Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

Vermonter with the deepest sympathy, and cherish in his bosom unfading remembrance of devotion to her honor so signal and affecting. If, according to Homer, the servile day takes away half of virtue, may we not fear that this submission extorted by physical force, broke down the constitution of Allen, and shortened his days. This domineering over his generous spirit, though indomitable and unyielding as the adamant, might yet prey upon it, and compel his bodily system to yield to the oppression of brute power. Thus he felt in the meridian of life; and was not permitted to see established the independence of his country, and the admission of his beloved Vermont into the union. "In the grave

yard of Burlington are the remains of the old hero. A neat iron railing surrounds the Allen family, with a plain slab stone at the head of the general, on which are engraved these words,"

"The corporeal part of Gen. Ethan Allen rests beneath this stone the 12th day of February, 1779, aged 50 years. His spirit tried the mercies of his God, in whom he believed and strongly trusted."

"After the close of the war, Col. Seth Warner," the companion of Allen, "returned to his farm in Roxbury" (Connecticut)" on which he remained until his death. He was interred at Roxbury over whose remains was erected a marble table on which is inscribed a short history of his valorous deeds in the revolution.".

246

CHAPTER XVII.

War events continued.-Contest for the supremacy on the lake.— The Americans defeated.-Gallant conduct of Waterbury and Arnold.-Arrival, and progress of Burgoyne.-Excitement.Mounts Defiance, Hope, Independence.-Cannon mounted by the British on Defiance.-Reflections on the past events.-The battle of Hubbardston.-Gen. Fraser.-Battle of Bennington.Gen. Stark. His policy at that battle as related by Col. Humphrey.-Letter to Gov. Trumbull of Connecticut.--The war of 1812.-Generals Hampton and Wilkinson.-The army of the North. The invasion of New York from Canada.-The naval battle on Champlain.—Its effects, and impression on the country.-Commodores McDonough and Downie.

IN 1776, a severe contest took place for the command of Lake Champlain. The British ministry saw the importance of securing the supremacy on that water communication; and sent over from England water craft with skillful mariners to effect their designs. Arnold and Waterbury were the principal actors on the side of the colonies; and they nobly defended that important water passway. Their boats were far inferior to those of the enemy; but managed to the best advantage. The following account of that conflict was given at the time in the Connecticut Courant, as it appears in Hinman's history. "At the naval action on Lake Cham-,

plain on the 11th day of October, 1776, when the American fleet was defeated; and left in a shattered and ruined condition, by the superior force of the British in ships, guns and men; though the action lasted five hours within musket shot of each other, only one galley, sloop Enterprise, two small schooners, and one gondola, escaped; the remainder of the fleet was taken and burnt. Gen. Arnold fought in the galley Congress, as long as possible, then ran her ashore, burnt her, and escaped by land to Ticonderoga, with a loss of twenty men. Gen. Waterbury, in the Washington galley, fought till the galley was sinking under him, and was obliged to strike to the enemy.' These officers were both from Connecticut. Waterbury had only one lieutenant, and a captain of marines unwounded. What remained were run on shore at the mouth of Otter creek, the remains of which were recently, if not now visible.

[ocr errors]

On the 6th of May, Burgoyne reached Quebec, and took command of the British army destined for the invasion of America. It consisted of between seven and eight thousand regular troops, British and German; with skillful and experienced officers to assist him. He divided his army, advanced up the lake with one division on either side, the fleet and boats accompanying them in the centre.

Three lofty, conical mountains near Ticonderoga have received significant names and become celebrated places from the warlike deeds which they witnessed at this period. They are called, mounts Independence, Hope, and Defiance; the first on the Vermont side, and the

two last on the New York side of the lake. Surely that on the Vermont side is appropriately named; she has a right to claim the appellation of Independence, both on account of her peculiar early position, and her freedom in common with her sister states. They are all three of them specimens of the majestic scenery abounding in this vicinity. Mount Defiance may have answered the import of its name for a short time. The British did indeed manifest great energy and perseverance in conveying by night cannon to the summit of this mountain, commanding the fort and whole territory around for some distance. It was a grand spectacle. The Yankees were out manoeuvered, in thinking it a labor beyond the imagination of the courtly, and as they supposed delicate Burgoyne. The question was discussed whether they should take possession of that commanding eminence. The principal reason, which decided them against it was; the improbability that the British would even conceive the idea of mounting it with cannon. Great was their surprise and even consternation, when they rose in the morning, and saw the engines of death over their heads, ready to pour destruction down upon them. For that aerial position gave the British the complete command over the American fortress, and on both sides of the lake in the vicinity.

The reflection that these lofty and majestic hills, some seventy years ago, felt the pressure of heavy ordnance, rending the air with their deadly discharges; and witnessed the array of opposing armies with all their appendages and accompaniments, fills the mind with emo

[ocr errors]

tions of solemnity, impressed deeply with the changes of time, the frustration of worldly plans, and the vanity of human glory. Looking at these steep and rugged and elevated mountains, covered with evergreens and trees of various descriptions, the mind tries to imagine how this rural and sublime scenery was heightened and rendered more impressive by "the pomp and circumstance of war." It looks at the pageantry of European warfare, suddenly removed to the wilderness and wilds of one of the most sequestered spots in America; the ranks of bayonets gleaming through the underbrush; the helmet and nodding plume, contrasting with the foliage and flowers of the forest. It goes back to those parade grounds on nature's castles, and views the evolutions and manœuvres of regiments and divisions, and the scarlet colored uniforms, and seems to hear the spirit-stirring sounds of martial instruments; the orders of chiefs and chieftains; and the shouts of victors. But all this show of power and splendor; of youth and courage; of daring and defiance; the roar of musketry and thunder of cannon has passed away like a vision of the night, and a tale that is told. Nature pursues her way as usual, as if no such occurrences had ever been there; the beasts rove and the birds wing their flight over those hills and through those shades, unconscious of events long since passed; the deadly strife of man with his brother man ; the dying youth of high and noble standing far from parents and friends. The occupiers of the vallies, and passers on the waters of the lake, pursue their callings and pass by the consecrated high lands as if the sons of

« PreviousContinue »