USA > Vermont > The history of Vermont, from its discovery to its admission into the Union in 1791. By Hiland Hall > Part 23
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Seth Warner was then chosen lieutenant colonel and Samuel Safford major, several members entering their dissent on the journal.
It seems evident from the disposition of both the convention and Gen. Schuyler to shift off the responsibility of confirming the nominations of field officers from the one to the other, as well as from the whole proceedings of the convention and the corres- pondence of the general in relation to the corps, including his letter above referred to, that the inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants had a strong feeling against them in the new governing authorities of New York, as well as in the old, and that the corps was organized by them, as expressed in the resolution of the convention " in conse- quence of a recommendation from the continental congress," rather than from free choice. The cold and hesitating manner in which the raising of the battalion was seconded by the New Yorkers, if it did not cause delay in its organization, could not but tend to increase the distrust of those engaged in it, and to produce mutual ill feeling.
It has already been seen that the policy and necessity of invading Canada had been early urged upon the Continental congress by Col. Allen. If his counsel had been immediately followed, it is quite probable the result would have been more favorable than when attempted with the approbation of that body, at a later day Gen. Schuyler's health not permitting him to continue in the active com- mand on the northern frontier, the American forces were led by Gen. Richard Montgomery, who on the 17th of September, laid siege to St. Johns, a fortified post near the northern outlet of Lake Champlain. The place was garrisoned by the greatest part of two British regiments and contained nearly all the regular troops in Canada. It was also well supplied with artillery, ammunition and military stores. Within two or three days Montgomery was joined by Warner with his corps of Green Mountain Boys, and Warner was sent, with a portion of his men, to the St. Lawrence in the vicinity of Montreal, to watch the motions of the enemy. Col. Allen, when left out of the corps of Green Mountain Boys, had offered his services to Gen. Schuyler as a volunteer, and was employed by him, with the understanding, to use Allen's language, "that he should be considered as an officer the same as though he had a commission, and should as occasion might require, command certain detachments of the army." In the month of August, he was sent by Gen. Schuyler from Ticonderoga into Canada, with interpreters and letters to the Canadians to cultivate their friend- ship and assure them "that the design of the army was against the English garrisons and not the country, their liberties or religion."
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In this mission he appears to have been quite successful. He was afterwards, during the siege of St. Johns, employed by Gen. Mont- gomery to make a second tour in Canada with the same object. He went through several parishes, "preaching politics," as he says, and mustering recruits for the army. On the 20th of September, he wrote in high spirits to Montgomery from a point some miles east of the river Sorel, that he had two hundred and fifty Canadians under arms, and that they gathered fast as he marched. "You may rely upon it," he said, "that I shall join you in abont three days with five hundred or more Canadian volunteers. I could raise one or two thousand in a week's time, but will first visit the army with a less number, and if necessary will go again recruiting. Those that used to be enemies to our cause come cap in hand to me; and I swear by the Lord I can raise three times the number of our army in Canada, provided you continue the siege." He did not, however, join Montgomery, but after crossing the Sorel towards the St. Lawrence, and while on his way to St. Johns, with about eighty men, mostly Canadians, he on the morning of the 24th fell in with Maj. John Brown, who was at the head of a party of about two hundred Americans and Canadians. Brown proposed an attack upon Mont- real, which he thought might be easely taken by surprise, as its inhabitants were not apprehensive of danger. It was then agreed between them, that Allen should cross the St. Lawrence from Lon- gueil, a few miles below Montreal, with his party, and that Brown with his two hundred men should cross at Laprairie above the city. The passage was to be made that night, and early the next morning, on the exchange of three huzzas, which were first to be given by Brown's party, the town was to be attacked. Allen, having added about thirty " English Americans " to his party, crossed over as had been agreed; but daylight appeared, the morning more away, and no signal from Brown was given. He had failed to perform his part of the undertaking. The surprise of the place had become impracticable, and Allen, instead of endeavoring to save himself by a retreat, determined to maintain his ground. A mixed multitude composed of forty regular troops, several hundred English settlers and Canadians, and some Indians, then in Montreal, came out against him. A sharp conflict ensued, which lasted about two hours. Allen appears to have commanded skilfully and to have fought bravely, until most of the Canadians had deserted him, when, overpowered by numbers, he was obliged to surrender. Several were killed and wounded on both sides, and Allen with thirty-eight of his men were taken prisoners. They were immediately loaded
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with irons, put on board a man of war, and in that condition taken to England. This attempt of Allen, which was without authority from his commanding officers, was censured by both Montgomery and Schuyler, as rashi and imprudent, and complained of as having an unfavorable effect upon the cause of the colonies among the Canadians and Indians. The information, however, of the condition of Montreal upon which Allen acted was doubtless in the main correct, and if he had received the cooperation from Brown which he expected, it is quite probable the town might have been cap- tured.1 Brook Watson, an English merchant, afterwards lord mayor of London, who by professions of friendship for the colonies had obtained from the New York congress a passport through the Ame- rican lines into Canada, but who was a bitter enemy, was in Mont- real soon after the attempt of Allen ; and in a letter from there to Gov. Franklin of New Jersey, under date of the 19th of October, wrote as follows:
" Such is the wretched state of this unhappy province, that Col. Allen with a few despicable wretches, would have taken this city on the 25th ultimo, had not its inhabitants marched out to give him battle. They fought, conquered and thereby saved the province for a while. Allen with his banditti were mostly taken prisoners. He is now in chaines on board the Gaspee. This little action has changed the face of things; the Canadians before were ninetenths for the Bostonians; they are now returned to their duty."
It is difficult, however, on Allen's own version of the affair, to justify his departure from his engagement to join Montgomery, for the purpose of entering upon this unauthorized expedition. His ambition to distinguish himself and to add to the laurels he had already won at Ticonderoga, probably induced him to engage in the undertaking without sufficiently considering either the chances or the consequences of its failure.
Montgomery, who had been pushing the siege of St. Johns, but under very embarrassing circumstances, for the want of ammunition and other materials of war, had been much aided by the capture of Chambly, a small fortress situated lower down the Sorel, which had
1 Major, afterwards Col. Brown. was "a soldier of great courage and high moral worth," with a good military record on other occasions. He was killed at Stone Arabia on the Mohawk river, Oct. 19, 1780, in a battle with a body of tories and Indians. In the absence of any testimony to the con- trary it is perhaps fair to presume that some unexpected obstacle put it out of his power to perform his part in the attack. See Allen's Biog. Dic., and Stone's Life of Brunt, vol. 2, p. 115 - 121.
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been effected on the 18th of October, by a party under Majors Brown and Livingston. About one hundred prisoners were taken, and what was of more importance, one hundred and twenty barrels of powder and a large quantity of military stores and provisions were obtained. The garrison at St. Johns consisted of between six and seven hundred men, who in the hopes of being relieved by Gen. Carlton, made a resolute defence. Carlton exerted himself for this purpose, and mustered about a thousand men, including regulars, the militia of Montreal, the Canadians and the Indians. With these he proposed to cross the St. Lawrence from Montreal, and join Col. McLean who had collected a few hundred Scotch emigrants and had taken post at the mouth of the Sorel. With their united forces, he hoped to be able to raise the seige of St. Johns, and relieve the garrison. With this object in view, Carlton embarked his troops at Montreal, intending to cross the St. Lawrence at Longuiel. Their embarkation was observed from the opposite shore by Col. Warner, who with about three hundred Green Mountain Boys and some troops from New York, watched their motions and prepared for their approach. Warner opened upon them a well directed and incessant fire of musketry and grape shot from a four pounder, by which unex- pected assault, they were thrown into great confusion and soon retreated in disorder, and gave up the attempt. When the news of Carlton's retreat reached McLean he abondoned his position at the mouth of the Sorel, and hastened to Quebec. Information of Carlton's defeat being communicated to Maj. Preston, the commander at St. Johns, he gave up all hopes of relief, and the garrison laid down their arms on the 3d of November, marched out of the works and became prisoners of war to the number of five hundred regulars, and over one hundred Canadian volunteers.
Col. Warner, having repulsed Gen. Carlton and caused McLean to retire to Quebec, proceeded to erect a battery at the mouth of the Sorel, which should command the passage of the St. Lawrence, and thus block up Carlton at Montreal. In this state of things Mont- gomery arrived from St. Johns and took possession of Montreal, without opposition, on the 13th of November, Gen. Carlton having abandoned it to its fate, and escaped down the river to Quebec. A large number of armed vessels loaded with provisions and military stores, and Gen. Prescott, with one hundred and twenty British officers and privates, also attempted to pass down the river, but they were all captured at the mouth of the Sorel.
Warner's regiment having served as volunteers, and the men being too miserably clothed to endure a winter campaign in that
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severe climate, were honorably discharged on the 20th of November, and returned to their homes.1
A body of troops under Col. Arnold had been sent from Maine, through the wilderness to attack Quebec. After enduring almost incredible hardships, they reached the vicinity of that place about the time of the abandonment of Montreal by Carlton. Montgomery followed Carlton down the St. Lawrence and, with a few hundred men, joined Arnold before Quebec, taking command of the united forces, which did not number over twelve hundred effective men, including two hundred Canadian volunteers. Though the fortifica- tions of the city were of great strength and the garrison double that of the besiegers, it was finally determined to attempt to carry the place by storm. The attack was made on the 31st of December. The troops fought with great bravery and resolution, but were repulsed with the loss of about sixty in killed and wounded, and over three hundred prisoners. Among the killed was Gen. Montgomery, the heroic commander ; Col. Arnold, the second in rank, was severely wounded. Thus closed the year 1775, in the northern department, in disaster and gloom.
1 American Archives, vol. 2, pp. 891, 957, 1075, 1255, 1760 ; vol. 3, pp. 17, 243, 463, 754, 793-801, 952, 953, 954, 973, 1124, 1132, 1342-1344, 1393, 1602. Jour. Cont. Cong., June 23. Jour, N. Y. Cong., June 12, July 1, 4, 15, Sep. 1, 1775. Thompson's Vermont, pp. 35, 36. Allen's Narrative of his Cap- tivity, pp. 25-30. Chipman's Life of Warner, pp. 30-39. Sparks's Life of Allen. Lossing's Life of Schuyler.
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CHAPTER XX.
MILITARY AFFAIRS, AND PETITION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS TO CONGRESS.
1776.
Early in January Gen. Wooster in Canada, calls earnestly for reinforcements- Col. Warner raises a regiment of Green Mountain Boys and joins the army before Quebec - Evacuation of Canada - In July Warner is made colonel of a continental regiment, to be raised on the grants - Destruction of the American fleet ou lake Champlain, and threatened attack on Ticonderoga - Aid furnished from the grants to Gen. Gates for the defence of that post - Carlton retires into Canada-Civil affairs of the inhabitants of the grants - The revolutionary government of New York equally hostile with the colonial to the New Hampshire land titles- Petition to congress of the convention of January 16, 1776, and proceedings thereon.
B DY the sudden death of Montgomery, the command in Canada devolved on Gen. Wooster. He had been left at Montreal in charge of the troops at that place and its vicinity, and he immedi- ately made every effort to obtain reenforcements, from the colonies. On the 6th of Jan. 1776, he wrote to Col. Warner for aid in the most pressing terms. The following are extracts from his letter. After giving a general account of the misfortune at Quebec, he says : "I have not time to give you all the particulars, but this much will show you that in consequence of this defeat our present pros- pect in this country is rendered very dubious, and unless we can be quickly reenforced, perhaps they may be fatal, not only to us who are stationed here but also to the colonies in general ; as in my opinion the safety of the colonies, especially the frontiers, very greatly, depends upon keeping possession of this country. I have sent an express to Gen. Schuyler, Gen. Washington and the congress, but you know how far they have to go, and that it is very uncertain how long it will be before we can have relief from them. You, sir, and the valiant Green Mountain corps, are in our neighborhood. You all have arms, and I am confident ever stand ready to lend a helping hand to your brethren in distress, therefore let me beg of you to raise as many men as you can, and somehow get into this country and stay with us till we can have relief from the colonies. You will see that proper officers are appointed under you and both officers and privates will have the same pay as the continental troops. It will be well for your men to set out at soon as they can be col-
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lected. It is not so much matter whether together or not, but let them be sent on by tens, twenties, thirties, forties or fifties, as fast as they can be collected. It will have a good effect upon the Cana- dians to see succor coming on. You will be good enough to send copies of this letter or such parts of it as you think proper to the people below you. I can but hope the people will make a push to get into this country, and I am confident I shall see you here with your men in a very short time." Gen. Wooster was not disappointed. He did see Warner with his men in Canada "in a very short time." Their promptness and alacrity on this alarming occasion elicited the notice and approval of both Washington and Schuyler. The latter on learning the fate of Montgomery and the consequent unfortunate condition of affairs in Canada, wrote from Albany immediately Janu- ary 13th, to Washington for reenforcements from the army before Boston. These could not be spared, and Washington, having heard of the patriotic exertions that were making on the New Hampshire Grants, wrote Schuyler on the 18th that he trusted troops from the main army would not be needed, for that " Col. Arnold and his corps would soon be joined by a number of men under Col. Warner, and others from Connecticut, who it was said had marched immedi- ately on getting intelligence of the melancholy affair," and Schuyler on the 22d, wrote Washington, withdrawing his former request for reenforcements, and assigning as the reason therefor that " Col. Warner had been so successful in sending men into Canada ; ". and that regiments were soon expected from the western part of Massa- chusetts and from other colonies.
Warner, indeed, had peculiar advantages in the performance of this service. The Green Mountain Boys had long been armed in their own defence against the land claimants under the Colonial government of New York. In that controversy, as well as in the new struggle with the mother country, he had been their trusted and chosen leader, and they had been accustomed to rally at his call. They gathered about him at once, and first among the reenforce- ments to the troops before Quebec was his regiment. The winter campaign proved extremely distressing; the troops were in want of comfortable clothing, barracks and provisions. Most of them took the small-pox and great numbers of them died. At the opening of the spring, in May, a large body of British troops arrived at Quebec, to relieve the garrison, and the American armny was under the necessity of making a hasty retreat. Warner's position was one of the greatest danger, and required the utmost attention and perse- verance. He was always in the rear, picking up the wounded and
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diseased, assisting and encouraging those who were least able to take care of themselves, and he generally kept but a few miles in advance of the British, who closely pursued the Americans from post to post.
By his habitual vigilance and care, Warner brought off most of the invalids, and with the corps of the diseased and infirm, reached Ticonderoga late in the month of June, a few days after the main army had taken possession of that post. Canada had been wholly abandoned, but as the Americans were possessed of all the shipping on the lake, no immediate invasion by the enemy was apprehended, and Warner's regiment, with many other troops, were discharged.
The services of Warner and his men were not overlooked. Hitherto his rank had been that of lieutenant colonel, and his corps of a temporary character. On the 5th of July, the day after the declaration of independence, and about two weeks after the return of Warner and his men from Canada. on the report of the board of war, congress resolved to organize, under its own authority, a regi- ment of regular troops for permanent service, to be under the com- mand of officers who had served in Canada, of which regiment Seth Warner was appointed colonel, and Samuel Safford lieutenant colonel. Most of the other officers were those from the New Hamp- shire Grants who had served with Warner in Canada, in one or both of the batallions of Green Mountain Boys.
On the evacuation of Canada by the troops of the colonies, Gen. Carlton immediately set about constructing vessels at St. Johns, for the purpose of obtaining the command of Lake Champlain; and such were his advantages of men and means that, at the end of a few months, his naval force greatly exceeded that which the Ameri- cans, with their limited resources, had been able to prepare for service. Col. Arnold in command of the American flotilla, on the 11th and 13th of October, made bold and desperate resistance to the attacks of the British fleet, but he was finally overcome. Destroying most of his vessels, he was able to escape with the greater portion of his men.
Gen. Gates, who was now in command at Ticonderoga, apprehend- ing that Carlton would follow up his naval success by an attack upon that post, sought earnestly for reenforcements of both men and supplies. Anticipating this call, Col. Warner had notified "the officers of each regiment of militia on the Grants," that their ser- vices would be immediately needed, and on the 20th of October, he wrote Gates from Castleton informing him of the receipt of his orders the previous evening, and that he had in consequence requested the men to march ; that Col. Brownson's men were already
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on the way, that he had sent an express to Col. Robinson who com- manded the lower regiment, that he had no doubt they would soon be on the march and that he expected a part of them every moment. The men on the west side of the Green mountain had been organ- ized into three regiments by the committees and conventions of the New Hampshire Grants, and they turned out en masse, and joined Gates at Mount Independence. On the 20th, Mr. Yancey, the commissary of that department, addressed a letter to the chair- man of the committee at Bennington, informing him that an immediate supply of flour was necessary for the subsistence of the army, and urging the committee in the most pressing terms to collect and forward at once all that was within their power. The next day after the receipt of this requisition, Nathan Clark, the chairman of the committee returned for answer that one thousand bushels of wheat had been collected and was being ground at the mills, and would be forwarded as fast as possible, but saying, " that the militia having left us almost to a man. renders it very difficult to furnish assistance to convey what we have already on hand." and suggesting the propriety of discharging some of the militia for that service. For their promptness and energy in this matter, the committee not only received the very warm thanks of the commissary, but also a dispatch from Deputy Adjutant General Trumbull. in which he says, " The general has seen your letter to Mr. Yancey and directed me to return you his most cordial thanks for the zeal you expressed for your insulted country. Agreeable to the request of the committee, he has ordered one of the companies from your town to return for the purpose of assisting in a work so necessary for the good of the army."
The application of Commissary Yancey to the Bennington commit- tee, a body not recognized as lawful by the governing men of New York, appears to have been quite distasteful to them. A passage in the letter of Mr. Yancy, in which he gave as a reason for his appli- cation for flour, " that from the number of disaffected persons in and about Albany there was great danger of too long a delay of the contracted provisions for the army from that place " gave great offence. A committee, which had been appointed under the authority of the New York convention, to repair to Albany and co- operate with Gen. Schuyler, took up the subject with much earnest- ness, procured a copy of the letter, examined witnesses in regard to the manner in which such information had been communicated to Mr. Yancy, his motives in making the statement, and made a very long report on the subject, censuring the language of Mr. Yancey as
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calculated to " sow jealousy and distrust at such a critical juncture," and finally concluding with a resolution appointing a sub-committee consisting of Mr. Robert R. Livingston, Mr. Robert Yates and Mr. Duane, to pursue thie investigation further. But no additional report is found. It is probable that the real offence of the commissary was in making the application to a body of men who had long been denounced by the old government of New York as enemies to the public peace rather than in the language in which it was couched.
Gen. Carlton landed his forces at Crown Point, but after threat- ening Ticonderoga for about two weeks retired into Canada for the winter. Thus ending the campaign for the year 1776, in the northern department. The militia which had been hastily collected to re- enforce the garrison were discharged early in November. On dismis- sing the regiment of Col. Robinson from service the general addressed to him a testimonial as follows :
TICONDEROGA, November 9, 1776. To Col. Moses Robinson.
SIR : I am to return to you and the officers and men of your regiment my sincere thanks for the spirit and alertness you have shown in marching to the defence of this important pass, when threatened with an immediate attack from the enemy. I now gentle- men dismiss you with honor. I also certify that neither of you nor any of your officers have received any pay from me for your services on this occasion. That I leave to be settled and adjusted between your state and the general congress of all the United States. With sentiments of gratitude and respect.
I am sir your most obedient humble servant, HORATIO GATES.
A letter of like tenor was also delivered to Col. Brownson. 1
The civil affairs of the people of the New Hampshire Grants will now demand our attention. Amid the stirring events of the carly period of the revolutionary struggle, the controversy with New York seemed for a time to have subsided. The Colonial government of the province had become practically extinct, and no regular authority had been substituted in its place. The people of the old colony were counselled and led rather than governed by committees and
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