three hundred, mostly Indians, to land at the 
 mouth of Otter Creek, and ravage the frontier 
 settlements. The commanding officer at Ticon- 
 deroga refused to send off any of his troops in 
 aid of the panic-stricken families, but allowed Col. 
 Warner to go with the committee to raise a vol- 
 unteer force from the Green Mountain Boys. 
 
 I 
 
96 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 1-i 
 
 A basty lovy was raised, with which the raiders 
 were promptly repelled. 
 
 All who were members of the Couvention left 
 the militia and repaired to Windsor, July 4th. 
 A draft of the constitution was laid before the 
 convention and read. The matter under consid- 
 eration was new, of gi'eat moment, and required 
 serious deliberation ; it was debated step by step, 
 and paragraph by paragraph. While absoibed 
 in their duty, an express arrived with tidings that 
 Ticonderoga had been evacuated, and that the 
 whole frontier of the Hampshire Grants was ex- 
 posed to the ravages of the enemy. 
 
 At this awful crisis the Convention was for 
 adjourning, as many of the members had families 
 residing in the portions likely to be overrun by 
 the enemy and their Indian allies. Indications 
 of a terrible thunder storm among the mountains 
 having put all thoughts of immediately going 
 home out of the question, some of the more 
 thoughtful called attention to their unfinished 
 work. In the midst of the peals of thunder, the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNT \IN BOYS 
 
 07 
 
 incessant flashes of lightning and the tumult of 
 the elements without, the constitution was read, 
 paragraph by paragraph, for the last time; and 
 as the sun broke forth upon a smiling landscape, 
 invigorated with the summer shower, Vermont was 
 in possession of a constitution, and stood pledged 
 to its support. A Council of Safety was instituted 
 to act during the recess, the Convention ad- 
 journed, and the members betook themselves to 
 their homes. 
 
 Three days afterward, this " outlaw " Warner 
 and his proscribed Green Mountain regiment were 
 engaged in deadly conflict, on the soil of Vermont, 
 with the British and Indian foes of America, on 
 the memorable battle field of Hubbardton, in 
 which Warner's force was decimated to about 
 ninety men. 
 
¥ 
 
 CHAl^TER X. 
 
 Battle op bennington. 
 
 The British were of opinion that the people 
 of the Grants were opposed to the Revolution, 
 and would join the standard of England the mo- 
 ment a force was marched into the territory. 
 This belief was founded on the dissensions with 
 Now York, the unsatisfactory resolutions of Con- 
 gress, and the charges of outlawry brought 
 against the people of the Grants by their neigh- 
 bors. 
 
 Bennington was a central place, whither the 
 live stock had been collected, and whence the 
 American army derived its supplies. It was like- 
 wise a depot of wheeled vehicles and grain de- 
 posits, and was guarded by relieving bodies of 
 miUtia. Bennington was to be surprised. The 
 
THE ORKEN MOUNTAIN BOYH 
 
 09 
 
 covin try was to be scoured from Rockingham to 
 Otter Crook. All public mag^azines were to be 
 sacked. All cattle belonginfif to royalists, and 
 W'liicb could be spared by their owners, were to 
 be pai ~. for ; and all the rebel herds and flocks 
 were to be driven away 
 
 Colonel Skene, the iioted royalist after whom 
 Skenesborough (now Whitehall) was named, held 
 a position in the expedinon: indeed, it was owing 
 largely to h'S represv^n ations that it was under- 
 taken. Lieut.-Col. Baum was sent in charge of the 
 detachment. He had in his command two hun- 
 dred dismounted dragoons of the regiment of 
 Biedesel, Captain Frazer's British marksmen, 
 some Canadian Tories, and Indians, in all amount- 
 ing to about five hundred men, with tv/o pieces of 
 cannon. It was expected the dragoons would 
 supply themselves with horses in the course of 
 the foray, and a skeleton corps of royalists would 
 be filled up with recruits. 
 
 Burgoyne encamped on the east side of the 
 Hudson, so as to be near at hand in case assist- 
 
ir>„ 
 
 M^' 
 
 I'.ii 
 
 §\ 
 m 
 
 III 
 
 100 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOVa 
 
 ance wan wanted. Baum set out from camp at 
 break of day on the 13th of August, 1777. The 
 Btiitc of the roads, the excessive heat, and want of 
 horses and wagons, all contributed to render the 
 progress slow and tedious. A few horses were 
 brought in, and some wagons captured ; but the 
 inhabitants managed to remove most of their ef- 
 fects in time. The Indians killed or drove off all 
 that came into their hands, unless they were paid 
 in cash for their prizes. 
 
 Baum found the people of Bennington ready 
 to give him a reception. The veteran Stark was 
 there, with eight hundred New Hampshire mili- 
 tia ; and (>oionel Warner found himself at the 
 head of about six hundred Green Mountain Boys, 
 hastily collected to repel the invaders. Thus 
 once more the cause of American Independence 
 was to' rest largely on the valor and patriotism 
 of the outlawed Warner and his band of brave 
 followers. 
 
 Stark had, with difficulty, been prevailed on 
 to take the command. He had a farm amoug the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 101 
 
 Vermont MountairiK, and bis sympatliics were in 
 harmony with her people ; he, too, was smarting 
 under a sense of the ii. justice of Congress. Ho 
 only took up arms, he said, in a moment of exi- 
 gency, to defend the neighborhood which other- 
 wise would be exposed to the ravages of the 
 enemy. 
 
 On the 15th, Stark sent forward a detachment 
 under Colonel Gregg, and on the following day 
 advanced with his own men to support them. 
 He met them about five miles cii, in full retreat, 
 with Eaum and his foice a mile or more in the 
 rear. 
 
 Stark now halted, and deployed his men for 
 action. Baum drew up his troops and formed 
 them hi a strong position on high ground at a 
 bend of a little liver, and began to intrench. 
 Stark fell back to await reinforcements, and to 
 entice Baum from his intrenchments. A skirmish 
 took place in which thirty of Baum's men and 
 two Indian Chiefs were killed. 
 
 The incessant rain of the 15th prevented a 
 

 w '' iii'i 
 
 I'll 
 If.. J 
 
 If 
 
 '■n 
 
 i !; 
 
 'II! 
 
 102 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 general engagement, but there was continual 
 Bkirmisbing. Bauiu employed the interim in 
 strengthening his position ; and finding the op- 
 posite force much larger than he anticipated, he 
 had sent off in all haste to Burgoyne for reinforce- 
 ments. The latter immediately detached Col. 
 Breyman with five hundred Hessian Grenadiers 
 and infantry, and two six pounders, leaving behind 
 him his tents, baggage and standards. So bad 
 were the roads, that Breyman was nearly two 
 days getting little more than twenty miles. 
 
 Mean while expresses had been sent in every 
 direction by the Americans, and recruits were 
 pouring in from all parts of the country : — among 
 them, Colonel Symonds with a body of Berkshire 
 militia. 
 
 On the morning of the 16th, the sun was 
 shining brightly, and Stark prepared to attack 
 Baum in his intrenchments, although, for the 
 most part, his men had only ordinary firelocks 
 without bayonets. He separated his force into 
 two divisions : one was detached to the enemy's 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 103 
 
 left under Colonel Nichols ; a second, under C j1. 
 Herrick, was sent to the rear of his right ; these 
 two were to join and attack the British in the 
 rear, while the third was to make a demonstra- 
 tion in front. 
 
 Col. Skene and other royalists, when they saw 
 the Americans issuing from the woods on differ- 
 ent sides, endeavored to persuade Baum that 
 these were some of the Tories flocking to his 
 standard. The Indians were the lirst to discov- 
 er the error. ''The woods are full of Yankees," 
 they shouted ; and retreated, yelling like demons, 
 between the troops of Nichols and Heriick. 
 Several of them were killed as they ran the gaunt- 
 let. 
 
 At the first sound of firearms, Stark, who had 
 remained behind in camp, mounted his horse and 
 gave the word forward! The homely speech 
 made by him when in sight of the enemy is famil- 
 iar to every school boy. " Now, my men ! there 
 are the red-coats ! Before night they are ours, or 
 Molly Stark will be a widow ! " 
 
104 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 
 I \m 
 
 wi ^ 
 
 r 
 
 Baum found himself assaulted on every side, 
 but he fought with a dogged stubbornness and 
 determination. He planted his cannon advanta- 
 geously, and his fire was. effective. Stark, who 
 was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and in engage- 
 ments in the French war, says it was the hottest 
 fight he ever saw. He inspired his men with his 
 own impetuosity. They drove the royalists upon 
 the Hessians, and pressing after them, mounted 
 the works with incredible fury. A Hessian eye- 
 witness declared the rebels fought with despera- 
 tion, advancing to within eight paces of the loaded 
 cannon to take surer aim at the artillerists. The 
 latter were slain and the cannon captured. The 
 royalists and Canadians took to flight and es- 
 caped to the woods. The Hessians maintained 
 their ground until the last cartridge was expend- 
 ed ; then taking their broadswords, Baum and his 
 men attempted to cut their way to a road in the 
 woods. Many were killed in the atteinpt, and 
 the survivors were taken prisoners. Eaum was 
 among the wounded. 
 
 !tl 
 
' THE GREEN MOUNT A.IK BOYS 
 
 10.^ 
 
 The victors now dispersed; some to collect 
 the booty, or seek refreshments, and others to 
 care for the wounded or look after the prisoners. 
 At this juncture Breyman's tardy reinforcement 
 came up, making its slow and toilsome way to 
 the scene of action, with numbers augmented by 
 many of the enemy that had fled. Stark made 
 superhuman efforts to rally his men, but all were 
 in hopeless confusion. Just as the day seemed 
 lost to the Americans, the standard of Colonel 
 Warner came in sight, borne by his six hundred 
 Green Mountain Boys, fresh from repose, and 
 eager for the fray; for were not the safety of 
 their homes, and the fate of their wives and 
 children, dependent on the issues of their arms? 
 The shock and tumult of battle broke out 
 anew as these newly arrived reinforcements joined 
 in deadly strife, and the ground was to be fought 
 over once more. It was four in the afternoon 
 when this second action commenced. Stark's 
 men rallied, and entered again into the fight; 
 Col. Breyman's command was driven before the 
 
 f 
 
106 
 
 fllE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOtS 
 
 i 
 
 patriot forces from wood to wood, and from hill 
 to hill, until sunset. The last stand of the enemy 
 was at Van Shaick's mill, where, having expended 
 all their ammunition, the enemy retreated under 
 cover of night, leaving two field pieces and all 
 their baggage in the hands of the Americans. 
 
 Burgoyne was awakened in the night with the 
 intelligence that Baum had met and surrendered 
 to the enemy. Next came word that Breyman 
 was engaged in severe and doubtful conflict. 
 Drums beat to arms. The whole camp was 
 roused, and Burgoyne was preparing to march 
 his whole army to Breyman's assistance, when 
 word came in that he was on his way back in safe- 
 ty. The main army remained in camp at the 
 Batten Kiln, but Burgoyne forded that stream and 
 pushed forward until he met Breyman and his 
 troops, haggard and fatigued from hard fighting 
 and incessant marching in the hot weather. Four 
 brass field pieces, nine hundred dragoon swords, 
 one thousand stand of arms, and four ammuni- 
 tion wagons were the fruits of the victory. Thir- 
 
 l':'S' 'I t I 
 
 BCiS 
 
 n 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 107 
 
 ty-two officers and four hundred and sixty-four 
 privates were taken prisoners. The Americans 
 lost one hundred in killed and wounded. The 
 British killed could not be ascertained, as many 
 had fallen in the woods. Stark remarked, that 
 had there been another hour of daj^light, the 
 whole British force would have fallen into their 
 Lands. 
 
 Tidings of the affair at Bennington reached 
 Washington just before he moved his camp from 
 the neighborhood of Philadelphia, and it re- 
 lieved his mind of a load of anxiety. In a letter 
 to Putnam he wrote : "As there is not now the 
 least danger of General Howe's going to New 
 England, I hope the whole force of the country 
 will turn out, and by following the great stroke 
 struck by General Stark near Bennington, entire- 
 ly crush Burgoyne, who seems to be in want of 
 almost everything." 
 
 The compliment paid to the troops of Ver- 
 mont by General Burgoyne, was to this eflect: 
 ** The district of the New Hampshire Grants, a 
 
 s i 
 
 ^ 
 
 is 
 
108 
 
 THE OREEN MOUNTAIN B0y3 
 
 ■ m 
 
 wilderness little known in the last war, now 
 abounds with the most active, rebellious and har- 
 dy race of men on the continent, who hang like a 
 gathering- storm, ready to burst on my left." 
 This was written shortly previous to his capitu- 
 lation. This brilliant double victory at Ben- 
 nington, by relieving New England from appre^ 
 hensions, and enabling the patriots to concen- 
 trate their forces against Buigoyne, resulted in 
 forcing that General to surrender, on the plains 
 of Saratoga, as noble an army as was ever sent 
 to subdue a country. The news spread through 
 America and Europe, sealed the alliance between 
 France and the United States, and so secured 
 their independence. 
 
 In the next chapter we will relate how this 
 timely service of the Green Mountain Boys was 
 requited by Congress. It is not vv^ithin the range 
 of human wisdom to say what would have been 
 the effect on the American cause, had the de- 
 mand of New York been complied with, and 
 Stark and Warner been stripped of their commis- 
 
 & 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 109 
 
 sioiis before ibe battle of BeniiiiJ<^t(:n. The ene- 
 my would Lave been left to devastate the country 
 at then- pleasure, and by diverting the patriot 
 stores in and around Eennington to the use of 
 Burgoyne's army, thereby rendered his position 
 well-nigh impregnable. 
 
 i 
 
n^mm 
 
 115:* 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 PRIVATE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BKITISII. 
 
 Brilliaut and signal as had been the feats of 
 these Vermonters with the sword, not lews so 
 were their acts of dii^ouiacy. One can but be 
 impressed with the spectacle of a handful of men 
 accomplishing by policy what they could never 
 have done by power — for years keeping at bay an 
 army of British troops 10,000 strong, hovering 
 over and in readiness to swoop down and devas- 
 tate their exposed and unprotected frontier, at 
 the same time the people were permitted to go 
 on unconcernedly about their harvest. 
 
 The claims to independence on the part of 
 Vermont were still unacknowledged by Congress, 
 and New York was still importunate and vexa- 
 tious. The British generals in America endeav- 
 
 til ^ 
 
THE GHEEN MOUNTAIN 130YS 
 
 111 
 
 ored to turn these circumstances to their own ac- 
 count, by detachii'g Vermont I'ronj the cause of 
 the C<jlonies, and making it a British province. 
 The first hitimation that the people of Vermont 
 had of this circumstance was conveyed in a k;tter 
 from Cok)nel Beverly Robinson, dated New York, 
 Mar. 30U), 1780, and dehvered to Colonel Ethan 
 Allen in the street at Arhngton in July. Alien 
 communicated the contents of the letter to Gov- 
 ernor Chittenden and some others, but returned 
 no answer. 
 
 Meantime, the village of Eoyalton had been 
 sacked and burned by a party of three hundred 
 Indians under a British officer, four of the inhab- 
 itants killed, and twenty-five taken prisoners. It 
 was arranged that the Governor should address a 
 communication to General Haldimand, then com- 
 manding in Canada, proposing a cartel for the 
 exchange of prisoners, — the letter to be sent un- 
 der a flag to the enemy's lines. In October, the 
 British appeared in great force on the lake ; such 
 was the alarm that the Legislature, then in ses- 
 
 ■i 
 
112 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 ill 
 
 U I 
 
 [■■;;■■ 
 
 Bion at Bennington, adjourned, many of tho mera- 
 bci's taking arms and hastening to the frontiers. 
 
 In a few diys Colonel Ethan Allen received a 
 flag from Carleton, with an answer to GoveiTior 
 Chittenden's letter respecting the cartel. With it 
 was enclosed a proposition for a truce with "Ver- 
 mont. Allen agreed to the proposal on condition 
 that the frontiers of Vermont should include the 
 territory to the Hudson River. This truce, how- 
 ever, was not publicly known ; the militia were im- 
 mediately disbanded and allowed to return home. 
 The militia of New York were also on their fron- 
 tiers; not being in the secret, they were surprised 
 to see the Vermont troops returning home, and 
 still more to learn that the British were retiring 
 to Canada. 
 
 In February, 1781, Colonel Robinson wrote 
 again to Ethan Allen, enclosing a copy of the for- 
 mer letter. lie was induced to make another 
 trial, he said, " especially as I can now write with 
 more authority, and assure you, that you may ob- 
 tain the terms mentioned in the above letter, pro- 
 
 
 " ri':;i 
 
^ 
 
 THE rtUElEK M0ltNT\lN BOYfl 
 
 lUi 
 
 vided you and the people of Vermont take a deci* 
 Bive and active part with us." 
 '' Allen returned no answer to either of these 
 letters, but enclosed them both in a commiinica-' 
 tion to Congress. In that letter he says: " I am 
 confident that Congress will not dispute my sin- 
 cere attachment to my country, though I do not 
 hesitate to say I am fully grounded in opinion 
 that Vermont has an indubitable right to agree 
 on terms of a cessation of hostilities with Great 
 Britain, provided the United States persist in re* 
 jecting her application for a union with themj 
 for Vermont, of all people, would be most niiser- 
 able, were she obliged to defend the independence 
 of the United States, and they at the same time 
 at full liberty to overturn and ruin the independ* 
 ence of Vermont. I am as resolutely determined 
 to defend the independence of Vermont, as Con- 
 gress 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 the devil, hell, and human^ 
 
114 
 
 THE GREEN MOtJNTArN BOYS 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 ii.i=:;lii 
 
 
 ! 
 
 nature at large." This somewhat forcible lan- 
 guage was excusable under the circumstances. 
 
 Early in that year, Vermont, by a vote of her 
 Legislature, adopted the policy of the States of 
 New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, 
 that had been laying claim to the territory of the 
 Grants, and put in her claim of jurisdiction over 
 a large part of each of those States. Thus Ver- 
 mont was turuiug the weapons of her antagonists 
 upon themselves. Numbers of representatives 
 from the annexed districts took their seats in the 
 Vermont assembly. At the time of extending 
 her claims, she passed an act of general amnes- 
 ty ; this liberal and wise act of lenity had the de- 
 sired effect. 
 
 - The State of Vermont was at this time in a 
 forlorn condition ; torn by intestine divisions and 
 the intrigues of her enemies in Congress: all the 
 cannons, nay, every spade and pickaxe taken by 
 her valiant sons at Ticonderoga and Crown Point 
 were removed out of the State to Fort George ; 
 Colonel Wainer's regiment, raised in and for the 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 115 
 
 protection of Vermont, was put into Continental 
 service, and stationed to defend the frontiers of 
 New York, not half so much exposed as Vermont ; 
 at the same time New York had recalled her State 
 troops from Skenesborough, while an enemy, by 
 coming up Lake Cham plain, might land within a 
 day's march of hundreds of inhabitants who were 
 remaining on their farms. Congress had inter- 
 fered with the internal policy of Vermont, by cut- 
 ting off her ways and means of raising money and 
 men for self defense by the following : " Resolved, 
 unanimously, that in the opinion of this body, no 
 unappropriated lands or estates, which are or may 
 be adjudged forfeited, or confiscated, lying in said 
 district [Vermont], ought, until the final deci- 
 sion of Congress in the premises, be granted or 
 sold." We transcribe, on this topic, the words 
 of Ira Allen : 
 
 " Thus left, as she had reason to suppose, by 
 the intrigues of those who claimed and coveted her 
 fertile soil, to be a prey to the common enemy, 
 similar to the fate of their brethren, descendants 
 
116 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 Hi 
 
 k ' 
 
 i! 
 
 I'r 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 m 
 
 '» ^_ 
 
 from Connecticut, who settled at Wyoming and 
 Susquehanna, and were mostly killed by a party 
 of Indians ; their towns and villages burned, and 
 their country depopulated (supposed to be through 
 the intrigues of land-jobbers), which has since be- 
 come a prey to the Pennsylvania claimants, a 
 junto similar to the New York monopolists, who 
 were then taking every measure that the malig- 
 nancy and avarice of human nature could suggest^ 
 for the destruction of the people of Vermont.'V 
 That there was some foundation for this expla- 
 nation of the Wyoming massacre, is made only 
 too apparent by subsequent events. ^ 
 
 In April, 1781, Colonel Ira Allen was commis- 
 sioned to settle a cartel with the British in Can- 
 ada for the exchange of prisoners, and also to pro- 
 cure an armistice between the British forces and 
 Vermont. This was thought well-nigh impractic-, 
 able, as the British troops numbered 10,000 effec- 
 tive men, which must remain inactive, not being 
 able to annoy other States vvitliout first amioying 
 Vermont, while the latter had only 7,000 men as 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 117 
 
 an offset. But an armistice must be had, or the 
 frontiers evacuated until assistance could come 
 from the States whose influence had rendered 
 Vermont defenseless. 
 
 Allen arrived at Isle Aux Noix in due time, 
 and was accorded apartments by Major Dundas, 
 the officer in charge. At a convenient time Allen 
 observed that Congress was endeavoring to bring 
 Vermont into subjection to New York, but that 
 they, rather than yield, would see Congress sub- 
 jected to the British government, provided that 
 Vermont could be a distinct colony under the 
 Crown on safe and honorable terms ; and that the 
 people were not disposed longer to assist a gov- 
 ernment which might subject them and their pos- 
 terity to New York, under which they could nev- 
 er be safe in p or son or property. 
 
 The replication to these observations was, that 
 the territory of Vermont could be a colony under 
 the Crown, with privileges equal to those enjoyed 
 by any other colony, and that those who assisted 
 in effecting such an event, would be duly lion- 
 
w^ 
 
 118 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 ored and rewarded. Much conversation passed on 
 the subject, of which General Haldimand was 
 duly informed. Nothing decisive was accom- 
 plished, but the negotiation caused the army to 
 remain inactive, which was a matter of congrat- 
 ulation to Allen. 
 
 The cartel was completed, and a verbal agree- 
 ment entered into that hostilities should cease 
 between Great Britain and those under the juris- 
 diction of Vermont, until after the sitting of the 
 Legislature of that state. On Colonel Allen's 
 return several inflaential people waited on him, 
 desiiing to be advised whether to remain or re- 
 move to the inteiior portions of the country. 
 Allen told them to remain quiet on their farms, 
 and not think it strange though they had no army 
 to protect the frontiei- ; and that should any event 
 make it necessary, for the safety of their families, 
 to move, they might depend on seasonable infor- 
 mation. This immunity of Vermont from the ag- 
 gressions of the British, led the people on the 
 borders to be all the more anxious to be annexed 
 
 
 
First Church in Vermont. 
 
 
ml 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 \ ^ 
 
THE OKEEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 im 
 
 to her territory, as a measure of safety to tlieir 
 families and to their property. 
 
 Grave suspicions having become rife that nego- 
 tiations were being cariied on between Veimont 
 and the British in Canada, several men of discern- 
 ment among the Whigs were sent from Vermont 
 and the neighboring States to attend the sessions 
 of the Legislature, to watch if there might be 
 measures pursuing which would be eventually in- 
 jurious to the common cause of the United States. 
 
 On the other hand, the British in Canada were 
 anxious to know whether Allen and his friends 
 would be faithful, and so conduct matters as to 
 justify a cessation of hostiiities. With these ob- 
 jects in view, their representatives attended tho 
 sessions ; as the Assembly convened in the meet- 
 ing house the spectators took seats in the gal- 
 leries. 
 
 In a few days both houses joined in a commit- 
 tee to consider the subject of Ira Alien's mission 
 to Canada. The Governor proceeded to state 
 the facts of the settlement of the cartel, and that 
 
 >I 
 
 ■•""■■■■Mi 
 
• i ■'.': 
 
 1 1' M . 
 
 120 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN EOYS 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 I--, 
 
 if I'urtliGr paiticiiJars were deBiretl, Colonel Allen 
 was tlien present and could best inform tlieni. 
 On being requested to speak, Allen made bis state- 
 ment, wbieh showed the British had exhibited 
 great generosity in the transaction ; and after 
 stating sundry things, concluded with the remark 
 that if any meniber, or auditor in the gallery, 
 wished to ask further questions, he was ready to 
 answer them. 
 
 Those wno were in the interest of the United 
 States paid their compliments to Allen for his 
 oi)en and candid conduct In the evening he 
 had a conference with the Canadian spectators, 
 who seemed to be equally well pleased. 
 
 In July, Ethan Allen was informed by one of 
 his neighbors that some of his friends from Can- 
 ada wished to speak with him in the du«k of the 
 evening of that day. At the time appointed, Al- 
 len, with only his cane in hand, cheerfully went 
 to a British guard under arms, and received a 
 packet. In the evening of the following day he 
 met them again and returned an answer. This 
 
THE OREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 121 
 
 mode of correspondence was continued ; and 
 whenever dispatches came in this way, General 
 Ethan Allen or Colonel Ira Allen (they lived in 
 the same house) went and received them and re- 
 turned an answer, not trusting the dispatches to 
 any other person. It is worthy of remark that 
 Sunderland, their place of residence, was more 
 than sixty miles from the frontiers, yet a sergeant 
 and guard frequently passed with their arms in 
 1781 and 1782, without being discovered by any 
 one who would inform Against them. 
 
 About this time there appeared in the news- 
 papers of the day a letter from Lord George 
 Germain to Sir Henry Clinton, dated Whitehall, 
 Feb. 7th, 1781, which letter had been captured by 
 the French and carried to Paris, from whence it 
 had been forwarded to Congress, and by them or- 
 dered to be printed. It ran thus : 
 
 " The return of the people of Vermont to their 
 allegiance is an event of the utmost importance 
 to the King's aifdiis; and at this time, if the 
 French and Washington really meditate an irrup- 
 
 . 
 
122 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYfl 
 
 U^ 
 
 
 I! 
 
 \y ''?: 
 
 I j ' 
 
 i'K, 
 
 gJi&ip •* 
 
 tion into Canada, may be considered as opposing 
 an effectual barrier to the attempt. General 
 Haldimand, who has the same instructions with 
 you to draw over those people, and give them 
 support, will, I doubt not, push up a body of 
 troops to act in conjunction with them, to secure 
 all theavenues through their country into Canada; 
 and when the season admits, take possession of 
 the upper parts of the Hudson and Connecticut 
 Bivers, and cut off the communication between 
 Albajiy and the Mohawk country. How far they 
 mav be able to extend themselves southward or 
 eastward must depend on their numbers, and the 
 disposition of the inhabitants." 
 
 This letter had greater influence on Congress 
 than all other considerations that had yet been 
 brought to bear ; and that body promptly direct- 
 ed that a committee be appointed to confer with 
 a like committee from Vermont, "on what terms 
 it may be proper to admit Vermont into a federal 
 union of these States." 
 
 Accordingly, Vermont sent on her committee; 
 
THE OREEN MOTTNTATN ROYS 
 
 123 
 
 while tTiey wern in Philadelpliia they procured a 
 copy of a letter from the Governor of New Hamp- 
 shire to the President of Conj^ress, staring that 
 his Slate could not furnish its quota of men or 
 money in snpport of the war, as a tlnrd part of 
 the State had revolted and joined Vermont. This 
 draft Allen transmitted to the British Commis- 
 sioners at Skenesboronpfh, who laughed heartily 
 with the Vermont committee. 
 
 Those who are disposed to regard this action 
 of Allen and his associates as inimical to the 
 cause of American Independence, will do well to 
 consider that the effect was to neutralize the 
 strength of 10.000 Biitish troops as opposed to 
 a like number from Vermont; the final result to 
 the cause would be the same as though both forces 
 took the field and slaughtered each other, with 
 the advantage to Vermont that she was saved 
 from being overrun by a devastating army. 
 
 Meanwhile the British Commissioners were 
 becoming impatient. They stated as their in- 
 structions, which they were not at liberty to de- 
 
1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 k 
 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 im 
 
 li 
 
 124 
 
 TIIK GRISEN MOUNTAIN BOSra 
 
 viate from without putting an end to the arniia- 
 tice, that his Excellency, General Haldimand, 
 in pursuance of full powers vested in him by his 
 Majesty, should issue his proclamation offering 
 to confi] m Vermont as a colonv under the Crown, 
 provided the people wou'd return to their alle- 
 giance; that an ainiy should come up the Lake 
 in October with said proclamation, and the Leg- 
 islature must accept the same, and with the Brit- 
 ish take measures for their common defense. 
 
 This was a sore strait for perplexed Vermont 
 diplomats. It was deemed best, however, to have 
 the proclamations brought up the Lake rather 
 than incur the risk of a discontinuance of the 
 armistice, in the present defenseless state of the 
 frontiei". 
 
 The Legislature met at Charlestown early in 
 October, and about the same time a powerful 
 British army under St. Leger was landed at Ti- 
 eonderoga. A skirmish having occurred between 
 a party of Vermonters ujider command of Ser- 
 geant Tapper and a number of the enemy, the 
 
 I 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN KOYS 
 
 125 
 
 Sergeant was killed aiul his luon retrcatoa. St. 
 Leger sent his clothos unci eiiects, with an open 
 letter, to General Enos, infornjino- Lim of the fate 
 of the Sergeant, and apologizing for his death. 
 This dispatch and the apparel were publicly de- 
 livered to General Euos, which wade no little 
 noise among the troops. 
 
 The preceding negotiations were not known to 
 more than a dozen men iu Vermont. Anexpi 3 
 came in with letters fur Governor Chittenden, an- 
 nouncing the ariival of the British at Ticondero- 
 ga, in which were blended public matters and 
 private negotiations. The messenger had not 
 failed to proclaim the extraordinary message of 
 St. Leger, which occasioned large crowds to fol- 
 low, to hear the news. On opening the letters 
 the Governor saw it was 1 ot prudent to have them 
 publicly read. At this confused moment Major 
 Bunnals came running in and demanded of Colo- 
 nel Allen the reason why St. Leger was sorry the 
 Sergeant was killed ? Allen replied he could not 
 tell. Kunnuls repeated the question, to which 
 
f 
 
 
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 ■ 
 
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 pt 
 
 
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 126 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 Allen then made an evasive answer. This enraged 
 Raiinals, who again loudly demanded what rea- 
 sons conld possibly induce a British general to be 
 sorry when his enemies wore killed? Allen re- 
 torted with some warmth by advising Runnals to 
 go at the head of his regiment and demand of St. 
 Leger the reasons for his sorro v, and not stay 
 there eating up the country's provisions and do- 
 ing nothing while the frontiers were invaded. 
 This manojvre drew all attention, for the moment, 
 from the letters. Meanwhile new ones were made 
 out which were read in jjlace of the originals for 
 the satisfaction of the people. 
 
 The crisis is approaching, yet the leaders in 
 the stirring drama are not dismayed. A commu- 
 nication from Allen to the British announces that 
 matters are going on propitiously for their de- 
 signs, but in view of unfavoral)le reports direct 
 from the seat of war, suggested it would hardly 
 be expedient to publish the proclamation just 
 then. In less than an hour after this communi- 
 cation reached Ticonderoga, an express arrived 
 
 ¥■■■' ■ 
 
 »m> 
 
THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 127 
 
 there with the news of the capture of Coruwallis 
 and his entire army. Before night the British 
 had embarked all their troops and stores, and had 
 set sail with all haste for Canada. Thus were 
 the Vermont diplomatists relieved, at the last mo- 
 ment, from their embarrassment and danger; and 
 thus were the frontiers of that State preserved 
 from the horrors of war by the sagacity and dar- 
 ing of a few determined men. 
 
 8i1 
 
■nr 
 
 Tf^^^^^ 
 
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 vm 
 
 CHAPTEK XII. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Years elapsed. Hostilities between Great 
 Britaiu and the American Colonies had ("Paihd ; 
 and on the 20 ih of January, 1783, the prelimiL^a- 
 ry articles of peace were signed, which established 
 the independence of the United States. The 
 adoption of the Federal Constitution followed, 
 which was ratified by the thirteen original States, 
 and the first Congress assembled under it March 
 3d, 1789. During the period succeeding the 
 peace, Vermont had been pursuing the even ten- 
 or of her way, not over-solicitous about an orgeu- 
 ic union with the States, and without any exter- 
 nal foes to dread. But the ancient difference 
 with New York still remained unsettled. A new 
 political generation had come upon the stage, in 
 
THE onteEN Mount? \i^ coifs 
 
 129 
 
 f 
 
 whose bosoms the bitter feuds of then- fathers 
 were not perpetuated. 
 
 One difSoulty, however, presented itself. New 
 York had aforetime granted lar^e tracts of land 
 in Vermont, and the grantees were londly com- 
 plaining of the injustice in not being allowed to 
 take possession of the property, or having" its 
 purchase price refunded. New York felt no very 
 strong- oblie-ation to refund the money that had 
 been extorted for those g-rants by royal governors 
 before the war ; still she was disposed to favor a 
 compromise. Public opinion and mutual inter- 
 ests called for a reconciliation with Vermont, and 
 her admission into the Confederacy of States, in- 
 asmuch as the measure would increase the repre- 
 sentation of New England in Congress. 
 
 On the 23d of October, 1789, committees from 
 the respective Legislatures of Vermont and New 
 York met to arrange the settlement of the only 
 issue remaining--the amount of compensation the 
 claimants under the New York grants should re- 
 ceive from Vermont. It was agreed that on pay- 
 
;1 
 
 130 
 
 THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS 
 
 ment being made to her of $30,000, New York 
 was to consent to the admission of Vermont into 
 the Union, and to give up all claims to jurisdic- 
 tion within the latter State. On the 18th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1791, Congress, without a dissenting voice 
 or vote, passed an Act "That on the 4th day of 
 March,, '^^1 , the said State, by the name and 
 style of tLi State of Vermont,' shall be received 
 and admitted into their Union as a new and en- 
 tire member of the United States of America." 
 
 The End. 
 
 ( 
 
ELIZABETH FRY : 
 
 LIFE AND LAliOKt) OF THE EMINENT 
 
 PHILANTHBOPIJST, PlIE ACHE U, 
 
 AiND PlilfcioiN KEEUlixVlElt. 
 
 BY EDWAKD IIYDER. 
 
 "Mr. Harvey, two days ago I saw the greatest curiosity 
 in London, aye and in England too, sir, compared to wlncli 
 Westmmscer xibbey, ike lower, tlie iiiitisn Museum, nay 
 Parliament itseli, smk iiito utter insignilicaiice ! i havo 
 seen, sir, Elizabeili lay in Isewgate, and iiave witnessed mi- 
 raculous ettecis of irue i^nrisiianiiy upon tlie most depraved 
 oi iiuman beings. "~J oiin Itandoipii. 
 
 We shall not look upon her like again ! and must try to 
 presei\e ihe iiiipression ot her majesty ut goodness which it 
 is a great privilege to liave beneld. — liaroness l»unsen. 
 
 I could wish that your book might be found in every 
 Christian tamily.—iifcv. W. b. (Jlapp. 
 
 389 pp., 8vo., with full page portrait of Ehzabcth Fry. 
 Price i^i, mailed to any address. 
 
 Philip H. Smith, Publisher, 
 
 Pawling, N. Y.