OF THE CAPTURE OF TICONDEROGA
His Captivity and Treatment by the British
By Ethan Allen
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
FIFTH EDITION, WITH NOTES
BURLINGTON:
1849.
No apology need be offered for presenting a new Edition of the following
Narrative, of one of the most remarkable men of the age in which he
lived. It is given in the plain language of its self-educated author,
without any alteration. The Senior publisher has been intimately
acquainted with his widow, who died about ten years since, and has been
assured by her that this narrative is printed as he wrote it without
alteration; and, that it shows more of his true character, than all else
ever written of him.
Little is known of the life of Col. Allen, but what is found in
Biographical Dictionaries, Spark's American Biography, and his Memoirs
written by Mr. Moore, from whose introduction the following just tribute
to his memory is copied:
"Perhaps no individual, of equal advantages, and the station he occupied
in life, contributed more towards establishing the independence of our
country, than Ethan Allen, the subject of this memoir. The mass of the
people among whom he resided, were rude and uncultivated; yet bold in
spirit and zealous in action. It consequently followed, that no one,
save a man of strong natural endowments--of much decision, energy and
bravery, could control their prejudices and inclinations. Habit had
rendered them familiar with danger, and impatient of restraint; hence,
it followed, that no policy, unless proceeding from a source in which
they had confidence, ever gained their approbation. Upon Allen, whose
courage was undoubted, and whose zealous devotion to their interests was
universally acknowledged, they implicitly relied. They had known him
in adversity and prosperity--they had weighed him, and found nothing
lacking. To friend or foe, he was ever the same unyielding advocate
of the rights of man, and universal liberty. The policy, therefore he
upheld, as beneficial to the common cause of American liberty, ever
found strong and efficient supporters in the friends with whom he
associated, and by whom he was known.
"From the commencement of our Revolutionary struggle, until its final
close, Ethan Allen proved a zealous and strenuous supporter of the
cause. Whether in the field or the council--whether at home, a
freeman among the mountains of Vermont, or loaded with the manacles of
despotism, in a foreign country, his spirit never quailed beneath
the sneer of the tory, or the harsh threats of insolent authority.
A stranger to fear, his opinions were ever given without disguise or
hesitation: and, an enemy to oppression, he sought every opportunity to
redress the wrongs of the oppressed. It is not to be supposed, however,
that he was faultless. Like other men, he had his errors--like other
men, his foibles. Yet he was not wilfully stubborn in either. When
convinced of an erroneous position, he was ever willing to yield a
victory; but, in theory, as in practice, he contested every inch
of ground; and only yielded when he had no weapons left to meet his
antagonist. This trait in his character serves, at least, to prove, that
he was honest in his conclusions, however erroneous the premises from
which they were deduced.
"Much error of opinion prevails among all classes of individuals, at
the present period, in relation to the character of Col. Allen. He
is generally viewed as a coarse, ignorant man, void of all the social
feelings, and arrogant in all his pretensions. Even Mr. Dwight, in his
"Travels in New England," reports him in this light; and deems him only
worthy a brief and unjust notice in his work. In what manner Mr.
Dwight came in possession of the facts upon which he predicated his
conclusions, is beyond the knowledge of the author of this Memoir: but,
certain it is, he has materially misrepresented the moral principles,
and in fact, the general character of Col. Allen. It is presumed,
however, that Mr. Dwight, like many other travelers, drew his inferences
from the gossip of the people among whom he associated, without being at
the trouble of extending his inquiries to a source from whence he might
have derived every material fact in relation to the subject. In making
this suggestion, the author would not be understood as attaching any
particular blame to Mr. Dwight; but merely as correcting an _error of
opinion_ which is quite too prevalent in our country."
Burlington, Vt. Aug. 1st, 1848
PUBLISHED IN 1807.
In announcing the publication of this little, simple, true, and
unvarnished _narrative_, the publishers have complied with the wishes of
a number of persons, who had a desire to keep in remembrance the hero of
Ticonderoga, and the exploits he performed. It is believed that there is
not a copy for sale in any bookstore in the United States; and the style
of printing, at the time of its first appearance, which is now near
thirty years since, was in so unimproved a condition, that it has never
been seen but in the shabby dress of a large and ragged pamphlet. The
events of those "troublous times" in which Col. Allen took a conspicuous
part, are rendered doubly interesting from the lively, unadorned manner
of his own narration. The high compliments which he pays to the prowess,
uniform perseverance and resolution, manifested by the "Green Mountain
Boys" of his native State, will no doubt be an inducement to them, and
to his countrymen generally, to read and preserve this monument of him,
and, as they con the pages of this "little book" which he has "left
them," to imitate the coolness and courage of the deceased veteran.
The sufferings and cruelties borne by him and his fellow soldiers,
frequently draw from him in the course of his _narrative_, a language
the most severe, with respect to a country from whom we originated, with
whom we are now at peace, and with whom it is our policy to continue
on a friendly footing; but the candid and the feeling mind should make
great allowance for the unparalleled situation of our affairs, for the
sufferings of his handful of little "_Spartans_," for whom he felt a
father's and a brother's affection. These circumstances must have given
a deep coloring to the pencil which was portraying his own and his
country's wrongs. On the whole, we think this little tract may be
re-perused, with advantage and pleasure, by the aged, and read with much
edification and entertainment by the young. As it is deemed that the
very words, in every respect made use of by the Colonel, would be more
acceptable to the reader, than any artificial decoration of style we
shall invariably adhere to the original.
INTRODUCTION.
Induced by a sense of duty to my country, and by the application of many
of my worthy friends, some of whom are of the first characters, I have
concluded to publish the following narrative of the extraordinary scenes
of my captivity, and the discoveries which I made in the course of the
same, of the cruel and relentless disposition and the behaviour of
the enemy, towards the prisoners in their power; from which the state
politician, and every gradation of character among the people, to the
worthy tiller of the soil, may deduce such inferences as they shall
think proper to carry into practice. Some men are appointed into office,
in these States, who read the history of the cruelties of this war,
with the same careless indifference, as they do the pages of the Roman
history; nay, some are preferred to places of trust and profit by the
tory influence. The instances are (I hope) but rare, and it stands all
freemen in hand to prevent their further influence, which, of all other
things, would be the most baneful to the liberties and happiness of
this country; and, so far as such influence takes place, robs us of the
victory we have obtained at the expense of so much blood and treasure.
I should have exhibited to the public a history of the facts herein
contained, soon after my exchange, had not the urgency of my private
affairs, together with more urgent public business, demanded my
attention, till a few weeks before the date hereof. The reader will
readily discern, that a Narrative of this sort could not have been
written when I was a prisoner. My trunk and writings were often searched
under various pretences; so that I never wrote a syllable, or made even
a rough minute whereon I might predicate this narration, but trusted
solely to my memory for the whole. I have, however, taken the greatest
care and pains to recollect the facts and arrange them; but as they
touch a variety of characters and opposite interests, I am sensible that
all will not be pleased with the relation of them. Be this as it will, I
have made truth my invariable guide, and stake my honor on the truth
of the facts. I have been very generous with the British in giving them
full and ample credit for all their good usage, of any considerable
consequence, which I met with among them, during my captivity; which was
easily done, as I met with but little, in comparison of the bad, which,
by reason of the great plurality of it, could not be contained in
so concise a narrative; so that I am certain that I have more fully
enumerated the favors which I received, than the abuses I suffered. The
critic will be pleased to excuse any inaccuracies in the performance
itself, as the author has unfortunately missed of a liberal education.
Bennington, March 25, 1779.
ETHAN ALLEN.
NARRATIVE.
Ever since I arrived at the state of manhood, and acquainted myself
with the general history of mankind, I have felt a sincere passion
for liberty. The history of nations, doomed to perpetual slavery, in
consequence of yielding up to tyrants their natural-born liberties, I
read with a sort of philosophical horror; so that the first systematical
and bloody attempt at Lexington, to enslave America, thoroughly
electrified my mind, and fully determined me to take part with my
country. And, while I was wishing for an opportunity to signalize
myself in its behalf, directions were privately sent to me from the then
colony, (now state) of Connecticut, to raise the Green Mountain Boys,
and, if possible, to surprise and take the fortress of Ticonderoga. This
enterprise I cheerfully undertook; and, after first guarding all the
several passes that led thither, to cut off all intelligence between
the garrison and the country, made a forced march from Bennington, and
arrived at the lake opposite to Ticonderoga, on the evening of the ninth
day of May, 1775, with two hundred and thirty valiant Green Mountain
Boys; and it was with the utmost difficulty that I procured boats to
cross the lake. However, I landed eighty-three men near the garrison,
and sent their boats back for the rear guard, commanded by Col. Seth
Warner, but the day began to dawn, and I found myself under a necessity
to attack the fort, before the 'Ticonderoga Fort' is thus described in
the American Encyclopedia:--Ticonderoga; a post-town of Essex county,
New York, on the west side of the south end of Lake Champlain, and
at the north end of lake George; twelve miles south of Crown Point,
ninety-five north of Albany; population in 1820, 1493. There is a
valuable iron mine in this township.--Ticonderoga Fort, famous in the
history of the American wars, is situated on an eminence, on the west
side of lake Champlain, just north of the entrance of the outlet from
lake George into lake Champlain, fifteen miles south of Crown Point,
twenty-four north of Whitehall; lon. 73 deg. 27! W.; lat. 43. deg. 30!.
N. It is now in ruins. Considerable remains of the fortifications are
still to be seen. The stone walls of the fort, which are now standing,
are in some places, thirty feet high. Mount Defiance lies about a mile
south of the fort, and Mount Independence is about half a mile distant,
on the opposite side of the lake, in Orwell, Vermont.
It was built by the French, in the year 1756, and had all the advantages
that art and nature could give it; being defended on three sides by
water, surrounded by rocks, and where that fails, the French erected
a breastwork nine feet high. The English and Colonial troops, under
General Abercrombie were defeated here in the year 1758, but it was
taken in the year following by General Amherst. It was surprised by
Colonels Allen and Arnold, May 10, 1775. Was retaken by General Burgoyne
in July, 1777, and was evacuated after his surrender, the garrison
returning to St. Johns.
The rear could cross the lake; and, as it was viewed hazardous, I
harrangued the officers and soldiers in the manner following:
"Friends and fellow soldiers, You have, for a number of years past
been a scourge and terror to arbitrary power. Your valor has been famed
abroad, and acknowledged, as appears by the advice and orders to me,
from the General Assembly of Connecticut, to surprise and take the
garrision now before us. I now propose to advance before you, and in
person, conduct you through the wicket-gate; for we must this morning
either quit our pretensions to valor, or possess ourselves of this
fortress in a few minutes; and, inasmuch as it is a desperate attempt,
which none but the bravest of men dare undertake, I do not urge it on
any contrary to his will. You that will undertake voluntarily, poise
your firelocks."
The men being, at this time, drawn up in three ranks, each poised his
firelock. I ordered them to face to the right, and at the head of the
centre-file, marched them immediately to the wicket-gate aforesaid,
where I found a sentry posted, who instantly snapped his fusee at me;
I ran immediately towards him, and he retreated through the covered
way into the parade within the garrison, gave a halloo, and ran under
a bombproof. My party, who followed me into the fort, I formed on the
parade in such a manner as to face the two barracks which faced each
other.
The garrison being asleep, except the sentries, we gave three huzzas
which greatly surprised them. One of the sentries made a pass at one of
my officers with a charged bayonet, and slightly wounded him: My first
thought was to kill him with my sword; but in an instant, I altered the
design and fury of the blow to a slight cut on the side of the head;
upon which he dropped his gun, and asked quarter, which I readily
granted him, and demanded of him the place where the commanding officer
kept; he shewed me a pair of stairs in the front of a barrack, on the
west part of the garrison, which led up a second story in said barrack,
to which I immediately repaired, and ordered the commander, Capt. De La
Place, to come forth instantly, or I would sacrifice the whole garrison
at which the Capt. came immediately to the door with his breeches in his
hand; when I ordered him to deliver me the fort instantly; he asked me
by what authority I demanded it; I answered him "_In the name of the
great Jehovah, and the Continental Congress._"* The authority of the
Congress being very little known at that time, he began to speak again;
but I interrupted him, and with my drawn sword over his head, again
demanded an immediate surrender of the garrison; with which he then
complied, and ordered his men to be forthwith paraded without arms, as
he had given up the garrison. In the mean time some of my officers had
given orders, and in consequence thereof, sundry of the barrack doors
were beat down, and about one third of the garrison imprisoned, which
consisted of the said commander, a Lieut. Feltham, a conductor of
artillery, a gunner, two sergeants, and forty-four rank and file; about
one hundred pieces of cannon, one thirteen inch mortar, and a number
of swivels. This surprise was carried into execution in the grey of
the morning of the tenth day of May, 1775. The sun seemed to rise that
morning with a superior lustre; and Ticonderoga and its dependencies
smiled on its conquerors, who tossed about the flowing bowl, and wished
success to Congress, and the liberty and freedom of America. Happy it
was for me, at that time, that the then future pages of the book of
fate, which afterwards unfolded a miserable scene of two years and eight
months imprisonment, were hid from my view.
* If the Colonel has expressed a little of his usual
severity in this place, he might have remarked also, that
neither of the authorities he mentioned were much known in a
British camp.
But to return to my narration: Col. Warner, with the rear guard, crossed
the lake, and joined me early in the morning, whom I sent off, without
loss of time, with about one hundred men, to take possession of Crown
Point, which was garrisoned with a sergeant and twelve men 5 which he
took possession of the same day, as also upwards of one hundred pieces
of cannon. But one thing now remained to be done, to make ourselves
complete masters of lake Champlain; this was to possess ourselves of a
sloop of war, which was then lying at St. Johns; to effect which, it was
agreed in a council of war, to arm and man out a certain schooner, which
lay at South Bay, and that Capt. (now general) Arnold* should command
her, and that I should command the batteaux. The necessary preparations
being made, we set sail from Ticonderoga, in quest of the sloop, which
was much larger, and carried more guns and heavier metal than the
schooner. General Arnold, with the schooner, sailing faster than the
batteaux, arrived at St. Johns; and by surprise possessed himself of the
sloop, before I could arrive with the batteaux; he also made prisoners
of a sergeant and twelve men, who were garrisoned at that place.
* This name, which now calls to mind the idea of treason, at
every mention of it, is "damned to everlasting fame." His
early history, with his conduct during the revolution, is
probably familiar to every school hoy. His subsequent life
is thus described by Dr. Allen, in his American Biographical
Dictionary.
"From the conclusion of the war to his death, Gen. Arnold
resided chiefly in England. In 1786 he was at St. Johns, New
Brunswick, engaged in trade and navigation, and again in
1790. For some cause he became very unpopular; in 1792 or
1793, was hung in effigy, and the mayor found it necessary
to read the riot act, and a company of troops was called out
to quell the mob. Repairing to the West Indies in 1794, a
French fleet anchored at the same island; he became alarmed
least he should be detained by the American Allies, and
passed the fleet concealed on a raft of lumber. He died in
Gloucester place, London, June 14, 1801. He married
Margaret, the daughter of Edward Shippen of Philadelphia,
chief justice, and a loyalist. General Greene, it is said,
was his rival. She combined fascinating manners with
strength of mind. She died at London, August 24, 1804, aged
43. His sons were men of property in Canada in 1829.--His
character presents little to be commended. His daring
courage may indeed excite admiration; but it was a courage
without reflection and without principle. He fought bravely
for his country and he bled in her cause; but his country
owed him no returns of gratitude, for his subsequent conduct
proved, that he had no honest regard to her interests, but
was governed by selfish considerations. His progress from
self-indulgence to treason was easy and rapid. He was vain
and luxurious, and to gratify his giddy desires he must
resort to meanness, dishonesty, and extortion. These vices
brought with them disgrace; and the contempt, into which he
fell, awakened a spirit of revenge, and left him to the
unrestrained influence of his cupidity and passion. Thus
from the high fame, to which his bravery had elevated him,
he descended into infamy. Thus too he furnished new evidence
of the infatuation of the human mind in attaching such value
to the reputation of a soldier, which may be obtained, while
the heart is unsound and every moral sentiment is entirely
depraved."
It is worthy of remark that as soon as General Arnold had secured the
prisoners on board, and had made preparations for sailing, the wind,
which but a few hours before was fresh in the south, and well served to
carry us to St. Johns, now shifted, and came fresh from the north;
and in about one hour's time, General Arnold sailed with the prize and
schooner for Ticonderoga. When I met him with my party, within a few
miles of St. Johns, he saluted me with a discharge of cannon, which I
returned with a volley of small arms. This being repeated three times,
I went on board the sloop with my party, where several loyal Congress
healths were drank.
We were now masters of lake Champlain, and the garrison depending
thereon. This success I viewed of consequence in the scale of American
politics; for, if a settlement between the then colonies and Great
Britain, had soon taken place, it would have been easy to have restored
these acquisitions; but viewing the then future consequences of a
cruel war, as it has really proved to be, and the command of that lake,
garrisons, artillery, &c., it must be viewed to be of signal importance
to the American cause, and it is marvellous to me that we ever lost the
command of it. Nothing but taking a Burgoyne with a whole British
army, could, in my opinion, atone for it; and notwithstanding such an
extraordinary victory, we must be obliged to regain the command of that
lake again, be the cost what it will; by doing this Canada will easily
be brought into union and confederacy with the United States of America.
Such an event would put it out of the power of the western tribes
of Indians to carry on a war with us, and be a solid and durable bar
against any further inhuman barbarities committed on our frontier
inhabitants, by cruel and bloodthirsty savages; for it is impossible
for them to carry on a war, except they are supported by the trade and
commerce of some civilized nation; which to them would be impracticable,
did Canada compose a part of the American empire.
Early in the fall of the year, the little army under the command of
Generals Schuyler and Montgomery, were ordered to advance into Canada. I
was at Ticonderoga when this order arrived; and the Generals, with most
of the field officers, requested me to attend them in the expedition;
and, though at that time I had no commission from Congress, yet they
engaged me, that I should be considered as an officer, the same as
though I had a commission; and should, as occasion might require,
command certain detachments of the army. This I considered as an
honorable offer, and did not hesitate to comply with it, and advanced
with the army to Isle-aux-Noix;* from whence I was ordered by the
General, to go in company with Major Brown, and certain interpreters,
through the woods into Canada, with letters to the Canadians, and to
let them know that the design of the army was only against the English
garrisons, and not the country, their liberties or religion; and
having, through much danger, negotiated this business, I returned to the
Isle-aux-Noix in the fore part of September, when Gen. Schuyler returned
to Albany; and in consequence the command devolved upon Gen. Montgomery,
whom I assisted in laying a line of circumvallation round the fortress
of St. Johns.** After which I was ordered by the General, to make a
second tour into Canada, upon nearly the same design as before;
and withal to observe the disposition, designs and movements of the
inhabitants of the country. This reconnoiter I undertook reluctantly,
choosing rather to assist at the siege of St. Johns, which was then
closely invested; but my esteem for the general's person, and opinion of
him as a politician and brave officer, induced me to proceed.
I passed through all the parishes on the river Sorel,*** to a parish
at the mouth of the same, which is called by the same name, preaching
politics; and went from thence across the Sorel to the St. Lawrence, and
up the river through the parishes to Longueil, and so far met with
good success as an itinerant. In this round my guard were Canadians,
my interpreter, and some few attendants excepted, On the morning of the
24th day of September I set out with my guard of about eighty men,
from Longueil, to go to Laprairie**** from whence I determined to go to
General Montgomery's camp; but had not advanced two miles before I met
with Major Brown, who has since been advanced to the rank of a Colonel,
who desired me to halt, saying that he had something of importance to
communicate to me and my confidants; upon which I halted the party, and
went into a house, and took a private room with him and several of my
associates, where Col. Brown proposed that, "provided I would return to
Longueil, and procure some canoes, so as to cross the river St. Lawrence
a little north of Montreal, he would cross it a little to the south of
the town with near two hundred men, as he had boats sufficient; and
that we could make ourselves masters of Montreal." This plan was readily
approved by me and those in council; and in consequence of which I
returned to Longueil, collected a few canoes, and added about thirty
English-Americans to my party, and crossed the river in the night of the
24th, agreeably to the proposed plan.
* A small island containing about 85 acres, ten miles north
of the boundary lines of the States of New York and Vermont.
It is strongly fortified, and completely commands the water
communication from lake Champlain. Here the British had a
small garrison.
** St. Johns is a thriving village, in the County of
Chambly, situated at the north end of lake Champlain, on the
west bank of the Sorel river, twenty-eight miles southward
of Montreal. It is the port of entry and clearance, between
the United States and Canada. It is now connected with the
St. Lawrence river by a rail-road.
*** Sorel or Richelieu River, the outlet of lake Champlain,
which after a course of about 69 miles north, empties into
the St. Lawrence, in north lat. 46 deg. 10 min., and long.
72 deg. 25 min. west. Sorel fort, built by the French, is at
the western joint of the mouth of this river.
**** Laprairie, a populous little village, on the river St.
Lawrence, in Canada, eighteen miles north of St. Johns, and
nine south-west af Montreal.
My whole party at this time, consisted of about one hundred and ten men,
near eighty of whom were Canadians. We were most of the night crossing
the river, as we had so few canoes that they had to pass and repass
three times, to carry my party across. Soon after day-break, I set a
guard between me and the town, with special orders to let no person
whatever pass or repass them, another guard on the other end of the
road, with like directions; in the meantime, I reconnoitered the best
ground to make a defence, expecting Col. Brown's party was landed on the
other side of the town, he having, the day before, agreed to give three
loud huzzas with his men early in the morning, which signal I was to
return, that we might each know that both parties were landed; but the
sun, by this time, being nearly two hours high, and the sign failing, I
began to conclude myself to be in premunire, and would have crossed the
river back again, but I knew the enemy would have discovered such an
attempt; and as there could not more than one-third part of my troops
cross at one time, the other two-thirds would of course fall into their
hands. This I could not reconcile to my own feelings as a man, much less
as an officer: I therefore concluded to maintain the ground if possible,
and all to fare alike. In consequence of this resolution, I despatched
two messengers, one to Laprairie, to Col. Brown, and the other to
l'Assomption, a French settlement, to Mr. Walker, who was in our
interest, requesting their speedy assistance, giving them, at the same
time to understand my critical situation. In the mean time, sundry
persons came to my guards, pretending to be friends, but were by them
taken prisoners and brought to me. These I ordered to confinement, until
their friendship could be further confirmed; for I was jealous they were
spies, as they proved to be afterwards. One of the principal of them
making his escape, exposed the weakness of my party, which was the final
cause of my misfortune; for I have been since informed that Mr. Walker,
agreeably to my desire, exerted himself, and had raised a considerable
number of men for my assistance, which brought him into difficulty
afterwards, but upon hearing of my misfortune, he disbanded them again.
The town of Montreal was in a great tumult. General Carleton and the
royal party, made every preparation to go on board their vessels of
force, as I was afterwards informed, but the spy escaped from my guard
to the town, occasioned an alteration in their policy, and emboldened
Gen. Carleton to send the force which he had there collected, out
against me. I had previously chosen my ground, but when I saw the number
of the enemy as they sallied out of the town, I perceived that it would
be a day of trouble if not of rebuke; but I had no chance to flee, as
Montreal was situated on an island, and the St. Lawrence cut off my
communication to Gen. Montgomery's camp. I encouraged my soldiery to
bravely defend themselves, that we should soon have help, and that we
should be able to keep the ground, if no more. This, and much more I
affirmed with the greatest seeming assurance, and which in reality I
thought to be in some degree probable.
The enemy consisted of not more than forty regular troops, together with
a mixed multitude, chiefly Canadians, with a number of English who lived
in town, and some Indians; in all to the number of near five hundred.
The reader will notice that most of my party were Canadians; indeed
it was a motley parcel which composed both parties. However, the enemy
began the attack from wood-piles, ditches, buildings, and such like
places, at a considerable distance, and I returned the fire from a
situation more than equally advantageous. The attack began between
two and three o'clock in the afternoon, just before which I ordered a
volunteer by the name of Richard Young, with a detachment of nine men
as a flank guard, which, under the cover of the bank of the river, could
not only annoy the enemy, but at the same time, serve as a flank guard
to the left of the main body.
The fire continued for some time on both sides; and I was confident that
such a remote method of attack could not carry the ground, provided
it should be continued till night; but near half the body of the enemy
began to flank round to my right; upon which I ordered a volunteer,
by the name of John Dugan, who had lived many years in Canada, and
understood the French language, to detach about fifty of the Canadians,
and post himself at an advantageous ditch, which was on my right, to
prevent my being surrounded: He advanced with the detachment, but
instead of occupying the post, made his escape, as did likewise Mr.
Young upon the left, with their detachments. I soon perceived that
the enemy was in the possession of the ground, which Dugan should have
occupied. At this time I had but about forty-five men with me; some of
whom were wounded; the enemy kept closing round me, nor was it in
my power to prevent it; by which means, my situation, which was
advantageous in the first part of the attack, ceased to be so in the
last; and being almost entirely surrounded with such vast unequal
numbers, I ordered a retreat, but found that those of the enemy, who
were of the country, and their Indians, could run as fast as my men,
though the regulars could not. Thus I retreated near a mile, and some of
the enemy, with the savages, kept flanking me, and others crowded hard
in the rear. In fine, I expected, in a very short time to try the world
of spirits; for I was apprehensive that no quarter would be given me,
and therefore had determined to sell my life as dear as I could. One of
the enemy's officers, boldly pressing in the rear, discharged his
fusee at me; the ball whistled near me, as did many others that day. I
returned the salute, and missed him, as running had put us both out of
breath: for I conclude we were not frightened: I then saluted him with
my tongue in a harsh manner, and told him that, inasmuch as his numbers
were far superior to mine, I would surrender provided I could be treated
with honor, and be assured of good quarters for myself and the men
who were with me; and he answered I should; another officer, coming up
directly after, confirmed the treaty; upon which I agreed to surrender
with my party, which then consisted of thirty-one effective men, and
seven wounded.
I ordered them to ground their arms, which they did.
The officer I capitulated with, then directed me and my party to advance
towards him, which was done; I handed him my sword, and in halt a minute
after, a savage, part of whose head was shaved, being almost naked and
painted, with feathers intermixed with the hair of the other side of
his head, came running to me with an incredible swiftness; he seemed
to advance with more than mortal speed; as he approached near me, his
hellish visage was beyond all description; snake's eyes appear innocent
in comparison of his; his features extorted;* malice, death, murder,
and the wrath of devils and damned spirits are the emblems of his
countenance; and in less than twelve feet of me, presenting his
firelock; at the instant of his present, I twitched the officer, to whom
I gave my sword, between me and the savage; but he flew round with great
fury, trying to single me out to shoot me without killing the officer;
but by this time I was nearly as nimble as he, keeping the officer in
such a position that his danger was my defence; but in less than half a
minute, I was attacked by just such another imp of hell: Then I made the
officer fly around with incredible velocity, for a few seconds of
time, when I perceived a Canadian, who had lost one eye, as appeared
afterwards, taking my part against the savages; and in an instant an
Irishman came to my assistance, and drove away the fiends, swearing
by Jasus he would kill them. This tragic scene composed my mind. The
escaping from so awful a death, made even imprisonment happy; the more
so as my conquerers on the field treated me with great civility and
politeness.
*Probably meant to be distorted; though, from the
description it would appear that his visage had been
extorted from some "Gorgon or chimera dire."
The regular officers said that they were very happy to see Col. Allen:
I answered them, that I should rather chose to have seen them at General
Montgomery's camp. The gentlemen replied, that they gave full credit to
what I said, and as I walked to the town, which was, as I should guess,
more than two miles, a British officer walking at my right hand, and one
of the French noblesse at my left; the latter of which, in the action,
had his eyebrow carried away by a glancing shot, but was nevertheless
very merry and facetious, and no abuse was offered me till I came to the
barrack yard at Montreal, where I met general Prescott, who asked me my
name, which I told him: He then asked me, whether I was that Col. Allen,
who took Ticonderoga. I told him I was the very man: Then he shook his
cane over my head, calling many hard names, among which he frequently
used the word rebel, and put himself in a great rage. I told him he
would do well not to cane me, for I was not accustomed to it, and shook
my fist at him, telling him that was the beetle of mortality for him,
if he offered to strike; upon which Capt. M'Cloud of the British, pulled
him by the skirt, and whispered to him, as he afterwards told me,
to this import; that it was inconsistent with his honor to strike a
prisoner. He then ordered a sergeant's command with fixed bayonets to
come forward, and kill thirteen Canadians, which were included in the
treaty aforesaid.
It cut me to the heart to see the Canadians in so hard a case, in
consequence of their having been true to me; they were wringing their
hands, saying their prayers, as I concluded, and expected immediate
death. I therefore stepped between the executioners and the Canadians,
opened my clothes, and told Gen. Prescott to thrust his bayonets into my
breast, for I was the sole cause of the Canadians taking up arms.
The guard, in the mean time, rolling their eye-balls from the General
to me, as though impatiently waiting his dread commands to sheath their
bayonets in my heart; I could, however, plainly discern, that he was in
suspense and quandary about the matter: This gave me additional hope of
succeeding; for my design was not to die, but to save the Canadians by
a finesse. The general stood a minute, when he made me the following
reply; "I will not execute you now; but you shall grace a halter at
Tyburn, God damn you."
I remember I disdained his mentioning such a place; I was,
notwithstanding, a little pleased with the expression, as it
significantly conveyed to me the idea of postponing the present
appearance of death; besides his sentence was by no means final, as to
"gracing a halter," although I had anxiety about it, after I landed in
England, as the reader will find in the course of this history. Gen.
Prescott then ordered one of his officers to take me on board the Gaspee
schooner of war, and confine me, hands and feet, in irons, which was
done the same afternoon I was taken.
The action continued an hour and three quarters, by the watch, and I
know not to this day how many of my men were killed, though I am certain
there were but few. If I remember right, 7 were wounded; one of them,
Wm. Stewart, by name, was wounded by a savage with a tomahawk, after he
was taken prisoner and disarmed, but was rescued by some of the generous
enemy; and so far recovered of his wounds, that he afterwards went with
the other prisoners to England.
Of the enemy, were killed a major Carden, who had been wounded in eleven
different battles, and an eminent merchant, Patterson, of Montreal, and
some others, but I never knew their whole loss, as their accounts were
different. I am apprehensive that it is rare, that so much ammunition
was expended, and so little execution done by it; though such of
my party as stood their ground, behaved with great fortitude, much
exceeding that of the enemy, but were not the best of marksmen, and, I
am apprehensive, were all killed or taken; the wounded were all put into
the hospital at Montreal, and those that were not, were put on board of
different vessels in the river, and shackled together by pairs, viz, two
men fastened together by one hand-cuff, being closely fixed to one
wrist of each of them, and treated with the greatest severity, nay as
criminals.
I now come to the description of the irons, which were put on me: The
hand-cuff was of the common size and form, but my leg irons, I should
imagine would weigh thirty pounds; the bar was eight feet long, and very
substantial; the shackles, which encompassed my ancles, were very tight.
I was told by the officer, who put them on, that it was the king's
plate, and I heard other of their officers say, that it would weigh
forty weight. The irons were so close upon my ancles, that I could not
lay down in any other manner than on my back. I was put into the lowest
and most wretched part of the vessel, where I got the favor of a chest
to sit on; the same answered for my bed at night; and having procured
some little blocks of the guard, who day and night, with fixed bayonets,
watched over me, to lie, under each end of the large bar of my leg
irons, to preserve my ancles from galling, while I sat on the chest, or
lay back on the same, though most of the time, night and day, I sat on
it; but at length, having a desire to lie down on my side, which the
closeness of my irons forbid, I desired the captain to loosen them for
that purpose; but was denied the favor. The Captain's name was Royal,
who did not seem to be an ill-natured man; but oftentimes said, that
his express orders were to treat me with such severity, which was
disagreeable to his own feelings; nor did he ever insult me, though
many others, who come on board did. One of the officers, by the name of
Bradley, was very generous to me; he would often send me victuals from
his own table; nor did a day fail, but he sent me a good drink of grog.
The reader is now invited back to the time I was put in irons. I
requested the privilege to write to General Prescott, which was granted.
I reminded him of the kind and generous manner of my treatment of the
prisoners I took at Ticonderoga; the injustice and ungentleman-like
usage I had met with from him, and demanded better usage, but received
no answer from him. I soon after wrote to Gen. Carleton, which met the
same success. In the mean while, many of those who were permitted to see
me, were very insulting.
I was confined in the manner I have related, on board the Gaspee
schooner, about six weeks; during which time I was obliged to throw out
plenty of extravagant language, which answered certain purposes, at that
time, better than to grace a history.
To give an instance; upon being insulted, in a fit of anger, I twisted
off a nail with my teeth, which I took to be a ten-penny nail; it went
through the mortise of the bar of my hand-cuff, and at the same time I
swaggered over those who abused me; particularly a Doctor Dace, who told
me that I was outlawed by New York, and deserved death for several years
past; was at last fully ripened for the halter, and in a fair way to
obtain it. When I challenged him, he excused himself, in consequence, as
he said, of my being a criminal; but I flung such a flood of language at
him that it shocked him and the spectators, for my anger was very great.
I heard one say, damn him, can he eat iron? After that, a small padlock
was fixed to the hand-cuff, instead of the nail; and as they were
mean-spirited in their treatment to me so it appeared to me, that they
were equally timorous and cowardly.
I was after sent, with the prisoners taken with me, to an armed vessel
in the river, which lay off against Quebec, under the command of Capt.
M'Cloud, of the British, who treated me in a very generous and obliging
manner, and according to my rank; in about twenty-four hours I bid him
farewell with regret; but my good fortune still continued. The name of
the Captain of the vessel I was put on board, was Littlejohn; who, with
his officers, behaved in a polite, generous, and friendly manner. I
lived with them in the cabin, and fared on the best, my irons being
taken off, contrary to the order he had received from the commanding
officer; but Capt Littlejohn swore, that a brave man should not be used
as a rascal, on board his ship.
Thus I found myself in possession of happiness once more, and the evils
I had lately suffered, gave me an uncommon relish for it.
Capt. Littlejohn used to go to Quebec almost every day, in order to pay
his respects to certain gentlemen and ladies; being there on a certain
day, he happened to meet with some disagreeable treatment, as he
imagined, from a Lieut, of a man-of-war, and one word brought on
another, until the Lieut, challenged him to a duel on the plains of
Abraham. Capt. Littlejohn was a gentleman, who entertained a high sense
of honor, and could do no less than accept the challenge.
At nine o'clock the next morning they were to fight. The Captain
returned in the evening, and acquainted his Lieutenant and me with the
affair. His Lieutenant was a high blooded Scotchman, as well as himself,
who replied to his Captain that he should not want for a second. With
this I interrupted him and gave the Captain to understand, that since
an opportunity had presented, I would be glad to testify my gratitude
to him, by acting the part of a faithful second; on which he gave me
his hand, and said that he wanted no better man. Says he, I am a King's
officer, and you a prisoner under my care; you must, therefore, go with
me, to the place appointed in disguise, and added further; 'You must
engage me, upon the honor of a gentleman, that whether I die or live,
or whatever happens, provided you live, that you will return to my
Lieutenant on board this ship.' All this I solemnly engaged him. The
combatants were to discharge each a pocket pistol, and then to fall
on with their iron hilted muckle whangers; and one of that sort was
allotted for me; but some British officers, who interposed early in the
morning, settled the controversy without fighting.
Now having enjoyed eight or nine days' happiness, from the polite and
generous treatment of Captain Littlejohn and his officers, I was obliged
to bid them farewell, parting with them in as friendly a manner as we
had lived together, which, to the best of my memory, was the eleventh of
November: when a detachment of General Arnold's little army appeared on
point Levi,* opposite Quebec, who had performed an extraordinary march
through a wilderness country, with design to have surprised the capital
of Canada; I was then taken on board a vessel called the Adamant,
together with the prisoners taken with me, and put under the power of
an English Merchant from London, whose name was Brook Watson; a man of
malicious and cruel disposition, and who was probably excited, in the
exercise of his malevolence, by a junto of tories, who sailed with him
to England; among whom were Col. Guy Johnson, Col. Closs, and their
attendants and associates, to the number of about thirty.
*Levi, a point of land in the river St. Lawrence, opposite
to the city of Quebec.
All the ship's crew, Col. Closs, in his personal behavior excepted,
behaved towards the prisoners with that spirit of bitterness, which is
the peculiar characteristic of tories, when they have the friends of
America in their power, measuring their loyalty to the English King by
the barbarity, fraud and deceit which they exercise towards the whigs.