of Canada, and asking for himself and other Green Mountain Boys service in the cause. Receiving no reply from them, a council of officers was held at Crown Point, who advised them to go to Philadelphia and obtain the advice of the Continental Congress on the subject. Acting on their suggestion, Allen and Warner repaired to Congress, where, by their dignified bearing and intelligent speech, they produced so favorable an impression on that body, that a vote was carried to pay the Green Mountain Boys for their services in taking and garrisoning the forts; and Congress further advised the New York Congress, consulting with General Schuyler, to employ a force of Green Mountain Boys, under officers of their own choosing, to aid in the defense of the colonies.

The New York Convention accordingly ordered such a force to be organized, not exceeding five hundred men ; and this order was forwarded to the grants by General Schuyler. That very month (July 26) a convention met at Dorset to elect the officers of the regiment. Warner was made lieutenant-colonel, receiving forty-one votes while Allen received but five. This was a great mortification to Allen, who expected and much desired the command; but Warner, as a military leader, was the choice of the people, who had unlimited confidence in his sound judgment, firmness, and resolution; and on no occasion did Warner ever disappoint them.

A report of this act was sent to General Schuyler with the statement that the regiment had been formed in compliance with the orders of Congress, the Green Mountain Boys never losing an opportunity to assert their independence of New York, and raising their regiment on the order of Congress after the manner of other independent states.

CHAPTER XIV

PATRIOT ARMY INVADE CANADA-THEIR VICTORIES

THEIR RETREAT

The Patriot Army cross the Canadian Line. As there were no British troops in Canada save barely enough to garrison the forts, General Carleton, who was now governor of that province, began to put forth every effort to engage the St. Francis Indians and the Canadian French in the British service, large quantities of arms having already been sent over from England for their equipment. This he found difficult to do, as neither had been favorable to the British Dominion and were accordingly slow to take part with England against the colonies. At last, however, some of them were enlisted and led to act with the British forces, the Indians of Swanton probably being among the number; but they showed little enthusiasm for the cause.

The Continental Congress, having received intelligence of these facts, thought it would be a good time to invade Canada before reenforcements could arrive from England; and, therefore, they determined to send troops into that territory with strong hopes that, on their arrival, the Canadians would join the other colonies in opposing Great Britain.

For this purpose it was proposed to raise 2,000 men to be commanded by Generals Schuyler and Montgomery.

The boat-building material, captured a short time before, now came into use; for directly the soldiers at Crown Point and Ticonderoga turned their hands to the making of a large number of bateaux and flat-bottomed boats for the transportation of the forces down the lake.

Montgomery, hearing, late in the summer, that General Carleton was planning to enter the lake with a considerable force, went forward to prevent his designs. Proceeding down the lake to Isle La Motte, he was there joined by Schuyler; and together they went on to Isle aux Noix, and there placed their forces in such position as would prevent the enemy's vessels from passing up the lake.

Proclamations sent out and their Result; Reconnoitering Expeditions.-From Isle aux Noix proclamations were sent out among the Canadians, declaring that these warlike acts were in no way directed against them and inviting them to join the colonies in fighting for liberty.

An old gun of Ethan Allen's (at the State House).

Colonel Allen, whom Schuyler had sent out from Ticonderoga the previous August, with letters and interpreters, to solicit aid from the Canadians, seems to have been quite successful; and he is now sent a second time on a like mission, preaching politics," to use his own words, and gaining volunteers for the American cause. As a result of these proclamations, some of the Canadians joined the patriot army or contributed provisions, "the latter," as Rowland E. Robinson says, "being the more valuable contribution," for the Canadians often deserted when their services were most needed.

On September 6, the American army, which at that time numbered only 1,000 men, advanced toward St. Johns; but after reconnoitering for a time, during which they were attacked by the Indians, came to the conclusion that the fort was too strong for them to take with their present force, and so withdrew to Isle aux Noix to await reenforcements.

It was during this advance that Remember Baker met his death by a shot from a hostile Indian. This was a great shock to the Green Mountain Boys, Baker being the first one of their number to suffer death after the breaking out of the war.

Schuyler now returned to Albany; and Montgomery, after receiving reenforcements, again advanced on St. Johns, laying siege to that fortress, which was garrisoned by the greater part of the forces of Canada and well supplied with guns, ammunition, and military stores. Here he was joined by Warner, who was now sent with three hundred of his regiment to take a stand near Montreal and there watch the movements of the enemy.

Attempt to take Montreal; Allen Captured.-On September 20, Allen, who had not returned from his recruiting expedition, wrote to Montgomery that in about three days he would join him at St. Johns with at least five hundred Canadian volunteers, which, he said, he could easily raise. But he did not fulfil his engagement; for four days later, as he was on his way to St. Johns, he came upon Major Brown, at La Prairie, who was out on a like mission. Brown assured Allen that Montreal was entirely without defense and suggested that they attempt its capture.

As such an undertaking was in no way distasteful to

Allen, they began at once to make plans for its accomplishment. During that very night Allen, after procuring canoes, was to cross over with a force of about eighty Green Mountain Boys and perhaps thirty Canadians to the island of Montreal a little below the town, while Brown with about twice that number was to cross above it. At early dawn three huzzas from Brown's men with an answering three from Allen's was to be the signal for attack.

Allen crossed over according to agreement; but for some reason unknown to historians Brown failed to put in an appearance, and daylight revealed Allen's little company in full sight of the enemy. Allen, instead of retreating, determined to maintain his ground; and a fight ensued, which lasted two hours, in which several men on both sides were killed or wounded.

Deserted by most of the Canadian volunteers and overpowered by numbers, Allen and thirty-eight of his men were taken prisoners. When the British general, Prescott, learned that he had captured the Green Mountain Boy who had taken Ticonderoga, he showered much abusive language upon him, exclaiming with an oath, "I will not execute you now, but you shall grace a halter at Tyburn!" (Tyburn being the place where common criminals were hung in England). Allen, with his associates, was put on board the man-of-war Gaspee, and sent manacled to England, where he suffered a cruel captivity.

This attempt on the part of Allen to take Montreal without proper authority was censured by both Montgomery and Schuyler; though, perhaps, had the result been different, as it undoubtedly would have been if Brown had cooperated with him, the act would have been looked upon as less foolhardy. As Brown has a good military record on