Lexington. Ethan Allen was a Connecticut boy; but had early emigrated
with his brothers to the New Hampshire Grants, as Vermont was then
called. These grants, given by the governor of New Hampshire, were
called in question by New York, and officers from that colony tried to
oust the settlers; in their resistance, Allen was the leader, and
attained local celebrity. Parsons of Connecticut conferred with
Benedict Arnold on the scheme of capturing the old fortress; and
communication was had with Allen, who, being familiar with the Lake
George region, and at the same time of Connecticut stock, was esteemed
the best man to associate with the enterprise. Parsons and a few others
raised money on their personal security, and set out for the north,
gathering companions as they went. Ethan Allen met them at Bennington,
with his company of Green Mountain Boys, and was chosen leader of the
adventure, Arnold, who had a commission from Massachusetts, being
ignored. On the 9th of May, the party, numbering about eighty men,
exclusive of the rear guard, which was left behind by the exigencies of
the occasion, landed on the shore near the fortress. Ticonderoga was a
strong place, even for a force provided with cannon; but Allen had
nothing but muskets, and everything depended upon a surprise. It was
just sunrise on the 10th when Allen addressed his men with "We must
this morning either quit our pretensions to valor, or possess ourselves
of this fortress; and inasmuch as it is a desperate attempt, I do not
urge it, contrary to your will. You that will undertake voluntarily,
poise your firelocks!" The response was unanimous. The wicket of the
stronghold was found open; the sentry snapped his gun at Allen, missed
him, and was overpowered with a rush, together with the other guards.
On the parade within, a hollow square was formed, facing the four
barracks; a wounded sentry volunteered to conduct Allen to the
commander, Delaplace. "Come forth instantly, or I will sacrifice the
whole garrison," thundered Allen, at the door; and poor Delaplace, half
awake, started up with his breeches in his hand and wanted to know what
was the matter.--"Deliver to me this fort instantly!"--"By what
authority?" inquired the stupefied commander. The Vermonter was never
at a loss either for a word or a blow.--"In the name of the great
Jehovah, and the Continental Congress!" and presenting the point of his
sword, he cut short further parley and received the surrender. Fifty
prisoners, with guns and stores, went with the fortress, for which the
British had sacrificed forty million dollars and several campaigns; and
not a drop of American blood was spilled. Ethan Allen is a picturesque
character, and the capture of Ticonderoga is one of the picturesque
episodes of the Revolutionary War, and a valuable exploit from the
military point of view; but it lacks inevitably the moral weight and
dignity of the Concord fight. Indeed, the significance of the entire
struggle between Britain and her colonies was summed up and typified in
that initial act of unsupported courage. What followed was but a
corollary and expansion of it.
On the same day that Allen overcame Delaplace, the second Congress met
in Philadelphia. It was a very conservative body, anxious that the war
might proceed no further, and hopeful that England might recognize the
justice of America's wish to be free while retaining the name of
subjects of the king. But affairs had now got beyond the control of
congresses; the people themselves were in command, and the legislature
could do little more than ascertain and register their will. The
present Congress, indeed, had no legislative powers, nor legal status
of any kind; it was but the sober mind of the several colonies thinking
over the situation, and offering advice here, warning there. It could
not dispose of means to execute its ideas, while yet it would be open
to as much criticism as if it possessed active powers. Naturally,
therefore, its tendency was to be timid and circumspect. It is
memorable nevertheless for at least two resolutions of high importance;
it voted an army of twenty thousand men, and it named George Washington
as commander-in-chief. And when he declined to countenance the
proffered petition to King George, the ultimate prospect of
reconciliation with England vanished.