USA > Vermont > The history of Vermont, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 4
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61
TICONDEROGA SURPRISED.
1775.]
With celerity and in perfect silence they moved to the attack. Colonel Allen at the head. The sentry at the gate snapped his fusee, but it missed fire, and the party followed him up as he retreated through the covered way. The other sentries were seized; and except these not a soul was awake in the fort, until the cheers of the Green Mountain Boys, drawn up in line on the parade, startled the garrison in as- tonishment from their slumbers. The idea of an enemy had not entered into their dreams, and the thought of surprise and . capture was the last that could have occurred to them. Cap- tain de Laplace, the commander, was confront- ed by Colonel Allen in his quarters, before he had time to dress, with a demand for the sur- render of the fort. " By what authority ?" asked the amazed officer. " I demand it," said Colonel Allen, " in the name of the Conti- nentał Congress," adding one of the irreverent expressions to which the colonel of the Green Mountain Boys was too much addicted. Captain de Laplace had no choice but to submit. It was a complete surprise in every sense ; for while the captain surrendered, he did not know under what authority his captor was acting. The news of the Lexington affair had not yet reached Ticonderoga.
On the same day Colonel Seth Warner took possession of Crown Point, with as little diffi-
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62
HISTORY OF VERMONT. [1775.
culty as Ticonderoga had been captured. Skeens- boro, now called Whitehall, was also taken by another party. Thus while Major Skeen was absent in England, ended his well-meant efforts to govern a new province, to be erected out of the disputed New Hampshire grants.
The total garrisons of these places did not amount to more than seventy men. But the stores and ammunition which fell into the hands of the captors, were the best results of the day's work. Over two hundred pieces of artillery, a large supply of powder, provisions, and materials for boat building, were among the property se- cured, and all without the loss of a man, or the infliction of a wound upon either party. A schooner seized at Skeensboro played also a useful part in the subsequent proceedings. The party who had captured it joined Arnold, and with these men he put in use his nautical expe- rience; and assumed upon the water the prece- dence which Allen had refused him upon the land. A number of batteaux were procured, of which Allen took command. The wind giving the schooner the advantage, she outsailed the batteaux, and reaching St. John's, Arnold there surprised and captured a British armed vessel, the only one then on the lake, and returned with his prize to Ticonderoga. In this expedition a large addition was made to the valuable muni- tions of war which were seized by the Americans.
63
PROGRESS OF THE REVOLUTION.
1775.]
1
Colonel Allen proposed to take and hold St. John's, but was obliged to retire by the appear- ance of a superior force, which entered the place from Montreal. As the result of the six days' work, Lake Champlain and its fortresses fell into the hands of the Americans ; the main actors in these important successes being the proscribed Green Mountain Boys. So little, however, did the continental congress anticipate the result of the war thus commenced, that an inventory of the property captured was ordered to be taken, that at the close of the difficulty re- stitution of it might be made to the British go- vernment. The same congress, however, made such provision for the public service, that it was evident they considered the difficulty one which must be resolutely met. .
A full detail of the recent events in Massa- chusetts, the measures of Gage, the affairs of Lexington and Concord, and the oppressive acts of the British parliament, were laid before con- gress. Massachusetts led the way in giving the congress a legislative and executive power which the former congress had not assumed. The Massachusetts provincial congress asked advice as to the form of government to be assumed, now that the British government had violated the charter of the province; and they, likewise, de- sired the continental congress to assume com- mand of the troops assembled before Boston.
64
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
- [1775.
In answer to these appeals, the continental congress recommended that Massachusetts should still act under her charter as near as might be under the circumstances. The governor ap- pointed by the king, in conformity with the charter, they could not recognise, since he had set the charter aside. The councillors appointed by the king they would not recognise, since these appointments were a violation of the char- ter. According to the suggestion' of congress they elected representatives, those representa- tives chose counsellors, and the counsellors ex- ercised the powers formerly vested in the go- vernor and council. In relation to the other re- quest that the continental congress would assume the charge of the army, congress resolved that hostilities had been commenced by Great Britain, ,and that, therefore, the colonies ought to be put in a state of defence ; that no provisions should be furnished to the British army or navy ; that no bills drawn by British officers ought to be ne- gotiated; and that colonial ships ought not to be employed in the transportation of British troops. And while congress denied any inten- tion to throw off their allegiance, the appoint- ment of George Washington commander-in-chief, was unanimously made, and other officers were commissioned, thus creating a complete ,mili- tary establishment so far as the provision of officers were considered.
65
POWERS ASSUMED BY CONGRESS. -
1775.]
Thus did congress, in part, assume supreme power, and in part accept investment with it. Without precedents to refer to, and with no guides but patriotism, discretion, and a spirit of conciliation, this patriotic body undertook and maintained a work to which no other revolution- ary tribunal was ever competent. Much was done by tacit agreement. They formed their own precedents, were determined in their pro- gress by their own past usage, and met new exi- gencies with a wisdom to which the history of the world affords no parallel. Continental ap- pointments and commissions superseded or con- trolled provincial appointments ; and although there were unquestionably some heart-burnings, jealousies, and complaints, yet each submitted for the good of the whole, and the petition of Massa- chusetts put congress in command of the army through all the colonies, and for the whole pe- riod of the war. An And if the continental con- gress was not, as in the course of our narrative will be shown, of power sufficient to compel jus- tice in all cases where their power was invoked so to do, we may wonder that such a body could accomplish so much, rather than be surprised that there were some things to which it was not equal.
As we are not writing the history of the war, but only of one state in this confederacy, the general narrative will need to be introduced only 6*
66
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1775.
so far as it is necessary to the history of Ver- , mont. Among the leading acts of the congress which assembled in the spring of 1775, besides those which we have already noticed, were the compilation of "Articles of War;" the pro- vision of means for prosecuting it ; and the set- ting forth of a "Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of taking up Arms." A petition to the king was adopted, and an address to the inhabit- ants of Great Britain. A letter of thanks to the mayor and livery of London for their spirited opposition to the ministerial oppression of the colonies was prepared. Addresses were also published to the people of Ireland, of Jamaica, and of the Canadas. Indian boards were ap- pointed to treat with and conciliate the abori- gines ; and a post-office system was organized, at the head of which was placed Dr. Franklin, just displaced from the royal mail establishment.
Some of the addresses above mentioned were repetitions of those issued by a former congress. Almost the only politic movement adopted by the British parliament, in the controversy with the provinces, had been taken in relation to Canada. By the act called the Quebec Act, the old French law was restored in that province, and the Roman church was guaranteed the pos- session of its immense property. The bound- aries of the province were extended so as to include that part of the territory now belonging
67
QUEBEC ACT-ITS RESULTS.
1775.]
to the United States, which lies north of the Ohio River, and west of the Mississippi. This act, unpalatable to the small number of Eng- lishmen in the conquered province, and ob- noxious to the other colonies, was more potent than an army in securing Canada to Great Bri- tain. It secured the support of the clergy and the seigneurs ; and whatever temporary success attended American invasions, prevented that pro-
vince, through their influence, from joining the American confederacy.
The chances of war offered the Canadians their choice between alle- giance to a king who had just conferred upon them unlooked for advantages, and association with a people who had been active personal ene- mies in the colonial wars, and who were as much disliked as protestants, as they were hated as national enemies. Therefore the addresses of the continental congress, and the efforts of the continental army, were alike ineffectual ; and no small ground of this ill success was to be found in the fact, that while the Canadians were very affectionately appealed to in the ad- dresses of congress, in other documents ema- nating from the same body they were alluded to in terms of disrespect.
The battle of Bunker Hill followed the skir- mishes at Lexington and Concord, and the seizure of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. The war had now in reality begun past recall,
68
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1775.
and the organization of the army made availa- ble the possession of Lake Champlain and its posts. They were garrisoned by troops under the command of officers holding commissions in the continental army. The possession of such advantages of position led the way to a series of offensive operations against Canada, in which the Green Mountain Boys largely partook.
CHAPTER VI.
Colonel Allen-Volunteer officers-Their difficulties with re- spect to rank in the continental army-Arnold superseded in command at Ticonderoga-Returns to Massachusetts-At- tempt upon Canada-Defenceless condition of that province -Regiment of Green Mountain Boys raised by Colonel Warner-Schuyler and Montgomery appointed to command the invading army-Supineness of the Canadians-Activity of General Carleton-Advance of Schuyler and Montgo- mery-Abortive attempt on Montreal-Ethan Allen captured and sent to England-Incidents of his captivity-Taking of Chambly by the Americans-Repulse of Carleton at Longue- isle by Colonel Warner-Surrender of St. John's to Mont- gomery-Surrender of Montreal-Narrow escape of Carle- ton-March of Arnold through the wilderness to Quebec- He forms a junction with Montgomery-Attempt on Que- bec and death of Montgomery-Gallantry and hardihood of Arnold.
UPON the capture of Ticonderoga and the other Champlain stations, Colonel Allen appears to have returned home, leaving Arnold in charge,
69
ARONLD SUPERSEDED.
1775.]
that officer having a regular commission under the authority of Massachusetts. There was no provincial government in Vermont to grant com- missions, and Allen must have held his post as a volunteer, his rank being determined by the men under his command. Much difficulty, we may here observe, occurred in the early organization of the continental army, from the claims of volunteer officers to rank according to the num- ber of men they were able to bring with them ; and though this served the purpose of raising a large impromptu army, and collecting soldiers ready for an enthusiastic onslaught, it did not provide men patient of discipline, or disposed to that perfect subordination and calm endurance of camp privations which are necessary in all true soldiers. Allen was rather what, in later times, has been termed a guerilla chief than a regular officer.
Connecticut undertook to garrison these posts, and New York to supply them with provisions. Under this · arrangement Arnold was superseded in the command at Ticonderoga, and being of a factious and troublesome spirit, ambitious and impatient of subordination, he disbanded his men, and returned to the camp before Boston. He was a disappointed man. He had written to congress, in conjunction with Allen, strongly urging a descent upon Canada ; and he wished for the opportunity to distinguish himself in that
70
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1775.
expedition, the success of which he boldly pre- dicted, as there were only two regiments of British regulars there. The greater part of the British forces on this continent were employed in the colonies which were. actually in a state of insurrection ; and the British government count- ed, not entirely without foundation, as events proved, upon the effects of the Quebec Bill, already mentioned. If this bill did not produce enthusiasm in favour of Britain-if, indeed, it changed discontent from one class to another in Canada, it still produced the effect desired upon the great body of the people, securing, with some exceptions, their indifference, if not their active co-operation with the British forces.
When first addressed upon the subject of in- vading Canada, congress was indisposed to enter upon offensive measures, preferring and vainly hoping to retain an attitude purely defensive. New York was particularly adverse at first to Arnold's project, but had voted to raise four regiments for the defence of the colony. To these four regiments was added another from the New Hampshire grants ; and Colonel Seth Warner was commissioned under the authority of the continental congress to command this regiment of Green Mountain Boys. Five thousand men were voted for the northern ser- vice, including the regiments above named, and the Connecticut regiments in garrison on Lake
71
L
1775.]
ACTIVITY OF CARLETON.
Champlain. The command of this force was given to Major-Generals Philip Schuyler and 1 Richard Montgomery.
Rumours prevailed that the British govern-' ment was making exertions to induce the Ca- nadians and Indians to fall upon the frontier of the colonies. It was, therefore, decided to in- vade the province; and it was proposed to de- tail two thousand men for that purpose. These men united with their warlike mission a sort of political propagandism. They were to tr Canadians as friends and brothers, and were plentifully provided with such ammunition as proclamations and circular letters, exhorting the Canadians to arouse and assert their liberties, and declaring that the Americans entered their country not as enemies, but as friends and pro- tectors. Gen. Schuyler was authorized, «should he find the measure not disagreeable to the Ca- radians," to take possession of St. John's and Montreal.
General Carleton, the governor of Canada, was a man possessed of great energy and ad- dress, or he would not have been able to save the province to his royal master. Expectation in England was very much disappointed in rela- tion to the conduct of the Canadians. Twenty thousand stand of arms, and other military stores were sent out to Canada, to equip the in- habitants, who, it was supposed, would readily
- 72
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1775.
enlist ; and in lieu of transporting troops from Europe, the Canadians were to be used to over- whelm their rebellious neighbours. But the Ca- nadians absolutely refused to march out of the province. They would defend it, if attacked, but not embark in a quarrel which they did not understand. The Bishop of Quebec was ap- pealed to, but very properly refused to aid Gene-
ral Carleton by an episcopal mandate. The clergy issued letters, and the seigneurs interested themselves, but the principal effect which these conflicting appeals from both sides, American and British, produced, was to make the great body of the people remain neutral, although some of them enlisted in both armies. The American proclamations, however, secured the invaders from molestation from the Canadians, except when the latter were compelled by the pre- sence of British regulars to take part in the contest.
The provision of materials for boat building, found at Ticonderoga, at the time of its capture by the Americans in the spring, now came into service. While preparations were maturing for the invasion, intelligence was received that Gene- ral Carleton, with characteristic energy, was pushing forward to check it; and fearing that he would get possession of the lake, and thus turn their projected invasion into a defence of their own territory, Generals Schuyler and Montgo- mery, in August, proceeded down the lake to
73
ADVANCE OF MONTGOMERY.
1775.]
Isle Aux Noix, an islet in the Sorel River, com- manding its navigation, and there prepared to defend the passage. From thence they circulat- ed letters and proclamations through the adja- cent country ; and on the 6th of September were permitted to advance without molestation toward St. John's. This is a town at the head of the navigation of the river, and an important point. A landing was effected, the place was reconnoi -. · tered, and after a skirmish with an Indian party in which the savages were repulsed, the Ameri- cans fell back to the Isle Aux Noix. They found St. John's too well garrisoned and defend- ed to be assaulted without artillery.
General Schuyler went back to Albany to hasten forward supplies, and left Montgomery in charge. On the 17th, having received reinforce- ments, General Montgomery pushed forward for a second attempt on St. John's. The place was garrisoned by nearly all the regular troops in the province, some six or eight hundred men, and was well supplied with artillery and the munitions of war. The first duty of Montgo- mery was to gain over the inhabitants of the country, and to detach the Indians who had joined General Carleton. He wished to secure himself from being compelled to raise the siege by enemies without the town; and in this under- taking he appears fully to have succeeded. Par- ties of his troops were scattered over the country,
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74
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1775.
and were favourably received by the Canadians. The settlers were, it may well be supposed, very willing to enter into a compromise which left the invasion entirely an affair between their British masters and the invaders, while their own pro- perty was secure from molestation or injury.
Colonel Allen, who of course accompanied the expedition, had command of one of these recon- noitering parties of eighty men. A portion of these were Green Mountain Boys-the residue Canadians. As Allen had commenced the suc- cesses of the American arms by the seizure of Ti- conderoga and Crown Point, he was easily per- suaded that Montreal, at that time the head- quarters of General Carleton, might be added to his list of captures. A night attack was con- certed between Allen and Major Brown. The latter, with two hundred men, was to land in the night, on the south side of Montreal, and Allen on the north, and both were to attack the post together. Allen landed with a little band of about one hundred men, but waited in vain for his ally, who failed to make his appearance. When day- light had made the surprise of the place im- practicable even · had Allen been in force, he might still have saved himself by a retreat, but rashly determined to maintain his position. He was overpowered by a superior force; and after a desperate resistance, in which fifteen of his men were killed, and several wounded, he was
75
1775.] ALLEN'S CAPTIVITY.
taken prisoner together with thirty-eight of his followers. General Carleton refused to recog- nise these captives as prisoners of war. They were loaded with irons as felons, and sent to England for trial. Such was the issue of a rash attempt, made by Allen without orders. Gene- ral Carleton based his treatment on the plea that Allen was not a commissioned officer, but a leader of banditti.
At a subsequent period in our history, the name of this brave but erratic man will again appear in connection with the history of the state ; and we may here give his private history until that reappearance. Allen published a nar- rative of the events of his captivity, written in his usual strange style, but bearing the appear- ance of truthfulness. He was confined with his companions in a small apartment, on board of the vessel, with hand-cuffs upon their wrists. Perhaps the idea which he gave of his prowess at the time of his capture, may have contributed to this harsh treatment. If the intention of trying Allen as a felon was entertained by his captors, it was abandoned. After a month's im- prisonment in Pendennis Castle, near Falmouth, he was sent back to America. For five months he was kept at Halifax, and thence transferred to New York. On the passage a plan was pro- jected among the prisoners, of whom there were many, to kill the English captain, and seize the
76
HISTORY OF VERMONT. [1775,
frigate in which they were transported. But as that officer treated Allen with great kindness, he refused to join the conspiracy, and his refusal defeated the plan. Allen was a prisoner in New York a year and a half, sometimes confined, and sometimes at large on parole. In May, 1778, he was exchanged, and, repairing to the head- there quarters of General Washington, was treated with great respect. His health being shattered, he returned to Vermont to recruit, having made an offer of his services to the com- mander-in-chief when his health should be re- stored. He was received in Vermont by his old companions with great rejoicings ; and as a mark of respect and confidence was appointed com- mander-in-chief of the militia of the state, but never had occasion to act in a military capacity. He resumed his pen, and besides the narrative of his captivity, published a " Vindication of the opposition of the inhabitants of Vermont to the government of New York, and of their right to form an independent state."
To return to our narrative. neral Schuyler was prevented by sickness from accompanying the invading forces, and the command devolved upon General Montgomery. The force, by the arrival of reinforcements and the addition of Canadian volunteers, was now swelled to between two and three thousand men, but they were wo- fully deficient in military stores. Understanding
77
1775.]
SIEGE OF ST. JOHN'S.
that the little fortress of Chambly contained a large quantity of the munitions of war, Mont- gomery detailed a force against it, under Majors Brown and Livingston. The place was carried, after a short resistance, on the 18th of October, and the garrison, about one hundred men, sur- rendered prisoners of war. The standard of the 7th Regiment was taken, and immediately for- warded to congress, the first trophy which they received. But what was much more valuable to the besiegers, was one hundred and twenty bar- rels of gunpowder, and a large quantity of mili- tary stores and provisions.
With this seasonable supply, Montgomery re- newed the siege of St. John's with increased vigour. The garrison, momently expecting that the siege would be relieved by General Carleton, defended the post with courage and resolution. Carleton made great exertions to raise a force for the purpose, but the determination of the Canadians to keep as far as possible out of the contest, made the raising of a proper force ex- ceedingly difficult. He was able to muster only one thousand men, including a few regulars, the militia of Montreal, Canadians and Indians. An- other body of troops under the veteran officer, Colonel McLean, was posted at the junction of the Sorel with the St. Lawrence. These troops were the remains of a Highland brigade, which had settled in Canada, and with some other
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'78
HISTORY OF VERMONT. [1775.
Scotch emigrants were re-mustered into the service.
It was of the last importance to General Carleton to effect a junction with Col. McLean. For this purpose he attempted to land at Longue- isle, opposite Montreal. But Colonel Seth Warner, with his Green Mountain regiment, who had detected and watched the movement, opened suddenly upon them such a well-directed and incessant fire of musketry, and grape from a single cannon, that the enemy was thrown into the greatest confusion, and soon driven into a disorderly retreat. As General Carleton's com- mand was largely composed of Canadians, it was impossible to rally them, or lead them against the disadvantages of position, which only veterans would have overcome. The rout was complete. When the news of this reverse reached McLean, at his position at the junction of the Sorel, he saw the inutility of holding that post. His Canadian allies deserted him to a man. Having i heard also that Quebec was threatened, he re- treated with his Highlanders to that important point. Colonel Warner immediately took pos- session of the post which McLean had abandon- ed, and proceeded to erect batteries, to arm rafts, and take other measures which effectually commanded the River St. Lawrence, and shut off the vessels at Montreal from escaping down the river.
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