USA > Vermont > The history of Vermont, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 6
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97
GATES APPOINTED GENERAL.
1776.]
was succeeded in the command by General Gates, and measures were taken to restore the health and recruit the strength of men, who, in the strong language of John Adams, were "disgraced, defeated, discontented, dispirited, diseased, un- disciplined, eaten up with vermin, no clothes, beds, blankets, or medicines, and no victuals but salt and flour." The temptation to alliteration must have prompted part of that sentence. De- feated the army certainly was, but it was by the rigors of the climate, and by a vastly superior force-defeated but not disgraced. It was an unfortunate expedition-undertaken under what proved to be a very wrong estimate of the cha- racter of the Canadians ; but it gave opportu- nity for the exhibition of prodigies of valor, re- markable address, and wonderful endurance of hardship. The honour paid to Sir Guy Carleton by the British crown was no less a compliment to the American army than to the successful general.
Additional troops arrived at the head-quarters of General Gates, and the new recruits were as- sembled at Skeensboro, (now Whitehall,) to es- cape the danger of infection from the small-pox. A hospital was established for the sick, and by patient drilling the effects of the disasters of the late invasion were corrected in the older troops, while the new levies were schooled in military tactics. Another important matter also
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98
HISTORY OF VERMONT. [1776.
required attention. It was well understood that the pursuit of the American army beyond the Sorel was only prevented by the want of a naval * armament on the part of the British ; and that they were as fast as possible providing the ne- cessary means of prosecuting the war. General Gates took command on the 12th of July. General Schuyler was appointed to the lake service, and by the 18th of August following had succeeded in refitting, building, and equipping fifteen vessels of different sizes. This work was done under great disadvantages, not the least of which was the difficulty of procuring shipwrights. The privateers and national vessels building at the different seaports, employed so many men, that it was almost impossible to induce the re- quisite workmen to go to Lake Champlain. But trees were felled in the woods and dragged by hand to the lake shore, and naval equipments were transported over roads almost impassable, with a vigour and resolution which marked the enterprises of that day, and which seemed to rise in proportion to the obstacles which were to be surmounted.
Meanwhile the British had obtained vessels constructed in England expressly for this service. Although it was found that the larger ones could not be got over the falls of the Sorel River at Chambly, this difficulty was surmounted by taking them in pieces, transporting them by land-car-
99
NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.
1776.]
riage, and reconstructing them above the falls. There were about thirty vessels, ships, schoon- ers, radeaux or rafts, and gun-boats, intended for attack and defence. There were also a suf- ficient number of boats for burden and the transportation of troops. These vessels were manned by eight hundred men, drafted from the British fleet, besides a detachment of artillerists to serve the guns. There were more seamen alone on board the British flotilla than the Ame- rican complement of sailors and soldiers. The British force may be safely estimated at double that of the American. The metal of the British guns was heavier, and in all respects their ves- sels were better appointed.
General Arnold, of whose nautical experience we have before spoken, was put at the head of the American flotilla, and most of the vessels were commanded by officers of the army. Zeal and resolution, and the American faculty of adaptation to circumstances, stood them in stead of skill and experience. On the 11th of October, the British flotilla offered battle to the American, and presented itself in full force, so confident of victory that it came into the engagement under the disadvantage of an unfavourable wind. The larger vessels could not be brought into action, but good service was done by the long boats of the British, which could creep to windward. The contest was kept up for several hours, the
100
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1776.
Americans maintaining their ground. No vessel was captured on either side, though two of the British gondolas were destroyed, and an Ameri- can schooner was burned and a gondola sunk. One or two vessels were much crippled, and sixty men, on the American side, were killed or wounded. The British acknowledged a loss of forty. The British drew off and anchored out of gun-shot, intending to renew the attack in the morning.
Finding that to contend with a force so supe- rior was out of the question, General Arnold got under weigh in the night, and, favoured by the darkness and the fog, escaped with all his vessels. The British flotilla pursued, but the wind was adverse, and slow progress was made by either. On the 12th nothing occurred but the loss of one American gondola, which was overtaken and captured by the pursuers, and the abandonment of others, which were sunk to prevent their being captured. On the 13th, at noon, the British flotilla came within gunshot of the Americans. The Congress galley, on board of which was Arnold, and the Washington galley, General Waterbury, covered the retreat of the American flotilla. The Washington galley, having been disabled on the 11th, was compelled to strike. Arnold, in the Congress, defended himself «like a lion." The galley carried ten guns, and was at once engaged with the ship Inflexible of six-
101
SUMMARY OF RESULTS.
_ 1776.]
teen guns, the schooner Mann of fourteen, and the Carleton of twelve. He occupied these three vessels long enough to permit the escape of four or five of his flotilla, which made their way safe to Ticonderoga, the encounter taking place near Crown Point. It was now a strug- gle for trophies on the one hand, and for escape of men and destruction of vessels on the other. In spite of strenuous efforts of the British, Arnold managed to run his galley and some other vessels on shore, and blow them up after landing the men. The Congress blew up with colours flying, and the " bones" of the gallant little. craft were to be seen upon the beach near Otter Creek for many years. The Americans lost eleven vessels and ninety men. The British had one vessel blown up and two sunk, and their loss in men was reported at fifty.
The character of the engagement is thus stated by Cooper in his Naval History of the United States. " Although the result of this action was so disastrous, the American arms gained much credit by their obstinate resistance. General Arnold, in particular, covered himself with glory, and his example appears to have been nobly followed by most of his officers and men. Even the enemy did justice to the resolu- tion and skill with which the American flotilla was managed, the disparity in the force render- ing victory out of the question from the first.
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102
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1776.
The manner in which the Congress was fought, until she had covered the retreat of the galleys, and the stubborn resolution with which she was defended until destroyed, converted the disas- ters of this part of the day into a species of triumph."
An attack on Ticonderoga was now appre- hended. The fortress of Crown Point had been occupied by the Americans as an outpost, but General Gates withdrew the garrison, destroyed the fortifications, and every thing else which could not be removed. He concentrated his forces at Ticonderoga, and was soon joined by new levies, and with the restoration of the sick found himself at the head of twelve thousand effectives. Sir Guy Carleton landed his troops at Crown Point, and all eyes were turned to the lake shores as about to be the theatre of a deci- sive battle. Sir Guy approached Ticonderoga, as if designing to invest it, but " after recon- noitering the works, and observing the steady countenance of the garrison, he thought it too late to lay siege to the fortress. Re-embarking his army, he returned to Canada, where he placed it in winter quarters, making the Isle Aux Noix his most advanced post.' " Thus ended the Ca- nadian invasion, and the operations on Lake Champlain were closed for the year 1776.
103
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
1776.]
CHAPTER VIII.
Declaration of Independence by congress-Its effects-Anec- dote of Colonel Skeen-Renewal of the difficulty with New York-Action of the New York convention-Counter-action in Vermont-Convention at Dorset-Resolutions to support the common cause-Preparations for a state government- Convention at Westminster-Vermont declaration of inde- pendence and memorial to Congress-Counter memorial from New York-Second New York memorial-Letter of Thomas Young to the inhabitants of Vermont-Third New York memorial-Rejection by congress of the petition of Vermont-Meeting in Vermont to adopt a constitution- Action upon the instrument reported-Abandonment of Ti- conderoga by the American force and consequent alarm.
THE Declaration of Independence, by which the style of the confederacy was changed to the THIRTEEN UNITED STATES, did not come sud- denly or unexpectedly upon the people. It had been debated and considered throughout the land, as the difficulties of maintaining the pro- fession of allegiance while the colonies were in actual rebellion became more and more apparent, and the absurdity of 'such a position more evi- dent. Great Britain exhibited no disposition to conciliate; the breach grew wider and wider ; and although the timid feared, and some official steps had been taken in several of the state le-
104
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1776.
gislatures deprecating a " separation from our mother country," yet when the deed was formally done, men's minds were relieved. The questions which were presented became less complicated. All were narrowed down to the inquiry, how successful resistance of Great Britain could best be maintained.
But the New Hampshire grants, as Vermont was still called, were in a posture as difficult as ever. Colonel Skeen had obtained a commission from the British crown, and returned to endea- vour to put it in force, though what extent of territory was proposed to annex to his govern- ment of Ticonderoga nobody knew. Probably, had he obtained this commission ten years be- fore, he would have been discovered to be a man after the Green Mountain Boys' own heart. He was brave, bluff, facetious, and hard to intimi- date. On his return from England, in 1775, he was taken into custody in Philadelphia, and re- tained for some time a prisoner, since he came with authority to raise a royal regiment. He was placed under guard at his lodgings, at the City Tavern ; and Graydon, in his memoirs, re- lates the following amusing incident, of which he was an eye-witness. Skeen was to be re- moved from his lodgings, in Philadelphia, to a place of greater security, and the detailing of a guard for this purpose caused quite a crowd to assemble. The weather was warm, the windows
105
DIFFICULTY RENEWED.
1776.]
were open, and Skeen, having finished his dinner, was discussing his wine and walnuts, while the guard politely waited his leisure. In compliment to his auditory, Skeen struck up " God save great George our king," in the voice of a sten- tor, and finished the song, highly to the amuse- ment of the crowd, who thus got much more than they bargained for. Mr. Graydon, who afterward met him when their positions were changed, Graydon being a prisoner and Skeen among his friends, speaks in gratified terms of the staunch royalist's consideration and kindness. He seemed to be rather pleased than otherwise with the audacity of the rebels, having that sym- pathy with their courage which was natural to an old soldier who had seen service, and could appreciate daring. Such a man would have been a highly popular provincial governor for the Green Mountain Boys; and, as we shall pre- sently see, he did not despair of that post.
New York, with wonderful tenacity, continued her claims upon the New Hampshire grants. After the formal severance of the colonies from Great Britain, the convention of the state of New York unanimously resolved " That all quit rents formerly due to the king of Great Britain, were now due and owing to this convention, or such future government as shall hereafter be es- tablished in this state." This was reviving the old colonial dispute in a most unbrotherly man-
106
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1776.
ner; for better things might have been expected of men engaged in the same heroic and perilous cause. The Green Mountain Boys were resolute in the determination not to submit to any such surrender of their rights, though to contend against New York would probably involve them in a contest with congress also. The course which had been taken upon their memorial to congress, showed them how little hope they had in that body against the influence which New York could bring; and yet to remain in their present condition seemed impossible.
While the great body of the people was reso- lute in maintaining a resistance to New York, there was a portion of the less daring who saw no other course but submission. Another party was in favour of joining New Hampshire, and claiming the protection of that state. But the leading minds, which always in times of danger influence the whole body, were clearly in favour of putting an end to the pretensions of New York by erecting the territory into an inde- pendent state. They saw no reason why the claims of Great Britain should fall to New York, by the severance of the colonies from the mother country, and reasoned that those claims or rights ceased, or became vested in the people of the grants. In order to produce concert, and to de- termine what was the view of the majority, a convention was called to meet at Dorset, July
107
1776.] MEETINGS IN CONVENTION.
24th, 1776. Thirty-five towns were represented in this convention, by fifty-one delegates. They agreed to support the Declaration of Indepen- dence, made by the Congress of the Thirteen United States, and to enter into an association among themselves for the defence of the country against Great Britain. But they firmly adhered to their former action against New York, and de- clared that any of the inhabitants of the New Hampshire grants, who should acknowledge the authority of New York, should be deemed ene- mies to the common cause. The convention pro- ceeded carefully, and made their acts rather ini- tiatory than final ; being anxious to secure the co- operation of the whole people in a measure so important. The body adjourned to meet again in a month; and on the 25th of September, being again assembled, they resolved without any dis- sentient voice, "to take suitable measures, as soon as may be, to declare the New Hampshire grants a free and independent district." And the same body resolved that "no law or laws, direction or directions from the state of New York, should be accepted."
Having thus given the contemplated measure another degree of furtherance, the convention adjourned without day. The two meetings above referred to had been held at Dorset, on the west side of the mountains, where the people were most sensitive to the threatened aggressions of
108
HISTORY OF VERMONT. [1777.
New York. The next convention was held at Westminster, on the east side of the Green Mountain range, celebrated for the collision with the sheriff and posse, mentioned in a preceding chapter. At this convention delegates were present from the towns in both sections of the territory. In the four months which had elapsed since the Dorset convention, the matter had been discussed and consulted upon in all its bearings, and the prevailing sentiment of the people was well understood. The proceedings of the convention were in unison with the popu- lar voice. This body assembled on the 15th of January, 1777. Their proceedings look like foregone conclusions, for on the next day a de- claration was unanimously adopted, which finally determined their attitude. The declaration was as follows :-
" This convention, whose members are duly chosen by the free voice of their constituents, in the several towns in the New Hampshire grants, in public meeting assembled, in our own names, and in behalf of our constituents, do hereby pro- claim and publicly declare, that the district of territory comprehending, and usually known by the name of the New Hampshire grants, of right ought to be, and is hereby declared for ever here- after to be considered as a free and independent jurisdiction or state ; to be for ever hereafter call- ed, known, and distinguished by the name of New
1777.] MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS. 109
Connecticut, alias Vermont. And that the in- habitants that at present, or that may hereafter become resident within said territory, shall be entitled to the same privileges, immunities, and enfranchisements which are, or that may at any time hereafter be allowed to the inhabitants of any of the free and independent states of Ame- rica; and that such privileges and immunities shall be regulated in a Bill of Rights, and by a form of government to be established at the next session of the convention."
Having thus affirmed their independence, they drew up a memorial to congress. In this memo- rial they advised congress, as the representative of the United States, that they had taken their position as inhabitants of a free and independent state. They declared themselves capable of re- gulating their own internal police in all and every respect whatsoever ; that they had the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves, in such manner and form as they themselves should choose, not repugnant to the resolves of Con- gress ; and that they were at all times ready, in conjunction with their brethren in the United States, to contribute their full proportion toward the maintaining of the just war against the fleets and armies of Great Britain. And they prayed congress to recognise their state among the states in the Union, and to admit their dele- gates to a seat in congress. The petition was
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110
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1777.
signed, and presented to congress, by four mem- bers of the convention, elected for that duty, Jonas Fay, Thomas Chittenden, Heman Allen, and Reuben Jones.
As might have been predicted, New York did not silently look on and suffer these proceedings to pass unopposed. The New England States were with Vermont in feeling, and whatever ex- pression of opinion was heard in that quarter, was in favour of the Green Mountain Boys and their new government. But the New York con- vention lost no time in making an interest in congress adverse to the petition of Vermont. The president of that body, under date of Janu- ary 20th, only four days from the date of the declaration of the Vermont convention, wrote thus to congress :
" I am directed by the committee of safety of New York, to inform congress that, by the acts and influence of certain designing men, a part of the state hath been prevailed on to re- volt, and disown the authority of its legislature. The various evidences and informations we have received, would lead us to believe that persons of great influence in some of our sister states have fostered and fomented these divisions. But as these informations tend to accuse some members of your honourable body, of being con- cerned in this scheme, decency obliges us to sus- pend this belief. The committee are sorry to
111
MEMORIAL FROM NEW YORK.
1777.]
observe that by conferring a commission on Colonel Warner, with authority to name the officers of a regiment, to be raised independently of the legislature of this state, and within that part of it which hath lately declared an inde- pendence upon it, congress hath given but too much weight to the insinuations of those who pretend that your honourable body are determined to support those insurgents ; especially as this Colonel Warner hath been constantly and inva- riably opposed to the legislature of this state, and hath been, on that very account, proclaimed an outlaw by the late government thereof. It is absolutely necessary to recall the commission given to Colonel Warner, and the officers under him, as nothing else will do justice to us, and convince those deluded people that congress has not been prevailed upon to aid in dismembering a state, which of all others has suffered the most in the common cause."
Again, on the 1st of March, the president of the New York convention addressed congress. In this memorial New York appealed to congress to adopt "every wise and salutary expedient to suppress the mischief which must ensue to that state, and the general confederacy, from the un- just and pernicious projects of such of the in- habitants of New York, as merely from selfish and interested motives have fomented the danger- ous insurrection. That congress might be as-
112
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1777.
sured that the spirit of defection, notwithstand- ing all the arts and violence of the seducers, was by no means general, and that there was not the least probability that Colonel Warner could raise such a number of men as would be an object of public concern."
The affairs of the new state of Vermont had now arrested the attention of the whole country. We are not to suppose that the dispute between Vermont and New York was considered strictly upon its own merits ; nor are we to think that the influence of New York was able to produce all the opposition, which took place in congress, to the reception of the new state. Other states as well as New York had their unsettled lands and backwoodsmen ; and the danger which some · politicians saw, was that new states would present themselves in other quarters, and the original bounds of the provinces be curtailed and their lands subdivided. It was a difficult matter to adjust, and every day seemed to add to the em- barrassment. In April a paper appeared in Phi- ladelphia, in the form of a letter, addressed to the inhabitants of Vermont. This pamphlet opened with a copy of the resolution passed by congress, in May, 1776, which recommended to the re- spective assemblies and conventions of the Unit- ed Colonies, where no government suitable to the exigencies of their affairs had been establish- ed, to adopt such government as, in the opinion
113
YOUNG'S PAMPHLET.
1777.]
of the representatives of the people, should best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents.
The writer, Thomas Young, then went on to advise : "I have taken the minds of several leading members in the honourable the conti- nental congress, and can assure you that you have nothing to do but to send attested copies of the recommendation to take up government to every township in your district, and to invite all your freeholders and inhabitants to meet in their respective townships, and choose members of a general convention, to meet on an early day, and choose delegates to the general congress ; to appoint a committee of safety, and to form a constitution. Your friends here tell me that some are in doubt whether delegates from your district would be admitted into congress. I tell you to organize fairly and make the experiment, and I will insure your success, at the risk of my reputation as a man of honour or common sense. Indeed, they by no means refuse you ; you have as good a right to choose how you will be go- verned, and by whom, as they had."
The committee of safety for the state of New York, now made a third appeal to congress. In this they stated that as a report prevailed, and daily gained credit, that the revolters against the jurisdiction of New York were privately coun- tenanced in their designs by certain members of
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114
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1777.
congress, the committee of safety felt it their duty to give such information on the subject, that congress might cease to be injured by impu- tations so disgraceful and dishonourable. "How- ever unwilling," said the memorialists, " we may be to entertain suspicions so disrespectful to any member of congress, yet the truth is that no in- considerable number of the people of this state do believe the report to be well founded."
Though exceedingly averse to meddle with a business so complicated, and conscious of its want of power to enforce any decision to which it might arrive, congress was compelled at last to take up the matter. One of the New York delegates laid before that body the printed letter of Thomas Young. Congress thus compelled to act, referred the several memorials and letters from New York and Vermont, and the printed paper signed Thomas Young, to the committee of the whole house, and on the 30th of June, a week after their reference, the committee re- ported, and congress passed, among others, a re- solution that the petition of Vermont be dis- missed.
The other resolutions defined the purpose of congress to be the defence of the colonies, now states, against Great Britain ; and declared that as the members represented those states as their territories stood at the time of the first assem- bling of congress, that body would recommend or
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