USA > Vermont > Early history of Vermont, Vol. I > Part 16
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The next thing that Allen sought to accomplish was to get possession of a British sloop of war which was laying at St. Johns. To accomplish this they proceeded to arm and man a schooner and
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sent Captain Arnold with it to accomplish the un- dertaking. Allen took command of a batteau. The schooner was the fastest sailing craft and Ar- nold arrived at St. Johns, possessed himself of the sloop, a Sergeant and 12 men before Allen could arrive, and sailed with the prize for Ticonderoga, when he met Allen, who went on board the sloops, where "several loyal Congress healths were drank." Now the Green Mountain Boys were masters of Lake Champlain and the garrison de- pending thereon.
The following is another account of this Can- adian enterprise that has been furnished me, viz .:-
"After taking Ticonderoga, and in order to obtain complete control of Lake Champlain, Allen desired to get possession of a British armed sloop which was anchored in the Richelieu river at St. Johns. It was accordingly arranged between him and Benedict Arnold that the latter should start for St. Johns in a schooner which Capt. Herrick had taken at Skenesborough (now Whitehall), and that Allen should follow with three batteaux, which were at Crown Point. Arnold, on the 17th of May, got within thirty miles of St. Johns, when the wind failed him. He pushed forward in small boats, with thirty-five men; surprised the garrison at St. Johns and seized the sloop. Learning that a detachment of British troops, with artillery, was on its way to St. Johns from Montreal, Arnold did not await Allen's arrival at St. Johns, but started back, taking with him the sloop and twenty prisoners. Fifteen miles this side of St. Johns he met Allen with, as the accounts say,
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about one hundred men; but from Allen's letter it appears that he had a smaller number. Arnold informed Allen of the near approach of the British troops and advised him to turn back; but he refused to do so, saying that he would push on to St. Johns, and hold- possession of the fort there. But the English troops were there before him, and when he appeared on the opposite side of the river, they opened fire on him with six field pieces and two hundred muskets. Allen returned the fire; but perceiving that he was heavily outnumbered, he abandoned the attempt, re-embarked hastily on his boats, leaving three men behind, and returned to Ticonderoga. He intended, as his letter shows, to return in stronger force and seize and fortify Isle aux Noix, but this purpose was not carried out at that time. We submit Allen's letter below:
COL. ETHAN ALLEN TO CAPT. NOAH LEE.
Sr .- This Hour Capt. Warner and myself Ar- rived at Ticonderoga with the soldiery, consisting of Seventy six men Including Officers. Wemet with Cannonading of Grape shot. The Musick was both Terrible and Delightful. We were across the water at the Distance of 80 or 100 rods. None of our party was killed, the regulars broke their ranks, but we know not as we killed any of them. The council of war agreed to immediately take Posession of the Isle of Noah, which is ten miles this side Saint Johns and fortify it and advance all the troops thither we can spare from every station on the lake. This is therefore (to) Desire and Earnestly request you to Lay this Letter before
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Those of our friends that are at Your Station to repair here for the purpose above
Mentioned-I should think 5 or 6 men sufficient to occupy Your Station and forward Provisions Except Proper hands to manage the water Crafts for that purpose I Desire You would send all the Soldiers You Can and urge forward Provisions and Ammunition.
Fail Not. Given under my Hand, the 21st day of May 1775.
Ethan Allen Commander of the G. M. Boys.
N B .- this Express is by the Agreement of the Council of War.
To Capt. Noah Lee, Commandant at Skeens- borough."
Early in September, 1775, the little army under the command of Generals Schuyler and Mont- gomery, was ordered to advance into Canada. Allen was at Ticonderoga at the time the orders were received. The Generals of the army requested Allen to attend them in the expedition; he com- plied with their request though he had no commis- sion. He was told he should, as occasion required, command detachments of the army, and advanced with it to Isle-aux-Noix, containing about eighty- five acres, ten miles north of the boundary line of Vermont, where the British had a small garrison. From there he made two tours into Canada to observe the disposition, designs and movements of the inhabitants, and to let them know that the design of the army was only against the English garrisons, and would not interfere with their liberties or religion. While there he met Colonel
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Brown, of the army under the command of Gen- eral Montgomery, who desired that Allen should procure canoes, so as to cross the river St. Law- rence a little North of Montreal, and he, Brown, would cross it a little to the South of the town with near two hundred men, and capture the city. Allen's party consisted of 110 men, eighty of whom were Canadians. As agreed with Brown, Allen crossed the river in the night of the 24th of September.
The story of Allen's attempt to take Montreal and the result of his failure to do it I will give in his own words :-
"Soon after day-break, I set a guard between me and the town, with special orders to let no per- son whatever pass or repass them, another guard on the other end of the road, with like directions; in the meantime, I reconnoitered the best ground to make a defence, expecting Col. Brown's party was landed on the other side of the town, he hav- ing, the day before, agreed to give three loud huz- zas with his men early in the morning, which sig- nal I was to return, that we might each know that both parties were landed; but the sun, by this time, being nearly two hours high, and the sign failing, I began to conclude myself to be in premunire, and would have crossed the river back again, but I knew the enemy would have discov- ered such an attempt; and as there could not more than one-third part of my troops cross at one time, the other two-thirds would of course fall into their hands. This I could not reconcile to myown feelings as a man, much less as an officer: I there-
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fore concluded to maintain the ground, if possible, and all to fare alike. In consequence of this resol- ution, I despatched two messengers, one to La- prairie, to Col. Brown, and the other to l'Assomp- tion, a French settlement, to Mr. Walker, who was in our interest, requesting their speedy as- sistance, giving them, at the same time to under- stand my critical situation. In the mean time, sundry persons came to my guards, pretending to be friends, but were by them taken prisoners and brought to me. These I ordered to confinement, until their friendship could be further confirmed; for I was jealous they were spies, as they proved to be afterwards. One of the principal of them making his escape, exposed the weakness of my party, which was the final cause of my misfortune; for I have been since informed that Mr. Walker, agreeably to my desire, exerted himself, and had raised a considerable number of men for my as- sistance, which brought him into difficulty after- wards, but upon hearing of my misfortune, he dis- banded them again.
The town of Montreal was in a great tumult. General Carleton and the royal party, made every preparation to go on board their vessel of force, as I was afterwards informed, but the spy escaped from my guard to the town, occasioned an altera- tion in their policy, and emboldened Gen. Carle- ton to send the force which he had there collected, out against me. I had previously chosen my ground, but when I saw the number of the enemy as they sallied out of the town, I perceived that it would be a day of trouble if not of rebuke; but I
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had no chance to flee, as Montreal was situated on an island, and the St. Lawrence cut off my communication to Gen. Montgomery's camp. I encouraged my soldiery to bravely defend them- selves, that we should soon' have help, and that we should be able to keep the ground, if no more. This, and much more I affirmed with the greatest seeming assurance, and which in reality I thought to be in some degree probable.
The enemy consisted of not more than forty regular troops, together with a mixed multitude, chiefly Canadians, with a number of English who lived in town, and some Indians; in all to the num- ber of near five hundred.
The reader will notice that most of my party were Canadians; indeed it was a motley parcel which composed both parties. However, the ene- my began the attack from wood-piles, ditches, build- ings, and such like places, at a considerable distance, and I returned the fire from a situation more than equally advantageous. The attack began be- tween two and three o'clock in the afternoon, just before which I ordered a volunteer by the name of Richard Young, with a detachment of nine men as a flank guard, which, under the cover of the bank of the river, could not only annoy the enemy, but at the same time, serve as a flank guard to the left of the main body.
The fire continued for some time on both sides; and I was confident that such a remote method of attack could not carry the ground, provided it should be continued till night; but near half the body of the enemy began to flank round to my
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right; upon which I ordered a volunteer by the name of John Dugan, who had lived many years in Canada, and understood the French language, to detach about fifty of the Canadians, and post himself at an advantageous ditch, which was on my right, to prevent my being surrounded. He ad- vanced with the detachment, but instead of occu- pying the post, made his escape, as did likewise Mr. Young upon the left, with their detachments. I soon perceived that the enemy was in the pos- session of the ground, which Dugan should have occupied. At this time I had about forty-five men with me; some of whom were wounded; the enemy kept closing round me, nor was it in my power to prevent it; by which means, my situation, which was advantageous in the first part of the attack, ceased to be so in the last; and being almost en- tirely surrounded with such vast unequal numbers I ordered a retreat, but found that those of the enemy, who were of the country, and their In- dians, could run as fast as my men, though the regulars could not. Thus I retreated near a mile, and some of the enemy, with the savages kept flanking me, and others crowded hard in the rear. In fine, I expected, in a very short time to try the world of spirits; for I was apprehensive that no quarter would be given me, and therefore had determined to sell my life as dear as I could. One of the enemy's officers, boldly pressing in the rear, discharged his fusee at me; the ball whistled near me, as did many others that day. I returned the salute, and missed him, as running had put us both out of breath: for I conclude we were not
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frightened: I then saluted him with my tongue in a harsh manner, and told him that, inasmuch as his numbers were far superior to mine, I would surrender, provided I could be treated with honor, and be assured of good quarters for myself and the men who were with me; and he answered Ishould; another officer, coming up directly after, confirmed the treaty; upon which I agreed to surrender with my party, which then consisted of thirty-one ef- fective men, and seven wounded. I ordered them to ground their arms, which they did.
The officer I capitulated with, then directed me and my party to advance towards him, which was done; I handed him my sword, and in half a minute after, a savage, part of whose head was shaved, being almost naked and painted, with feathers intermixed with the hair of the other side of his head, came running to me with an incredible swiftness; he seemed to advance with more than mortal speed; as he approached near me, his hellish visage was beyond all description; snake's eyes appear innocent in comparison of his; his features distorted; malice, death, murder, and the wrath of devils and damned spirits are the emblems of his countenance; and in less than twelve feet of me. presenting his firelock; at the instant of his pres- ent, I twitched the officer, to whom I gave my sword, between me and the savage; but he flew round with great fury, trying to single me out to shoot me without killing the officer; but by this time I was nearly as nimble as he, keeping the of- ficer in such a position that his danger was my de- fence; but in less than half a minute, I was attack-
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ed by just such another imp of hell: Then I made the officer fly around with incredible velocity, for a few seconds of time, when I perceived a Canadian, who had lost one eye, as appeared afterwards, taking my part against the savages; and in an in- stant an Irishman came to my assistance and drove away the fiends, swearing by Jasus he would kill them. This tragic scene composed my mind. The escaping from so awful a death, made even imprisonment happy; the more so as my con- querers on the field treated me with great civility and politeness.
The regular officers said that they were very happy to see Col. Allen: I answered them, that I should rather chose to have seen them at General Montgomery's camp. The gentlemen replied, that they gave full credit to what I said, and as I walked to the town, which was, as I should guess, more than two miles, a British officer walked at my right hand, and one of the French noblesse at my left the latter of which, in the action, had his eyebrow carried away by a glancing shot, but was nevertheless very merry and facetious, and no abuse was offered me till I came to the barrack yard at Montreal, where I met General Prescott, who asked my name, which I told him: He then asked me, whether I was that Col. Allen, who took Ticonderoga. I told him I was the very man: Then he shook his cane over my head, calling many hard names, among which he frequently used the word rebel, and put himself in a great rage. I told him he would do well not to cane me. for I was not accustomed to it, and shook my fist at
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him, telling him that was the beetle of mortality for him, if he offered to strike; upon which Capt. M' Cloud, of the British, pulled him by the skirt, and whispered to him, as he afterwards told me, to this import; that it was inconsistent with his honor to strike a prisoner. He then ordered a sergeant's command with fixed bayonets to come forward, and kill thirteen Canadians, which were included in the treaty aforesaid.
It cut me to the heart to see the Canadians in so hard a case, in consequence of their having been true to me; they were wringing their hands, say- ing their prayers, as I concluded, and expected im- mediate death. I therefore stepped between the executioners and the Canadians, opened my clothes, and told Gen. Prescott to thrust his bay- nets into my breast, for I was the sole cause of the Canadians taking up arms.
The guard, in the mean time, rolling their eye- balls from the General to me, as though impa- tiently waiting his dread commands to sheath their bayonets in my heart; I could, however, plainly discern, that he was in a suspense and quandary about the matter. This gave me addi- tional hopes of succeeding; for my design was not to die, but to save the Canadians by a finesse. The general stood a minute, when he made me the fol- lowing reply; "I will not execute you now; but you shall grace a halter at Tyburn, God damn you."
I remember I disdained his mentioning such a place; I was, notwithstanding, a little pleased with the expression, as it significantly conveyed
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to me the idea of postponing the present appear- ance of death; besides his sentence was by no means final, as to "gracing a halter," although I had anxiety about it, after I landed in England, as the reader will find in the course of this history. Gen. Prescott then ordered one of his officers to take me on board the Gaspee schooner of war, and confine me, hands and feet, in irons, which was done the same afternoon I was taken.
The action continued an hour and three-quar- ters, by the watch, and I know not to this day how many of my men were killed, though I am certain there were but few. If I remember right, 7 were wounded.
I now come to the description of the irons, which were put on me: The hand-cuff was of the common size and form, but my leg irons, I should imagine would weigh thirty pounds; the bar was eight feet long, and very substantial; the shackles, which encompassed my ancles, were very tight. I was told by the officer, who put them on, that it was the king's plate, and I heard other of their officers say, that it would weigh forty weight. The irons were so close upon my ancles, that I could not lay down in any other manner than on my back. I was put into the lowest and most wretched part of the vessel, where I got the favor of a chest to sit on; the same answered for my bed at night; and having procured some little blocks, of the guard who day and night with fixed bay- onets, watched over me, to lie under each end of the large bar of my leg irons, to preserve my ancles from galling, while I sat on the chest, or 25
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lay back on the same, though most of the time, night and day, I sat on it; but at length, having a desire to lie down on my side, which the closeness of my irons forbid, I desired the captain to loosen them for that purpose; but was denied the favor. The Captain's name was Royal, who did not seem to be an ill-natured man; but oftentimes said, that his express orders were to treat me with such sev- erity, which was disagreeable to his own feelings; nor did he ever) insult me, though many others, who came on board did. One of the officers by the name of Bradley, was very generous to me; he would often send me victuals from his own table; nor did a day fail, but he sent me a good drink of grog.
The reader is now invited back to the time I was put in irons. I requested the privilege to write to General Prescott, which was granted. I reminded him of the kind and generous manner of my treatment of the prisoners I took at Ticonder- oga; the injustice and ungentleman-like usage I had met with from him, and demanded better usage, but received no answer from him. I soon after wrote to Gen. Carleton, which met the same success. In the mean while, many of those who were permitted to see me, were very insulting ..
I was confined in the manner I have related, on board the Gaspee schooner, about six weeks; during which time I was obliged to throw out plenty of extravagant language, which answered certain purposes, at that time, better than to grace a history."
On one occasion Allen on being insulted, in an-
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ger twisted off with his teeth a ten-penny nail that went through the bar of his hand cuff ; one. of the bystanders said, he could eat iron. Allen was put on to an armed vessel laying off against Quebec, the officers of which treated him kindly. One of the officers, Capt. Littlejohn said, "that a brave man should not be used as a rascal, on board his ship." While the ship was laying there Capt. Littlejohn was challenged on the plains of Abra- ham. The fight was to take place the next morn- ing. The Captain acquainted Allen of the affair, whereupon, Allen told him he would be glad to testify his gratitude to him by acting the part of a faithful second ; Littlejohn replied he wanted no better man, but said, I am a King's Officer and you a prisoner under my care, you must, therefore go with me, to the place appointed in disguise, and engage upon the honor of a gentleman, that whether I die or live, you will return to my Lieu- tenant on board this ship. To this Allen solemnly agreed. The controversy was settled without fighting.
On Nov. 11, 1775, Allen was put on the vessel called Adamant with other prisoners, under the power of an English merchant, Brook Watson, a man of cruel and malicious disposition. During the voyage Allen was insulted by every black- guard sailor, and Tory on board. Allen appealed to Watson's honor for better treatment. Watson told him it was impertinent for a capital offender to talk of honor or humanity; that anything short of a halter was too good for him and that would be his portion soon after he landed in Eng-
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land. A lieutenant among the Tories told him he ought to have been executed for rebellion against New York, and spat in his face, for which act Allen sprang at him and partly knocked him down, when the lieutenant fled to others for protection. Allen and the other prisoners were kept in a filthy dark room forty days without means of clensing their bodies, and covered with body lice, resulting in sickness.
Allen was landed at Falmouth, England, in the same suit of clothes in which he was taken prison- er, and there was exhibited to the citizens, of that place, who were excited by curiosity. In England Allen was anxious on the question as to what should be his fate. It was talked generally that he would be hanged. Parliament was divided on the question. But the Americans had the most prisoners in their power, and if the British resorted to hanging, it was a game that two could play at; Allen was well treated in the Castle where he was imprisoned. He requested the privilege of writing to Congress, and after a while got permission to do so. He wrote giving an account of his treat- ment, after having been taken prisoner, under the orders of General Carleton. He desired Congress to desist from matters of retaliation until they knew the course that the English would take respecting their treatment towards him, and that if retaliation should become necessary, it might be exercised, not according to the smallness of his character in America, but in proportion to the im- portance of the cause for which he suffered. The design of the letter was to save his neck from the
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halter. He managed to have the letter fall into the hands of Lord North before it was sent to Congress, although he did not tell the officers, to whom it was delivered, that that was his purpose. The next day after it had been delivered to the of- ficer in charge, who had given Allen license to write, the officer said to him, "Do you think we are fools in England, and would send your letter to Congress with instructions to retaliate on our people. I have sent your letter to Lord North." Allen at the Castle behaved in a daring soldier-like manner, thinking that would tend to his preserva- tion better than concession and timidy. But he had determined, that if cruel death was inevitable he would face it undaunted ; and when he arrived in the world of spirits, he said, he expected he "should be as well treated as other gentlemen of his merit." While imprisoned in the Castle people came for fifty miles distant to see, question, and make free with him in conservation. One asked him what had been his occupation in life, and Al- len replied, he had studied divinity, but was a conjurer by profession, and had conjured them out of Ticonderoga. They would take him on the parade in the Castle where large numbers could see and hear him. He would harangue his audi- ences on the impracticability of conquering the American Colonies, and expattiated on American freedon1.
Allen refused to take a bowl of punch that he had ordered from the hand of a servant. He used to argue, with learned gentlemen who came to see him, on moral philosophy and Christianity, and
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they seemed to be surprised at his power of argu- ment. On his passage to England he was forbid- den to walk on deck, but he disregarded the order and went on deck; this enraged the captain who said to him, "Did I not order you not to come on deck?" Allen replied "that it was the place for gen- tlemen." The Captain enjoined him not to walk on the same side of the deck that he did. The fleet rendez-voused at the Cove of Cork, and Allen with the other prisoners were generously treated by several merchants, who contributed largely to their relief. They sailed from England Jan. Sth, and from the Cove of Cork the 12th day of Feb- ruary and were taken to Madrid. When they sailed from Madrid Allen was treated cruelly and Cap- tain Symonds seemed in no way anxious to pre- serve the lives of the rebels, as he called the prison- ers, but wished them all dead. As Allen expostu- lated with the Captain and his men for such treat- ment; the Captain said he "needed no directions from him how to treat a rebel; that the British would conquer the American rebels, hang the Con- gress, and such as promoted the rebellion, and you (Allen) in particular, and retake their own prisoners, so that your (Allen's) life is of no con- sequence in the scale of their policy." Allen replied that if he was safe till they conquered America be- fore they hung him, he should die of old age. The ship in which Allen and the other prisoners were confined cast anchor in the harbor of Cape Fear in North Carolina. They next anchord, the ship Mer- cury, on which Allen was then confined, near New York, and arrived at Halifax about the middle
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