USA > New Hampshire > Gathered sketches from the early history of New Hampshire and Vermont, containing vivid and interesting account of a great variety of the adventures of our forefathers, and of other incidents of olden times > Part 8
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As time progressed, Peter's bottle made frequent visits from pocket to mouth, until, whether from ยท fatigue or too frequent libations, he became very sleepy, and by ten in the evening turned in and nestled very comfortably in the straw on the cart, intending, of course, to keep one eye open. In spite of his strenuous exertions to the contrary, sleep entirely overcame him ; and his loud snoring announced to the boys in the bushes that the time had come for their sport ; so out they sallied, and,
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PETER BROWN'S TEMPERANCE LESSON.
having selected half a dozen of the best melons, returned to an appointed place, where ample justice was done to the delicious fruit. Their main object being accomplished, next comes the fun; and to this they applied themselves with zest. Stealing out cautiously, one held the tongue of the cart, while others removed the blocking from the wheels ; then, with a shove, off went cart, Pete, bottle, straw, and all. The probability seemed strong for a fine ride and a safe deliverance at the bottom ; but for- tune willed otherwise; for, as the hill was steep, the speed grew greater, till the whole establish- ment ran plump into the pond, when, striking a log sunk in the middle, the stoppage was so sud- den as to pitch Pete and all his gear into the water. After splashing for a while, till some of the effects of the liquor were gone, he caught a wheel, and drew himself up into the cart, where he sat in perfect bewilderment as to how and when he came there. Having removed the mud and grass from his face, at length he came to himself, and recol- lected mounting the cart and settling himself in the straw. From that time his memory was as much in the dark as was every thing around him.
The boys all this time stood near, watching. When the old man fell in, their first thought was to help him out, for fear he would be drowned ; but when he was seen seated safely in the cart, and no . danger was to be apprehended, they disappeared behind the hill in high glee. Peter felt very mis- erable, and hardly knew what to do. He was just 12
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PETER BROWN'S TEMPERANCE LESSON.
drunk enough not to have a very clear idea of his situation, and hence feared to start for the shore. Finally he arrived at the conclusion that the best way was to try and raise some neighbors who lived near. These, coming at his cry, soon built a fire, by the light of which Peter Brown came safe to shore. When the loss of the melons was discov- ered, it was easy to understand the cause of the dis- aster, his rapid ride and plunge. It is said that Pete never recovered his " Betty," and, furthermore, never got another ; however that may be, Brown never forgot his night's adventure, or the very prac- tical temperance lesson he had received.
INCIDENTS FROM THE LIFE OF COLONEL ETHAN ALLEN.
ETHAN ALLEN, one of the most prominent of the heroes of Vermont, was born in Litchfield, Con- necticut, January 10, 1737. He removed hence to Vermont, 1770. Previous to this removal, nothing is known of him, except that he made frequent jour- neys to Vermont, to locate lands under the grants of New Hampshire. His first public acts were in defending the settlers under these grants from the claims of the State of New York. This controversy continued for a long time to occupy the minds of the inhabitants ; and though during the revolutionary war all united in the common cause, the final settle- ment of the dispute was not until 1791. Throughout the whole, Allen took a prominent part ; and it was much owing to his influence that the issue was so favorable to the New Hampshire grantees. Allen never having had the advantages of early education, the works which he wrote possessed not sufficient interest or importance to secure their preservation to the present day, though they showed many traces of a mind naturally strong and vigorous to a high degree. The chief points in his character were an unconquerable industry and perseverance in what-
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ever he undertook. He possessed, also, the great- est bravery, which, though ever tempered by pru- dence when the lives of others depended upon him, yet amounted even to rashness in the exposure of his own person. While firm in resistance to the encroachments of others, he was a strong, unwaver- ing friend to law and order.
The courage and prudence of Colonel Allen were evident at the celebrated capture of Ticonderoga, with which every child is familiar, and in his expe- dition under Montgomery to Canada. Though the latter terminated disastrously, it was owing to no fault of his.
In his narrative of this affair he tells the follow- ing incident, which fully illustrates his personal fearlessness. He had surrendered under pressure of vastly superior numbers, on condition that all his men should be treated with honor ; but General Prescott, the British commander, ordering up a guard in his presence to execute a number of Canadians who were taken with him, Allen says, -
"It cut me to the heart to see the Canadians in so hard a case, in consequence of their having been true to me ; they were wringing their hands, saying their prayers, as I concluded, and expected immedi- ate death. I therefore stepped between the execu- tioners and the Canadians, opened my clothes, and told General Prescott to thrust his bayonet into my breast, for I was the sole cause of the Canadians taking up arms.
"The guard, in the mean time, rolling their eye-
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OF COLONEL ETHAN ALLEN.
balls from the general to me, seemed impatiently waiting his dread command to sheathe their bayo- nets in my heart ; I could, however, plainly discern that he was in a suspense and quandary about the matter. This gave me additional hopes of succeed- ing ; for my design was not to die, but to save the Canadians by a finesse. The general stood a min- ute, when he made me, with an oath, the following reply : 'I will not execute you now, but you shall grace a halter at Tyburn.'" It is needless to add that Allen never saw that famous hill.
At one time a large reward was offered by the State of New York for the apprehension of Allen .* His friends were much alarmed ; but Allen laughed at them, and offered a bet that he would proceed to Albany, drink a bowl of punch, and return unhurt. Accordingly, the bet being accepted, he rode to Albany, and, after deliberately alighting from his horse, and entering the house with a haughty air, called for a bowl of punch. The intelligence that " Ethan Allen was in the city " spread rapidly, and a large concourse of people collected around the house, among whom was the sheriff of Albany county. Allen was wholly unmoved. Having fin- ished his punch, he went to the door, mounted his horse, and giving a hearty "Huzza for the Green Mountains !" departed unharmed. Those who were disposed to arrest him felt that the enterprise would not be unaccompanied with danger.
* See De Puy's "Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Heroes of '76."
12 *
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INCIDENTS FROM THE LIFE
Another anecdote is alike illustrative of the temer- ity of Allen and the heroism of one of the women of those exciting times. While travelling upon the shores of Lake Champlain, opposite Crown Point, with a single companion, he stopped at the house of a Mr. Richards. It happened that, at the same time, a party of six soldiers from the neighboring fortress, fully armed, were at the house, with the intention of remaining during the night. Knowing Allen, they determined on arresting him, and ob- taining the tempting reward offered by the govern- ment of New York for his apprehension. Mrs. Richards overheard their conversation, and when lighting Allen and his companion to their room, informed them of the design of the soldiers, and silently raising a window, advised them to escape. When the soldiers discovered that Allen had left the house, they threatened Mrs. Richards with pun- ishment for conniving at the escape of the heroic leader of the Green Mountain Boys ; but she apol- ogized, on the ground that if she had failed to do so, the people would have torn down her house, and driven herself and family from their possessions.
The patriotism of Allen was entirely regardless of family ties. On one occasion, when his brother Levi joined the Tories, he entered a complaint against him to the patriot authorities, praying that his property be confiscated for the use of the public. When Levi heard of it, he challenged Ethan to single combat. Ethan replied that it would be dis-
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OF COLONEL ETHAN ALLEN.
graceful to fight a Tory. We may remark that Levi afterwards became a staunch Whig.
We append an exact copy of the above complaint of Colonel Allen against his brother.
" BENNINGTON COUNTY, SS.
Arlington, 9th of January, 1779.
"To the Honorable the Court of Confiscation comes Colonel Ethan Allen, in the name of the free- men of this State, and complaint makes that Levi Allen, late of Salisbury, in Connecticut, is of tory principles, and holds in fee sundry tracts and par- cels of land in this State. The said Levi has been detected in endeavoring to supply the enemy on Long Island, and in attempting to circulate counter- feit continental currency, and is guilty of holding treasonable correspondence with the enemy, under cover of doing favors to me, when a prisoner at New York and Long Island ; and in talking and using influence in favor of the enemy, associating with inimical persons to this country, and with them monopolizing the necessaries of life ; in endeavor- ing to lessen the credit of the continental currency ; and in particular hath exerted himself in the most fallacious manner, to injure the property and charac- ter of some of the most zealous friends to the inde- pendency of the United States, and of this State likewise ; all which inimical conduct is against the peace and dignity of the freemen of this State: I therefore pray the Honorable Court to take the
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INCIDENTS FROM THE LIFE
matter under their consideration, and make confis- cation of the estate of said Levi, before mentioned, according to the laws and customs of this State, in such case made and provided.
" ETHAN ALLEN."
Our hero was distinguished for his contempt of pain. Once, while in a dentist's office, a lady came in who was severely afflicted with an aching tooth, but who had not the courage to submit to its extrac- tion. Allen, perceiving her fears, ordered the den- tist to take out one of his. He was assured that all his teeth were sound ; but Allen said, "Never mind ; do as I bid you ; " and soon the tooth was out. It hardly need be added that the lady, ashamed of her fears, followed his example.
The following anecdote is related of Colonel Allen to show that while determined that the guilty should suffer for their faults, he was yet equally strenuous that all the forms of justice should be complied with.
A certain David Redding was accused of supply- ing the enemy with food, and performing many other acts unfriendly to his country. He was first tried by a jury of six persons, under the authority of the Council of Safety, and, being convicted, was sentenced to be hung on the 6th of June, 1778. In the mean time, one John Burnam appeared from Connecticut, with Blackstone in his saddle bags, and declared before the council that a man could not be legally tried by less than twelve men, thus
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OF COLONEL ETHAN ALLEN.
proving Redding's trial irregular. The council im- mediately granted a reprieve and a new trial.
A multitude had assembled at the time appoint- ed for the execution, when the news of this proce- dure came out. Their disappointment was very great, and an attempt was made to rescue the pris- oner, and hang him in spite of every thing. Allen mounted a stump, and exclaimed, " Attention, the whole !" He then advised them to retire to their houses, and return at the time fixed by the council, saying, with a tremendous oath, "You shall see somebody hung ; if Redding is not, I'll be hung myself." Upon this the crowd dispersed ; and Red- ding, having been again convicted, was executed on the appointed day.
In religious belief Allen was a deist, and was fond of displaying his peculiar views on all occa- sions ; his wife, however, was a devoted Christian. Notwithstanding the infidel character of his views, Allen was staunch in his love of truth, and a thor- ough contemner of any thing like equivocation or deceit.
On one occasion a person to whom he owed money had commenced a suit against him. Allen was un- able to pay the debt, and employed a lawyer to have the execution of legal process against him postponed for a short period. As an easy measure to effect this, and throw the case over to the next session of the court, the lawyer denied the genuine- ness of the signature ; Allen, who was present, stepped angrily forward, and exclaimed to his
142 INCIDENTS FROM THE LIFE OF ETHAN ALLEN.
astonished counsel, "Sir, I did not employ you to come here and lie ; I wish you to tell the truth. 'The note is a good one ; the signature is mine ; all I want is for the court to grant me sufficient time to make the payment." It is almost needless to add that the plaintiff acceded to his wish.
Allen died suddenly at Burlington, Vt., February 12, 1789, at the age of fifty years, while yet in the fulness of his vigor and strength.
SEIZURE OF CAPTAIN REMEMBER BAKER BY THE YORKERS.
1772.
THE subject of the following narrative was one of the most prominent men on the side of the Green Mountain Boys, in the protracted struggle which was carried on with the authorities of New York. Having lost his father in early youth, severe neces- sity gave him habits of prudence, energy, and self- reliance, which well fitted him to become a leader among resolute men. He was a soldier and after- wards an officer in the French war, and gained no little distinction by his bravery and discretion. He settled in Arlington, Vt., about the year 1764, and built some mills. These were the first erected north of Bennington, and attracted numerous set- tlers to the vicinity. Baker early incurred the dis- pleasure of the officials of New York by the vigor with which he opposed their efforts to gain jurisdic- tion over the New Hampshire grants, as well as by the influence which his example had upon others. He was denounced to the world as a felon, and, in company with Ethan Allen and Seth Warner, he enjoyed the distinction of having a large reward offered for his apprehension. These circumstances
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SEIZURE OF CAPTAIN BAKER
led one John Munro, an active partisan of New York, to assemble ten or twelve men of like feeling with himself, for the purpose of seizing Captain Baker, and carrying him to Albany. The following account of the transaction is taken, with some little alteration for the reader's sake, from the Connecticut Courant of June 9, 1772. It is understood to have been written by Colonel Ethan Allen .*
" This wicked, inhuman, most barbarous, infamous, cruel, villanous, and thievish act was perpetrated, committed, and carried into execution by one John Munro, a reputed justice of the peace, living near Arlington, with a number of ruffians, his neighbors. These, after a Lord's day consultation in plotting this wicked and horrid design, surprised Baker in his dwelling house, about the first appearance of morning light on the 22d day of March. After making an attempt to discharge their firearms through Baker's house, and finding them miss fire, Munro with his attendants did with axes forcibly break and enter Baker's house, and with weapons of death spread destruction round the room, cutting with swords and bruising with firearms and clubs men, women, and children ; swearing he would have Baker, dead or alive, and that he would burn the house - Baker, wife, children, and all the effects. To compass and bring this villanous scheme into execution, he did, with his own wicked and rebel- lious hand, convey fire from the hearth to a cup-
* See De Puy's " Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Heroes of '76," p. 161,
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BY THE YORKERS.
board in the room, it being the most convenient place to answer his intentions ; when all on a sud- den a Judas spirit - that of gain and plunder - overbalanced his wicked noddle. This being agreed on, he instantly thrust his sword at Mrs. Baker, with an intention to destroy her life, (as he has since confessed,) when her right arm for that time happily preserved her from the intended murder. Others of his attendants, in the mean time, were mauling, beating, and bruising his children. Mr. Baker, having at that time posted himself in his chamber, for the better security of himself, his fam- ily, and effects, finding their malice and impreca- tions principally levelled at his person, thought proper to leave his chamber, thinking thereby to draw the murderers after him, and so give his fam- ily a better opportunity to save themselves from impending ruin and utter destruction. He accord- ingly burst a board from the gable end of the house, and leaped out ; when part of the ruffians were ordered by Munro, after firing upon Baker, to set on him a large, spiteful, wilful, and very malicious dog, educated and brought up agreeably to their own forms and notions. He was, like those other servants of the devil, at that time all obedience. He seized Baker, and being instantly joined by his cruel partners, the prisoner was bound and pinioned so fast that he was unable to make the least resist- ance in defence of himself, his unhappy, wounded wife, or his poor, helpless, distressed children.
" And not being as yet satisfied with their own 13
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SEIZURE OF CAPTAIN BAKER
unlawful proceedings, and their thirst for blood not being quenched, the better to enhance and increase their horrid crimes, and procure a fell draught of human blood to quench their unnatural thirst, they conveyed Baker to the carriage in which they rode, where, in his confined state, John Munro did with his attendants tomahawk, cut, and slash him in spots, that their eyes might see a life languish out by degrees in streams of blood, while they did, with an oath at almost every breath, laugh him in the face, to express their satisfaction in his agoniz- ing groans.
" In this awful and lamentable situation - almost on the verge of eternity by means of his bruises, cuts, and great effusion of blood - Baker, with & voice according to his strength, called for his clothes ; for thus far he was just as he rose from his bed. But he was denied these by Justice Munro, who gave him several strokes with his naked sword over the face and eyes, breaking the weapon into three pieces. He followed this inhuman act with the menace that 'he would clothe him as a
traitor;' which aggravating threat gave a new sip to their beloved revenge. Thus they continued him in his naked journey for the space of four miles and a half, with many cruel words and hard blows, stopping his breath with handkerchiefs till he was almost suffocated, lest he should apply to some per- son for relief.
"The justice and attendants had taken those of the effects belonging to the house which he and
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BY THE YORKERS.
they, in their trepidation, thought worthy their notice ; although they would probably have been more faithful in the prosecution of selfish and worldly gain, had they not feared a surprise in so unchristian an act. They pursued their journey with severe words and cruel threats, as though resolved to take full swing, and make an ample feast of human cruelty. They were followed by three loyal and faithful men, who, after asking for the preservation of Baker's life, were fired upon by several of Munro's party, and robbed of what they had with them, to the value of forty dollars, as a fresh sip and recruit to their hellish desires. These distressing tidings, being soon spread in the neigh- borhood, stirred up the innocent inhabitants. For the preservation of their own persons, their families and effects, as well as those of Baker, some of them pursued the carriage about thirty miles, coming up with it at the Hudson River ferry, opposite to Albany. The savage-like John, with his attend- ants, being conscience struck and condemned, ran and hid themselves so privately that it is not known by his or their acquaintances where they have been ever since ; leaving Baker with very little remains of life, unable to fight for himself, and relying, as he had never done before, upon the mercies of his foes. "Such is a very short though true account of the barbarous conduct of the said John towards Baker and his family. Such conduct, exercised by a pre- tended or real civil magistrate, must be a reproach, a shame, and disgrace to the laws, restrictions, reg-
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SEIZURE OF CAPTAIN BAKER BY THE YORKERS.
ulations, peace, manners, good order, and economy, both of the laws of God and man. The above and much more can be attested with good authority, as many worthy persons were eye witnesses of the tragedy. The robbery has since been confessed by the said justice, and he has promised to make amends." *
* This last clause seems to have been added some time after the article was written. The reader will observe that the publication was more than two months after the occurrence it narrates.
FEMALE COURAGE.
FROM THOMPSON'S "GAZETTEER OF VERMONT."
DURING the revolutionary war, the inhabitants of the western part of the State of Vermont, which had then been settled but a few years, were much exposed to the depredations of the merciless Indians. Coming down Lake Champlain in their canoes, they generally fell upon the settlements before they had any warning of their approach. As they seldom molested women and children, it was customary for the men to flee into the woods till the Indians had performed their work of plunder. At one time a party of them entered the house of Mr. Philip Stone, of Bridport, Vt., giving him but just time to escape; and after stripping it of every thing of value to them, the principal sanhop put on the finest shirt it afforded, and, swaggering away to the hogsty, selected the best hog, and officiated as chief butcher, flourishing his fine bloody sleeves, while his comrades, whooping and dancing, carried it away to their canoes. At another time, a party of Indians, coming up the bank, were discovered by Mrs. Stone in season to throw some things out of a back window into the weeds, put a few in her bosom,
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FEMALE COURAGE.
and sit down to her carding. The Indians, after taking what they could find elsewhere, came about Mrs. Stone and the children. One of them, seem- ing to suspect that she had some valuable articles concealed about her person, attempted to pull them from her bosom ; whereupon she struck him on the face with the teeth side of her card so violently that he withdrew his hand, while a tall young sav- age was flourishing his tomahawk over her head. Upon this an old Indian cried out, " Good squaw ! good squaw !" and burst into a laugh of derision at his companions, for being beaten.
W
THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.
FROM WILLIAMS'S "HISTORY OF VERMONT."
1777.
GENERAL BURGOYNE was making very slow ad- vances from Lake Champlain towards Albany. Having received information that a large quantity of stores was laid up at Bennington, and guarded only by the militia, he formed the design of surpris- ing that place; and was made to believe that as soon as a detachment of the royal army should ap- pear in that quarter, it would receive effectual assist- ance from a large body of loyalists, who only waited for the appearance of a support, and would, in that event, come forward and aid the royal cause. Full of these expectations, he detached Colonel Baum, a German officer, with a select body of troops, to surprise the place. His force consisted of about five hundred regular troops, some Canadians, and more than one hundred Indians, with two light pieces of artillery. To facilitate their operations, and to be ready to take advantage of the success of the detachment, the royal army moved along the east bank of Hudson's River, and encamped nearly
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THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.
opposite to Saratoga, having at the same time thrown a bridge of rafts over the river, by which the army passed to that place. With a view to support Baum, if it should be found necessary, Lieutenant Colonel Breyman's corps, consisting of the Brunswick grenadiers, light infantry, and chas- seurs, were posted at Battenkill.
General Stark, having received information that a party of Indians were at Cambridge, sent Lieu- tenant Colonel Greg, on August 13, with a party of two hundred men, to stop their progress. Towards night he was informed by express that a large body of regulars was in the rear of the Indians, and ad- vancing towards Bennington. On this intelligence, Stark drew together his brigade and the militia that were at hand, and sent on to Manchester, to Colonel Warner, to bring on his regiment ; he sent expresses at the same time to the neighboring militia, to join him with the utmost speed. On the morning of the 14th he marched, with his troops, and at the distance of seven miles he met Greg on the retreat, and the enemy within a mile of him. Stark drew up his troops in the order of battle ; but the enemy, coming in sight, halted upon a very advantageous piece of ground. Baum perceived the Americans were too strong to be attacked with his present force, and sent an express to Burgoyne, with an account of his situation, and to have Breyman march immediately to support him. In the mean time, small parties of the Americans kept up a skir- mish with the enemy, killed and wounded thirty of
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