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ST. JOHN, N. B.

A ncesdon

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1838, by

CHAUNOEY GOODRICH,

in the Clerk's OfBlce of the District of Vermont.

ADVERTISEMENT
TO THE FIFTH EDITION.

No apology need be offered for presenting a new Edition of the fol-
lowing 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 ac-
quainted 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 alter-
ation ; and; that it shows more of his true character, than all else ever
written of him.

Little is known of the life of Col. A!l6n, but what is found in Bio-
graphical 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 oc-
cupied 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 uncultiva-
ted ; yet bold in spirit and zealous in action. It consequently followed,
that no one, save a man of strong natural endowments — of much decis-
ion, energy and bravery, could control their prejudices and inclinations.
Habit had rendered them familiar with danger, and impatient of re-
' straint ; hencC; it foIlowed,that no policy ,unle8S proceeding from a source
in which they had confidence, ever gained their approbation. Upon Al-
len, 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 unyield-
ing advocnte of the rights of man, and universal liberty. The policy,
therefore he upheld, as beneficial to the common cause of American lib-
erty, 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 free-
man 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 authorityr A stranger to
fear, his opinions were ever given without disguise or hesitation : and,

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ADVRRTISEMENT.

an enemy to oppression, he sought every opportunity to redress the
wrongs of the oppressed. It is not to be supposed, however, that ho
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 con-
clusions, 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. H^is gene-
rally 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 wor-
thy 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*nssociated, 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. Dwioi|T ; but m'^rely as correcting an error of opinion which is
quite too prevalent in cur country."

BdrlingtoN; Vt. Aug. Ist, 1848

(i^l

ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE WALPOLE EDITION,

POBLISHED IN° 1807.

In announcing the publication of this little, simple, true, jftnd unViifii-
ished narrative, the publishers have complied with the wishes of a nmn-
ber of persons, who had a desire to keep in remembrance the heit> of
Ticonderoga, and the exploits he performed. It isbelieved thtit 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 &o 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 conspic-
uous 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 reisolution, manifested by the " Green
Mountain Boys" of his native State, Will no doubt be an indacement to
them, and to his countrymen generally, to read and preserve this motiu-
ment 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 bis fellow soldiers, fre-
quently 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 fooling ; but the candid and the feeling mind should make
great allowance for the unparalled situation of our afiairs, for the suffer-
ings of his handful of little " Spartans," for whom he felt a father'cl and
a brother's affection. These circumstances must have given a deep col-
oring to the pencil which was portraying his own and his country's
wrongs. On the whole, we think this little tract may be re-perufled,
with advantage and pleasure, by the aged, and read with much edifica-
iton and entertainment by the young. As it is deenrved that the Very
words, in every respect made use of by the Colonel, would be more ac-
ceptable to the reader, than any artificial decoratior^ of style, we shall
invariably adhere to the ori/?!"^"!.

INTRODUCTION.

Induced by a sense of duty to .ny 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 extrnordinary
scenes of wy 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
politioian, and tvery 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 influ-
ence. 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,
80 far as such influence takes place, robs us of the victory we have ob-
tained at the expense of so much blood and treasure.

I should have exhibited to the public a history of the fact.) herein
contained, soon after my exchangee, had not the urgency of my private
affairs, tc^ether with more urgent public business, demanded my atten-
tion, till a few weeks before the date hereof. The reader will readily dis-
cern, that a Narrative of this sort could not have been written when I
was a prisoner. My trunk and writings were often searched under va-
rious 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 invaria-
ble 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 re-
ceived, than the abuses I suftered. The critic will be pleased to excuse
any inaccuracies in the performance itself, as the author has unfortunate-
ly missed of a liberal education.

„ „ . ETHAN ALLEN.

Bennington, March 25, I'TD.

NAERATIVE.

£vER gince t 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 conse-
quence of yielding up to tyrants their uaiural-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 sur-
prise 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 Ti-
conderoga,* 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 the boats back for
the rear guard, commanded by Col. Selh 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 posl-tovvn 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, ia situated on an eminence, on the west side of lake Champlain,
just north of the entrance of the outlet from lake George into lake Chahaplain, fifteen
miles south of Crown Point, twenty-four north of Whitehall ; Ion. 73 deg. 27.' W.; lat.
43 deg. 30!. N. It is now in ruins. Considerable remains of the fortifications are
still to bo 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 fori, and Mount
Independence is about half a mile distant, on the opposite sida 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 writer, surrounded by rocks,
and where that fails, the French erected a breastwork nine feet high. The English
and Colonial troops, under General Abercrorabie were defeated here in the year 1758,
but it was taken in the year following by General Amherst. It was surprised by Col-
onels Allen and Arnold, May 10, 1775. Was retaken by General Burgoyne in July,
J 777, aud was evacuated after his surrende., the garrison returning to St. Johns.

^..

8

MBktt Allen's

the rear could cross the lake ; and, as it was viewed hazardous, 1 har-
rangued the officers and sol rers in the manner following :

*' Friends aud fallow soldiers, You have, for a number of years past
been a scourge and terror to arbitrary power. Your valor has been
famed abroad, und 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 bomb-
proof. My party, who followed me into the fort, I formed on the pa-
rade 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 nnr 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 grant-
ed 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 y 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 moan 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 im-
prisoned, which consisted of the said commander, a Lieut. Feltham, a
conductor of artillery, a gunner, two sergeants, and forty-four rank and

*If the Colonel has expressed a little of his usual severity in t' Is place, he roigh^
have remarked also, that neitlier of the authorities he mentioned w,iP i.uch known in
a British camp.

past

and

KARRATIVE. 0

file ; about one hundred pieces of cannon, one thirteen inch mortar, and
a number of swivels. This Surprise wns 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 viewi

But to return to my narration : Col. Warner, with the rear guar^j
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 }
which he took possession of the same day, as also upwards of one hun<
dred pieces of cannon. But one thing now remained to be done, to
make ourselves complete masters of lake Champlain ; this was to i^ossess
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
schooiler, which layat South Bay, and thatCapt. (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 :

* This name, which now calls to mind the idea of treason,^ at every mention of
it, is " damned to everlasting fame." His early history, wfth his conduct durias
the revolution, is probably familiar to every school boy. His subsequent life is
thus described by Dn Allen, in his American Biographical Dictionary.

" r'rom the conclusion of the war to his death, Gen. Arnold resided chiefly in Eng-
land. In 1786 he was at St. Johns, New Brunswick, en^mged in trade and nfiviga-
tion, and again in 1790. For some cause he became very unpopular; in 17r2 or
1793, was hung in effigy, and the mayor found it necessary to read the r-jftict, and
a company of troops was called jut to quell the mob. itcpairing to the West
Indies in 1794, a French fleet anchored at the s-xme island ; he became alarmed
least he should be detained by Ihe American Allies, and passed the fleet concealed
on a rail; of lumber. He died in Gloucester place, London, June 14, 1801. He
married Margaret, the daughter of Edward Sbippen of Philadelphia, chief justice,
and a loyalist. General Greene, it is said, was his rival. She combined fascina-
ting manners with sfrnnglh of mind. She died at London. August 24, 1304, aged
43. His sous were men of property in (,'anada in 1829. — His character presents lit-
tle to be commanded. His daring courage may indeed excite admiration ; but it
was a courage without reflection and without principle. He fought bravely for hia
country and he bled in her c tuse ; 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 grati fy his gid-
dy desires ho must resort I.) meanness, dishonesty, and extortion. These vices
brought with them disgrace ; and the contempt, into which he fell, awakened a spir-
it of revenge, and left him to the unrestrained influence of his cupidity and passion.
Thus from the high ftime, to which his bravery had elevated him, he descended
into infamy Thus too he furnished new eyidenc of the infatuation of the human
mind in attaching such value to the reputation t a soldier, which may be obtained,
while the heart L unsound and every moral sentiment is entirely depraved."

-SL

10

■THAN ALLEM «

He also iteade prisoners of a sergeant and twelve men, who were garri'
aoned at that place. It is worthy of remark that as soon as General Ar-
nold hud secured the prisoners on board, and had made preparations for
sailiog, 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 Ameri-
can 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 t> an 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 domg this Canada will easily be brought into union
and confederacy with the United States of America. Such an event
wobld 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 inhu-
man barbarities coomiitted on our frontier inhabitants, by cruel and blood-
thirsty 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
'tjlenerals Schuyler and Montgomery, were ordered to advance into Can-
ada. I was at Ticonderoga when this order arrived ; and the Generals,
with most of the field officers, requested me to attend them in the expe-
dition ; 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, com-
mand certain detachments of the army. This I considered as an honor-
able 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

•A small island containing about 85 acres, ten miles north of the boundary linea
of the States of New York and Vermont. It is stronglv fortified, and completely
commands the wotcr commuuication from lake Cliaraplain. Hero ♦he British had
a Biaall garrisoo.

;#

were garrp
jreneral Ar-
arations for
the south,
came fresh
nold sailed
him with
• discharge
'his being
rty, where

'spending
►f Ameri-
nd Great
restored
f a cruel
farrisons,
American
id of if.

i, in my
victory,
the cost
> union
n event
:arry on
>r inhu-
I blood*
except
iation ;
part of

nnd of
>Can-
fierals,
expe-
gress,
me as
com-
onor-
h the
al, to
I the
:now
and
luch

NiARATITB.

u

danger, negotiated this business, £ returned to the Isle-auz-Noix in the
lore 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 th<^
country. This reconnoiter I undertook reluctantly, choosing rather to
assist at the seige 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,f to a parish at the
mouth of the same, which i? called by the same name, preaching poli-
tics ; 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 rour i my guard were Canadians, my in-
terpreter, and soue 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 I<aprairie ;| 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 impor-
tance 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 readly approved by me and those in council ; and incon-
sequence of which I returned to Longueil, collected a few canoes, and
added about thirty English-Americans to my party, and crossed the riv-
er in the night of the 24tb, agreeably to the proposed plan.

My whole parly at this time, consisted of about one hundred and ten
men, near eighty of whom were Canadians. Ws were most of the night
crossing the river, as we had so few canoes that they had to pass and re-
pass 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

* St.. Johns is a thriving village, in the County of Chambly, situated at the north
end of lake Oharaplainj. on the west bank of the Sorel river, twenty-eight mileo
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.

t 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 deff. 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. .

X Laprairie, a populous little v\\\a<re, on the river St. Lawrence, m Canada, eight-
een nules north of St. Johns, and nine south-west of Montreal.

13

ETHAN ALLEN S

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 thai 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 preniunire, and would have cross-
ed 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 n;y
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 de-
spatched two messengers, one to Laprairie, to Col. Brown, and the oth-
er to I'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 per-
sons came to my guards, pretending to be friends, but were by them ta-
ken prisoners and brought to me. These I ordered to confinement, un-
til 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 percived that it would be a
day of trouble if not of rebuke ; but I had no chance to flee, as Montreal
vvas situated on an island, and the St. Lawrence cut off my communica-
tion to Gen. Mongomery'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 affirm-
ed 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 hun-
dred.

The reader will notice that most of my party were Canadians ; indeed
It was a motley parcel which composed both parties. However, the ene-
niy began the attack from wood-piles, ditches, buildings, and such like
places, at a considerable distance, and I returned the fire from a situa-
tion more than equally advantageous. The attack began between two

NARRATIVE.

18

and three o'clock in the afternoon, just before which I ordered & volun-
teer 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.

Tho fire continued for some time on both sides ; and I was confident
that such a remote method of attack could not carry the ground, provi-
ded it should be continued till night ; but near half the body of the en-
emy began to flank round to my right ; upon which I ordered a volun-
teer, by the name of John Dugan, who had lived many years in Canada,
and understood the French language, to detach about fifty of the Cana-
dians, and post himself at an advantageous ditch, which was on my right,
to prevent my l?eing surrrounded : 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, whicb 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 advanta-
geous in the first part of the attack, ceased to be so in the last ; and be-
ing almost entirely surrounded with such vast unequal numbers, I order-
ed a retreat, but found that those of the enemy, who were of the coun-
try, 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 offi-
cers, 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 oflicer, coming up directly after, con-
firmed the treaty : upon which I agreed to surrender with my party,
which then cousiuted of thirty<one eflective men, and seven wounded.
I ordered them to ground their arms, which they did.

The oflicer I capitulated with, then directed me and my party to ad-
vance toward'' him, which was done ; I handed him my sword, and in
halt a minute after, a savage, part of whose head was shaved, being al-
most 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 ap-
pear innocent in comparison of his ; his features extorted ',* malice, death,

* Probably meant to be distorted ; though, from the description it would appear
ihut his visage had been extorted from some " Oorgon or chimera dirt."

'' If

14

ETHAN ALLEN 3

t

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 fire-
lock ; 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 offi-
cer 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 savDges ; and in an instant an Irishman came
to my assistance, and drove away the fiends, swearing by Jusus 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
conquerors on the field treated me with great civility and politeness.

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 Gen-
eral 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 htter of which, in the
action, had his eyebrow carried away by a glancing shot, but was never-
theless very merry and facetious, and no abuse was oflered me till I came
to the barrack yard at Montreal, where I met general Prescott, who ask-
ed 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 ac-
customed 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. ?Cloud
of the British, pulled him by the skirt, and whispered to him, as he af-
terwards 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 in-
cluded in the treaty aforesaid.

It cut me to the heart to see the Canadians in so hard a case, in con-
sequence 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 Canadiens, open-
ed 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
n suspense and quandary about the matter : This gave me additional
hopes of succeeding ; for my design was not to die, but to save the Ca-
nadians 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."

VxKkktlVE.

1ft

t remember I Hisdained his mentioning such a place ; I wui, nowith-
standing, 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 n England, as the reader will find
in the course of this history. Gen. Prescott then ordered one of his of-
ficers 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 r!ot 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 uy a savage with a tom-
ahawk, 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 Garden, who had been wounded
in eleven different battles, and an eminent merchant, Patterson, of Mon-
treal, and some others, but I never knew their whole loss, as their ac-
counts were difTerent. 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-cufT, 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 ironer, which were put on me :
The hand-cuff was of the common size and form, but my leg irons, I
should imagine woi^ld 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 low-
est 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 ilNnatured man ; but oftentimes said, that his express or-
ders 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

-^«.

19

ITHAN ALLCn'i

\*

\k'

generoas 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 hack to the time I was put in irons. I re*
quested 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 receiv-
ed 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 permit-
ted to see me, were very insulting. ^

I was confined in the manner 1 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 j 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 daerved death for "sveral
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 ilung 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 fixeu to the hand-cuff, instead of the nail; and as they were mean-
spirited in their treaiinent 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 pie in a ve y 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 Ltttlejohn ;
who, with his officers, behaved in a polite, generous, and friendly man-
ner. 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 command-
ing 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 jiad 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 iniagin*
ed, from a Lieut, of a man-ot-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

_*,-r^

ItltttlAtlVB.

n

18 own table ;

'•■ong. I re-
was granted.
»tnientofthe
*iitleman-Jike
') but receiv-
n> »vhicii met
were permit-

the Gaspee
ed to throw
in purposes,

"■, I twisted
"' ; it went
same time I

Oace, who
I for "everal
fair way jq

>«sequence,
of language
'v,«=^y great,
a" padlock
vere mean-
t'ley were

med vessel
d of Capt.
»d obliging
ours I bid
red. The
'itllejohn j
idly man-
tny irons
ommand-
Id not be

, and the

order to
a certain
! imagin-
another,
a. Capt.
lor, and

Captain
nth the

nOtair. Itis LieutenlEint was a high bloodied Scotchman^ as well as bim-
self, 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 grati-
tude 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 allot-
ted for me ; but some British officers, who interposed early in the morn-
ing, settled the controversy without fighting.

Now having enjoyed eight or nine days' happiness, from the polite
and generous treatment of Captain Liitlejohn 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 ves-
sel called the Adamant, together with the prisonerr 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 saile(^with hinf to England ; among whom were Col. Guy
Johnson, Col. Closs, and their attendants and associates, to the number
of about thirty.

All the ship's crew, Col. Closs, in his personal behavior excepted, be-
haved 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 bar-
barity, fraud and deceit which they exercise towards the whigs.

A small place in the vessel, enclosed with white oak plank, was as-
signed for the prisoners, and for me among the rest, I should imagine
thai it was not more than twenty feet one way, and twenty-two the oth-
er. Into this place we were all, to the number of thirty-four, thrust and
hand-cuffed, two prisoners more being added to our number, and were
provided with two excrement tubs ; in thiscircumferance we were obliged
to eat and perform the offices of evacuation, during the voyage to Eng-
land • and were insulted by every black-guard sailor and tory on board,
in the cnielest manner ; but what is the most surprising is, that not one
of us died in the passage. When I was first ordered to go into the filthy
inclosure, through a small sort of door, I positively refused, and endeav-
ored to reason the before named Brook Watson out of a conduct so de-

•Levi, a point of land ia the river St. Lawrence, opposite to the city of duebcc.
3

turn

18

ETHAH ALLElt'g

H-

rogatory to every sentiment of honor and humanity, but all to no pur-
pose, my men being forced in the den already ; and the rascal who had
the charge of the prisoners commanded me to go immediately in among
the rest. He further added that the place was good enough for a rebel ;
that it was impertinent for a capital offender to talk of honor or humani-
ty ; that any thing short of a halter was to good for me ; and that that
would be my portion soon after I landed in England ; for which purpose
only I was sent thither. About the same time a lieutenant among the
tories, insulted me in a grievous manner, saying that I ought to have
been executed for my rebellion against New York, and spit in my face ;
upon which, though I was hand-cufled, I sprang at him with both handS;,
and knocked him partly down, but he scrambled along into the cabin,
and I after him ; there he got under the protection of sonie men with
«fixed bayonets, who were ordered, to make ready to drive me into the
place aforementioned. I challenged him to fight, notwithstanding the
impediments that were on my hands, and had the exalted pleasure to see
the rascal tremble for fear ; his name I have forgot, but Watson ordered
his guard to get me into the place with the other prisoners, dead or alive ;
and 1 had almost as lieve die as do it, standing it out until they environ-
ed me round with bayonets; and brutish, prejudiced, abandoned wretch-
es they were, from whom I could expect nothing but death or wounds ;
however I told'them, that they were good honest fellows; that I could
not blame them ; that I was only in dispute with a calico merchant, who
knew not how to behave towards a gentleman of the military establish-
ment. This was spoken rather to appease them for my own preserva-
tion, as well as to treat Watson with contempt ; but still I found they
were determined to force me into the wretched circumstances, which
their prejudiced and depraved minds had prepared for me ; therefore,
rather than die, I submitted to their indignities, being drove with bayonets
into the filthy dungeon with the other prisoners, where we were denied
fresh water, except a small allowance, which was very inadequate to our
wants ; and in consequence of the stench of the place, each of us was
soon followed with a diarrhcba and fever, which occasioned an intolera-
ble thirst. When we asked for water, we were, most commonly, in-
stead of obtaining it, insulted and derided ; and to add to all the horrors
of the place, it was so dark that we could not see each other, and were
overspread with body lice. We had, notwithstanding these severities,
full allowance of salt provisions, and a gill of rum per day ; the latter of
which was of the utmost service to us, and, probably, was the means of
saving several of our lives. About forty days we existed in this man-
ner, when the land's end of England was discovered from the mast head •
soon after which, the prisoners were taken from their gloomy abode'
being permitted to see the light of the sun, and breathe fresh air, which
to us was very refreshing. The day following we landed at Falmouth.

A few days before I was taken prisoner, I shifted my clothes, by which
I happened to be taken in a Canadian dress, viz , a short fawn-skin jack-
et, double-breasted, an undervest and breeches of sagathy, worsted
stockings, a decent pair of shoes, two plain shirts, and a red worsted
cap ; this was all the clothing I had, in which I made my appearance in
England.

iNM

ll««*^tl<|lL*«^ •^^^j^V

NARRiTire.

1»

When the prisoners were landed, multitudes of the citizens of Fal>
mouth, excited by curiosity, crowded to see us, which was equally grati-
fying to us. I saw numbers on the tops of houses, and the rising adja-
cent grounds were covered with them, of both sexes. The throng was
so great, that the king's officers were obliged to draw their swords, and
force a passage to Pendennis castle, which was near a mile from the town,
where we were closely confined, in consequence of orders from General
Carleton, who then commanded in Canada.

The rascally Brook Watson then set out for London in great haste^
expecting the reward of his zeal ; but the ministry received him, as I
have been since informed, rather coolly ; for the the minority in parlia-
ment took advantage, arguing that the opposition of America to Great
Britain, was not a rebellion : K it is, say they, why do you not execute
Col. Allen according to law ? But the majority argued that I ought to
be executed, and that the opposition was really a rebellion, but that pol-
icy obliged them not to do it, inasmuch as the Congress had then most
prisoners in their power ; so that my being sent to England, for the pur-
pose of being executed, and necessity restraining them, was rather a foil
on their laws and authority, and they consequently disapproved of my
being sent thither. But I had never heard the least hint of those de-
bates, in parliament, or of the woiking of their policy, until sometime
after I left England.

Consequently the reader will readily conceive I was anxious about my
preservation, knowing that I was in the power of a haughty and cruel
nation, considered as such. Therefore, the first proposition which I de-
termined in my own mind was, that humanity and moral suasion would not
be consulted in the determining of my fate ; and those that daily came in
great numbers out of curiosity, to see me, both gentle and simple, united
in this, that I would be hanged. A gentleman from America, by the name
»f Temple, and{who was friendly to me, just whispered me in the ear, and
told me that bets were laid in London, that I would be executed ; he
likewise privately gave ine a guinea, but durst say but little to me.

However, agreeably to my first negative proposition, that moral virtue
would not influence my destiny, I had recourse to stratagem, which I
was in hopes would move in the circle of their policy. I requested of
the commander of the castle the privilege of writing to Congress, who,
after consulting with an officer that lived in town, of a superior rank,
permitted me to write. I wrote, in the fore part of the letter, a short
narrative of my ill-treatment; but withal let them know that, though I
was treated as a criminal in England, and continued in irons, togethei;
with those taken with me, yet it was in conseqence of the orders which
the commander of the castle received from General Carleton ; and there-
fore desired Congress to desist from matters of retaliation, until they
should, know the result of the government in England, respecting their
treatment towards me, and the prisoners with me, and govern themselves
accordingly, with a particular request, that if retaliation should be found
necessary, it might be exercised not according to the smallness of my
character in America, but in proportion to the importance of the cause
for which I suffered. This is, according to my present recollection, thq

■\

so

KTUAN ALLIN S

substance of the letter, inscribed, — <* To the illuatrious Continental
Congreaa." This letter was written with a view that it should be sent
to the ministry at London, rather than to Congress, with a desigiuto in-
timidate the haughty English government, and screen my neck from the
halter.

The next day the officer, from whom I obtained license to write, came
to see me, and frowned on me on account of the impudence of the letter,
as he phrased it, and further added, ' Do you think that we are fools in
England, and would send your letter to Congress, with instructions to
retaliate on our own people ? I have sent your Jetter to Lord North.'
This gave me inward satisfaction, though I carefully concealed it with a
pretended resentment, for I found I had come Yankee over him, and
that the letter had gone to the identical person I designed it for. Nor
do I know, to this day, but thai it had the desired effect, though I have
not heard any thing of the letter since.

My personal treatment by Lieutenant Hamilton, who commanded the
castle, was very generous. He sent me every day a fine breakfast and
dinner from his own table, and a bottle of good wine. Another aged
gentleman, whose name I cannot recollect, sent me a good supper. But
there was no distinction in public support between me and the privates ;
we all lodged on a sort of Dutch bunks, in one common apartment, and
were allowed straw. The privates were well supplied with fresh provis-
ions, and with me took efTectiial measures to rid ourselves of lice.

I could not but feel, inwardly extremely anxious for my fate. This, I
however, concealed from the prisoners, as well as from the enemy, who
were perpetually shaking the halter at me. I nevertheless treated them
with scorn and contempt ; and having sent my letter to the ministry,
could conceive of nothing more in my power but to keep up my spirits,
6ehave in a daring, soldier-like manner, that Lmight exhibit a good sam-
ple of American fortitude.'*^ Such a conduct, I judged would have <«
more probable tendency to my preservation than concession and timidi-
ty. This therefore, was my deportment ; and I had lastly determined,
in my mind, that if a cruel death must inevitably be my portion, I would
face it undaunted ; and, though I greatly rejoice that I returned to my
country and friends, and to see the power and pride of Great Britain
humbled ; yet J am confident I could then have died without the least
appearance of dismay.

I now clearly recollect that my mind was so resolved, that I ivould
not have trembled or shewn the least fear, as I was sensible it could not
alter my fate, nor do more than reproach my memory, make. my last act
despicable to my enemies, and eclipse the other actions of my life. For
I reasoned thus, that nothing was more common than for men to die'
with their friends around them, weeping and lamenting over them, but
not able to help them, which was in reality not different in the conse-

*The British must doubtless have had a high idea of the personal prowess of Mr.
Allen ; and however superior their regular discipline might have appeared in their
own eyes, yet they could not but respect his courage. To this intrepid spirit, and
the esteem it must have excited, the Colonel probably owes his complimentai-y
meals and his daily bottle of wine, _ f. . , J

KARRATIVC.

«i

quence of it from s'ich a death as I was apprehensive of; and, as death
was the natural consequence of animal life to which the laws of nature
subject mankind, to be timorous and uneasy as to the event and manner
of it, was inconsistent with the character of a philosopher and soldier.
The cause I was engaged in, I ever viewed worthy hazarding my life
for, nor was I, in the most critical moments of trouble, sorry that I en-
gaged-in it ; and, as to the world of spirits, ^though I knew nothing of
the mode or manner of it, I expected nevertlieless. when I should arrive
at such a world, that I should be as well treated as other gentlemen of
myment.

Among the great numbers of people, who came to the castle to see
the prisoners, some gentlemen told 'ne that they had come fifty miles on
purpose to see me, and desired to csk me a number of questions, and to
make free with me in conversation. I gave for answer that I chose free*
dom in every sense of the word. Then one of them asked me what
my occupation in life had been ? I answered him, that in my younger
days I had studied divinity, but I was a conjuror by profession. He re-
plied, that I conjured wrung at the time I was taken ; and I was obliged
to own, that I mistook a figure at that time, but that I had conjured them
out of Ticonderoga. This was a place of great notoriety in England, r
so that the joke seemed to go in my favor.

It was a common thing for ma to be taken out of close confinement, '
into a spacious green in the custle, or rather parade, where numbers of
gentlemen and ladies were ready to see and hear me. I often entertain-
ed such audiences with harangues on jllie impracticability of Great Brit- -
ain's conquering the then colonies of America. At one of these times
I asked a gentleman for a bowl of punch, and he ordered his servant to ,
bring it, which he did, and offered it to me, but I refused to take it from
the hand of his servant ; he then gave it to me with his own hand, re-
fusing to drink with me in consequence of my beihg a state criminal :
However, I took the punch and drank it oil down at one draught, and
handed the gentleman the bowl : this made the spectators as well as my-
self merry.

I expatiated on American freedom. This gained theVesentment of a
young, beardless gentleman of the company, who gave himself very great
airs, and replied that he ' knew the Americdns very well, and was cer-
tain that they could not bearihe smell of powder.' I replied, that I ac-
cepted it as a challenge, and was ready (o convince him on the spot, that
an American could bear the smell-of powder; at which he answered
that ho should not put himself on a par with me. I then demanded of
him to ireat the character of the Americans with due respect. He an-
swered that 1 was an Irishman ; but I assured him that I was a full
blooded Yankee, and in fine bantered him so much; that he left me in
possession of the ground, and the laugh went against him. Two clergy-
men came to see me, and, inasmuch as they behaved with civility, I re-
turned them the same. We discoursed on several parts of moral philos-
ophy and Christianity ; and they seemed *o be surprised that I should
be acquainted with such topics, or that 1 should understand a syllogism,
or regular mode cf argumentation. I am apprehensive my Caoadian

I.

!

(■

I

/v

2^

ETHAN ALLEN'g

dress contributed not a little M ♦».

When we were Rr.f h u Provisions

to oome„*ai„^° Tr^r ? ?»'«■="'«, off ,ht 11" ' '"^^'sn

of-war wan mrt»= « L- ^* '" an evii cnso • tu .. "'e'li, consult-^

However, two davsaftrr I k , ""J' Pubi.c j„s.

could, and went Tdeek ' T^''^ '^-"^ ^'«-"=ed myseK „. ^ „
and said : ' did I Lt '^ ^^ ^^P^^^» spoke to m « • °® "'®" as I
"i™, that at the saZ Zfir^^'^ ^^^ <>«' S "''' T^^ ^«S^'
to walk ; that f was Co ^ i a .?'^' ' ^^^^ '» vvas the vino J r ^"^"'ered

would directly awl ' ^'"^ "'^^^^"^ "^^ off Tl^'T'^' «'''«» he,

V i'

RitlBATITE.

It was but a few nights I lodged in the cable tier, before I gained an
acquaintance with the master of arms, his name was Gillegan, an Irish-
man, who was a generous, and well disposed man, and in a friendly man-
ner made me an ofTer, of living with him in a little birth, which was al-
lotted him between decks, and enclosed with canvass ; his preferment on
board was about equal to that of a sergeant in a regiment. I was com->>
paratively happy in the acceptance of his clemency, and lived with him
in friendship till the frigate anchored in the harbor of Cape Fear, North
Carolina, in America.

Nothing of material consequence happened till the fleet rendezvoused
at the cove of Cork, except a violent storm which brouf^ht old hardy
sailors to their prayers. It was soon rumored in Cork lu.'^t I was on
board the Solebay, with a number of prisoners from America ; upon
which Messrs. Clark &Hays, merchants in company, and a number of
other benevolently disposed gentlemen, contributed largely to the relief
and support of the prisoners, who were thirty-four in number, and in
very n^jdy circumstances. A suit of clothes from head to foot, includ-
ing an overcoat or surtout, and two shirts were bestowed upon each of
them. My suit I received in superfine broadcloths, sufficient for two
jackets and two pair of breeches, overplus of a suit throughout, eight
tine Holland shirts and stocks ready made, with a number of pairs of
silk and worsted hose, two pair of shoes, two beaver hats, one of which
was sent me richly laced with gold, by James Bonwell. The Irish gen-
tlemen furthermore made a large gratuity of wines of the best sort, spir-
its, gin, loaf and brown sugar, tea and chocolate, with a large round of
pickled beef, and a number of fat turkies, with many other articles, for
my sea stores, too tedious to mention here. To the privates they be-
stowed on each man two pounds of tea, and six pounds of brown sugar.
These articles were received on hoard at a time when the captain and
first lieutenant were gone on shore, by the permission of the second
lieutenant, a handsome young gentleman, who was then under twenty
years of age ; his name was Douglass, son of the admiral Douglass, as I
was informed.

As this munificence was so unexpected and plentiful, I may add need-
ful, it impressed on my mind the highest sense of gratitude towards my
benefactors; for I was not only supplied with the necessaries and con-
veniences of life, but wijh the grandeurs and superfluities of it. Mr Hays,
one of the donators before-mentioned, came on board, and behaved in
the most obliging raanier, telling me he hoped my troubles were past ;
for that the gentiemea of Cork determined to make my sea stores equal
to those of the captain of the Soiebuy ; he made an offer of live stock
and wherewith support them ; but I knew this would be denied. And
•o crown oil, did send me by another person, fifty gumeas, but I could
not reconcile receiving the whole to my own feelings, as it might have
the appearance of avarice ; and therefore received but seven guineas
only, and am confident, not only from the exercise of the present well
timed generosity, but from a large acquaintance with gentleman of this
nation, that as a people they excel in hueruilty and bravery.

Ti^o days after the receipt of the aforesaid donations, captain Sym-
onds came on board, full of envy towards the prisoners, and swore by

I

24

KtHAif ALLEn's

all that is good, that the damned American rebels should not be feasted
at this rate,' by the damned rebels of Ireland ; he therefore took away
all my liquors before-mentioned, except some of the wine which was se-^
creted, and a two gallon jug of old spirits which was reserved for me per
favor of lieutenant Douglass. The taking of my liquors was abomina-^
ble in his sight ; he therefore spoke in my behalf, till the captain was ao'
gry with him ; and in consequence, proceeded and took away all the tea
and sugar, which had been given to the prisoners, and con^scatud it to
the use of the ship's crew. Our clothing was not taken away, but the
privates were forced to do duty on board. Soon after this there came a
boat to the side of the ship, and captain Symonds asked a gentleman in
it, in my hearing, what his business was ? who answered that he was
sent to deliver some sea stores to Col. Allen, which if I remember right,
he said were sent from Dublin ; but the captain damned him heartily,
ordering him away from the ship, and would not suffer him to deliver the
stores. I was furthermore informed that the gentlemen in Cork, reques"
ted of Captain Symonds, that I might be allowed to come into the city,
and that they would be responsible I should return to the frigate at a
given time, which was denied them.

We sailed from England the dth day of January, and from the cove of
Cork the 12th day of Feb'y. Just before we sailed, the prisoners with
me were divided, and put on board three different ships of war. This
gave me some uneasiness, for they were to a man zealous in the cause
of liberty, and behaved with a becoming fortitude in the various scenes
of their captivity ; but those, who v/ere distributed on board other ships
of war were much better used than those who tarried with me, as appear-
ed afterwards. When the fleet, consisting of about forty >five sail, in-
cluding five men of war, sailed, from the cove with a fresh breeze, the
apparance was beautiful, abstracted from the unjust and bloody desipns
they had in view. We had not sailed many days, before a mighty storm
arose, which lasted near twenty-four hours without intermission. The
wind blew with relentless fury, and no man could remain on deck, ex«
cept he was lashed fast, for the waves rolled over the deck by turns,
with a forcible rapidity and every soul on board was anxious for the pres-
ervation of the ship, alias, their lives. In this storm the Thunder-bomb
man of war, sprang a leak, and was afterwards floated to some part to
the coast of England, and the crew saved. We«were then said to be in
the Bay of Biscay. After the storm abated, I could plainly discern the
prisoners were better used for some consideraUlo time.

Nothing of consequence happened after this, till we had sailed to the
island of Ma ^ria, except a certain favor I had received of captain Sym-
onds, in consequence of an application I made to him for the privilege
of his tailor to make me a suit of clothes of the cloth bestowed on me
in Ireland, which he generously granted. I could then walk the deck
with a seeming better grace. When we had reached Maderia, and an-
chored, sundry gentlemen with the captain went on shore, who I con-
clude, gave the rumor that I was in the frigate ; upon which I soon after
found that Irish generosity was again excited ; for a gentleman of that
nation sen* iiis clerk on board, to know of me if I would accept a sea

mmmm>ti0f9^

not be feasted
ore took away
which was se'
'ed for me per
was afaomina^
ptain wasao-
'ay all the tea
nfiscatud it fo
away, but the
there came a
genileman in
that he was
leniber right,
him heartily,
o deliver the
■*irk, reques*
nto the city
frigate at a

the cove of
isoners with

war. This
\ the cause
ious scenes
other ships

as appear-
^^ sail, in.
freeze, the
dy desipns
?hty storm
on. The
deck, ex-

h turns,

the pres-
Jer-bomb
le part to

to be in
'cern the

d to the
in Sym-
"•ivilego
' on me
Je deck
ind an-

I con-
n after
>f that

a sea

KARBATITE.

95

:*&

store from him, particularly wine. This matter I made known to tlie
generous lieutenant Douglass, who readily granted me the favor, pro>
tided the articles could be brought on board, during the time of his com-
mand ; adding that it wou'd be a pleasure to him to serve mo, notwith-
standing the opposition he met with before. So I directed the gentle-
man's derk to inform him that I was greatly in need of so signal a charitj,
end desired the young gentleman to make the utmost despatch, which
he did; but in the meantime, captain Symonv.s and his officers came on
board, and immediately made ready for sailing; the wind at the same
time being fair, set sail when the young gentleman wai in fair sight
with the aforesaid store.

The reader will doubtless recollect the seven guineas I received at the
cove of Cork. These enabled me to purchase of the purser what I want-
ed, had not the Cuptain strictly forbidden it, though I made sundry ap-
plications to him for that purpose ; but his answer to me, when I waa
«ick, was, that it waa no matter how «oon I was dead, and that he was
no ways anxious to preserve the lives of rebels, but wished them all dead ;
«nd indeed that was the language of most of the sh'.p's crew. I expos-
tulated not only with the captain, but with other gentlemen on board, on
the unreasonat^leness of such usage ; inferring that, inasmuch aa the
gov«rnment in England did not proceed against me as a capital ofTender,
they should not ; for that they were by no means empowered by any au-
thority, either civil or military, to do so; for the English government had
acquitted me by sending me back a prisoner of war to America, and
that they should treat me as such. I further drew an inference of impoli-
cy on them, provided they should by hard usage, destroy my life ; inas-
much as I might, if living, redeem one 'Of their officers ; but the captain
replied, that he needed no directions of mine how to treat a rebel ; that
the British would conquer the American rebels, hang the Congress, and
such as promoted the rebellion, me in particular, and retake their own
prisoners ; so that my life was of no consequence in the scale of **^ ^*r
policy. I gave him for answer that if they stayed till they conquered
America, before they banged me, / should die of old age, and desired that
till such an event took place, he would at least allow me to purchase of the
purser, from my own money,such articles as I greatly needed ; but he would
not permit it, and when I reminded him of th&generou« and civil usage
that their prisoners in captivity in America met with, he Sttid that it waa
nov. owing to their goodness but their timidity ; fur, said he, thry expect
to be conquered, and therefore dare not misuse our prisoners ; and in
fact this was the language of the British officers, till Burgoyne was taken ;*

♦It was the plan of the British generals, to push a body of troops from New York,
to join Generiy Biirgoyne at Albany, and by establishing; a line of British posts on
the Hudson, to intercept the intercourse between the New England 'and Southern
States. While General Burgoyne was attempting to advance towards Albanyi Geno'
ral Clinton with a force of three thousand men took possession of Fort Montgomery,
after severe loss. General Vaughan, with a body of troops, on board of armed ships,
sailed up the Hudson, as far as Livingston's manor, where he landed a party, burnt a
large house belonging to one of the family ; then sent a party to the apposite shore and
l&ia in ashes the town of Kingston. But General Burgoyne,dospairing ot the junction be*
tween his army and the divisioa trbm New Yorki surrounded by a superior army/ and
4

i^wiCTW

^mmt

ETHAN ALLEN S

ft": if

liappy event ! and not only of the officers but the whole British arniy*
I appeal to all my brother prisoners, who have been with the British irw
the southern Department, for a confirmation of what 1 have advanced
on this subject. The surgeon of the S-olebay, whose name was North,
was a very humane, obliging man, and took the best care of the prison-
ers who were sick.

The third, day of May we cast anchor in the harbor of Cape Fear, in
North Carolina, as did Sir Peter Parker's ship, of 50 guns, a little baek
of the bar ; for there was not depth of water for him to come in(o> the
harbor. These two men of war, and fourteen sail of transports and oth-
ers, came after, so that most of the fleet rendezvoused at Cape Fear,
for three weeks. The soldiers on board the transports, were sickly, in
consequence of so long a passage ;. add to this the sroaN-poz carried oflT
many of them. They landed on the main, and formed a camp ;, but
the riflemen annoyed them, and caused them to move to an island in the
harbor ; but such cursing of riflemen I never heard.

A detachment of regulars was sent up Brunswick river ; as they land-
ed, they were fired on by those marksmen, and they came back ne»t
day damning the rebels for their unmanly way of fighting, and* swearing
that they would give no quarter, for they took sight at them, and were be-
hind timber skulking about. One of the detachments said they lost one
man ; but a negro man who was with them, and heard what was said, soon
after told me that be helped to bury thirty-one of them ; this did me some
good to find my countrymen giving them battle ; for I never heard such
swaggering as among Gen. Clinton's little army who commanded at that
time ; and I am apt to think there were four thousand men, though not
two thirds of them fit for duty. I heard numbers of them say, that the
trees in America should hang well with fruit that campaign for they
would give no quarter. This was in the noouths of most who I heard
■peak on the subject, officer as well as soldier. I wished at that time
my countrymen knew, as well as I did, what a murdering and cruel ene-
my they had to deal with ; but experience has since taught this country,
what they are to expect at the hands of Britons when in their power.

The prisoners, who hnd been scht on board difTerent men of war at
the cove of Cork, were collected together, and the whole of them put
on board the Mercury frigate, capt. James Montague, except'oneof the
Canadians, who died on the passage from Ireland, and Peter Noble, who
made his escape from the Sphynx man-of-war in this harbour, and, by
extraordinary swimming, got safe home to New England, and gave in-
telligence of the usage of his brother prisoners. The Mercury set sail
froui this port for Halifax, about the 20ih of May, and Sir Peter Pcj':er
was about to sail with the land forces, under the command of Gen. Clin-
ton, for the reduction of Charleston, the capitol of South Carolina, and
when I heard of his defeat in Halifax, it gave me inexpressible satisfaction.
. I now found myself under a worse captain than Symonds ; for Mon-
tague was loaded with prejudices against every body, and every thing

unable to retreat, consented to capitulate, and the 17th of October, surrendered to the
American General. The detachment under General Vaughan returned to New York
and the plan of the British commanders was totally frustrated.

4 ^ .

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NAtlRATIVB.

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that was not stamped with royally ; and being by nature underwitted,
his wrath was heavier than the others, or at least his mind was in no in-
stance-liable to be diverted by good sense, humor or bravery, of which
Symonds was by ttirns susceptible. A Cap!. Francis Proctor was added
to our number of prisoners when wc were first put on boaad this ship.
:This gentleman had formerly belonged to the English service. The
Captain, and in fine, all the gentlemen of the ship, were very much in-
censed^ against him, and put him in irons without the least provocation,
ond he was continued in this miserable situation about three months. In
this -passage the prisoners were infected with the scurvy jme more' and
some less, but most of them severely. The ship's crew was to a great
degree troubled with it, and I concluded that it was matching. Several of
the crew died with it pn their passage. I was weak and feeble in conse-
quence of so long and cruel captivity, yet had but little of the scurvy.

The purser was again expressly forbid by the captain to let me have any
thing out of his store ; upon wiiich I went upon deck, and -in the hand-
>aomest manner requested the favor of purchasing a few necessaries of
the purser, which was denied me : he further told me, that I should be
hanged as soon as I arrived at Halifax. I tried to reason the matter
with him, b.ut found him proof against reason ; 1 also Itcld up his honor
to view, and his behavior to me and the prisoners in general, as being
derogatory to it, but found his honor impenetrable. I then endeavored
to touch his humanity, but found he had none ; for his prepossession of
bigotry to his own party, had confirmed him' in an opinion, that no hu^
manity was due to unroyalists, but seemed to think that l)cavcn and earth
were made merely to gratify the King and his creatures ; he uttered con-
siderable unintelligible and grovelling ideas, a little tinctured with mon-
archy, bot stood well to his text of hanging me. lie afterwards forbade
his surgeon to administer any help to the sick prisoners. I was every
night shut down in the cable tier, with the rest of the prisoners, and we
all lived niiserablo while under his power. But I received some generosi-
ty from several of the midshipmen, who in a degree alleviated my mise-
ry ; one of their names was Potrnss, the names of the others I do not
recollect; but they were obliged to he private in the bcstowment of their
favor, which was sometimes good wine bitters, and at others a generous
drink of grog.

Sometime in the first week of June, we came to anchor nt the Ilook
ofl' New York, where we remained but three days ; in wiiich time gov-
ernor Tryon, Mr. Kemp, the old attorney general of New York, and
several other perfidious and over grown lories and land-jobbers, came on
board. Tryon viewed me with u stern countenance, as I was walking
on the leeward side the deck with the midshipmen ; and he and his
companions were walking with the captni.: anc lieutenant, on the
windward side of the same, but never spoke to me, though it is altogeth-
er probable that he thought of the old quarrel between him, the old gov-
ernment of New York, and the Green Mountain Boys. Then they went
with the captain into the cabin, and the same afternoon returned on board
a vessel, where at that time they took sanctuary from the resentment of
their injured country. What passed between the ofHcers of the ship and
these visitors I know not ;but this I know that my treatment from the
fiicers was more severe afterwards.

#

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We arrived at Halifax not far from the middle of June, where th«
thip's crow, which was infested with the scurvy, were taken on shore,
and shallow trenches dug, into v/hich they were put, and partly covered
with earth. Indeed every proper measure was taken for their relief.
The prisoners were not permitled any sort of medicine, but were put on
board a sloop which lay in the harbor, near the town of Halifax, sur-
rounded with several men of war and their tenders, and a guard constant-
ly Mt over them, night and day. The sloop we had wholly to ourselves
except the guard who occupied the forecastle ; here we were cruelly
pinched with hunger ; it seemed to me that we had not more than one
third of the common allowance. We were all seized with violent hunger
and faintness ; we divided our scanty allowance as exact as possible. I
•hared the same fate with the rest, and though they offered me more than
an even share, I refused to accept it, as H'was a time of substantial
distress, which in my opinion I ought to partake equally with the rest,
and set an example of virtue and fortitude to our little commonwealth.

I sent letter after letter to captain Montague, who still had the care of
us, andal so to his lieutenant, whose nantc I cannot call to mind, but could
obtain no answer, much less a redress of grievances ; and to add to the
calamity, near a dozen of the prisoners were dangerously ill of the scur-
vy. I wrote private letters to the ctoetors, to procure, if possible, some
remedy for the sick, but in vain. The chief physician came by in a
1>oat, so close that the oars touched the sloop that we were in, and I ut-
tered my complaint in the genteelest monner to him, but he never so
much as turned his head, or made me any answer, though I continued
•peaking till he got out of hearing. Our cause then becan'.e deplorable.
Still I kept writing to the captain, till ho ordered the guards, us they told
me, not to bring any more letters from me to him. In the meantime an
event happened worth relating. One of the men almost dead with the
scurvy, lay by the side of the sloop, and a canoe of Indians coming by,
he purchased two quarts of strawberries, and ate them nt once, and it
almost cured him. The money ho gave for them was all the money he
had in the world. After that we tried every way to procure mote of
that fruit, reasoning from analogy that they might have the same efllect
on others infested with the same diseose, but could obtain none.

Meanwhile the doctor's mate of the Mercury came privately on board
the prison sloop and presented me with a large vial of smart drops, which
proved to be good for the scurvy, though vegetables and some other in-
gredients were requsite for a cure ; but the drops gave at least a check
to the disease. This was a well-timed exertion of humanity, but tlte
doctor's name has slipped my mind, and in my opinion, it was the means
of saving the lives of several men.

The guard, which was set over jus, was by this time touched with the
feelings of compassion ; nnd I finally trusted one of them with a letter of
complaint to governor Arbuthnot, of Halifax, which he found means to
communicate, and which had the desired effect ; for the governor sent
an oflicer and surgeon on board the prison sloop, to know the truth of
the complaint. The officer*s name was Russell who held the rank of
licatenant/and treated me in a friendly and polite manner, and was really

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MinRATlTB.

Angry at the cruet and unmanly usage the prisoners met with ; and with
the suif;eon made a true report of matters to governor Arbuthnot, who,
either by his order or influence, took us next day from the prisun sloop to
Halifax jail, where I first became acquainted with the now Hon. James
Level, one of the members of Congress for the state of Massachusetts.
The sick were taken to the hospital, and the Canadians, wlio were effec-
tive,were employed in the King's works; and when their countrymen were
recovered from thescurvy and joined them, they all deserted the king's em-
ploy, and were not heard of at Halifax, as long as the remainder of the
prisoners continued there, which was till near the middle of October.
We were on board the prison sloop about six weeks, and were landed at
Halifax near the middle of August. Several ot our English-American
prisoners, who were cured of the scurvy at the hospital, made their es-
cape from thence, and after a long time reached their old habitations.

I had now but thirteen with me, of those who were taken in Canada,
and remained in jail with me in Halifax, who, in addition to those that
were imprisoned before, made our number about thirty-four, who were
all locked up in one common large .nom, without regard to rank, educa-
tion or any other accomplishment, where we continued from the setting to
the rising sun, ond, as sundry of them were infected with the jnil and
other distempers, the furniture of this spacious room consisted principal-
ly of excrement tubs. We petitioned for a removal of the sick into the
hospitals, but were denied. We remonstrated against the ungeneroua
usage of being confined with the privates, as being contrary to the laws
and customs of nations, ond particularly ungroteful in them in conse-
quence of the gentleman-like usage which the Briiibh imprisoned officer*
met with in America ; and thus we wearied ourselves, petitioning and re-
monstrating, but to no purpose at all ; for general Massey, who com-
manded at Halifax, was r i inflexible as the devil himself, a fine prepara*
tive this for Mr. Lovel, member of the Continental Congress.

Lieutenant Russell, whom I have mentioned before, came to visit me
in prison, and assured me that he had done his utmost to procure my
parole for enlargement ; at which a British captain, who was then town*
mojor, expressed couipassion for the gentlemen confined in the filthy
place, and assured me that he had used his influence to procure their en-
largement ; his name was near like Ramsey. Among the prisoners there
were five in number, who had a legal claim to a parole, viz. James Lev-
el, Esq., captain Francis Proctor, a Mr. Howland, master of a continen-
tal armed vessel, a Mr. Taylor, his mate, and myself.

As to the article of provision, we were well served, much better than
in any part of my captivity ; and since it was Mr. Lovel's misfortunes
and mine to be prisoners, and in so wretched circumstances, I was happy
that we were together as a mutual support to each other, and to the un-
fortunate prisoners with us. Our first attention was the preservation of
ourselves and injured little republic; the rest of our time we devoted in-
terchangeably to politics and philosophy, as patience was a needful ex-
ercise in so evil a situation, but contentment mean and impracticable.

I had not been in this jail many days, before a worthy and charitable
woman, by the name of Mrs. Blacden, supplied me with a good dinner

»■'

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mTII/X! ly.Hii!'

30

VtnXK ALLEN S

I-

of fresh meats every day, with garden fruit, and ■bmetimes whh a bottle
of wine : notwithstanding which I had not been more than three weeks
in this place before I lost all nppeiiie to the most delicious food, by the
jail distemper, as also did sundry of the prisoners, particularly a sergeant
Moore, a man of conrage and fidelity. I have several times seen him hold
the boatswain of the Sol^bay frigate, when he attempted to strike him,
and laughed him out of conceit of using him as a slave.

A doctor visited the sivk, and did the best, as I suppose, he could for
them, to no apparent purpose. I grew weaker and weaker, as did the
rest. Several of them could riul !ieip themselves. At last I reasoned
in my own mind, that raw onion would be good. I made une of it, «nd
found immediate relief by it, as did the sick in general, particularly ser-
geant Moore, whom it recovered almost from the shades ; though I had
met with a little revival, still I found the malignant .land of Britain had
greatly reduced my constitution with stroke upon stroke. Esquire Lovr
el and myself used every argument and entreaty that could be well con-
ceived of in order to obtain gentleman-like usage, to no purpose. I then
wrote Gen. Masscy ns severe a letter as I poraibly could with my friend
Lovel's assistance.. The contents of it was to give the British, as a na-
tion, and him as an individual, their true character. This roused the
Mscal, for he could notjbear to see his and the nation's deformity in that
transparent letter, which I sent him ; he therefore put himself in a great
rage about it, and showed the letter to a number of British officers, par-
ticularly to captain Smith of the Lark frigate, who, instead of joining
with him in disapprobation, commci^ded the spirit of it'>; upon which
f^eneral Massey said to him do you ta'ie the part of a rebel against me ?
Captain Smith answered that he rather spoke his sentiments, nnd there
was a dissention in opinion between tl^em. Some officers took the part
of the general, and others of the captiin. This I was informed of by
a gentleman who had it from captain Smith.

lo a few days after this, the prisoners were ordered to go on board
of a man of war, which was bound for New York ; but two of them
were not able to go ^on board, nnd were left at Halifax ; one died ; and
the other recovered. This was about the 12th of October, and soon af-
ter we had got on board, the captain sent for me in particular to come
on the quarter deck. I went, not knowing that it was captain Smith, or
his ship, at that time, and expected to meet the same rigorous usage I
had commonly met with, and prepared my mind accordingly ; but when
I came on deck^ the captain met me with his hand, welcomed me to his
•hip, invited me to dine with him that day, and ossurod me that I should
be treated as a gentleman, and that he had given orders, that I shorld be
treated with respect by the ship's crew. This was so unexpected and
sudden a transition, that it drew tears from my eyes, which all the ill
usage I had before met with, was not able to produce, nor could I at
first hardly speak, but soon recovered myself and expressed my gratitude
for so unexpected a favor ; and let him know that I felt anxiety of mind
in reflecting that his situation and mine was such, that it was not proba-
ble that it would ever be in my power to return the favor. Captain
Smith replied, that he had no reward in view, but only treated me as n
gsntleman ought to be treated ; he said tliis is a mutable worJd, and one

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I
MARaATirc. $i

gftntlettian tiev6r knonri but it may be in his power to help another.
Soon after I found this to be the same captain Smith who took my part
against general MaHey ; but he never mentioned anything of it to me,
and I thought it impolite in me to interrogate him,as to any disputes which
might have arisen between him and the general on my account, as I was
a prisoner, and that it was at his option to make free with me on that
subject, if he pleased ; and if he did not, I might take it for granted
that it would be unpleasing for me to query about it, though I had a
strong propensity to converse with him on that subject.

I dined with the caplain agreeable to iiis invitation, and oftentimes
with the lieutenant, in the gun-room, but in general ate and drank with
my friend Lovvl and the other gentlemen who were prisoners with me,
where I also slept.

We had a little berth enclosed with canvass, between decks, where we
enjoyed ourselves very well, in hopes of an exchange ; besides, our friends
at ilaliiaz had a little notice of our departure, and supplied us with spir-
ituous liquor, and ntany articles of provision for the cost. Captain Burk,
having been taken prisoner, was added to our ctMnpany, (he bad com-
manded an American armed vessel) and was generously treated by the
captain and all the officers of the ship^ as well as myself. We now had
in all near thirty prisoners on boord, and as we were sailing along the
coast, if I recollect right, off Rhode Island^ captain Burk, with an under
officer o! the ship, whose name I do not recollect, came to oyr little
berth, proposed to kill captain Smith and the principal officers of the
frigate and take it ; adding that there were thirty-five thousand pounds
sterling in the same. Captain Burk likewise averred that a strong party
out of the ship's crew was in the conspiracy, and urged me, and the
gentleman that was with me, to use our influence with the private pris-
oners, to eiecute the design, and take the ship with the cash into one of
our own ports. '

Upon which I reptied,that we hod been too well used on board to mur-
der the officers ; that I could by no means reconcile it to my conscience,
and that, in fact, it should not be done ; and while I was yet speaking,
my friend Lovel confirmed what I had said, and further pointed out the
ungratefulness of such an act ; that it did not fall short of murder, and
in fine all the gentlemen in the berth opposed captain Burk and his col-
league. But they strenuously urged that the conspiracy would be found
out, and that it would cost them their lives, provided they did not exe-
cute their design. I then interposed spiritedly, and put an end to fur-
ther argument on the subject, and told them that they might depend up-
on it, upon my honor, that I would faithfully guard captain Smith's life.
If they should attempt the assault, 1 would assist him, for they desired
me to remain neuter, and that the same honor that guarded captain
Smith's life, would.also guard theirs ; and it was ogreed by those present
noi to reveal the conspiracy, to the intent that no man should be put to
death, in consequence of what had been projected ; and captain Burk
ond his colleague went to stifle the matter among their associates. I
could not help calling to mind what captain Smith said to mo, when
I first came on board : " This is a mutable world, and one gentlemen

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never knowt but that it may be in hii power to hetp Mother." Captain
8miih and tiis ofHcers slill bvlmved with their utual courteaf, and 1 neV*
ec heard any more nf the conapiracy.

We aitived before New York, and caal anchor tha latter part of Oc
tober, where we remained aeveral days, and where captain Smith inform-
ed me, ^hftt he had recommended mo to admiral Howe and general
Sir Wm. Howe, as a gentleman of honor and veracity, and desired that
I might.be treated as such. Captain Burk was then ordered on board
a prison-ship in the harbor. I took my leave of captain Smith, and with
the otiier prisoners, was sent on board a transpart ship, which lay in the
harbor, commanded by captain Craige who took me into the cabin with
him and his lieutenant. I fared as they did, and was in every respect
well treated, in consequence of directions from captain Smith. In a few
Weeks after this I had the happiness to part with my friepd Level, for
his sake, whom the enemy afl^eted to treat as a private ; he was a gen*
tienien of merit, and liberally educated, but had no commission; they
maligned him on account of his unshaken nttaehment to the cause of
his country. He was exchanged for a governor Phillip Skene of the
British. I was continued in this ship till the latt^ part of November,
where I contracted an aequaintanee with the captain of the British ; hia
name has slipped my memory. He was what we may call a genteel,
hearty fellow. I remember an expression of his over a bottle of wine, to
this import: "That there is a greatness of soul for personal friendship
to subsist between you and mc, as we are upon opposite sides, and may
at another day be obliged to lace each otiier in the field." I am eonA-
^tit that he was as foithful as any officer in the British army. At an-
other sittii^ he ofl^red to bet a dozen of wine, that fort Washington
would be in the hands of the British in three diiys. I stood the bet> and
ivoald, had I known, that that would have been the case ; and the third
fday afterwards we heard a heavy cannonade, and that day the fort waa
taken sure enough. Some m^mlhs after, wlien I was on par^e, be call-
ed upon me with hii usual humor, and mentioned the bet. I acknowl*
edged I had lost it, but he said he did not mean to take it then, as I was
a prisoner ; tirat he would- another day call on mo, when their army came
to Bennington. I replied, that he^ivas quite too generoos, as I bad fairly
lost it ; besides, the Qreen-Mountain-Boys would not suffer them to come
fo Bennington. This was all in good humor. I shonid have been gfaid
to have seen him after the defeat at Bennington, but did not. It was
customary for a guard to 'attend the prisoners, which was often ehanged.
Qne was composed of tories from Connecticut, in the vicinity of Fair-
field and Green Farms. The sergeant's name was Hoit. They were
very full of their invectives against the country, swaggered of their loyal-
ty to the king, and exclaimed bitterly against the ** cowardly yankees,"
as they were pleased to term them, but finaHy contented themselves with
raying, that when the country was overcome, they should be well award-
ed for tiieir loyally out of the estates of the whigs, which would be con-
fiscated. This I found to be the general language of the tories, after t
arrived from England on the American coast. I heard sundry of them
relate that the British generals had engaged them an ample reward for

■Mi

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NARRATIVE.

33

,, ^

their losses, disappointments and expenditures, out of the forfeited reb-
els' estates. . This language early taught me what to do with tones' es-
tates, as far as my influence can go. Fur it is really a game of hazard
between whig and tory. The whigs must inevitably have lost all, in
consequence of the abilities of the tories, and their good friends the Brit-
ish ; and it is no more than right the tories should run the same risk, in
consequence of the abilities of the whigs. But of this more will be ob-
served in the sequel of this narrative.

Some of the last days of November, the prisoners were landed at
New York, and I was admitted to parole with the other officers, viz:
Proclor, Howlandand Taylor. The privates were put into filthy church-
es in New York, with the distressed prisoners that were taken at Fort
Washington ; and the second night, sergeant Roger Moore, who was
bold and enterprising, found means to make his escape with every of the
remaining prisoners that were taken with me, except three, who were
soon after exchanged. So that out of thirty-one prisoners, who went
with me, the round exhibited in these sheets, two only died with the ene-
my ,andihree only were exchanged ; one of whom died after he came with-
in our lines ; ail the rest, at diiTerent times, made their escape from the
enemy.

I now found myself on parole, and restricted to the limits of the city
of New York, where I soon projected means to live in some measure
agreeably to my rank, though I was destitute of cash. My constitution
was almost worn out by such a long and barbarous captivity. The ene-
my gave out that I was crazy, and wholly unmanned, but my vitals held
sound, nor wus I delirious any more than I had been from youth up; but
my extreme circumstances, at certain limes, rendered it politic to act in
some measure the madman ; and in consequence of a regular diet and
exercise, my blood recruited, and my nerves in a great measure recover-
ed their former tone, strength and usefulness, in the course of six months.

I next invite the reader to a retrospective sight and consideration of
the doleful scene of inhumanity, exercised by general Sir William Howe,
and the aru)y under his command, towards the prisoners taken on Long-
Island, on the 27th day of Aug. 1776; sundry of whom were, in an in-
human and barbarous manner, murdered after they had surrendered their
arms ; particularly a general Odel, or Wondhull, of the militia, who
was hacked to pieces with cutlasses, when alive, by the light horsemen,
and a captain Fellows, of the continental army, who was thrust through
with a bayonet, of which wound he died instantly. Sundry others were
hanged up by the neck till they were dead; five on the limb of a white ook
tree, and without any reason assigned, except that they were fighting in
4lefence of the only blessing woith preserving. And indeed those who
had the misfortune to fall into their hands at Fort Washington, in the
month of November following, met with but very little belter usage,
except that they were reserved from immediate death to famish and die
with hunger ; in fine the word rebel, applied to any vanquished persons,
without regard to rank, who were in the continental service, on the 27th
of August aforesaid, was thought, by the enemy, sufficient to sanctify
whatever cruelties they were pleased to inflict, death itself not excepted ;
5

-*:,

■?

'm

34

ETHAN ALLEN S

but to pass over particulars which would swell my iiarralivo far be)H)n(I
my design.

The private soldiers, who wore brought to New-York, were crowded
into churches, ?nnd environed with slavish Hessian guards, a people of
a strange language, who were sent to America for no other design but
cruelty and desolation ; and at others, by merciless Britons whose mode
of communicating ideas being intilligible in this country, served only to
tantalize and insult the helpless and perishing ; but above all, the hell-
ish delight and triumph of the tories over then), as they were dying by
hundreds. This was too much for me to bear as a spectator; for I saw
the tories exulting over the dead bodies of their murdered countrymen.
I have gone into the churches, and seen sundry of the prisoners in the
agonies of death, in consequence of very hunger, and others speechless,
and »ery near death, biting pieces of chips ; others pleading for God's
sake, for sometliing to eat, and at the same time, shivering with the cold.
Hollow groans saluted my ears, and despair seemed ta be imprinted on
every of their countenances. The filth in these churches, in conse-
quence of the fluxes, was almost beyond descrij)lion. The floors were
covered with excrements. I have carefully sought to direct my steps so
as to avoid it, but could not. They would beg for God's sake for one
copper, or morsel of bread. I have seen in one of these churches sev-
en dead, at the same time, lying among the excrements of their bodies.
It was a common practice with the enemy, to convey the dead from
these filthy places, in carts, to be slightly buried, and I have seen whole
gangs of tories making derision, and exulting over the dead, saying,
there goes another load of damned rebels. I have observed the British
soldiers to be full of their black-guard jokes, and vaunting on those oc-
casions, but they appeared to mc less malignant than tories.

The provision dealt out to the prisoners was by no means sufficient
for the support of life. It was deficient in quantity, and much more so
in quality. The prisoners often presented mc with a sample of their
bread, which I certify was damaged to that degree, that it was loath-
some and unfit to be eaten, and I am bold to aver it, as my opinion, that
it had been condemned, and of the very worst sort. I have seen and
been fed upon damaged bread, in the course oi my captivity, and ob-
served the quality of such bread as has been condemned by the enemy,
among which was very little so effectually spoiled as what was dealt out
to these prisoners. Their allowance of meal (as they told me) was quite
trifling,and was of the basest sort. I never saw any of it,but was inform-
ed, that bad as it was, it was swallowed almost as quick as they got hold
of it. I saw some of them sucking bones after they were speechless ;
others, who could yet speak, and had the use of their reason, urged me,
in the strongest and most pathetic manner, to use my interest in their
behalf ; for you plainly see, said they, that we are devoted to death and
destruction ; and after I had examined more particularly into their truly
deplorable condition, and had become more fully apprized of the essen-
tial facts, I was persuaded that it was a premeditated and systematical
plan of the British council, to destroy the youths of our land, with a
view thereby to deter the country, and make it submit to their despotism ;

NAURATIVE.

35

but that I could not do them any material service, and that, by any pub«
lie attempt for that purpose, I might endanger myself by frequenting
places the most nauseous and contageous that could he conceived of. I
refrained going into churches, but frequently conversed with such of the
prisoners as were admitted to come out into the yard, and found that the
systematical usage still continued. The guard would often drive me
away witli their fixed bayonets. A Hessian one day followed me five
or six rods, but by making use of my legs, I got rid of the lubber. Some
times I could obtain a little conversation, notwithstanding their severities.
I was in one of the church yards, and it was rumored among those in
the church, and sundry of the prisoners came with their ueual complaints
to me, and among the rest a large boned, tall young man, as he told me,
from Pennsylvania, who was reduced to a mere skeleton ; he said he
was glad to ■"'e me before he died, whicli he expected to have done lust
night, L.ut was a litile revived ; lie furthermore informed me, that he and
his jrother had betn urged to enlist into the British, but both had resol-
ve<t to die first ; that his brother liad died last night, in conseqticnce of
that resolution, and that he expected shortly to follow him ; but I made
the other prisoners stand a little oif, and told him with a low voice to en-
list ; he then asked, whether it was rigljtin the sight of God ! I assured
him that it was, and that duty to himself obliged him to deceive the Brit-
ish by enlisting and deserting the first opportunity ; upon which he an-
swered with transport that he would enlist. I charged him not to men-
tion my name as his adviser, lest it siioiild get air, and 1 should be close-
ly confined, in consequence of it. " TIjo integrity of the siiilering prison-
ers is hardly credibly. Many hundred?, I am confident, submitted to
death, rather than to enlist in the British service, wliich, I am informed,
they most generally were pressed to do. f was astonished at the resolu-
tion of the two brothers particularly; it seems that they could not be
stimulated to such exertions of heroism from ambition, as tliey were but
obscure soldiers ; strong indeed must the internal principle of \nrtue be,
which supported them to brave death, and one of tliem went through
the operation, as did many hundred others. I readily grant that instan-
ces of public virtue are no excitement to the sor'iid and vicious, nor, on
the other ha;id, with all the barbarity of Brilian and Heshland awak-
en them to a sense of their duty to the public ; but these things will
have their proper elTect on the generous and brave. T!>e officers on
parole were most of them zciilous, if possible, to afford the miserable
soldiery relief, and often consulted with one and another on the subject,
but to no effect, being destitute of the moans of subsistence, which they
needed ; nor could the officers project any measure, which they flvought
would alter their fate, or so much as be a means of getting them out of
those filthy places to the privilege of fresli air. Some projected that all
the oflicers should go in procession to general Howe, and plead the cause
of the perishing soldiers ; but this proposal was negatived for the follow-
ing reasons, viz : because that general Howe, must needs be well acquain-
ted, and have a thorougli knowledge of the state and condition of the
prisoners in every of their wretched apartments, and that much more
particular and exact than any officer on parole could be supposed to

p^^

"ff5^r?''*"

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36

ETHAN Allen's

have, p? the general had a return of the circumstances of the prisoners^
by his own officers, every morning, of the number which were alive, as
also the number which died every twenty-iour hours ; and consequently
the bill of mortality, as collecteri from the daily returns, lay before him
with all the material situalior. i and circumstances of the prisoners , and
provided the officers should go in procession to general Howe, accord-
ing to the projection, it would ^\vs him the greatest aflfront, and that he
would either retort upon them, that it was no part of their parole to
instruct him in his conduct to prisoners ; that they were mutining against
his authority, and by affronting hin:, had forfeited their parole ; or that,
more probablv, instead of saying one wor'' 'o them, would order them
all into as wretched confinement ai. \he soldiers whom they sought to
relieve ; for, at that time, the British, from the general to the private
sentinel, were in full coniidence, nor did they so much fs hesitate, but
that they should conquer t*^e country. Thus the consulta»'-n of the offi-
cers was confoundeu and broken to pieces, in consequence of the dread,
which at that time lay on their minds, of offending Gen. Howe ; for they
conceived so murderous '. tyrant would not be too good to destroy even
the officers, on the least pretence of an affront, as they were equally in
his power i.'ith the poldiers ; and, as Gen. Howe perfectly understood the
condition of the private soldiers, it was argued that it wa« excoily such
as he and his council had devised, and as he meant to destroy them it
would be to no purpose for thm .o try to dissuade him from it, as they
were helpless and liable to the some fate, on giving the least affront; in-
deed anxious apprehensions disturbed ihern in their then circumstances.

Mean time mortality rnged to such an intolerable degree^among the
prisoners, that the very school boys in the streets knew tine mentf:i design
of it in some hieasure ; at least, they knew that they were staivcd to
death. Some poor women contributed to their necessity, till their child-
ren w^re almost starved, and nil persons of common understanding knew
that they were devoted to the crnelest and worst of deaths. It was also
proposed hy some to make a writtrn representation of tlie condition of
the soldiery, arid the officers to sign it, and that it should he corched iii
such terms, as though they were aiA)rehensive that the General was im-
posed upon by his officers, in their'daily returns to him of tlie state and
conditirn of the prisoners ; i.nd that therefore the o'^cerS; moved with
compassion, were constrained to <:ommunicate to him the fucts relati' a
to them, nothing doubling but tliat they would meet rtiih a speedy re-
dress; but this proposal was most generally negatived tilso,' and for
much the same reason offereii in the other case ; Tor it was conjectured
that Gen. Howe's indignatioii would be moved against such offii.ers as
should attempt to whip hini over hid officers' backs ; that he would dib-
cern that hi.nself was really struck at, and not the ottit'^ra who made
the daily returns ; and therefore sclf-preservotion deterred 'he officers
from either petitioning or remonstrating to Gen. Howe, eit.ier vc-bally
or in writing; as also the consideration that no valuable purpose to the
distressed would be obtained.

1 <?^ade several rough drafts on the subject, one of which I exhibited
to the v;olonels Magaw, Miles and Atlee, and they said that thev «vould

.-j...ijji.-i.V-,

NAURATlVii'.

37

consider the matter; soon after I called on them, and some of the gen-
tlemen informed me Vat they had written to the general on ihe subject,
and I concluded ih^t the gentleman thought it bfst that they should
write without ri:e, as ti-eie was such spirited aversion sub istiiig between
the British and Me.

In the mean time a colonel Hussecker, of the continental army, us he
then reported, was taken prisoner, and brought to New- York, who gave
out that the country was almost universally submitting to tlie English
king's authority, and that there would be little or no more opposition to
Great-Britain. This at first gave the officers a little shock, but in a few
days they recovered themselves; for this colonel Hussecker, being a
German, was feasting with general De Heister, his countryman, and
from his conduct they were apprehensive that he was a knave ; at least
he was esteemed so by most of the officers ; it was nevertheless a day of
trouble. The enemy blasphemed. Our little amy was retreating in
New-Jersey, and our young men murdered by hundreds in New-York.
The army of Britain .- j Heshland prevailed for a little season, as though
it was ordered by Heaven to shew, to the latest posterity, what the Brit-
ish would have done if they could, and what the general calamity must
have been, in c ;nsequence of their conquering the country, and to excite
every honest man to stand forth in the defence of liberty, and to establish
the independency of t*ie United States of America forever. But this
scene of adverse fortune did not discourage a Washington. The illus-
trious American hero remained immoveable. In liberty's, cause he took
up his sword. This reflection was his support and consolation in the
day of his humiliation, when he retreated before the enemy, through
New-Jersey into Pennsylvania. Their triumph only roused liis indigna-
tion ; and the important cause of his country, which lay near his heart,
moved him to cross ;he Delaware again, and take ample satisfaction on
his pursuers. No sooner had he circumvallated his haughty foes, and
appeired in terrible array, but the host of Heshland fell. This taught
America the intrinsic worth of perseverance, and the generous sons of
freedom flew to the standard of their common safeguard and defence ;
from which time the arm of American liberty hath prevailod.*

This surprise and capture of the Hessians enraged the enemy, who
we;& siill vastly more numerous than the coniinental troops. They

4

■

* The American army being greatly reduced by the loss of men tnkcn prisoners,
and by the departure ol men whose inhs'mr'ijts had expired, General A\ashington
war obliged to retreat towards Philadelphia; General iiovve. exulting "n his suc-
cesses, pursued him, notwithstanding the weather was severely roltl. To add to
th» disasters of the Americans, General Lee was surprised and taken prisoner at
Baskenridge. In this gloomy state of affairs, many persons joined the British cause
and took protection. But a small band of heroes checked the tide of British suc-
ces. A divisions of Hessians had advanced to Trenton, wliere they reposed ir «.<. •
curity. General Washington wns on liie opposite side of the Delaware, wilh at JUt
three thousand men, many of whom were wi'hout shoes or convenient clothing;
and the river was covered vvith floating ice. But the jreneral knew the impi rtancc
of striking some successful blow. <o animate tiie expiring hopes ol th» country ;
and on the night of December 2ljlh, crossed the river, and fell upon th", enemy by
Burprise, and took the whole body consisting of about nine hundred men. A few
were killed, among whom was colonel Rahl the commander.

TCTEWwrrrjJwnwBPi

i?B'w?'f»»5^w»W'BWjw»!w^Br«r

38

ETHAN ALLEN 3

therefore colleclcd, and marched from Princeton, to attack general
Washington, who was then at Trenton, having previously left a detach-
ment from their main body at Princeton, for the support of that place.
This was a trying time, for our worthy general, though in possession of
a late most astonishing victory, was by no means able to withstand the
collective force of the enemy ; but his sagacity soon suggested a strata-
gem to eRect that which, by force, to him was at that time impracti-
cable. He therefore amused the enemy with a number of fires, and in
the night made a forced march, undiscovered by them, and next morn-
ing fell in with their rear-guard at Princeton, and killed and took most
of them prisoners. The main body too late perceived their rear was
attacked, hurried back with all speed, but to their mortification, found
that they were out-generalled and baffled by general Washington, who
was retired with his little army towards Morristown, and was «,ut of their
power.* These repeated successes, one on the back of the other, cha-
grined the enemy prodigiously, and had an amazing operation in the
scale of American politics, and undoubtedly was one of the corner stones,
on which their fair structure of Indepedency has been fabricated, for
the country at no one time has ever been so much dispirited, as just be-
fore the morning of this glorious success, which in part dispelled the
gloomy clouds of oppression and slavery, which lay pending over Amer-
ica, big with the ruin of this and future generations, and enlightened
and spirited her sons to redouble their blows on a merciless, and haughty,
and I may add perfidious enemy-

Furthermore, this success had a mighty eflfect on General Howe and
his council, and roused them to a sense of tlieir own weakness, and
convinced Them that they were neitiier omniscient nor omnipotent. Their
obduracy and death-designing malevolence, in some measure, abated
or was suspended. The prisoners, who were condemned to the most
wretched and crudest of deaths, and who survived to this period, though
most of tiiem died before, were immediately prdered to be sent within
Gen. Washington's lines for an exchange, and, in consequence of it,
were taken out of their filthy and poisonous plares of confinement, and
sent from New- York to their friends in haste ; several of them fell dead
in the streets of New- York, as they attempted to walk to the vessels in
the harbor, for their intended embarkation. What numbers lived to reach

* On the 2(] of January, 1777, Lord Cornwallis appeared near Trenton, with a
strong body of troops. Skirmishing took place, and impeded tiio march of the
British army, until the Americans had secured tiieir artillery and baggage; when
they retired to the southward of the creek, and repulsed the enemy in tlieir attempt
to pass the bridge. As Grcneral Wasiiingtoii's force was not Bufficient to meet the
enemy, and his situation was critical, lie determined, with the advice of a council
of war, to attempt a stratagem. He gave orders for the troops to light fires in their
£amp, (which were intenued to deceive the enemy,) and be prepared- to march.
Accordingly at twelve o'clock at night tlie troops Icii the ground, and by a circuit-
ous marcli, eluded the vigilance of the enemy, and early in ihe morning appeared
at Priacton. A smart ac:ion ensued, but the British troops gave way. A party
took refuge in the college, a building with strong stone walls, but were forced vo
Burreuder. The enemy lort in kill- '1, wounded and prisoners, about five hundred
nien. Tlie Americans lost but few men; bur, among them was a most valuable
officer, general Mercer.

'h xm

SAIinATlVE.

39

the lines I cannot ascertain, but, from concurrent representations which
1 imve since received from numbers of people who lived in aod adjacent
to such parts of the country, where they were received from the enemy,
I apprehend that most of them died in consequence of ihe vile usage of
the enemy. Some who were eye witnesses of that scene of mortality,
more especially in that part which continued after the exchange took
place, are of opinion, that it was partly in consequence of a slow poison ;
but this I refer to the doctors that attended them, who are certainly the
best judges.

Upon the best calculation I have been able to make from personal
kno'- ledge, and the many evidences I have collected in support of the
facts, I learn that, of the priso.iers taken on Long-Island, Fort Wash-
ington, and some few others, at diflerent times and places, about two
thousand perished with hunger, cold and sickness, occasioned by the
filth of their prisons, at New-York, and a number more on their passage
to the continental lines. Most of the residue, who reached their friends,
having received their death wound, could not be restored by the assist-
ance of physicians and friends ; but like their brother prisoners, fell a
sacrifice to the relentless and scientific barbarity of Britain. I took as
much pains as my circumstances would admit of, to inform myself not
only of matters of fact, but likewise of the very design and aims of
General Howe and his council. The latter of which I predicated on
the former, and submit it to the candid public.

And lastly, the aforesaid success of the American arms had a happy
effect on the continental ofiiceis who were on parole at New-York. A
number of us assembled, but not in a public manner, and with full
bowls and glasses, drank Gen. Washington's health, and wei'fe not un-
mindful of Congress and our worthy friends on the continent, and al-
most forgot that we were prisoners.

A few days after this recreation, a British ofliccr of rank and import-
ance in their army, whose name I shall not mention in this narrative,
fur certain reasons, though I have mentioned it to some of my close
;>! -uS and confidants, sent for me to his lodgings, and told me, " That

.<.' tu'uess, though in a wrong cause, had nevertheless recommended
u< tr Jen. Sir William Howe, who was minded to make me a colonel
of a st'u'^ncnt of new levies, alius tories, in the British service ; and pro-
posed that I should go with him, and some other officers, to England,
who would embark for that purpose in a few days, and there be intro-
duced to Lord G. Germaiiifc, and probably to the King ; and that pre-
viously I should be clutlied equal to such an introduction, and, instead
of paper rags, be paid in hard guineas ; after this, should embark with
Gen. Burgoync, and assist in the reduction of the country, which infal-
libly would be conquered, and, when that should be done, I should
have a large tract of land, either in the New-Hampshire grants, or in
Connecticut, it would make no odds, as the country would be forfeited
to the crown." 1 then replied, •' That, if by faithfulness I had recom-
mended myself to Gen. Howe, I should be loth, by unfaithfulness, to
lose the General's good opinion ; besides, that I viewed the offer of land
to be similar to that which the devil offered Jesus Christ, " To give him

A.\..\ .'^ •-.. ,Vi;.y

iit^^-l-.t-^ii:.ii.iJLLiA-;..ijkL:ik

'■mjnu^^.j :r

-^^-.M,tm, ,".',-iniifWTi

■nm

40

ETHAN ALLEN 9

all the kingdoms of the world, it' he would fall down and worship him ',
when nt the same time, the damned soul had not one foot of land upon
earth." This closed the conversation, and the gentleman turned from
me with an air of dislike, saying, that I was a bigot; upon which I re-
tired to my lodgings.*

Near the last of November, 1 was admitted to parole in New- York,
with many other American officers, and on the 22d of January, 1777,
was with them directed by the British commissary of prisoners to be
quartered on the westerly part of Long-Island, and our parol continued.
During my imprisonment there, no occurrences worth observation hap-
pened. I obtained the means of living as well as I desired, which in a
great measure repaired my constitution, which had been greatly injured
by the severities of an inhuman captivity. I now began to feel myself
composed, ex'^ecting eiiher an exchange^ or continuance in good and
honorable treatment ; br p' v? ' my visionary expectations soon vanished.
The news of the conques . '^'iconderoga by general Burgoyne,f and
the advance of his army i.i> the country, made the haughty Britons
again feel their importance, and with that, their insatiable thirst for
cruelty.

The private prisoners at New- York, and some of the officers on parole,
felt the severity of it. Burgoyne was to them a demi-god. To him
they paid adoration : in him the tories placed their confidence, *• and
forgot the Lord their God," and served Howe, Burgoyne and Knyp-
hausen.J " and became vile in their own imagination., and their foolish
hearts were darkened," professing to be great politicians and relying on
foreign and merciless invaders, and with tliem seeking the ruin, blood-
shed and destruction of their country ; '* became fools," expecting with
them to share a dividend in the confiscated estates of their neighbors
and countrymen who fought for the whole country, and the religion and
liberties thereof. " Therefore, God gave them over to strong delusions,
to believe a lie, that they all might be damned."

The 25th day of August, I was was apprehended, and, under pretext
of artful, mean and pitiful pretences, that I had infiinged on my parole,

* This conduct of Colonel Allen, though springing from diiiy, oiglit not to he
passed over without tributary praise. Tiie rofuaul of such mi offer and in such
circumstances, was highly meritorious. Though the nuin of strict honor, and rigid
integrity, deems the plaudit of his own conscience an ample reward for his best
actions, it is a pleasing employment, to those who witness such actions, to record
them. It is an incentive to others to ' go and do likewise.'

t In June, 1777, the Britifih army, amounting to several thousand men, besides
Indians and Canadians, commanded by general Burgoyne, crossed the Ial<e and
laid siege to Ticonderoga. In a short time, the enemy gained possession of Sugar
Hill, which commanded the American lines, and general St. Clair, with the advice
of a council of war, ordered the post to be abandoned. The retreat of the Amcr-
leans was conducted under every possible disadvantage — part of their force e:ri-
barked in batieaux and landed at Skcnesborough — a pan marched by the way of
Ca!»tleton ; but they were obliged to leave their heavy cannon, and on their march,
lost great part of their baggage and stores, while their rear was harassed by the
British troops. An action took place between colonel Warner, with a body of
Americans, and general Frnzcr, in which the Americans were defeated, after a
brave resistance, with the loss of a valuable ofliccr, colonel Francis.

X Knyphausen, a Hessian general.

nXraative.

^1

re-

taken from a tavetn, where there were more than a dozen officers pre-
sent and, in the very place where those officers and myself were direct-
ed to be quartered, put under a strong guard and taken to New-Vork,
where I cxpecred to make my defence before the commanding officer ;
btrt, contrary to my expectations, and without the least solid pretence of
justice or a trial, was again encircled with a strong guard with fixed
bayonets, and conducted to the provost-goal in a lonely apartment, next
above the dungeon, and was denied all manner of subsistence either
by purchase or allowance. The second day 1 offered a guinea for a
meal of victuals, but was denied it, and' the third day I offered eight
Spanish milled dollars for a like favor, but was denied, and all I could
get out of the sergeant's mouth, was that by God he would obey his
orders. I now perceived myself to be again in substantial trouble. In
this condition I formed an oblique acquaintance with a Capt. Travis, of
Virginia, who was in the dungeon below me, through a little hole which
was cut with a pen-knife, through the floor of my apartment which
communicated with the dungeon ; it was a small crevice, through which
I could discern but a very small part of his face at once, when he applied
it to the hole; but from the discovery i<f him in the situation which we
were both then in, I could not have known him, which I found to be
true by an after acquaintance. T could nevertheless hold a conversation
with him, and soon perceived him to be a gentleman of high spirits,

who had a

high

sense of honor, and felt as big, aa though he had

been in a palace, and had treasures of wrath in store against the British,
in fine I was charmed with the spirit of the man ; he had been near or
quite four months in that dungeon, with murderers, thieves, and every
species of criminals, and all for the sole crime of unshaken fidelity to
his country ; but his spirits were above dejection, and his mind uncon-
querable. I engaged to do him every service in my power, and in a
few weeks afterwards, with the united petitions of the officers, in the
provost, procured his dismission from the dark mansion of fiends to the
apartments of his petitioners. *^

And it came to pass on the 3d day, at the going down of the sun,
that I was presented with a piece of boiled pork, and some biscuit, which
the sergeant gave me to understand, was my allowance, and I fed
sweetly on the same ; but I indulged my appetite by degrees, and in a
few days more, was taken from that apartment, and conducted to the
next loft or story, where there were a'»ove twenty continental, and some
militia officers, who had been taken, and imcrisoned there, besides some
private gentlemen, who had been dragged from their own homes to that
filthy place by tories. Several of every denomination mentioned, died
there, some before, and others after I was put there.

The history of the proceedings relative to the pirovost . only, were I
particular, would swell a volume larger than tins whole narrative. I
shall therefore only notice such of the occurences which are mostly ex-
traordinary.

Capt. Vandyke bore, with an uncommon fortitude, near twenty months'
confinement in this place, and in the mean time was very serviceable to
others who were confined with him. The allegation against him, as the

EnV«P«!ET!7nRIB*P

1. ilJ.4Dl|iillUWMI..l

W

ETHAN ALLKn's

caus€ of his confinenient, was very extraordinary. He was accused oT
setting fire to the city of New-York, at the time the west part of it was
consumed, witen it was a known fact, that he had been in the provost a
week before the fire broke out ; and in like manner, frivolous were the
ostensible accusations against most of those who were there confined ;
the case of two miHiia officers excepted, who were taken in their at-
tempting to escape from their parole ; and probably there may be some
other iastances whicii might justify such a confinement.

Mr. William Miller, a committee man-, from West Chester county,
and state of New York, was taken from his bed in the dead of the night
by his tory neighbors, and was starved for three days and nights in an
apartment of the same gaol ; add to this the denial of fire, and that in a
cold season of the year, in which time he walked day and night, to
defend himself against the frost, and when he complained of such a
reprehensible conduct, the word rebel or committee man was deemed
by the enemy a sufficient atonement for any inhumanity that they could
invent or inilict. He was a man of good natural understanding, a close
and sincere friend to the liberties of America, and endured fourteen
months' cruel imprisonment with that magnanimity of soul, which reflects
honor on himself and country.

Major 'Levi Wells, and Capt. Ozias Bissel, were apprehended and
taken under guard from their parole on Long-Island, to the provost, on
as fallacious pretences as the former, and were there continued till their
exchange took place which was near five months. Their fidelity and
zealous attachment to their country's cause, which was more than com-
monly conspicuous was undoubtedly the real cause of their confinement.

Major Brinton Payne, Capt. Flahaven, and Capt. Randolph, who had
at different times distinguished themselves by their bravery, especially at
the several actions, in which they were taken, were all the provocation
they gave, for which they suffered about a year's confinement, each io
the same filthy gaol.

A few weeks aFior my confinement, on the like fallacious and wicked
pretences, was brought to the same place, from his parole on Long-Island^
Major Otho Holland Williams now a full Col. in the continental army,
tn his character are united the gentleman, officer, soldier, and friend ;
he walked through the prison with an air of great disdain ; said he, " Is
this tho treatment which gentlemen of the continental army are to expect
from the rascally British, when in their power? Heavens forbid it!"
He was continued there about, five months, and then exchanged for a
British Major.

John Fell, Elsq. now a member of Congress for the state of New-Jer-^
sey, was taken from his own house by a gang of infamous tories, and by
order of a British General was sent to the provost, where he was conti-
nued near one year. The stench of the gaol, which was very loathsome
and unhealthy, occasioned a hoarseneas of the lungs, which proved fatal
to many who were there confined, and reduced this gentleman near to
the point of death ; he was indeed given over by his friendis who were
about him, and himself concluded he must die. I could not endure tho
thought that so worthy a friend to America should haye his life stolen^

r

mmm'

irARRATITB.

^

from him in such a mean, base, and scandalous manner, and that hia
Tnmily and friends should be bereaved of^so great and desirable a bless-
ing, as his further care, usefulness and example, might prove to them.
I therefore wrote a letter to George Robertson, who commanded in town,
and being touched with the most sensible feelings of humanity, which
dictated my pen to paint dying distress in such lively colors that it
wrought conviction even on the obduracy xff a British General, and pro-
duced his order to remove the now honorable John Fell, Esq. out of a
gaol, to private lodgings in town ; in consequence of which he slowly
recovered his health. There is so extraordinary a circumstance which
intervened concerning this letter, that it is worth noticing.

Previous to sending it, I exhibited ths^ame to the gentleman on whose
behalf it was written, for his approbation, and he forbid me tt> send it in
the mosi positive and explicit terms ; his reason was, " That tlie enemy
knew, by every morning's report, the condition of all the prisoners, mine
in particular, as I have been gradually coming to my end for a consider-
able time, and they very well knew it, and likewise determined it should
be accomplished, as they had served many others ; that, to ask a favor,
would give the merciless enemy occasion to triumph over me in my last
moments, and therefore I will ask no favors from them, but resign my-
self to my supposed fate." But the letter I sent without his knowledge,
and I confess I had but little expectations f^-om it, yet could not be easy
till I had sent it. I may be worth a remark, that this gentleman was an
Englishman born, and from the beginning of the revolution has invari-
ably asserted and maintained the cause of liberty.

The British have made so extensive an improvement of the provost
during the present revolution till of late, that a very short definition will
be sufficient for the dullest apprehensions. It may be with propriety
called the British inquisition, and calculated to support their oppressive
measures and designs, by suppressing the spirit of liberty ; as also a
place to confine the criminals, and most infamous wretches of their own
army, where many gentlemen of the American army, and citizens there-
of, were promiscuously confined, with every species of criminals ; but
they divided into different apartments, and kept at as great a remove as
circumstances permitted ; but it was nevertheless at the option of a vil-
lainous sergeant, who had the charge of the provost, to lake any gentle-
man from their room, and put them into the dungeon, which was often
the case. At two diflferent times I was taken down stairs for that pur-
pose, by a file of soldiers with fixed bayonets, and the sergeant brand-
.shing his sword at the same time, and having been brought to the door
of the dungeon, I there flattered the vanity of the sergeant, whose name
was Keef. by which means I procured the surprizing favor to return to
my companions ; but some of the high mettled young gentlemen could
not bear his insolence, and determined to keep at a distance, and neither
please nor displease the villain, but none could keep dear of his abuse;
however, mild measures were the best ; he did not hesitate to call us
damned rebels, and use us with the coarsest language. The Capts.
Flahaven, Randolph and Mercer, were the objects of his most flagrant
and repeated abuses, who were many times token to the dungeon, and

jf^'-.^yttaZ

44

ETHAN ALLEN •

there continued at his pleasure. Capt. Flahaven took cold in the don^
geon, and wa; in a declining state of health, but an exchange delivered
him, and in all probability sarred his life. It was very mortifying to
bear with the insolence of such a vicious and ill-bred, imperious rascal.
Remonstrances against him were preferred to tho commander of the
town, but no relief could be obtained, for his superiors were undoubt'
ediy well pleased with his abusive coi.dust to the gentlemen, under the
severities of his power ; and remonstrating against his infernal conduct,
only served to confirm him in authority ; and for this reason I never
made any remonstrances on the subject, but only stroked him, for I
knew that he was but a cat's paw in the hands of' the British officers,
and that, if he should use us well; he would immediately be put out of
that trust, and a worse man appointed to succeed him ; but there waa
no need of making any new appointment ; for Cunningham, their pro-
vost marshall, and Kecf, his deputy, were as great rascals as their army
could boast of, except one Joshua Loring, an infamous tory, who was
commissionary of prisoners ; nor can any of these be supposed to be
equally criminal with Gen. Sir William Howe and his associates, who
prescribed and directed the murders and cruelties, which were by them
perpetrated. This Loring is a monster ! — ^There is not his like in human
shape. He exhibits a smiling countenance, seems to wear a phiz of
hunqanity, but has been instrumentally capable of the most consumate
nets of wickedness, which were first projected by an abandoned British
council clothed with the authority of a Howe, murdering premeditated-
)y, in cold blood, near or quite two thousand helpless prisoners, and
that in the most clandestine, mean and shameful manner, at New-York.
He is the most mean spirited, cowardly, deceitful, and destructive anir
Dial in God's creation below, and legions of infernal devils, with all their
tremendous horrors, are impatiently ready to receive Howe and him,
with all their detestable accomplices, into the most exquisite agonies of
the hottest regions of hell fne.*

The 6lh day of July, 1*17, Gen. St. Clair, and the army under his
command, evacuated Ticonderoga, and retreated with the main body
through Hubbardton into Castleton, which was but six miles distant,
when his rear-guard, commanded by Col. Seth Wurner, was attacked at
Hubbarton by a body of the enemy of about two thousand, commanded
by General Eraser. Warner's command consisted of his own and two
Other regiments, viz. Francis's and Hale's, and some scattering and en-
feebled soldiers. His whole number, according to information, was near
or quite one thousand ; part of which were Green Mountain Boys, about
seven hundred out of the vvhole he brought into action. The enemy
advanced boldly, and the two bodies formed within about sixty yards of
each other. Col. Warner having formed his own regiment, and that of
Col. Francis's did not wait for the enemy, but gave them a heavy fire
from his whole line, and they returned it with great bravery. It was

* The publiehers would suppress some of the language and expressions Col. Al-
len occasionally makes use oi, but presuming the reader to make all reasonable
allowance, both for the style and the matter, it was thought most eligible to give
the narrative in the very dress furnished by the author.

NAftttATltE.

46

.•<>-^

by tbts time dangerous for those of both parties, who were not prepared
for the world to come ; but Colonel Hale being apprised of the danger,
never brought bis regiment to the charge, but left Warner and Francis
to stand the blowing of it, «nd fled, but luckily fell in with an inconsi-
derable number of the enemy, and to his eternal shame, surrendered
himself a prisoner.

The conflict was very bloody. Col. Francis fell in the same, but
Col. Warner, and the officers under his command, as also the soldiery,
behaved with great resolution. The enemy broke, and gave way on
the right and left, but formed again, and renewed the atlack ; in the
mean time the British grenadiers, in the center of the enemy's line,
maintained the ground, and finally carried it with the point of the bay-
onet, and Warner retreated with reluctance. Our loss was about thirty
men killed, and that of the enemy amounting to three hundred killed,
including a Major Grant. The enemy's loss I learnt from the confes-
sion of their own ofFcers, when a prisoner with them. I heard them
likewise complain, that the Green Mountain Boys took sight. The next
movement of the enemy, of any material consequence, was their invest-
ing Bennington,'** with a design to demolish it, and subject its Moun-
taineers, to which they had a great aversion, with one hundred and fifty
chosen men, including tories, with the highest expectation of success,
and having chosen an eminence of strong ground, fortified it with slight
breast works, and two pieces of cannon ; but the government of the
young state of Vermont, being previously jealousy of such an attempt
of the enemy, and in due time had procured a number of brave militia
from the government of the state of New-Hampshire, who, together with
the militia of the norf^ part of Berkshire county, and state of Massachu-
setts, and the Green Mountain Boys, constituted a body of desperadoes,
under the command of the intrepid general Stark, who in number were
about equal to the enemy. Colonel Herrick, who commnded the Green
Mountain Rangers, and who was second in command, being thoroughly
acquainted with the ground where the enemy had fortified, proposed ta
attack them in their works upon all parts, at the same time. This plan
being adopted by the general and his council of war, the little militia
brigade of undisciplined heroes, with their long brown firelocks, the
the best security of a free people, without either cannon or bayonets,
was, on the 16ih day of August, led on to the attack by their bold com-
manders, in the face of the "enemy's dreadful fire, and to the astonish-

♦ The Americans had collected a quantity of scores at Bennington ; to destroy
which as well as to animate the royalists ana intimidate the patriots, general Bur-
goyne detached colonel Baum, with five hundred men and one hundred Indians.
Colonel Breyman was sent to reinforce him, but did not arrive in time. On the
16th of August, general Stark, with ahout eight hundred brave militia men attack-
ed colonel Baum, in his entrenched' camp about six miles from Bennington, and
killed or took prisoners nearly the whole detachment. The next day colonel Brey-
man was attacked and defeated. In these actions, the Americans took about seven
hundred prisoners, and these successes served to revive the spirits of the people.
This success however was in part counterbalanced by the advantages gained on
the Mohawk by colonel St. Leger; but this officer, attacking fort Stanwix, was re-
pelled, and obliged to abandon the attempt.

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46

BTttAtf ALtfc^'f

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ment of the world, and burlesque or discipline, carried every part of
their lines in less than one quarter of an hour after the attack became
genera), took their cannon, killed and captivated more than two-thirds
of their number, which immortalized general Stark, and made Benning-
ton famous to posterity.

Among the enemy's slain was found colonel Baum,''the!r commander,
a colonel Pfester, who headed an infamous gang of tories, and a large
part of his command ; and among the prisoners was, major Meibome,
their second in command, a number of British and Hessian officers, sur-
geons, <&c. and more than one hundred of the aforementioned Pfester's
command. The prisoners being collected together, were sent to the
meeting-house in the town, by a strong guard, and Gen. Stark not ima-
gining any present danger, the militia scattered from him to rest and
refresh themselves ; in this situation he was on a sudden attacked by a
reinforcement of one thousand and one hundred of the enemy, com-
manded by a governer Skene, with two field pieces. They advanced
in regular order, and kept up an incessant fire, especially from their
field pieces, and the remaining militia retreating slowly before them,
disputed the ground inch by inch. The enemy were heard tu halloo to
them, saying, stop Yankees ! In the meantime, CuH Warner, with
about one hundred and thirty men of his regiment, who were not in the
first action, arrived and attacked the eneiny with great fury, being de-
termined to have ample on account of the quarrel at Hubbardton, which
brought them to a stand, and soon after general Stark and colonel Her-
rick, brought on more of the scattered militia, and the action became
general ; in a few minutes the enemy were forced from their cannon,
gave way on all parts and fled, and the shouts of victory were a second
time proclaimed in favor of the militia. The enemy's loss in killed and
prisoners, in these- two actions, amounted to more than one thousand
and two hundred men, and our loss did not exceed fifty men. This
was a bitter stroke to the enemy, but their pride would not permit them
to hesitate but that they could vanish the country, and as a specimen of
their arrogancy, I shall insert general Burgoyne's proclamation : —

•' By John Burgoyne, EsqwLieutenant-General ofhis Majesty's armies in Amer-
ica, Colonel of the Queen's regiment of light dragoons, Governor of Fort William
in North-Britain, one of the Representatives of the Commons of Great Britain, in
Parliament, and commanding an army and fleet employed on an expedition from
Canada, &c. dec. &c.

" The forces entrusted to my command are designed to act in concert and upon
a common principle, with the numerous armies and fleets which already display in
every quarter of America, the power, the justice, and, when properly sought, the
mer^ of the King.

" The cause, in which the Bi-itish arms are thus exerted, applies to the most
affecting interests of. the human heart ; and the military servants of the crown, at
first called forth for the sole purpose of restoring the rights of the conetitutiun, now
combine with love of their country, and duty to their sovereign, the other extensive
incitements which spring from a due sense of the general privileges of mankind.
To the eyes and ears of^the temperate part of the public, and to Ihe breasts of suf-
fering thousands in the provinces, be the melancholy appeal, whether the present
unnatural rebellion has not been made a foundation for the completest system of
tyranny that ever God, in his displeasure, suffered for a time to be exercised over
a froward and stubborn generation.

DARRATtYfl<

47

8ur-

I

* Arbitrary imprisonment, conflecation of property, persecution and torture, im-
f>recedented in the inquisitions of the Romish Church, are among the palpable
enormities that verify the afflrmativc. These are inflicted by aBsenabhes and com*
mittees, who dare to profess themselves friends to liberty, upon the most quiet
subjects, without distinction of age or sex, (or the sole crime, often for the sole
suspicion, of having ailhered in principle to the governmenf tlhd^r which they
were born, and to which, by every tie, divine and human, they oW6 allegiance.
To consummate these shocking proceedings, the profanation of religion is added
to the most profligate prostitution of common reason ; the consciences of men are
set at nought ; and multitudes are compelled not only to bear arms, but aLw to
swear subjection to an uiitirpation they abhor.

" Animated by these considerations, at the head of troops in the full powers of*
health, discipline, and valor ; determined to strike where necessary, and anxious to
spare where possible, I by these presents invite and exhort all persons, in all places
where the progress of this army may point ; and by the blessing of God I will ex- '
tend it far to maintain such a conduct as may justify me in protectmg their lands,
habitations and families. The intention of this address is to hold forth security,
not depredation to the country. To those whom spirit and principle may induce
to partake of the glorious task of redeeming their countrymen from dungeons, and
re-establishing the blessings of legal government, I cflier encouragement and em-
ployment; and upon the first intelligence of their associations, I wu! find means to
assist their undertakings. The domestic, the industrious, the infirm, and even the
timid inhabitants I am desirous to protect, provided they remain quietly at their
houses ; that they do not sufler their cattle to. be removed, nor their corn or fonge
to be secreted or destroyed ; that they do not break up their bridges or roads : nor
by any other act, directly or indirectly, endeavour to obstruct the operations of the
king's troops, or supply or assist those of the enemy. Every species of provision
brought to my camp, will be paid for at an equitable rate, and in solid coin.

" in consciousness of Christianity, my royal master's clemancy, and the honor oT
soldiership, I have dwelt upon tnis invitation, and wished for more persuasive
termu to give it impression. And let not people be led to disregard it by consider,
ing their distance from the immediate situation of my camp. — I have out to give
stretch to the Indian forces under my direction, and. they amount to thpusands, to
overtake the hardened enemies of Great Britain and America : I consider them
the same wherever they may lurk.

" If, notwithstanding these endeavours, and sincere inclinations to effect thein,
the phrensy of hostility should remain, I trust I shall stand acquitted in the eyes of
God and man, in denouncing and executing the vengeance of the state against the
wilful outcasts. The messengers of justice and of wrath await them in the field;
and devastation, famine, and every concomitant horror that a reluctant but indi»-
pensible prosecution of military duty must occasion, will bear the way to their re-
turn. J. BURGOYNE.

« By order of his Excellen^py the Lieut. General,

Robert Eimqston, iSSsc.

♦* Camp near Ticonderoga, 4th July, 1777."

Gen. Burgoyne was stitl the toast, and the severitifes towards the
prisoners were in great measure increased or diminished, in proportion
to the expectation of conquest. His very ostentatious Prociamatioo was
in the hand and mouth of most of the soldiery, especially the tories,
and from it, their faith was raised to assurance. 1 wish my countrymea
in genera) could but have an idea of the assuming tyranny, and haughty,
malevolent, and insolent behavior of the enemy at that time; and from
thence discern the intolerable calamities which this country have extri-
cated themselves from by their public spiritedness and bravery. The
downfall of Gen. Burgoyne,**" and surrender of his whole army, dashed

* General Bargoyne, after collecting his forces and stores, crossed the Hudson
with a view to penetrate to Albany. But the American array being reinforced

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48

fctHAM ALLEN**

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the aspiring ho|ies and expectations or the enemy, and brought low thfl
imperious spirit of an opulent, puissant and haughty nation, and made
the tories bite the ground with anguish, exalting the valor of the free>
born sons of America, and raised their fame and that of their brave*
commanders to the clouds, and immortalized Gen. Gates with laurels of
eternal duration. No sooner had the knowledge of this interesting and
mighty event reached His Most Christian Majesty, who in Europe shines
with a superior lustre in goodness, policy and arms, but the illustrious
potentate, auspiciously influenced by Heaven to promote the reciprocal
interest and happiness of the ancient kingdom of France, and the new
and rising states of America, passed the great and decisive decree, that
the United States of America, should be free and independent. Vaunt
no more. Old England ! consider you are but an island ! and that your
power has beien continued longer than the exercise of your humanity.
Order your broken and vanquished battalions to retire from America,
the scene of your cruelties. Go home and repeat in dust and sackcloth
for your aggravated crimes. The cries of bereaved parents, widows and
orphans, reach the heavens, and you are abominated by every friend to
America. Take your friends the tories with you, and be gone, and
drink deep of cup of humiliation. Make peace with the princes of the
house of Bourbon, for you are in no condition to wage war with them.
Your veteran soldiers are fallen in America, and your glory is departed.
Be quiet and pay your debts, especially for the hire of the Hessians.
There is no other way for you to get into credit again, but by reforma-
tion and plain honesty, which you have despised ; for your power is by
no means sufficient to support your vanity. I have had opportunity to
see a great deal of it, and felt its severe effects, and learned lessons of
wisdom and policy, when I wore your heavy irons, and bore your bitter
revilings and reproaches. I have something of a smattering of philoso-
phy, and understand human nature in all its stages tolerably well ; am
thoroughly acquainted with your national crimes, and assure you that
they not only cry aloud for Heaven's vengeance^ but excite mankind
to rise up against you. Virtue, wisdom and policy are in a national
tsense, always connected with power, or in other words, power is their
offspring, and such power as is not directed by virtue, wisdom and po-
licy never fails finally to destroy itself as yours has done. — It is so in
the nature of things, and unfit that it would be otherwise ; for if it waa
not so, vanity, injustice, and oppression, might reign triumphant forever.

daily, held him in check at Saratoga. General Gates now took the command, and
was aided by the generals Lincoln and Arnold. On the 19th of September, the
Americans attacked the British army, and with such bravery, that the enemy could
boast of no advaittage, and night put an end to the action. The loss of the enemy
was about five hundred. General Burgoyne was confined in a narrow pass — hav-
ing the Hudson on one side and impassable woods on the other — a body of Ameri-
cans was in his rear — his boats he had ordered to be burnt, and he could not re-
treat— while an army of thirteen thousand men opposed him in tront." On the 7th
of October, the armies came to a second action, in which the British lost General
Frazer, with a great number of officers and men, and were driven within their
lines. On the part of the Americans the loss was not great, but generals Lincoln
and Atnpld were wounded.

/

! 'tar T i-^.ii ^. ■'

KABRATIVE.

4»

1 know you have individuals, who sliU retain their virtue, and conse-
quently their honor and humanity. Thoie I really pity, as they must
more or less suffer in the calamity, in which the nation is plunged head-
long; but as a nation I hate and despise you.

My affections are Frenchified. I glory in Louis the sixteenth, the
generous and powerful ally of these states ; am fond of a connection with
80 enterprising, learned, polite, courteous and commercial a nation, and
am sure that I express the sentiments and feelings of all the friends to
the present revolution. I begin to learn the French tongue, and recom-
mend it to my countrymen, before Hebrew, Greek or Latin, (provided
but one of them only are to be attended to) for the trade and commerce
of these states in future must inevitably shift its channel from England
to France, Spain and Portugal ; and therefore the statesman, politician
and merchant, need be acquainted with their several languages, particu-
larly the French, which is much in vogue in most parts of Europe. No-
thing could have served so effectually to illuminate, polish and enrich
these states as the present revolution, as vrell as preserve their liberty.
Mankind are naturally too national, even to a degree of bigotry, and
commercial intercourse with foreign nations, has a great and necessary
tendency to improve mankind, and erase the superstition of the mind
by acquainting them that human nature, policy and interest, are the
same in all nations, and at the same time *'<cy are bartering commodi-
ties for the conveniences and happiness of each nation, they may reci-
procally exchange such part of their customs and manners as may be
beneficial, and learn to extend charity and good will to the whole world
of mankind. 1 was confined in the provost-goal at New-York, the 26lh
day of August, and continued there to the 3d day of May, 1778, when
I was taken out under guard, and conducted to a sloop in the harbor at
New-York, in which I was guarded to Staten-Island, to general Camp-
bell's quarters, where I was admitted to eat and drink with the general
and several other of the British field ofHcers, and treated for two days
in a polite manner. As I was drinking wine with them one evening, I
made an observation on my transition from the provost criminals to the
company of gentlemen, adding that I was the same man still, and should
give the British credit, by him (speaking to the general) for two days
good usage.

The next day colonel Archibald Campbell, who was exchanged for
me, came to this place, conducted by Mr. Boudinot, the then American
commissary of prisoners, and saluted me in a handsome manner, saying
that he never was more glad to see any gentleman in his life, and I
gave him to understand that I was equally glad to see him, and was
apprehensive that it was from the same motive. The gentlemen present
laughed at the fancy and conjectured that sweet liberty was the found-
ation of our gladness : so we took a glass of wine together, and then I
was accompynied by general Campbell, colonel Campbell, Mr. Boudino|
and a number of British officers, to the boat which was ready to s^Ho
Elizabeth-tovyn-point. Meanwhile I entertained them with a^earsal
of the cruelties exercised towards our prisoners; and assumed them that
I should use my influence, that their prisoners shoykT^e treated, in

future, in the same manner, as they should in futu

treat ours ; that I

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90

KTHAM ALLEN'S NAHBATirS.

thought it wac right in such extreme cases, that their example should
be c>.pptied to their own prisoners ; then exchanged the decent ceremo-
nies of compliment, and parted. I sailed to the point aforesaid, and, in
a transport of joy, landed on liberty ground, and as I advanced into the
country, received the acclamations of a grateful people. '

I soon fell into company with colonel Shelden, of the light h.nrse,
who in a polite and obliging manner accompanied me to head quarters.
Valley Forge, where I was courteously reo ived by Gen. Washington,
with peculiar marks of his approbation and esteem, and was introduced
to !tnost of the generals, and many of the principal officers of the army,
who treated me with respect, and after having offered general Wash-
ington my further service in behalf of my countrv, as soon as my health-,
which was very much impaired, would adnr^it, and obtain his license to
return home, I took my leave of his excellency, t>nd set out from Valley
Forge with general Gates and his suit for Fishkill, where we arrived the
latter end of May. In this tour the general was pleased to treat me
with the familiarity of a companion, and genero/ity of a lord, and to
him I made known some striking circumstances which occurred in tne
course of my captivity. I then bid farewell to my noble getieral and
the gentlemen in his retinue, and set out for B' nnington, the capital of
the Green Mountain Boys, where I arrived the evening of the last day
of May to their great suiprise ; for I was thought to be dead, and now
both their joy and mine was complete. Three cannon were fired that
evening, and next morning colonel Herrick gave orders, and fourteen
more were discharged, welcoming me to Bennington, my usual place of
abode ; thirteen for the United States, and one for Young Vermoi^t.

After this ceremony was ended we moved <he flowing bowl, and rural
felicity, sweetened with friendship, glowed m each countenance, and
with loyal healths to the rising States of America, concluded that even-
ing, and, with the same loyal spirit, I now conclude my narrative.

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