VERMONT AND ETHAN ALLEN.

189

opposite Ticonderoga, May 9. They found some difficulty in obtaining boats. At length they procured enough of these to carry eightythree men, who landed near the garrison, just at dawn of day, undiscovered.

5. After a short contention who should go in first, the two colonels agreed to enter at the same time, abreast of each other. A sentinel snapped his gun at them as they entered, and then retreated to alarm his sleeping comrades. The American troops having followed their officers, they formed themselves into a hollow square and gave three huzzas.

6. The garrison being now roused, a slight skirmish took place. The British commander was required to surrender the fort. "By what authority?" he asked. "I demand it," said Allen, "in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress." The garrison was immediately given up, and with it forty-nine prisoners, one hundred and twenty cannon, and many valuable stores. Thus Allen and his enterprising companions, acting by no orders but their own, became complete masters of Lake Champlain.

7. The fort at Crown Point was taken without difficulty, it being garrisoned by only thirteen men. A sloop of war and several pieces of cannon were also seized at the same time, together with a schooner fitted out for service on the lake. All this was accomplished too without the loss of a single man.

CHAPTER LXXXIX.

PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, CONTINUED.- Ver mont and Ethan Allen.

1. COLONEL ALLEN, though a brave man, was not always exemplary in his language. Like many other brave men, not only of the American army, but of almost all armies, he had great defects of character. His declaration to the British officer, which we have just mentioned, savored strongly both of profanity and untruth.

2. He had emigrated to Vermont, or the Green Mountains, as it was then called, while quite young. This part of New England did not begin to be settled till 1731, and, even for a long time after was considered as a part of New Hampshire. A contest at length arose

4 How many men marched against Ticonderoga? What lake did they cross? How many men went to the garrison? 5. How did the colonels enter? What did the troops do? 6. Describe the surrender of the garrison. 7. What of Crown Point? What were seized by the Americans?

CHAP. LXXXIX.-1. What can you say of Colonel Allen? 2. What of Vermont? What contest arose between New Hampshire and New York?

about it between New Hampshire and New York, as we have already stated, which was adjusted by the king in a way which greatly displeased the settlers.

3. The consequence was, that a quarrel took place between Vermont and New York, or, more properly, between Vermont and the crown, in which the Green Mountain Boys, headed by Colonel Allen, resisted the officers of justice, as well as the New York militia, who were talled out to sustain them.

4. At the period of the capture of Ticonderoga, and even somewhat later, Vermont had not so much as even a territorial form of govern- ment. In 1777, however, a convention of delegates met at Westminster, and declared themselves an independent state, by the name of New Connecticut, though it was afterward changed to Vermont. They remained independent till some time after the end of the revolutionary war, though they did good service in the cause of independence.

5. Allen was employed for a time, after the capture of Ticonderoga, in Canada, in trying to persuade the people of that province to join the colonies. Failing in this, he formed a plan, in the fall of 1775, in concert with Colonel Brown, to take Montreal, but was himself taken prisoner, put in irons, and sent to England.

6. On the passage, both he and his companions experienced the most cruel treatment. They were all, to the number or unirty-four, handcuffed and crowded into a small place in the vessel, not more than twenty-two feet long and twenty wide. After an imprisonment of six months, in England and Hal'-i-fax, he was sent to a prison-ship in New York. He remained a prisoner there about a year and a half.

7. Allen, though very daring and eccentric, was a man of humane and tender feelings. While being carried from Halifax to New York, a plan was laid by one of the American prisoners to kill the captain, but when it was proposed to him, he refused to join in it. In another instance, the British, knowing him to be a man of great energy, attempted to bribe him to unite Vermont, an independent colony, with Canada. But money could not buy him.

8. And yet it must be confessed that he was an open unbeliever in Christianity. He not only published the first formal attack on the Christian religion which was ever written in America, but he adopted the notion that the soul of man, after death, would live again in beasts, birds, fishes, etc., with many other notions still more singular.

9. It is said that though his wife was a pious woman, and taught

3. What quarrel arose between Vermont and New York? What of the Green Mountain Boys? 4. What can you say of Vermont? What was it first called? 5. How was Allen employed for a time? What plan did he form in 1775? 6. How were he and his companions treated? What afterward happened to Allen? 7. What can you say in proof of Allen's kindness and integrity? S. What was his religious belief?

BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL.

191

her children the truths of Christianity, one daughter inclined to the same strange opinions with her father. When about to die, she sent word to her father that she wished to converse with him. The father accordingly came to her bedside.

10. "I am about to die," said she; "shall I believe in the principles you have taught me, or shall I believe in what my mother has taught e?" The father became agitated, his chin quivered, his whole fram shook, and, after waiting a few moments, he replied, "Believe what your mother has taught you!" Allen died suddenly in 1789.

CHAPTER XC.

PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, CONTINUED.-Battle of Bunker's Hill.

1. WE have seen that soon after the battle of Lexington and Con

cord, Boston was, as it were, invested with American troops. Their number, at one time, is said to have been about thirty thousand. Their principal head-quarters were at Cambridge and Roxbury. Colonel Putnam commanded at the former place, and General Thomas at the latter.

2. Some time in

generals, arrived in

May, Howe, Clinton, and Bur-goyne', three British Boston, with a reinforcement of British troops. Governor Gage now offered a pardon to all the rebels, as he still called them, except John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who had been very active in rousing the people to resistance, if they would lay down their arms and be peaceable subjects. But as no attention was paid to the offer, he actively prepared for war.

9, 10. Relate what passed between Allen and his da..ghter. When did he die? CHAP. XC.-1. What of the American troops after the battle of Lexington? 2. What was one in May, 1775? What of Governor or General Gage?

PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF BUNKER'S HILL.

3. There now began to be skirmishing between the two armies most every day. The Americans concluded at length to fortify Dor' hes-ter Neck, now South Boston, and occupy Bun'-ker's Hill, in Charlestown. In order to effect the latter purpose, Colonel Pres'-cott was sent, on the 16th of June, to Charlestown, with one thousand

3. What did the Americans conclude to do? What of Colonel Prescott?

The teacher wi I put such questions here as he deems necessary, and explain to the pupil that the obelisk in the engraving represents the BUNKER HILL MONUMENT.

BATTLE NEAR PRINCETON.

217

8. At dark, the firing ceased on both sides. Cornwallis encamped with his troops near the village, expecting to receive a reinforcement early the next morning, when he should be well prepared to renew the attack. The fires kindled by the two armies were in full view of each other.

9. The situation of the Americans was exceedingly critical. The forces of Cornwallis, if they were concentrated at Trenton, as there was reason to expect, were greatly superior to those of Washington. If a battle should be hazarded in the morning it was with almost a certainty of being defeated. But the Delaware could not now be crossed with safety, on account of broken ice.

10. But there was another difficulty in the way of recrossing the river. It would leave New Jersey wholly to the enemy, depress the public mind, check the enlistment of recruits, of which the army stood in great need, and leave open the door to an attack on Philadelphia.

CHAPTER CI.

PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, CONTINUED.—Battle near Princeton.

1. THE final determination was, to march by a circuitous route as quickly as possible, to Princeton, and, if possible, proceed to Brunswick, where Lord Cornwallis had stores. In order, however, to secure the baggage, Washington had it removed, as secretly as possible, to Burlington.

2. The army commenced its march at midnight. With a view to deceive the British, the fires were left unextinguished; the guards even remained to keep them burning brightly, as well as to watch the bridge and fords of the rivulet till daylight, when they were to follow the army. The project succeeded to a charm, and a little after sunrise, next morning, Washington's army was seen approaching Princeton.

3. Here he met with some British regiments on the march, and one of the hottest battles ensued which was fought during the whole war. At first, the British, with fixed bayonets, compelled the Americans to retreat, with considerable loss, and, among the rest, that of General Mercer of Virginia.

8. What was the state of both armies at dark? 9. What was the situation of the Americans? 10. What good reasons were there for not crossing the Delaware? CHAP. CI.-1. What was finally determined upon? baggage? 2. What was done to deceive the British? What now ensued? Result to the Amer cans?

What did Washington do as to the

What of Washington's army? 8