REYNOLDS HISTORICAL
GENEALOGY COLLECTION

r 7

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 1833 01

068 6290

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2019

https://archive.org/details/historyoflakecha00croc_0

S"Vd

A HISTORY

O F

LAKE CHAMPLAIN

2

A RECORD OF
MORE THAN THREE CENTURIES

1609-1936

* «

B Y

WALTER HILL CROCKETT

McAulifee Paper Co.
Burlington, Vt.
Publishers

1753320

To

Rev. G. Glenn Atkins, D.D.
This History of Lake Champlain
is Dfj>icated

'

F O

R

E

WORD

CROCKETT’S “History of Lake Champlain” is an
authoritative work covering a period of 300 years,
from the discovery of the lake by Samuel de Cham¬
plain in 1609 to the Tercentenary Celebration in 1909.

The subject is fascinating and of deep historic interest.
This body of water is one of the beauty spots of America
and has been the scene of thrilling and decisive events in
our national life, especially of the Revolutionary period
and the war of 1812. For a hundred years the lake has
been a very active commercial route, especially between
this country and Canada, out of which have grown such
busy centers of population as Burlington, Plattsburg* and
many lesser ones on both shores. For a like period it was
a favorite route for tourist travel and its boats were
among the finest in the country.

Mr. Crockett was an ardent and assiduous student of
the subject. Probably he was unequalled in his day in
familiarity with the past and present of this region, of
which he was a native and life-long resident. Something
of the enormous labor bestowed upon the preparation of
the work may be seen in the list of references given in
the Introduction. This list is intended primarily as a
series of acknowledgments, but it is in reality a valuable
bibliography and an important feature of the book. Ex¬
tended as it is it is far from exhausting the sources of in¬
formation examined by the author, especially if we in¬
clude periodical literature, much of which is difficult of
access.

To the selection of material Mr. Crockett brought a dis¬
criminating sense of historical values, which enabled him
to pick out of the mass those items of permanent historic

X

.

'

;cp i no icx /;! kxi nocn ill )o

VI

A History of Lake Champlain

value and to eliminate the unimportant and insignificant.
He had also an excellent literary gift, and the result is a
readable, accurate and informative narrative of deep and
abiding human interest.

The book has long been out of print and copies are
now scarce and difficult to obtain. The discovery and
refloating of the Philadelphia has created a sufficient de¬
mand for the book to warrant the issue of a new edition
to include a chapter descriptive of that event. It also
gives a brief account of the recovery of a remnant of the
Royal Savage. This chapter was prepared by Prof. Evan
^Thomas of the University of Vermont, generously aided
by Comm. J. Ruppert Schalk and Capt. L. F. Hagglund of
New York and the excellent report of the achievement
in the Burlington (Vt.) Daily News of that date. Professor
Thomas also prepared the chapter on the new bridges
over the lake. Mr. D. A. Loomis, manager of the Cham¬
plain Transportation Company, has kindly added a valu¬
able note bringing Chapter XV down to date.

The Publishers.

■

.

'

INT RODUCTION

IN offering this “History of Lake Champlain” to the
public the writer does not claim that every detail of im¬
portant events has been recorded or that every incident
worthy of remembrance has been included. Such treat¬
ment would require longer time and greater space than
are available for the production of this book. An at¬
tempt has been made to describe briefly and accurately
the principal features of the story of this lake and valley
as written during the past three centuries by the three
nations of France, Great Britain, and the United States
of America.

Grateful acknowledgments are due Frank L. Greene,
Hon. Florace W. Bailey, Hon. Carroll S. Page, Hon. John
B. Riley, Hon. Charles Deal, Miss Edith Clarke, Capt. E.
B. Rockwell, D. A. Loomis, officials of the navy depart¬
ment, and many others for valuable aid rendered in a
variety of ways.

* * *

Among the books consulted in the preparation of this
volume are: “Voyages of Champlain,” “Jesuit Rela¬
tions,” Charlevoix’s “History of New France,” Kerlidou’s
“History of Fort St. Anne,” Parkman’s “Pioneers of
France in the New World,” Kalm’s “Travels in North
America,” Force’s “American Archives,” O’Callaghan’s
“Documentary History of the State of New York,” Pal¬
mer’s “History of Lake Champlain,” Watson’s “Pioneer
History of the Champlain Valley,” Royce’s “Bessboro,”
“Journal of William Gilliland,” John Fiske’s “New
France and New England,” Parker and Bryan’s “Old
Quebec,” Histories of the United States by Winsor, Ban¬
croft and Hildreth, Green’s “Short History of the English

■ "7

.

VI 11

A History of Lake Champlain

People,” Hemen way’s “Historical Gazetteer,” Ethan
Allen’s “Narrative,” Histories of Vermont by Ira Allen,
Williams, Hoskins, Thompson, Hiland Hall, Collins, B. H.
Hall’s “History of Eastern Vermont,” Chittenden’s “Cap¬
ture of Ticonderoga,” Justin H. Smith’s “Our Struggle
for the Fourteenth Colony,” Joseph Cook’s “Sketches of
Ticonderoga,” “Journals of the Continental Congress,”
Huot’s “Siege of Fort de St. Jean,” Codman’s “Arnold’s
Expedition to Quebec,” Goodhue’s “Plistory of Shore-
ham,” Lodge’s “The Story of the Revolution” Lossing’s
“Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution,” “Records of
the Council of Safety and Governor and Council of the
State of Vermont,” “Maine Historical Society Collec¬
tions,” “New England Historical and Genealogical Regis¬
ter,” “Pennsylvania Magazine of History,” “Collections
of the Connecticut Historical Society,” Hinman’s “Con¬
necticut in the Revolution,” Sparks’ “Correspondence of
the Revolution,” Drake’s “Memorials of the Society of
the Cincinnati,” Parton’s “Life of Franklin,” files of the
London Chronicle, London Gazette, Boston Gazette, and
Vermonter, Dawson’s “Battles of the United States,”
Mahan’s “The Naval Campaign of 1776 on Lake Cham¬
plain” in Scribner s Magazine, Moore’s “The Northwest
Under Three Flags,” Drake’s “Burgoyne’s Invasion of
1777,” Thacker’s “Military Journal During the Revolu¬
tionary War,” Saffell’s “Records of the Revolutionary
War,” “Public Papers of George Clinton,” Lecky’s
“American Revolution,” Burgoyne’s “State of the Expe¬
dition,” Fonblanque’s “Burgoyne,” Trevelyan’s “The
American Revolution,” “Proceedings of the Vermont
Antiquarian Society,” “Centennial Celebrations of the
State of New York,” Timothy Dwight’s “Travels in New
England and New York,” “Vermont Historical Society
Proceedings” including a paper on “Thomas Mac-

: [

i

oof

■

.

-

e'suvo ;tH0

A History of Lake Champlain

IX

donough” by Hon. Charles H. Darling, Rodney Mac-
donough’s “Life of Commodore Thomas Macdonough,”
Roosevelt’s “Naval War of 1812,” “Report of the United
States Geological Survey,” Reports of the Vermont State
Geologist, SpafTord’s “Gazetteer of New York,” Whit'
ford’s “History of the Canal System of New York,”
Witherbee’s “History of the Iron Industry of Essex
County, New York,” “The Past and Present of Platts¬
burgh,” Allen’s “About Burlington, Vermont,” Murray’s
“Lake Champlain and Its Shores.”

St. Albans, Vt., June, 1909.

• *

.

X r//

c

N

T

E

N

T

S

CHAPTER I

The Discovery of Lake Champlain . 1

Dimensions of the Lake — Islands and tributary rivers —

The geological history — Champlain’s preparations —
Deserted by part of his force — The journey in the
Richelieu River — Champlain enters the Lake — A
period concerning which little is told — Possible stop¬
ping places — Mountains “covered with snow” — The
battle with the Iroquois — Comparatively early date
of the discovery — Champlain’s career and services.

CHAPTER II

The French Occupation . 19

The Jesuit missions — Building of the Richelieu forts —
Construction of Fort St. Anne — Sieur de Courcellcs
ordered to prepare an expedition against the Indians —

A foray into the Mohawk country — Sufferings on the
return trip — Marquis de Tracy sent to Quebec — He
assembles troops at Isle La Motte for an expedition
against the Indians — Mohawk villages destroyed and
peace secured — An Indian legend related by a Jesuit
priest — Abandonment of Fort St. Anne — Excavations
made.

CHAPTER III

First Attempts at Settlement . 30

War between France and Great Britain — Plans for a
Canadian invasion abandoned — Raids by John and
Philip SchuylcT — Building of Fort St. Frederic — The
seignioral grants on Lake Champlain — Scotch colony
project a failure — Peter Kalin's visit to Fort St.
Frederic — A description of the fortress — Condition of
the soldiers and their manner of living — The trip to
St. Johns — Settlement at Chimney Point.

S x * *

Xll

A History of Lake Champlain

CHAPTER IV

The Struggle for a Continent . . . 49

Events leading' up to the French and Indian War —
Arrival of troops from Great Britain and France —
Dieskau pushes southward, looking for Johnson’s
force— Colonel Williams killed in an ambuscade — The
French attack die British camp at Lake George —
Dieskau defeated, wounded, and captured — The French
troops retreat to Ticonderoga — Fort Carillon built —
Rigaud repulsed at Fort William Henry — Montcalm
besieges, captures, and destroys the fort.

CHAPTER V

The French Abandon the Lake . 68

Armies assembled by Abercrombie and Montcalm —
Picturesque British advance down Lake George — Lord
Howe killed in a skirmish — Abercrombie makes re¬
peated assaults upon the strong French defenses at
Ticonderoga, and being repulsed retreats in haste — .
Vandreuil jealous of Montcalm — Border warfare in the
valley — The French abandon the Champlain fortresses
and retreat to Canada — Amherst builds a stronghold
at Crown Point — Naval affairs on the Lake — Forays
by Maj. Robert Rogers — British take Isle aux Noix
and Canada.

CHAPTER VI

English Settlements Begun . 87

English grants in the Champlain valley — First perma¬
nent settlement made by Philip Skene at Skenesbor-
ough — French and Indian settlement at Swanton falls —
William Gilliland establishes a colony at Westport —

Early occupation of Shelburne — Pioneer experiences
in Addison — Controversies between Green Mountain
Boys and Yorkers — Colchester founded by the Allens
— Colonel Skene’s proposal for a new royal colony.

■

A History of Lake Champlain xiii

CHAPTER VII

The Capture of Ticonderoga . 99

John Brown sent to Canada by Massachusetts — Con¬
necticut men raise funds for capture of Ticonderoga
and sent out nucleus of expedition — Ethan Allen
agrees to lead the party — Gershom Beach summons
the Green Mountain Boys — Benedict Arnold arrives
at Castleton and is refused the command — The ren¬
dezvous at Hand’s <Cove — The capture of the fortress,
also Crown Point and Skenesborough — The spoils of
war — Importance of the victory — Expeditions by Allen
and Arnold to St. Johns.

CHAPTER VIII

The Allen-Arnold Controversy . 121

Proof of thex fact that Allen was in sole command of
the Ticonderoga expedition — Arnold renews his efforts
to secure control — Differences between the two leaders
result in a critical situation — Allen apparently relin¬
quishes authority — Massachusetts Congress sends
committee to investigate affairs at Ticonderoga —
Colonel Hinmati appointed commandant — Arnold re¬
fuses to turn over the command — Mutiny reported
among his men — Arnold resigns — An estimate of his
services — Congress proposes to abandon the Cham¬
plain posts — A storm of protest and indignation
aroused throughout New England — Decision to retain
the Lake posts — Knox removes captured cannon to
Boston — His meeting with Andre.

CHAPTER IX

The Invasion of Canada . . . 138

Ethan Allen urges an immediate advance upon Canada
— Colonel Hinman’s incompetence — Schuyler arrives
at Ticonderoga and begins construction of boats —
Troops assembled for a Canadian invasion — Capt.
Remember Baker killed on a scouting expedition —
General Montgomery begins his advance northward —

Ethan Allen captured by the British — St. Johns and
Montreal taken — Montgomery’s death and the repulse
at Quebec — Benjamin Franklin and Congressional
committee visit the army in Canada — Epidemic of
smallpox — Retreat of the American army — Suffering
and sickness at camps at Crown Point and Ticon¬
deroga.

.

■

HI

.

'

XIV

A History of Lake Champlain

CHAPTER X

Arnold's Naval Battle .

Arnold assigned to the task of building and commanding
the fleet on Lake Champlain— British preparations at
St. Johns — Arnold sails northward looking for the
enemy — Attacked near Valcour Island, October 11, by
the British fleet — A desperate battle fought — Arnold
steals away with, his crippled ships under cover of
darkness — Overtaken near the mouth of the Boquet
River, October 13, a running fight follows — Arnold
obliged to beach and burn his ships on the Panton
shore — The losses — British occupy Crown Point, make
a demonstration before Ticonderoga, and return to
Canada for the winter — Importance of Arnold’s
engagement to the American cause.

CHAPTER XI

Burgoyne’s Invasion .

General St. Clair assigned to command at Ticonderoga
— The system of fortifications — The garrison entirely
inadequate — Burgoyne supersedes Carleton as British
commander — With his army he leaves St. Johns — A
war feast given to the Indians — The advance upon
Ticonderoga — Burgoyne’s bombastic proclamation —
Mount Defiance occupied and St. Clair compelled to
evacuate the fortress — The retreat by water to Skenes-
borough — The army abandons the post, which is occu¬
pied by Fraser — American defeat at Hubbardton —
Completeness of Burgoync’s victory and its effects —
The march through the wilderness to Fort Edward —
Capt. Ebenezer Allen recaptures Mount Defiance —
Unsuccessful attempt to recover Ticonderoga — Bur¬
goyne’s surrender and the abandonment of most of
the Champlain posts — Effect of the British invasion.

CHAPTER XII

The Coming of Peace .

The battle at Pierson’s farm, in Shelburne — Gates
plans aimther Canadian invasion, which fails to mate¬
rialize' — Raid* in the Champlain valley in 1778 and
1779— British demonstrations on the Lake in 1780 and

■

.

.

■

A History of Lake Champ loin

xv

1781 — Posts retained- by the British after the close of
the war — Washington’s visit to the Lake — Rapid settle¬
ment of the valley — Founding of Plattsburg and other
settlements on the west side of the Lake — Settle¬
ments on the east side — Town of Burlington organized
— The formation of Vermont counties — Remarkable
increase of population in twenty-five years following
the close of the Revolutionary War — Smuggling
operations.

CP1APTER XIII

The Beginning of the War of 1812 . 209

The assembling of troops at Burlington and Platts¬
burg — Lieut. Thomas Macdonough takes command of
naval operations on the Lake — Lieut. Sidney Smith
defeated at Isje aux Noix and the Growler and the
Eagle captured — Gen. Wade Hampton takes command
of the army at Burlington — British raid on Platts¬
burg — Demonstration off Burlington — Public property
burned at Swanton — Hampton’s unsuccessful Cana¬
dian invasion — Col. Isaac Clark’s successful raid on
Philipsburg — Governor Chittenden attempts to recall
Vermont troops from Plattsburg — The building of
Macdonough’s fleet — British repulsed at Fort Cassili —
Comparison between cost of Macdonough’s fleet and
modern warships.

CHAPTER XIV

The Battle of Plattsburg . 234

General Izard ordered away from Plattsburg — Gen¬
eral Macomb concentrates regulars and militia there —
Approach of the British army — The American de¬
fenses — Skirmish lines driven in — British fleet advances
to Isle La Motte — Macdonough’s naval strength — The
superiority of the British squadron — Macdonough’s
careful preparations — Opening of naval battle of
Plattsburg, September 11, 181-1 — A desperately con¬
tested engagement — Captain Dowuie killed — British
fleet defeated and captured — The losses — Retreat of
the British army — Honors for the victors — Importance
of Macdonough’s triumph — Clo>e of the war — Building
of Fort Montgomery — Treaty regarding naval strength
on the Lake.

..

» wt

..

;T f •

xvi A History of Lake Champlain

CHAPTER XV

Navigation of Lake Champlain .

The beginnings of lake navigation — The building and
operation of sailing craft — Early navigators — Build¬
ing the first Vermont, the world’s second successful
steamboat — Early days of steam navigation — Burning
of the Phoenix — Construction of the Champlain Canal
and navigation through that waterway — Chambly
Canal constructed — Development of freight business —
Champlain Transportation Company organized — Early
days of steamboat traffic — Charles Dickens on Capt.
Richard Sherman — The element of railroad competi¬
tion — Steamboats of later days — A list of steamboat
captains — Supplementary Notes by D. A. Loomis.

CHAPTER XVI

✓

Some Lake Champlain Incidents .

Floods of 1811 and 1830 — General Montgomery’s body
brought from Quebec — John Brown’s body brought
home — Presidential visits — Vice- President Theodore
Roosevelt at Isle La Motte when President McKin¬
ley was shot at Buffalo — The Tercentenary Celebra¬
tion of 1909 — The lumber and iron industries — Estab¬
lishment of military posts at Plattsburg and Fort
Ethan Allen — Names of some famous persons asso¬
ciated with Lake Champlain history.

CHAPTER XVII

Recovery of the “Philadelphia’' and “Royal

Savage” .

Sinking of the ships — Recent interest in refloating —
Dragging the Lake — Work of the diver — T he opera¬
tion of raising the vessels — Examination of condi¬
tion and contents — Towing to Burlington and Shel¬
burne harbors — Probable tinai destination.

CHAPTER XVIII

Champlain Bridges . .

Champlain Bridges — The Champlain bridge — The
Rouses Point -A ! ini rg bridge— The Swanton-Alburg
bridge.

.

.

-

• •

SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN.

HAMEL AFTER THE MONCORNET PORTRAIT

FROM THE PAINTING Br TH

CHAPTER I

THE DISCOVERY OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN

LAKE CHAMPLAIN is one of the largest bodies of
fresh water in the United States, being exceeded in
size by the Great Lakes, and by Lake Okechobee, in
Florida, which is so shallow that in part it is more marsh
than lake. Judged by the standard of historic interest,
Lake Champlain has no rival in all the continent of North
America ; and in natural scenic beauty, it ranks with the
best the world affords.

Lying in the valley between the Green and the Adiron¬
dack Mountain ranges, this lake is 118 miles long, meas¬
ured from Whitehall, N. Y., to the northern extremity of
Missisquoi Bay, which extends a few miles into Canada.
Its greatest width is 12% miles from the mouth of the
Ausable River, on the west to the head of Malletts Bay,
on the east, the average width being 4% miles. Its great¬
est depth is 399 feet, off Essex, N. Y. Lake George flows
into Lake Champlain. The more important tributary
streams from Vermont include the Missisquoi, Lamoille,
Winooski, Otter Creek, and Poultney; and from New
York, the Big and Little Chazy, the Saranac, the Salmon,
the Boquet, and the Great and Little Ausable. The deep
channel of the lake forms the boundary line between the
States of Vermont and New York, the greater part of
the area lying within the limits of the Green Mountain
State. Its waters are discharged northward through the
Richelieu River into the St. Lawrence, and thence into the
Atlantic Ocean, thus forming an exception to the direc¬
tion in which the waters of most of the lakes and rivers of
the United States flow, which is toward the south. The

'

-

i ■

2

History of Lake Champlain

Champlain Canal, between Whitehall and Waterford,
connects the lake with the Hudson River and the Atlantic
Ocean, while the Chambly Canal, between St. Johns and
Chambly, Oue., makes navigation possible around the
rapids of the Richelieu to the River and Gulf of St. Law¬
rence.

The larger islands in Lake Champlain include Grand
Isle, North Hero, Isle La Motte, Valcour, Schuyler,
Juniper, and the Four Brothers, called by the French tire
Islands of the Four Winds. Lake Champlain has been
called the Lake of the Iroquois; Peta-wa-bouque, mean¬
ing alternate land and water ; Peta-pargow, or the great
water; and Lake Corlaer, after Arendt Van Corlaer, a
popular New York official, who was drowned in its waters
in 1667.

✓

When the world was very much younger than it is
today, so long ago that our years hardly enter into the
reckoning, Lake Champlain was a part of the Atlantic
Ocean. At a later period the valley between the Green
Mountains and the Adirondacks was fdled, destroying
the connection between the waters of the Gulf of St.
Lawrence and an interior sea. Geology tells us, if we
follow' the story written upon tablets of stone, of a Cham¬
plain River flowing northerly, through what is now the
deep channel of the lake, the valley having been elevated.
Much later this stream was dammed between the present
international boundary line and the St. Lawrence by
glacial material, brought from the north during the Ice
Age. At one time this lake appears to have discharged
its waters into the Hudson River, but another convulsion
of nature restored the northern outlet.

At a period not far removed, as the geologist meas¬
ures duration, but thousands of years ago according to
our method of reckoning time, Lake Champlain still

• •

History of Lake Champlain

3

covered a much larger area than it does today. It is easy
to find on many limestone ledges, the cavernous holes
worn by centuries of wave action. Many terraces may
be seen showing the manner in which the waters gradu¬
ally receded, and some of the highest elevations in the
valley probably were islands at one time.

No evidence has been found to prove that any white
man had visited Lake Champlain, or the region in its im¬
mediate vicinity, previous to the year 1609. In that year
Samuel Champlain, “Father of New France,” founder
of Quebec, mariner, explorer, and warrior, agreed to ac¬
company the Huron, Montagnais, and Algonquin Indians
against their powerful enemies to the South, the Iroquois,
or Five Nations, of which confederation the Mohawks
were prominent members, and near neighbors to their
northern foes. After nearly a week spent in war dances
and festivities at Quebec, toward the end of June, Cham¬
plain, with eleven Frenchmen and his Indian allies, started
on a war expedition into the Iroquois country. Two days
were spent at the mouth of the Richelieu River, and a
disagreement arising regarding the war plans, a part of
the Indians decided to return to their homes. Champlain
and his countrymen, in a small shallop, setting out on the
journey outsailed their savage allies and crossing Chambly
Basin discovered the Chambly rapids. The Indians had
assured Champlain that the route was an easy one, and
his first impulse, finding himself deceived, and being un¬
able to proceed with the shallop, was to turn back. His
desire, however, to see the “large lake filled with beautiful
islands,” of which he had been told, was stronger than his
displeasure, and he determined to go on. He says that
“tip to this time no Christians had been as far as this
place except us.” Only two of the Frenchmen in the
party volunteered to proceed with their leader, the others

v r, ti©rTr:> i

4

History of Lake Champlain

returning to Quebec. The war party was a small one
with which to make a foray into the enemy’s country. It
consisted of the French leader, his two white companions,
and sixty Indians, in twenty- four canoes. Leaving the
head of the Chambly rapids on July 2, the canoes, arms,
and baggage were carried around the most dangerous
part of the rapids. Champlain and some of the Indians
then reembarked in the canoes, the rest of the party
proceeding by land until smooth water was found. The
journey was continued until an island was reached which
Bourne, one of the translators of Champlain’s journals,
says was St. Theresa. The explorer describes the island
as being covered with the most beautiful pines he had
ever seen-. Here a stop was made and the Indians went
on a brief hunting expedition. Going on a little farther,
a camp was made for the night.

In his narrative Champlain tells of the Indian method
of making such a camp. Bark was stripped from the
trees with which to cover their temporary huts, and large
trees were cut down on three sides to form a barricade,
the river forming the fourth side. Several scouts were
sent out to reconnoitre some distance in front. It was
their custom, if no signs of an enemy were discovered,' to
leave no sentinels on guard, the whole party lying down
for the night. Champlain criticized his allies for the
laxity of their methods, but they told him that they
worked enough by day. No fire was made for cooking
while in the enemy’s country, but Indian meal cakes were
carried for such occasions, which were soaked in water
and then eaten.

Champlain also describes the operations of the sooth¬
sayer or medicine man who concealed himself in a little
hut and performed certain incantations, pretending to
learn from the devil the events that were to occur.

History of Lake Champlain

5

On the next day, July 3, the party continued up the
Richelieu River, as far as the entrance to the lake. The
French explorer mentions the many pretty islands that
he saw, low and covered with forests and meadows,
wherein he found stags, fallow deer, fawns, roebucks,
and other animals. There w’ere many beavers in this
river and its tributaries. Notwithstanding the beauty of
this region it was not inhabited, as the vicinity of this
ancient highway for war parties was an unsafe place in
which to dwell.

According to Champlain’s own record, he entered the
lake on July 4, a day of good omen. He says that he left
the head of the Chambly rapids on July 2. That night
the party camped about three leagues beyond a certain
island. The next day they continued as far as the en¬
trance to the lake, and the day following they entered
the lake. Some authorities hold that the date of the dis¬
covery was July 14, instead of July 4. Parkman says
that “his [Champlain’s] dates in this part of his narrative
are exceedingly careless and confused, May and June
being mixed indiscriminately.” It is argued that Cham¬
plain could not have spent nearly four weeks on the lake
between the discovery and the encounter with the enemy,
which he says was on July 30. The same argument, in
lesser degree, may be urged against July 14 as the date
of discovery. Apparently he did not need two "weeks in
which to travel as far as the scene of the battle with the
Iroquois.

The period between the discovery and the battle at
tiie southern end of the lake is largely a sealed book.
1 he fact that this was a war party, following a route
where the enemy might be encountered at any hour,
would lead to the belief that no time would be spent in
exploring the country, but rather that the warriors would

'

6

History of Lake Champlain

press forward in eager haste to strike the foe at the
earliest opportunity; and yet, whether the period spent
in traversing the lake be counted two weeks, or four, it
was much longer in either event than would be required
to make such a journey under normal conditions. Earlier
in his narrative Champlain refers to Lake Ontario as ‘‘ten
days’ journey long,” and that lake is at least twice as long
as Champlain’s journey on this lake. Five or six days
would appear to have been plenty of time for the distance
covered on the lake. On the other hand, if Champlain
had explored this region carefully, we might naturally
expect that a man so particular to record his travels in
new countries would have given a more complete account
of what 'he saw, yet bis descriptions are such as might
have been obtained on a brief trip on which only the
necessary stops were made. Of course some time may
have been spent in sending out scouting parties, although
it is probable that this expedition expected to surprise the
enemy rather than to be surprised by them. Unless addi¬
tional records are found dealing with this period the
subject must remain a held for speculation, and if we
accept the explorer’s date of the battle as July 30, we may
as well accept his date of the discovery, July 4.

Several towns along the lake have claimed a visit from
Champlain on this trip, and the claim is made with more
earnestness for Isle La Motte than for any other place,
with the exception of Ticonderoga. It is possible that
the party did stop here, and that for many centuries the
island had been a convenient camping ground for war
parties, as it continued to be for two centuries thereafter;
but this’ conclusion must be reached by the theory of
probabilities rather than by any actual proof.

It has been argued that when Champlain writes of
stopping in the river at an island three leagues long

■

*

no o

*

■

■

*

History of Lake Champlain 7

covered with beautiful pines he did not mean St. Theresa,
or any other island in the Richelieu, but Isle La Motte,
and that wdiile proceeding from the real entrance to
the lake to the latter island the explorer supposed he
was still in the river.

In his narrative Champlain tells of coming to the en¬
trance of the rapids at Chambly Basin, describes what
took place there, and after determining to go on, says:
“I left these rapids of the Iroquois [Richelieu] River on
July 2.” This clearly indicates that he left the head of
the rapids at that time. On this day, following Cham¬
plain’s story, the boats and the baggage were carried by
land half a 'league, past the swiftest part of the rapids,
and about half of the party walked along the shore an¬
other league and a half. If a league is called three miles,
then about thirty men walked six miles, after which the
party was reviewed. When the island, “three leagues
long,” was reached a stop wras made for a hunting expedi¬
tion, after which the party proceeded another three
leagues. If Champlain had camped on the same island
it is probable that he would have said so, and according
to the theory advanced the camp should have been made
several miles south of Isle La Motte. This would make
a journey by canoe of nearly, if not quite fifty miles in
one day, including a journey of six miles on foot, and a
stop for a hunting expedition, truly a strenuous day’s
work. That leaves twenty-seven days for the rest of
the distance, less than one and one-half times as far as
the route covered in one day. But Champlain says that
they continued their course in the river the next day as
far as the entrance to the lake and speaks of many pretty
islands, which are low. If it is conceded that the stop
for hunting was made at the extreme north end of Isle
La Motte and the camp of July 2 was made at the extreme

i

8

History of Lake Champlain

south end of the same island, it is difficult to account for
another whole day of “continuing” in the “river,” where
they saw many beautiful low islands. These could not
have been the larger islands, for he alludes to these
farther on, when he entered the lake on July 4. It is not
probable that the party on July 2 traveled from Chambly
to Isle La Motte, or beyond. It is not probable that
Champlain thought he was still in the river after leaving
the present site of Rouses Point. The width of the lake
north of Isle La Motte is not very much less than it is all
the way to the southern extremity of Grand Isle County.
Moreover, Champlain was journeying with Indians who
were familiar with these waters. They knew the route
because it is probable that some of them had traversed
it frequently, as their fathers had done before them.
They knew where the river ended and where the lake be¬
gan. Champlain alludes to other tacts of interest which
his Indian companions told him. When it is considered
that the promise of seeing this lake was the incentive
which persuaded the French leader to undertake a danger¬
ous journey into an enemy’s country, it is hardly con¬
ceivable that the Indians would permit him to spend a day
and a night on its waters and shores, if it can be imagined
that he did not know when he was out of the river, be¬
fore they informed him that his desire had been accom¬
plished. It is vastly more probable that as they ap¬
proached the entrance to the lake they pointed to it with
joyful eagerness, that they might please the great white
chieftain, upon whom they depended for victory over
their enemies.

Champlain, describing his entrance into the lake, says
it was “of great extent,” and tells of four beautiful
islands, “which formerly had been inhabited by savages
like the River of the Iroquois; but they had been aban-

1

i

’

’

History of Lake Champlain

9

doned since they had been at war with one another.”
Thus the veil is lifted for a brief glimpse into the pre¬
historic period, but whether the occupancy alluded to was
recent or remote at the time of writing, is unknown. The
description of the lake as fifty or sixty leagues long and
the large islands as ten, twelve, and fifteen leagues long,
of course is inaccurate. Continuing his description the
explorer tells of “several rivers which flow into the lake
that are bordered by many fine trees, of the same sorts
that we have in France, with a quantity of vines more
beautiful than any I had seen in any other place; many
chestnut trees, and I have not seen any at all before, ex¬
cept on the shores of the lake, where there is a great
abundance of fish of a good many varieties.” He does
not say that the Indians told him of trees and vines
bordering these rivers, but describes what he had seen.
This would seem to indicate that he explored some of the
tributary rivers, to a certain extent, at least. It is true
that he had time to pursue such explorations if his dates
are at all accurate.

That the Indians had a fondness for telling fish stories
is indicated by the description given of the chaousarou,
supposed by some to be the gar pike, which, it is said,
sometimes were eight or ten feet long. Champlain saw
some of these fish that were five feet long, “as big as a
man’s thigh, with a head as large as two fists, a snout two
and a half feet long, and a double row of very sharp and
dangerous teeth.” He adds that the fish is “armed with
scales so strong that a dagger could not pierce them,”
that it is silver gray in color, and that the end of its snout
is like that of a pig. The Indians said that when they
suffered from a headache they cured themselves speedily
by bleeding the spot where the pain was located with the
teeth of this fish. The savages described the cunning of

.

10

History of Lake Champlain

this chaousarou, by asserting that when it wished to catch
certain birds it would lie in the weeds or rushes, put its
snout out of the water, and keep perfectly still. The
birds would alight on this half open snout, thinking that it
was “the trunk of a tree,’’ and presently the bird would be
drawn under water by the feet.

Champlain describes his journey up the lake in the fol¬
lowing words : “Continuing our course in this lake on
the west side I saw, as I was observing the country,
some very high mountains on the east side, with snow
on the top of them. I inquired of the savages if these
places were inhabited. They told me that they were —
by the Iroquois — and that in these places there were
beautiful valleys and open stretches fertile in grain, such
as I had eaten in this country, with a great many other
fruits ; and that the lake went near some mountains,
which were perhaps, as it seemed to me, about fifteen
leagues from us. I saw on the south others not less high
than the first, but they had no snow at all. The savages
told me that it was there that we were to go to find their
enemies, and that these mountains were thickly peopled.
They also said that it was necessary to pass a rapid, which
I saw afterward, and from there to enter another lake,
three or four leagues long, and that when we had reached
the end of that it would be necessary to follow a trail for
four leagues, and to pass over a river which empties on
the coast of the Almouchiquois, near the coast of Norum-
begue; and that it was only two days’ journey by their
canoes, as I have [also] learned since from some prisoners
that we took who described to us very much in detail all
that they had found out themselves about the matter
through some Algonquin interpreters who knew the Iro¬
quois language.”

| • ' !f: ' •' : * *‘! 1

- .* • ■

.

1

History of Lake Champlain

11

Champlain’s reference to mountains on the east side
of the lake, evidently the Green Mountains, the tops of
which were covered with snow', is not easily explained.
It is difficult to believe that these mountains actually were
snow capped in July, so that an observer passing through
the lake, along the western shore, could see their glisten¬
ing summits. Had the season been so cold that winter
thus lingered, not ‘‘in the lap of spring/’ but in the lap
of summer, it might be expected that a close observer
like Champlain wrould have recorded the fact, earlier in his
journals. Such evidence as there is indicates a normal
season, for the writer describes the abundance of vines
and verdure. It is possible that a cloud formation may
have appeared like snow on the mountain summits, or
that a landslide on the slope of Mansfield or Camel’s
Hump in certain lights may have suggested snow.

There is no evidence to prove that in later years the
Iroquois or members of any other tribe in considerable
numbers permanently occupied the hills and valleys of
the Green Mountain region for the cultivation of grains
and fruits, and it may be that the Indian allies desiring
to tell a pleasant tale, drew to some extent upon their
imaginations for details. The mountains to the south
evidently were the Adirondacks. The other lake to which
reference is made clearly is Lake George, and the rapid is
the outlet of that lake. The description of the route to
the Mohawk country by way of Lake George and the
Hudson is a plain one, but the war party was not destined
to follow it, as it is probable they had expected to do.

As Champlain and his companions approached within
two or three days’ journey of the region inhabited by the
Iroquois more care was taken, traveling being done by
night. During the day they rested in the forests, which,
extending to the margin of the water must have furnished

UI0|

-

y

12

History of Lake Champlain

a beautiful emerald setting for the lake. The fact that
Champlain had a dream in which he saw the Iroquois
drowning w'as considered a most encouraging omen, and
produced great joy in the camp of the Hurons, Mon-
tagnais, and Algonquins.

The story of the battle is best told in Champlain’s own
words. He says : “When evening came we embarked in
our canoes to continue our way ; and, as we were going
along' very quietly, and without making any noise, on the
twenty-ninth of the month, we met the Iroquois at ten
o’clock at night at the end of a cape that projects into the
lake on the west side, and they were coming to war. We
both began making loud cries each getting his arms ready.
We withdrew toward the water and the Iroquois went
ashore and arranged their canoes in line, and began to cut
down trees with poor axes, which they get in war some¬
times, and also with others of stone ; and they barricaded
themselves very well.

“Our men also passed the whole night with their canoes
drawn up close together, fastened to poles, so that they
might not get scattered, and might fight all together, if
there were need of it; we were on the water within arrow
range of the side where the barricades were.

“When they were armed and in array, they sent two
canoes set apart from the others to learn from their
enemies if they wanted to fight. They replied that they
desired nothing else but that, at the moment, there was
not much light and they must wait for the daylight to
recognize each other, and that as soon as the sun rose
they would open the battle. This was accepted by our
men ; and while we waited, the whole night was passed
in dances and songs, as much on one side as on the other,
with endless insults, and other talk, such as the little cour¬
age they had, their feebleness and inability to make re-

: q ; it s>dt " •' I

■

'

■

'

[•#/

^ .r

• • l' > .. '

' -V . v

V&* .

-M

■ ; '■ ! _

- fy ^

: > t1* V*.

o

o

u

u

z

<

3

ifl

Z

w

J

<

L.

Hi

z

u

— i

o

u.

o

y

in

u

h

D

C

u

ty

>*?

'*■ t

: ' f:

* -?'•
-'A t

&

~, v -

;

It

< - c

.V

A

>V'

/ .

v*

• .,- : *»f

»vw t. ,. •». v ...«* vi - - Ai*-- ««. • . **k.' .J ’ •*

i

SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN AND ALGONQUIN INDIANS IN BATTLE WITH THE IROQUOIS.

'

History of Lake Champlain

13

sistance against their arms, and that when day came they
should feel it to their ruin. Our men also were not lack¬
ing in retort, telling them that they should see such power
of arms as never before ; amid much other talk, as is cus¬
tomary in the siege of a city. After plenty of singing,
dancing and parleying with one another, daylight came.
My companions and I lay concealed for fear that the
enemy should see us, preparing our arms the best that we
could, separated, however, each in one of the canoes of
the Mo'ntagnais savages. After arming ourselves with
light armor, each of us took an arquebuse and went
ashore. I saw the enemy come out of their barricade,
nearly 200 men, strong and robust to look at, coming
slowly toward us with a dignity and assurance that pleased
me very much. At their head there were three chiefs.
Our men also went forth in the same order, and they told
me that those who wore three large plumes were the
chiefs, and that there were only three of them ; and that
they were recognizable by these plumes, which were a great
deal larger than those of their companions ; and that I
should do all that I could to kill them. I promised them
to do all in my power, and said that I was very sorry that
they could not understand me well, so that I might give
order and system to their attack of the enemy, in which
case we should undoubtedly destroy them all ; but that
this could not be remedied ; that I was very glad to en¬
courage them and to show them the good-will that I felt,
when we should engage in battle.

“As soon as we went ashore they began to run about
200 paces toward their enemy, who were standing firmly
and had not yet noticed my companions, who went into
the woods with some savages. Our men began to call
me with loud cries ; and to give me a passageway, they
divided into two parts and put me at their head, where

■

;»/

- '

14

History of Lake Champlain

I marched about twenty paces in front of them until I
was thirty paces from the enemy. They at once saw me
and halted, looking- at me, and I at them. When I saw
them making move to shoot at us, I rested my arquebuse
against my cheek and aimed directly at one of the three
chiefs. With the same shot two of them fell to the
ground, and one of their companions who was wounded
and afterward died. I put four balls into my arquebuse.
When our men saw this shot so favorable for them, they
began to make cries so loud that one could not have
heard it thunder. Meanwhile the arrows did not fail to
fly from both sides. The Iroquois were much astonished
that two men had been so quickly killed, although they
were provided with armor woven from cotton thread and
from wood, proof against their arrows. This alarmed
them greatly. As I was loading again one of my com¬
panions fired a shot from the woods, which astonished
them again to such a degree that, seeing their chiefs dead,
they lost courage, took to flight and abandoned the field
and their fort, fleeing into the depths of the woods. Pur¬
suing them thither I killed some more of them. Our
savages also killed several of them and took ten or twelve
of them prisoners. The rest escaped with the wounded.
There were fifteen or sixteen of our men wounded by
arrow shots, who were soon healed.

“After we had gained the victory they amused them¬
selves by taking a great quantity of Indian corn and meal
from their enemies, and also their arms, which they had
left in order to run better. And having made good cheer,
danced and sung, we returned three hours afterward with
the prisoners.

“4 his place, where this charge was made, is in latitude
43 degrees and some minutes and I named the lake Lake
Champlain.”

' \ \ ^ I

. ' fiv/

'

-

’■TUCI • OOVfr 31 t LO r;fl)‘| jb 'J ' 0 'ft ^ - ?< : Ihic

History of Lake Champlain

15

There has been no little discussion over the place where
this battle was fought, the principal claims being made in
behalf of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. The descrip¬
tion of the cape near which the battle was fought, and the
latitude, apply to Ticonderoga more clearly than to Crown
Point. There is, however, one fact which seems to es¬
tablish the claim of Ticonderoga beyond dispute. When
Champlain’s Indian allies were telling him of the route to
be taken into the Irociuois country by the way of Lake
George, they said it was necessary to pass a rapid, “which
I saw afterward,” says the explorer in describing the in¬
cident. Then he describes the entrance to Lake George
very plainly, so that his meaning cannot be misunderstood.
There is no evidence to show that Champlain visited this
lake again. This “rapid” was in the outlet of Lake
George, the rapids beginning about a mile and a half from
Lake Champlain, and if the explorer saw these rapids, as
he says he did in language that cannot be mistaken, it
must have been on this expedition. If the battle had been
at Crown Point, he could not have gone on to Ticon¬
deroga, for three hours after the battle the return trip was
begun. Champlain tells of pursuing the fleeing Iroquois
“into the depths of the woods.” On this occasion he
might well have gone a mile or two from shore, as far
as the rapids. No satisfactory explanation can be made
of this visit to the rapids unless the scene of the conflict
is laid at Ticonderoga.

After traveling eight leagues to the northward a stop
was made, as evening fell, and the victors, by means of
the most barbarous tortures, proceeded to put one of their
prisoners to death, Champlain being greatly distressed at
the revolting spectacle. The other prisoners were taken
into Canada. The party separated at the rapids of the

?r

'

■

*

16

History of Lake Champlain

Richelieu, the Indians expressing their gratitude for the
powerful aid of the French.

The results of Champlain’s battle with the Iroquois are
written red in the annals of New France. What appeared
to be an unimportant skirmish with a few savages made
the powerful Iroquois confederacy the bitter enemies of
the French, an advantage of which the British were not
slow to avail themselves, and which counted heavily in
favor of the latter in the long conflict for supremacy in
North America, which was to follow.

It is sometimes forgotten at what an early date, com¬
paratively speaking, Lake Champlain was discovered.
New England was then an unsettled, and practically an
unexplored wilderness. The only British post on the
whole Atlantic seaboard had been established the pre¬
vious year, in 1608, at Jamestown, in Virginia. The
French had established themselves at Port Royal, Nova
Scotia, in 1605, and at Quebec, in 1608. Far to the
south the Spanish held St. Augustine, in Florida, and,
hundreds of miles to the westward, Santa Fe, in what is
now New Mexico. It wras not until later in the year 1609
that Henry Hudson discovered the Delaware River, and
the stream to which he gave his own name — the Hudson.
Eight years later the Connecticut River was explored.
Not until 1626 did Peter Minuits purchase the island of
Manhattan, and Boston was not founded until 1630. In
this year, 1609, Pastor John Robinson led the English
Pilgrims, then in Holland, from Amsterdam to Leyden,
from which they were destined to sail eleven years after¬
ward, with a brief stop in England, to found Plymouth
Colony in Massachusetts.

Henry IV, better known as Henry of Navarre, was
King of France, James I was monarch of Great Britain,
Queen Eilzabeth having been dead six years. Only a

'

1 . : VI

" '

History of Lake Champlain

17

score of years had passed since the defeat of the Spanish
Armada. Shakespeare, Bacon, and Sir Walter Raleigh
were living, and John Milton was an infant less than one
year old.

Champlain at this time was in the very prime of life,
being about forty-two years old. He was a native of
Brouage, then a little seaport town of the old province of
Saintonge, France, but now nearly two miles inland.
From boyhood he had been interested in the sea. His first
voyagff was to Spain with his uncle. In 1599 he had
commanded a ship on a cruise to the West Indies and
New Spain: He landed at Vera Cruz, visited the city of
Mexico, and stopping at Panama he saw the opportunity
for, and the importance of, a canal across the isthmus.
He had explored the mouth of the St. Lawrence and
the coasts of Nova Scotia and New England, and had
written of his voyages in his journals. He was a man
of remarkable versatility, and was able to adapt himself
with ease to life at the court of the King or in the camp
of the savage. He was a zealous servant, both of the
King of Kings and the monarch of France, earnestly seek¬
ing the propagation of the Christian religion, and the ex¬
tension of the national domain.

For twenty-six years following the discovery of the
lake which bears his name, or until his death at Quebec
on Christmas Day, 1635, Samuel Champlain was the hope
of France in the New World. He continued his explor¬
ations far to the westward with tireless zeal and he en¬
dured all manner of hardships and privations for his
faith, for his King, and for his country. With few ex¬
ceptions, Champlain was wise and discreet in his public
policies, and he was always honorable and devout in his
private life. lie had far-sighted plans for the welfare of
Canada, his chief desire being the colonization of the

...

. .-:o}

18

History of Lake Champlain

country and the establishment of the Christian religion
among the savages. In pursuance of the latter desire he
obtained the consent of both Pope and King that the
Recollet fathers might begin missionary work in America,
and the first band of missionaries left France in 1615.
Later, the Jesuits were asked to assist in the work, and
came to Canada in large numbers. Notwithstanding his
error in attacking the Iroquois, his services were of in¬
estimable value to France, and his death was an irrepa¬
rable loss to the country which he had served so long
and so well. His brilliant dreams were not prophetic of
future glory, his noble ambitions often were unsatisfied,
his fervent prayers for the permanent triumph of France
were unanswered ; but the lake which he discovered in the
year 1609 will ever perpetuate the name of one of the
bravest soldiers, one of the truest gentlemen, and the fore¬
most explorer of all the pioneers of France in the Western
world.

.

.

'

.

CHAPTER II

THE FRENCH OCCUPATION

THERE is no evidence to show that the discovery of
Lake Champlain was followed for many years by any
definite attempts at farther exploration in this region.
How soon after establishing themselves in Canada the
Jesuit Fathers, or Black Gowns, as they were often called,
turned their attention to the Iroquois country to the south¬
ward, is largely a matter of speculation, but it is probable
that it was twenty or twenty-five years at least after
Champlain’s expedition in to the borders of that region.
A few allusions are made in the “Jesuit Relations,” the
voluminous records or that religious order, to “some mis¬
sionary work among the Iroquois.”

In a letter to Governor Denonville, dated March 8,
I6S8, and dealing with Canadian affairs, it is stated that
“the King has for over forty years kept at his own ex¬
pense in the Iroquois country several Frenchmen, who,
with some Jesuit missionaries have been to build and
have resided in the five Iroquois countries, all at the same
time, down to these latter days, when the rumors of war
have forced them to retire, one after another.”

One of the most famous of these Jesuit missionaries
was Father lssac Jogues, who suffered almost incredible
tortures for his faith and finally gave up his life as a
Christian martyr among the savage Iroquois.

In 1642 a fort called Richelieu was built at the mouth
of the river bearing the same name, by M. Montmagny
as a defense against the Five Nations. At this time the
savages were particularly aggressive, and the Canadian
settlements were in constant peril. Fort Richelieu was

.

>.' J

fu:

.

20

History of Lake Champlain

abandoned late in 1645, burned by the Iroquois, probably
in the spring of 1646, and rebuilt in 1665 by M. de
Chambly. Two other forts were now built on the Rich¬
elieu River. The first was seventeen leagues south of
Fort Richelieu, being constructed under the direction of
M. de Sorel, and was named Fort St. Louis, in honor of
the saint whose holy week saw its inception; the second
was about three leagues farther south, and was called
Fort St. Theresa, because it was completed on St.
Theresa’s Day. From this fort, the French records say,
“we can easily reach Lake Champlain without meeting
any rapids to stop the bateaux.”

In the fall of 1665 M. de Repentigny was sent to Isle
La Motte to prepare a site for a fort. Thither, in the
summer of 1666, Pierre de St. Paul, Sieur de la Mothe
(or la Motte), a captain of the Carignan regiment, with
a few companies of soldiers, was sent to build a fort. It
was completed in July, about the time that M. de Chazy
was killed near the mouth of the river bearing his name,
and it was dedicated to St. Anne, the mother of the
Virgin. The width of this fort was ninety-six feet, but
its exact length cannot be determined as one end of the
site has been washed away. The dimension that is
known is similar to the width of Forts Richelieu and St.
Theresa. If the length also was the same it was 144 feet.
A chapel in honor of St. Anne was also erected here in
1666.

Late in the year 1665, Daniel de Remy, Sieur de
Courcelles, governor of New France, was ordered to pre¬
pare with haste an expedition into the country of the hos¬
tile Indians, and he started January 9, 1666, with 300 of
the Carignan regiment and 200 habitants. The weather
was very severe and the men suffered greatly by reason of
the cold. So many men fell out of the ranks on account

'

' Avt tl 5..i p

'

'

History of Lake Champlain

21

of disability that it became necessary to take four com¬
panies from the forts on the Richelieu River to fill the
vacancies. On January 30, de Courcelles left Fort St.
Therese with 500 men. The snow being four feet deep,
snowshoes were used, and the men drew their provisions
on light sledges, as the depth of snow made the use of
horses impossible. The soldiers also carried twenty-five
or thirty pounds weight on their backs, and the com¬
mander carried his share like a private in the ranks.

Passing up Lake Champlain on the ice, the expedition
started across country toward the Mohawk villages.
De Courcelles dost his way, through the incompetence of
his guides, and passing too far to the south, he reached
the vicinity of what is now Schenectady, on February 9.
A small party of Mohawks appearing, the Indians were
pursued by sixty of the French Fusiliers, who were drawn
into an ambuscade, some 200 savages being hidden in the
forest. Eleven Frenchmen, including a lieutenant, were
killed, and several were wounded. The soldiers fired a
volley and fell back. The Mohawks also retired, taking
four scalps as trophies. The Indian loss was three men
killed and six wounded. It is asserted that the exertions
of Arendt Van Corlaer, a prominent and popular New
York official, prevented the massacre of the French party.

The English at Albany (Fort Orange), desiring to
learn the meaning of this expedition, sent a delegation of
three citizens to de Courcelles to inquire as to the nature
of the invasion. The French commander assured them
that his only purpose was to punish the Mohawks for
their attacks upon the Canadian settlements and that
he had no hostile designs upon the English. Thi9 ex¬
planation being considered satisfactory the wounded were
sent to Albany, and needed provisions were sold to the
French troops.

1

22

History of Lake Champlain

Having rested his men until February 12, de Courcelles
returned with all possible speed to Lake Champlain and
thence to Canada. The Mohawks followed the invaders
as far as the lake, taking three prisoners, and finding,
according to British records, the bodies of five men, who
were victims of cold or hunger. Charlevoix, in his
“History of New France, ” says sixty men perished of
hunger on the homeward march.

The expedition of de Courcelles could not be counted
as a brilliant success. He had failed to strike the
Mohawk villages, and he had narrowly escaped losing his
entire force. He had, however, created some alarm
among the Mohawks, which was increased by information
given by the prisoners to the effect that a more formid¬
able invasion might be expected later that year.

The Indians were far from being subdued by the
de Courcelles expedition. The hostility aroused by Cham¬
plain’s attack, more than a half century before, is re¬
flected in the instructions issued by the King, in March,
1665, to M. Talon, intendant of police, justice, and finance
of New France, in which he declares that the Iroquois
“are all perpetual and irreconciliable enemies of the
colony.” He adds that they have “prevented the country
being more peopled than it is at present, and by their
surprises and unexpected forays always keeping the coun¬
try in check; [and] the King has resolved with a view
of applying a suitable remedy thereto to carry the war
even to their firesides to totally exterminate them having
no guarantee in their words, for they violate their faith
as often as they find the inhabitants at their mercy.”

The King's determination to subdue the hostile savages
had t mud < \pr< -sum in sending to Quebec Alexander de
Frouville, M .rqui- de Tracy, “member of His Majesty’s
councils and lieutenant general of his armies, both in the

. - •

.

■

History of Lake Champlain

23

islands and mainland of South and North America, as
well as by sea as by land.” De Tracy had been sent out
as viceroy in- 1664, and was accompanied by many young
nobles. He had an honorable record as a soldier, and at
this time was well advanced in years. He had been
ordered to Quebec from the Antilles to put an end, if
possible, to the intolerable persecution of the hostile
savages. Three tribes of the Five Nations, upon hear¬
ing of the building of Fort St. Anne and the fortifications
on the Richelieu, sent messengers seeking terms of peace,
and were sent home laden with presents ; but the Mohawks
and Oneidas remained sullenly aloof. After the expedi¬
tion led by de Courcelles had returned these two hostile
tribes made overtures of peace, and de Tracy, somewhat
reluctantly, accepted their proposals. About this time,
however, while a small party of officers were hunting and
fishing near Fort St. Anne, on Isle La Motte, they were
attacked by a band of Mohawks, two captains of the
Carignan regiment were killed and several prisoners were
taken.

Captain de Sorel, with 300 soldiers, was ordered to
carry fire and sword immediately into the Mohawk coun¬
try. By forced marches he crossed Lake Champlain and
started for the Indian villages, where he was met by a
deputation of Mohawks, who returned the French cap¬
tives and offered satisfaction for the crimes committed.
Sorel returned to Quebec, and negotiations were resumed,
as a result of which a treaty was signed on July 12, by the
terms of which the Iroquois agreed to become friends and
allies of the French, and to restore the Canadian, Algon¬
quin, and Huron prisoners in their hands.

This treaty was made only to be broken by the Indians,
and de Tracy determined to deal the Mohawks a blow so
crushing that thereby an effective lesson should be taught.

• •

.

24

History of Lake Champlain

A punitive expedition was organized under M. de Talon
with orders to rendezvous on September 28, 1666, at Fort
St. Anne. The nucleus of the expedition consisted of
600 seasoned veterans of the Carignan-Salieres regiment,
an organization which had gained distinction under Count
Coligny in the service of Emperor Leopold against the
Turks. The regular troops were assembled at Isle La
Motte, in and about the fort. On the shore of the main¬
land, to the west, were encamped 600 habitants, or Cana¬
dian volunteers, and 100 Algonquin and LIuron warriors.

This rendezvous is a scene that appeals to the imagi¬
nation. Here, in the early fall, with the great forests all
about them just taking on the most brilliant tints of
autumnal foliage, at the last outpost to the southward of
the French dominions in this part of America, on a little
island farther from civilization than any spot on the globe
today, was assembled a company of men in armor, who
had won renown on many a hard-fought field in Europe.
They represented the established order of military
science ; and they had for allies, not only the half-breed
peasants of New France, but naked, painted savage war¬
riors of North America. The two extremes of the
world’s fighting men here met; and the French were go¬
ing out, still farther into the vast wilderness, to fight
other savages, whose methods of warfare were not written
in any book of military tactics known to soldiers.

On October 1 de Courcelles left Fort St. Anne with a
vanguard of 400 men. Two days later de Tracy set out
with the main body of the troops, accompanied by Chev¬
alier de Chaumont, and other 'officers. On October 7,
Captains Sorel, Berthier, and Chambly followed with the
rear guard. Slow progress was made up the lake, as 300
canoes and light bateaux were carried for crossing the
lakes and rivers along the route, and two small pieces of

.

'

.

• ,h : )!'. • '? ■■ <>'* 1 79/lT^I ^

-

History of Lake Champlain

25

artillery were taken with which to force any fortifications
the enemy might have constructed.

The expedition had been provided with provisions to
last until the Mohawk country should be reached, but
these had not been carefully husbanded. As a result the
supplies failed before the destination was reached, and
the troops were ready to disband in search for food, when
they chanced to come upon a chestnut grove where they
obtained a store of nuts, which lasted until they reached
the first Mohawk village. They entered this encamp¬
ment in battle array, with standards flying, and drums
beating. The French commander had hoped to surprise
the enemy, but the Mohawks were not a' foe easily sur¬
prised, and being warned in time had abandoned their
villages, seeking refuge in the mountains, firing now and
then from their hiding places a shot at the invaders.

In the first village entered the French found cabins
well built and adorned. Some of them were 120 feet
long, and proportionally wide, being covered with boards
within and without. Enough grain to last the colony for
two vears was found buried. The town was burned and

a/

a captive Algonquin squaw acted as their guide to the
next encampment. The villages were ravaged from end
to end, and many palisades and cabins, together with large
stores of Indian corn, beans, and other provisions were
burned, while some women and a few aged men, too
feeble to flee, were taken prisoners.

The return of the expedition was rendered difficult bv
the rapid rise of the streams, heavy rains having set in.
A fierce storm was encountered on Lake Champlain, dur¬
ing which two canoes were swamped and eight soldiers
drowned, among them being Lieutenant du Lugues, a
young officer who, already by his valor had achieved dis¬
tinction, both in France and Canada. The expedition

'

■

B'Hk

26

History of Lake Champlain

lasted fifty-three days, and won for the colony a peace of
nearly two decades. It is related of the commander that
in spite of ill health and his advanced years he was as
zealous as though “he enjoyed perfect health and was
only thirty years of age.”

It is written in the French records that “besides the
taking possession of the Mohawks' country by Sieur de
Tracy with an armed force in the fall of the year 1666, the
deputies of the four other Iroquois nations came to said
M. de Tracy in 1667 and in due form, by an act signed on
the one part and the other by the Iroquois after their
fashion and by us after ours, did give themselves to the
French and placed their country under the King’s
dominion.”

General de Tracy returned to France, August 28, 1667,
but many of the members of the Carignan regiment, be¬
ing offered a gratuity to settle in New France as colonists,
made their homes in Canada, and their names — Chambly,
Chazv, Sorel, and others — are perpetuated in the geog¬
raphy of that region to this day.

During the winter of 1666-67 many of the soldiers at
Fort St. Anne were ill of scurvy. General de Tracy
asked that a priest be sent to the post, and Father Dollier
de Casson came from -Montreal on snowshoes, and walked
on the ice to Isle La Motte. Here he celebrated Mass,
and officiated at the burial of thirteen soldiers. Sixty
men assembled daily for Mass and prayers. Father de
Casson returned to Montreal in the summer of 1667.

During this same summer of 1667 three Jesuit priests,
Fathers Fremin, Pierron, and Bruyas, set out on a jour¬
ney to the lower Iroquois, to restore the missions inter¬
rupted by the wars. Owing to their fear of an Indian
tribe called the Loups (Wolves) they were detained at
Fort St. Anne, and conducted a mission for the soldiers.

.

9^5

History of Lake Champlain

27

While there Father Pierron wrote a letter, dated August
12, 1667, which, so far as known, was the first written in
what is now the State of Vermont. Copies are preserved
in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, and in St. Mary's
College at Montreal. Unfortunately for the curiosity of
later generations this letter contained no description of
the fort, but described the writer’s voyage to America,
and the habits and customs of the Iroquois, whose lan¬
guage the writer found to resemble that of the Greeks.
The priest thought that when he reached his destination
near the forty-second parallel of latitude he would be
“quite near to Virginia.”

An Indian legend of Lake Champlain is told by these
fathers who stopped at Isle La Motte, and is recorded in
the “Jesuit Relations.” The priests left Isle La Motte
on St. Bartholomew’s day and coming near the southern
end of the lake, accompanied by Indians, the writer says:
“Arriving within three-quarters of a league of the falls by
which Lake St. Sacrement [Lake George] empties, we all
halted at this spot, without knowing why, until we saw
our savages at the waterside gathering up flints, which
were almost all cut into shape. We did not at that time
reflect upon this, but have since then learned the mystery
for our Iroquois told us that they never fail to halt at
this place to pay homage to a race of invisible men who
dwell there at the bottom of the lake. These beings
occupy themselves in preparing flints nearly all cut for
the passerby, provided the latter pay their respects to
them by giving them tobacco. If they give these beings
much of it, the latter give them a liberal supply of stones.
These water men travel in canoes, as do the Iroquois;
and when their great captain proceeds to throw himself
into the water to enter his palace, he makes so loud a

••

’

i . - ; • •• .v

’ j l O'

28

History of Lake Champlain

noise that he fills with fear the minds of those who have
no knowledge of this great spirit and of these little men.

“At the recital of this fable which our Iroquois told
us, in all seriousness, we asked them if they did not also
give some tobacco to the Great Spirit of Heaven, and to
those who dwelt with Him. The answer was that they
did not need any, as do people on this earth. The occa¬
sion of this ridiculous story,” says the narrative, “is the
fact that the lake is, in reality, often agitated by very
frightful tempests, especially in the basin where Sieur
Corlart [Corlaer] met his death; and when the wind
comes in the direction of the lake, it drives on the beach
a quantity of stones which are hard, and capable of strik¬
ing fire.”

One of the fathers tells of passing a fine slate quarry
five leagues from Lake St. Sacrement, not like those near
Quebec, but, to use his own words, “this one is quite like
those I have seen in the Ardennes of our France, its color
being a beautiful blue.”

In June, 1668, Bishop Laval, the first bishop of Quebec
and New France, visited Fort St. Anne and gave con¬
firmation, making the journey both ways in a canoe.

The fort probably was deserted in 1670, as that year
Captain LaMothe became the governor of Montreal.
Father Kerlidou, in his work on Isle Ida Motte, says that
“before leaving the fort the soldiers burned all the pali¬
sades, and barracks; they also took with them everything
that could be easily carried, and which might be of use
somewhere else.

Captain LaMothe, some years later, was killed by the
Indians. Ilis name should not be confounded with that
of LaMothe de Cadillac, who lounded Detroit and took
such a prominent part in French affairs in the West,

■

History of Lake Champlain

29

Fort St. Anne was the first settlement of white men
within the limits of what is now’ known as the State of
Vermont. Here was the first observance of Christian
worship in the State; and, although the occupation was
not a permanent one, the fort being allowed to fall into
decay after a few years had passed, it does not seem
probable that the place ever relapsed entirely into a wilder¬
ness. Isle La Motte was a favorite stopping place on the
frequently traveled route from Canada to the Hudson
valley. According to the New York Colonial Documents,
during the war of 1690 the western Iroquois were to meet

* N.

at Fort St. Anne, on Isle La Motte, “an abandoned French
work on Lake Champlain.”

The site of Fort St. Anne has now passed into the
possession of the Roman Catholic diocese of Burlington,
and pilgrimages are made during the summer months to
the shrine of St. Anne at that place. The site of the old
fort, which appears to have been lozenge shaped, has
been excavated with care, and many relics have been
secured. Fourteen mounds were opened in the spring of
1896, and under every one the ruins of a fireplace, full
of ashes, was found. Linder one mound a brick oven
was discovered. The foundations of some buildings,
16 by 12 feet, were disclosed, while others were 16 by 32
feet in size. Among the relics unearthed were knives,
forks, tw’o solid silver spoons, one bearing the name of
L. Case, broken dishes, buttons, cooking utensils, carpen¬
ters’ tools, pipes, pieces of guns, bullets, gun flints, arrow
heads, tomahawks, Indian pottery, nails, pieces of burned
timber, and coins, one dated 1656.

’ jW ^

■

.

■

.

CHAPTER III

THE ATTEMPTS AT SETTLEMENT

WAR between France and Great Britain followed
the accession of William and Mary to the British
throne in 1689, and the conflict extended to the
American colonies. With a few brief intervals of peace,
the hostility of the Iroquois had continued since the battle
with Champlain in 1609. When M. de la Barre, gover¬
nor of Canada, declared war on the Iroquois in 1684
Governor Dongan of New York took these Indians under
British protection and caused the royal arms to be set up
in their villages, taking possession in the name of the
British monarch.

Chevalier de Callicres, governor of Montreal and com¬
mander of the French troops in Canada, returned to
Paris in 1689, and submitted to the King a plan for the
conquest of New York. He had urged the previous year
that France purchase the colony of New York from Great
Britain, or exchange it for some of the Antilles, saying
that it “would render Plis Majesty master of all North
America/’ Learning that New York was not for sale or
exchange, he proposed, in order to capture this desirable
province, that a force of 2,000 men be sent by way of the
Richelieu River and Lake Champlain, and that a small
log fort be built at the carrying place between Wood
Creek, at the head of the lake, and the Hudson River.
His next move would be to seize Albany, descend the
Hudson, and capture Manatte, or New York. The plan
of de Callicres included the stationing of two warships
at the mouth of the Hudson to prevent the sending of
aid from Boston, or England. The King was pleased

■ ■■

■

'

History of Lake Champlain

31

with the plan and ordered that it be carried into execution.
Meanwhile the Iroquois had ravaged the Canadian settle¬
ments and threatened the very existence of the colony.
Carrying out the orders of the King of France, in response
to the suggestion of de Callieres, a party of 210 men was
fitted out including ninety-six Algonquin and Huron
Indians, with Sieur de St. Helene and Lieutenant de
Mantet in command. The party left Montreal about the
middle of January, 1690, and crossed Lake Champlain on
the ice. Following the advice of the Indian allies, Sche¬
nectady was made the objective point. Late on a bitterly
cold night the war whoop was raised in the streets of the
town. No warning had been given, the guards having
been withdrawn on account of the severity of the weather.
The French under de Mantet captured and burned the
small fort, putting the garrison to the sword, while de St.
Helene and his party battered down the barricaded doors
of the houses with clubbed muskets. For two hours the
slaughter continued, sixty persons being killed, including
women and children. Having burned every house in the
village but two, the attacking party started for Canada,
taking twenty-seven prisoners, fifty horses, and other
spoils of war. News of the massacre speedily reached
Albany, and a party of 50 Englishmen and 150 Mohawks
was collected. The Englishmen proceeded no farther
than Crown Point, but the Indians followed their enemies
into Canada, where a detachment that had fallen behind
the main body was surprised, six being killed and twelve
taken prisoners.

On their return trip the French found that the pro¬
visions left by the way had spoiled and their condition
became so desperate that the soldiers boiled their moc¬
casins with potatoes to satisfy their hunger.

.

'

.'8 r J: . h f'fnJ; I ,Jiol Usrfn

,£»> f nifcfn !>d

32

History of Lake Champlain

On March 26, 1690, a small party of English and
Indians under Capt. Jacob de Warm proceeded to Crown
Point from Albany, to watch the enemy. On March 30,
Capt. Abram Schuyler, with a few Englishmen and a
party of Mohawks, was sent to the mouth of Otter Creek
to watch for the approach of a hostile force from the
north. Captain Schuyler went as far as Chambly with a
scouting party, killing two Frenchmen and taking one
prisoner.

Believing that the safety of the British colonies de¬
pended upon an invasion of Canada, Massachusetts, Con¬
necticut, and New York agreed upon a joint expedition,
and Gen. John Winthrop, of Massachusetts, was made
commander. A naval expedition under Sir William
Phipps was fitted out to attack Quebec. About August 1,
800 men left Albany under command of General Win¬
throp. Arriving at Wood Creek, at the southern end of
Lake Champlain, Winthrop waited several days, and the
Indians having failed to furnish reinforcements or canoes
for the passage of the lake, he called a council of war,
which voted that it was not expedient to continue the
proposed invasion of Canada.

Capt. John Schuyler, grandfather of Gen. Philip Schuy¬
ler, of Revolutionary War fame, was an officer under
Winthrop, and being dissatisfied with the action of the
council of war he attempted the organization of a little in¬
vasion of his own. Assembling twenty-nine of his fellow
countrymen and 120 Indians, he proceeded by way of
Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River to Laprairie.
Secreting their canoes, the party concealed themselves in
the forest on the border of the settlement. As the French
started out to cut corn, on the morning of August 23,
Schuyler’s band fell upon them, killing six men and tak¬
ing nineteen prisoners, with a loss of only one Indian. All

'

History of Lake Champlain

33

the houses and barns outside the fort were burned and
150 cattle were killed. The raiders then retreated in
haste to avoid capture by relief parties from Chambly and
Montreal. On the return trip, August 24, they stopped
at Isle La Motte. Captain Schuyler, in his journal,
speaks of stopping at the “Little Stone Fort,” which may
have been a slight fortification thrown up at or near
Crown Point earlier the same year by Captain de Warm.
The matter of the de Warm fort is an obscure one. It
has been claimed that he built a fort on the Vermont shore
at a very early* date, but evidence is lacking to substantiate
this assertion. ,

On June 22, 1691, Maj. Peter Schuyler, with 150 Eng¬
lish troops and 300 Indians, traversed the same route
taken by his brother, Capt. John Schuyler, the previous
year; surprised and captured Laprairie, killing several of
its defenders; fought a desperate battle with a French
force under Governor de Callieries, largely outnumbering
his own, which he defeated with a loss of about 200 killed
and wounded, his own being slight; and retreated safely
to Albany.

Encouraged by the success of the British arms the Iro¬
quois again harassed the French settlements until another
expedition was considered necessary to teach the Mo¬
hawks a needed lesson. De Frontenac therefore assembled
a force of 600 or 700 French and Indians at Montreal,
and about the middle of January, 1693, the expedition set
out, marching over the ice of Lake Champlain, across the
intervening country, and fell upon the Mohawk villages
beyond Schenectady. Many of the inhabitants were
killed, and more than 300 prisoners were taken. A
speedy retreat was made, but Major Schuyler with a
force of 300 men, hastily assembled, pursued as far as the
Hudson and recaptured about fifty of the prisoners A

. •

34

History of Lake Champlain

severe blizzard prevented the crossing of the river. The
French suffered terrible privations on this expedition and
it is said that their Indian allies devoured the dead bodies
of their enemies.

xA.fter the peace of Ryswick, in 1697, a formal treaty
was made between the French and the Iroquois.

In 1702 the conflict known as Oueen Anne's War was
begun. In 1704 a party of 300 French and Indians com¬
manded by the cruel de Rouville, followed Lake Cham¬
plain to the Winooski River, which they ascended, crossed
the Green* Mountains, and, reaching the Connecticut
River, descended that stream and burned the Massa¬
chusetts town of Deerfield. Four years later a party of
400 French and Indians again crossed the Green Moun¬
tains and burned Haverhill.

The French became so aggressive that the British min¬
istry in 1709, on the urgent representations of the colonies,
decided to attack Canada. A naval demonstration against
Quebec was planned, while it was decided that 1,500 men
from New York and New England, under Colonel Nichol¬
son, were to march upon Montreal by way of Lake Cham¬
plain. The Iroquois sent 500 men as their quota. New
York aided the cause by opening a road from Albany to
Lake Champlain. Governor Yaudreuil, of Canada, called
a council of war, which decided to send a force of 1,500
men to oppose the British advance, but dissensions among
the officers prevented the consummation of the plans for
a Canadian invasion.

Another attack upon Canada was planned in 1711, and
Colonel Nicholson assembled at Albany 2,000 British
troops, 1,000 Germans, and 1,000 Indians. On August
28. the march towards Lake Chamnlaiu was begun, the
Lake George route being taken. At the same time 6,400
men under General Hill sailed from Boston on sixty-eight

■

.

History of Lake Champlain

35

transports, for an attack on Quebec. A sudden storm
scattered the fleet. Eight ships were wrecked, and ac¬
cording to Charlevoix, nearly 3,000 men were drowned.
This disheartening news reached Nicholson’s troops at
Lake George, and the expedition was abandoned.

In 1713 the Treaty of Utrecht was signed, by the terms
of which France released her nominal sovereignty over
the Iroquois, and recogmz^ Lie ^dominance of Great
Britain. 1 « o3«3^Q

It was not until 1731 that the French fortified a post
on Lake Champlain. In that year Marquis de Beauhar-
nois being governor-general of Canada, a fort was erected
at Crown Point, which was called St. Frederic, in honor
of Frederic de Maurepas, the French secretary of state.
This was only a small stockade, designed to accommodate
thirty men. In 1734 it gave place to a fortress large
enough for 120 men, and in 1742 it was enlarged and
strengthened, being then, with the exception of Quebec,
the strongest French fortress in America.

In October, 1748, Lieutenant Desligneris, a French
officer, wrote to the governor of New York complaining
that certain Indians, said to be subjects of Great Britain,
had recently come to Montreal with a message, and had
“treacherously killed and carried off some Frenchmen
from Isle La Motte.”

For the greater part of a century these forays continued
with occasional cessation. Parkman has said: “Through
the midst of the great Canadian wilderness stretched Lake
Champlain, pointing straight to the heart of the British
settlements — a watery thoroughfare of neutral attack and
the only approach by which., without a long detour, by
wilderness or sea, a hostile army could come within strik¬
ing distance of the colony; ”

■

0\v *60 * i :i 'ilfl

36

History of Lake Champlain

A long diplomatic controversy was waged between
France and Great Britain over the country around Lake
Champlain, the French maintaining their claim by right
of discovery, and the British by virtue of sovereignty over
the Iroquois country.

Very little actual colonization was done by the French
along Lake Champlain, apart from the military posts.
About 1731 a settlement was begun at Pointe a la Algon¬
quin, later known as Windmill Point, in the western part
of the present town of Alburgh. Sieur Francois Foucault,
a member of the supreme council of Quebec, had been
granted a charter by the King of France, and this charter
was renewed and augmented in May, 1743. This action
was taken in recognition of the fact that M. Foucault had,
as the charter of confirmation states, complied with the
conditions of the original grant by establishing three new
settlers in addition to eight who had settled the previous
year; and that he had built in that year (1731) a windmill
of stone masonry, which cost nearly 4,000 livres (about
$800). He had taken steps to build a church, 20 by 40
feet in size, which was to be ready the next spring to
receive a missionary. A lot of land, two acres in front by
forty acres in depth, had been conveyed, free of charge,
and accepted by the Bishop of Quebec, whereon should
be built a church and a parochial house, with room for a
burial ground, and land that should aid in the mainte¬
nance of a missionary. This settlement was short lived,
as was another begun here in 1741. Later M. Foucault
transferred his grant to Gen. Frederick Haldimand,
British government of Canada from 177S to 1784. Gen¬
eral Haldimand, in turn, sold the property to Henry Cald¬
well, who lived in Bellmont, a town near Quebec, and for
several years thereafter the present town of Alburgh was
known as Caldwell's Upper Manor.

»

rt , ' 3 i ir •• [k • * ■* « • 1 " H 1 "

■

- •’ • ■ • ! {-° ;

History of Lake Champlain

37

Although few actual settlements were made by the
French in the Champlain valley, there were many grants
by the French crown, similar to Foucault’s concession.
Nearly all the land surrounding the lake was granted to
various individuals, in many instances to army officers
and Canadian officials. The first public record bearing
on this subject is an order issued by the King, dated May
20, 1676, and authorizing such grants on Lake Cham¬
plain. One of the largest of these grants, or seigniories,
was made on October 7, 1743, to Gilles Hocquart, intend-
ant of Canada from 1728 to 174S, at one time councillor
of state and intendant of the naval forces at Brest. Ac¬
cording to an early map, printed at Albany by Richard
H. Pease, this seigniory appears to have included the
present towns of Panton, Addison, Waltham, New Haven,
Weybridge, and portions of Bridport, Cornwall, Middle-
bury, and Bristol. In a communication from the British
Board of Trade, addressed to the committee of the Privy
Council, the lordship of Hocquart is estimated to contain
about 115,000 acres. In 1764 it was transferred to
Michael Chartier de Lotbiniere, and in 175S Marquis de
Vaudreuil, governor general of Canada, granted to Lot¬
biniere who had laid out the fortress of Ticonderoga, the
seigniory of Alainville, embracing more than four leagues
in front and five leagues in depth, lying partly on Lake
George, and partly on Lake Champlain.

Among other grants was one made to M. Contre-
coeur, Jr., July 7, 1734, “on the borders of Lake Cham¬
plain, beginning at the mouth of the Riviere aux Loutres
[Otter Creek] one league and a half above, and one
league and a half below, making two leagues in front
by three in depth, together with so much of said Riviere
aux Loutres as is found therein, with those islands or
islets which are in front of said concession and depend

■ .

'

> i •

i u \n b! .

38

History of Lake Champlain

thereon/’ This grant probably included the present towns
of Ferrisburgh and Monkton, the city of Vergennes and
portions of Panton, Waltham, New Haven, and Bristol.
On July 6, 1734, a grant was made to Sieur de La
Perriere, one league above and one league below the
River Ouinouski (Winooski). Captain La Perriere was
an officer stationed at the castle of Quebec, who became
governor of Montreal in 1752. This seigniory included a
part or all of the present city of Burlington.

The next grant, lying to the north, was made to
M. Raimbault. There is on record a deed of sale made
in Montreal, bearing the date of September 27, 1766, by
which the heirs of M. Pierre Raimbault, “in his lifetime
lieutenant general for His Most Christian Majesty of the
Jurisdiction of this City [Montreal] ” transferred the
seigniory of La Maunadiere to Benjamin Price, Daniel
Robertson, and John Livingston. The price agreed upon
was 90,000 livres (about $18,000), “current money of
the province," half of which was to be paid in gold and
silver, and half in merchandise at the prices then current
in Montreal. This was one of the first recorded land
transfers in northern Vermont. The text of this deed
is published in the manuscript relating to the French
claims, in the New York State Papers and the compiler
has added a marginal note to the effect that Burlington
is situated on a part of the seigniory of La Maunadiere.
This would seem to be an error, however, as the De Lery
map, made in Quebec in October, 1748, by M. Anger, the
King’s surveyor, shows M. Raimbault’s grant to have ex¬
tended from a point near the head of Malletts Bay, on
the south, to a point on the north, apparently in the pres¬
ent town of Georgia. The deed of sales states that the
southern boundary of the Raimbault grant is the seigniory
granted to La Perriere, which lay a league above and a

1 "PR

'

I ad'l ,vS -t ■ n »*V ?■ lo 9is!» ’rfl Mf&uoi ,Ia»ii^8 It il

■

I r.^ bsUioaon ft-irl wlJ lu «• > ** ' t" 11 • nl

History of Lake Champlain

39

league below the mouth of the Winooski River. This
would indicate that the southern boundary of the seigniory
of La Maunadiere was several miles north of the present
line between Burlington and Colchester. A grant to
M. Douville seems to have included parts of Georgia, St.
Albans, Fairfax, and Fairfield ; while another made to
M. de Beauvais, Jr., included Highgate and parts of
Swanton, Franklin, and Sheldon. Isle Longue, or North
Hero, was granted to M. Contrecoeur, Sr.

On April 10, 1733, a grant of “two leagues or two and
a half in front, by three in depth, along the river Chambly
and Lake Champlain, together with the river Chazy in¬
cluded- therein and Isle a la Motte,’’ was made to Sieur
Pean, major of the town and castle of Quebec and mem¬
ber of the superior council of that city. This grant in¬
cluded the northern part of the present town of Cham¬
plain and it was transferred on May 2, 1754, to Daniel
Lienard, Sieur de Beaujeu, who owned the seignior)7 im¬
mediately north. Both Contrecoeur and Beaujeu were
prominent in the operations around Fort Duquesne, and
the latter lost his life in the battle which resulted in Gen¬
eral Braddock’s defeat and death at the beginning of the
French and Indian War. Grants a little to the south of
Beaujeu’s seigniories were made to Sieur St. Vincent, en¬
sign of foot, and to Sieur La Gauchetiere, a captain of
marines. Sieur Roebert, the King’s storekeeper at Mont¬
real, received a grant of two and one-half leagues above
the Boquet River, and one league below.

It is difficult to give the exact limits of any of these
grants, as the early maps were far from accurate in many
particulars, and the boundaries as shown on different
maps arc not always the same. Most of these grants,
being unimproved, reverted to the crown by virtue of an
order issued at Quebec, May 10, 1741, by the governor,

• ' .-H

t .

. , *> . - b-jiiu !3b o

History of Lake Champlain

40

the Marquis de Beauharnois. As might have been ex¬
pected this order was not accepted everywhere in a spirit
of meekness. The protests received show more clearly,
perhaps, than any other records the fact that under con¬
ditions then existing the attempts to colonize the Cham¬
plain valley with French settlers was a hopeless and a
thankless task. For example, Sieurs Contrecoeur and
La Perriere maintained “that it was impossible to find in¬
dividuals willing to accept lands, though they offered
them some on very advantageous terms, and were will¬
ing to give even 300 livres to engage the said individuals/’
Sieur La Fontaine offered “to give to those whom he will
find willing to settle there grain and even money, asking
from them no rent, in order to obtain from them by the
allurement of this gift what he cannot obtain by force.”
Sieur Roebert wrote that he had “neglected nothing to
induce some young farmers to go and settle there by pro¬
curing for them great advantages and many facilities/’
It appeared, however, that neither the “great advan¬
tages” nor the “many facilities” offered by Sieur Roebert,
not even the “allurements” of Sieur La Fontaine, were
sufficiently advantageous and alluring to tempt many
young farmers to the French grants, and thus save to the
proprietors their seigniories, which could not be retained
if they remained unoccupied. It was much easier for the
King of France “graciously to bestow” these seigniories,
than it was for the favorites upon whom they were be¬
stowed to persuade settlers to live upon them. The Cham¬
plain valley had not been a popular place for home
seekers, long before the white man came; and the young
farmers, realizing that a pathway for war parties was not
likely to be a safe home for their wives and children, or a
comfortable place for themselves, and having a lively de¬
sire to keep their scalps on their own heads, looked else-

... i! .* »• • ■' ' *n}

ttiw »d mod vi 9»od» «» >via OJ kw*0 sniano'd M pHr

■

.

History of Lake Champlain

41

where for land. Moreover, the heart of the French
people was not in the work of attempting to colonize
America. Had the rulers of France left undone some of
the things which they did in Europe, and set themselves
earnestly to the task of improving and colonizing their
vast possessions in the New World, then the history of
America might have been written in a different manner,
and, perhaps in a different language.

About the time that the French were making grants
around Lake Champlain the governor of New York issued
a proclamation, setting forth in an attractive fashion the
beauty and fertility of the region lying between the Flud-
sqn River and Lake Champlain, and offering liberal terms
to settlers. A copy of this proclamation fell into the
hands of Capt. Laughlin Campbell, of Scotland, who came
to America, examined the land advertised, and being
pleased with the prospect sold his estate, and at his own
expense brought across the sea eighty-three families of
Protestant Highlanders, including 423 adults and many
children. Pursuing a very short-sighted policy, the
officials of the colony of New York refused to grant the
30,000 acres promised unless they were allowed what in
modern times is called “a rake-off.” This the sturdy
Scotch captain resolutely refused to give, and he departed,
ruined in fortune, while many of the Highlanders enlisted
on an expedition to Carthagena.

The largest of the early settlements on the lake, includ¬
ing the strongest fortress — Fort St. Frederic — was at
Crown Point. The lake here is only about two-fifths of
a mile wide, and the settlement included the east shore,
known later as Chimney Point. Probably the best de¬
scription of Fort St. Frederic at an early period is that
given by Prof. Peter Kalm, a Swedish traveler who, upon

' r fwiA

■ ! , [

'■i * Jfirnslwiq B

'

42

History of Lake Champlain

his return to Europe, published an account of his experi¬
ence in America.

Kalm, after a rather narrow escape from a band of
Indians, arrived at the fort on July 2, 1749, and was
cordially received by the French commandant, M. Lusig-
nan. He records the fact that a severe drouth prevailed,
no rain having fallen since spring. As a result the grass
and small trees had withered, and the corn, wheat, and
peas had been retarded in their growth. At that early
date forest fires were numerous every year, and the writer
attributes them to carelessness of Indian hunters.

Kalm describes the fort as follows: “Fort St. Frederic
is a fortification on the southern extremity of Lake Cham¬
plain, situated on a neck of land, between the lake and the
river which arises from the union of the river Wood
Creek and Lake St. Sacrement. [The writer considers
the narrow part of the lake south of Crown Point as a
river.] The breadth of this river is here about a good
musket shot. The English call this fortress Crown Point,
but its French name is derived from the French secretary
of state, Frederic Maurepas, in whose hands the direction
and management of the French court of admiralty was at
the time of the erection of this fort, * * *. As most of
the places in Canada bear the name of saints, custom has
made it necessary to prefix the word Saint to the name of
the fortress.

“The fort is built on a rock consisting of black lime
slates as aforesaid; it is nearly quadrangular, has high,
thick walls, made of the same limestone, of which there is
a quarry about half a mile from the fort. On the eastern
part of the fort is a high tower, which is proof against
bomb shells, provided with very thick and substantial
walls, and well stored with cannon from the bottom almost
to the very top; and the governor lives in the tower. In

-

History of Lake Champlain

43

the terre-plein of the fort is a well built little church, and
houses of stone for the officers and soldiers.

“There are sharp rocks on all sides towards the land.
* * * The soil about Fort Frederic is said to be very
fertile on both side of the river ; and before the last war
a good many French families, especially old soldiers, have
settled there ; but the King obliged them to go into
Canada, or to settle close to the fort and to lie in it at
night. A great number of them returned at this time,
and it was thought that about forty or fifty families would
go to settle here this autumn.

“Within one or two musket shots to the east of the fort
is a windmill built of stone, with very thick walls, and
most of the flour which is wanted to supply the fort is
ground here. This windmill is so contrived as to serve
the purpose of a redoubt, and at the top of it are five or
six small pieces of cannon. During the last war there was
a number of soldiers quartered in this mill, because they
could from thence look a great way up the river, and
observe whether the English boats approached, which
could not be done from the fort itself.” The “last war,”
refers to such hostilities in America as grew out of the
fierce War of the Austrian Succession, which deluged
Europe with blood.

The writer’s description of the life of the soldiers and
the settlers is a graphic protrayal of conditions as they
existed. He says: “The soldiers which had been paid off
after the war had built houses round the fort on the
grounds allotted to them; but most of these habitations
were no more than wretched cottages, no better than those
in the most wretched places of Sweden ; with the differ¬
ence, however, that their inhabitants here were rarely
oppressed by hunger, and could eat good and pure wheat
bread. The huts which they had erected consisted of

■

i H \

44

History of Lake Champlain

boards, standing perpendicularly close to each other. The
roofs were of wood too. The crevices were stopped up
with clay; to keep the room wann. The floor was com¬
monly clay or a black limestone, which is common here.
The hearth was built of the same stone except the place
where the fire was to ly [lie] ; which was made of grey
sandstone, which for the greatest part consist of particles
of quartz. * * * They had no glass in their windows. * * *
The horses are left out of doors during the winter and
find their food in the woods, living upon nothing but dry
plants, which are very abundant ; however, they do not fall
off by this food, but look very fine and plump in spring.

“The soldiers enjoy such advantages here as they are
not allowed in every part of the world. Those who
formed the garrison of this place had a very plentiful al¬
lowance from the government. They get every day a
pound and a half of wheat bread. They likewise get
peas, bacon, and salt meat in plenty. Sometimes they kill
oxen and other cattle, the flesh of which is distributed
among the soldiers. All the officers kept cows at the ex¬
pense of the King, and the milk they gave was more than
sufficient to supply them. The soldiers had each a small
garden without the fort, which they were allowed to at¬
tend, and plant in it whatever they liked, and some of them
had built summer houses in them and planted all kinds of
pot herbs. The governor told me that it was a general
custom to allow the soldiers a spot of ground for kitchen
gardens at such of the French forts hereabouts as were
not situated near great towns, from whence they could be
supported with greens. In time of peace the soldiers had
very little trouble with being upon guard at the fort; and
as the lake close bv it is full of fish, and the woods abound
with birds and animals, those amongst them who choose to

Va\ ioci at> jinnhitu/ls x™* ftoirWr .sinsfq

’

• ■ v ¥ -

■

History of Lake Champlain 45

be diligent may live extremely well, and very grand in re¬
gard to food.

“Each soldier got a new coat every two years ; but
annually a waistcoat, cap, hat, breeches, cravat, two pairs
of stockings, two pairs of shoes, and as much wood as he
had occasion for in winter. They likewise got five sols
[sous, a coin worth about one cent] apiece every day;
which is augmented to thirty sols [sous] when they have
any particular labour for the King. When this is con¬
sidered, it is not surprising to find the men are very fresh,
well fed, strong, and lively here.

“When a soldier falls sick he is brought to the hospital,
where the King provides him with a bed, food, medicines
and people to take care of and serve him. * * * The soldiers
who are sent hither from France commonly serve till they
are forty or fifty years old, after which they are dismissed
and allowed to settle upon and cultivate a piece of ground.
* * * The King presents each dismissed soldier with a
piece of land being commonly forty arpents long, and but
three broad [an arpent is about 2,346 English feet and 8
inches long], if the soil be of equal goodness throughout,
but they get somewhat more of it if it be a worse ground.
As soon as a soldier settles to cultivate such a piece of
land he is at first assisted by the King, who supplies him¬
self, his wife and children with provisions during the
three or four first years. The King likewise gives him a
cow, and the most necessary instruments for agriculture.
Some soldiers are sent to assist him in building a house,
for which the King pays them. * * * The land which was
allotted to the soldiers about this place was very good,
consisting throughout of a deep mould, mixed with clay.”

Kahn tells of the building of three kinds of boats:
Bark boats; canoes, hollowed out of white fir; and

'

8 btt£ Jwl rfeH; rr.dl ^ Utopia u Jhvqfis ns] bfioici

-

!■ • w ii >-*»■ a. «>i i*.

,* « *»• « v-i

I.-

46 History of Lake Champlain

bateaux, large and flat bottomed for cargoes. He adds
“They make plenty of tar and pitch here.”

Kalm and his party left Fort St. Frederic, for the
north, July 19, on the first sailing yacht built on the lake,
which, that year, made regular trips from the fort to St.
Johns, Governor Lusignan giving them ample provisions
for the journey. The Swedish traveler found the country
inhabited for a French mile north of the fort, but after
that the shores were covered with dense forests. The
owner and captain of the yacht had taken soundings of
the lake in order to make navigation more safe.

As Kalm approached the northern end of the lake he
saw a few houses on the western side, probably at Point
au Fer, abandoned by the French “before the late war,”
but now occupied again. He says, “These were the first
houses and settlements which we saw after we had left
those about Fort St. Frederic.” He was shown on the
eastern side of the lake a place overgrown with trees
where a wooden fort formerly stood, near the water’s
edge, built to prevent Indian incursions, and was told
that “many Frenchmen had been slain in these places.”
Kalm also saw a windmill of stone on the east side of the
lake on a point of land, evidently in the present town of
Alburgh, on what is known as Windmill Point. Some
Frenchmen had lived near it, but had left when war broke
out, and had not returned. He was informed that houses
here had been burned several times by the English and
their Indian allies.

After passing Windmill Point, and entering the Riche¬
lieu, Kalm says: “We saw at first a few scattered cottages
along the shore; but a little further the country is in¬
habited without interruption.” At St. Johns he found a
wooden fort, built in 174S to protect the surrounding
country, and to serve as a magazine for provisions and

’ ' • •' 1

I i * '• < '■ vJf :

v . ; [| >b • '• L odfi y< » * .

History of Lake Champlain

47

ammunition sent to Fort St. Frederic. In 1748, 200 men
had been stationed here, but at this time the garrison con¬
sisted of the governor, Chevalier dc Gannes, brother-in-
law of M. Lusignan, governor of Fort St. Frederic; also
a commissary, a baker, and six soldiers.

It is said that as early as 1730 the French constructed
a small fort at Chimney Point, opposite Fort St. Frederic.
Hon. John Strong, writing of this settlement in an article
on the town of Addison, for Hemenway’s Vermont Gazet¬
teer, says : “Within the enclosure was a neat church, and
throughout the settlement well cultivated gardens, with
some good fruit, as apples, plums, currents, etc. These
settlements extended north on the lake some four miles,
the remnants of old cellars and gardens, still to be seen,
show a more thickly settled street than occupies it now
[about 1850] .” While the cultivated area in this vicinity
may have been extended considerably between Kalm’s
visit and the English conquest, accounting for the dis¬
crepancy of settlements that extended one mile and those
that extended four miles, it is hardly probable that there
was a fort at Chimney Point large enough to contain a
church. It is more likely that the church referred to was
the chapel at Fort St. Frederic.

Maj. Robert Rogers, the famous scout, undoubtedly
refers to the Chimney Point settlement when he writes in
his journal, under date of May 5, 1756, of an expedition
made by a detachment under his command to a village on
the east side of the lake, about two miles from Crown
Point, where he found no inhabitants. Evidently, with
the outbreak of active warfare, the Chimney Point settle¬
ment was abandoned. A little earlier in this same year,
on February 29, Rogers makes an entry in his journal tell¬
ing of farms in the vicinity of Crown Point, slocked with
cattle, and several barns filled with grain, which, together

■'

Jr rods]

T

48

History of Lake Champlain

with some “houses, he burned. Again, under date of
August 29, 1756, Rogers writes of the capture of a
Frenchman with his wife and daughters, the man saying
that “there were only three hundred men at Crown Point,
and these chiefly the inhabitants of the adjacent villages.”

These settlements, the most important established by
the French in this valley, were wholly dependent on the
military post, and they vanished as soon as the soldiers of
France withdrew from Lake Champlain.

■

CHAPTER IV

THE STRUGGLE FOR A CONTINENT

THE conflict known in Europe as the Seven Years
War, but in America as the French and Indian War,
was made notable in the Old World by the powerful
nations involved, and the important issues at stake. The
result of the struggle meant even more to the New World
than, to Europe, however, for here the development of a
continent depended in no small measure upon the for¬
tunes of war. John Richard Green, the English his¬
torian, says of this war, which followed the alliance be¬
tween Great Britain and Prussia: “No war has had
greater results in the history of the world, or brought
greater triumphs to England, but few have had more
disastrous beginnings. ” France apparently was succeed¬
ing in the establishment of an empire in India, and in
preventing the British power in America from expanding
farther to the west than the Alleghany Mountains. The
prestige of France never seemed greater, while the for¬
tunes of Britain appeared to be waning. The armies of
England had suffered serious reverses on the continent.
At the head of the government was the incompetent Duke
of Newcastle. Troops available for American warfare
were few.

In any plan of campaign for the new provinces across
the Atlantic the Champlain valley was sure to be counted
as one of the great strategic points. For years this region
had been a bone of contention between the foreign offices
of France and Great Britain. The Treaty of Utrecht,
signed in 1713, declared that the Iroquois were subject to
British dominion, but the French diplomats maintained

.

1 oJ .ncdJ

-•

fetfStakifc

fW'waiitiT i.

50 History of Lake Champlain

that dominion simply meant control over the Indians them¬
selves, and not over their lands. The occupation of
Crown Point by the French and the building of Fort St.
Frederic were regarded by Great Britain as gross viola¬
tions of the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht. The British
claimed authority, not only over the Champlain valley, but
over all the lands west of the Ottawa River and the Alle¬
ghany Mountains, as far as the Mississippi, the “Father
of Waters.”

The arbitrament of war had followed diplomatic con¬
tests and finally the fighting ceased for a time with the
signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748 — “a
mere truce forced on the contending powers by sheer ex¬
haustion,” says Green. The terms provided that affairs
were to remain unchanged until a commission To be ap¬
pointed should adjust the boundaries between the French
and the British possessions.

Notwithstanding the terms of this solemn agreement
both nations soon began attempts to seize and to hold
the fertile valley of the Ohio. In the spring of 1753
M. Duquesne, governor of Canada, sent a French force
to occupy the Ohio valley, and Fort Le Boeuf was built
on French Creek. Late in this same year of 1753 a
young Virginian, adjutant general of the colonial militia,
named George Washington, made his first appearance as
an active figure in American history. Appointed as a
messenger for Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, he under¬
took a perilous journey to the French post, warning the
commander that he was encroaching on British territory.
Early in 1754 some Virginians began the construction of
a fort at the forks of the Ohio, but were driven off by a
French force under M. Contrecoeur, who commenced
the building of Fort Duquesne, which was completed in
Mav, 1755.

■■

History of Lake Champlain 51

The French now held three strong and strategic posi¬
tions : Fort Niagara, commanding the St. Lawrence
route; Fort St. Frederic, guarding Lake Champlain, the
natural highway from Canada to New England and the
Hudson region; and Fort Duquesne, on the present site
of Pittsburgh, where the Allegheny and the Monongahela
unite to form the Ohio, leading into the heart of the
Mississippi valley. The control of these posts, to quote
Green again, “threatened to cut off the English colonies
from any possibility of extension over the prairies of the
West.”

The year 1755 saw the arrival of a French army at
Quebec under the veteran soldier, Baron Dieskau, with
Marquis Vaudreuil as governor of Canada to succeed
Duquesne; also a British force in Virginia under General
Braddock.

Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock had been chosen by the
Duke of Cumberland as commander of the American
expedition. The son of a major general, he had received
his military training in the Coldstream Guards, counted
as the very flower of the British army. Arriving in
February with two regiments, Braddock soon called a con¬
ference of all the governors of the English colonies to
meet at Alexandria, Va. This meeting was held on April
14, and plans were laid to check the French encroach¬
ments and, if possible, to drive them from the continent.
With this end in view, it was decided that General Brad¬
dock should cauture Fort Duquesne ; that Governor
Shirley, of Massachusetts, who had held a position of
leadership in colonial affairs, should undertake the re¬
duction of Fort Niagara; and that an army of provincial
troops under William Johnson should attack Crown Point.

Fort Duquesne was occupied by a few companies of
French regulars, some Canadian troops, and about 800

.

52

History of Lake Champlain

Indians, all being under command of M. Contrecoeur.
The roll of Braddock’s officers contained names destined
at a later period to become famous in American history.
George Washington was on his staff. Col. Thomas Gage,
who commanded the British troops at the outbreak of the
American Revolution, led the advance. Horatio Gates
was in the service.

On the approach of Braddock, de Beaujeu had been
sent out with 600 Indians and 300 French troops to
form an ambush. Into this ambush the British troops
marched, with disastrous results, although the French
victory was purchased at the cost of de Beaujeu’s life.
Colonel Gage was wounded. Governor Shirley’s son was
killed. Braddock was fatally wounded and died soon
after, his body being buried in the road that the march¬
ing of his retreating soldiers might hide all traces of his
grave. The papers of the British commander were cap¬
tured, thus revealing his plan of campaign. An attempt
was made to keep the news of this disaster from the pro¬
vincial troops at Albany.

Governor Shirley, who became commander-in-chief up¬
on the death of Braddock, pushed on through swamp and
forest, toward Niagara, building forts on the way. His
men, however, became discouraged. There was a lack
of boats with which to cross Lake Ontario, and the cam¬
paign was abandoned. Men were left to strengthen the
forts constructed, but Shirley returned to Albany.

Thus two of the three military expeditions planned
by the council of governors had failed, one disastrously.

Early in the year 1755, before Braddock had reached
America, Governor Shirley had laid plans for an attack
on Crown Point and had selected William Johnson for
commander of the expedition. This appointment was

H

• • • • ’ M • 1 '

'

History of Lake Champlain

53

confirmed at the conference of governors at Alexandria in
April.

Johnson was an Irishman who had been sent to America
some twenty years before this time by his uncle, Sir Peter
Warren, to look after lands in the Mohawk valley owned
by the Admiral. He had won the confidence of the Iro¬
quois and had been made Indian superintendent by the
British authorities. The appointment was an extraordi¬
nary one. A man without actual experience in warfare,
never having been in the military service, was designated
to lead an army in an effort to capture an important post.

Following Johnson’s appointment as commander he
called a great Indian council at his stone castle on the
Mohawk, and more than 1,100 savages accepted his in¬
vitation. After an abundant feast a formal agreement
was made to aid the British in the impending conflict. It
is said, however, that out of all who partook of Johnson’s
bounty, only about 300 Indians actually rendered military
service.

In July a large number of provincial troops and some
Indians assembled at Albany, and later advanced to the
portage from the Hudson River to Lake George near the
present site of the village of Fort Edward. The greater
part of the troops came from New England, and here
Gen. Phineas Lyman, of Connecticut, second in command,
began the construction of a work of defense which he
called Fort Lyman after himself.

Military discipline was not of the strictest sort. The
organization was weak and progress was slow. Five
legislatures controlled the troops and voted the supplies.
There was jealously and dissension. The ill feeling be¬
tween General Johnson and Governor Shirley added to
the existing complications.

■

1 ! ■ ' <d l

■ " ns 1,8 01

mtnv.fs li ."no! s j««o-kvI« m »»1A .noiicthr

54

History of Lake Champlain

The New Hampshire forces had crossed the region now
known as Vermont, John Stark being a lieutenant in the
colonial service. Ephraim Williams, founder of Williams
College, was a Massachusetts colonel. Timothy Ruggles
afterward president of the Stamp Act Congress, com¬
manded another Massachusetts regiment, and Israel Put¬
nam was a private in the Connecticut troops.

Late in August a council of war voted to call on the
colonies for reinforcements. On August 26, 2,000 men
were ordered to Lake George as that body of water was
soon to be called, fourteen miles distant, while 500 men
remained to complete Fort Lyman and garrison it.

The French troops were commanded by General Dies-
kau, who had won distinction in the European wars as
the adjutant of the famous Marshal Saxe. It had been
planned that Dieskau should go to Oswego, on Lake
Ontario, but owing to the British activity in the vicinity
of Lake Champlain he was ordered to proceed to Crown
Point. Before his arrival at Fort Frederic the French
force at that post had consisted of about SCO soldiers and
some Indians. Dieskau now had 3,573 men, including
the battalions of La Reine and Languedoc, detachments
of the troops of the Marine, artillerymen and bombardiers,
1,412 Canadian troops, and about 600 Indians from vari¬
ous tribes. Bancroft says that the French had ‘Tailed
every able-bodied man in the district of Montreal into
active service for the defense of Crown Point, so that
reapers had to be sent up from Three Rivers and Quebec
to gather in the harvest.”

The French commander did not wait at Fort Frederic
to be attacked. That fortification had begun to decay
and no longer was formidable. Leaving a strong detach¬
ment there, and another at Carillon, or Ticonderoga,
Dieskau pushed on to the south toward the enemy. On

History of Lake Champlain

55

September ’4 an English prisoner was taken, and being
threatened with torture he risked telling the French gen¬
eral a deliberate falsehood, to the effect that Johnson had
retreated to Albany, leaving only 500 men at Fort Lyman.
Immediately Dieskau embarked in canoes with a force of
about 1,500 men, 215 regulars, 684 Canadians, and not
far from 600 Indians under the command of Chevalier de
Saint-Pierre, a force far greater in numbers than in actual
strength. Arriving at South Bay, at the southern ex¬
tremity of Lake Champlain, the French army started
through the forest toward Fort Lyman. Johnson com¬
manded the larger force, having 2,200 effective men, and
300 Indians. His main army had arrived on September
3 at Lake St. Sacrement, a name given to that beautiful
body of water more than a century before this time by
the pious Jesuit missionary and martyr, Father Isaac
Jogues, who had reached its shores on the eve of the
blessed feast of Pentecost. The British commander now
decreed that the lake should be called Lake George, “not
only in honor of His Majesty, but to ascertain his un¬
doubted dominion: ”

Johnson was notified by an Indian scout of the ap¬
proach of the French army on the morning of September
8. It had been planned to send 500 men toward Fort
Lyman and the same number toward South Bay, but with
the approach of Dieskau, plans were hastily changed.
About 9 o’clock in the morning Colonel Williams at the
head of his regiment, and 200 Indians, led by Idendrick, a
famous Mohawk chieftan, now so old and feeble that it
was necessary to place him on horseback, advanced to
meet the foe.

Dieskau had captured a messenger to Fort Lyman and
learned that that post was garrisoned by a considerable
force and defended by twelve cannon. Thereupon the

' l "

.

56

History of Lake Champlain

Indians had declared their unwillingness to attack a fort
so well defended by artillery, and it was decided to turn
back toward Lake Champlain. Scouts soon came in with
the news of the approach of Williams’ detachment, and
an ambush was formed in a narrow and rocky defile,
about three miles from Johnson’s camp.

Into this trap Williams marched without suspicion of
danger. Suddenly a galling fire was opened from the
front and on both flanks. Colonel Williams was shot
through the brain and died instantly. The aged chieftain
Hendrick was killed bv a bayonet thrust. For a short
time a panic prevailed among the British troops, but
Lieut. Col. Nathan Whiting, of the Connecticut militia,
rallied the shattered forces and skilfully extricated them
from their perilous position.

Had Dieskau been able immediately to follow up his
advantage it is highly probable that he would have won
a notable victory. He had with him only a few French
regulars, and the Canadian troops were of little service
in such a crisis, many of them pleading fatigue. The
Indian allies became unmanageable. Their commander,
Saint-Pierre, had been killed, and no other French officer
was able to control the savages. It is said that not more
than a third of Dieskau’s small army actually took part
in the attack upon Johnson’s position.

The British commander had allowed the pleasant sum¬
mer days to pass, while his men idled the time away, and
now, in his hour of need, he had no entrenchments.
When the noise of firing was heard, as Williams was at¬
tacked, a hasty barricade was formed of wagons and
bateaux turned upside down, upon which trees were
felled, making a rude abatis. A few pieces of cannon
were brought up from the shore of Lake George, and
500 men were detached to guard the flanks of this posi-

.

,1 n M b 'eat i A * «mF* < 1 ’ 1 "£§■

U

■

History of Lake Champlain

57

tion, which were protected on either side by swamps that
could not be passed. Lieutenant Colonel Cole had been
sent forward to meet the fugitives and aided in check¬
ing the French advance.

Shortly before noon Dieskau’s regulars advanced, fir¬
ing by platoons. When the British opened with their
artillery the Indians and Canadian allies fled to the shelter
of the forest, leaving the regulars to wage the contest
alone. While the battle was at its height part of the
Canadians and Indians returned to the scene of the am¬
bush to strip the dead. There, near Bloody Pond, as it
was called in later years, they were attacked and driven
from the held by a British scouting party from Fort
Lyman.

Meanwhile Dieskau and his few faithful regulars had
made a desperate attack upon the British center, without
success. An attempt was made upon the left, in which
Colonel Titcomb, of the provincial army was killed, but
the assault was repulsed. Early in the action General
Johnson received a flesh wound in the thigh and retired
to his tent, the command devolving upon General Lyman,
who conducted the defense with good judgment.

About 4 o’clock in the afternoon the colonial soldiers
leaped over their defenses, and charged the French troops,
who broke and fled. Dieskau was shot in the leg, and
while his wound was being dressed he was shot again
in the knee and the thigh. He seated himself behind a
tree and ordered his adjutants to lead the regulars in a
last charge, but the advance of the victorious New Eng¬
landers could not be checked. The French commander
soon was shot a third time, across the hips, and, desper¬
ately wounded, was taken to the tent of General Johnson,
a prisoner, where his wounds were dressed. The Mo-

; '.non

-

1 :: B

58

History of Lake Champlain

hawks, enraged at the death of Hendrick, sought to kill
Dieskau, but he was protected by his captors.

Near nightfall, as a party of 300 French soldiers, which
had rallied, were retreating in an orderly manner, about
two miles from Lake George, they were attacked by about
200 New Hampshire men, led by an officer named Mac-
ginnes, who was marching from Fort Lyman. Macginnes
was killed, bul the French fled in confusion, abandoning
their baggage.

Authorities differ regarding the losses. Parkman says
the colonial troops lost 262 in killed, wounded and miss¬
ing, and the French 228. Bancroft says the Americans
lost 216 killed and 96 wounded, the French loss being not
much greater. Among the French officers killed perhaps
the most famous was Chevalier de Saint-Pierre, leader of
the Indian allies. Pie was in command at Fort Le Boeuf,
in the Ohio valley, in 1753, when George Washington was
sent out by Governor Dinwiddie to challenge the French
occupation of that region. In writing of the French and
Indian War, John Fiske says that the interview between
Saint-Pierre and Washington “was the opening scene of
this great drama.”

As soon as Dieskau was able he was removed to Al¬
bany, and thence to New York. Later he was taken to
England, and after being kept there for a time was sent
to France. He never recovered entirely from the effect
of his wounds, and died a few years after returning to his
native land.

The French retreated as far as Ticonderoga, M. de
Montreuil, assuming command, and there they proceeded
to fortify themselves. General Lyman desired to follow
the success already won by an attack upon the French
camp, and had his advice been followed immediately after
the battle at Lake George, it is probable that the result

: 1

.

History of Lake Champlain

59

would have been disastrous for the scattered regiments
which Dieskau had led into battle. Governor Shirley
also urged an attack upon Ticonderoga, but Johnson de¬
clined to accept these suggestions, and two weeks after
their defeat the French had entrenched themselves so
strongly in their new position that the capture of their
works would have been a difficult task. Johnson spent
the remainder of the season in building Fort William
Henry at the head of Lake George. It consisted of
wooden barracks surrounded by an embankment and a
moat, and was located on an elevation near the site of the
temporary fortification attacked by Dieskau. On No¬
vember 27 Johnson went into winter quarters, leaving
600 men as a garrison, having dismissed the New England
militia.

Johnson appears to have been jealous of his second
in command. He changed the name of Fort Lyman to
Fort Edward, and in his official report of the battle he
did not mention the name of the man who actually won
the victory. Johnson was made a baronet, was voted five
thousand pounds by Parliament, and was granted by the
bounty of the King 110,000 acres on the north bank of
the Mohawk. Lyman received nothing.

Although fighting had been in progress for nearly a
year, war was not formally declared between Great Britain
and France until early in the summer of 1756.

Marquis de Montcalm, a talented officer, then about
forty-four years old, had been sent out to succeed Dieskau.
With him came the Chevaliers de Levis and de Bourla-
maque, as second and third in command, respectively,
Bougainville being principal aide-de-camp. The French
now held Forts Carillon, Frontenac, and Niagara.

Governor Vaudreuil sent an eminent engineer, M. de
Lotbiniere, to Ticonderoga to examine the place as a pos-

■;i I m £fl U£ ■ 3

i *jfr. o'tn bvt£- .'noh?*y, git/s $2*dl fcpoos 01 bsdlb

ut t!,*. t;if. - vd -tJ • -J 1 rtjj>oam

: • :r' • ^

60

History of Lake Champlain

sible site for a fort. He reported that it was “one of
the best adapted for the construction of works capable of
checking the enemy; that the suitable place for a fortifi¬
cation is a rock which crowns all the environs, whence
guns could command both the river which runs from Lake
St. Sacrement and that leading to the Grand Marais
[Twelve Mile Marsh] and Wood Creek.”

Fort Carillon was laid out by Lotbiniere in 1755 and
was completed in 1756, about 2,000 men being employed
in its construction. Lake Champlain presented a busy
scene during this period, the traffic between Fort Carillon
and St. Johns being very large in the transportation of
building materials, supplies, ammunition, and troops. .

The fort was constructed of pieces of timber in layers
bound together with traverses and the interstices were
filled with earth. This construction was considered proof
against cannon, as good as masonry, and much better than
earthworks, but not so durable. Montcalm expressed the
wish that the fort had been large enough for 500 men,
“whereas,” said he, “it can accommodate at most, only
300.”

No regular campaign was conducted in the Champlain
valley in 1756, hut there were frequent forays by both
French and British scouting parties. Robert Rogers,
with John Stark, Israel Putnam, and other able lieuten¬
ants, harassed the French posts. One of the colonial
scouting expeditions having captured a few Frenchmen
at the mouth of Otter Creek, a French detachment was
sent there to reconnoitre that region, “to examine whether
the English were not designing to form some settlements
there.”

As it appeared in June that the British were preparing
for an aggressive movement in the vicinity of Lake
George, Montcalm proposed a diversion toward Lake

n '

imo*! aw&O brm »y>rjbrio^T noqu bttOfKfg j

.

r

62

History of Lake Champlain

were so blinded by the snow that it was necessary to lead
them by the hand.

For an expedition that cost 1,000,000 francs (about
$200,000) this could hardly be called a profitable foray.
Montcalm would have preferred de Levis or Bougain¬
ville as leader, rather than Rigaud, but family influence
prevailed, and the King of France paid the cost of this
favoritism, as in so many other instances under Vau-
dreuii’s rule.

In the spring of this year, 1757, General Loudoun
planned an expedition against Louisburg, the strong Cape
Breton fortress, which was destined to end ingloriously.
For this purpose he withdrew a considerable portion of
the forces on the northern frontier, leaving General Webb,
an officer of timid and irresolute character, in command
of the troops in the vicinity of Lakes George and Cham¬
plain.

Webb had about 4,000 men, mostly colonial militia, at
Fort Edward, while Fort William Henry, fourteen miles
away, the most advanced British post, was held by a force
of 2,372 officers and men tinder Lieutenant Colonel
Monro.

Montcalm was not slow to take advantage of the oppor¬
tunity afforded by Loudoun's withdrawal of troops and
he prepared to strike a blow at Fort William Henry.
With an energy in marked contrast to the inactivity of
generals like Johnson, Webb, and Loudoun, he aroused
the Indian tribes throughout the length and breadth of
Canada. After chanting the war song with the savages
at Sault St. Louis, at the Lake of the Two Mountains,
and frequently at Montreal, he gathered the tribes to his
standard from Acadia to Lake Superior, and left Canada
July 12. Six days later Montcalm arrived at Fort
Carillon.

.

.

History of Lake Champlain

63

Skirmishing went on actively. On the morning of
July 24 the Abenakis brought in thirty British prisoners.
On July 26 a party of French, after lying in ambush a day
and a night, surprised a detachment of their enemies
under Colonel Parker, sent out from Fort William Henry
to attack Fort Carillon. x\ll but two of Parker’s twenty-
two barges were captured or sunk, 160 prisoners, includ¬
ing five officers, were taken, and approximately 160 men
were killed or drowned.

Lieutenant Marin, with 150 or 200 French colonial
troops, on July 27 made a demonstration against Fort
Edward, with “rare audacity,” according to Montcalm’s
report, and returned with thirty scalps, the French losses
being slight.

A solemn council was held with the Indians on the plain
near the portage to Lake George. Montcalm produced
the great war belt of 6,000 shells, which was accepted,
and the savages pledged themselves to remain until the
expedition was ended.

At the close of the month of July, after several weeks
of preparation, working day and night, Montcalm and
de Levis were ready for the attack. Their force con¬
sisted of 8,021 men, including 1,806 Indians. Exclusive
of the garrisons of Forts Carillon and Frederic, the sick,
his savage allies, etc., the French force consisted of about
5,500 effective men. There were in the ranks the bat¬
talions of La Reine and Languedoc, La Sarre and Gui-
enne, Bearne and Royal Roussilon.

The Indians set out for Fort William Henry on the
last day of July. Montcalm followed August 1 with the
main body of the French army in 250 canoes. Rowing
nearly all night in a fierce storm of rain, they entered
Northwest Bay. On the morning of August 2 the French
army disembarked without opposition. De Levis, with

■

.

.

*

64

History of Lake Champlain

2,500 men, guided by the savages, proceeded south on
the western shore of the lake. La Corne cut the com¬
munications to Fort Edward, and regular siege operations
were begun. Trenches were dug and batteries were
planted. Gradually the French approached nearer and
nearer, and the Indians uttered cries of joy as the shot
and shell fell within the walls of William Henry.

Meanwhile General Webb, at Fort Edward, with a
goodly number of droops made no attempt to relieve the
beleaguered fortress, but called loudly for reinforcements.

When Montcalm had approached close to the fort he
demanded that the garrison surrender, but Monro re¬
fused. At 3 o’clock on the afternoon of August 7, the
British made a sortie, attempting to secure the road to
Fort Edward, but de Villiers, with a party of French and
Indians, drove them back with a loss of fifty killed and
eighty prisoners. On August 8 the fort was closely in¬
vested. All the large cannon used for defense were now
disabled, more than 300 of the garrison had been killed or
wounded, and smallpox had broken out in the ranks.

Montcalm now had his opponents at this mercy. He
was ready to open fire with thirty-one cannon and fifteen
howitzers, which commanded the works. To add to the
discomfort of the Brtish, Montcalm sent into the fort
a letter written by General Webb, and intercepted by the
French, advising Monro to make the best terms possible.
The stout hearted commander had counted steadfastly
on receiving aid from Fort Edward, and his last hope
was gone.

At 7 o’clock on the morning of August 9, a white flag
was raised on the ramparts, and a capitulation was agreed
upon. The terms provided that Monro and his brave
men should march out with the honors of war, retaining
their side arms, baggage, and one cannon, “out of respect

.

. 'T i

. .

. j

History of Lake Champlain

65

to the gallant defense that they had made;” that they
should not serve against the King of France for eighteen
months ; that within four months they should send to Fort
Carillon all the prisoners they had taken from the French
and their allies in the country of North America during
the war ; and that they should leave in the ramparts all
the artillery, ammunition, provisions, and other effects
there.

At noon the French took possession and found 36 pieces
of ordnance, 2,500 shot, 545 shells, 36,000 pounds of
powder, 350,000 rations, including 3,000 barrels of flour
and pork. The spoils of war included two sloops in the
harbor, two in the stocks, four large flat bateaux, and
eight barges.

The British admitted a loss of 200. The French
claimed that their casualties were thirteen killed and forty
wounded.

It was agreed that the British prisoners should be
escorted to Fort Edward, as the French did not have pro¬
visions sufficient for a captured army. Montcalm sum¬
moned the Indian chiefs, explained the articles of capitu¬
lation, and they appeared to give consent to the terms.
On the morning of August 10 the prisoners set out from
the fort with a guard of regulars. They had gone but a
little distance, however, when the war whoop was raised,
and the savages fell upon the defenseless captives. A
scene of panic, pillage, and slaughter followed, men,
women and children being slain. Montcalm, de Levis,
and other French officers rushed to the rescue, imperiling
their lives, but to little purpose. “Kill me,” implored the
French commander, “but spare the English ,who are under
my protection,” but threats and prayers alike fell upon
deaf ears. Four hundred or more were rescued and taken
back to camp. On August 15 Montcalm sent them to

:

. .. 'ff

-

66

History of Lake Champlain

Fort Edward under a strong guard, “after having show¬
ered civilities upon them,” as a contemporary record says.
Not more than 600 men in a body reached Fort Edward
immediately following the massacre, but many stragglers
came pouring in.

According to de Levis fifty of the prisoners were killed
in this slaughter in addition to the sick and wounded slain.
Montcalm charged that the Indian outrage was due to
rum which the British gave the savages. In any event
this horrible episode is a blot on the record of a brave
and distinguished officer of France, and its story forms a
bloody page in the history of both the Champlain valley
and North America.

No attack was attempted upon Fort Edward, where
several thousand men occupied an intrenched camp. Pro¬
visions were scarce, and horses were needed to transport
artillery, and Montcalm’s force was considered too small
for such an enterprise.

On the night of August 15 a thousand men loaded the
spoils of the campaign into boats, while 1,200 of their
companions demolished Fort William Henry. The ruined
barracks were set on fire and upon the blazing embers of
this wooden fortress were thrown the bodies of the slain,
forming a weird funeral pyre of gigantic proportions, and
illuminating for miles the forest clad shores of this lovely
lake.

The victorious army then returned to Fort Carillon,
and on August 29 Montcalm left for Montreal, whither
de Bougainville had preceded him with the tidings of
success.

In October, 1757, Fort Carillon was not considered
finished, and most of the batteries were said to be tempo¬
rary rather than permanent. M. d’Hugues, writing, May
1, 1758, to Marshal de Belle Isle, said that the fort should

.

History of Lake Champlain

67

be enlarged and strengthened ; and that Fort Frederic
could not stand with Carillon taken, as “four cannon shot
would tumble it into ruins.”

M. de Pont le Roy, engineer-in-chief, writing of Fort

Carillon about this time, described the fort as being built

on a rock, an irregular square, the longer sides of an

irregular polygon measuring 324 feet, and the shorter

sides, 174 feet. Its revetment consisted of square pieces

of oak, laid one on the other, bound by traversines, and

its periphery was pierced by embrasures lined with oak

timber. The ramparts were thirteen or fourteen feet

wide. The bastions were casemated and served for

bakery, cistern, powder magazine and provisions. The

roof consisted of beams laid side bv side covered with

*

four or five feet of earth. The buildings for civilians
were of stone, and two stories in height.

During the winter of 1757-58 Captain Hebencourt of
the La Reine regiment commanded at Carillon, and while
he was stationed there a British force appeared before
the fort several times, but accomplished nothing. A party
of Indians, 200 strong, having just arrived at the fort,
were sent against the famous colonial ranger, Maj. Robert
Rogers, and returned March 13 with 146 scalps and a
few prisoners, “merely to furnish their father with live
letters,” so the old record runs. Rogers was captured,
but escaped with fifteen men and two officers, nearly
naked, the partisan chief leaving his coat, in a pocket of
which was his commission in the British army.

'

■

CHAPTER V

THE FRENCH ABANDON THE LAKE

CpHE year 1757 is notable in English history because
it brought to the direction of the affairs of the king¬
dom one of the greatest of the many famous states-
men who have made Great Britain a mighty power in the
world, this man being William Pitt. With the determina¬
tion to win victory, and to drive France from the Ameri¬
can continent, he entered upon his arduous task with vigor
and enthusiasm. His firmness was felt at once. Jeffrey
Amherst, who had served with credit in the German wars,
was ordered to take Louisbourg, which he captured July
26, 1758. James Abercrombie, a friend of Lord Bute,
was assigned to the command of the expedition against
Grown Point. To John Forbes was assigned the task of
taking Fort Duquesne, and wiping out the disgrace of
Braddock’s disaster. Upon the approach of the British
the fort was blown up and the French forces fled. The
fame of Pitt was perpetuated by changing the name of
Fort Duquesne to Pittsburg.

In June, 1758, General Abercrombie gathered at the head
of Lake George an army that according to Bancroft, was
“the largest body of European origin that had ever been
assembled in America.’’ British authorities say that it
consisted of 6,367 regulars, and 9,024 colonial troops,
chiefly from New England, New York, and New Jersey;
although the French claimed that their opponents had be¬
tween 20,000 and 25.000 men. Although Abercrombie
was the commander, it is said that Pitt depended upon
Lord George Augustus Howe, a grandson of King
George I, as the guiding spirit of the expedition.

'

.

'

History of Lake Champlain

69

Montcalm arrived at Fort Carillon on June 30. Ac¬
cording to his report the French force consisted of 2,970
regulars, 37 men of the Marine, 35 Canadians, and 16
Indians. This force was augmented later, approximately
to 3,600 fighting men, hardly one-fourth as large as the
British army. The greater part of the troops were sta¬
tioned on the peninsula, near Fort Carillon.

On July 5 Abercrombie broke camp at Lake George
and formally began his campaign for the capture of
Ticonderoga, supremely confident of success. The ad¬
vantages of war, which had been heavily against the
British in the previous campaign, appeared at this time to
be strongly in their favor. The troops were embarked in
900 bateaux and 138 whaleboats, a large number of flat
boats being provided for the artillery. The army was
formed in three divisions. Rogers’ Rangers and Gage’s
light infantry led the way. Among the regulars were the
Royal Americans and the Scotch Highlanders. This
great flotilla was six miles long, and, as it proceeded north¬
ward with flags flying, to the stirring music of martial
airs, the words of the author of Solomon's Song, “terrible
as an army with banners,” might well have come to the
minds of the anxious French scouts on the distant hills,
watching the approach of this formidable expedition.
This was the poetry and romance of warfare, far removed
from the hardships and the carnage of actual battle.

On the morning of July 6 the army was disembarked
at the north end of Lake George and formed in four
columns, entrenchments having been thrown up to protect
the bateaux.

Meanwhile, Montcalm had not been idle. His first
impulse had been to withdraw to Fort Frederic, but a
council of officers advised against such a step. Having
determined to make a stand at Fort Carillon, he set about

• t n\

70

History of Lake Champlain

its defense with characteristic energy. The position natu¬
rally was a strong one. The lake guarded the eastern
approach. A bay on the south and southwest protected
another part of the works. Submerged meadows on the
north made an attack from that quarter impossible The
only opportunity for an approach by land was from the
northwest.

On the high ground before the fort a breastwork of
logs and earth nine feet in height, twenty feet thick at
the base and ten at the top was constructed, guarded by a
deep trench. In front of this trees were cut down so
that their branches interlocked, and these were sharpened
so that this abatis formed an impenetrable thicket of
boughs. Three regiments under de Bourlamaque occupied
the log camp near the foot of Lake George. La Barre’s
detachment held a post at the sawmills, two miles from
Fort Carillon. A body of 350 or 400 men from the
Bearne regiment, under Captain de Trepezec, had been
sent to occupy a post between Bald Mountain and Lake
George, as an advance guard. Rogers’ Rangers formed
the vanguard of the British army, and they set out
bravely, entering a thick wood, which became darker and
more dense as they proceeded, the columns, of necessity,
being broken. This was a situation entirely unfamiliar to
the regular troops. Confusion followed and the soldiers
soon lost their way.

By a strange coincidence the advance guard of the
French army, deserted by their Indian guides, had lost
the trail. Thus it happened that in the dim light of the
forest a lost detachment of Frenchmen stumbled upon a
lost army of Englishmen, and a skirmish followed. The
French were caught between the advance guard under
Rogers and the main body of the British army. Many
of them were killed, or drowned in attempting to reach a

.

. i M’>

History of Lake Champlain

71

place of safety, while 148 were captured, and only fifty
escaped.

Two British officers were killed, but the death of one
of these was a loss immeasurably greater than that which
the French sustained, for Lord Howe, the idol of the
British army, had fallen dead at the first fire. Great con-
fusion followed aiid a retreat was sounded. That night
Abercrombie’s troops lay under arms in the forest, and
on the morning of July 7 fell back to the landing place at
Lake George.

Howe was the real brains of the expedition, and great
confidence had been reposed upon his skill and judgment.
Wolfe’s estimate of him was — “The noblest Englishman

that has appeared in my time, and the best soldier in the
British army.” Howe was greatly beloved, both by the
regulars and the colonial troops. He had treated the
provincials with great kindness, and, as a tribute to this
gallant soldier, Massachusetts erected a tablet to his mem¬
ory in Westminster Abbey.

On July 7 the task of capturing the post at the sawmills
was assigned to Lieutenant Colonel Bradstreet, who had a
force including regulars, rangers, provincials, and water¬
men under his command. As the British approached, the
French retired, burning the mill and the bridges, the latter
being repaired by Bradstreet’s men.

On the morning of July 8 Abercrombie’s whole army
advanced, following the usual portage. The British com¬
mander was eager to attack, fearing the French would be
reinforced. It is true that reinforcements were approach¬
ing from the north, and the previous night, being warned
of Abercrombie’s advance, de Levis had been able to bring
400 picked troops to Montcalm’s assistance. In his haste
the British commander had left his artillery on the shore
of Lake George. Clark, the chief engineer of the British

'

'

.

72

History of Lake Champlain

army, had surveyed the French fortifications from a dis¬
tant hilltop and decided that the works could be carried
by assault. John Stark, who knew much of conditions
as thev actually existed, doubted the wisdom of such an
assault ; but he was only a provincial officer, and his advice
was not heeded. Lord Howe, who might have advised
caution, was dead, "and so the assault was ordered.

A triple line was formed. In the first rank the rangers
occupied the left, the boatmen, the center ; and the light
infantry, the right. The second rank consisted of pro¬
vincial troops, with wide openings between the regiments.
The regulars constituted the third rank. Connecticut and
New Jersey regiments formed the rear guard.

The French were ready for the attack. Berry with
the Royal Roussilon battalion, held the center under the
direct command of Montcalm. De Levis was on the
right, with the La Reine, Bearne, and Guienne regiments.
De Bourlamaque, with the regiments of La Sarre and
Languedoc, defended the left. On the flanks, detach¬
ments of volunteers were posted on the Lake George side,
while 450 Canadians and colonial regulars guarded the
approach from Lake Champlain.

At 1 o’clock in the afternoon the British commander
ordered a bayonet charge. The Fifty-fifth regiment led,
followed by Murray’s Highlanders, including the famous
Black Watch regiment, and the colonial troops. By
Montcalm’s orders not a gun was fired until the enemy
reached the outer defenses. Then, as the British strove
to force a passage through that impenetrable entangle¬
ment a fire of artillery and musketry was opened that was
terrible in its execution. Again and again through that
long July afternoon some of Britain’s bravest soldiers
were hurled against the French defenses, in the face of a

'

'

.

History of Lake Champlain

73

withering fire, under which no man could approach within
fifteen paces of the entrenchments and live.

The Highlanders fought with ferocious courage, and
the French defended their position with a valor born of
desperation. “The fire on the one side and on the other,”
said Montcalm, “was like that at the battle of Parma.”

Montcalm, throwing off his coat, on account of the
heat of the afternoon, moved from point to point, expos¬
ing himself like a common soldier. He strengthened
every weak place, and by his splendid courage inspired
every man to do his best. Finally, about 6 o’clock, after
six successive charges, which resulted each time only in
raising higher the red heaps of the slain before the French
defenses, Abercrombie abandoned the attack. He had
suffered a loss, according to his own figures of 551 killed,
1,356 wounded, and 37 missing, a total casualty list of
1,944. Among the wounded was Capt. Charles Lee, later
a major-general in the American army. The French loss
is given as 377, General de Bourlamaque being severely
wounded.

Under cover of darkness Abercrombie retreated in
haste from the scene of his defeat to the camp occupied
the night before the battle. According to the French ac¬
counts, it was a flight of terror, the British abandoning
some of their wounded, as well as a considerable quantity
of provisions, ammunition, and baggage.

After the battle Montcalm praised his soldiers for their
brave and successful defense, and caused food and wine
to be served for their refreshment. Fearing a renewal of
the attack the French troops toiled all the night, strength¬
ening their works, while their opponents, 13,000 strong,
were fleeing with all possible speed from the defenses of
Carillon, which already had proved too strong to be taken
by a powerful and confident foe.

'

.

74

History of Lake Champlain

When morning dawned, and it was seen that the British
had fled, Montcalm did not attempt a pursuit, considering
it imprudent with his comparatively small force to venture
out of his entrenchments. A British soldier afterward
expressed the opinion that if the French had pursued,
Abercrombie would have lost 2,000 men.

Early on the morning of July 9, the British troops
embarked and that evening reached their old camp at
the head of Lake George. Immediately after Abercrom¬
bie’s arrival he sent the wounded to Fort Edward and
Albany, even his artillery and ammunition being trans¬
ported to the latter place for safety.

Montcalm had won a remarkable victory, against great
odds. Had Lord Howe lived, the result might have been
different. Abercrombie was the victim of over-confi¬
dence. With an army vastly superior to that of his ad¬
versary, he had attempted by sheer brute force to carry
by storm a position of great natural strength, skilfully
defended by a resourceful and courageous enemy. Flad
he brought up his artillery, it is probable that he might
have demolished the French defenses with little loss of
life. Mount Defiance commanded the fort then as surely
as it did when Burgoyne occupied that eminence a score
of years later, and compelled St. Clair to evacuate Ticon-
deroga in haste. Had the British commander cut Mont¬
calm’s line of communication to the northward, the
French army would have been starved into submission
soon, for there were only eight days’ provisions in Fort
Carillon. A severe famine had prevailed in Canada and
food was difficult to obtain. Seldom has an expedition
started out with greater pomp and show than did that of
Abercrombie. Not often has a body of troops retreated
with less glory than that same army.

'

'

History of Lake Champlain

75

M. Doriel, writing to Marshal de Belle Isle, speaks
of Montcalm’s position as ‘‘difficult and critical.” The
writer would have regarded this campaign as much more
fortunate than those preceding it had Montcalm acted, on
the defensive and merely escaped blame. He also inti¬
mates that Governor Vaudreuil was jealous of Montcalm,
and that 2, OX) dr 3,000 men were purposely withheld
from the French commander for the ostensible purpose
of making experiments in the Iroquois country, in order
that Montcalm, with his small force, might be “strangled.”
Vaudreuil admitted later that previous to the victory over
Abercrombie the plan of blowing up Forts Carillon and
Frederic and falling back to St. Johns was well nigh
adopted.

The news of the victory for the arms of France was
conveyed to Paris by M. Pean, adjutant of Quebec.
Montcalm orderd a great cross to be erected on the field
of battle, says Parkman, on which were inscribed these
lines, written by the French commander :

“Soldier and chief ramparts’ strength are naught ;

Behold the conquering cross! ’Tis God the triumph wrought.”

Pitt had been waiting with eagerness for news from
the Champlain valley, and when it came he wrote Gren¬
ville, “I own the news has sunk my spirits and left very'
painful impressions on my mind, without, however, de¬
priving me of great hopes for the remaining campaign.”
How well founded were Pitt’s hopes, subsequent events
were to show.

As a result of this defeat Abercrombie was superseded
as commander-in-chief b\r General Amherst, and returned
to England to take a seat in Parliament. Better success
attended the British arms elsewhere. In August Brad-
street marched to Oswego, and captured Fort Frontenac.

'

'

76

History of Lake Champlain

Following the battle at Ticonderoga, border warfare
was resumed in the Champlain valley, Rogers again lead¬
ing the British forces, and Marin commanding the French
parties. During one of these expeditions Maj. Israel
Putnam, afterward a prominent officer and picturesque
figure in the American Revolution, was taken by the
Indians of Marin's division. The captive was bound se¬
curely to a tree and a young brave indulged in the sport
of seeing how near Putnam’s head he could throw a toma¬
hawk without hitting it. Several times the weapon
lodged in the tree perilously near the mark. A gun was
snapped at Putnam’s breast and he was beaten with the
butt of a musket. It was then determined to burn the
prisoner at the stake. He was stripped of his clothing and
bound to a tree. Dried twigs were heaped about him and
the torch was applied. Just as his body was beginning
to be scorched by the heat and death appeared to be
certain in a few minutes, Marin rushed to the scene, broke
through the circle of savages who were watching the
torture of the prisoner with glee, scattered the burning
branches, and released the prisoner.

Meanwhile Governor Vaudreuil, in Canada, was plot¬
ting against Montcalm, the ablest soldier France had sent
to the New World, and seeking to bring about his recall,
instead of attempting to strengthen the French position,
which was precarious. At times Montcalm, wearied by
the difficulties of his position, longed to return to France,
saying that his health had suffered and that his purse was
depleted. Moreover the entire province of Canada was
exhausted by famine, war, and intrigue.

In the fall of 1758 Montcalm feared that it would be
possible for the British to drive the French from Fort
Carillon, and intimated that it might be well to have that

.

.

■

.

History of Lake Champlain

77

fortification and Fort Frederic mined that they might be
blown up as a last resort.

There was an early frost this year, said to be “unex¬
ampled within the last fifty years,” and it was followed
by a winter of unusual severity. Notwithstanding the
extreme cold three small ships, called xebecs, were built
to convey artillery and protect the French interests on
the lake, and 250 flat bateaux were constructed for carry¬
ing troops and provisions.

The year 1759 opened auspiciously for Great Britain.
From far off Africa, from the East Indian seas, and from
the continent of Europe, came the tidings of success. Pitt
exercised great care in the choice of generals for the
American campaign, selecting officers for their actual
worth rather than because they were favorites of some
dignitary at court. To Amherst, the commander-in-chief,
was assigned the task of capturing Lake Champlain with
the main army.

In the spring of 1759 de Bourlamaque was assigned
to the command of the French frontier posts in the Cham¬
plain valley, with 2,300 men. Conditions were so pre¬
carious that he received positive orders from Governor
Vaudreuil not to think of defending Forts Carillon and
Frederic, but to abandon them as the British approached
and to fall back to Isle aux Noix in the Richelieu River,
in the rear of St. Johns, which was judged to be the best
place to check an advance upon Canada. The French
commander, however, proceeded to strengthen the forti¬
fications of Fort Carillon, as though he expected to with¬
stand a siege.

Doriel and Bougainville had been sent to France to
secure aid, but obtained only the promise of a few hun¬
dred men and supplies for a campaign. The European
wars were absorbing practically all the energies of France

.

'

■

'

78

History of Lake Champlain

and the possibility of the loss of an empire in America did
not appear to weigh heavily in the scales, of opinion at
the court of Versailles. Canada was torn with dissen¬
sions, honeycombed by corruption, and exhausted by war
and famine. From the French point of view the outlook
was disheartening indeed. All the skill and audacity of
Montcalm were needed for the defense of Quebec and he
could not be spared for another campaign on Lake Cham¬
plain.

Colonel Montresor had outlined a plan of campaign
for the British, which called for an army of 7,000 men
at Lake George. He advised that 3,000 men, provided
with suitable tools, stores, and provisions, be sent to Otter
Creek, below the falls, there to build bateaux and rafts
sufficient to cross the lakes when ordered to do so. He
suggested that this force should take post at one of the
points of land at the mouth of the stream, there to re¬
main for further orders. His idea was to have 500 car¬
penters and boatbuilders, 1,000 New Hampshire Rangers
and 1,500 Connecticut troops stationed there to act in
conjunction with the forces at Lake George, the latter to
move on Ticonderoga. The Otter Creek force was to
cross the lake and occupy the road to Crown Point, cut¬
ting off all provisions and reinforcements from Canada,
and putting the enemy between two fires. Events were
soon to prove these plans unnecessary, however.

Amherst arrived at the head of Lake George on June
21, and there he waited a month for reinforcements. His
army included 5,743 regulars, the Royal Americans form¬
ing a part of this force, and nearly as many more colonial
troops. On July 21, having made all necessary prepara¬
tions for a formidable expedition, he embarked his army
in four columns and proceeded slowly down Lake George,
making a landing at the foot of the lake on July 22. The

■

'

.

■

History of Lake Chan plain

79

French commander endeavored to persuade his Indian
allies to attack the British as they disembarked, but they
refused to make the attempt. Unlike Abercrombie, Am¬
herst brought up his artillery and occupied the outer line
of fortifications at Ticonderoga which the French, after
a slight skirmish had abandoned. While Amherst was
making preparations for a siege Bourlamaque retired
from Fort Carillon, to Fort Frederic, under cover of
darkness, leaving 400 men of the La Reine regiment,
under Hebencourt to make a show of defense. For four
days this handful of French soldiers kept up an artillery
duel with Amherst’s army, Col. Roger Townshend being
killed by a cannon ball while reconnoitering the fort.
Finally, on the night of July 27, when the British were
almost ready to assault the works, after conducting regu¬
lar siege operations, the little garrison fled, having blown
up the works and rendered the guns useless.

Amherst set about repairing the fort. During his stay
here there was considerable sickness in the army, caused,
it was supposed, by the water at Ticonderoga.

On July 31, having blown up Fort Frederic, Bourla¬
maque retired to Isle aux Noix with all the artillery and
provisions he could transport from the two forts he had
evacuated. Thus, after a full century and a half of con¬
trol, did French supremacy practically pass from Lake
Champlain.

Bourlamaque proceeded to place the post of Isle aux
Noix in the best possible condition. He left on the lake
a schooner armed with ten four-pounders, and three
small xebecs, each carrying eight guns of the same calibre,
and a crew of fifty men. The commander of this small
squadron had orders to cruise continually at the mouth
of the lake to obstruct the passage of the enemy.

. •

- *

fl

80

History of Lake Champlain

A detachment of Amherst’s army under Major Rogers
set out for Crown Point on the day that the French evacu¬
ated Fort Frederic, but did not attempt to pursue Bourla-
maque. Amherst arrived at Crown Point on August 4,
and proceeded to lay out a new fortress, about 200 yards
west of Fort Frederic, sometimes called Fort Amherst.
The ramparts 'were about twenty-five feet high and
twenty-five feet wide, of solid masonry, and the whole
circuit, including the bastion, was 853 yards. A broad
moat surrounded the fort. A covered way led to the
water’s edge at the northeast and there was a gate on the
north side. The new fortress is said to have cost Great
Britain about $10,000,000. It was never entirely com¬
pleted, and never saw a battle.

The British army remained at Crown Point, while
Captain Coring, in charge of naval operations on these
waters, with the greatest possible speed constructed boats
for an expedition down the lake. On October 12 the
fleet set out for the Canadian border. The vanguard con¬
sisted of an armed brigantine, carrying sixteen 18-
pounders, three scows (square rigged vessels), and 160
flat bateaux.

Early in October the little French fleet under Dela-
barats with a detachment of troops on board, set out
to reconnoitre in the vicinity of Crown Point, and it
chanced that during the night, while the French boats
were at anchor, the British fleet passed to the northward
without discovering the foe. Delabarats, seeing his re¬
treat cut off, called a council of war, and it was decided
to sink the ships, which was done, near Valcour Island.
The crews escaped through the woods to Canada.

The British ships continued northward and entering
the Richelieu River, advanced nearly to Isle aux Noix.
The French scouts were driven back by fifteen or twenty

V ,

'

lienop topqe Mh o k e rfriw .aioj&wM

.. ..

RUINS OF FORT AMHERST, CROWN POINT

History of Lake Champlain

81

barges, and on October 20 the intrenchments of the enemy
were reconnoitred. The fleet then withdrew and on
October 23 retired up the lake, after being windbound for
several days. As the autumn winds were severe and the
bateaux narrowly escaped being swamped, the idea of
attacking the frontier was abandoned for the season.
Amherst attempted to send messages to Wolfe at Quebec,
by way of the country of the Abenakis, but they were
captured by the French.

During the British occupancy of Crown Point, Am¬
herst ordered Colonel Goff with a New Hampshire regi¬
ment to construct a road across what is now Vermont, to
a fort on the Connecticut River, at Charlestown, N. H.,
known as Number Four. Beginning two miles north of
this post, a road was built for twenty-six miles, when a
path was found leading to Otter Creek, and a good trail
from thence to the lake.

In October, 1759, Maj. Robert Rogers was ordered to
make a raid into Canada. General Amherst instructed
him to attack the Indian settlements in such a manner
as he should judge “most effectual to disgrace the enemy,”
and added: “Remember the barbarities that have been
committed by the enemy, Indian scoundrels, on every oc¬
casion where they have had an opportunity of showing
their infamous cruelties on the King’s subjects; which
they have done without mercy ; take your revenge ; but
do not forget that though these villains have dastardly
and promiscuously murdered the women and children of
all orders, it is my orders that no women or children be
killed or hurt.”

Rogers set out with 200 men, but five days after leav¬
ing Crown Point, while encamped on the eastern shore
of the lake, a keg of gunpowder accidentally was ignited,
the explosion which followed wounding a captain and

'

'

.

,1 'A ■ . • •

■

82

History of Lake Champlain

several men. The injured with an escort were sent back
to Crown Point. The party being reduced to 142 men
proceeded and reached Missisquoi Bay after a trip of
seven days from Crown Point. Here the boats were con¬
cealed under the overhanging bushes that bordered the
shore, and sufficient provisions were left in them to supply
the party on the return to Crown Point. Two men re¬
mained to guard the boats. When two days’ march from
Missisquoi Bay the men left to guard the boats overtook
the expedition and informed Rogers that a party of 400
French and Indians had discovered the boats and sent
them away with fifty men, the rest of the party being in
pursuit of Rogers and his force. The veteran ranger
kept this information a secret and sending back a few
men to inform Amherst of the new turn affairs had taken,
and asking that provisions be forwarded to Newbury, on
the Connecticut River, he pushed on with all possible
speed. Arriving on the evening of October 4 at the out¬
skirts of the village of the St. Francis Indians, situated
at the head of the river of the same name, Rogers and
two of his men who understood the native language,
dressed themselves in Indian garb and reconnoitred the
settlement. The members of the tribe were engaged in
a dance and festivities, which continued until 4 o’clock
the morning of October 5. Waiting until the savages
were asleep, at break of day, Rogers made a general
assault. Men, women, and children were slain and a great
number of scalps were taken as trophies. In a village of
300 persons, 200 were killed and 20 were taken prisoners.
Rogers’ casualties were one killed and six slightly
wounded. The village was burned, and after resting an
hour Rogers started at 8 o’clock in the morning, on the
return trip, taking with him live English captives, whom
he had released.

.

..

■

.

.

History of Lake Champlain

S3

Being annoyed by the enemy, on his retreat, an am¬
buscade was formed, which put a stop to further har¬
assing tactics by the enemy. The party kept together
for about ten days, until the eastern shore of Lake Mem-
phremagog was reached. Provisions becoming scarce,
Rogers ordered his men to scatter in small parties and
make their way in, as best they could, to the mouth of
the Upper Ammonoosuc River. When the place agreed
upon for meeting was reached, to the consternation of
Rogers no provisions were found. The officer sent with
relief had waited only two days, and a camp fire still
burning showed that he had just departed. Guns were
fired, but to no purpose. Leaving most of his men, who
were unable to proceed further on account of hunger and
fatigue, Rogers, Captain Ogden, one ranger, and a captive
Indian boy embarked on a raft made of dry pine trees,
and proceeded down the Connecticut River, seeking aid.
The trip was a perilous one, and they narrowly escaped
being carried over White River falls. Going around
these falls, Rogers burned down trees and built another
raft, continuing as far as Ottaquechee falls, over which
the raft was taken in safety. On the fourth day of this
stage of the journey the fort at Number Four (Charles¬
town, N. H.) was reached. A canoe with provisions was
dispatched to the relief of the party' left behind, and a
little later Rogers with other canoes and supplies returned
to aid his comrades. Crown Point was reached December
1, forty-nine men having been lost on the return trip
from the St. Francis village. The men whom Rogers
left on the banks of the Connecticut, while he went to
seek relief were kept from starvation by eating ground
nuts and lily roots. Although the price paid was a heavy
one, the expedition was successful in stopping Indian
depredations.

'

■

nt [rjAxt air// wii

■

84

History of Lake Champlain

In May, 1760, Amherst sent Rogers with a party of
275 of his Rangers, and twenty-five of the light infantry,
to surprise the French forts at St. Johns and Chambly.
landing 200 men, on June 4, at what is now Rouses
Point, he sent the remainder of his force back to Isle La
Motte, under command of Captain Grant. Instead of
surprising the enemy, Rogers, himself, was surprised,
being attacked on June 6 by 350 French soldiers from
Isle aux Noix, commanded by M. La Force. The attack¬
ing party was repulsed and retired to the island strong¬
hold, losing forty men killed, and several wounded among

r

whom was La Force. In the British ranks, Ensign Ward
and sixteen Rangers were killed, and Captain Johnson
and ten men were wounded, Johnson dying a few days
later. Rogers retired to Isle La Motte, where he re¬
mained until June 9. At that time he landed at the mouth
of the Great Chazy River, and making a detour around
Isle aux Noix destroyed the small stockade fort of St.
Thcrese, below St. Johns. He took twenty-five prisoners
and retired, reaching Crown Point on June 23.

General Bourlemaque withdrew most of his forces
from the frontier on November 28, 1759, leaving in the
stockaded fort, constructed in the center of Isle aux Noix,
a garrison of 300 men under Captain Lusignan. Fort St.
John was garrisoned by 200 of the Royal Roussilon regi¬
ment under Captain Yalette. Lieutenant Colonel Roque-
maure, with the battalion of La Reine, was quartered at
Fort Chambly, and had command of the frontier.

The British campaign of 1760 on Lake Champlain was
not opened until late in the summer. Amherst had gone
to Oswego, and Colonel Haviland, with 1,50(3 regulars,
1,800 colonial troops, and some Indians, left Crown
Point, August 16, and encamped near Isle aux Noix, op¬
posite the French works. Batteries were erected, and on

v

.

History of Lake Champlain

85

August 23, a heavy fire was opened. Two days later a
battery was planted that commanded one of the French
ships. The captain cut his cable and attempted to with¬
draw, but he and a part of the crew were killed, and the
remainder escaped death, some by swimming to the
island, and others to the enemy. Haviland seized the
vessel and soon captured the rest of the little fleet, which
consisted of a similar tartane, a schooner, a gabarene
armed with four guns, and four boats, each carrying an
eight-pounder. With these vessels the British were able
to carry their artillery and barges to the rear of the
French fortifications. The post now being rendered un¬
tenable, Bougainville, evacuated it at 10 o’clock the night
of August 27, retreating to St. Johns. The fort at Isle
aux Noix was supplied with provisions for the 1,650 men
stationed there.

On the night of August 29, having been joined by the
Isle aux Noix garrison, Colonel Roquemaure set fire to
the fort at St. Johns, and retired to Laprairie, near
Montreal.

Colonel Haviland followed, and on September 7 Mont¬
real was invested by three armies, Haviland coming from
Lake Champlain, Amherst from Oswego, and Murray
from Quebec. The ancient capital of Canada, founded
by Champlain, had surrendered to the British. Montcalm
was in his grave, having been fatally wounded on the
Plains of Abraham, where his victorious opponent, Wolfe
had received a mortal wound. Driven to the last ex¬
tremity, Governor Vaudreuil was compelled to sign
articles of capitulation by which he surrendered 2,200
regulars. Of these, 1,600 or 1,700 returned to France,
the rest remaining to settle in Canada.

Thus the banner of France, which, with one brief in¬
terval, had waved proudly over Mount Royal since first

'

70 -*1' • 7

.

86

History of Lake Champlain

planted there more than two centuries before by Jacques
Cartier, master pilot of St. Malo, now gave place to the
red standard of Britain. With the surrender of Mont¬
real, French dominion passed from the great valleys of
North America, and although continuing for another half
century in the West, yet the real opportunity of building
a French empire in the New World had departed. Al¬
though opposed in the campaigns of 1759 and 1760 by a
powerful foe, led by skilful generals, the French were
beaten, not so much by the British, as by themselves.

John Richard Green says the conquest of Canada, “by
removing the enemy whose dread knit the colonists to the
mother country and by flinging open to their energies in
the days to come the boundless plains of the West, laid
the foundations of the United States.”

. ' ' * . : - !

CHAPTER VI

ENGLISH SETTLEMENTS BEGUN

SOON after peace was declared between France and
Great Britain, adventurous settlers began to come into
the Champlain valley. The French colonists had de¬
parted to Canada with the retreating army of their King.
The blackened chimneys of the burned buildings of the
settlement on the Vermont side of the lake, in the present
town of Addison, nearly opposite Crown Point, gave rise
to the name Chimney Point.

Following the close of the French and Indian War,
the colony of New York issued grants on both sides of
the lake to more than eighty reduced British officers.
Charlotte County had been organized, including both the
east and west shores of the lake. A large section be¬
tween Otter Creek and Malletts Bay was set aside for the
'‘disbanded soldiers of the recent wars.” The reason
why the settlements under these grants were not more
numerous could have been explained by the Green Moun¬
tain Boys.

The first permanent settlement made by English-speak¬
ing people on Lake Champlain seems to have been that
of Philip Skene, a Scotchman, said to have been a lineal
descendant of William Wallace, the famous Scottish hero.
Pie had fought in the battle of Culloden, came to America
as a captain of the Inniskilling boot, and served under
Abercrombie and Amherst in their campaigns around
Lake Champlain, being made a major, while in the service.
In 1761 he secured a grant near the mouth of Wood
Creek. Plere he founded Skenesborough, later known as
Whitehall, N. Y. In 1765 he secured a further grant of

/:

.

88

History of Lake Champlain

25,000 acres. Upon his new settlement he built a man¬
sion of stone, 40 by 30 feet in size, and two and one-half
stories high. His grants included an ore bed and he was
the first to work the iron deposits of that region. He
erected a large stone forge, also a stone building 130
feet long, used as a military garrison and depot. In 1771
he secured a grant of 2,400 acres of the best land in West-
port, N. Y. He cut a road through the forects to Salem,
N. Y., a distance of about thirty miles. Skene also owned
a sloop, which plied between Skenesborough and Canada.

At an early date there was a flourishing settlement of
French and Indians at Swanton Falls, on the Missisquoi
River, in the present State of Vermont. While 1759 is
the earliest year in which there is an authentic record re¬
garding this village, it is supposed that it was established
long before that time. A stone church was built and a
sawmilll was constructed, a channel being cut through the
rocks to supply water. Land was cleared and corn and
vegetables were raised. It is said that at one time there
were fifty huts in this village. Many specimens of pot¬
tery and implements have been found here. Probably
most of the French settlers retired to Canada about 1760,
the forts on Lake Champlain having been abandoned. In
1765, or a little later, James Robertson settled at Missis¬
quoi Falls, engaged in traffic with the Indians and con¬
ducted a lumber business. At one time between the close
of the French and Indian War and the outbreak of the
Revolution, as many as fifty men, mostly of French
descent, were employed in the lumber industry here.
Robertson’s mill is supposed to have occupied the site of
the old French sawmill. A large house, two stories high
was also built. This settlement was burned about the
time of the outbreak of the War for Independence. The
last of the Indians are supposed to have left by 1776.

■

’

i; I

] «' . , .

History of Lake Champlain

89

Swanton was chartered October 17, 1763, by Governor
Wentworth of New Hampshire, but no permanent Eng¬
lish settlement was made until after the Revolution.

In 1763 John La Frombois, a Canadian, with two com¬
panions named Goude and Swarte, made a short stay in
what is now the town of Chazv, N. Y. Returning to
Canada, La Frombois, in 1768, obtained from Francis
McKay permission to settle on a tract which the latter
claimed to hold as part of a grant made to M. La Gau-
chetiere, and later assigned to one of the McKay family.
La Frombois took possession of two lots, on one of which
he built a house. In 1776 he was driven off by the
British, and his house was burned. In 1784 he returned,
rebuilt his house, and remained in possession of the prop¬
erty until his death in 1810.

Joseph La Monte settled near the La Frombois farm
in 1774. He abandoned his home in 1776, but returned
after the Revolutionary War had ended, and again occu¬
pied his property.

In 1765 William Gilliland, who had served as a private
in the Thirty-fifth Regiment of the British army in the
French and Indian War, during one of the Lake Cham¬
plain campaigns, purchased twelve large tracts on the
west side of the lake between Crown Point and Cumber¬
land Head, the land being mostly grants made to soldiers.
Gilliland established his home on the Boquet River, in
the present town of Westport. Here a considerable
settlement grew up. According to a statement made by
the proprietor, at one time there were ninety-eight in¬
habitants on Gilliland’s estate, exclusive of his household.
There were twenty-eight dwellings, and about forty other
buildings, two grist mills and two sawmills, gardens, or¬
chards, etc. Gilliland at one time estimated his annual
income at more than one thousand pounds. Pie did much

■

"

90

History of Lake Champlain

surveying and in a journal which he kept, he tells of
some of his expeditions. On one of these trips, in 1766,
he went to Grand Isle, and on August 9 he stopped at
the river Alamoille (Lamoille), which he says, 'dies about
east of the south end cape of Grand Isle; is a very large
river, much larger than Otter Creek ; went about six miles
up it, no falls or rapids appeared, continued smooth, deep
and wide, is well stored with fish, the land on both sides
very sandy and bad, much ordinary pine timber. Near
the lake the land is very low, looks as if flooded in spring/’

A grant of land opposite Valcour Island was made in
1765 to Lieutenant Friswell, and on this William Hay
and Henry Cross settled.

Captain or Count Charles de Fredenburgh, a poor
German nobleman, received a grant in 1766 of about
30,000 acres near the mouth of the Saranac River. He
built a house where Plattsburgh, N. Y., now stands, and
erected a sawmill. Following the outbreak of the Revo¬
lutionary War he removed his family to Montreal. He
returned to protect his property but his house and mill
were soon burned, and it is supposed that he was
murdered.

In William Gilliland’s journal a reference is made,
under date of January 31, 1767, to James Logan of Shel¬
burne. Logan and Pottier, two Germans, settled at
Shelburne (Yt.) being among the first to occupy land in
the Champlain valley. They were associated in the busi¬
ness of getting out timber for the Quebec market. Two
points extending into the lake on the Shelburne shore
perpetuate their names. Tradition says that these men
were murdered for their money at the northern end of
the lake by a band of soldiers sent out from Montreal to
protect them from the Indians. A small colony, prob¬
ably about ten families, had been formed here prior to

- ; ... . A

*'

History of Lake Champlain

91

the Revolution, and Moses Pierson was one of the first
settlers. The town was chartered by Governor Went¬
worth of New Hampshire, August 18, 1763.

Charlotte (Vt.) was chartered by Governor Went¬
worth — as were nearly all the towns on the west side of
the lake — June 24, 1762. The first attempt to make a
settlement here was by Derick Webb in 1776, but he did
not stay long.

Ferrisburgh (Vt.) was chartered June 24, 1762, to
several persons named Ferris and others. Charles Tup-
per came to this town from Pittsfield, Mass., just before
the Revolution. He returned to Massachusetts with the
outbreak of hostilities, and was killed while serving in
the American army.

Panton (Vt.) was chartered November 3, 1764. Prob¬
ably the first settlers were Joseph Pangborn and Odle
Squire, from Cornwall, Conn. They were joined soon
after their arrival by Timothy Spaulding and others from
the same town. Peter Ferris came from Nine Partners,
N. Y., probably in 1766. His wife died before the Revo¬
lution and her death is said to have been the first in town.
Elijah Grandy came to town in 1773, and Phineas Hol¬
comb came in 1774.

Addison (Vt.) was chartered October 14, 1761. Ben¬
jamin Kellogg, one of General Amherst’s soldiers, while
stationed at Crown Point, frequently came to the salt
licks in what is now the town of Addison to obtain veni¬
son for the officers of the army, and was favorably im¬
pressed by the appearance of the country. In October,
1763, the governor of New York made grants of land in
this town to Col. David Wooster, Col. Charles Forbes,
Lieutenant Ramsay, Sir John Sinclair, J. W. Hagartv,
and a Mr. Wilkins. Following the close of the French
and Indian War, Mr. Kellogg returned nearly every year

! 1 Hmow

. . 1 - li

.

92

History of Lake Champlain

to visit his former hunting grounds. In 1765 Zadock
Everest and David Vallance began a clearing about three
miles north of Chimney Point. Mr. Kellogg came up
from his Connecticut home that year for his annual
autumn hunt, and with him came John Strong, seeking a
home in this new country. Selecting the foundations of
an old French residence, Strong built a house, with the
aid of his companions. It is claimed that this was the
first dwelling erected in Western Vermont by a settler
of English birth. Later Colonel Wooster, afterward a
major general in the American army during the Revolu¬
tionary War, with a New York Sheriff, attempted to
oust the settlers under the New Hampshire title, others
having located here, but the Green Mountain Boys, by
threats of the ‘‘Beech Seal,” drove Wooster’s party away.

The experiences of the family of John Strong, who
came to this town on the ice, by way of Lakes George and
Champlain, in February, 1766, are typical of what not a
few of the pioneer settlers in the Champlain valley en¬
dured. In September, Strong and a few neighbors went
to Albany to secure supplies. The only door to the house
was a blanket suspended at the opening. The fall eve¬
nings were growing cool, and a fire was needed for
warmth. A kettle of samp had just been taken from
over the fireplace, and preparations were being made for
supper, when hearing a noise at the door Mrs. Strong
looked up to see a bear’s head thrusting the blanket aside.
Hastily ordering the children up a ladder to the loft, she
caught up the baby from its rude cradle, and followed
them, pulling the ladder up after them. As the floor was
made of small poles, it was possible to observe what was
going on below. The bear soon entered the room with
her two cubs. After upsetting the milk that had been
placed on the table, the old bear espied the kettle of hot

'

.

.

, ■ .. , . ; Iljun • S a«

History of Lake Champlain

93

samp, and thrusting her head into it swallowed a large
mouthful and took another before discovering that the
food was boiling hot. With an angry roar the beast
struck the kettle, upsetting and breaking it. Then, sitting
up on her haunches, she tried to claw the hot pudding
from her mouth, whining and growling meanwhile. The
cubs sat on their hind legs, one on each side, gazing in
wonder at their mother’s plight. The situation was so
ludicrous that the children, despite their danger, broke
into loud laughter. This aroused the bear to furious
anger, and the animal tried again and again to reach the
woman and children in the loft, but without success.
When Mr. Strong returned he made a stout basswood
door, hung on wooden hinges, which prevented any
further visits from wild animals.

Bridport (Vt.) was chartered October 10, 1761. Philip
Stone, who came to this town in 1768, was the first per¬
manent settler. A little later two families, Richardson
and Smith, settled on lands secured by New York titles,
and three families, Towner, Chipman, and Plumer, settled
upon New Hampshire grants. Others followed, but
most of them retired with the outbreak of war. During
the year 1772 Ethan Allen, who had become famous as a
leader of the Green Mountain Boys, and Eli Roberts, of
Vergennes, stopped over night at the home of a Mr. Rich¬
ards, in this town. Allen had made himself so obnoxious
to the New York authorities, by his zeal in defending the
land titles issued under New Hampshire authority, that
a price had been set upon his head. Six soldiers from
the Crown Point garrison also stopped for the night at
the Richards house. Overhearing a plan to capture the
Green Mountain leader, and secure the bounty, Mrs.
Richards warned Allen and his companion. One version
of the story is that she helped them out of a window ; the

rl‘ :

r.

_ . ■ ' : V

• ->ii) o)

94

History of Lake Champlain

other is that the two men slipped out of the door without
hats or guns, and that the hostess passed their property
to them through a window, and thus enabled them to
escape. Robert Hamilton was the first person born in
Bridport, the year being 1772.

Orwell (Vt.) was chartered August 8, 1763. John
Carter soon settled near Mount Independence, and lived
there several years before the Revolution.

Shoreham (Vt.) was chartered October 8, 1761, and
its settlement was begun about 1766. Among the first
settlers were Ephraim Doolittle, Paul Moore, David and
James Hemenway, Robert Gray, James For bush, John
Crigo, Daniel and Nahum Southgate, Samuel Wolcott,
and Amos Callender. The Moravian plan was adopted,
all property being held in common. This settlement, like
nearly all the others along the lake, was broken up dur¬
ing the Revolution.

Salisbury (Vt.) was chartered November 3, 1761.
Amos Story was the first settler, but was killed soon
after coming to the town, by a falling tree. Mrs. Ann
Story, his widow, with her large family of children, came
February 22, 1775. She felled the trees and rolled the
logs' to the place selected for a home and there built a
house. She cleared fields and cultivated them, doing the
work of a man. During the Revolution she had a place
of concealment in a cave in the bank of the Otter Creek,
hidden by overhanging bushes.

Middlebury (Vt.) was chartered November 2, 1761.
In 1766 John Chipman came from Salisbury, Conn., with
fifteen other young men, who were on their way to vari¬
ous parts of the new country, cutting their way through
the wilderness. Chipman made a clearing of six or eight
acres. Benjamin Smalley was the first settler to bring
his family to town and to build a log house.

.

History of Lake Champlain

95

New Haven (Vt.) was chartered November 2, 1761.
A few families came from Salisbury, Conn., in 1769,
among them being John Griswold and his five sons. A
New York grant gave to John Reid a tract four miles
wide on both sides of Otter Creek from the mouth to
Sutherland Falls. With his followers Reid drove away
the settlers under the New Hampshire patents after they
had cleared lands and made roads. Thereupon Ethan
Allen and the Green Mountain Boys ejected Reid and his
party, and destroyed their grist mill. Reid returned with
a party of Scotch settlers, and once more expelled the
original owners and repaired the mill. Again the Green
Mountain Boys visited Reid’s settlement, driving off the
Scotch emigrants, burning their crops, and breaking the
millstones, which thev threw over the falls. A block-
house, called Fort William was erected at the falls of
Otter Creek to defend the settlers against the “Yorkers.”

Colchester (Vt.) was chartered June 7, 1763. A
settlement was begun at the falls on the Winooski River
(or the Onion, as it wras called at that time) in 1772 by
Ira Allen and his uncle, Remember Baker. In 1773
Baker brought his wife and three children to town. The
record for a proprietors’ meeting held March 24, 1774,
and recorded in the handwriting of Ira Allen, the first
town clerk, relate the fact that Ethan Allen, Remember
Baker, Heman Allen, Zimri Allen, and Ira Allen, form¬
ing the Onion River Company, had “expended large sums
of money in cutting a road from Castleton to said river
[the Winooski] seventy miles through the woods.” A
blockhouse called Fort Frederick was built on the north
bank of the river probably near the present highway
bridge between Burlington and Winooski. It was made
of hewn timber, being two stories in height, with thirty'-
two portholes in the upper story.

'

96

History of Lake Champlain

Joshua Stanton settled in town in 1775. At an early
date a Frenchman named Mallett settled on the shore of
the bay which bears his name. When he came and
whence he came are matters unknown. He died in 1789
or 1790 and his clearings is said to have appeared very
ancient when he died. Possibly he was one of the
Frenchmen who remained behind when his fellow coun¬
trymen retired to Canada in 1759.

Burlington (Vt.) was chartered June 7, 1763. Felix
Powell came to town in 1773, bought land on Appletree
Point, cleared a tract, and built a log house. Later
Lemuel Bradley and others arrived and settlements were
made on the river opposite the clearing made by Allen
and Baker.

Hinesburgh (Vt.) was chartered June 24, 1762. Prob¬
ably the only settlers before the Revolution were Isaac
Lawrence, from Canaan, Conn., and Abner Chaffee.

Jericho (Vt.) was chartered June 7, 1763. Three
men with their families, Roderick Messenger, from
Claverick, N. Y., Joseph Brown, from Great Barrington,
Mass., and Azariah Rood, from Lanesboro, Mass., settled
here before the Revolution.

Williston was chartered June 7, 1763. The first
settlers, who came in May, 1774, were Thomas Chitten¬
den, of Salisbury, Conn., later the first governor of Ver¬
mont, and Jonathan Spafford.

Milton (Vt.) was chartered June 8, 1763, and Georgia
(Vt.) August 17, 1763, but neither town was settled until
after the Revolution.

St. Albans, (Vt.) was chartered August 17, 1763. Jesse
Welden, originally from Salisbury, Conn., the early home
of so many Vermont pioneers and leaders, but coming to
town before the Revolution from Sunderland (Vt.) was

'

History of Lake Champlain

97

the first settler, but he left when war broke out, return¬
ing after the danger had passed.

Highgate (Vt.) was chartered August 17, 1763, but
was not settled until the War for Independence had
ended.

Few settlements were made on the western side of the
lake before the Revolution, the exceptions to the rule
already having been mentioned.

Allusion has been made to the land controversies be¬
tween the New York authorities and the settlers on the
New Hampshire Grants, which made the last few years
before the war between Great Britain and her American
colonies a period of great turbulence for some of the
dwellers in the valley east of Lake Champlain.

According to Ira Allen’s History of Vermont, the
author being a brother of Ethan Allen, the leader of the
opposition to the New York authority, and himself one
of the active spirits among the Green Mountain Boys, a
plan was formed in 1774 by Colonel Allen, Amos Bird,
and other men prominent in the disputed territory, act¬
ing in conjunction with Col. Philip Skene, proprietor of
Skenesborough, to establish a new royal colony. This
colony was to include the region north of the Mohawk
River to the 45th parallel of latitude, now the northern
boundary of Vermont, east of the Connecticut River, ex¬
tending west to Lake Ontario, the southern boundary
presumably being the northern line of Massachusetts.
Colonel Skene was to be governor, and Skenesborough
the capital of the new province. Skene went to London
in pursuit of this object. Having secured the appoint¬
ment of governor of the fortresses of Ticonderoga and
Crown Point, he was advised, before applying for the
erection of a new royal colony, to obtain petitions from
the people of the region around Lake Champlain, setting

I

.

'

.

98

History of Lake Champlain

forth to the King and Privy Council that in order to re¬
store harmony in the disputed district, and to make
more convenient the administration of justice in a de¬
partment extensive and remote from Albany, that a new
colony should be set apart, of which Colonel Skene
should be governor. Information to this effect was sent
to the leaders of the Green Mountain Boys, but the out¬
break of ‘the War of the Revolution put an end to the
project for all times. Ira Allen says that had the scheme
been carried through successfully, ‘‘the people who had
settled under the royal grants of New Hampshire would
have been quiet.”

A hint of this proposed colony is to be found in reso¬
lutions adopted at Westminster (Vt.) April 11, 1775,
by committees representing Cumberland and Gloucester
Counties, in the eastern part of what is now Vermont, in
which a petition is formulated to the King, asking that
they “be taken out of so oppressive a jurisdiction and
either annexed to some other government, or erected and
incorporated into a new one, as might appear best to the
said inhabitants to the royal wisdom and clemency, and
till such time as His Majesty should settle the con¬
troversy.”

Colonel Skene, writing to Jehiel Hawley, of Arlington,
tells of his appointment as “governor of Ticonderoga
and Crown Point.” A little later Colonel Skene was
destined to return to America, not to govern a royal
province, but to be made a prisoner of war by people
determined to do their own governing.

.

■

• ■’

CHAPTER VII

THE CAPTURE OF TICONDEROGA

*HE opening of the year 1775 saw the rapid develop-

5

JL ment, at least in New England, of the idea that
armed opposition to what was considered the in¬
tolerable oppression of the Mother Country was likely to
become a stern necessity, as well as a duty, in the near
future. On February 15 of that year the Massachusetts
Congress adopted a resolution directing a committee to
open correspondence with the Canadians and northern
Indians, in the hope of keeping them neutral in the im¬
pending contest.

John Brown, of Pittsfield, Mass., was chosen an agent
to proceed to Canada on this business, and he was pro¬
vided with the necessary letters and documents. He was
ordered to “establish a reliable means of communication
through the Grants/’ Late in February he set out on
his errand, going first to Albany, N. Y., and thence to
Lake Champlain. Brown secured as guides Peleg Sun¬
derland, one of the active leaders of the Green Mountain
Boys, a veteran hunter, acquainted with the St. Francis
Indians and their language ; also Winthrop Hoyt, for
many years a captive in the Caughnawaga country.
Brown found the journey exceedingly difficult. The ice
in Lake Champlain had broken up early that year. The
lake and its tributary streams were swollen, and much of
the surrounding country was flooded. Attempting to
make the trip in a boat, the craft was driven against an
island, where the party was frozen in for two days. The
Indians and Canadians were reached, at last, and were

.

■

.

.

100 History of Lake Champlain

found to be well disposed toward their New England
neighbors.

While at Montreal, Brown wrote to Samuel Adams
and Joseph Warren, of the Boston committee of corre¬
spondence, under date of March 24, in part as follows :
“One thing I must mention to be kept in profound secret.
The fort at Ticonderoga must be seized as soon as possi¬
ble, should' hostilities be committed by the King’s troops.
The people on New Hampshire Grants have engaged to
do this business, and, in my opinion, they are the most
proper persons for the job. This will effectually curb
this Province and all the troops that may be sent here.”

If the Green Mountain Boys had “engaged to do this
business,” the matter must have been discussed more
than two months before the fortress was taken, probably
at the time Sunderland was engaged as a guide. It was a
natural thing that the first thoughts of the people of New
England should turn, with the possibility of an armed
conflict in mind, to Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Lake
George, where not a few of them had received warlike
training in a very practical military school.

It is not possible definitely to say with absolute pre¬
cision of any man, or body of men, that he, or they, first
suggested the capture of these fortresses. It was the
obvious thing to do as a matter of safety, and must have
occurred to hundreds of people in this anxious period
preceding the actual outbreak of hostilities as a wise and
prudent policy. But John Brown and his friends on the
New Hampshire Grants appear to have as good a title as
any of the distinction of being among the earliest to con¬
sider in serious fashion the capture of these British posts.

Immediately after the battle of Lexington the prin¬
cipal officers of the Green Mountain Boys and the lead¬
ing citizens of the New Hampshire Grants met at Ben-

.

,13 >i •.;* - 'IJ' :'-M

■

.

.

-

History of Lake Champlain

101

nington to discuss the situation. The peril of the settlers
in the valleys of the Otter Creek and Winooski was dis¬
cussed, and it was agreed that unless Ticonderoga and
Crown Point were taken from the British, these posts
would be reinforced and strengthened making necessary
the abandonment of the isolated farms in the Champlain
valley.

“While 'these matters were deliberating,” says Ethan
Allen, in his Narrative, “a committee from the Council
of Connecticut arrived at Bennington, with advice and
directions to carry into execution the surprise of those
garrisons [Crown Point and Ticonderoga], and, if possi¬
ble, to gain the command of the lake.”

On April 26 Capt. Benedict Arnold, of New Haven,
Conn., met Col. Samuel H. Parsons, a member of the
Connecticut Assembly, on the way from Massachusetts
to Hartford, and told of the conditions existing at Ticon¬
deroga. The next day Colonel Parsons, Col. Samuel
Wyllys, and Silas Deane, a member of the Continental
Congress, taking as associates Thomas Mumford, Chris¬
topher Leffingwell, and Adam Babcock, met in Hartford
to consider the possibility of the capture of the Lake
Champlain fortresses. Having decided that the project
was feasible they obtained 300 pounds from the colonial
treasury upon promising to account for this sum to the
satisfaction of the colony.

The idea that the people on the New Hampshire Grants
were the “most proper persons for this job” seems to
have been the opinion of these Connecticut patriots, as
well as that of John Brown, of Pittsfield. The sinews of
war having been secured, Noah Phelps and Bernard
Romans, an engineer, were directed to proceed to the
Grants and left on Friday, April 28. Capt. Edward
Mott, Epaphras Bull, and four others followed the next

.

102

History of Lake Champlain

day, and overtook Phelps and Romans at Salisbury,
Conn., where the party was increased to sixteen and a
quantity of powder and ball was purchased. At Sheffield,
Mass., two men were sent to Albany, “to ascertain the
temper of the people.” Traveling all day Sunday, a prac¬
tice not customary in those days, the Connecticut party
arrived at Pittsfield on Monday, May 1. Here they were
joined by Col. James Easton, an inn keeper, Captain
Dickinson, and John Brown, whose recent Canadian trip
made him a valuable associate.

It had been thought best, in order that suspicion should
not be aroused, to raise no considerable body of men until
the Grants were reached but owing to the scarcity of
provisions in that region, and the poverty of the Green
Mountain settlers, upon the advice of Brown and Easton
a few men — about forty — were raised in the hill country
of the Berkshires. While these men were being enlisted
Heman Allen was sent forward to acquaint his brother
Ethan with the project on foot. In passing it should be
said that the claim sometimes made to the effect that John
Hancock and Samuel Adams were associated with the
Connecticut leaders in organizing this expedition does
not appear to be well founded, although it is probable that
Adams was familiar with the general plan.

After raising a small party of recruits, Easton and
Mott left Pittsfield for Bennington. On the way they
met a courier riding in haste — an express, to use the
phraseology current at that time — sent out to inform
them that a man had arrived from Ticonderosra who said

c

that the garrison at the fort had been reinforced, and the
soldiers were on their guard, and advising against pro¬
ceeding further with the expedition. Mott and Easton
refused to abandon the expedition, the former declaring
that with the 200 men they proposed to raise he would

.

..

History of Lake Champlain

103

not be afraid ‘'to go round the fort in open light/’ adding
that the rumors of evil the messenger brought “would
not do to go back with and tell in Hartford.” At Ben¬
nington they found those of their party who had pre¬
ceded them unwilling to place any credence in the alarm¬
ing rumor concerning Ticonderoga, Mr. Halsey and Mr.
Bull stoutly asserting that “they would go back for no
story until they had seen the fort themselves.”

A council of war was summoned at the Catamount
Tavern in Bennington, famous as the favorite rendezvous
of Ethan Allen and his associates. The leader of the
Green Mountain Boys needed no urging to undertake
this task. It was an enterprise that appealed powerfully
to his adventurous and patriotic nature ; and no Scottish
chieftain ever set out with greater ardor to assemble his
clansmen, than did Ethan Allen, as he started northward
to summon the study pioneers, who acknowledged his
leadership. The Connecticut and Massachusetts men, se¬
curing a small quantity of provisions, followed Allen to
Castleton.

Meanwhile Noah Phelps and Ezra Hickok had been
sent to reconnoitre at Ticonderoga. Williams’ History
of Vermont says that Phelps disguised himself as one of
the poor settlers living in the vicinity and went to the
fort under pretence that he wanted to be shaved, inquir¬
ing for the barber. Plis awkward appearance and simple
questions made it possible for him to observe conditions
and depart unmolested, according to this early historian.
This story is also told in Thompson’s “Vermont.”

Hinman’s “Connecticut in the Revolution,” however,
tells a different tale. According to this account Phelps
proceeded from the southern part of Lake Champlain
in a boat, stopping for the night at a tavern near Fort
1 iconderoga. He was assigned to a room next to one

'

.

'

.

l; •

104

History of Lake Champlain

in which the officers of the garrison were giving a supper
party, the festivities lasting until a late hour. The Con¬
necticut spy, listening intently, heard the officers discuss
the unrest prevailing in the colonies, and the condition of
the fortress. Very early the next morning Phelps gained
admission to the fort for the purpose of being shaved.
While returning through the fort the commanding officer
walked ' with this traveler, and discussed with him the
movements and purposes of the rebellious subjects of
the King. Observing that a part of the wall was in a
dilapidated condition Phelps remarked that it “would
afford a feeble defense against the rebels in case of an
attack.” Captain Delaplace volunteered the information
that a breach in the walls was not the greatest misfor¬
tune, as all the powder was damaged, and that before it
could be used it was necessary to sift and dry it.

Phelps, being ready to depart, employed a boatman to
row him down the lake in a small boat, entering the craft
under the guns of the fort. Before he had gone far he
urged greater speed, and was asked to take an oar, but
declined, saying he was not a boatman. However, after
rounding a point of land, which screened them from
sight of the fort, Phelps took an oar without any invita¬
tion and rowed with such vigor that the boatman ex¬
claimed, with an oath, “You have seen a boat before now,
sir.” The suspicions of the man from the fort were
aroused, but Phelps being the larger and more powerful
of the two, prudence was considered “the better part of
valor,” and no attempt was made to take the mysterious
stranger back to Ticonderoga, all of which was related by
the boatman to Phelps after the surrender of the fort.

This latter account makes no mention of any disguise,
or any attempt to play the fool. The commanding officer
evidently supposed that he was conversing with an in-

. •

History of Lake Champlain

105

telligent and loyal British subject. It is by far the more
plausible story of the two. In that time and place young
men, whether wise or simpe, were not in the habit of go¬
ing to a barber to be shaved. If unabe to shave them¬
selves, some member of the family, or a neighbor, per¬
formed the service for them.

Phelps arrived at Castleton the evening of May 9. No
mention is made of Hickok in either story related.

Almost immediately after the arrival of the Connecti¬
cut and Massachusetts party at Bennington, the roads to
Fort Edward, Lake George, Skenesborough, Ticonde-
roga, and Crown Point were guarded, and steps were
taken to summon the Green Mountain Boys for the cap¬
ture of the two forts. Among the messengers sent out
by Allen to warn the men living on isolated farms that
their presence at Castleton was urgently needed, was Maj.
Gershom Beach, a blacksmith, and a prominent and active
member of this band which ruled the Grants. In his
“History of Shoreham,” Goodhue says that “Beach went
on foot to Rutland, Pittsford, Brandon, Middlebury,
Whiting, and Shoreham, making a circuit of sixty miles
in twenty-four hours/' This is one of the remarkable
episodes of the American Revolution, and one that never
has received the publicity or the praise that it deserves.
The ride of Paul Revere was a holiday excursion com¬
pared with the journey of Gershom Beach. Consider for
a moment the nature of the task. Every step must be
taken on foot, through a country practically without
roads, an expanse of forest broken only at long intervals
by a little clearing. The messenger must climb steep
hills, thread his way through the valleys, avoid swamps,
and cross unbridged streams. He must know7 where the
scattered homesteads lay, make many a detour to reach
them with no unnecessary loss of time, pausing to ex-

■

*

'

.

.

'

106

History of Lake Champlain

plain his errand. As night fell, still he must hold to a
a course not easily followed by daylight, and pause to
arouse each family from sleep.

A journey of sixty miles on foot in a single day, over
good roads, with a summons to battle to deliver, would
be considered a feat of which a modern athlete might
boast; but it is an insignificant performance when com¬
pared with the exploit of this early Revolutionary courier.

Mrs. Julia C. R. Dorr, the Vermont poet, has written
of the journey of Beach in a poem entitled, “The Ar¬
morer’s Errand.” She says of the hero :

“Blacksmith and armorer stout was he,

First in the fight and first in the breach,

And first in the work where a man should be.”

Of the errand itself the poet writes:

“He threaded the valleys, he climbed the hills,

He forded the rivers, he leaped the rills.

While still to his call, like minute men
Booted and spurred, from mount and glen,

The settlers rallied. But on he went
Like an arrow shot from a bow, unspent,

Down the long vale of the Otter to where
The might of the waterfall thundered in air;

Then across to the lake six leagues and more,

Where Hand’s Cove lay in the bending shore,

The goal was reached. He dropped to the ground

In a deep ravine, without word or sound

And sleep, the restorer, bade him rest

Like a weary child, on the earth’s brown breast.”

Headquarters were established at the tavern of Zadock
Remington, in Castleton, on Sunday evening, May 7. On
Monday 170 men had gathered there. That day the
Committee of War met at the farmhouse of Richard
Bentley, Edward Mott acting as chairman, and formu¬
lated a plan of campaign. After debating various possi¬
ble methods of procedure, and considering the manner of
retreat in the event of a repulse, it was voted that on the
following afternoon, May 9, Capt. Samuel Herrick, with

• ' 3- > rn

■■

History of Lake Champlain

107

thirty men, should be sent to Skenesborough to capture
Major Skene, his party, and last, but by no means least,
his boats, which should be brought during the night to
Shoreham, for use in transporting troops to Ticonderoga.
The remainder of the men at Castleton, then about 140,
were to proceed to Shoreham to a point opposite the fort.
Captain Douglass was sent to Crown Point to see if he
could arrange, with the aid of his brother-in-law, who
lived there, some strategem for renting the boats at the
fort, belonging to the British army. It was also voted
that Col. Ethan Allen should command the expedition
against Ticonderoga, as the promise had been made by
Mott that the men should serve under their own officers.
Allen having received his orders from the committee, left
for Shoreham to meet at Mr. WesseTs house, by agree¬
ment, some men who were to come there.

The same evening there appeared at Castleton Col.
Benedict Arnold, who had received from the Massa¬
chusetts Committee of Safety, at Cambridge, May 3,
authority to command a body of men to be raised in the
western part of the colony, not exceeding 400, for the
purpose of capturing Ticonderoga. He was to have a
sufficient armament and garrison to defend tthe post, and
take back to Massachusetts such stores and artillery as
might be useful to the army. Arnold, however, did not
stop to raise the 400 men authorized. There is a strong
probability that he heard of the expedition under Con¬
necticut auspices, and, fearing that the fortresses would
be taken without his aid, made haste to the rendezvous at
Castleton.

When Arnold arrived there he was accompanied only
bv a body servant. Without a soldier raised under his

V w

Massachusetts commission, he demanded that the com¬
mand of the expedition be turned over to him, asserting

t oS lufau sd Jiiyrrn

108

History of Lake Champlain

that the force assembled had no proper orders. The
pioneers who had assembled in haste for the serious busi¬
ness of capturing the King’s forts were in no mood to
yield to such a demand. Mott, chairman of the Com¬
mittee of War, at the time was a mile and a half away
with the Skenesborough party but was sent for, and on
his arrival told the lone colonel that the soldiers assembled
were raised on condition that they should be commanded
by their own officers, and the whole plan was explained
to Arnold. Nevertheless, as Mott says, he “strenuously
contended and insisted upon his right to command them
and all their officers.”

This demand created the greatest indignation among
the volunteers, and they threatened to abandon the expe¬
dition then and there and leave for their homes. This
hasty action was prevented by the exertions of the
officers, and an incipient mutiny was quelled for a time.
Still determined to have the honor of the chief command,
Arnold set out the next morning to find Allen. The
whole party followed fearing that their leader would
yield to the demand that he relinquish the command, but
Allen declined to accede to the request. Allen and
Easton assured the men that Arnold should not com¬
mand them, but that in any event their pay should be the
same. The response to this statement, according to Mott,
was that “they would damn their pay, and say that they
would not be commanded by any others but those they
engaged with.”

Resuming the business of the expedition the party left
Castleton, going by way of Sudbury to the old military
road, built in Amherst’s time from the Connecticut River
to Lake Champlain. This route they followed through
Whiting, and reached the. lake shore at Hand’s Cove, in
Shoreham, about two miles north of Ticonderoga, after

-in<0 id* ;o n; nl: rio tfl >1 s ri - ol bhix

History of Lake Champlain

109

dark on the evening of May 9. This route, about twenty-
five miles long, was taken rather than the one through
Benson, seven or eight miles shorter, because there was
less probability of discovery. Moreover the place where
they reached the shore was a wooded ravine, where they
were concealed from view.

According to Allen’s account he now had “230 valiant
Green Mountain Boys,” and it is known that thirty-nine
or forty men had been raised in western Massachusetts.
Colonel Easton says there were about 240 men. There
is a little uncertainty, however, regarding the exact size
of the force assembled.

The great need now was boats. The effort to secure
means of transportation by water had not been successful,
and when Hand’s Cove was reached no boats were in
waiting. Captain Douglass had gone for a scow in Brid-
port owned by a Mr. Smith. On his way he stopped at
the home of a Mr. Stone, in Bridport, to secure the aid of
a man named Chapman. The family had retired for the
night, but were aroused. Two young men, James Wil¬
cox and Joseph Tyler, sleeping in a chamber, overheard
the conversation and immediately decided to secure if
possible, Major Skene’s large rowboat off Willow Point,
on the Smith farm, in the northwest part of Bridport,
known to be in charge of a colored servant who had a
fondness for “strong waters.” Dressing hastily they
took their guns and a jug of New England rum as bait
for the Negro, and enlisting the aid of four companions
they started on their errand. Arriving at the shore, they
hailed the boat, telling the story of being on the way to
join a hunting party at Shoreham. The jug of rum was
exhibited and they offered to help in rowing the boat.
The temptation proved sufficiently alluring, the boat was
brought over, and Jack and his two companions pro-

'

110

History of Lake Champlain

ceeded on their way with the passengers, only to find that
the hunting party at Shoreham was the kind that made
prisoners of war. About the same time Captain Douglass
arrived with a scow, and a few small boats also had been
collected.

The number of boats assembled was very inadequate
and morning was fast approaching. It was decided,
therefore, to wait no longer, but to proceed with the
means of transportation at hand. The impression gen¬
erally given is that one trip was made to carry those who
captured the fort. Ira Allen declares, however, in his
history that “by passing and repassing they got over
about eighty men by the dawn of day.” The exact num¬
ber participating in the attack, according to Ethan Allen,
was eighty-three. A landing was made about a half-mile
from the fort.

Once more Arnold claimed the right to command.
“What shall I do with the damned rascal, put him under
guard?” exclaimed Allen, in exasperation. Amos Cal¬
lender advised that the two men enter the fort side by
side, and this course was agreed upon. William Gilliland,
founder of Westport, N. Y., has also asserted that he was
the means of settling the dispute.

Ethan Allen, however, was the commander, and the
authority was not divided with Arnold, or any other man.
James Easton was second in command, and Seth Warner,
who had been left behind at Hand’s Cove, was the third
officer in rank.

The hour was now about 4 o’clock, and the day was
breaking. The men were drawn up in three lines and,
according to his own statement, Allen addressed his little
band as follows: “Friends and fellow soldiers: You
have for a number of years past been a scourge and
terror to arbitrary powers. Your valor has been famed

.

<wfy / otodi cri >bi'.rxi 46W e|h) anc* ^

-!r;) >|ni ' -•■/ •.::>•••■)

f

1

BASTION, FORT TICONDFROGA, TICONDEROGA,

History of Lake Champlain

111

abroad, and acknowledged, as appears by the advice and
orders to me from the General Assembly of Connecticut
to surprise and take garrison 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 pretentions 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.

Every gun was raised. Nathan Beeman, a lad living,
opposite the fort, and familiar with all the surroundings,
acted as guide. Facing to the right, with Allen at the
head of the center file, and Arnold by his side, the little
force advanced to a wicket gate, which had been left
open wide enough for two men to enter abreast. The
men swarmed through rapidly, while some in their eager¬
ness scaled the wall on either side of the gate. A sentinel
posted at the wicket snapped his fusee at Allen, but the
gun missed fire. Allen ran toward him and the soldier
retreated hastily through the covered way into the parade,
gave a shout, and ran under a bomb proof. The New
England soldiers rushed in quickly, formed in a hollow
square on the parade ground, and gave three hearty
cheers, which some persons have described as Indian war
whoops, thus arousing the sleeping garrison.

A sentry made a pass at one of the officers with a
bayonet, and inflicted a slight wound. Allen drew his
sword to kill the soldier, but changed his mind, dealing
a blow which cut the man on the side of the head, but did
not wound him severely, whereupon the sentry dropped
his gun and asked tor mercy, which was granted. Allen
demanded of the frightened captive where the quarters

■

'

112

History of Lake Chaw, plain

of the commanding officer, Capt. William Delaplace, of
His Majesty’s Twenty-sixth Regiment, were to be found.
A stairway in front of the barracks on the west side of
the garrison, leading to the second story, was pointed out.
Allen ascended this stairway, and in a stentorian voice
threatened to sacrifice the whole garrison unless the cap¬
tain came forth instantly. Thereupon the surprised com¬
mandant appeared at the head of the stairs clad in his
shirt, with his breeches in one hand. Allen demanded
that the fort be delivered instantly. The British captain
asked by what authority the surrender of the fort was de¬
manded, and the Green Mountain leader replied : “In the
name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.”
“Damn it ! What, what does this mean,” stammered
Delaplace, but Allen interrupted him, and with a drawn
sword held over the head of the British officer called for
an immediate surrender of the garrison. With the Ameri¬
cans already in possession there appeared to be no oppor¬
tunity of successful resistance, and the fort was sur¬
rendered.

While the parley between Allen and Delaplace was
going on, acting under the orders of other officers, several
of the barrack doors had been beaten down and about a
third of the garrison were imprisoned. According to
Colonel Easton’s report there was “an inconsiderable
skirmish with cutlasses or bayonets, in which a small
number of the enemy received some wounds.” All this
was accomplished in ten minutes, without loss of life or
the infliction of any serious wound.

Thus, on the very morning that the Continental
Congress was to assemble in Philadelphia, its authority
was invoked by the leader of a band of men, most of
whom acknowledged the authority of none of the thirteen
American colonies, to take possession of a fortress that

'

.

History of Lake Champlain

113

bulked large in the minds of the people of two continents.

Allen says of this occasion : “The sun seemed to rise
that morning with a superior lustre ; and Ticonderoga
and all its dependencies smiled on its conquerors, who
tossed about the flowing bowl, and wished success to
Congress and the liberty and freedom of America.”

Seth Warner and the remainder of the party left at
Hand’s Cove soon arrived, and joined in the general re¬
joicing.

The captured troops included Captain Delaplace, Lieu¬
tenant Feltham, a conductor of artillery, a gunner, two
sergeants, and forty- four rank and file, besides women
and children. The officers captured at Ticonderoga were
sent to Connecticut in the charge of Messrs. Hickok,
Halsey, and Nichols, reaching Hartford, May 16. The
other prisons reached the same place two days later in the
charge of Epaphras Bull.

The ammunition and stores captured at Ticonderoga
included about 120 iron cannon, from 6- to 24-pounders,
fifty swivels of different sizes, two ten-inch mortars, one
howitzer, one cohom, two brass cannon, ten tons of mus¬
ket balls, three cart loads of flints, thirty new carriages, a
considerable quantity of shells, 100 stands of small arms,
ten casks of poor powder, a warehouse full of materials
for boat building, thirty barrels of flour, eighteen barrels
of pork, and a quantity of beans and peas. One of the
Ticonderoga cannon was known as “the Old Sow from
Cape Breton'’ and probably was one of the prizes taken
by the British at Louisbourg during the French and
Indian War.

The first surrender of a British fortress, and of British
troops as prisoners of war, in the long struggle for
American independence, including the first lowering of
His Majesty’s colors, was made to Ethan Allen and his

%

.

. •

114

History of Lake Champlain

Green Mountain Boys, and in the history of the military
affairs of the United States the capture of Ticonderoga
heads the list as the first important aggressive movement
to be crowned with victory. It is true that Ticonderoga
at this time was a fortress “of broken walls and gates,”
but it was by no means wholly indefensible. Had life
insurance policies been in vogue in this region in the
year 1775, the eighty-three men who proposed, under
prevailing conditions, to capture Ticonderoga would not
have been considered good risks. This fort was one of
the great prizes for which France and Great Britain had
contended, only a few years before, in a series of cam¬
paigns. In the public mind it represented the might and
the power of Britain as surely as Gibraltar and Halifax
represent the strength of the empire today. The news
of its capture by a little band of untrained farmers was
evidence to the Mother Country that the rebellion was,
indeed, a serious matter. The tidings of Ethan Allen’s
victory cheered every patriot heart throughout the length
and breadth of the American colonies, and its importance
as an encouragement to those who sought to throw off
the yoke of British oppression cannot be overestimated.
To the general public it seemed that if Ticonderoga could
be taken, all things were possible. •

The assertion is frequently made that Allen did not
demand the surrender of Ticonderoga in the historic
phrase, “in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Con¬
tinental Congress,” but rather in profane and vulgar lan¬
guage. All the trustworthy evidence, however, goes to
show that the expression quoted actually was used. Allen
gives the phrase in his Narrative, published at a time
when the great majority of the men who participated in
the capture were living. It is given by his brother, Ira
Allen, who was one of the Ticonderoga party, in a his-

"

kl Dtl5% *rfj oT

History of Lake Champlain

115

tory written several years after Ethan’s death. It is
quoted by Williams in his History of Vermont, published
while survivors of the Ticonderoga expedition were still
living. It is also given by Goodhue in his History of
Shoreham, and an aged survivor of the immortal eighty-
three told that author that Allen used the words “in the
name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.”
Certainly this is better evidence than can be adduced for
any other version, and ought to satisfy all fair-minded
critics until an equal balance of testimony can be brought
against it.

Immediately after the capture of Ticonderoga John
Brown was sent as an express to acquaint the Continental
Congress that in the name of that body this British post
had been captured. Just a week after the surrender by
Delaplace, Brown arrived at Philadelphia with the rather
startling information of the success which had attended
Allen’s expedition. Apparently Congress was not over¬
joyed at the news of this bloodless victory. Such an im¬
portant step as the capture of the King’s fortress of
Ticonderoga almost took away the breath of the members,
and they adopted resolutions, seeking to justify the act,
by declaring that they had ‘.‘indubitable evidence” of a
design formed by the British government to invade this
region, in which event the stores and cannon would have
been used against the people of the colonies. It was
directed that an inventory be taken of the articles cap¬
tured in order that, as the resolution reads, “they may be
safely returned when the restoration of the former har¬
mony between Great Britain and the colonies so ardently
wished for by the latter, shall render it prudent and con¬
sistent with the overruling law of self preservation.” All
of which indicates how little the majority of the mem-

'! •• • . .,V/, - :: 1 • rr ■ ■ Dfiff •/

!S*S

116

History of Lake Champlain

bers of Congress realized of the nature and extent of the
conflict upon which the colonies had entered.

The first news of the capture of Ticonderoga to reach
the British authorities at Boston was communicated to
General Gage, commanding His Majesty’s forces, by
means of a letter written by Dr. Joseph Warren, to John
Scollay, dated at Watertown, Mass., May 17, a copy of
which was procured by Gage and forwarded to Lord
Dartmouth at London.

The capture of Ticonderoga was not the full measure
of the American victory. As soon as Warner and his
belated troops arrived at the fortress they expressed a
desire for a share in the conquest. To Warner, there¬
fore, was assigned the task of taking Crown Point, which
was garrisoned by a sergeant and twelve men. In a re¬
port to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, written
May 11, Colonel Arnold tells of the return of a party
which had started to take Crown Point, having met with
head winds, and says the expedition was “entirely laid
aside.” This statement clearly is untrue, for the best
evidence goes to show that on the morning of the very
day on which this was written, May 11, Crown Point was
taken.

Allen had sent word to Capt. Remember Baker, who
was at the Winooski River settlement, to bring his com¬
pany, and Warner and Baker arrived before Crown Point
about the same time. Baker had met and captured two
small boats on the way to St. Johns to give notice of the
cap! ure of Ticonderoga.

The date of the taking of Crown Point seems to be
fixed beyond question, as May 11, by a report to Governor
Trumbull, the Council and General Assembly of Con¬
necticut, dated at Crown Point May 12, and signed by
Seth Warner and Peleg Sunderland in which they say:

■*

■

.

.

History of Lake Champlain

117

“Yesterday we took possession of this garrison in the
name of the country — we found great quantities of ord¬
nance, stores, etc. — very little provision/’ The spoils at
this fort included nearly 200 pieces of cannon, three mor¬
tars, sundry howitzers, fifty swivels, etc.

Capt. Samuel Herrick, who had set out for Skenes-
borough with about thirty men, before the capture of
Ticonderoga was undertaken, reached that settlement in
safety and captured Maj. Andrew Philip Skene, son of
the would-be Governor Skene, about fifty tenants, and
twelve negroes, also a schooner which was re-christened
the Liberty, and several boats. The care of the Skene
estate was entrusted to Capt. Noah Lee, the first settler
of Castleton. Captains Oswald and Brown, with fifty
men enlisted under Colonel Arnold’s authority arrived
at Skenesborough about this time, and joined Herrick’s
party, reaching Ticonderoga May 14.

Amos Callender, of Shoreham, with a small party, cap¬
tured Fort George, at the southern end of Lake George,
without opposition, the fort being held by Captain Nord-
berg of the Sixtieth Regiment and a very slender garrison.

The day following the capture of Ticonderoga Ethan
Allen notified the Albany Committee of Safety, not
hitherto counted among his friends and admirers, that
he had taken the fortress. He warned them of the proba¬
bility that Governor Carleton of Canada would exert
himself to retake the post and added: “I expect imme¬
diate assistance from you, both in men and provisions.
* * * I am apprehensive of a sudden and quick attack.
Pray be quick to our relief and send five hundred men
immediately ; fail not.” Writing to the Massachusetts
authorities the same day, he said : “I expect the colonies
will maintain this fort.”

%

'

| ; i | Mi 4 n ' :

- -

■

- 1 r

118

History of Lake Champlain

On May 12 Allen wrote to Governor Trumbull, of
Connecticut, opening his letter with this statement: “I
make you a present of a Major, a Captain, and two Lieu¬
tenants in the regular Establishment of George the
Third.” Then he proceeded to tell of the plan to seize
the King’s armed sloop, which was cruising on the lake,
and added, “I expect lives must be lost in the attack, as
the commander of George’s sloop is a man of courage.”

A council of war was held, says Ethan Allen in his
Narrative, and it was decided that Arnold should com¬
mand the schooner captured at Skenesborough, while
Allen should command the bateaux, in an effort to take
the British sloop. On Sunday, May 13, the schooner sailed
from Ticonderoga, but owing to contrary winds, Crown
Point was not reached until Monday night, May 14.
Arnold, chafing under the delay, with thirty men em¬
barked in a smaller boat and started for St. Johns, leav¬
ing the command of the schooner to Captain Sloan.
While beating against the wind a mail boat from Montreal
was seized, and an exact list of all the King’s troops in
the Northern department, amounting to 700, was cap¬
tured. On Wednesday, with a good breeze, the schooner
made better time, and overtook Arnold, who was taken
on board.

When within thirty miles of St. Johns the wind fell
and the vessel was becalmed. It was now 8 o’clock in
the evening, and unwilling to wait for a sailing breeze
Arnold ordered two small bateaux, manned by thirty-five
armed men to be fitted out. By hard rowing all night
St. Johns was reached at 6 o’clock Thursday morning.

The party stopped about half a mile south of the town,
concealing themselves in a small creek, and sent forward
one of their number to reconnoitre. While waiting for
an opportunity to fight British troops they fought great

, .... . .. JU ^ a ,

j ' aUd'u .rfjjtitowdtwsj® 1b IfoiWqKj 3W y1*1

■

'

' • ■ ‘ ’ ’’

History of Lake Champlain

119

swarms of gnats and mosquitoes, and waited with im¬
patience for their scout to return. When he arrived he
brought the information that there was no suspicion of
the approach of Arnold’s party but that news had reached
St. Johns of the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown
Point.

The party started at once for the fort and landed about
sixty rods from the barracks, marching briskly upon the
place. The small garrison retreated into the barracks,
but surrendered without opposition. A sergeant and
twelve men were taken — one authority says fourteen
prisoners were captured — together with their arms and
some small stores, the King’s sloop with a crew of seven
men, two brass six-pounders, and four bateaux. Five
bateaux were destroyed so that not a single boat was left
at St. Johns for the use of the King’s troops.

At this time a fine breeze from the north sprang up
and two hours after their arrival Arnold and his detach¬
ment were able to weigh anchor and start on the home¬
ward trip aboard the sloop which was re-christened the
Enterprise. The captain of the King’s sloop had gone
to Montreal, and was expected every hour with a detach¬
ment for an expedition to Ticonderoga and with guns
and carriages for the ship. At Fort Chambly, thirteen
miles to the north, a captain and forty-nine men were
stationed, and it was thought likely that they might reach
St. Johns at any minute. Arnold, therefore, was moved
to write to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety re¬
garding his exploit, that ‘‘it seemed to be a mere inter¬
position of Providence that we arrived at so fortunate an
hour.”

A few miles south of St. Johns Arnold met Allen and
his party, going north. There is much discrepancy re¬
garding the size of Allen’s force in accounts given by

■

.

.

120

Hist ary of Lake Champlain

different authorities. In one report Arnold says that
Allen had 150 men, while in a later one he reduces the
number to 80 or 100. Ira Allen says the party consisted of
sixty men, while an officer, whose name is not given, but
who kept a diary of the expedition, says Allen had ninety
men. The two parties saluted as they met, three volleys
being fired. Allen and his companions went on board the
sloop, where they drank “several loyal Congress healths.”

Allen was determined to proceed to St. Johns and hold
the ground gained. Arnold considered this “a wild im¬
practicable scheme,” but as Allen persisted in advancing,
he was supplied with provisions. Continuing northward,
Allen encamped opposite St. Johns. The next morning
he was attacked by 200 regular troops under Captain
Anstruser, a discharge of grape shot being fired from six
field pieces. Allen returned the fire, but finding that the
British force was too large to resist with any hope of
success he reembarked in haste, leaving three men behind.
It was planned to lay an ambush for the enemy, but hav¬
ing been practically without rest for three days and
nights, the men were so overcome by fatigue and sleep
that it was necessary to abandon the idea.

Arnold's party reached Crown Point May 18 and Ti-
conderoga, May 19. Allen and his men arrived at Ticon-
deroga on the evening of May 21.

The captured British sloop was fitted with six cannon
and ten swivels, and Major Skene’s schooner with four
guns and six swivels.

The capture and destruction of the boats at St. Johns
was an important military movement, for it delayed any
attempt to recapture the Lake Champlain fortresses,
which were in no condition to withstand a serious attack
for many months following their capture.

.

.

CHAPTER VIII

THE ALLEN -ARNOLD CONTROVERSY

NO account of the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in
1775, and the events immediately following the
surrender of that fortress, can be complete that
ignores the controversy that arose between Ethan Allen
and Benedict Arnold over the command of the troops and
the post. Undoubtedly, for many years following the
War for Independence, Arnold was not given the credit
that was his due for the capacity and the courage that he
displayed ; nor is it strange that his traitorous conduct
long blinded men to his deeds that deserve admiration.
On the other hand, there has been a disposition on the
part of some historians to belittle the part taken by Allen,
and to exalt Arnold at the expense of the Green Mountain
leader. This is particularly true regarding the capture
of Ticonderoga, where an attempt is made to show that
Arnold shared the command with Allen, and there is a
broad hint that Arnold was more zealous than any other
leader in the capture of the fortress.

If any event of the American Revolution is well-authen¬
ticated, it is that Ethan Allen was the commander of
the expedition that captured Ticonderoga, on May 10,
1775. It is proved by the official reports; by the testi¬
mony of those participating in the battle; by the news¬
paper accounts of the period ; and last, but by no means
least, by the statement of Captain Delaplace, the com¬
mandant of the captured fort, who was in a position to
know with certainty the identity of the officers to whom
he surrendered.

Arnold’s efforts to secure the command, begun at
Castleton, and renewed before the attack upon the fort-

122

History of Lake Champlain

ress, again were manifested soon after Ticonderoga was
taken. He challenged Allen's authority to command, and
insisted that the chief position was his by right. This
demand angered the soldiers to such a degree that they
paraded, “and declared that they would go right home,
for they would not be commanded by Arnold,” accord¬
ing to the testimony of an eye witness. The men were
pacified by a promise that there should be no change in
commanders, Arnold being informed that as he had
raised no men he could not expect to command those
raised by other officers. This was before the arrival of
the Massachusetts men who came with Captain Herrick
by way of Skenesborough. As Arnold insisted that he
was the only officer having “legal orders to show,” Ed¬
ward Mott, chairman of the Committee of War for this
expedition, wrote an order directing Ethan Allen to keep
(not take) the command of the garrison of Ticonderoga
and its dependencies until he received further orders
from the colony of Connecticut or the Continental
Congress.

Arnold’s regimental memorandum book shows that
he felt much chagrin at his failure to secure the command.

On May 11 Allen reported the capture of the fort to
the Massachusetts Congress, signing his name as “Com¬
mander of Ticonderoga.” Writing to Governor Trum¬
bull, of Connecticut, on May 12, he signed the communi¬
cation as “at present commander of Ticonderoga.” Did
he, at this time, consider his tenure of office insecure?

Capt. Elisha Phelps, commissary of the Ticonderoga
expedition, a brother of Capt. Noah Phelps, writing to
the Connecticut Legislature, May 16, reported “a great
quarrel with Col. Arnold who shall command the Fort,
even that some of the soldiers threaten the life of Col.
Arnold.”

4

.

1 ) • I •'

'

. • .

-

History of Lake Cham plant

123

Barnabas Deane, in a letter written to his brother Silas,
June 1, tells of a recent visit to Crown Point, where he
found '‘a very critical situation,” owing to the differences
between Allen and Arnold, “which had risen to a great
height.” Pie said that “Col. Allen is cooled down some
since his unsuccessful attempt at St. Johns.” Mr. Deane
declared that he and Colonel Webb, who accompanied
him, “had an arduous task to reconcile matters between
the two commanders at Crown Point, which I hope is
settled for the present. Col. Allen made a public declara¬
tion that he would take no command on himself but
give it up entirely to Col. Arnold until matters were
regulated and an officer appointed to take command.”

Deane reported that Arnold had been fired upon twice,
and that a musket had been presented at his breast by
one of the opposition party, with a threat to “fire him
through” if he refused to comply with orders given. It
was represented that some of the Connecticut people were
hostile to Arnold, whom Deane praised highly, saying
that had it not been for him “no man’s person would be
safe that was not of the Green Mountain party.” He
fails to add that there would have been no “Green Moun¬
tain party” had it not been for Arnold’s consuming am¬
bition to command an expedition which other men had
raised and financed. Deane appears to have been strongly
prejudiced against Allen and his associates, and he inti¬
mated in his letter that “their design appears to me to
hold those places [the forts] as a security to their lands
against any that may oppose them.” Subsequent events
proved this ridiculous charge to be baseless.

On May 14 Arnold wrote to the Massachusetts Com¬
mittee of Safety: “Mr. Allen’s party is decreasing, and
the dispute between us is subsiding.” It is probable that
many of the Green Mountain Boys left the fort soon after

■

■

.

.

.

124

History of Lake Champlain

its capture. They had responded to an emergency call,
leaving their families unprotected. It was the season
for plowing and planting, and the extreme poverty of
the people, to which allusion already has been made, was
an urgent reason why the volunteers should leave the
camp for the farm at the earliest possible moment in
order that the raising of crops might not be delayed.

In writing to the Albany Committee of Safety from
Ticonderoga, on May 22, Arnold signed himself as com¬
mander, and in a letter written the following day he used
the title of commander-in-chief. It is significant that in
a letter written at Crown Point, May 26, to the Con¬
necticut General Assembly, dealing with a missive sent
to the Indians by a council of officers, Allen signed him¬
self simply, “Colonel of the Green Mountain Boys/’
Arnold was also at Crown Point that day, and was issu¬
ing orders.

Writing to the Continental Congress from Crown
Point, May 29, Arnold says: “Some dispute arising be¬
tween Col. Allen and myself prevented my carrying my
order into execution until the 16th.” In a letter written
the same day to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety,
he says: “Colonel Allen has entirely given up command.”
Allen was at Crown Point on May 29, as a letter written
that day to the Continental Congress shows.

As early as May 27 the Massachusetts Congress alluded
to fears expressed by Arnold that attempts were being
made to injure his character, and he was informed that
he would have an opportunity to vindicate his conduct.
On June 1 the Massachusetts Congress expressed regret
that Arnold should make repeated requests that a suc¬
cessor should be appointed, assured him that that body
had the greatest confidence in his “fidelity, knowledge,
courage, and good conduct,” and advised him “at present”

.

.

■

History of Lake Champlain

125

to dismiss the thought of giving up the command of the
Massachusetts forces on Lake Champlain.

On June 4, Allen, with Colonel Easton, wrote a letter
to the Canadians from Ticonderoga and signed himself
“at present the principal commander of this army.” This
may have been simply a determination on the part of
Allen to make at least a show of reasserting his right to
command; or it may have been due to a weakening of
Arnold's authority, soon to be entirely overthrown.
About a week later, on the tenth day of June, eighteen
officers at Crown Point, including Colonel Easton, Maj.
Samuel Elmer, of Connecticut, Seth Warner, Remember
Baker, Ira Allen, and others, united in an address to the
Continental Congress regarding affairs, and named Ethan
Allen, Warner, and Baker a committee to consult with
Congress. The document concludes as follows :

“Colonel Allen has behaved in this affair [referring
presumably to the capture of Ticonderoga] very singu¬
larly remarkable for his courage and must in duty recom¬
mend him to you and to the whole Continent.” This
address would seem to indicate that Allen had a consider¬
able following at that time among the officers at the Lake
Champlain forts.

Arnold wrote to the Continental Congress from Crown
Point on June 13, signing himself as commanding officer.
In his letter he discussed a proposed Canadian expedition,
and added parenthetically and significantly, “no Green
Mountain Boys.”

The Massachusetts Congress, on June 14, appointed a
committee consisting of Walter Spooner, Jedediah Foster,
and James Sullivan, to investigate conditions at Ticon¬
deroga and Crown Point, including Arnold's conduct.
This committee was given power to discharge Arnold if,
in their judgment, it Avas proper to do so. Evidently

rl -

■ 1

ri n ')

126

History of Lake Champlain

charges of a serious nature had been brought against
Arnold to warrant an investigation if his conduct with
power given to the committee to discharge him. The
provincial Congress had sent Col. Joseph Henshaw to
Hartford instructing him, in the event that Connecticut
had arranged for garrisoning Ticonderoga, to go to the
fort, with orders for Arnold to return to Massachusetts,
settle his account, and be discharged. Colonel Henshaw
learned that Connecticut had sent Colonel Hinman with a
thousand men to hold Ticonderoga until New York was
ready to relieve him. Henshaw did not go to Ticon¬
deroga himself, however, but sent a letter acquainting
Arnold with the turn events had taken.

When Hinman arrived at Ticonderoga Arnold refused
to recognize the Connecticut colonel as his superior
officer. Instead, he transferred the command of Ticon¬
deroga to Captain Herrick, from whom Hinman’s men
were obliged to take orders. If they refused' to submit
they were not permitted to pass to and from the garrison.
Such was the condition of affairs which the Massachu¬
setts investigators found upon their arrival at Lake Cham¬
plain. The committee reported, as a result of their in¬
vestigations, that a mutiny arose among some of Arnold’s
men, “which seemed to be attended with dangerous symp¬
toms” ; but they were able, with the aid of Judge Duer, of
Charlotte County to quell it.

Edward Mott, chairman of the Committee of War
which made the plans for the capture of Ticonderoga,
wrote Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut, at some length
regarding this incident. According to his account the
Massachusetts committee went to Crown Point with
orders that Arnold should turn over the command to
Colonel Hinman, which he positively refused to do. The
committee thereupon discharged Arnold from the service.

.

'

History of Lake Champlain

127

The refusal to yield the command to Hinman is corrobo¬
rated by the committee’s report to the provincial Congress,
which says: “Your Committee informed the said Arnold
of their commission, and, at his request, gave him a copy
of their instructions ; upon reading of which he seemed
greatly disconcerted, and declared he would not be second
in command to any person whomsoever.”

Mott further reported that the committee were re¬
fused the privilege of speaking to Arnold’s soldiers; that
Arnold and some of his men went on board the vessels,
threatening to go to St. Johns and deliver the boats to
the British ; that Arnold disbanded all his troops but'
those on the vessels ; that those who tried to communicate
with Arnold were ill treated, being fired upon with a
swivel gun and small arms after they came away from
the vessels in a bateau. Later, Mott secured permission
from Colonel Hinman to make an attempt to settle the
difficulty. Colonel Sullivan, of the Massachusetts com¬
mittee, Lieutenant Halsey, Judge Duer, Mott, and a
party of men to row the boat proceeded to Arnold’s
vessels, as Mott tells the story, reaching there at 11
o’clock in the forenoon. On going aboard they were
treated like prisoners, being guarded until evening by
men with fixed bayonets. It is recorded that Colonel
Sullivan “was much insulted while we were on board the
vessels, chiefly by Mr. Brown, one of Colonel Arnold’s
captains.” After being released, a report of the indigni¬
ties inflicted was made to Colonel Hinman, who ordered
Lieutenant Halsey with twenty-five men to return to the
vessels, get what men he could to join him, and bring
one or more vessels to the fort. The next day the matter
was settled.

Arnold resigned his command on June 24. In his
letter of resignation he said that the action of the pro-

* 11 >ru Ifl " •

■

, - ■ - » ii ^

.

128

History of Lake Champlain

vincial Congress in dealing with him was a most dis¬
graceful reflection on him and the body of troops he com¬
manded. Soon after his resignation he returned to New
Haven, Conn.

It is not strange that Gen. Philip Schuyler was moved,
on July 11, to write the Continental Congress concerning
this affair as follows: “The unhappy controversy w’hich
has subsisted between the officers at Ticonderoga relative
to the command has, I am informed, thrown everything
into vast confusion. Troops have been dismissed, others
refuse to serve if this or that man command. The sloop
is without either captain or pilot, both of which are dis¬
missed or come away. I shall hurry up there much
sooner than the necessary preparations would otherwise
permit, that I may attempt discipline amongst them/'

From such information as may be obtained it would
appear that Arnold did most of the commanding at both
Ticonderoga and Crown Point after the first few days
following the capture, until the Massachusetts com¬
mittee appeared, refitting the captured boats, repairing
barracks, sending one party to the mouth of the Winoo¬
ski River, and another toward St. Johns. In all of
Allen’s correspondence he appears to have made no attack
upon Arnold ; but as much cannot be said for Arnold,
whose letters refer in uncomplimentary terms to Allen
and his Green Mountain Boys, as illustrated by the re¬
mark in a letter to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety
that “Colonel Allen is a proper man to head his own wild
people, but entirely unacquainted with military service.”

There is much to admire in the dashing bravery and
undoubted capacity shown -by Benedict Arnold later in
this war. It is also true that his capture of the sloop at
St. Johns displayed skill and courage, and his conduct of
affairs at the Champlain forts during parts of May and

)

V

‘

'

n k tic i tec « a 9

. ' u

.

•niW arf* io fl ?

■

.

History of Lake Champlain

129

June showed activity and ability of no mean order; but
the Ticonderoga chapter of Arnold’s career, taken as a
whole, is a discreditable one. History is able to give,
and will give, the man his just clue for his brilliant ex¬
ploits at Quebec, in the naval battle on Lake Champlain,
and at Saratoga, without the necessity of attempting to
rob Ethan Allen of his well-earned laurels or to defame
the memory of the sturdy pioneers who rallied to the
standard of the Green Mountain leader in the early days
of May, 1775. The history of the Ticonderoga expedi¬
tion shows Arnold’s inordinate ambition ; his desire to
secure the chief command, and the greatest glory, no
matter how irregular might be the means employed ; a
disposition to bear false witness against his rivals in his
letters and reports ; and insubordination when deprived
of power that foreshadowed his traitorous conduct at
West Point at a later day. These qualities of the man
cannot be excused or ignored unless one prefers to offer
an attorney’s brief for Arnold, rather than to present
historical facts in an impartial manner.

With the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point,
military operations on Lake Champlain practically were
at a standstill for several months. Soon after the news
of the taking of these forts was received, the Continental
Congress “earnestly recommended” the removal of the
military stores and ordnance to a post to be established at
the southern end of Lake George. This was a proposi¬
tion showing such an amazing lack of military foresight,
and one that aroused such a storm of protest throughout
New England, that it deserves more than passing notice ;
for it shows very clearly what the people of that region,
at that time, thought of the strategic importance of Lake
Champlain and its fortresses.

'

.

130

History of Lake Champlain

As early as May 27, 1775, the Massachusetts Congress
informed the Continental Congress that “if that post
[Ticonderoga] is abandoned ths whole of Lake Cham¬
plain will be abandoned to Canada, and the command of
that water will amazingly facilitate all such descents upon
these colonies, whether greater or less, which Adminis¬
tration shall see fit to order. But if that post should be
held by the Colonies, all such attempts for the destruction
of the colonies may be vastly obstructed, if not wholly
defeated/’

On May 29 the Massachusetts Congress sent a letter
to Governor Trumbull of Connecticut, dealing with the
proposed abandonment of the Champlain forts, which
read in part, as follows: “We cannot conceal from the
General Assembly of your colony that we should be to
the last degree agitated if we really supposed that the
said resolution of the General Congress touching Ticon¬
deroga and said posts on Lake Champlain, was their ulti¬
matum and that they would not reconsider that reso¬
lution. * * *

“The maintaining that post is not only practicable and,
under God, in the power of the colonies, but of inex¬
pressible necessity for the defense of the Colony of New
York and all the New England colonies. * * * In the
view of a post of observation, we beg leave to observe
that all movements from Canada, intended against New
England or New York, by the way of Lake Champlain
whether by scalping parties or large bodies, whether in
the winter or open seasons of the year, may almost cer¬
tainly be discovered so seasonablv as that the blow may
be generally warded off; whereas, if the post at William
Henry be the only one kept, it is probable that three-
fourths of the attempts on the frontier of New York and
New England by Champlain will never be known until

'

.. . . '

'

History of Lake Champlain

131

executed. * * * If we abandon the post at Ticonderoga
the enemy will infallibly seize it ; and in that case, what
annoyance can we give Canada by the way of Champlain
by means of a fortified post at William Henry? * * * We
beg leave just to hint that a fortified station on the
easterly side of South Bay, on Lake Champlain, opposite
to Ticonderoga or Crown Point, or still further on,
affords great advantage for the maintaining of Ticon¬
deroga, and defending the settlements on the easterly side
of Lake Champlain, and there is artillery enough to spare
to other places ; and if we abandon the land between
the Lakes George and Champlain we shall give the enemy
an opportunity to build at or near the points ; and by
that means we shall lose the whole of Lake Champlain,
and the shipping we now have on that lake, by which we
can command the whole of it and keep the enemy at a
distance of a hundred miles from our English settlements
near Otter Creek, etc. ; but if that fortress should be
maintained we shall have those very settlements to sup¬
port it, which will not be half the charge that it would be
to maintain a sufficient number of soldiers so far from
their homes. We have there four or five hundred hardy
men with families, who, if those grounds should be aban¬
doned, will be driven from their settlements and leave
the Massachusetts and New Hampshire people naked,
without any barrier, and exposed to the Canadians and
savages, who will have a place of retreat at the point as
they had almost the whole of the last war. By abandon¬
ing this ground we give up an acquisition which cost im¬
mense sums of money, the loss of many lives, and five
campaigns.

“As to the expense of maintaining of fortress at Ticon¬
deroga, this colony will not fail to exert themselves to
the utmost of their power.”

.

.

.

tbnori s

132

History of Lake Champlain

The Massachusetts committee sent to investigate affairs
at Ticonderoga and Crown Point during the Allen-Arnold
controversy informed Governor Trumbull, of Connecti¬
cut, that in their opinion “the abandoning the posts on
Lake Champlain would probably prove the utter ruin of
the New England Governments.”

A letter from the New Hampshire Congress to the
Continental Congress, dated June 2, says : “A late order
of your respectable Congress for the demolition of the
fortress of Ticonderoga, and removal of the artillery
from thence, has very much damped the expectation of
the people in this colony, arising from the security our
frontiers hoped to receive by the check the Canadians and
savages might receive in any incursion on us by a good
garrison there. * * * Our new settlements extended on
Connecticut River for a hundred miles, are very defense¬
less in every respect, and under terrible apprehensions
from the accounts of the warlike preparations making in
Canada against the colony.” The letter then asks that
the order be reviewed and countermanded. The New
York Congress was informed of the request made, and
the statement is made that “we esteem that fortress
[ Ticonderoga] to be a place truly important to the wel¬
fare of all these Northern Colonies in general and to this
Colony in particular.”

Naturally Ethan Allen was greatly disturbed by the
suggestion that the post which he and his men had taken
should be abandoned, and on May 29 he wrote the Con¬
tinental Congress on this subject, saying: “I am * * *
much surprised that your Honours should I recommend
it to me to remove the artillery to the south end of Lake
George, and there to make a stand ; the consequences of
which must ruin the frontier settlements, which are ex¬
tended at least one hundred miles to the northwest from

'

'

'

«

li t i- ' i 1 '■ > > n >

History of Lake Champlain

133

that place. Probably your Honours were not informed
of those settlements which consist of several thousand
families who are seated in that tract of country called the
New Hampshire Grants.

“The misfortune and real injury to those inhabitants
by making the south end of Lake George the northern¬
most point of protection will more fully appear from the
following consideration, namely : It was at the special
request and solicitation of the Governments of the Prov¬
ince of the Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut that those
very inhabitants put their lives into the hand of their
Governments, and made those valuable acquisitions for
the Colonies. By doing it they have incensed Governor
Carletou and all the ministerial party in Canada against
them ; and provided they should, after all their good
service in behalf of their Country, be neglected and left
exposed, they will be of all men most consummately
miserable.”

Allen proceeded to point out the immense advantage
the possession of the lake would give if an aggressive
Canadian policy were pursued thus “forming the frontier
near the country of the enemy.”

Benedict Arnold also addressed the Continental Con¬
gress on this important subject, in a letter dated May 29,
in which he said : “I must beg leave to observe, gentle¬
men, that the reports of Ticonderoga’s being abandoned
have thrown the inhabitants here into the greatest con¬
sternation. There are about five hundred families to
the northward of Ticonderoga, who, if it is evacuated,
will be left at the mercy of the King’s Troops and Indians,
and who have, part of them, joined the Army, and cannot
now remain neuter, to whom a remove would be entire
ruin, as they have large families and no dependence but a
promising crop in the ground. I need not add to this,

jtfnsiwtofln! ajf vu**/»i ten bn* snoliOtfirn ^®T

i io yym

, jj • • ;i n ii«J <: -r ri

■'

-

134

History of Lake Champlain

gentlemen, that Ticonderoga is the key of this extensive
country, and if abandoned, leaves a very extensive
frontier open to the ravages of the enemy, and to con¬
tinued alarms, which will probably cost more than the ex¬
pense of repairing and garrisoning it.”

Perhaps the most vigorous of all the protests against
abandoning Ticonderoga was made by Joseph Hawley,
called the “Nestor of the Massachusetts patriots,” who,
writing to Joseph Warren from Northampton, June 9,
said: “I heartily wish that every member of our Con¬
gress, yea, every inhabitant of the Province, had a true
idea of the infinite importance and consequence of that
station [Ticonderoga]. If Britain, while they are in hos¬
tility against New England, hold that post, they will by
means thereof be able to do more to vanquish and sub¬
due us from that quarter than they will be able to do in
all other parts of the Continent; yea, more than they
could do in all other parts of the globe. If Britain should
regain and hold that place they will be able soon to harass
and waste by the savages, all the borders of New Eng¬
land eastward of Hudson River and southwest of Lake
Champlain, and the River St. Lawrence, and shortly, by
the Lake Champlain, to march an army to Hudson’s
River to subdue the feeble and sluggish efforts of the
inhabitants on that river, and so connect Montreal and
New York; and then New England, will be wholly en¬
vironed by sea and land, east, west, north and south.
The chain of the Colonies will be irreparably broken ; the
whole Province of New York will be fully taken into the
interest of the Administration; and this very pass of
Ticonderoga is the post and spot where all this mischief
may be withstood and arrested; but if that is relinquished
or taken from us, destruction must come in upon us like
a flood.

.

\

.

• .

'

History of Lake Champlain

135

“I am bold to say (for I can maintain it) that the
General Congress would have not advised to so destruc¬
tive a measure if they had recommended and prescribed
that our whole Army, which now invests Boston should
instantly decamp, and march with all the baggage and
artillery to Worcester, and suffer Gage’s army to ravage
what part of the country they pleased. Good God ! what
could be their plan. If they intend defense, they must
be unacquainted with the geography of the country, or
never adverted to the matter. The design of seizing that
post was gloriously conceived ; but to what purpose did
our forces light there, if they are now to fly away from
there. Certainly to no good purpose, but to very bad and
destructive purposes ; for by this step General Carleton
is alarmed. Whereas if the step had not been taken, his
proceedings might have been slow and with some leisure ;
but now, if lie is worthy of command, he will exert him¬
self to the utmost and proceed with dispatch. If we
maintain the post, the measure of taking it was glorious.
If we abandon it, the step will turn out to have been a
destructive one.”

Congress heeding the protests that were made, de¬
cided to maintain the post at Ticonderoga, overwhelming
evidence of its importance being furnished from many
sources.

In November, 1775, the task of transporting to Boston,
for use in the siege of that town, some of the cannon
captured at Ticonderoga, was assigned to Col. Henry
Knox. The American army before Boston lacked the
heavy ordnance needed and no foundries for making
cannon were available. Late in November Washington
wrote General Schuyler that he was in very great need
of powder, lead, mortars, cannon, and nearly all kinds of

f

-

136

History of Lake Champlain

artillery stores, and urged that all that could be spared
from Ticonderoga be sent to him at Boston.

On November 27, Knox, who was at New York, wrote
to Washington: “I shall set out by land tomorrow morn¬
ing for Ticonderoga, and proceed with the utmost dis¬
patch. as knowing our whole dependence for cannon will
be from that post.” Knox caused forty-two ‘‘exceed¬
ingly strong” sleds to be made, and with eighty yoke of
oxen the guns were taken to Lake George, and thence to
Albany. While crossing the Hudson River on the ice,
one of the cannon fell into the stream, but it was re¬
covered the next day with the assistance of the people
of Albany. The route followed was by way of Great
Barrington, Mass., and Springfield, to Boston. At the
end of ten weeks Knox reached Boston with fifty-five
cannon and received the congratulations of General
Washington.

An interesting incident of this expedition was the meet¬
ing on a stormy winter night, in a little cabin on the shore
of Lake George, between Knox and a young British
officer who had been taken prisoner at St. Johns. He
was being taken to Lancaster, Pa., to be held for ex¬
change, and by chance on this night shared, not only the
same cabin, but the same bed with Knox. This British
captive was John Andre. Had Knox been permitted to
read what the future held in store for himself and his
companion, he would have learned that later in this war
just begun, there would fall to his lot the sad duty of sit¬
ting as one of the judges at a court martial, and con¬
demning to death as a spy, implicated in Arnold’s treason,
this charming young officer whose conversation he found
so enjoyable.

Thus it will be seen that the capture of the post of
Ticonderoga made it possible to supply Washington with

.

j

'

.

ffeiihti c bus y.on'A n<r>v/1*i ,i%io *D $AmJ

■

History of Lake Champlain

1 37

the artillery so necessary for conducting a successful
siege. Without the guns from Ticonderoga it is at least
possible that the British would not have been driven
from Boston. Had Washington failed in this enterprise,
perhaps the American Revolution would have been simply
an American rebellion. But this is one of the “ifs” of
history.

;

CHAPTER IX

THE INVASION OF CANADA

THE idea of invading Canada followed, almost im¬
mediately, the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown
Point.

When Ethan Allen made his first journey to St. Johns,
after the capture of the King’s sloop by Arnold, on May
18, he forwarded a letter directed to “Mr. James Morri¬
son and the merchants that are friendly to the cause of
liberty in Montreal,” asking for assistance and coopera¬
tion. He requested that they send to him at St. Johns,
“forthwith and without further notice,” provisions, am¬
munition, and spirituous liquors to the amount of five
hundred pounds.

In Allen’s letter to the Continental Congress, written
May 29, he declared that if he had had 500 men with him
at St. Johns he could have advanced to Montreal. He
added : “Nothing strengthens our friends in Canada equal
to our prosperity in taking the sovereignty of Lake
Champlain; and should the colonies forthwith send an
army of two or three thousand men, and attack Montreal
we should have little to fear from the Canadians or
Indians, and would easily set up the standard of liberty in
the extensive Province of Quebec, whose limit was en¬
larged purely to subvert the liberties of America. Strik¬
ing such a blow would intimidate the Tory party in
Canada the same as the commencement of the war at
Boston intimidated the Tories in the colonies. They are
a set of gentlemen that will not be converted by reason
but are easily wrought upon by fear. Advancing an
army into Canada will be agreeable to our friends; and it
is bad policy to fear the resentment of an enemy.”

’

' ' !'1

■

History of Lake Champlain

139

Congress was unwilling at this time to authorize such
an aggressive act as the invasion of Canada. Subsequent
events showed that Allen was right in urging an immedi¬
ate invasion of the province as a prudent military move¬
ment. The British force under Carleton’s command at
that time was small, and had Allen’s advice been followed
it is probable that Canada could have been captured with
comparative ease.

Allen wrote to the New York Congress on June 2:
“I will lay my life on it that with fifteen hundred men
and a proper train of artillery, I will take Montreal.
Provided I could be thus furnished, and if an army could
command the field, it would be no insuperable difficulty
to take Quebec.” At this period the Canadians were in¬
clined to be-friendly to the Americans, and Carleton ex¬
perienced great difficulty in enlisting men for his army.

William Gilliland, of Westport, N. Y., writing to the
Continental Congress on May 29, called attention to a
British post at Point au Per, on the west side of the lake,
seven miles south of the Canadian boundary line, where
a large stone house was built during the summer of 1774.
There were strong ball proof brick sentry boxes at each
corner commanding every inch of ground about the
house. In these sentry boxes, and in the large, dry cellar
under the house, were forty-four portholes. Gilliland
urged that by throwing up a breastwork around the stone
house and providing a few cannon for defense, it might
be used with great effect as a fortification to check any
British advance up the lake. He added: “I must beg
leave to observe to you that there are now in these parts
a very considerable number of men under the command
of Mr. Ethan Allen, as brave as Hercules, and as good
marksmen as can be found in North America, who might
prove immediately serviceable to the common cause were

.

I

-

■

140

History of Lake Champlain

they regularly embodied and commanded by officers of
their own choice, subordinate to whoever has or may be
appointed commander-in-chief or to the instructions of
the Grand Congress. These men, being excellent wood
rangers, and particularly acquainted in the wilderness of
Lake Champlain, would, in all likelihood, be more service¬
able in these parts than treble their number of others not
having these advantages, especially if left under the direc¬
tions of their present enterprising and heroic commander,
Mr. Allen.”

Pres. John Hancock of the Continental Congress wrote
to the New York Congress, on June 24, 1775, regard¬
ing the employment of the Green Mountain Boys in
the service, an expression of opinion, which, to be under¬
stood, should be read with the thought in mind that a
border warfare had been waged for several years be¬
tween this band and the New York provincial govern¬
ment, their leaders having been declared outlaws. In
this letter Hancock said : “The Congress are of the
opinion that the employing of the Green Mountain Boys
in the American Army would be advantageous to the
common cause, as well on account of their situation as of
their disposition and alertness, they are desirous you
should embody them among the Troops you shall raise.”
Subsequently a regiment was raised on the New Hamp¬
shire Grants, of which Seth Warner was chosen com¬
mander over Ethan Allen.

Naturally Allen was disappointed, as he had been the
leader of the Green Mountain Boys from the beginning
of the controversy with New York over the lands on
the New Hampshire Grants, and the dispatches of that
period refer to a sharp controversy between Allen and
Warner. In a letter to Governor Trumbull, of Connecti¬
cut, the hero of Ticonderoga alludes to his disappoint-

' ■

■

■'

'

History of Lake Champlain

141

ment as follows: “Notwithstanding my zeal and success
in my Country’s cause, the old farmers on the New
Hampshire Grants, who do not incline to go to war, have
met in a committee meeting and in their nomination of
officers for the Regiment of Green Mountain Boys who
are quickly to be raised, have wholly omitted me : but
as the commissions will come from the Continental Con¬
gress, I hope they will remember me, as I desire to re¬
main in the service.”

Colonel Hinman, in command at Ticonderoga, was not
an efficient or forceful officer. The Massachusetts com¬
mittee, at the time of their visit to the forts, had appointed
Colonel Easton as commander of their provincial troops
at Lake Champlain, under Hinman. John Brown was
designated as major, and Jonas Fay, as surgeon. General
Schuyler was directed by order of Congress, to assume
command of the district including Ticonderoga and
Crown Point, and when he arrived at the lake on July
18 he was greatly distressed over conditions existing
there. Provisions were short and Schuyler considered
that there had been “a very considerable waste or em¬
bezzlement.”

On the very day of Schuyler’s arrival at Ticonderoga
he wrote Washington in disgust, and almost in derision,
of what he considered Hinman’s incompetence. 1 he
Connecticut colonel evidently had simply waited for the
arrival of his superior officer, without taking any aggres¬
sive attitude. Schuyler draws a graphic picture of his
arrival at the landing place at the north end of Lake
George at 10 o’clock the night before, only to find the
guards sound asleep. An investigation showed a great
shortage of ammunition, not a nail or other materials

o 7

for boat building, and the fact that the troops were very
poorly armed.

■ • 5

.

142

History of Lake Champlain

Schuyler began work with vigor, repaired the saw¬
mills, and endeavored to get together the supplies so
urgently needed. He complained that Connecticut had
made such generous allowance for her troops that the
fact was likely to breed dissatisfaction among the soldiers
from other colonies. Fifty milch cows had been sent
up for the Connecticut regiment at a time when the
pasturage was very short for the working oxen and fat
cattle intended for beef for the troops, owing to what
Schuyler called “the severest drouth ever known in this
country.” These cattle were ordered back to New Eng¬
land.

Jeremiah Halsey had been appointed by Colonel Hin-
man “commodore of all armed vessels and crafts on Lakes
Champlain and George,” a high sounding title for a fleet
consisting of one schooner and one sloop. In a letter to
Benjamin Franklin, Schuyler wrote that when he arrived
at Ticonderoga he did not find craft sufficient to move
200 men. Halsey was soon superseded as “commodore”
by James Smith, of New York, who took command of
the sloop Enterprise, which vessel, he said, was “of very
little use to the service.” James Stewart was given com¬
mand of the schooner Liberty.

Very soon after the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown
Point, and the expeditions of Allen and Arnold to St.
Johns, General Carleton, the British commander in
Canada, sent all the troops he could spare to fortify St.
Johns. From Quebec be had obtained all the ship car¬
penters he could procure, and under the direction of Capt.
Zachary Taylor they had proceeded to build vessels to
replace the sloop and bateaux captured or burned by
Arnold.

Maj. John Brown left Crown Point July 24 with
four men on a scouting expedition and arrived in Canada

• .

.!

'

!r p M J - - •

History of Lake Champlain

143

on July 30, after a most fatiguing march, part of the way
through a vast swamp. Brown was pursued and sur¬
rounded, but escaped by jumping out of rear window of
a house. He was followed for two days, but by the help
of friendly Canadians he escaped. He returned by way
of Missisquoi Bay, where he obtained a small canoe, and
on August 10 reached Crown Point.

Brown reported that there were about 700 troops in
Canada. There were 300 at St. Johns, 50 at Quebec, and
the others were distributed at various posts, including
Montreal and Chambly. He found the Canadians friend¬
ly, and in a report to Governor Trumbull he declared :
“Now, Sir, is the time to carry Canada. It may be done
with great ease and little cost, and I have no doubt but
the Canadians would join us.”

Schuyler bent his energies to the building of boats, and
on August 23 was able to report that he had craft suffi¬
cient to move about 1,300 men with twenty days’ pro¬
visions. Two flat bottomed boats, 60 feet long, had been
built, each capable of carrying five 12-pounders; but,
unfortunately, there was a lack of gun carriages.

After much effort troops were assembled for a Cana¬
dian expedition. On August 25 an officer at Ticonderoga
wrote that there were about 1,200 men at that post. In
describing conditions he said that there was an abundance
of salt and fresh provisions, and that the soldiers were
allowed each day a gill of rum and as much spruce beer
as they could drink, “so that they have no occasion to
drink the lake water, it being reckoned very unhealthy.”
The idea that the lake water was unhealthy, or poisonous,
which prevailed for a considerable period, is said to have
been due to the appearance at certain times of -a white
scum on the surface, which gave forth an offensive odor
under the direct rays of the sun.

htjjg .oocibo IJbwu a boteKb srjrfw ,xsH KM||iH| to

.

; t

*

'

144

History of Lake Champlain

More than the spruce beer, however, was needed to
make the men healthy. Schuyler wrote to Washington
on August 6 that the troops ‘'are crowded in vile barracks
which, with the natural inattention of the soldiery to
cleanliness has already been productive of disease.” On
August 14, 146 men were sick in Hillman’s regiment, and
48 out of 196 in Colonel Easton’s regiment. The troops
sickened rapidly. There was a lack of tents and hospital
stores, and Schuyler gave to the regimental surgeons the
supply of wine which he had brought for his own table,
the General being accustomed to good living. From July
20 to September 25, 726 men were discharged on account
of illness.

About the middle of August, Capt. Remember Baker,
who had been detailed to do scouting service, with a few
men was reconnoitering in the Richelieu River, near the
mouth of a tributary called the Lacolle. The party left
their bateau on the river bank and some Indians made
oft* with it. Discovering the savages in the act, Baker’s
men fired, wounding several of the party. The fire was
returned and one white man was killed. The Americans
having fled, the Indians returned and cut off the head of
their victim. His papers were taken and showed that
the man slain was Captain Remember Baker, one of the
ablest of the leaders of the Green Mountain Boys. His
death is said to have been the first blood of the Revolu¬
tionary War shed on Canadian soil. Baker’s head was
taken to St. Johns and placed on a pole, where it is said
to have remained for some time, although some writers
assert that the gory trophy was carried to Montreal
Schuyler was considerably disturbed bv this skirmish, as
he feared it would estrange the Indians, whose friendship
he had been working hard to obtain.

'

; ! • « 'Im™ .

a •. ; • ’•■■■ : • " r,m

History of Lake Champlain

145

Gen. Richard Montgomery, second in command under
Schuyler, arrived at Ticonderoga August 17. On August
30 he left Crown Point, for the north, with 1,200 men,
and the Canadian invasion was begun. That night the
troops encamped at Gilliland’s settlement at Westport.
Gilliland, and Moses Pierson, of Shelburne, on the east
side of the lake, had organized a company of Minute
Men, about thirty being recruited at Willsboro and fifteen
at Shelburne. Gilliland was the captain and Pierson
was a lieutenant. Gilliland furnished some of the boats
for the expedition and conducted Montgomery down the
lake, which he knew thoroughly from an experience of
ten years. The next day, August 31, after passing the
high point of Isle La Motte, the army stopped at a fine
sandy beach on the island, to await the arrival of General
Schuyler. He arrived on September 4, and the same
day the army departed for Isle aux Noix, in the Richelieu
River, one of the French strongholds taken by the British
in 1760. Schuyler was ambitious to lead the army of
invasion in person, but his condition of health made this
impossible. His illness, resulting from a bilious fever
and a violent attack of rheumatism, compelled him to
abandon the expedition, and on September 16 he was put
into a covered boat and started for Ticonderoga. About
an hour from Isle aux Noix he met Col. Seth Warner
with 170 Green Mountain Boys, being, as he says, “the
first that had appeared of that vaunted corps.” This
statement proves that Warner’s men did not leave Crown
Point with the main body of the army, and did not camp
at Isle La Motte with Montgomery.

The American army received further reinforcements
from time to time. A New York officer, writing Sep¬
tember 14, said he intended to leave Ticonderoga the
next day for Isle aux Noix, having been detained for

JB ‘ IB aqooii

■

146

History of Lake Champlain

want of boats, and on October 22 General Wooster’s regi¬
ment of 335 men sailed rather reluctantly from Ticon-

j

deroga to join Montgomery.

Evidently there had been some apprehension lest the
Indian settlement on the Missisquoi should cause trouble,
and an allusion is made in the documents of the period
to the fact that certain New Hampshire companies were
guarding the frontier against the attack of the “Missis-
que” Indians. On August 19 General Montgomery had
requested Colonel Bedel to take three companies of New
Hampshire Rangers, and march “with all dispatch” to the
mouth of the Winooski River, taking care to give the
General such notice as would enable him to supply the
necessary boats and provisions. On August 31 General
Schuyler directed Bedel to join him without delay at Isle
aux Noix, but there was some delay in leaving the Wi¬
nooski River station owing to a lack of boats.

Meanwhile Schuyler returned to Ticonderoga, where
his health was somewhat improved, and proceeded to
hasten the forwarding of provisions to the army of in¬
vasion. In a letter to the Continental Congress he said :
“If I had not arrived here, even on the very day I did, as
sure as God lives, the Army would have starved.”

With a few brief intervals General Schuyler had been
engaged in the most arduous and distracting labor at
Ticonderoga since the middle of July. His illness, and
the hardships he had endured, moved him to relieve his
mind in a letter written to John Hancock, and dated at
Ticonderoga, September 25, in which he says: “The
vexation of spirit under which I labour, that a barbarous
complication of disorders should prevent me from reap¬
ing the laurels for which 1 have so unwearicdly wrought
since I was honoured with the command; the anxiety I
have suffered since my arrival here lest the army should

.

rf'

’*•

History of Lake Champlain

147

starve, occasioned by a scandalous want of subordination
and inattention to my orders in some of the officers that I
left to command at the different posts; the vast variety
of disagreeable and vexatious incidents that almost everv
hour arise in some department or other, not only retard
my cure, but have put me considerably back for some days
past. If Job had been the General in my situation, his
memory had not been so famous for patience.”

On October 11 John Hancock wrote Schuyler, saying:
“It is the determination of Congress at all events to keeo

O L

the command of Lake Champlain. They would, there¬
fore, have the most effectual means adopted for that pur¬
pose.” It was also decided that Ticonderoga and Crown
Point should be put into such a state of defense “as
might be needed.” This was a notable departure from
the timid policy adopted by Congress when the news of
Allen’s victory first reached that body.

Schuyler informed Hancock that Congress alluded to
a garrison for Crown Point, evidently “on a supposition
that there is a fortification at that place, whereas there
is none.” Without explanation it would appear strange
that a post upon which the British government expended
two millions of pounds sterling only sixteen years before,
making it one of the great fortresses of North America,
now should be only a ruin. It appears, however, that
not many years after Fort Amherst was built, by acci¬
dent, it caught fire. The flames were communicated to
the powder magazine containing ninety-six barrels, and
the explosion that followed practically ruined the fort,
throwing down the upper stories of the barracks. The
shock was distinctly felt ten miles away, and shook the
surrounding country like an earthquake. These ruins,
however, are said to be the most complete and imposing
today of any ancient fortification in America.

' ;

?

, : , . • * :

148

History of Lake Champlain

On November 8 the Continental Congress sent Robert
R. Livingston, Robert Treat Paine, and J. Langdon to
Ticonderoga as a committee to consult with Schuyler re¬
garding the condition of the forts and the number of men
needed to reinforce the Canadian army.

The American army had not been inactive across the
border. Arnold, after almost incredible labor and suffer¬
ing, had penetrated the Kennebec wilderness, threaded
the Canadian forests, and proceeded to Point aux
Trembles, on the St. Lawrence River, twenty miles above
Quebec.

Without any active command, Ethan Allen had
“preached politics” to the French-Canadian people, seek¬
ing to win them to the American cause toward which, at
first, they were favorably disposed. A little later, with a
handful of men, mostly Canadian recruits, Allen rather
rashly had attempted to capture Montreal. Not only
did he fail, but he was taken prisoner on September 25
and sent to England in irons, thus disappearing from
active participation in the War for Independence almost
at its beginning. Isle aux Noix was fortified by the
Americans, and on October 18 Fort Chambly was taken
by a detachment under Majors Brown and Livingston.
Montgomery proceeded to invest St. Johns. Carleton
with one thousand troops, regulars, Canadians, and
Indians, set out to raise the siege. Attempting to land at
Longucil, the British commander was repulsed by Col
Seth Warner and a party of 300 men, mostly Green
Mountain Boys, who had secreted themselves on the
river bank. Warner then erected a battery at the mouth
of the Richelieu to prevent Carleton from advancing to¬
ward St. Johns.

On November 2 Major Preston, commandant at St.
Johns, surrendered that important post to General Mont-

■

■

. ■ : ! ; ■

History of Lake Champlain

149

gomery, and the prisoners were ordered to be taken to
Reading, Lancaster, and York, Pa. As previously stated
John Andre was one of the prisoners captured. Thus a
notable victory was won in spite of jealousy and insub¬
ordination in the American army.

Following up his success, Montgomery took possession
of Montreal ten days later. Then he proceeded down
the St. Lawrence, and on December 1 joined Arnold at
Point aux Trembles.

Warner’s Green Mountain Boys had enlisted as volun¬
teers, and not being supplied with suitable clothing for
camping out of doors in a Canadian winter, they were
honorably discharged on November 20, and returned to
their homes.

Lip to the time when Montgomery and Arnold united
their forces, the American advance had been practically
a succession of victories. The remainder of the cam¬
paign was destined to be a succession of defeats.

It is not the purpose of this book to give in detail the
history of the Canadian campaign, with the exception of
those phases that concern the valley of Lake Champlain;
but a brief summary of operations is needed to make the
Champlain portion of the record intelligible. In the
early morning hours of the last day of the year 1775, in a
blinding snow storm, an attempt was made to take Quebec
by assault. The attempt failed disastrously. General
Montgomery, one of the most capable officers produced
during this war, was mortally wounded, and died in the
arms of Capt. Aaron Burr. General Arnold was severely
wounded and was carried from the field. General Mor¬
gan fought on in the storm and the cold with his detach¬
ment until half of his men were killed, and then sur¬
rendered. The remainder of the American army retired

ibo

M

...

■

,

t q'1 ’ it! iu-JV 'jrli \u r.l> liSl vii lo nuori snimuiu (ln»

150

History of Lake Champlain

up the river about three miles and there spent the rest
of the winter, enduring great suffering and privation.

By the death of Montgomery the command of the
American army in Canada fell to General Wooster, who
had been left in command at Montreal. On January 6,
1776, Wooster wrote to Col. Seth Warner imploring him

to send reinforcements of his Green Mountain Bovs and

•»

urging that he should not wait until a full regiment was
mustered, but that the soldiers should “be sent on bv
tens, twenties, thirties, forties or fifties, as fast as they
can be collected.’' Warner responded promptly, and both
Schuyler and Washington praised him for his zeal. The
Green Mountain Boys were sent to Quebec, where many
contracted smallpox, and some died.

Learning that affairs were going badly in Canada, the
Continental Congress appointed a commission to make
an investigation, hoping that the Canadian people might
still be won over to the American cause, and join the
army of invasion in opposition to British rule. This
commission consisted of Benjamin Franklin, Samuel
Chase, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton. They were ac¬
companied by Mr. Carroll’s brother, Father John Carroll,
later the first Roman Catholic archbishop in the United
States, much being expected from his influence with the
Catholic population of Canada. Early in the spring the
party left Philadelphia and proceeded to Albany, where
the hospitality of General Schuyler’s home was extended,
the General making preparations for the remainder of
the journey. A bateau carried the party through Lake
George, and six yoke of oxen drew the boat over the
portage to Lake Champlain, where two boats were pro¬
vided, Ticonderoga being reached late in April. These
bateaux were 36 feet long, S feet wide, with square ends
and rigged with a mast for a blanket sail. An awning

-

History of Lake Champlain

151

was used as a substitute for a cabin. Each boat was
manned by thirty or forty soldiers.

A stop was made at Crown Point, and another at the
house of Peter Ferris, on the east side of the lake, in
Panton, where the night of April 24, 1776, was spent.
Leaving at 5 o’clock the next morning a severe gale was
soon encountered, and it was necessary to stop in what is
now the town of Essex, N. Y., at the home of one of
William Gilliland’s tenants. Proceeding on the journey,
Montreal was reached on April 29.

Traveling in an open boat, and sleeping under an
awning, or in a rude forest hut during April weather in
this north country, was not an agreeable experience for
Benjamin Franklin. Pie was then seventy years old and
was not in robust health, although the most important
part of his life work remained to be done. Father Carroll
was not able to aid the American cause as he had hoped
to do, and the commission was able to accomplish little,
therefore the priest and Doctor Franklin left Montreal
on May 'll, and returned by way of Lake Champlain,
reaching Ticonderoga early in June. The other com¬
missioners returned later. The reverses of the American
army and the lack of hard money were obstacles too seri¬
ous to permit the accomplishment of any services of
material importance by this, or any, special commission.

During the winter Arnold continued the siege of
Quebec with only about 400 men fit for duty : Late in
January, 1776, reinforcements arrived, recruiting the
strength of the besieging force to 960 men, of whom less
than 800 were fit for duty. In a short time smallpox
broke out, adding greatly to the suffering already ex¬
perienced.

General Thomas arrived May 1 and took command
of the army before Quebec, which now numbered about

■ ,

■ ’ 1

, r t ■ «'i f v;o i .1 fi >.u^n K« afiv/

‘

152

History of Lake Champlain

1,900 men, and this force soon was increased to 3,000
soldiers. At this late period Congress had seen the
necessity of reinforcing the Canadian army. General
Sullivan was given command of the new brigade, Stark
and Wayne being among the officers. The smallpox
proved a more dangerous enemy than the British soldiers.
Of the 3,000 men before Quebec all but 900 at one time
were rendered unfit for duty by the disease.

Finding the army in no condition for aggressive service,
lacking provisions, and learning that heavy reinforce¬
ments of British troops were expected soon, General
Thomas retreated in haste to the mouth of the Richelieu
River, abandoning artillery, stores, baggage, and some of
the sick. Here General Thomas was stricken with small¬
pox, and being removed to Chambly, died there on June 2.

The command now devolved upon General Sullivan.
The British army, meanwhile, had been reinforced by the
arrival of 13,000 men under General Burgoyne. Schuyler
had found it a difficult matter to collect and forward by
way of Lake Champlain provisions for 3,003 men. After
Sullivan’s arrival the army in Canada needed daily 12,000
pounds of pork and the same amount of flour. The pork
was obtained but the average daily shipment of flour did
not exceed 2,000 pounds.

A council of officers was called, which advised a re¬
treat. On June 14, therefore, General Sullivan aban¬
doned his position at Sorel, and set out for St. Johns.
The next day Arnold, who had been in command at Mont¬
real, left that city with his troops, marching across coun¬
try to Chambly. Burgoyne followed the retreating
Americans, but was ordered not to risk anything until he
was reinforced. Determined to save their remaining
artillery and stores, the Americans, many of them still
weak and ill from the effects of smallpox, plunged into

■■ ■ -

.

History of Lake Champlain

153

the water, and by sheer strength of muscle drew more
than one hundred heavily loaded bateaux over the rapids
of the Richelieu, working often up to their waists in the
water. Three vessels, three gondolas, and all the boats
that could not be brought away, were burned. As the
advance guard of the British army entered Chambly, the
American rear guard marched out.

The retreating army under Sullivan reached St. Johns
on June 17, about half of the troops being ill, and all of
them ragged and hungry. Taking such things as could
be transported, they applied the torch to the fort and
barracks, and pushed on to Isle aux Noix, reaching that
post on June 18. On this day Gen. Horatio Gates was
appointed to command the forces in Canada, an empty
honor indeed, and one which circumstances made it im¬
possible to accept.

The soldiers who were fit for service remained at Isle
aux Noix for eight days, until the sick could be trans¬
ported out of Canada. Some of them were taken tem¬
porarily to Point au Fer and Isle La Motte, but most of
them were transported directly to Crown Point. Ban¬
croft says that “they made the voyage in leaky boats
which had no awnings, with no food but raw pork and
hard bread or unbaked flour.” .

When the boats that had taken the sick to Crown Point
returned to Isle aux Noix, they were loaded with bag¬
gage, the troops marching to Point au Fer which had
been fortified by order of General Sullivan. Here boats
were awaiting the soldiers and they were taken to Crown
Point, arriving there July 3, a little more than ten and
one-half months from the time the gallant Montgomery
with high hopes had set out for the north to conquer a
province. Thus ingloriously ended the Canadian cam¬
paign.

■

. r ; io|

154

History of Lake Champlain

A council of war decided that Crown Point could not
be defended successfully, and the retreat was continued
to Ticonderoga. Although the army was encamped at
Crown Point only about ten days, they left behind as a
grim reminder of their stay three hundred freshly-made
graves. The condition of the army at this time was
miserable indeed. John Adams described it as “dis¬
graced, defeated, discontented, dispirited, undisciplined,
eaten up with vermin, no clothes, beds, blankets, nor
medicines, and no victuals but salt pork and flour.”

On the retreat from Canada Sullivan had written
Washington: “The raging of the smallpox deprives us of
whole regiments in the course of a few days. Of the
remaining regiments from fifty to sixty in each are taken
down in a day.” A return of soldiers absent from duty,
taken two days before, was enclosed by Sullivan with the
comment that in the forty-eight hours which had elapsed
since the report was made, a quarter of those given as
effective troops had been stricken with the prevailing
disorder. Five men were fit for duty in Colonel Pater¬
son’s battalion, which had left New York, April 21, six
hundred strong. When Schuyler sent this detachment to
Washington’s assistance in December only two hundred
men were fit for duty. Another authority says of the
army that retreated from Canada: “It was said that two
regiments had not a single man in health ; another had
only six, and a fourth only forty; and two more were
nearly in the same condition.”

On July 29, 1776, Governor Trumbull of Connecticut,
drew this picture of the army on Lake Champlain:
“There are now 3,000 sick and about 3,000 well; this
leaves near 5,000 to be accounted for; of these the enemy
have cost perhaps 1,000 — sickness another 1,000 — which
leaves near 3,000; in what manner they are disposed of

History of Lake Champlain

155

is unknown. Among those who remain there is neither
order, subordination nor harmony ; the officers as well as
men of one colony insulting and quarrelling with those
of another. * * * How they will maintain their naval
supremacy, I must confess myself much at a loss. They
build a gondola, perhaps one in a week ; but where are
they to find rigging for them — where the guns? To be
sure they have a great train of artillery, but very few of
them mounted on carriages ; at present their materials
and conveniences for making them are very slender.
They have neither places fit for them to work in, nor
materials in that plenty that they ought to have. To
oppose the enemy on the lake they have a schooner of
twelve carriage guns, a sloop of eight guns, two small
schooners to carry four or six each, and three gondolas,
and the large schooner is now in good sailing order and
about to take a trip down the lake to make discovery.
The sloop is a most unmanageable thing, it is impossible
to beat up against a wind in her. The two small schooners
are not armed — and even the carriages of their guns are
yet to be made. * * * A reform is absolutely necessary;
the soldiers are ragged, dirty, and many lousy ; clothing
greatly wanted — some destitute of sufficiency to make
themselves comfortable and decent to appear.”

The smallpox patients were sent to a hospital estab¬
lished at the head of Lake George. The fort at Skenes-
borough was repaired and made the headquarters for
reinforcements.

General Schuyler had been given command of the
Northern department, but Gates was assigned to the
command of Ticonderoga. This displeased Sullivan, who
left in disgust for New York and Philadelphia.

The Boston Gazette of August 29, 1776, printed an
extract from a letter which said: “We hear from Ticon-

.

■

- '

! ■ n

156

History of Lake Champlain

deroga that on the 28th of July, immediately after divine
worship, the Declaration of Independence was read by
Col. St. Clair, and having said ‘God save the free inde¬
pendent States of America!’ the army manifested their
joy with three cheers: It was remarkably pleasing to
see the spirit of the soldiers so raised after all their
calamities, the language of every man’s countenance was,
‘Now we are a people! we have name among the states of
this world.’ ” Probably this date should be July 18,
when a carrier arrived with news of the adoption of the
Declaration of Independence. A salute of thirteen guns
was fired and the neighboring eminence was christened
Mount Independence.

A letter written from Mount Independence by Col.
Samuel Wigglesworth, to the New Hampshire Committee
of Safety, as late as September 27, 1776, shows that con¬
ditions were still deplorable. In his letter he says :
“Gentlemen, 1 wish you could transport yourselves to
this place for a moment to see the distressed situation of
these troops. * * * There are no medicines of any avail
in the Continental chest ; such as there are in their native
state unprepared ; no emetick nor cathartick ; no mercurial
nor antimonial Remedy; no opiate of elixir, tincture, nor
even any capital medicine. It would make a heart of
stone melt to hear the moans and see the distresses of the
dying. * * * Now, Sirs, think how much more unhappy
and distressed the condition of these troops would be
should the enemy attack our Lines.”

Rum containing four pounds of gentian root and two
pounds of orange peel to a hogshead was served to the
men, and when these ingredients were not available the
physicians suggested as a substitute snakeroot, dogwood,
and centaury.

ib;i. boj- k) in fin vnnij orfl rot ' " r:r.'bo9q

'

*

.

.ft n -

History of Lake Cham plain

157

In time, however, conditions improved. The smallpox
gradually was conquered, and although there was some
fever and ague, the health and spirits of the men showed
a great change for the better. Fresh beef and mutton
added a pleasant variety to a salt pork diet and the dis¬
tress caused by lack of tents was alleviated, in a measure
at least, by the arrival of 100,000 feet of board for pui>
poses of shelter. However, the suffering of the army in
Canada, and on the return to Lake Champlain, rank with
the privations endured by Washington’s troops at Valley
Forge.

.

CHAPTER X

ARNOLD’S NAVAL BATTLE

DURING the summer and fall of 1776 the greater
part of the army at Ticonderoga was engaged in
throwing up intrenchments, mounting guns, and
securing provisions. The autumn weather was bad, mak¬
ing work difficult. When it rained half a gill of rum was
served to the men, and if the weather was very wet the
ration was increased to a gill.

Hon. Robert O. Bascom says that private soldiers at
the time received $6.67 a month, and in October, 1776,
there was granted a bounty of $20 and a suit consisting
of two linen hunting shirts, two pairs of stockings, two
pairs of shoes, one pair of breeches, one waistcoat, two
pairs of overalls, and one leather cap; in addition, a
promise of one hundred acres of land at the close of the
war was made. A colonel's pay was $75 a month. Mr.
Bascom further states that the regulation equipment for
a Continental soldier at this period was ‘‘a good firearm
with a steel or iron ramrod with a spring to retain the
same, a worm, priming iron and brush, a bayonet fitted
to the gun, a scabbard and belt therefor, a cutting sword
or tomahawk or hatchet, a pouch containing a cartridge
box that will hold fifteen rounds of cartridges at least,
a hundred buckshot, a jackknife and tow for wadding,
six flints, one pound of powder, forty leaden bullets fitted
to gun, a knapsack, blanket and canteen or wooden bottle
sufficient to hold a quart.”

Early in September the barracks and parade ground
were finished. The intrenching tools were so few that it
was necessary to divide the men into shifts that the tools

..

'

, ir.g

History of Lake Champlain

159

might not be idle at any time. The works were com¬
pleted in November, 1776, under the direction of Colonel,
later General Wayne. Among the troops were men from
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Plampshire,
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the New Hampshire
Grants. The Massachusetts troops came by way of
Springfield (Vt.), Rutland, Castleton, and Skencs-
borough.

The necessity of constructing a fleet if the mastery of
the lake were to remain in the hands of the Americans
was apparent to all. Gates selected Arnold to have
charge of naval operations, and wrote Washington as
follows concerning the choice : “As soon as all the vessels
and gondolas are equipped, General Arnold has offered
to go to Crown Point and take the command of them.
This is exceedingly pleasing to me ; as he has a perfect
knowledge of maritime affairs, and is, besides, a most de¬
serving and gallant officer.”

On May 7, 1776, General Schuyler had ordered Jaco¬
bus Wynkoop, a captain in the Continental service, to
proceed immediately to Ticonderoga and take command
of “all the vessels on Lake Champlain” — not an impos¬
ing flotilla, by any means — and with the greatest expedi¬
tion to put them in the best condition possible for imme¬
diate service. There is no evidence that any task of
importance was performed by Captain Wynkoop, but he
did mention in a memorial to Congress, that he expected
the appointment of “Commodore of the Lakes.” When
Gates appointed Arnold to command the ships on the
lake there was trouble at once. Wynkoop refused to
take orders from Arnold, and maintained that he had re¬
ceived no notice of the appointment of a successor. After
some sharp correspondence General Gates issued an order
on August 18, directing that Wynkoop should be arrested

.

mol nDt n sn i ft fcqooii $nornA 3n^i - tip

.

■

• ft* !.•■ fMftpfj ! :.V : ft. V‘..; R .' • 'i IV // <t

160

History of Lake Champlain

and taken to headquarters at Ticonderoga as a prisoner.
Gates sent him on to Albany, where he contented himself
in writing to Congress concerning his troubles.

Arnold brought to the task of preparing the best pos¬
sible fighting squadron the same energetic qualities that
he had displayed in the Quebec campaign. The New
England seaports were called upon to furnish ship car¬
penters and naval stores. It was necessary to fell the
trees in the woods and drag the timber to the shipyards
at Skenesborough. Most of the stores and ammunition
were brought overland, by roads that were nearly im¬
passable. The vessels, when built, were brought to
Ticonderoga and Crown Point to be equipped with sails,
armament, and stores.

By the middle of August Arnold had assembled a fleet
consisting of the sloop Enterprise under Captain Dixon ;
the schooner Revenge, Captain Laman ; the schooner
Liberty, Captain Primer ; the schooner Royal Savage,
Captain Wynkoop ; and the gondolas Boston, Spitfire,
Philadelphia, Providence and New Haven.

The British were as active at St. Johns as their op¬
ponents were at the southern end of the lake. During
the summer of 1776 ship carpenters had been busy under
the direction of Capt. Charles Douglas, in constructing a
fleet with which it was expected the mastery of this im¬
portant waterway might be regained. The planking
and frames of two schooners were taken apart at Chambly
and transported by land around the rapids of the Riche¬
lieu, to St. Johns, where they were reconstructed. Doug¬
las found under construction at Quebec the hull of a ship
of 180 tons. He took this apart nearly to the keel and
shipped it to St. Johns on thirty long boats, which, with
a gondola of thirty-two tons, several flat-bottomed boats,
and 400 bateaux were drawn up the rapids.

' ' •''*

-

161

History of Lake Champlain

With his hastily constructed fleet Arnold sailed north
from Crown Point on August 20, cruising between that
post and the mouth of the Boquet River until September
2. On the evening of that day he went as far as Schuyler
Island, and on the next day proceeded to Windmill Point,
where the fleet remained for several days.

On September 7 the vessels were anchored in a line
guarding the channel opposite Isle La Motte, through
which ships coming from St. Johns must pass. A boat
containing eighteen men, and commanded by a sergeant,
was sent ashore to cut fascines to fix on the bows and
sides of the gondolas, in order to prevent the enemy from
boarding. The men placed their guns against a rock,
two men being posted as sentries, and proceeded with
their task. Before they had fairly begun work an Indian
was seen within half a stone's throw, who hailed the
sergeant. Being asked to give an account of himself the
Indian replied that he was a Caughnawaga. Suspecting
trouble, the men ran for their boat and pushed off as
quickly as possible, a band of savages following so closely
that the Americans narrowly escaped being tomahawked.
The boat was armed with a small cannon, loaded with
shot, and this the sergeant attempted to discharge, but
the Indians fired, cutting the lighted match out of his
hand. The men on board fired in return and rowed back
to the ships in great haste. The guns of the fleet were
fired into the woods and the Indians fled. In this skir¬
mish the American casualties were three men killed and
five wounded.

The firing was heard at Crown Point, atid Gates was
notified. Supposing that a battle with the British fleet
was in progress, Gates, in turn, notified Schuyler, at
Albany, who ordered out a considerable number of the
militia. This order was revoked as soon as the nature of

'

r • :

162

History of Lake Champlain

the affair was learned. On the morning of the skirmish
Arnold was reinforced by the arrival of the galley Lee,
carrying six guns, and the gondola Connecticut, with three
guns.

On the night of September 7 the British began the erec¬
tion of batteries on either side of Arnold's position, caus¬
ing him to retire farther south, to a point a little to the
north of Cumberland Head. As the schooner Liberty
was proceeding to her anchorage she was hailed from the
shore by a Canadian, who asked to be taken on board.
The captain sent a boat toward the shore with orders to
be ready to fire at any indication of treachery. The
Canadian waded out about a rod, but refused to go
farther. As the boat’s crew declined to go so near to the
land the man made a signal, when a party of 300 Cana¬
dians and Indians, concealed on the shore, fired, wound¬
ing three of the crew. The fire was returned, and the
schooner discharged several broadsides of grape.

Having sounded the channel between Valcour Island
and the New York shore, and found the anchorage to
be a good one, the American fleet took position there on
September 23. A few days later Arnold w’as reinforced
by the arrival of the galley Trumbull, Captain Warner
commanding. On October 6 General Waterbury, who
had been appointed second in command, arrived with the
galleys Washington, Captain Thacher, and Congress,
Captain Arnold.

The Liberty had been sent to Crown Point for supplies
and an eight-gun galley was receiving her armament at
Ticonderoga. With these exceptions, the entire Ameri¬
can fleet w as assembled at Valcour. The crew consisted
of about 500 men, mostly soldiers from the army. Arnold
had hoped for New England seamen with which to man
his ships, but they wrere not sent.

'

History of Lake Champlain

163

Sir Guy Carleton left St. Johns on October 4, with a
fleet consisting of the Inflexible , an eighteen-gun ship,
reconstructed in twenty-eight days, Lieutenant Schwenk
commanding; the schooner Maria, Lieutenant Starke; the
schooner Dacres; the flat-bottom radeau, T/uozc/crer, Lieu¬
tenant Scott ; and the gondola Loyal Consort , Lieutenant
Longcroft. In addition there were twenty gunboats,
each carrying a brass field piece, while four long boats,
each armed with a carriage gun, served as tenders. Capt.
A. T. Mahan says the British had forty-two available
guns, while Arnold had a total of thirty-two cannon, of
smaller calibre than the ordnance of the enemy.

The British ships were manned by about 700 picked
seamen from craft on the St. Lawrence, in addition to a
number of soldiers and artillerymen, while a party of
Indians, in canoes, accompanied the fleet. To Capt.
Thomas Pringle was given the command. Although Sir
Guy Carleton accompanied the expedition, he did not
attempt to direct naval operations. In numbers, both of
ships and men, as well as in armament and equipment,
the British fleet was much superior to the American
squadron. Sir George Otto Trevelyan, English historian
and statesman, says that “compared with Carleton’s ves¬
sels, the American sloops and galleys were mere cock¬
boats.”

At Point au Per, Pringle had stopped, and a block¬
house had been erected, four companies being left to gar¬
rison and defend it. On the night of October 10 the
fleet anchored between Grand Isle and North Hero. The
next morning the ships continued along the Grand Isle
shore, having heard that the Americans were in that
vicinity. No scout boats had been sent out, and Valcour
Island being high, Arnold’s position was not discovered
until the island had been passed.

.

c -.'- -

164

History of Lake Champlain

General Waterbury desired to go out and meet the
enemy, but Arnold preferred to hold the position he had
taken. It was 8 o’clock on Friday morning, October 11,
when the British ships were sighted, but some time was
consumed in tacking from the leeward, or rowing up to
the channel where the little American fleet was stationed.
The woods on Yalcour Island and on the mainland were
filled with Indians, who kept up a constant rifle fire, but
their aim was so bad +hat little harm was done. To pro¬
tect the decks from this hie Arnold had erected rude
barricades of fagots.

Captain Pringle experienced no little difficulty in bring¬
ing his ships into action so that it was 11 o’clock before
the British commander was able to open fire with his
gunboats upon the Royal Savage, which, with the galleys,
had advanced a little distance in front of the battle line
formed by the rest of the squadron. The schooner Carle-
ton was the first of the enemy’s ships to come to the aid
of the smaller craft. She was anchored with a spring on
her cable. The American fire was centered on this ship.
Her commander was knocked senseless, another officer
lost an arm, and the command devolved upon Edward
Pellew, then a boy nineteen years old. The Carleton’s
spring was shot away and she swung around, bow on,
her fire being silenced. Pellew exposed himself reck¬
lessly and in a place of great peril succeeded in extricat¬
ing his ship.

By poor management, early in the action, the crew of
landsmen permitted the Royal Savage, Arnold’s flagship,
to fall to the leeward, where she sustained a heavy fire,
her masts being damaged and her rigging shot away.
Soon she was run aground on the point of Yalcour Island,
all on board escaping safely. That night she was boarded
by the enemy and set on fire. All of Arnold’s papers and

.

History of Lake Champlain

165

most of his personal effects were lost. The Royal Savage
was the only vessel in Arnold’s fleet really in a class with
the British ships. The American commander transferred
his flag to the Congress which has been described as
“nothing more than a rowing galley with mast and sails.”

At 12.30 o’clock the engagement became general and
continued until 5 o’clock, round and grape shot being
used in a very hot fire. The British ships, with the ex¬
ception of the Inflexible , which did not get into action
until late in the afternoon, and all of their gondolas,
fought within musket range of the American craft. The
Washington of Arnold’s fleet, received several cannon
balls through her hull, her mainmast was shot through
and her sails were riddled. General Waterbury was the
only active officer left on board at the close of the action,
the first lieutenant having been killed and the captain and
master wounded. The Congress was hulled twelve
times, she received seven shot “between wind and water,”
her mainmast was damaged in two places, and her yard
in one, and the rigging was shot to pieces. With his
own hands Arnold pointed most of the guns on the flag¬
ship, and in the thick of the fight found time, by word
and deed, to encourage the men on board. All the officers
on the gondola New York were killed except Captain Lee.
The Philadelphia was hulled in so many places that she
sank about an hour after the battle closed. The Ameri¬
can losses in killed and wounded amounted to sixty.
Arnold had reason to congratulate himself that his fleet
was not utterly annihilated.

The British fleet was considerably damaged. Eight
men were killed and six were wounded on the Carlcton.
Two gunboats were sunk and one was blown up with a
considerable number of men, the loss being estimated as
low as twenty and as high as sixty men, although the

- • •

.

.

166

History of Lake Champlain

smaller number, probably, is much nearer the truth than
the larger. A British artillery boat commanded by a
German lieutenant was sunk.

It was in this battle that Edward Pellew, afterward
Lord Exmouth, won his first laurels as a British naval
officer.

As evening came on the British ships withdrew a little
distance, in order to secure advantageous positions for
the morrow, and anchored just beyond the range of
Arnold’s guns. The Thunderer held the right of the line
near Garden Island, while the Maria held the left near
the New York shore. Between were the Loyal Consort
and the formidable ship Inflexible. The Carleton and
the gunboats occupied positions between the other ships.

At the close of the battle Arnold called a council of
war. His fleet was seriously crippled, most of his officers
were killed or disabled, and three-fourths of his ammuni¬
tion had been spent. To continue the fight another day
meant annihilation or surrender. Arnold, therefore, de¬
termined to risk the attempt of a retreat, although the
chances were heavily against success. The channel close
to the west shore, however, had not been carefully
guarded.

The darkness had fallen early on that October night,
and with it came a mist that aided the American plans
for retreat. At 7 o’clock Colonel Wigglesworth, with
the Trumbull led the way, with no lights visible save a
stern lantern, so masked that it could be seen only by the
ship immediately in her wake. The Enterprise, the Lee,
and the gondolas followed. At 10 o’clock General
Waterbury, with the Washington, and General Arnold,
with the Congress , brought up the rear. Silently and
successfully the crippled American fleet slipped out of the
net drawn around it by the enemy; and on Saturday

••

■

K

History of Lake Champlain

167

morning, to his surprise, the British commander found no
ships to fight or capture. Sir Guy Carleton was in a
rage, and the pursuit was begun in haste.

Arnold had proceeded nine miles up the lake, as far
as Schuyler Island, not far from the present location of
Port Kent. Here he was compelled to repair his shat¬
tered fleet; otherwise, as a result of his brilliant maneu¬
ver, he might have reached Crown Point in safety. Two
gondolas or armed barges, were so badly damaged that
it was necessary to sink them.

The British ships did not discover Arnold's position on
the morning of October 12, and returned to Valcour
Island, remaining there until night, when scouts reported
that the American fleet had been sighted. Having stopped
the worst leaks and made other necessary repairs, under
adverse conditions, Arnold set sail for Crown Point on
Saturday afternoon, October 12. A south wind was
blowing and Arnold’s ships when at their best never made
good progress in beating against the wind. Although the
oars were used, the crew, wounded and weary, made slow
progress.

Tradition says that on the morning of October 13, in
the mist of the early dawn an object was sighted near
Providence Island which was supposed to be one of
Arnold’s ships, and one or more of the British vessels
opened fire. It proved, however, to be a large rock, and
thereafter, in derision, it was called Carleton’s Prize.

The fog lifted on Sunday morning and about noon
Arnold’s fleet was overtaken a little to the south of the
point where the Boquet River empties into the lake, and
not far from Split Rock.

The Washington, badly damaged in the first battle, was
limping along in the rear and was the first of the Ameri¬
can vessels to be overtaken by the Maria and the In-

168

History of Lake Champlain

flexible. After a few broadsides she was compelled to
strike her colors. Then for two hours and a half a run¬
ning fight was waged, round and grape shot being hurled
into Arnold’s flagship the Congress. A spirited defense
was made by the Americans as they endeavored to reach
the protection of the guns at Crown Point. The In¬
flexible and two schooners paid special attention to the
Congress, two under her stern and one on her broadside.
That she remained afloat, and able to fight for several
hours against such terrible odds is one of the wonders
of American naval history. A first lieutenant and three
men on the Congress were killed. Fighting desperately,
with splendid skill and courage, Arnold almost reached
his desired haven; but when ten miles north of Crown
Point he saw that further resistance was impossible with
his riddled sinking ships. Determined that he would not
surrender he ran the Congress and four gondolas into the
mouth of a creek, flowing into a bay on the Panton shore,
on the east side of the lake, known thereafter as Arnold’s
Bay. The water was too shallow for the larger British
craft to pursue. Here the small arms were removed and
the ships were set on fire, their colors still flying, and
were burned to the waters’ edge. Arnold was the last
man to leave the fleet. Staying on board until he was
sure the flames would do their work he climbed along the
bowsprit and dropped to the beach.

Leading his men through the forest, Arnold arrived
at Crown Point at 4 o’clock on Monday morning, October
1 A, where he found the sloop Enterprise, the galley Trum¬
bull, and one gondola, which had arrived there the day
before. The galley Lee had been run ashore and blown
up near Split Rock, on the west shore of the lake. Ihe
British had captured only the galley Washington and the
gondola Jersey, although the Americans had lost one

.

*

History of Lake Champlain

169

schooner, two galleys, and seven gondolas, ten vessels
out of a fleet of fifteen. The killed and wounded num¬
bered between eighty and ninety, more than twenty of
the casualties being on Arnold’s flagship. The British
loss, according to their own estimate, was forty, although
their opponents placed the figures considerably higher.

General Carleton ordered his surgeons to treat the
American wounded with great kindness. The prisoners
were brought on board his flagship, where he praised
their bravery, treated them to grog, and sent them to
Ticonderoga in charge of Captain, afterwards Sir James
Craig, on giving their parole that they would not bear
arms against Great Britain again until they should be ex¬
changed. The prisoners were so enthusiastic over Carle-
ton’s humane treatment that it was not considered wise
to allow them to land and sound the praises of the British
commander in the ears of the American troops ; therefore
they were hurried on to Skenesborough the same night.

On the same day that Arnold reached Crown Point
the works at that place, by no means formidable, were
destroyed, and troops and stores were removed to Ticon¬
deroga. Carleton landed a force immediately, occupy¬
ing both the east and west shores of the lake. He had
planned to proceed at once against Ticonderoga, but
on the next day, October 15, a strong south wind sprang
up, and for eight days blew so hard that the British ships
were windbound. These days were invaluable to the
American cause.

General Gates, commanding the army at Ticonderoga,
had assembled about 12,000 men. While Carleton was
delayed at Crown Point, the troops surrounded the
American works with a strong abatis, and made carriages
tor and mounted forty-seven cannon.

■

jjjr.fiVj

170

History of Lake Champlain

Carleton repaired the fortifications at Crown Point and
anchored three of his largest ships near Putnam’s Point,
in the vicinity of which a body of light infantry, grena¬
diers, and some Canadians and Indians were encamped.
The woods were filled with reconnoitering parties of
British troops, some of them going as far south as Lake
George.

Between 8 and 9 o’clock on Monday morning, October
27, the British fleet approached Ticonderoga.

Five large transports landed a detachment at Three
Mile Point, and two armed boats approached the east
shore. They were fired upon by a row galley, and retired.
Another party of British troops was sent into a small
bay about four miles below the works.

General Gates ordered the American defenses to be
manned, and directed that three regiments from Mount
Independence should reinforce the main garrison.

Having learned to his satisfaction that the Americans
were capable of making a spirited defense at Ticon¬
deroga, Carleton withdrew at 4 o’clock in the afternoon,
and returned to Crown Point, where he made prepara¬
tions to retire to Canada for the winter. On November
3, the rear guard of the British army left the post and the
same day it was reoccupied by the Americans.

When Gates learned that Carleton had departed, he
dismissed the militia, and with most of the regular troops,
departed for New' Jersey to join Washington’s army,
Gen. Anthony Wayne being left in command.

Captain Douglas, under whose direction the British
fleet had been constructed at St. Johns, sent a special
message of the Lake Champlain victory to the British
ambassador at Madrid, “presuming,” he said, “that the
early knowledge of this great event in the southern part
of Europe may be of advantage to His Majesty’s service.”

*

.

History of Lake Champlain

171

As rewards for the British naval triumph, General
Carleton was made a Knight of the Bath, and Captain
Douglas, a baronet.

The battle of Lake Champlain was the first important
naval engagement of the Revolution, and although it
must be counted an American defeat, yet, like the defeat
of the American army at Bunker Hill, it was more than
half a victory. It is true that the British loss was not so
great as in the famous Massachusetts engagement ; but
the masterly skill displayed by Arnold against overwhelm¬
ing odds, the steadiness and courage shown by the rank
and file, demonstrated alike to friend and foe that the
Americans were at least the equal, man for man, of any
fighting force in the world. Seldom has the personality
of a commander so dominated an entire body of fighting
men as did the gallant spirit of Benedict Arnold, which
seemed to possess the officers and men of the little Ameri¬
can fleet in the battle of Lake Champlain.

What this American defeat on Lake Champlain really
won for the national cause is best told by Captain Mahan,
whose supremacy as an authority in matters of naval
history is beyond question. In an article on “The Naval
Campaign of 1776 on Lake Champlain,” published in
Scribner’s Magazine for February, 1898, he says: "That
the Americans were strong enough to impose the capitu¬
lation of Saratoga was due to the invaluable year of delay,
secured to them in 1776 by their little navy on Lake
Champlain, created by the indomitable energy, and
handled with the indomitable courage of the traitor, Bene¬
dict Arnold. That the war spread from America to
Europe from the English Channel to the Baltic, from the
Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean, from the West
Indies to the Mississippi, and ultimately involved the
waters of the French Peninsula of Hindostan, is trace-

•*

.

172

History of Lake Champlain

able through Saratoga, to the rude flotilla which in 1776
anticipated the enemy in the possession of Lake Cham¬
plain. * * * Considering its raw material and the recency
of its organization, words can scarcely exaggerate the
heroism of the resistance which undoubtedly depended
chiefly upon the personal military qualities of the leader.
* * * The little American navy on Lake Champlain was
wiped out, but never had any force, big or small, lived to
better purpose or died more gloriously ; for it had saved
the lake for that year. Whatever deductions may be
made for blunders and for circumstances of every char¬
acter, which made the British campaign in 1777 abortive
and disastrous, and so led directly to the American alli¬
ance with France in 1778, the delay, with all that it in¬
volved, was obtained by the lake campaign of 1776.”

Captain Mahan’s testimony of the importance of the
naval battle on Lake Champlain is corroborated by that
of Sir George Otto Trevelyan, in his “American Revolu¬
tion.” The English historian says: “His [Arnold’s] fel¬
low countrymen repaid his frankness [in reporting his
losses] with almost universal approbation and gratitude.
He had lost them a squadron which, but for his personal
exertions, would never have been built; and he had lost
it to some purpose. * * * Carleton had unduly delayed his
onward movement out of respect for the preparations
which the Americans were making for his reception ; and
no English General after him would have consented to be
hoodwinked unless it was clearly shown that those prep¬
arations, which had been so widely and ably advertised,
were a reality and not a sham. Gunboats and galleys, in
Arnold’s view, were made to be expended just as much
as cartridges; and any fate would be better for his ships
than to skulk away in front of the British advance until
they were hunted up against the shore at the head of

History of Lake Champlain

173

Lake George, and there trapped and taken like so many
wild fowl in a decoy. For most assuredly, even at that
late season of the year, Carleton would not have halted
short of Albany, or New York itself, if the Americans,
whether on lake or land, had made the ignominious con¬
fession that they were afraid of fighting. * * * It was
something to know that a leader existed who was eager
to hurl himself at the enemy, and fight an almost desper¬
ate battle as vigorously and obstinately as if victory
were not a bare chance, but a cheerful probability. * * *
Arnold’s example aroused an outburst of enthusiasm and
martial confidence throughout the States, and most of all
among those of his countrymen who were nearest to the
danger.”

Fortunate would it have been for the fame of Benedict
Arnold if a kind Providence had decreed that a British
bullet should have pierced his heart as he stood on the
Panton shore, watching the flames consume the American
colors, which he had saved by desperate bravery from the
humiliating fate of being lowered to a victorious foe.
Then he might have been enshrined as one of the im¬
mortal heroes of our national history.

■

.

3iii to O' if. ol es H Oil Jj-rf Irmsiq 9v«t Uuorfe tt > ri

CHAPTER XI

MJRGOYNE’S INVASION

GENERAL SCHUYLER, knowing that “the evil
day” merely was postponed, and that another sea¬
son would witness a formidable British invasion
by way of Lake Champlain, was active in attempting to
prepare for an attack. Again and again he called the at¬
tention of Washington and of Congress to the needs of
the Northern department. Pie also labored to conciliate
the Indians, and to keep informed regarding the move¬
ments of the enemy.

The garrison at Ticonderoga was not large, and some
apprehension was felt lest a British expedition might
take advantage of the frozen surface of the lake to make
a winter attack upon the American works. Carleton,
however, made no such attempt.

During this period there were “fightings within” as
well as “fears without.” On the night after Christmas,
December 26, a Pennsylvania officer stationed at Ticon¬
deroga, while partially intoxicated, assaulted a Massa¬
chusetts colonel, and this affair led to a riot, in which the
Pennsylvanians taunted the “Yankees,” and fired upon the
Massachusetts men, wounding several. The matter was
not made the subject of a court martial and a reconcilia¬
tion was effected by means of a dinner, a time-honored
expedient. The Pennsylvania officer sent his men into
the woods on a hunting expedition, where they killed a
fat bear. Bruin formed the piece dc resistance of a ban¬
quet to which the insulted Massachusetts colonel and his
officers were invited ; the invitation was accepted, the
bear was eaten, and harmony once more reigned in the
American camp.

'

175

History of Lake Champlain

Wayne wrote to Schuyler on February 13, 1777, that
a scouting party had secured information showing that
there were 500 British troops at St. Johns ; 300 at Isle
aux Noix, with a battery of twelve guns ; and twenty at
Point au Fer. At le Gran Isle (Grand Isle) they found
100 Indians and a few regulars, part of the force l>eing
posted on the west shore of the lake. On April 13
Wayne wrote from Ticonderoga that three days before a
strong party of the enemy was discovered at the group of
islands in the lake known as the Four Brothers.

Gates and Schuyler did not get on well together, and
there was a question as to whom the command in the
Champlain valley belonged. This was settled in Con¬
gress on May 22, when Schuyler was elected commander
of Albany, Ticonderoga, and Fort Stanwix, and their
dependencies, by a majority of one State. When Gates
received the news he started for Philadelphia to pull the
wires for reinstatement.

To Gen. Arthur St. Clair, called the best of the briga¬
diers in the North, was assigned the active command of
Ticonderoga. With the coming of summer, and the ex¬
pectation that the British would attack the fort, great
exertions were made to strengthen the works, which had
been laid out by Thaddeus Kosciusko, the Polish patriot.
On the summit of Mount Independence, directly opposite
Ticonderoga, which was a table land, a strong star-
shaped fort was erected, being well supplied with artil¬
lery. In the center was a square of barracks, a part of
which was occupied as a hospital.

To connect the two fortifications a floating bridge, 400
yards long, was constructed, supported by twenty-two
sunken piers made of large timbers. 1 he spaces be¬
tween these piers were tilled with separate floats, each
about fifty feet long and twelve feet wide, strongly

.

'

r

176

History of Lake Champlain

fastened together with iron chains and rivets. On the
north side of the bridge was a boom constructed of large
timbers riveted together; and by the side of this boom a
double iron chain, the links of which were an inch and a
half square. This barrier was supposed to make the
passage of a British fleet impossible, and was erected at
great expense.

At the foot of Mount Independence, toward the lake,
a breastwork had been thrown up, and this was strength¬
ened by an abatis and a strong battery near the mouth of
East Creek. The old French lines west of the fort had
been occupied and were guarded by a blockhouse. Half
a mile in front of the French lines a small fort on Mount
Hope protected the extreme left, while redoubts and
batteries were placed in the low lands below the fort.
An outpost was established at the old sawmills, one on
the rapids at the outlet of Lake George, and another just
above that place. At the northern end of Lake George
a hospital and blockhouse were erected.

Mount Defiance, 750 feet high, which commanded the
outlet of Lake George and the entire works, was left un¬
fortified, as it was supposed that it would not be possible
to occupy that eminence.

The defenses had been planned on a large scale, ex¬
tending for more than two miles and a half in the form
of a crescent, and needed at least 10,000 men to defend
them. To man these works St. Clair had about 2,S00
regulars and 900 raw and undisciplined militia, poorly
armed and equipped, eight out of every nine men being
without a bayonet. It was expected that an assault
would be made upon the works, and among the weapons
of defense provided were poles about twelve feet long
with sharp iron points, designed to be used in repelling an
attacking force.

'

■

'

History of Lake Champlain

1 77

Congress authorized Washington to call upon the East¬
ern States to raise and forward regiments for the de¬
fense of Ticonderoga. Following these instructions he
wrote the president of the New Hampshire State Council
on May 3 : “You must be fully sensible of the vast im¬
portance of what is depending and the almost irreparable
consequences that would result, should any misfortune
happen to the post now threatened, as the loss of it
would open an avenue for easy progress into the Eastern
States; to prevent which it might probably be some time
before an adequate force could be opposed. The press¬
ing emergency of the occasion calls loudly for every
effort in your power.”

Colonel Warner was sent out to secure reinforcements
and in a letter written on this subject he said: “I should
be glad if a few hills of corn unhoed should not be a
motive sufficient to detain men at home considering that
the loss of such an important post can hardly be
remedied.”

Gen. John Burgoyne was chosen in March, 1777, to
command the Northern British army. He wras an officer
of considerable experience, who had won laurels in Portu¬
gal, a polished gentleman, a writer of plays, and a member
of Parliament; but he did not understand the situation
in America with anything like the thoroughness of Sir
Guy Carleton’s comprehension of the subject, and his
appointment generally was considered a slight upon the
governor of Canada. Nevertheless, Carleton cooperated
in every way possible to make the expedition by way of
Lake Champlain a success. He kept the British squadron
in repair, trained the regulars in maneuvers suitable for
forest warfare, and reserved only a small garrison to
guard the Canadian posts.

'

178

History of Lake Champlain

The regular troops numbered rather more than 4,000
men, and all were seasoned veterans. Gen. Simon Fraser,
one of the three brigade commanders, had served under
Wolfe at Louisbourg and Quebec. Of General Phillips,
who had won fame in the German wars, it is said : “It
may well be doubted whether a better artillery officer, in
quarters or on the field, ever held a commission.” Lord
Balcarras was a colonel of light infantry, and although
only thirty-five years old, had been in the service for
twenty years.

The grenadiers were under Maj. John Dyke Acland,
“heir apparent to the greatest family of English land-
owners, who have consented to remain commoners.” He
was a member of Parliament, and a cousin of Charles
•James Fox by marriage. The light infantry and grena¬
diers were said to be such a body of men as “could not be
raised in a twelvemonth, search England through.” The
Indians, of whom there were about 500, having been
allured to the British camp by the prospect of unlimited
quantities of rum and the possibility of getting scalps,
were commanded by I .a Corne St. Luc, whose name was
a terror to the colonies, and a synonym of savage bar¬
barity. There were also a few Canadian militia.

Part of Burgoyne’s force consisted of more than
3,000 German troops, not all of them, properly speaking,
Hessians, as they have been called, many being Bruns-
wickers. They had been secured by conscription from
the Landgrave of Hesse and the Duke of Brunswick,
and came to England poorly clothed and shod. They
sailed for America without overcoats and suffered much
from the risrors of a Canadian winter, and from home-

o

sickness. Fredrich Adolph von Riedesel, counted a good
soldier, was the principal German officer.

'

.

History of Lake Champlain

179

Justin Winsor says the army was made up of 4,135
British soldiers, 3,116 Germans, 148 Canadians and 503
Indians, a total of 7,902. Winsor also declares that this
force was “probably the finest and most excellently sup¬
plied as to officers and private men that had ever been
allotted to second the operations of any army.” The
equipment included a complete train of brass artillery of
forty-two pieces.

Burgoyne reached Quebec in May, 1777, having visited
England the previous winter, and early in June the British
army left St. Johns. The plan of campaign was to cut
the colonies in twain by isolating New England and the
Hudson valley from the remainder of the country. Bur¬
goyne was to proceed to Albany by way of Lake Cham¬
plain and the Hudson River, while General Howe was to
come up the Hudson valley to meet him.

As the fleet left St. Johns, under command of Captain
Lutwidge, the royal standard was raised on the flagship
and was saluted by all the shipping and forts. Head
winds caused some delay, bad weather and bad roads
also delaying land transportation, and at Cumberland
Head a halt was made for the arrival of stores and am¬
munition. Seven hundred carts were brought for mov¬
ing baggage and supplies at the portage between the lakes
and the Hudson River, and 1,500 horses were sent by
land on the west side of the lake under a strong escort.

When the supplies were received the army advanced
to the mouth of the Boquet River. The war fleet made
a brave spectacle, with music and banners, as it advanced
southward, with the beautiful setting of midsummer on
Lake Champlain. The scene recalls Abercrombie’s ad¬
vance down Lake George, about a decade earlier.

Capt. Thomas Aubrey, a young British officer, an eye4
witness, gave this description of the scene: “When in

■

180

History of Lake Champlain

the widest part of the lake it was remarkably fine and
clear, not a breeze stirring-, when the whole army ap¬
peared at one view in such perfect regularity as to form
the most complete and splendid regatta ever beheld. In
the front the Indians went in their birch canoes contain¬
ing twenty or thirty in each ; then the advanced corps in
a regular line with the gunboats ; then followed the Royal
George and Inflexible , towing large booms which are to
be thrown across two points of land, with the other brigs
and sloops, following; after them the brigades in their
order.”

At the mouth of the Boquet, on June 21, Burgoyne
halted to give a great war feast, being joined by 400
Iroquois, Algonquins, Abenakis, and Ottawas. In his
speech on this occasion the British commander poured
contempt upon the rebels, and added : ‘‘Warriors, you are
free — go forth in the might of your valor and your cause
— strike at the common enemies of Great Britain and
America, disturbers of public order, peace and happiness,
destroyers of commerce, parricides of the state. * * * Be
it our task from the dictates of our religion, the laws of
our warfare, and the principles and interest of our policy,
to regulate your passions when they overbear, to point
out when it is nobler to spare than to revenge, to dis¬
criminate degrees of guilt, to suspend the uplifted stroke,
to chastise and not to destroy.” He laid down these
rules for his savage allies : “I positively forbid bloodshed
when you are not opposed in arms. Aged men, women,
children and prisoners must be held sacred from the
knife or hatchet, even in the time of actual conflict. You
shall receive compensation for the prisoners you take ;
but you shall be called to account for scalps.

“In conformity and indulgence to your customs, which
have affixed an idea of honor to such badges of victory,

■ - ii nr ‘ o\ - —

History of Lake Champlain

181

you shall be allowed to take the scalps of the dead when
killed by your fire, and in fair opposition ; but on no ac¬
count or pretence, or subtlety or prevarication are they
to be taken from the wounded, or even dying; and still
less pardonable, if possible, will it be held, to kill men in
that condition on purpose, and upon a supposition that
this protection to the wounded would be therby evaded.

‘‘Base lurking assassins, incendiaries, ravagers and
plunderers of the country, to whatever army they may
belong, shall be treated with less reserve ; but the latitude
must be given you by order, and I must be the judge of
the occasion.

“Should the enemy on their part dare to countenance
acts of barbarity towards those who may fall into their
hands, it shall be yours also to retaliate. ”

In Parliament, Fox, Burke, and Chatham, in the most
vigorous terms, condemned the employment of the
Indians. In the House of Commons, Burke held up to
ridicule Burgoyne’s speech to his savage allies, saying:
“Suppose there was a riot on Tower Hill. What would
the keeper of His Majesty’s lions do? Would he not
fling open the dens of the wild beasts, and address them
thus : ‘My gentle lions — my humane bears — my tender¬
hearted hyenas, go forth ! But I exhort you, as you are
Christians, and members of civil society, to take care
not to hurt any man, woman or child.”

The British army reached Crown Point on June 27,
where magazines and a hospital were established.

On July 4 Burgoyne issued a bombastic proclamation,
intended to strike terror to the hearts of the people of
the Champlain valley. It began as follows: “By John
Burgoyne, Esq., Lieutenant-General, of His Majesty’s
armies in America, Colonel of the Queen's regiment of
light dragoons, Governor of Fort William in North

ii * ;•§. fvh / m •' -I [t n or: ntttt) *d ol

■

i

182

History of Lake Champlain

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, etc.,
etc., etc.

After setting forth the monstrous wickedness of the
rebels, he says : “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 rnay point, and by the blessing of
God I will extend it far, to maintain such conduct as may
justify me in protecting their lands, habitations and
families. * * * The domestic, the industrious, the in¬
firm and even the timid inhabitants, I am desirous to
protect, provided they remain quietly at their houses ;
that they do not suffer their cattle to be removed, nor
their corn or forage to be secreted or destroyed ; that they
do not break up their bridges or roads ; nor by any other
act, directly or indirectly, endeavor to obstruct the opera¬
tions 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.”

After holding out the promise of protection, and the
temptation of hard money for provisions, the threat of
Indian horrors is paraded, in order to frighten the in¬
habitants into submission, in these words: “In con¬
sciousness of Christianity, my royal master’s clemency,
and the honor of soldiership, I have dwelt upon this in¬
vitation, and wished for more persuasive terms to give
it impression : And let not people be led to disregard it,
by considering their distance from the immediate situ¬
ation of my camp. I have but to give stretch to the
Indian forces under my direction and they amount to
thousands, to overtake the hardened enemies of Great

■

! rt OM rijr ... -V . '«*§

1 ■ • • •- • l ■ t • . , : {(nyj

History of Lake Champlain 183

Britain and America ; I consider them the same wherever
they may lurk.

“If, notwithstanding these endeavors and sincere in¬
clinations to effect them, the phrenzy of hostility should
remain, I trust I shall stand acquitted in the eyes of God
and men, 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 devas¬
tation, famine and every concomitant horror that a re¬
luctant but indispensible prosecution of military duty
must occasion, will bar the way to their return. ’’

Some of the settlers, perhaps more than the popular
impression generally has classed among the faint hearted,
accepted Burgoyne’s protection; but the majority re¬
mained steadfast to the cause of American liberty, and in
hundreds of instances left all they possessed rather than
be false to the interests of the new nation.

On June 30 Burgoyne issued orders declaring that
“this army must not retreat.” The next day, July 1, the
royal forces advanced in three divisions. The right wing,
under General Phillips, proceeded along the west shore
toward Fort Ticonderoga; the left wing, consisting of
German recruits, followed the east shore, toward Mount
Independence ; the center and naval force, under Bur¬
goyne’s personal command, kept station in the middle
of the lake; the frigates and gunboats anchoring just out
of range of the American artillery. A party of Indians
followed by a considerable force under General Fraser,
approached the Lake George outposts July 2, whereupon
the Americans retired, abandoning the sawmills and burn¬
ing the blockhouse. On July 3, General Fraser, without
opposition, took possession of Mount Hope, which com¬
manded part of the American lines, and permitted the
enemy to cut St. Clair’s communications toward Lake

’“'unit: n oi vsv/ iri ' nvi .nafejps . teumfl

184

History of Lake Champlain

George. It was impossible for such a slender garrison
to defend such, an extensive system of fortifications.

Burgoyne was not in haste to follow Abercrombie’s
example, and make a general assault upon the works.
He preferred, therefore, to invest the fortress, bringing
up his artillery, stores, and provisions, and drawing his
lines closer to Mount Independence.

St. Gair tried his best to cheer his troops. The Ameri¬
can guns kept up a hot fire on Reidesel’s force and upon
Mount Hope, but without results. Ticonderoga was now
invested on three sides, north, east, and west.

The high eminence, then known as Sugar Hill, which
commanded the entire American works, was examined by
Lieutenant Twiss, the British engineer, who declared that
it was possible to place artillery upon the summit.

Following this report work was pushed with great
vigor night and day. A road was cut up the mountain
side, and eight guns — 24-pounders and 8-inch howitzers,
were dragged up by the aid of oxen. The height was re¬
christened Mount Defiance by Twiss.

On the morning of July 5 great was the astonishment
of the Americans to see the summit of Sugar Hill red
with British soldiers. St. Clair harbored no delusions re¬
garding the occupation of that lofty eminence. He knew
that the fate of his army was sealed if he remained at
Ticonderoga. A council of war was hastily called, and
it was conceded by the officers assembled that within
a few hours a plunging lire from Mount Defiance would
make every part of the works untenable. It was decided
therefore, to retreat before Reidesel should cut off the
narrow passage south of East Creek, which was the only
line of retreat left open by land. This decision, however,
was kept from the troops until evening.

■

itm«>

'

185

History of Lake Champlain

The water route to Skenesborough was still open, and
supposed to be safe, owing to the boom and great chain
across the lake, which obstructed navigation. About mid¬
night orders were issued to place the sick, the wounded,
and the women on board two hundred log boats. Cannon,
provisions, and tents were placed in other boats, and
about 3 o’clock on the morning of July 6, convoyed by
five armed galleys, all that was left of Arnold’s fleet, and
accompanied by a guard of 600 men commanded by
Colonel Long, of New Hampshire, the flotilla started for
Skenesborough. The moon shone brightly as the boats
left Ticonderoga, and later the sun rose upon a beautiful
day. Little apprehension was felt, as pursuit was sup¬
posed to be practically impossible. Although the army
was retreating, the progress of this portion of the forces
was not a doleful one, the music of drums and fife en¬
livening the occasion. Dr. James Thacher, a surgeon,
who was on board one of the ships, in his journal de¬
scribes this voyage, saying: “Among the hospital stores,
we found many dozen of choice wine, and breaking off
their necks we cheered our hearts with the nectareous
contents.”

Skenesborough was reached at 3 o’clock in the after¬
noon, and in less than two hours the Americans were
startled by the sound of British guns firing upon the
galleys at the wharf. The bridge, boom, and chain,
erected at such great expense of time and money, had
delayed the enemy only a few hours. The Royal George,
the Inflexible, and a number of gunboats under Captain
Carter, had pursued in haste, and had almost overtaken
the American fleet. Three regiments were disembarked
at the head of South Bay to occupy the road to Fort
Edward.

.

186

History of Lake Champlain

The American officers attempted to rally their men,
but this was found impossible. More than “the nectare-
ous contents” of the hospital stores was needed now to
cheer the hearts of the soldiers. A panic prevailed and
at the first the troops fled in all directions, each man seek¬
ing his own personal safety.

Two war galleys surrendered and the other three were
blown up by their own crews. The long boats and other
craft were either sunk, burned or captured. Before re¬
tiring, the defeated forces set Are to the storehouse, saw¬
mills, forges, and repairing sheds. The dry trees caught
fire, and the whole hillside was soon ablaze. General
Schuyler was informed later that “not one earthly thing
was saved.”

The Americans retired in confusion through a narrow
defile in the woods to Fort Ann. So closely were they
pursued that the cry frequently would go up from the
rear : “March on, the Indians are at our heels.” Many
of the invalids were taken up Wood Creek in boats, and
some of the baggage was saved in this way ; but all of
the cannon and provisions, most of the baggage, and some
of the sick fell into the hands of the victors.

A small force, sent out by Schuyler from Fort Edward,
reached Fort Ann on July 7. A British detachment ap¬
proaching the same day was attacked by the Americans
and defeated, a surgeon, a captain who was wounded,
and twelve privates being taken prisoners. The next
day Fort Ann was burned, and the garrison retired to
General Schuyler’s camp at Fort Edward.

At the same hour that the flotilla had left Ticonderoga,
3 o’clock on the morning of July 6, the main body of the
army began to cross the bridge to Mount Independence,
retreating toward Hubbardton (Vt.). At 4 o’clock the
rear guard under Colonel Francis left the works on the

.

.

History of Lake Champlain

187

eastern shore. All this time, in order to allay suspicion,
one of the batteries had continued to fire on Mount Hope.
Either by accident, or foolishly, by design, General de
Fermoy set fire to his house, and the retreat was dis¬
covered by the enemy. Generals Fraser and Reidesel
were ordered to pursue the Americans, who were retreat¬
ing in contusion; but before starting Fraser ordered his
pickets into the fort, and took possession of the long
coveted post, taken more than two years before by Ethan
Allen, who was now languishing in prison, and the British
flag again floated over Ticonderoga. Then he hastened
after St. Clair with 850 men, making a forced march, part
of it in the hot sun of a July day.

The Americans had pushed on to Hubbardton, where
they halted for two hours, permitting many stragglers to
come up ; then the main body of the army continued to
Castleton. A rear guard of 700 men was left at Hub¬
bardton under Col. Seth Warner.

When night fell, Fraser was near Hubbardton, but
his men were exhausted, and throwing themselves on the
ground they slept on their arms. At 5 o’clock the next
morning Fraser’s scouts surprised Warner’s pickets as
the latter were cooking their breakfast. One regiment
retreated, but Warner and Francis rallied the others, and
they fought in Indian fashion, from behind trees and
thickets.

For three hours the contest continued, victory hanging
in the balance. One side would advance, only to be
driven back presently by their opponents. About S
o’clock Reidesel arrived with a detachment of his slow
moving Germans, and thus turned the scale in favor of
the British arms. Reidesel had dashed on in advance of
his troops, cursing and raging at their delay. Although
his advance detachment was not large, they made a great

'

.

.

'

'

[fi n i ; j

188

History of Lake Champlain

noise, singing battle hymns, shouting and firing, and
creating the impression that a large force was approach¬
ing. Fraser ordered a bayonet charge and the Americans
fled.

Colonel Francis was killed at the head of his regiment.
Colonel Hale, who had charge of a body of invalids, was
overtaken on the road to Castleton and surrendered.
Colonel Warner advised his men to take to the woods
and meet him at Manchester, where 150 men assembled
a few days later. St. Clair, by a circuitous route,
through Rutland, Manchester, and Bennington, joined
Schuyler July 12.

The Americans lost 324 men in killed, wounded, and
prisoners. The British casualties numbered 183, Major
Grant being killed, Major Acland severely wounded, and
the Earl of Balcarras slightly wounded.

The Vermont convention, called to make and adopt
a constitution, was in session at Windsor when news came
of the loss of Ticonderoga and the pursuit of St. Clair.
The families of many of the members of the convention
were known to be in peril, with a British force on Ver¬
mont soil, and a hasty adjournment seemed likely; but a
severe thunder storm came up at that moment, and the
reading of the constitution, paragraph by paragraph, was
continued until it was completed.

Burgoyne, in a short campaign, had captured the posts
of Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and Skenesborough, won
the control of Lake Champlain and Lake George, and
taken 180 cannon, much ammunition, all the American
reserve tents, 349,760 pounds of flour, 143,830 pounds of
salt meat, many cattle, and the American standard. It
appeared to be a notable triumph, and Burgoyne wrote
glowing accounts of his victory to England, sending his
aide-de-camp, Captain Garner, as a special messenger to

'

.

History of Lake Champlain

189

bear the news to court. He ordered special religious
exercises to be held at the head of the line the following
Sunday, and that a feu de joie be fired at sunset the same
day at Crown Point, Ticonderoga, Skenesborough, and
Castleton.

The British ministerial party considered that the war
was over. The betting odds in London shifted from
even money on the recognition of American independence
to odds of 5 to 1 against it. The loyalist exiles in Eng¬
land were overjoyed. Some immediately engaged pas¬
sage for New York. Others chartered an army trans¬
port and made arrangements for the shipment of a cargo
of merchandise to sell in America when the war was
ended, an event not far distant, it was supposed.

When the King heard the news of the British victory
on Lake Champlain, he rushed into the Queen’s apart¬
ments in great delight, exclaiming that he had beaten all
the Americans. Lord George Germaine was directed to
promise Burgoyne the title of Knight Commander of the
Bath, with a lively hope of something more substantial,
but these honors were declined with thanks by Lord
Derby, a relative of the American commander, and his
representative in England.

If there was joy in Great Britain over the fall of
Ticonderoga, there was corresponding consternation in
America over what was considered an almost irremedi¬
able disaster. “The popular imagination had invested it
with the impregnability of an enchanted castle,” says
John Austin Stevens. “It was the bursting of a meteor,
which by its awful peal shook every habitation from
Maine to Georgia,” says President Timothy Dwight, of
Yale College. Washington, Hamilton, and other leaders
were highly displeased that St. Clair should have been so
easily maneuvered out of his position. To such an ex-

'fibnti£

: ■ 1* f I- •• ■

o nnj s lo Inttiujufe nli lot <w r i*guffn« 5>b&rn bits Jioq

'■'* ^ ^ 110

'

>*n

\

190

History of Lake Champlain

tent did popular criticism go that the ridiculous charge
was made, and believed by some, that Generals Schuyler
and St. Clair were traitors, and were paid for their
treason by silver bullets fired into the American camp by
Burgoyne’s soldiers.

St. Clair defended himself by saying that “we have
lost a post, but saved a province.” Schuyler was blamed
by Congress for neglect of duty in failing to order a
timely retreat if the post could not be defended success¬
fully. He was tried by court martial but w^as acquitted
by a unanimous vote, and “with the highest honor.” St.
Clair was also tried and acquitted.

On July 8, Col. Moses Robinson, Lieut. Col. Nathaniel
Brush, Capt. Elijah Dewey, Deputy Commissary Joseph
Farnsworth, and John Fay, addressed an appeal to the
militia officers and committees of safety in Massachusetts
and Connecticut saying: “The British Army is advancing
into the country killing, robbing the inhabitants, driving
off their cattle to their own use ; our whole army is in a
very broken situation, * * * unless the enemy be soon
stop’d & repuls’d the whole Country will fall into their
hands, which will prove the ruin of the whole as w*e have
large stores deposited in this place [Bennington] v'hich
we shall of necessity be obliged to leave to the enemy &
retreat down into the New7 England States, which will
soon reduce the country to Cleanness of Teeth.” An
appeal for troops followed.

Ira Allen, writing July 15 from Manchester to the
New7 Hampshire Committee of Safety, said : "By the
surrender of the fortress of Ticonderoga a communica¬
tion is opened to the defenseless inhabitants of the
frontiers, who, having little more in present store than
sufficient for the maintenance of their respective Families,
and not ability immediately to remove their effects, are

■

.

191

History of Lake Champlain

therefore induced to accept such Protections as are
offered them by the enemy.” In this letter Allen pointed
out how this yielding on the part of some to British
authority restricted the frontier, and urged that unless
help came soon Vermont could not maintain a frontier,
a task which, with a little aid, it was as well able to do as
New Hampshire herself.

Col. Seth Warner wrote from Manchester, on July 18,
to the New Hampshire Council of State and field
officers: “There is an Army or Body of the Enemy to
the amount of three thousand at Castleton, many of the
People have fled and left all in the Enemy’s hands and
are continually on the move, and unless we can have help
to make a stand against the Enemy I know not where the
End will be. Some have took Protection from them
already.” Aid was forthcoming, however. Nothing was
better calculated to arouse the people of New England
than the threat of an Indian invasion. Their own vil¬
lages and firesides were endangered, and the militia rallied
in large numbers to check the British advance.

From Skenesborough General Burgoyne issued a
proclamation “to the inhabitants of Castleton, Hubbard-
ton, Rutland, Tinmouth, Pawlet, Wells, Granville
(N. Y.) with the neighboring districts; also the districts
bordering on White Creek, Cramdens, Cambridge, etc.”
They were directed to send deputations of ten persons
or more from each township to meet Colonel Skene at
Castleton, Vt. on Wednesday morning, July 15, at ten
o’clock, when conditions would be communicated “upon
which the persons and properties of the disobedient may
yet be spared” — so ran the proclamation, which closed
with the injunction: “This fail not to obey under pain
of military execution.”

.

*

.

i

192

History of Lake Champlain

General Schuyler responded with a vigorous counter¬
proclamation, ordering that all persons who had taken
or might take protection from Burgoyne be arrested and
placed in jail. He further directed that all who should
aid or correspond with the British should be counted as
traitors and dealt with as such.

Burgoyne failed dismally, however, in securing any
considerable aid or allegiance from the people of the
Champlain Valley.

After the Battle of Hubbardton, Riedesel was stationed
at Castleton, thus giving the impression that New Eng¬
land might be invaded. This act created the greatest
alarm, and almost every town within possible striking
distance anticipated an attack.

Burgoyne determined to march to Fort Edward by
way of Fort Ann, instead of returning to Ticonderoga
and proceeding to the Hudson River by way of Lake
George, a route which would have saved many miles of
difficult travel. Most of his artillery and stores were
sent forward by the Lake George route, but he declined
to change his course, being an exceedingly proud man,
although giving as his reason that to retrace his steps
would discourage his soldiers. It has been intimated
that Colonel Skene was responsible in a measure for the
route taken, as the building of a military road through
his extensive property would have been very beneficial
had the British ultimately won.

General Schuyler never appeared to better advan¬
tage than in delaying Burgoyne’s advance. He was con¬
fident of ultimate success and on July 14 wrote: “We
shall still have a merry Christmas.”

The navigation of Wood Creek, a stream emptying
into Lake Champlain at Skenesborough, was obstructed
with huge stones and logs. Trees were felled into the

'

• V. - IxtfVi ■■ ■ i . ! to i<| |

History of Lake Champlain

193

creek, where, with branches interlocked, they formed
obstacles very difficult to remove. All the bridges were
burned and axemen were sent up each of the roads from
Fort George to Fort Edward, with orders to make pass¬
age for an army as difficult as possible. Farms along the
route were deserted and the cattle driven off, that they
might not furnish sustenance for the enemy.

Through this wilderness and morass Burgoyne forced
his army, but it took twenty-four days to cover the
twenty-six miles between Lake Champlain and Fort
Edward, so well had Schuyler’s men done their work.
The British found it necessary to build forty bridges, one
across a swamp two miles long. With great labor Wood
Creek was cleared to permit the passage of bateaux.
When Fort Edward was reached at last, on July 30, Bur-
goyne’s soldiers were exhausted by their arduous labors —
work to which they were not accustomed — performed
with the fierce heat of midsummer pouring down into the
forest, and clouds of insects swarming about them.
There was none of the poetry of warfare in such a cam¬
paign.

Here the British army remained until Aug. 15, await¬
ing provisions, ammunition, and supplies for the pro¬
posed expedition down the Hudson. Practically all the
food for the troops must be transported from Quebec,
much of it coming from across the Atlantic. The army
had been somewhat depleted by the necessity of leaving
garrisons at the various posts conquered, as General
Carleton maintained that he had no right to send his
soldiers out of Canada to hold the forts taken.

Gen. Benjamin Lincoln had been stationed at Man¬
chester with a body of Massachusetts militia to make a
diversion in Burgoyne’s rear. About the middle of Sep¬
tember Colonel Warner and Colonel Johnson were ordered

.

'

.

1

194

H istory of Lake Champlain

to threaten Mount Independence ; Colonel Brown, with
Herrick’s Rangers, and some volunteers and militia,
was directed to advance upon the Lake George posts
and Ticonderoga ; while Colonel Woodbridge was sent
against Fort Ann and Skenesborough. Capt. Ebenezer
Allen, with his Rangers, was directed to leave Brown and
Herrick at a designated point and proceed against Mount
Defiance.

During the night Brown climbed the mountains that
lay between him and the head of Lake George. Sentinels
were posted with orders to give as a signal “three hoots
of an owl,” to guide the soldiers in the darkness. Up
the steep slopes of Mount Defiance swarmed Captain
Allen’s men, only to find near the summit a cliff that
they could not ascend. This difficulty was overcome when
Allen told one of his soldiers to stoop, and leaping on his
back climbed to the top of the cliff, the others following.
The Americans were soon discovered, but Allen’s men
followed him, as he said, “like a stream of hornets.”
The garrison departed in haste with the exception of
one gunner, who attempted to discharge a cannon. Allen
fired at him, shouting, “Kill the gunner,” and the man
fled, match in hand. The British troops ran down the
slope, only to be captured at the foot of the mountain by
Major Wait. Lieutenant Lord, who held the blockhouse,
offered considerable resistance, and did not surrender
until several guns taken from a sloop had been brought
to bear on the position.

Colonel Brown captured Mount Hope and a block¬
house near the old French lines. Several gunboats, an
armed sloop, 200 long boats, and 293 men were captured,
and 100 American prisoners taken in the Battle of Hub-
bardton were released. One of the gratifying features

. ..

■

:!- . ■ •: lyii

History of Lake Champlain

195

of the expedition was the recovery of the American
standard abandoned by St. Clair.

Colonel Warner was slow in his advance, and did
not reach Mount Independence until the morning of the
day following the events just mentioned. When the
forces were united a summons to surrender was sent to
General Powel, British commandant at Ticonderoga, but
he refused to obey. For four days the works were
cannonaded, but no apparent impression being made the
Americans withdrew to the lower end of Lake George.
Here, on July 24, an attack was made on Diamond Island,
where Captain Aubrey and two companies of the Forty-
seventh Regiment guarded a large quantity of public
property. The attack was unsuccessful, and Brown and
Warner having sustained a small loss retreated to the
east side of the lake, burned their boats, and recross¬
ing the mountains returned to Lincoln’s headquarters,
then located at Pawlet.

Meanwhile the problem of feeding his troops, and
the loyalists who flocked to his camp, was becoming a
serious one for Burgoyne. To bring supplies for an
army across the Atlantic Ocean from England, up the
St. Lawrence, up the Richelieu, through Lakes Cham¬
plain and George, and over difficult forest roads, a dis¬
tance of 3,600 miles, was the task that faced the British
commander. In desperate need of provisions he deter¬
mined to attempt the capture of the American stores at
Bennington. A description of the battle that followed
does not come within the scope of this book, but it re¬
sulted disastrously for the British arms. Not only did
Burgoyne fail in his quest for supplies, but the Amer¬
icans killed or disabled a considerable number of his
soldiers, and he lost prestige, thereby encouraging the peo¬
ple in the country roundabout to flock to the American

... ■

1

-)■

196

History of Lake Chain plain

standard in ever increasing numbers. To add to his
troubles his Indian allies became unmanageable.

The plans laid by Lord George Germaine, secretary
of state for the colonies, provided that Burgoyne should
advance as far as Albany. Orders were written direct-
ing Gen. William Howe, a brother of Lord Howe,
killed near Lake George in the French and Indian War,
and of Admiral Lord Howe who succeeded to the title, to
go up the Hudson from New York and join Burgoyne at
that place. After they were written his lordship went
to Kent on a visit, and upon his return he forgot to sign
the orders, which were pigeon-holed until May 18, 1777.
They did not reach Howe until August 16, when he had
left on an expedition to Chesapeake Bay, and it was then
too late to attempt a junction of forces at Albany.

Schuyler was superseded as commander of the Northern
American army, by Gates and General Lincoln was called
to his aid. Burgoyne was soon hemmed in, his com¬
munications were cut, and his army was in imminent
danger of starvation. His last dispatches were sent from
Fort Edward during the first week in September.

Reidesel and Fraser favored a retreat toward Lake
George and Ticonderoga, but it was too late to retreat.
The army that had advanced up Lake Champlain so
proudly in the early summer, with music and banners,
was now compelled to fight for its life, was defeated in a
series of battles, and was obliged to surrender on October
17.

George the Third had erred in his jubilant remark to
his Queen regarding the victory on Lake Champlain. He
had not “beaten all the Americans” when Ticonderoga
was taken.

With Burgoyne’s downfall, the British troops stationed
on Lakes George and Champlain, with the exception of
one or two small posts near the northern border, hastily

.

History of Lake Champlain

197

retreated to Canada. Near the mouth of the Boquet River
the rear guard was overtaken and attacked by Capt.
Ebenezer Allen, who captured forty-nine men, a large
amount of baggage and military stores, about 100 horses,
and some cattle. Among Allen’s prisoners was Dinah
Mattis, a negro slave, and her infant child. Allen gave
her a written certificate of emancipation, which was re¬
corded in the town clerk’s office at Bennington, in which
the Green Mountain captain set forth that he was “con¬
scientious that it is not right in the sight of God to keep
slaves.” This was the first recorded emancipation docu¬
ment in Vermont, preceding the adoption of the con¬
stitution which prohibited slavery in the State.

Major Wait took possession of Mount Independence
but found that the British had sunk their boats, spiked
or broken their cannon, and burned barracks, houses, and
bridges. The Americans did not attempt to reoccupy
Ticonderoga, and the British continued to control the
lake.

It is difficult at the present time to imagine the effect
of the American reverses suffered in Canada, and of
Burgoyne’s invasion, upon the scattered settlements in
the valley of Lake Champlain. The possession of Crown
Point and Ticonderoga, and the mastery of the lake,
meant at least comparative safety to these isolated farms
and little hamlets. With this protection suddenly re¬
moved, all seemed lost.

As Burgoyne came sweeping up the lake, demanding
allegiance and submission, most of the settlers in the
exposed districts abandoned the clearings that had been
won at such cost from the primeval forest, buried their
'treasures, pitifully few, but none the less highly prized,
and fled. Some of the men from these lonely lious-
holds were in the American army, summoned to defend
Ticonderoga, the gateway to the north. Like hunted

tsi8odf i»fb Jims barf d&U oril "> iild

1 '//'

.7/r^nj h> q tmtaoq *.f r a Iq • 2 *• ■3:' ■'

r\ t>9l£l02(^(ii ol \1>M4

198

History of Lake Champlain

creatures before a prairie fire these settlers poured out of
the valleys and down the mountain slopes — some of the
fugitives being men, but more of them women and little
children, and babes in arms — mostly on foot, hurrying
southward through the pitiless forest, in mortal terror of
the ever present and awful danger of the tomahawk and
scalping knife of the savage foe. At Rutland, and Ben¬
nington they converged like little rivulets in a larger
stream. Some of them remained in the stronger settle¬
ments, but many pressed on to the refuge of the old
homes in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

In all the three centuries of recorded history in the
Champlain Valley, there is hardly a chapter that appeals
so powerfully to the sympathetic imagination of the
reader as this record of the stripping bare of the north
country settlements by tbe terror induced by the approach
of General Burgoyne and his savage allies, led by the
ferocious La Corne St. Luc. It is difficult — it is well
nigh impossible — for those who dwell today in ease and
safety to picture this flight of the pioneers, as in poverty
and in sorrow, in hunger and in pain, they stumbled
along the blind forest trails, listening for the dreaded
war whoop, spurred on by the ever present fear that
death, or worse, always followed close behind.

In time, when the immediate peril had passed, many
returned to the abandoned homesteads, there to lay
anew the foundations of the towns and cities that flourish
today ; but the haunting memories of this awful experi¬
ence lingered long in their minds, and while the war
still dragged slowly on there were families that never
lay down to sleep without first concealing their most
precious possessions, fearing that out of the darkness
might corne a sudden foray of the dreaded foe. thus
there “came out of great tribulation” the men and women
who planted states in the wilderness.

■

'

’

CHAPTER XII

THE COMING OF PEACE

"V\7yTI TH the surrender of Burgoyne, the important

YY military and naval operation of the Revolutionary
War on Lake Champlain ended.

In the summer of 1777 Moses Pierson, of Shelburne,
raised a large crop of wheat, and soon after it was har¬
vested he and other settlers were obliged to abandon
their farms. In January, 1778, Pierson, his family, and
a few men returned to thresh the wheat. Being menaced
by Tories and Indians, aid was asked of the Vermont
authorities and Capt. Thomas Sawyer, Lieut. Barnabas
Barnum, Corporal Williams, and fourteen soldiers were
sent through the woods from Clarendon to Shelburne.
No attack was made for several weeks. It is claimed
that a Tory named Philo went to Canada on skates and
informed the British authorities of the exposed position
of the party at Shelburne.

Pierson’s log house had been strongly barricaded. On
the night of March 12 a party of fifty-seven men, ap¬
parently Indians, although it is supposed that some were
white men in disguise, attacked the Pierson house and a
desperate fight was waged for about two hours. Almost
at the first fire Joshua Woodard and a man named
Daniels, who had come to Shelburne to buy wheat, were
killed, others being wounded. Several attempts were
made to burn the house. Some of the occupants sallied
forth at the first attempt and extinguished the flames.
When the second fire was started there was no water
with which to extinguish it. Mrs. Pierson had made a
barrel of beer the day before the attack and this beverage
was used to put out the fire.

'

■

*

200

History of Lake Champlain

The attack was successfully repelled. The enemy lost
one officer and one Indian chief. Other dead are said
to have been thrown into the lake through a crack in
the ice, or carried to Canada. Two prisoners were taken.
Captain Sawyer cut from the nose of the dead chieftain
his jewels and also secured a powder horn and bullet
pouch as trophies.

Two sons of Moses Pierson, Ziba and Uzal, lads aged
respectively fifteen and seventeen years, took an active
part in the defense. An infant daughter, lying on the
bed escaped unhurt, although several bullets were found
in the bed and others passed through the head-board.
This daughter later became Mrs. Nehemiah Pray.

By order of the Vermont Council of Safety Capts.
Ebenezer Allen and Isaac Clark were ordered to relieve
Captain Sawyer at Shelburne, and to take post at Fort
William, on Otter Creek. The Pierson family went to
Orwell. The two sons, Ziba and Uzal, and an elderly
man, took the cattle into the Shoreham forests to browse
on the leaves of the trees. Here the men were surprised
by a scouting party from Canada seeking Moses Pierson,
for whom a large reward had been offered, dead or alive,
as a notorious rebel. The three captives were taken to
a prison on the banks of the St. Lawrence. Ihe man
captured was never heard from again, but the boys suc¬
ceeded in escaping, and after suffering great privations
returned to Vermont, looking like walking skeletons
when they reached home.

In the fall of the year 17/7 General Gates, head of
the Board of War determined that another Canadian
, invasion was feasible. At first General Stark was chosen
leader of the expedition, but later Lafayette was sub¬
stituted. This distinguished French officer came to
Albany, February 17, 177S. Vermont had ordered that a

.

'

'

j i; 7 • y *5 , •• ' .(hi z i

201

History of Lake Champlain

battalion of six companies of fifty men each should be
raised under Colonel Herrick, but other troops expected
were not forthcoming, and the project was abandoned.

In April, 1778, Warner’s regiment was ordered to
Albany and the frontier was left with no regular troops
for protection. A stockaded fort covering about two
acres was built at Rutland, with a blockhouse two stories
high, at one end. In November, 1778, a British force
came up the lake as far as Ticonderoga, and many of the
settlements in the Champlain Valley were raided, Addison
County suffered severely. Nearly every building in
Middlebury was destroyed except a barn built of green
timber, which would not burn. A considerable number
of prisoners were taken, thirty-nine being captured in
the town of Bridport.

On March 12, 1779, the Vermont Board of War re¬
solved that “the west line of Castleton and the west and
north lines of Pittsford to the foot of the Green Moun¬
tains be established as a line between the inhabitants of
the State and the enemy.” All the settlers north of this
line were ordered to remove south of it and directions
were given to build picket forts at Castleton and Pitts¬
ford. It was recommended that the women and children
should be removed to a convenient place south of the
forts and that the men should work their farms “in
collective bodies, with arms.”

In November, 1779, another Indian raid occurred,
which affords an illustration of the hardships endured
by the pioneers during the Revolution. The houses of
Capt. Thomas Tuttle and Joseph Barker, and a saw¬
mill, in Brandon, were burned by a party of the enemy
from Canada, Mr. Barker being taken prisoner.

Left alone with a child fourteen months old, Mrs.
Barker started for the home of a friend three miles

■

• u 7 ' • r nO B

.. J rn h ■ ' b !>i tct

202

History of Lake Champlain

distant. Night having fallen, she was compelled to stop
for shelter at a deserted house, where two years before
two neighbors had been killed by the savages. Here,
in this lonely and gruesome place, not knowing whether
her husband was alive or dead, with no companion but
a babe scarcely more than a year old, she gave birth to
a child. The next day a searching party headed by
Mrs. Barker’s father, found her, and with her children,
she was taken to a place of safety. Mr. Barker, feigning
illness, escaped and soon joined his family.

In May, 1780, Sir John Johnson, with a party of
Tories and Indians, made a raid into the Mohawk Valley.
Governor Clinton hastened to Lake George to intercept
him, and called on the Vermont officials for aid. Capt.
Ebenezer Allen and 200 men at once responded. They
assembled at Mount Independence on Lake Champlain,
but lacking boats could proceed no farther. Johnson,
however, returned by way of Crown Point, and avoided
the American troops.

Early in October Major Carleton came up the lake
from St. Johns with eight large vessels, and 1,000 regu¬
lars, loyalists, and Indians, to create a diversion in favor
of Johnson, who attacked the Scoharie and Mohawk
regions. Captain Chipman, with about eighty of Warners
regiment, held Fort George. Being nearly destitute of
supplies he sent a messenger on October 11 to Fort
Edward for provisions. This messenger was fired upon
by a party of twenty-five men, but returned to the fort in
safety. Supposing this to be a scouting party, Chipman
sent out all but fourteen of his men. They met the enemy
not far from the fort and nearly every man was killed
or captured. After a short resistance Fort George was
taken. Fort Ann was also captured.

'

.

...

History of Lake Champlain

203

This attack caused the greatest alarm in the Cham¬
plain Valley. The Vermont militia was ordered to ren¬
dezvous at Castleton and Gen. Ethan Allen, who had
been released from captivity in 1778, having been ex¬
changed for a British officer, was made commander.
About this time a party of 300 men, mostly Indians,
came up the lake as far as the mouth of the Winooski
River, ascended that stream, crossed the Green Moun¬
tains, descended the White River, and falling upon Royal-
ton burned that town, killing two persons, and taking
about thirty prisoners. During the year 1781 a British
fleet cruised about the lake and landings were made at
Crown Point and Ticonderoga, but no aggressive action
was taken.

The story of the Haldimand negotiations, by means
of which the Vermont leaders deceived the British
authorities, leading them to believe that the State, owing
to a dispute with New York and failure to receive recog¬
nition from Congress, might resume allegiance to the
British crown, is too long to tell here. That the Vermont
leaders cherished any treasonable designs is unthinkable,
when the character of the men engaged is considered.
They did succeed, however, with no troops except a few
Vermont militia, in protecting the Champlain Valley, and
in keeping a considerable number of British soldiers in
idleness.

For nearly thirteen years after the war closed the
British retained posts at Point au Per, on the New York
shore, and at Dutchman’s Point, on the island of North
Hero, but the soldiers never molested the inhabitants.

In 1783, while awaiting the signing of the treaty of
peace, Washington, with several of his officers, and Gov¬
ernor Clinton of New York, ascended the Hudson River
and visited Ticonderoga and Crown Point.

.

'

204

History of Lake Champlain

With the close of the Revolutionary War, the valley
on both sides of the lake was rapidly settled, many sol¬
diers coming into this region to find homes. More than
seventy army veterans settled in the town of Pawlet
alone. The New York legislature, in 1781, granted
bounties of lands to officers and soldiers who should enlist
within a specified time.

In 1784 Judge Zepheniah Platt, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y.,
and thirty-two others purchased the rights to a township
and located upon the grant formerly made by Great
Britain to Charles de Fredenburg. This town of Platts-
burg originally included the present townships of Sara¬
nac, Schuyler’s Falls and Beekmantown, and parts of the
old towns of Peru and Chateaugay. Among the promi¬
nent men who made their homes here at an early date
were Peter Sailly, Thomas Treadwell, Melaneton Smith,
Melancton L. Woolsey, and Gen. Benjamin Mooers.
Plattsburg was organized as a town on April 14, 1785.
In 1810 the population was 3,112. General Mooers had
begun the first permanent settlement at Beekmantown in
1783.

In 1783 Jacques Rous settled at Rouses Point.

In 1788 the town of Champlain was organized, a part
being set off in 1804 as the town of Chazy. Peru was
settled about 1789. In 1788 Clinton County was set off
from Washington County. In 1799 Essex County was
taken from it, and in 1808 its limits were still farther
reduced by the erection of the Countv of Franklin.

The population of Clinton County in 1810 was 8,032.

In 1788 the towns of Willsboro and Crown Point were
organized. Willsboro included the present towns of dies-

*

terficld, Essex, Lewis and a part of the old town of Peru.
Crown Point included all the region between Willsboro
and Lake George. Elizabethtown was settled about 1785,

'

' . ... • • • ' 1

■

History of Lake Champlain

205

and organized in 1801. Chesterfield was organized in
1802; Ticonderoga, in 1804; Essex, in 1805; and Moriah,
in 1808. The population of Essex County in 1810 was
9,525.

Washington County, which was organized in 1784,
originally included all the towns on the west side of Lake
Champlain, but now touches the lake only on its north¬
eastern comer. Whitehall was organized in 178S. In 1S10
the town of Putnam, consisting of the tongue of land
between Lakes Champlain and George, contained a popu¬
lation of 499. The population of Washington County in
1786 was 4,456; in 1810, it was 42,289, although much
reduced in area, meanwhile. Returning to the east side
of the lake, Alburgh was organized as a town in 1792,
but British loyalists settled here as early as 1782. Isle
La Motte was chartered to Benjamin Wait and others in
1789. The town was organized in 1790. In 1802 the
name was changed to Vineyard, but in 1830 the original
name of Isle La Motte was restored. North Hero, South
Hero, and Grand Isle were granted in 1779 to Ethan Allen,
Samuel Herrick and others. The settlement of North
Hero was begun in 1783, and the town was organized in
1789. In 1784 South Hero was settled and in 1788 became
an organized township. The settlement of Middle Hero, or
Grand Isle, was begun in 1783, and in 1798 it was sepa¬
rated from South Hero as an independent township.

The first settlers in Highgate were Germans, who had
served in the British army during the Revolution. The
township was first regularly surveyed in 1805. Although
Swanton contained a French and Indian village, at an
early date, the first permanent settlement was in 1787,
the town being organized in 1790. Beginning with the
year 1786, settlers began to come into St. Albans, and in
1788 the town was organized. The settlement of Georgia

.

■

_/ ■ '■'< ' i :: • : ■ ■ ;.*/ * •: ii ■ V r I .• 4x1

206

History of Lake Champlain

was begun in 1784, and during the next two years many
families came from Bennington and from western Massa¬
chusetts, the town being organized in 1788. The pioneer
settlers came to Milton in 1782, and the town was organ¬
ized six years later. In 1733 Ira Allen returned to Col¬
chester, and in that year several families moved to Col¬
chester Point. The town was organized about 1791.
Allen built mills, a forge, and an anchor shop at Winooski
falls.

In the spring of 1783 Stephen Lawrence brought his
family to Burlington and other families followed the same
year. The first town meeting was held in 1787, and in
that year Ethan Allen moved into the town, dying two
years later, in 1789. The University of Vermont, located
here, was chartered in 1791 and the first building was
begun in 1794. The first commencement was held in
1804. As soon as the war was closed the Shelburne set¬
tlers returned, and in 1787, when the town was organized,
there were twenty-four families within its limits. Derick
Webb, who had come to Charlotte for the first time in
1776, returned in 1784, and others soon followed. In
1790 McNeil’s ferry between Charlotte and Essex, N. Y.,
was established. Ferrisburg was settled in 1784, and
organized as a town in 1786. The Panton settlers returned
after the war, and organized the town in 1784.

When the Addison settlers returned in May, 1783,
they found that every building in town had been de¬
stroyed. Most of the inhabitants left Bridport during the
Revolution, but returned with the advent of peace, and
organized a town in 1784. Shoreham settlers came back
when the danger of attacks by an armed enemy had
passed, and others emigrated from Massachusetts and
Connecticut. The first permanent settlement in Orwell

i;>: j.rfi Sjj f:i h&illtty'j 3 »r . r<ot *1 fciteeufb

L) m<c':\ ::*• M ’. r. : ,' L>( .vi r : T

History of Lake Champlain

207

was made in 1783, and four years later a town govern¬
ment was organized.

Benson was chartered in 1780, being named in honor
of a Revolutionary officer. A settlement was begun in
1783, and the town was organized in 1786. West Haven
was set off from Fair Haven in 1792.

Rutland County was incorporated in 1781 , Chittenden
County in 1782, Addison County in 3 787, and Franklin
County in 1792. The first twenty-five years following
the declaration of peace was a period of rapid growth in
the lake counties of Vermont. The population of Rut¬
land County in 1790 was 15,591; in 1810, 29,486. Chit¬
tenden County contained 7,295 people in 1790; in 1810
it reported a population of 18,120. The population of
Addison County was 6,449 in 1790; in 1810 it was 19,993.
Franklin County was not organized in 1790 but in 1800
it contained a population of 8,782; in 1810 the number
returned was 16,427.

Thus it will be seen that in 1810, a little more than
a quarter of a century following the signing of the first
treaty of peace with Great Britain, the lake counties of
Vermont contained a total population of 84,026, the lake
counties of New York, including Washington, a total of
59,846 inhabitants, making an aggregate population of
143,872 for the entire Champlain Valley.

The period between the first and second wars with
Great Britain was one of remarkable growth for this
region, as the census figures quoted prove, so that in
twenty-five years what was chiefly an unsettled wilder¬
ness at the beginning of that period had become a land of
prosperous farms and thriving villages.

The embargo act, growing out of the British complica¬
tions, which shut out foreign goods, led to widespread
smuggling on the Lake Champlain frontier, and in 1808

208

History of Lake Champlain

a serious affray occurred on the Winooski River between
customs officials and smugglers on board a craft known
as the Black Snake , which had operated in Missisquoi
Bay. The violaters of the revenue law were captured
after Jonathan Ormsby and Asa Marsh, of the govern¬
ment service had been killed. Cyrus B. Dean, of Swan-
ton, was found guilty of murder, and executed on Novem¬
ber 11, 1808, seven other men being sentenced to prison
terms. Franklin County was the scene during this period
of many similar encounters of a less sensational nature.

' 4

’

CHAPTER XIII

BEGINNING OF THE WAR OF 1812

T" ONG before the War of 1812 actually was begun the
.1 ji course of events pointed to another conflict between
the United States and Great Britain. Early in Janu¬
ary, 1809, Lieut. Melancton Woolsey was ordered to
build two gunboats on Lake Champlain. In February,
1809, a British emissary, John Henry, sent into New
England to ascertain how far the members of the Federal¬
ist party would go toward separation from the Union,
visited Burlington, but he found no evidence of any seri¬
ous disloyalty to the government.

The opening of the year 1812 found Lake Champlain
a commercial thoroughfare surrounded by well-cultivated
farms, an entirely different country from that of the
Revolutionary War period. Plattsburg, with more than
3,000 inhabitants, and Burlington, with nearly 2,000, were
growing, enterprising villages, centers of trade for large
areas of country in the States of New York and Ver¬
mont, respectively.

President James Madison issued his proclamation of
war against Great Britain on June 18, 1812. In October
of that year the Vermont legislature pledged its support
to the national government by a vote of 128 to 79, and
prohibited all intercourse with Canada without the Gov¬
ernor’s permission under a penalty of $7,000 fine and
seven years’ imprisonment at hard labor. New York
State also heartily endorsed the policy of Madison’s ad¬
ministration.

Not long before the formal declaration of war, Col.
Isaac Clark, of the Eleventh United States Infantry, a

• v : L b:iuoi » 1 -:i; Ismammtt* »

^ Mini

-

210

History of Lake Champlain

veteran of the Revolution, known as ‘‘Old Rifle” among
the Green Mountain Boys, and a son-in-law of Gov.
Thomas Chittenden, was ordered to Burlington to make
ready for the impending conflict. He purchased for gov¬
ernment purposes two five-acre lots on a bluff overlooking
the lake, a tract including the present site of Battery
Park. Little more was done at Burlington during the
summer of that year.

Gen. Joseph Bloomfield was ordered to Lake Cham- \
plain and by September 1 he had assembled an army of
8,000 men on the west shore of the lake, with headquarters
at Plattsburg and outposts at Chazy and Champlain.
Under Gen. Henry Dearborn, commander-in-chief of the
army, a Revolutionary veteran and a former secretary of
war, a forward movement was made on November 16,
and with 3,000 regulars and 2,000 militia, he encamped
about half a mile south of the Canadian border. An
advance was made on the outposts of Lacolle, Oue., but
before daylight, on the morning of November 20, two
American detachments fired on each other for nearly half
an hour before the discovery was made that both parties
were Americans. Five men were killed and five were
wounded. After this inglorious affair the troops returned
to Champlain.

The Sixth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth regiments of
United States troops went into winter quarters at Platts¬
burg under command of Col. Zebulon Pike, the well-
known explorer, who discovered and gave his name to
Pike’s Peak, in the Rocky Mountains. In the fall of 1812
four infantry regiments were sent to Burlington, the
Ninth, Eleventh, Twenty-first, and Twenty-fifth, Gen.
John Chandler commanding. They went into winter
quarters, remaining until March 25, 1S13, when a threat¬
ened attack on Sackett’s Harbor, N. Y., made it necessary

'

'

'

History of Lake Champlain

211

to send Chandler’s brigade to that place. The troops were
transported across the lake on the ice and overland to their
destination in 300 sleighs, the necessary teams being im¬
pressed from Vermont farmers. It is related that mem¬
bers of the Federalist party complained that it was hardly
consistent to impress themselves and their teams into
service to help carry on a war begun to avenge the impress¬
ment of American seamen by British sea captains.

When war was declared the American naval force on
Lake Champlain consisted of two gunboats built in 1808.
These boats were at Basin Harbor, on the east side of the
lake, one being partly sunk, with seams open almost wide
enough to admit a man’s head. On September 12, 1812,
Lieut. Thomas Macdonough, then only 28 years old, who
had won distinction under Decatur, was ordered by Presi¬
dent Madison from Portland, Me., to Burlington, to take
command of the American fleet on Lake Champlain.
Starting on horseback, his only attendant being a country
lad who returned with the horse, he arrived at Burlington
after a four days’ journey, and assumed command of naval
affairs.

After consulting with General Dearborn at Plattsburg
he went to Whitehall on October 13 and began to fit two
gunboats and the sloops Hunter and Bull Dog for service.
Those vessels unfit for active service were retained as
transports. There were two other sloops on the lake, the
President and the Montgomery ; but Hon. Charles H.
Darling, for several years assistant secretary of the navy,
in a paper on Macdonough read before the Vermont Plis-
torical Society, declared that these vessels were not in the
regular fleet, probably being under the control of the War
Department. Rodney Macdonough,. a grandson of the
American naval commander, in his “Life of Commodore
Thomas Macdonough,” says that Dearborn gave up the

• *■* . / » • Ji: ’ H *>* i

!

212

History of Lake Champlain

command of the President during the fall and that it was
included by Macdonough in a report to the Navy Depart¬
ment December 20.

Before Macdonough ’s arrival, Lieut. Sidney Smith was
in command of the few war vessels on the lake and Gen¬
eral Dearborn had under his control six transports, the
command of which he turned over with reluctance. A
sloop called the Rising Sun was purchased later and re¬
christened the Preble. A steamboat also was bought and
named the Ticonderoga , but her engines did not work in
a satisfactory manner and she was refitted as a schooner.
At the close of the season of 1812, “my poor forlorn
looking squadron/’ as Macdonough described his fleet,
went into winter quarters at Shelburne.

Obtaining a leave of absence at the close of the season
of 1812, Macdonough went to Middletown, Conn., where,
on December 12, he married Miss Lucy Ann Shaler,
daughter of Nathaniel Shaler, who in his youth had been
a Tory. Macdonough brought his bride, an attractive and
talented young woman, to Burlington, where the couple
spent the winter. The American commander devoted his
time to putting his fleet into better condition. Fifteen
w. ship carpenters were sent from New York in February,
1813, and in March carronades, gun carriages and ammu¬
nition were sent to Whitehall to be forwarded to Shelburne
when navigation opened. The sloops Hunter and Bull
Dog were remodeled so as to carry eleven guns each in¬
stead of seven, and they were renamed the Growler and
the Eagle. The President was the flagship during the
whole of the year 1813.

In April Macdonough sailed out of Shelburne harbor
with the sloop, President, twelve guns; the sloop Growler,
commanded by Lieut. Sidney Smith, eleven guns ; the
sloop Eagle, commanded by Sailing Master Janus Loomis,

.

213

History of Lake Champlain

eleven guns; and two gunboats, each carrying two guns.
About April 25 the three sloops were at Plattsburg.

During the month of June Macdonough received orders
from Secretary of the Navy Tones, which included the
following admonition: “You are to understand that upon
no account are you to suffer the enemy to gain the
ascendency on Lake Champlain.”

During the first week of June, 1813, a British force
was reported to be annoying both shores of the lake and
Lieut. Sidney Smith wras ordered to proceed against the
enemy with the Grozvler and the Eagle. Macdonough’s
flagship, the President, had been run ashore and damaged
and he remained to make repairs. The crews were mostly
recruited from Captain Herrick’s company of McCobb’s
Maine regiment, who were chiefly lumbermen from the
seacoast towns.

Lieutenant Smith left Plattsburg on June 2, anchoring
for the night near the international boundary. Very
early the next morning, without orders, and contrary to
Macdonough’s advice, he proceeded down the Richelieu
River as far as Isle aux Tetes, or Ash Island, where he
sighted and chased three British gunboats. With a strong
south wind blowing, Isle aux Noix was soon approached.
The fortifications here were too strong to attack and
afforded protection for the gunboats. The Grozvler and
the Eagle now attempted to beat back against the adverse
wind and the swift current, a difficult task.

The enemy, seeing the plight of the American boats,
sent out row galleys, armed with more powerful guns than
those carried by Smith’s craft. About 200 or 300 men
were distributed along both shores of the river, by the
British commandant, and a brisk musket fire was opened.
After a battle lasting several hours a 24-pound shot struck
the port bow of the Eagle, and passing obliquely through

• • ■ -• i-f -jU\ bli.v JO*

214

History of Lake Champlain

the ship, tore off three planks from her starboard side
below the water line. The boat immediately sank, but in
shallow water, and the crew were taken off by boats sent
from shore. A little later, about 11.15 o’clock, a 24-pound
shot struck the Growler s mast, rendering the sloop un¬
manageable. Her ammunition was exhausted and she
was run ashore where she was captured. On the Growler,
one man was killed and eight men were wounded ; on the
Eagle, eleven were wounded. The British loss is said to
have been severe. The captured officers and crews, num¬
bering 112 men, were sent as prisoners to Montreal and
later to Halifax. Lieutenant Smith and two companions
escaped from jail at Quebec by making a rope of strips of
carpet and letting themselves down from an attic window,
but they were soon recaptured. A court of inquiry investi¬
gated the capture of the boats and exonerated Lieutenant
Smith.

The Grozder and the Eagle were refitted and rechrist¬
ened the Broke and the Shannon. Macdonough, with the
President and two gunboats, retired to Burlington.

The British force on the lake, with this success, was
superior to that commanded by Macdonough, and great
alarm was created by rumors that an army 6,000 strong
was to be sent into the Champlain valley from Canada.
Col. Isaac Clark called upon the militia to rally to the
defense of the exposed frontier, and also appealed to the
men who had passed the age when they were subject to
military service. As a result of this appeal a “Burlington
Corps of Exempts” was organized, containing fifty-seven
men. According to the late Hon. G. G. Benedict, “this
roll comprised prominent jurists, lawyers, physicians,
bankers, merchants, and others of the first citizens of
Burlington of that day.” The two Burlington militia com¬
panies, commanded by Capt. Moses Jewett and Capt. Guy

History of Lake Champlain

215

Catlin, respectively, and the “Corps of Exempts,” were
ordered, on June 10, to be ready for immediate service.

Three days later, on June 13, 1S13, five companies of
the Thirteenth United States Infantry, comprising 550
men under command of Major Phelps, and a detachment
of United States artillery with two 24-pound guns, ar¬
rived. The artillery was commanded by Lieut. Sylvester
Churchill, recently graduated from the United States
Military Academy, a native of Vermont, who was inspec¬
tor general of the army at the opening of the Civil War,
in 1861.

Under the direction of Lieutenant Churchill what is
now called the Battery was fortified. From fields a mile
or two distant, sods were brought with which a parapet
containing thirteen embrasures was built. A regiment
raised near Burlington, containing 500 men and com¬
manded by Colonel Williams, arrived June 16, and en¬
camped on a plateau near the Battery. On June 20 the
Fourth United States Infantry, 700 strong, commanded
by Lieut. -Col. John Dorrington, arrived from Boston;
also a detachment of regular troops under Lieut-Col.
Martin Norton, bringing four pieces of heavy artillery.

A little later a regiment from Windsor County, under
Col. Daniel Dana, and more heavy artillery arrived.

It is related that desertions were frequent, and that on
June 21 eight deserters, who had been tried by court mar¬
tial and sentenced to death, were brought forth in the
presence of a great concourse of people, to be executed.
The troops were formed in a hollow square. Colonel
Clark was within this square, seated on a white horse,
and the condemned men being brought before him, were
solemnly warned not to repeat the offense, and then were
pardoned. A little later John Cummings of the Fourth
United States Infantry, blindfolded and kneeling on his

216

History of Lake Champlain

coffin, was shot as a deserter. Gen. Thomas Parker of
Virginia, arrived on July 1, 1813, and relieved Colonel
Clark of the command. There were encamped at Bur¬
lington on July 6 about 3,000 men, comprising the Second
Battalion of the Fourth United States Infantry, six com¬
panies of the Eleventh Infantry, recruited in Vermont,
the Twenty-ninth Infantry, the Thirtieth Infantry, re¬
cruited in Vermont, the Thirty-first Infantry, two troops
of cavalry and two companies of artillery. Wooden bar¬
racks for the men were erected between Pearl and North
Streets, extending north and south, and several small
story-and-a-half cottages were built at the lower end of
Pearl Street for officers’ quarters.

Gen. Wade Plampton, grandfather of the Wade Hamp¬
ton prominent as a Confederate cavalry officer and United
States senator from South Carolina, arrived at Burlington
on July 30 and assumed command. Returns for August
2 show that the army under Hampton’s control consisted
of 140 dragoons, 90 artillerymen, 3,017 regular infantry,
and 806 militia, a total of 4,053 men. Of this number 557
were reported sick, and 327 absent. Gen. James Wilkin¬
son had been assigned to the command of the Northern
department.

Macdonough endeavored to repair the damage sustained
by the loss of the Grozvler and the Eagle , and acting under
the authority given him he purchased two sloops and fitted
them out at Burlington. Secretary of the Navy Jones
ordered the navy agent at New York to forward the guns
which Macdonough needed, adding that “the critical state
of things on Lake Champlain by the unfortunate loss of
the Grozvler and the Eagle renders great exertions neces¬
sary in order to regain command of that lake.” A number
of ship carpenters were hired at New York and Captain
Evans of the Brooklyn Navy Yard was ordered to send

;

•:

'

^lu t

.

History of Lake Champlain

217

100 sailors to Lake Champlain. It was so difficult to
obtain men for his ships that Macdonough informed Gen¬
eral Hampton early in July that it was his intention tem¬
porarily to dismantle and lay up the two gunboats until
crews could be secured.

On July 30 Col. John Murray, with over 1,400 British
troops and marines on two sloops, the Broke and the
Shannon, three gunboats, and forty-seven bateaux, crossed
the international boundary line, and on Saturday, July 31,
he destroyed the blockhouse, arsenal, armory, hospital,
and a military cantonment near Fredenburgh Falls, two
miles from the village of Plattsburg. Three private store¬
houses were burned. Hardware belonging to Boston mer¬
chants, valued at $200,000, and other private property to
the amount of $8,000, formed part of the booty. Dwell¬
ings were broken open by soldiers and their contents car¬
ried away, it is said in the presence of British officers,
although Colonel Murray had promised that private prop¬
erty should be protected. The public property destroyed
was valued at $25,000. At this time no regular troops
were stationed at Plattsburg. On Sunday morning.
August 1, Murray completed his task and embarked
hastily, leaving behind a picket guard of twenty-one men.
These soldiers were taken prisoners and were sent to
Burlington. It is claimed that news of the British ap¬
proach was sent to General Hampton, at Burlington,
twenty-four hours before the attack, but he failed to send
any aid.

Houses were plundered at Cumberland Plead and a
store was burned at Chazy Landing.

On Monday morning, August 2, the Broke, commanded
by Capt. Thomas Everard, the Shannon, under Capt.
Daniel Pring, and one gunboat, appeared off Burlington
‘ho observe the state of the enemy’s force there and to

'

. *:

J i > -

-

.

218

History of Lake Champlain

afford him an opportunity of deciding the naval superi¬
ority of the lake,” as Everard reported the following day
to Sir George Prevost. Macdonough’s ships were in no
condition to do battle with the British squadron. Two
sloops were in the hands of the carpenters, one being
without a mast. One sloop was fit for duty, in addition
to which there were two small gunboats, each carrying a
12-pounder, and two or three scows. These craft were
anchored under the protection of the battery on the bluff.

At 2.30 o’clock in the afternoon the British ships ap¬
proached Burlington, it being supposed that they intended,
if possible, to destroy three public storehouses erected on
the wharf. When about a mile and a half from shore a
cannonade was begun, the fire being returned by the bat¬
tery under Lieutenant Churchill, by Macdonough’s ships,
and by Captain Chapell of the artillery, who had loaded
two 12-pounders on a scow, the skirmish lasting twenty
minutes. Having received several shots from the Ameri¬
can guns, the British ships drew off toward the south.

Some of Macdonough’s ships followed for two miles,
but did not venture farther, as it was believed that other
vessels were in hiding ready to attack, returning two
hours later to their anchorage under the guns of the land
battery. The British ships proceeded south about ten
miles, captured and destroyed four small sailing vessels,
and returned northward the next morning with a small
sloop laden with flour, taken near Shelburne, and two or
three ferry boats as prizes.

No damage of importance was done at Burlington. A
story is told to the effect that a ball entered a house and
shattered a bureau at which Macdonough was shaving,
whereupon that officer shook his fist at the enemy’s ships
and exclaimed: “I'll pay you for this some time.” J his
tale is very improbable, and Rodney Macdonough well

*

... • ■ 1 •

j: . J v.-£ Of? i jgKiod s to

History of Lake Champlain

219

says that had a bombardment been in progress his distin¬
guished ancestor “would probably have been attending to
more important matters than shaving himself.”

At the same time that this raid was made upon Platts-
burg and Burlington, the exact date being a matter of
dispute, two British gunboats and some of the bateaux
entered Maquarn Bay, on the Swanton shore. About 600
soldiers lauded at what was known as the Manzer place,
and compelled Mr. Manzer, then an old man, to act as
guide to Swanton. A part of this force was ferried over
the Missisquoi River, the others remaining at the riverside.
Troops had been stationed at Swanton in 1810 and 1811
to aid in enforcing the revenue laws. In 1812 barracks
had been erected, built in the form of a crescent, east of
the park, or “green,” and there was a parade ground
northwest of the barracks. From July 12 to December 8,
1812, eight companies of the First Vermont militia under
command of Colonel Williams were stationed here, being
discharged on the latter date. Soon after, Colonel Fifield’s
regiment was ordered to Swanton, where they remained
five or six weeks and then left, only to be sent back a
little later to spend the winter of 1812-13 in quarters at
this place. Early in the summer of 1813 the troops were
ordered away, and when the British approached the gov¬
ernment stores and property were unprotected. The bar¬
racks and all government property that could be found
were burned, but there was no interference with private
property, and after spending a few hours the soldiers
departed, the entire British force retiring to Canada.

On July 24, 1813, Macdonough was promoted from
the rank of lieutenant to that of master commandant and
he was generally called commodore, although no such rank
had been conferred upon him.

n fh *

I -

H i: let ' I i J 1 t \Ui\ cncn'7: .»brnfld di \o te*wr|non

’ 1,1 •

220

History of Lake Champlain

General Wilkinson, writing from Sacketts Harbor,
N. Y., on August 30, 1813, to the secretary of war, sug¬
gested that General Hampton, who was at Burlington,
should without delay, “cross the Champlain and com¬
mence his movements toward St. Johns, taking the Isle
aux Noix in his route, or not, as circumstances might
justify/’ In compliance with this suggestion Hampton
was ordered to proceed directly against Isle aux Noix.
He consulted with Macdonough on September 7 regarding
the feasibility of a joint land and naval attack. The naval
commander feared that to enter the narrow channel of
the Richelieu River would invite a disaster similar to that
which had overtaken the Growler and the Eagle under
Lieutenant Smith near Isle aux Noix. He believed he
could maintain the mastery of the lake, that being his
chief duty, and he declined to cooperate with Hampton,
a decision that called forth criticism from the secretary
of war.

By great diligence Macdonough had made his fleet ready
for action by August 20. Fifty men to aid in manning
the ships reached Burlington on August 19, and about
200 more, with some officers, arrived early in September.
General Hampton loaned him enough soldiers to com¬
plete the force needed for handling his fleet, and on Sep¬
tember 6 Macdonough sailed for Plattsburg with the fol¬
lowing vessels : The sloop President, the flagship, ten
guns; the sloop Preble, nine guns; the sloop Montgomery,
nine guns; the sloop Frances, 5 guns; the sloop Wasp ,
three guns; two gunboats, each armed with a long 12-
pounder. The Frances and the Wasp, small craft, which
had sailed badly, had been hired, and were used as armed
tenders. This fleet was augmented on October 9 by two
more gunboats, built at Plattsburg. They were constructed
at the north end of the lake owing to the difficulty of

: •

* '

History of Lake Champlain

221

navigation, the water being three feet lower than ever
known before, it was said. When Macdonough left Bur¬
lington on September 6 it was with the intention of seek¬
ing a British squadron of two sloops and three gunboats
that had been reported to be just north of Plattsburg.
He found them near the boundary line, but as the Ameri¬
can ships approached, the fleet of the enemy withdrew
down the Richelieu. Macdonough declined to be drawn
into the river and returned to Plattsburg.

Having assembled a force of 4,000 men including a
body of New York militia, at Cumberland Plead for an
attack upon the British posts in the valley of the Richelieu,
General Hampton left for the north on September 19 in
bateaux, convoyed by the fleet. Arriving at Chazy at
midnight the soldiers lay on their arms, and soon after
sunrise embarked again. Entering the Big Chazy River,
the army ascended that stream four miles, as far as the
rapids at Champlain, where a landing was made. A squad¬
ron of horse and two companies of artillery joined Hamp¬
ton’s force here, and the army proceeded to Odelltown,
Qtte. After a day’s stay, learning that the water supply
was short, owing to an extreme drouth, Hampton changed
his plans, and decided to advance toward Montreal by way
of Chateaugay. Returning to Champlain on September
21, he advanced to Chateaugay Four Corners on Septem¬
ber 24, where he remained for twenty-six days. On
October 20 he crossed the border and attacked a small
body of British troops, being defeated with a loss of thirty-
five men killed and wounded. A few days later the army
broke camp and returned to Plattsburg, going into winter
quarters at that place.

While Hampton was encamped at Chateaugay, Col.
Isaac Clark, in command at Champlain, was ordered to
make a diversion on the border. With 110 men he left

1 1

■ : a

>rb

flfT

222

History of Lake Champlain

Champlain on the evening of October 11 and crossed to
the village of Missisquoi Bay, Que. (Phillipsburg) , where
a small British force under Major Powell was stationed.
Advancing in double quick time, Clark ordered the British
soldiers, hastily drawn up near the guard house, to lay
down their arms. Taken by surprise, and believing from
Clark’s boldness that he was supported by a large force,
Major Powell obeyed the summons. The main body of
the enemy, however, did not yield, and prepared to charge ;
but a well-directed volley from the Americans cut down
the captain and several soldiers, whereupon the rest threw
down their arms and surrendered.

Captain Finch was directed to keep on the lookout for
a body of 200 of the enemy under Colonel Lock, which
was reported to be approaching. An advance guard of
cavalry was surprised and the remainder retreated. The
British loss was nine killed and fourteen wounded. Clark
took his prisoners, numbering 101 men, to Burlington.

About the middle of December a British force under
Captain Barker crossed the Vermont line and destroyed
some public storehouses and barracks at Derby, Vt.

On December 4 a force of 400 British under Captain
Pring, in six large galleys, lauded at Cumberland Head
and burned an empty storehouse. Seeing the smoke of
the burning building, Macdonough’s fleet started in pur¬
suit of the enemy. Four galleys under the command of
Lieut. Stephen Cassin were directed to bring Pring's ships
into action, if possible, thus allowing the sloops to come
up. The British refused battle, however, their superior
number of sweeps enabling them to keep the lead. After
following the retreating foe for three hours the pursuit
was abandoned. A little later, on December 21, the
American fleet went into winter quarters at Vergennes,
on the Otter Creek.

'• *

'

■

J- • toi ... !>• • i i:‘ 1

■>

H istory of Lake Champlain

223

Soon after General Hampton’s departure from Bur¬
lington, in September, Gen. Alexander Macomb was as¬
signed to the command at that place.

The Ninth, Eleventh, Twenty-first and Twenty-fifth
regiments were ordered to Burlington from Plattsburg,
and the third brigade of the third division of the Vermont
militia under Colonel Fassett were called out for three
months, being reviewed at Burlington by Gov. Martin
Chittenden. This addition to the army at Burlington
made more extensive quarters necessary for the winter.
An arrangement was made whereby the main college
building of the University of Vermont, a large four-story
brick structure, was used for army barracks, upon pay¬
ment of an annual rental of $5,000.

Nathan B. Haswell was acting commissary at Burling¬
ton, and he gave up his business building in the village
for an army storehouse. The cellar was transformed into
a great vat with a capacity of 300 barrels, where beef
was salted for the use of the troops. According to Mr.
Haswell the army rations at that time consisted of a pound
and a half of beef, or three-quarters of a pound of pork,
eighteen ounces of bread or flour, a gill of rum, whiskey,
or brandy; with two quarts of salt, four quarts of vinegar,
four pounds of soap, and a pound and a half of candles
for each one hundred rations. Regarding the heavy mor¬
tality among the troops at Burlington Mr. Haswell said:
“Several hundred died weekly, and it was not uncommon
to find that twenty had died in a night.”

Martin Chittenden, a Federalist, was elected governor
of Vermont by the legislature in 1813, no choice having
been made by the people. His party did not look with
favor upon the war and objected to the use of the militia
outside the State. When General Izard had been with¬
drawn from Plattsburg by order of the secretary of war

'

■

224

History of Lake Champlain

to join General Wilkinson, the third brigade of the third
division of the Vermont militia, under Lieut. Col. Luther
Dixon, was sent across the lake to take the place, in part,
of the regulars ordered away.

On November 10, 1813, Governor Chittenden issued a
proclamation ordering these troops to return to the State,
and to hold themselves in readiness to act under the orders
of Gen. Jacob Davis, claiming that "an extensive section
of our own Frontier is left unprotected,” and that the
citizens were “exposed to the retaliatory incursions and
ravages of an exasperated enemy.” He closed the procla¬
mation by declaring that in his opinion “the Military
strength and resources of this State must be reserved for
its own defense and protection exclusively excepting in
cases provided for by the Constitution of the U. States ;
and then, under orders derived only from the Commander-
in-chief.”

Colonel Dixon and seventeen of his officers replied in
a vigorous statement, said to have been written by Capt.
Sanford Gadcomb, of St. Albans, which was, in part, as
follows : “With due deference to your Excellency’s opin¬
ion, we humbly conceive, that when we are ordered into
the service of the United States, it becomes our duty,
when required, to march to the defense of any section of
the Union. We are not of that class who believe that our
duties as citizens or soldiers are circumscribed within the
narrow limits of the Town or State in which we reside,
but that we are under a paramount obligation to our com¬
mon country, to the great confederation of States. We
further conceive that, while we are in actual service, and
during the period for which we were ordered into service,
your Excellency’s power over us as Governor of the State
of Vermont, is suspended. * * * Viewing the subject in
this light, we conceive it our duty to declare unequivocally

■

• • ; /jj •

,

) '

History of Lake Champlain

225

to your Excellency, that we shall not obey your Excel¬
lency’s order for returning, but shall continue in the serv¬
ice of our country until we are legally and honorably dis¬
charged. An invitation or order to desert the standard
of our country will never be obeyed by us, although it
proceeds from the Governor and Captain General of Ver¬
mont. * * *

“We shall take the liberty to state to your Excellency,
plainly, our sentiments on this subject. We consider
your proclamation as a gross insult to the officers and
soldiers in the service, inasmuch as it implies that they
are so ignorant of their rights as to believe that you have
authority to command them in their present situation, or
so abandoned as to follow your insidious advice. We can¬
not regard your proclamation in any other light, than as
an unwarrantable stretch of executive authority, issued
from the worst motives, to effect the basest purposes. It
is in our opinion a renewed instance of that spirit of
disorganization and anarchy which is carried on by a fac¬
tion to overwhelm our country with disgrace. We cannot
perceive what other object your Excellency could have in
view than to embarrass the operations of the army, to
excite mutiny and sedition among the soldiers and induce
them to desert, that they might forfeit the wages to which
they are entitled for their patriotic services.” The state¬
ment added that even the soldiers regarded the governor’s
proclamation “with mingled emotions of pity and con¬
tempt for its author, and as a striking monument of his
folly.”

It is said that the messenger sent to Plattsburg by
Governor Chittenden to deliver this proclamation was
helped in ignominious fashion out of camp. The brigade
remained at Plattsburg until it was known that the threat-

• It H [t. bt\ $ [ 07 II • . O ']o 1*1

'

*

226 History of Lake Champlain

ened invasion from Canada had been abandoned for the
winter.

Late in December, fearing- once more that an attack
from Canada was being planned, the Plattsburg town
officials wrote to General Wilkinson, setting forth the
exposed condition of public property there, and the need
of more troops. In response to this appeal a company
of dragoons from Burlington and a detachment of infan¬
try from Chateaugay Four Corners were ordered there,
the infantry reaching Plattsburg January 8, 1814, after
a forced march of forty miles, made in one day. On
January 10, General Wilkinson arrived at that place.

The results of the land campaign were not such as to
add to the prestige of American arms, and Hampton and
Wilkinson laid upon each other the blame for failure to
make any substantial progress.

Early in March, 1814, Major Forsyth was sent to the
border with 300 American riflemen and 60 dragoons to
break up an irregular intercourse that had been carried on
with the British troops during the winter. Parties under
General Macomb and Colonel Clark were sent to the Ver¬
mont frontier on a similar errand, while General Wilkin¬
son planned to erect batteries in the vicinity of Rouses
Point that should command the outlet of the lake.

Alarmed by the American activity the British com¬
mander sent 600 men under Major Hancock to Lacolle,
Que., and 2,000 troops were ordered to St. Johns and
Isle aux Noix under Lieutenant Colonel Williams. Gen¬
eral Wilkinson ordered the Plattsburg garrison to advance
to Champlain, and Macomb and Clark were directed to
join the main body of the American troops there.

On the morning of March 30 the American army, 4,000
strong, advanced for an attack upon Lacolle. Fallen trees
and snowdrifts made the roads almost impassable for

.

.

■>rf

History of Lake Champlain

2 27

artillery. Major Hancock occupied a stone mill, which
had been pierced with openings for muskets. The Ameri¬
can artillery fire was without appreciable effect. Two
British sorties were defeated, but Wilkinson’s attack was
unsuccessful, and he retired to Odelltowm, falling back
the next day to Champlain. General Macomb returned to
Burlington, while the main body of the army retired to
Chazy and Plattsburg. The American casualties on this
expedition amounted to 104 killed and wounded. The
British gave their losses as 10 killed and 46 wounded.

Macdonough had chosen Vergennes as his winter quar¬
ters after careful deliberation. He needed a location pro¬
tected from forays by the enemy, and accessible to abun¬
dant supplies of timber. Vergennes was situated at the
head of navigation on Otter Creek, seven miles from its
mouth. The stream was so narrow and crooked that a
hostile fleet could not hope to make a successful attack.
A direct road led to Burlington, twenty-one miles awray,
where a large body of American troops was stationed.
Another road led to Boston, and still another to the south.
Dead Creek and marshes protected Vergennes from a
land attack from the west. An abundance of timber for
shipbuilding was available, and iron could be obtained
from the neighboring town of Monkton. The industries
of Vergennes included eight forges, a blast furnace, an
air furnace, a rolling mill, a wire factory, and grist, saw,
and fulling mills. Before hostilities opened in 1814, one
thousand 32-pound cannon balls had been cast here for
the American fleet.

In an order issued January 28, Macdonough was
directed to build about fifteen gunboats, or a ship, and
three or four gunboats, the matter being left for him to
decide. His instructions read : “The object is to leave
no doubt of your commanding the lake and the waters
connected, and that in due time. You are therefore

• . -

, •

.

228

History of Lake Champlain

authorized to employ such means and workmen as shall
render its accomplishment certain/’

Mr. Browne, a New York shipbuilder, had agreed to
launch a ship of 24 guns in sixty days and in the spring
of the year 1814 the work of constructing several vessels
was begun in earnest. In five and one-half days 110 men
had cut and forwarded timber for three ships. The trees
were standing in the forest on March 2. The Saratoga's
keel was laid on March 7, and on April 11 she was
launched, forty days from the time her timbers stood as
growing trees on a Vermont hillside.

While the ships were being built at Vergennes, General
Wilkinson was apprehensive of a British attack upon
Plattsburg, Burlington and Vergennes, and on April 9
he ordered General Macomb, who was stationed at Bur¬
lington, to request Governor Chittenden to call out the
Vermont militia, not only to protect the shipping on Otter
Creek, but to reinforce Macomb’s army. Governor Chit¬
tenden immediately complied with the request, sending
1,000 men to Vergennes and 500 to Burlington, these
troops being militia from Addison, Chittenden and Frank¬
lin Counties. Wilkinson feared that the enemy would
seize some of the lake craft, load them with stones, and
sink them at the mouth of Otter Creek, thus bottling up
Macdonough’s fleet. To guard against this contingency
the American naval commander erected a battery at the
mouth of the stream which, at a later period, was called
Fort Cassin. Between April 16 and 20 Governor Chit¬
tenden and General Wilkinson visited Macdonough at
Vergennes to consider measures for the protection of the
new fleet. The site for the battery was selected by Wil¬
kinson and Macdonough. On April 22, 500 soldiers hav¬
ing arrived at Vergennes from Plattsburg, Governor
Chittenden discharged all the Vermont militia but Capt.
William C. Munson’s Panton company, with orders to

.

'

History of Lake Champlain 229

turn out upon hearing the alarm signal of three heavy
guns.

As early as April 2 the northern end of the lake was
free from ice and on that day several British vessels
anchored near Rouses Point. On May 9 Capt. Daniel
Pring entered the lake with the new 16-gun brig Linnet,
five sloops, and thirteen galleys. The next day the British
fleet anchored in the shelter of Providence Island, near
the southern end of South Hero. The presence of this
flotilla caused the greatest excitement in all the Champlain
valley. During the night of May 10 the selectmen of the
lake towns worked until morning running bullets, and the
militia was called out. Gen. George Izard, commanding
the American forces at Plattsburg, had notified General
Macomb at Burlington on May 10 of the approach of the
enemy. Late that night Macomb dispatched a messenger
to Vergennes and Captain Thornton, with a force of 50
light artillerymen, was sent in haste in wagons from Bur¬
lington to Vergennes to operate the battery. Macdonough
had mounted seven 12-pounders on ship carriages at the
mouth of Otter Creek. Lieutenant Cassin, a detachment
of sailors, and a body of soldiers under Colonel Davis,
were posted in a manner best calculated to prevent a land¬
ing by the enemy.

Pring’s fleet appeared off Burlington on April 12, was
sighted off Essex, X. Y., the afternoon of April 13, and
very early on the morning of April 14 appeared off the
mouth of Otter Creek. Approaching within two and one-
half miles of the battery, the enemy opened fire, the en¬
gagement lasting an hour and a half. Many shells lodged
in the parapet of Fort Cassin, one gun was dismounted,
and two men were slightly injured. Several British gal¬
leys were damaged, and two large rowboats, shot adrift
during the action, were picked up by the Americans.
Strenuous efforts were made to bring several of the new

■ •: .. v^cr

' ■; :

•ivuu

230

History of Lake Champlain

ships down the tortuous course of Otter Creek in time
for use against the enemy but the foe had departed before
this was effected. Pring drew’ his fleet off to the north¬
ward having been unable to inflict any damage upon Mac-
donough’s flotilla.

The same afternoon three British galleys rowed up the
Boquet River and demanded a quantity of flour stored
in the grist mill at the falls for government use. Learn¬
ing that a force of American militia wras approaching the
enemy retired in haste, but not soon enough to avoid an
attack by a force under Lieutenant Colonel Noble, nearly
all the men in the rear galley being killed or wounded.
Two Americans were slightly wounded in this skirmish.
The galleys having joined the remainder of the British
fleet near the Four Brothers Islands, Captain Pring re¬
turned to Isle aux Noix.

There had been great difficulty in securing the neces¬
sary equipment for the American fleet. Rodney Mac-
donough, in his “Life of Thomas Macdonough,” says:
“When the Saratoga was launched neither her guns, an¬
chors, cables nor rigging had been received. The roads
w’ere so bad that the heavy loading of transport wagons
was impossible. It took eighty teams to carry one con¬
signment of naval stores from Troy to Vergennes, and
then three large cables were left behind. A large quantity
of shot wras brought from Boston.” There was also a
shortage of men for the vessels, and about the middle of
April General Macomb sent 400 Vermont soldiers to
Macdonough at Vergennes.

One of the vessels, the Ticonderoga, originally had been
designed for a steamboat. As it was not considered wise
to attempt to propel a warship by steam, she was rigged
as a schooner. On May 26 Macdonough entered the lake
with his flagship Saratoga , twenty-six guns; the schooner
Ticonderoga , sixteen guns; the sloop Preble, nine guns;

'

■v

.

A*

231

History of Lake Champlain

and six gunboats, armed with two guns each. Afterward
the fleet was augmented by the addition of the sloop Presi¬
dent, ten guns; the sloop Montgomery , six guns; and five
gunboats with one gun each. These gunboats were 75
feet long, 15 feet wide, and could be rowed by forty oars¬
men.

Proceeding to Plattsburg, where Macdonough arrived
AJ ay 29, he was requested to protect the transports which
were removing troops and stores from Burlington to that
place, General Izard having decided to encamp near the
Canadian border. During the summer the American fleet
guarded the mouth of the Richelieu to prevent the British
ships from entering the lake.

Fearing that Macdonouglfls squadron was sufficiently
strong to give him the mastery of the lake, the British
prepared in June to build a vessel at Isle aux Xoix that
at least should match the Saratoga, and on August 25 the
frigate Con fiance, carrying thirty-seven guns, was
launched.

Meanwhile the American fleet was strengthened by
building another brig at Vergennes. The keel of the
Eagle was laid on July 23, she was launched August 11,
and on August 27 she joined the American fleet anchored
of! Chazy. Her armament consisted of twenty guns.
Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy Charles II.
Darling, in writing of Macdonouglfls fleet, has said that
“the Eagle was substantially of the same size as Perry’s
flagships Lawrence and Niagara on Lake Erie, while the
Saratoga was much superior to Perry’s largest vessel.
The time in which Perry built his ships has often been
mentioned in praise and wonder, but Macdonough s ships
were not only of larger tonnage but were built and com¬
pleted in a shorter time.’’

A comparison between the cost of ships of war in 1814
and the cost at the present time (1909), less than a cen-

.

.. .

2

232

History of Lake Champlain

tury later, may be found of interest. It may be urged that
such a comparison is of little value, owing to the fact that
Macdonough’s boats were built for the navigation of an
inland lake, while the modern battleships are constructed
to circumnavigate the globe and outride safely any ocean
tempest. On this point the evidence of Ex-Secretary
Darling again will be found valuable. In writing on the
battle of Plattsburg, he said: “The ships of either side
were not inferior in size or armament to the majority of
the deep sea men-of-wars-men of the time. Macdonough’s
flagship and the British flagship, the Con fiance, were each
somewhat smaller than the Constitution, but they were
larger than the Peacock, Wasp, Hornet, Intrepid, Boxer,
Enterprise, Bonne Homme Richard and all other famous
ships of the navy up to that time, save the Constitution,
the President, and their class.”

It will be seen by the foregoing statement that while
some of the ocean-going warships of the American navy
were larger than the Saratoga, others that sailed the high
seas and played a prominent part in the War of 1812 were
actually smaller than Macdonough’s flagship. The figures
used in this comparison were furnished by the navy de¬
partment at Washington, with the exception of a part of
the tonnage of Macdonough’s fleet, which is taken from
Theodore Roosevelt’s “Naval War of 1812.”

The tonnage of the Saratoga was 734, and of the Eagle
500, according to Secretary of the Navy Truman N. New¬
berry. The total tonnage of Macdonough’s fleet was
2,244. The naval displacement of the new battleship
Vermont is 16,000 tons, and the full load displacement is
17,680 tons, while the battleships authorized in the last
naval appropriation bill (1909) are to have a displacement
of 26,000 tons according to figures obtained from the
Bureau of Construction and Repair, and furnished by
Secretary of the Navy George von L. Meyer.

' ‘ ’ 1 ’ if‘

\ "-■«*! • • . '

1

■

History of Lake Champlain

233

The cost of the Saratoga was $80 per ton, and the cost
of the Eagle was the same. Estimating that the cost of
the remainder of Macdonough’s fleet was the same, the
total cost of construction was $179,520. The Bureau of
Naval War Records is authority for the statement that
roughly estimated the cost of armament of Macdonough’s
squadron was $36,120, and the cost of the Saratoga's
battery (broadsides) was $12,420. This makes the entire
cost of the Saratoga , $71,140; and the total (estimated)
cost of Macdonough’s fleet, $215,640.

The cost of the new battleship Vermont , including
armament, according to the Bureau of Supplies and Ac¬
counts, was $7,563,963.39. The estimated cost of the
26,000-ton battleships just authorized by Congress is
$10,250,000 each. According to these figures furnished,
the cost of one battleship like the new Vermont exceeds
the cost of 106 ships of the Saratoga type; and the cost
of 144 Saratogas would be less than the estimated cost
of one of the projected 26,000-ton battleships. Thirty-
five entire fleets like Macdonough’s could be built for the
C0i>t of one battleship V crniont , with money left over and
between forty-seven and forty-eight such ships could be
built for the price of a 26,000-ton modern battleship.

Macdonough’s fleet consisted of four ships and ten
smaller craft called gunboats. In modern naval warfare
a fleet of four battleships surely would not be considered
large; but using this number to continue the comparison,
140 fleets like that commanded by Macdonough could be
built for the cost of four battleships like the l ermont, and
190 fleets like Macdonough’s could be constructed and
equipped for the price of four 26,000-ton battleships.

The difference in the time needed for the construction
of a Saratoga and of a Vermont is almost as striking as
the difference in cost.

’ }n I

'

CHAPTER XIV

THE BATTLE OF PLATTSBURG

DURING the early part of the year 1814 there was
some skirmishing on the part of the land forces
on the west side of the lake, but none on the east
side. There was considerable sickness among the troops
stationed at Burlington and in the General Hospital there,
under the charge of Dr. James Mann, there were 170
deaths in the year 1814, March and September being the
months showing the greatest mortality. On account of
the sickness most of the soldiers at Burlington were re¬
moved from the Battery to a new camp in the eastern
part of the town, which was established on the pine plains
south of the main road to Williston, and east of Fourth
Street.

On June 24 Lieutenant Colonel Forsyth, called the best
partisan leader in the American army, with seventy rifle¬
men, part of the force stationed at Plattsburg and vicinity,
advanced as far as Odelltown, Oue., where he was at¬
tacked by 200 British troops and retreated to Champlain,
N. Y., his loss being one killed and five wounded. A few
days later he crossed the boundary line again with the
intention of drawing the enemy into an ambuscade. Fie
succeeded in his purpose, but stepping upon a log to
watch the movements of 150 of the Canadians and Indians
under Captain Mahew, who were pursuing him, he was
killed by a shot fired by an Indian. The Americans in
concealment then opened fire and the British retreated in
haste, leaving seventeen dead behind.

During the months of July and August work was
pushed on the fortifications at Cumberland Head and

, -

[

History of Lake Champlain

235

near Plattsburg village. About 4,500 men were assem¬
bled at or near Champlain.

With the strange lack of military capacity that marked
so many of the movements of the American army during
this war, General Izard was ordered to remove most of
his troops to Sacketts Harbor, N. Y. This order was
issued by the secretary of war at a time when an attack
on Plattsburg was expected very soon. Izard warned
the war department that a force of nearly 10,000 of the
enemy was across the border at Odelltown and Chambly,
and added : “I must not be responsible for the conse¬
quences of abandoning my present strong position/’ With
great reluctance, and against his judgment, Izard left
Champlain and Chazy on August 29 with 4,000 men, and
proceeded to his destination by way of Lake George and
Schenectady.

Immediately General Macomb, in later years com-
mander-in-chief of the American army, concentrated at
Plattsburg his force which amounted approximately to
3,400 men, but more than 1,400 of these were classed as
invalids or non-combatants. He had 1,500 effective regu¬
lars and sent out a call for the aid of the New York and
Vermont militia.

On the day that General Izard left Champlain and
Chazy, August 29, Macomb sent a detachment to bring
in certain supplies left there and withdrew to Plattsburg
the garrison and heavy guns at Cumberland Head.

The day following Izard’s abandonment of his camp
at Champlain, on August 30, General Brisbane, with a
division of the King’s forces, occupied the town, and by
September 3, an army variously estimated from 11,000
to 14,000 men, was assembled at this little post on the
New York frontier. It was composed of infantry, artil-
lery, light dragoons, sappers and miners, Canadian chas-

T ' * } Dl •, if! uoq: ■ ” 1 :

.

236

History of Lake Champlain

seurs and a Swiss regiment. Sir George Prevost, gov¬
ernor of Lower Canada, was commander-in-chief, with
Lieutenant General de Rottenburgh second in command,
and Major Generals Robinson, Powers, and Brisbane
commanding brigades. A considerable portion of this
army was made up of Wellington’s seasoned veterans.
Had Macomb’s army been composed entirely of the best
of regulars they could hardly have been expected under
ordinary circumstances, successfully to meet this vastly
superior force.

The main body of Prevost’s army reached the village
of Chazy on September 4. Macomb had made the best
preparations possible for the defense of Plattsburg. The
American fortifications were located on an elevated plain
between Lake Champlain and the Saranac River. The
defenses included Fort Brown, on the bank of the Sara¬
nac; Fort Scott, near the shore of the lake; and Fort
Moreau, about midway between the river and the lake.
One blockhouse and a battery were located on a point
near the mouth of the river, and another blockhouse was
situated about half wav between the river and the lake
on the south side of a deep ravine, extending from the
Saranac nearly to the edge of the lake.

Col. Melancton Smith with the Sixth and Twenty-ninth
regiments, held Fort Moreau; Major Vinson, with the
Thirty-third and Thirty- fourth regiments, garrisoned Fort
Scott ; while Lieutenant Colonel Storrs, with detachments
of the Thirtieth and Thirty-first regiments, occupied Fort
Brown ; Lieutenant Fowler, with a detachment of artillery,
defended the blockhouse on the point; and Captain Smith,
with part of his company and a body of convalescents,
was stationed in the blockhouse near the ravine.

When the British reached Chazy, Captain Sproul was
sent by Macomb with 200 American soldiers and two

• ' ’T

.

J .'T Pf'- 0 tj)£

f

History of Lake Champlain

237

cannon to hold a position near Dead Creek bridge and to
build an abatis across the road beyond. Lieutenant
Colonel Appling with 110 riflemen and a troup of New
York State cavalry under Capt. Hiram Safford and Lieut.
M. M. Standish was sent out as an advance guard.

General Mooers had called out the New York militia
and the Vermonters had rallied in large numbers to the
appeal for aid, under command of General Strong.

On September 4, 700 militia from Essex and Clinton
Counties had assembled at Plattsburg, and they were
thrown out as a skirmish line, with orders to break up
bridges and obstruct the road with fallen trees.

On the night of September 5 the British had advanced
to Sampson’s, about eight miles from Plattsburg. There
the army was divided into two columns, and before day¬
light, on the morning of September 6, advanced on the
American position, the right wing, under Generals Powers
and Robinson, by the Beekmantown road, the left wing
by the road over the Dead Creek bridge and the beach at
the north end of Plattsburg Bay, under General Brisbane.

Major Wool with 250 men had been ordered by Ma¬
comb to advance on the Beekmantown road and support
the militia. As the British approached, Wool’s detach¬
ment opened fire, severely wounding Lieutenant West and
twenty men. Wool fell back to Culver’s Hill, four and a
half miles from Plattsburg. Most of the militia fled at
the first fire, and after a brief but spirited resistance Wool
was compelled to fall back again, this time to Halsey’s
Corners, one and one-half miles from the village bridge.
This action was made necessary by the overwhelming

force in front and by the fact that Wool’s rear was

✓

threatened by the British force on the Beekmantown
*

road. At Culver’s Hill, Lieutenant Colonel Wellington
and Ensign Chapman of the British army were killed,

’ ^

.

238

History of Lake Champlain

and Captain Westropp was severely wounded. Several
Americans were also killed.

Wool was joined at Halsey’s Corners about eight
o’clock in the morning by Captain Leonard with two
pieces of light artillery, which were placed at an angle
in the road, and were masked by the troops in front. As
the British columns approached, these guns were dis¬
charged three times with deadly effect, but the American
force was too small to check the enemy long and Leonard
retreated in haste toward Plattsburg.

Macomb ordered the outpost at Dead Creek to fall back
and Colonel Appling was directed to harass the enemy’s
flank. Forming a junction with Wool, this band of
skirmishers retreated in good order within the protection
of the defenses of Plattsburg, although it is said that
Colonel Appling and Captain Safford narrowly escaped
capture.

The left wing of the British army was delayed some¬
what by the obstructions placed in the road. As the enemy
advanced to Dead Creek bridge, which was reached about
ten o’clock in the forenoon, they were checked by the
fire of the American gunboats at the mouth of the creek.
Macdonough had taken a position in Plattsburg Bay on
September 1, and was ready to cooperate with the army.
When the gunboats opened fire the British artillery was
brought up from the shelter of the woods and returned
the fire. A high wind and rough sea made accurate fire
from the gunboats exceedingly difficult. Macdonough
therefore sent Lieut. Silas Duncan in a small boat to order
the gunboats to retire. The fire of the British batteries
was directed upon Duncan’s craft, but he delivered his
orders, although so severely wounded that it was neces¬
sary to amputate his right arm. For his heroic conduct
on this occasion Duncan received the thanks of Congress.

' *)

*

■

’

' : '

History of Lake Champlain

239

When the Americans had retired across the Saranac
River the planks of the lower bridge were torn up and
were used to form a breastwork, a similar defense being
constructed at the upper bridge. The British made several
attempts to cross the river, but were repulsed. The
American casualties on July 6 were forty-five men, while
the British lost more than 200 in killed and wounded.
General Prevost established his headquarters at Allen’s
farmhouse, about a mile and a quarter from the Ameri¬
can forts, and his army was encamped on the high ground
north of the village.

From July 7 to July 10 Prevost was engaged in bring¬
ing up his artillery and supplies and preparing for siege
operations. One battery was erected on a hill north of
Fort Brown, a second near the cemetery, a third on the
edge of a steep bank above a millpond, and a fourth near
the mouth of the Saranac, nor far from the lake. Three
smaller batteries were erected at other points within gun¬
shot of the American position.

Macomb’s troops, meanwhile, worked night and day,
strengthening their defenses. The invalids were removed
to Crab Island and quartered in tents. A battery of two
6-pounders was erected, manned by convalescents. The
hospital and barracks near the forts were burned and
hot shot were fired into several buildings on the north
side of the river, used by the British, fifteen or sixteen
structures being destroyed.

During the period of preparation there were frequent
skirmishes, the British being unable to cross the Saranac.
The night of September 9 being dark and stormy, Captain
McGlasson of the Fifteenth United States Infantry, with
fifty men, crossed the river, and dividing his party into
two detachments he attacked in front and rear, making a
great noise, a rocket battery which more than 300 British

.

.

J J >:

240

History of Lake Champlain

troops were erecting near Fort Brown. The enemy, taken
completely by surprise, and supposing that a large force
had attacked them, fled for their lives. The Americans
spiked the guns and retreated safely without the loss of
a man.

The command of the British squadron had been given
to Capt. George Downie, who had been summoned from
Lake Ontario, where he had commanded the ship Mont¬
real. On September 3, Sapt. Daniel Bring was a flotilla
of British gunboats left Isle aux Noix and proceeded as
far as Isle La Motte. Here, according to his official
report, he took possession and paroled the militia of the
island. Then he erected a battery of three long 18-pounder
guns, to protect a position “abreast of Little Chazy, where
supplies for the army were to be landed.” Captain Downie
with the remainder of the fleet followed Bring a few days
later, the flagship grounding as she came out of the Riche¬
lieu River. She was floated without injury and the ships
joined the gunboats at Isle La Motte on September 8.
It was necessary to wait until the morning of September
11 before the needed stores were secured. Leaving Isle
La Motte at daylight on September 11, with a northeast
breeze, the American fleet was sighted, at Blattsburg about
seven o’clock that morning.

Macdonough’s force consisted of the flagship Saratoga,
Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough, 734 tons, with
a crew of 2-10 men, equipped with eight long 24-pound
carronades, six 42-pounders, and twelve 32-pounders ;
the brig Eagle, Master Commandant Robert Blenlev, 500
tons, with a crew of 150 men, equipped with eight long
18-pounders atid twelve 32-pounders ; the schooner 7 1-
condcroga, Lieut. Stephen Cassin, 350 tons, with a crew
of 112 men, equipped with eight long 12-pounders, four
long 18-pounders, and five 32-pounders; the sloop Preble,

i . >

.

:

-

History of Lake Champlain

241

Lieut. Charles Budd, 80 tons, with a crew of 30 men,
equipped with seven long 9-pounders ; six gunboats, aggre¬
gating 420 tons, with a crew of 246 men, in all, each
equipped with one long 24-pounder and one 18-pound
columbiad ; four gunboats, aggregating 160 tons, the com¬
bined crews numbering 160 men, each equipped with one
long 12-pounder. The six larger gunboats were com¬
manded as follows : Allen, Sailing Master William M.
Robins; Burrows, Sailing Master Samuel Keteltas; Borer,
Midshipman T. A. Conover ; Nettle, Midshipman S. L.
Bresse ; Viper, Lieut. Francis J. Mitchell; Centipede, Sail¬
ing Master I). V. Hazard. The commanders of the smaller
gunboats were: Ludlow, Master’s Mate John Freeborn;
IVilmer, Sailing Master Daniel S. Stellwagon ; Alwyn,
Acting Sailing Master Bancroft; Bullard, Master’s Mate
Stephen Holland.

Thus the American fleet consisted of fourteen craft
aggregating 2,244 tons, manned by 882 men, and carrying
86 guns. Roosevelt’s “Naval War of 1812” is used as
the authority for the number of men. Rodney Mac-
donough gives a smaller number, 820.

Two of MacdonouglTs ships were not available for the
battle. The President had been damaged somewhat in
a heavy storm a few days earlier, so as not to be fit for
fighting, and both the President and the Montgomery had
been used as transports to bring troops from Burlington
and other lake ports to aid General Macomb.

The British squadron was made up of the frigate Con-
fiance, Capt. George Downie, 1,200 tons, with a crew of
325 men, equipped with twenty-seven long 24-pounders,
four 32-pound carronades, and six 24-pounders ; the brig
Linnet, Capt. Daniel Bring, 350 tons, with a crew of 125
men, equipped with sixteen long 12-pounders ; the sloop
Chub, Lieut. Janies McGhie, 112 tons, with a crew of 50

$nh*|

; o?.85*tfl

^ A

242

History of Lake Champlain

men, equipped with ten 18-pounders and one long 6-
pounder; the sloop Finch , Lieut. William Hicks, 110 tons,
with a crew of 50 men, equipped with six 18-pounders,
four long 6-pounders, and one 18-pound columbiad; five
gunboats with an aggregate tonnage of 350, the crews
numbering a total of 250 men, each boat carrying two
guns; and seven gunboats with an aggregate tonnage of
280, the combined crews numbering 182 men, each boat
carrying one gun. The Chub and the Finch were the
ships Growler and Eagle captured from Lieutenant Smith
near Isle aux Noix earlier in the war, and at first chris¬
tened by their British captors the Broke and the Shannon.

The British fleet was composed, therefore, of sixteen
vessels, aggregating about 2,402 tons, and carrying, ac¬
cording to Roosevelt, approximately 937 men and 92 guns.
A store sloop accompanied the fleet. The Con fiance was
equipped with a furnace for heating shot. In number
of ships and men, in size of ships and in weight of arma¬
ment, the advantage was with the British fleet.

Macdonough had anchored his ships in a north and
south line a little to the south of the point where the
Saranac River empties into the lake. The northern ex¬
tremity of his line of battle was near Cumberland Head,
while a shoal near the southern extremity made a flank
attack in that quarter impossible. The American com¬
mander had chosen his position with great care. If the
enemy entered the lake with a northerly breeze it neces¬
sitated beating against the wind to round Cumberland
Head and when inside that point of land the wind was
likely to be light and uncertain.

The Eagle was stationed at the head of the line, flanked
on either side by two gunboats. The Saratoga came next,
then three gunboats, with the Ticonderoga beyond. The

.

'

History of Lake Champlain

243

Preble was at the foot of the line with three more gun¬
boats between that vessel and the Ticonderoga.

The larger ships were anchored with springs, while the
gunboats, or galleys, under sweeps, formed a second line
about forty yards in the rear of the larger craft. Ex-
Secretary Darling explains the term, “anchoring with
springs,” by saying that Macdonough “dropped an anchor
from the bow, another from the stern ; he attached lines
to the anchor chains and he also carried out hedge anchors
to either side of the ship and in this manner by raising or
letting go one anchor and pulling in on different lines he
was able to turn and manoeuvre his ships.”

It was about eight o’clock on Sunday morning, Septem¬
ber 11, one of those beautiful days when summer lingers
on the verge of autumn, that the American lookout boat
lying at the entrance of Plattsburg Bay, reported the ap¬
proach of the British ships. It was nearly nine o’clock
when Downie approached and offered battle, having
waited at the entrance of the bay for his gunboats to come
up. Then, as the enemy advanced to the attack there
was almost perfect stilness for a little space of time.
During this calm before the storm of battle, the young
American commander, not vet thirtv-one vears old, hav-
ing done all that human energy and foresight could sug¬
gest to ensure victory, knelt on the deck of his flagship
his officers grouped about him, and repeated the prayer
appointed to be said before a fight at sea, imploring the
God of battles to crown his efforts with success.

The Eagle opened the engagement with a broadside
fired at the Confiancc, which fell short of the mark. Wait¬
ing until the British flagship was within range, Mac¬
donough himself sighted one of the Saratoga' s long 24-
pounders and fired, the shot ranging the length of the
deck of the Confiancc , killing and wounding several men.

.

'

J,_ , . u ,v am ■ licit l • r.- • • ■ " *> n£ ; i»n/.

-

244

History of Lake Champlain

Finding the American fire unexpectedly heavy Downie an¬
chored about 300 yards from Macdonough’s line. The
Linnet and the Chub had been ordered to turn the northern
end of the American line; and as the former ship passed
the Saratoga she fired a broadside from her 12-pounders,
the only shot that struck hitting a coop on the deck of the
American flagship containing a young game cock brought
on board by some of the sailors. The bird being released
flew into the rigging, flapped his wings, and crowed lustily,
whereupon the men of the Saratoga laughed and cheered,
considering this episode an omen of victory.

The Finch and four gunboats were assigned to attack
the Preble and the Ticonderoga , which were supported by
four gunboats, the Confiancc, Linnet , and Chub devoting
their attention to the Saratoga, the Eagle and the remain¬
ing American gunboats. Captain Downie did not open
fire until he had maneuvered his ship into a desirable
position and made her secure. Then a terrible broadside
was discharged from sixteen double-shotted 24-pounders,
which made the Saratoga shiver from bowsprit to keel.
First Lieut. Peter Gamble was killed in the act of sighting
a bow gun and nearly forty of the ship’s crew were killed
or wounded.

The fight then became general all along the line. The
Linnet, ignoring the attack of the American gunboats,
devoted her entire attention to the Eagle, which also
received part of the fire of the Confiance. After a time
her springs were shot away, and cutting her cable, Henley
ran down and took a position between the Saratoga and
the Ticonderoga, and nearer the Confiance upon which he
opened fire. The Linnet, having driven off the American
gunboats, was able to open a broadside fire upon the
Saratoga which now bore the brunt of the fight

"

.

'

_

History of Lake Champlain

245

Not a sailor worked more energetically than Mac-
donough, who not only commanded the fleet, but sighted
and handled one of the Saratoga’s guns. While pointing
a gun a shot severed the spanker boom of the ship, which
fell on his head and rendered him unconscious for two or
three minutes. Again he was struck by the head of a
gunner, which had been shot off and was hurled across
the deck, knocking him down. Twice the Saratoga had
been set on fire by hot shot from the Con fiance. Many of
her long guns had become disabled, and finally only a
single carronade remained available in her starboard bat¬
tery. Presently a bolt broke and the last gun fell from
its carriage down the main hatch, leaving the ship prac¬
tically defenseless.

Macdonough’s careful preparations now made it possi¬
ble for him to turn defeat into victory. By letting go an
anchor astern, cutting the bow cable, and hauling in on
a hawser leading to the starboard quarter, the Saratoga
was brought about so that one gun of the port battery
could be trained on the Con fiance. After some delay
the ship finally was brought about so that her entire port
battery could open upon the enemy. During this manoeu¬
vring most of the men had been sent forward to protect
them as much as possible from the raking fire of the
Linnet.

The Con fiance also had troubles of her own. Her first
broadside discharged at the Saratoga was the most de¬
structive one fired. The quoins became loosened by suc¬
cessive discharges of the guns, and not being properly
replaced, the shots kept going higher and higher, conse¬
quently doing less and less damage. This was shown by
the fact that not twenty whole hammocks were left in the
nettings of the Saratoga. Early in the action Captain
Downie, the British commander, was killed. He was

■

.

246

History of Lake Champlain

standing behind one of the guns of the Confiance when a
shot from the Saratoga threw the cannon from its carriage
against his right groin, causing almost instant death, al¬
though the skin was not broken where the blow was
struck. The force was so great that his watch was flat¬
tened.

When the Saratoga had been winded about, the Con-
fiance attempted to follow her example and bring her own
uninjured batteries into action. She had not been pro¬
vided, however, for such an emergency with the care
exercised by the American commander, and hung with
her head to the wind. More than half her crew had been
lost, all but four of her available guns had been dis¬
mantled, her masts had been shattered, and her sails were
in ribbons. Being unable to fight any more, at 11 o’clock
her flag was hauled down in token of surrender, after
two hours of desperate fighting.

Losing no time, the Saratoga was brought about still
farther and her guns were trained on the Linnet. Cap¬
tain Bring fought on gallantly, hoping that the gunboats
would come to his aid and tow him out of range of the
enemy’s fire. No help coming, his ship being riddled,
with masts and sails in a most dilapidated condition, the
water being a foot above the lower deck, and learning of
the death of Captain Downie, he lowered his flag at 11.20
o’clock, and surrendered. Early in the action a shot from
the Eagle had cut the cable of the Chub, her bowsprit and
main boom were shot away, and she drifted between the
opposing fleets and struck her colors, having lost nearly
half of her men in killed and wounded. One of the
Saratoga's midshipmen, Charles Platt, took possession of
the Chub, and she was towed in shore and anchored, be¬
coming American property once more.

.

' \ J

'

History of Lake Champlain

247

The fighting was brisk at the lower end of the battle
line. About an hour after the contest opened the Finch
of the British fleet was disabled by broadsides from the
Ticonderoga and the Preble, and drifted until she ran
aground near Crab Island, when some of the convalescents
stationed on the island opened fire with a 6-pounder. The
vessel then surrendered, nearly half her crew being killed
or wounded.

The Preble, being hard pressed by the British gunboats,
cut her cables and drifted to the shore and out of the
conflict. The enemy’s smaller craft then made a deter¬
mined attack on the schooner Ticonderoga, and the fight¬
ing was desperate for a time. Again and again attempts
were made to board her and although the gunboats ap¬
proached within a few feet of the ship, they were driven
off each time. The guns of the Ticonderoga were loaded
with canister and bags of bullets when the fight was hot¬
test. Many of the matches were defective, and Midship¬
man Hiram Paulding, a lad of only sixteen years, fired
the eight guns of his division by the flash of a pistol.
Lieutenant Cassin, commanding the Ticonderoga, exposed
himself with great courage amidst the hottest fire from
cannon and muskets, and directed the loading and firing
of the aims. Lieutenant Bell, who commanded the British
gunboats, also won praise for his gallant conduct.

At length the enemy’s smaller craft were obliged to
withdraw in a disabled condition. Macdonough signalled
to the American gunboats to pursue but soon withdrew
the order that they might aid in saving the Con fiance and
Linnet, which were in a sinking condition. 1 he British
gunboats then made their escape, together with a store
ship which had been anchored near the point of Cumber¬
land Head.

••

■

'

’

248

History of Lake Champlain

Thus the battle ended after an engagement lasting near¬
ly two hours and a half, hardly a mast being left standing
in either fleet. One hundred and five shot holes were
counted in the hull of the Confiance, while the Saratoga
was hulled fifty-five times, and the Eagle thirty-nine times.

Soon after the firing ceased the officers of the four
principal British ships, Lieutenant Robinson of the Con-
fiance , Captain Pring of the Linnet , Lieutenant McGhie
of the Chub, and Lieutenant Hicks of the Finch, under
guard proceeded to the Saratoga, where they tendered
their swords to Macdonough, which the American com¬
mander courteously declined to accept.

Roosevelt says the American loss in killed and wounded
probably was about 200, and that of the British, over 300.
Other authorities report fewer casualties. Among the
American officers killed were Lieut. Peter Gamble, of the
Saratoga; Lieut. John Stansbury, of the Ticonderoga; and
Sailing Master Rogers Carter, of the Preble. The British
officers killed included Captain Downie, of the Confiance,
commander of the fleet, and Midshipman William Gunn,
of the same ship; Lieut. William Paul and Boatswain
Charles Jackson, of the Linnet; and Capt. Alexander
Anderson, of the Marines. Immediately after the battle
the British wounded were removed to the hospital on
Crab Island, where they were given the same careful
attention bestowed upon the injured of Macdonough’s
fleet.

The battle of Plattsburg, however, was not fought entire¬
ly on the water. When the British fleet was seen rounding
Cumberland Head on this memorable Sunday morning,
General Prevost directed General Powers’ brigade, to¬
gether with a portion of General Robinson’s brigade, to
force the Saranac fords and attack the American forts.
At the village bridge, at the upper bridge, and at the ford

■

History of Lake Champlain

249

near Pike’s cantonment the British troops attempted to
cross. At the first two places they were repulsed. At the
ford, guarded by New York militia, several companies of
the enemy effected a crossing and drove the Americans
toward the Salmon River where a large number of Ver¬
mont troops and a company of artillery reinforced the
fleeing militia. At this time news came of the defeat of
the British fleet. The Americans, taking courage, rallied
just as the attacking force received orders to withdraw.
One British company lost its way and was surrounded by
Vermont and New York militia. Captain Purchase and
part of the company were killed and three lieutenants and
twenty-seven men were made prisoners. The remainder
of the British troops retreated in safety across the Saranac.
It is related that during the land battle of September 11
Captain Safford of the Vermont militia and his men, with
others, took possession of the old stone grist mill, and
their firing as sharpshooters silenced the Britisir batteries
upon the bank of the lake, nearly opposite the present
residence of Plon. Smith M. Weed, which is across the
river from the old mill.

Prevost dismantled his batteries and started his artillery
northward. The main bodv of the army, followed and the
rear guard left just before daybreak, September 12. The
British abandoned great quantities of ammunition, pro¬
visions, tents, and camp equipage. The sick and wounded
were also left behind. The British had passed through
Beekmantown before the Americans learned of their flight.
The light troops and militia were sent after them, and
following as far as Chazy took a few prisoners. The
roads were heavy and further pursuit was not attempted,
although the last of the British army did not leave Cham-
plain until September 24. The Vermont militia returned
home September 12.

‘1

• rij i (v i * M: W / .1/ J:r • ■ :' > * «

>■

-

#

250

History of Lake Champlain

General Macomb gave the killed, wounded and missing
among the regular troops as 123. The losses are said to
have been small among the volunteers and militia. Lieut.
George W. Runck of the Sixth regiment was the only
officer killed. Estimates of the British losses vary widely,
ranging from 600 killed, wounded and missing to 2,000.

The funeral of the officers of the two fleets, killed in
the battle, was held on September 14 with the honors of
war, the burial being near the center of the village ceme¬
tery. The sailors and the marines were buried in a com¬
mon grave on Crab Island, over which the United States
government has raised a monument. The prisoners who
were not paroled were sent to Greenbush, N. Y., Sep¬
tember 15, in the charge of Capt. White Youngs.

The chief reason for Prevost’s hasty retreat was the
loss of the British fleet. Probably he could have captured
Plattsburg had he been willing to sacrifice a considerable
number of his troops, but the volunteers from all the
surrounding country were rallying in great numbers as
they did at the time of Burgoyne’s invasion. The same
Governor Chittenden, of Vermont, who had attempted,
earlier in the war, to recall the Vermont militia from the
State of New York, now that there was actual danger, had
issued a patriotic address calling on the men of his State
to rally to the defense of Plattsburg. Although asked to
raise only 2,000 men, Vermont had sent voluntarily 2,500
soldiers. In New York State General Mooers had called
for the militia of Warren and Washington Counties, and
the response was a force greater by 250 men than the
largest number ever assembled for a review with all the
allurement of “training day” in time of peace. 1 he longer
the British army remained, a constant menace to New
England and eastern New York, the greater would lie the
militia force that would rally to oppose the progress of the

• ; •• i i

.

.

fv-i

‘

251

History of Lake Champlain

invaders. Prevost realized that without the aid of the
fleet he was in great danger of being surrounded, having
his supplies cut off and the alternatives that would remain
were desperate fighting or surrender. Less proud and
more prudent than Burgoyne, he chose the wiser course,
retreated, and saved his army.

Almost immediately after the naval battle Macdonough
sent to Hon. William Jones, secretary of the navy, the
following modest message announcing his victory : “The
Almighty has been pleased to grant us a signal victory
on Lake Champlain in the capture of one frigate, one brig
and two sloops of war of the enemy.” Two days later he
sent Lieutenant Cassin to Washington with the captured
battle flags.

Congress ordered a gold medal to be struck and pre¬
sented to Macdonough, thanked him for his “decisive and
splendid victory,” and he was promoted from the rank of
master commandant to that of captain to date from Sep¬
tember 11. The Vermont legislature adopted a resolution
thanking him for his “unrivalled bravery and important
services in the conquest of a superior force on the 11th
of September, 1814, which protected the soil of freedom,
gained the applause of millions and merited universal
respect and admiration.” Vermont also bought one hun¬
dred acres of land on Cumberland Head near the place
where the naval victory was won, and presented it to the
American commander as a token of esteem more substan¬
tial than resolutions of thanks. The State of New York
granted him one thousand acres of land in Sterling town¬
ship, Cayuga County, while Delaware voted him a costly
sword and a silver service. Delaware and the city of
New York asked him to sit for his portrait. Albany gave
him the freedom of the city in a gold casket and a lot of
land on Washington Square. Connecticut presented him

'

252

History of Lake Champlain

with a pair of gold mounted pistols, and the city of Lan-
singburgh, N. Y., gave him a silver pitcher and goblets
Many congratulatory messages were received by Mac-
donough, among them being one from the secretary of the
navy, who said, in part: “Our lakes, hitherto the objects
only of natural curiosity, shall fill the pages of future his¬
tory with the bright annals of our country’s fame and the
imperishable renown of our naval heroes.”

Gold medals were presented to Master Commandant
Robert Henley and Lieut. Stephen Cassin, silver medals
to the nearest male relatives of Lieut. Peter Gamble and
Lieut. John Stansbury, killed in the battle, and to the other
commissioned officers of the navy and army serving in
the fleet during the engagement, and a sword to each of the
midshipmen and sailing masters. Three months’ extra
pay was allowed to the petty officers, seamen, marines, and
infantry serving on shipboard.

The citizens of Plattsburg gave a dinner in Macdon-
ough’s honor on September 23, which was attended by
General Macomb and the officers of the army and navy.
With characteristic generosity, when called upon, the
guest of honor proposed the toast — “The memory of
Commodore Downie, our brave enemy.” On September
26 Burlington celebrated the victory with a procession, a
religious service conducted by Rev. Daniel Haskell, of
Burlington, and Rev. Mr. Sawyer, of Dover, Mass., and
a dinner. Macdonough, General Macomb, General Strong
and other officers were present. The day closed with an
illumination of the village and a grand ball.

Theodore Roosevelt says that the victory at Plattsburg
“had a very great effect on the negotiations for peace,”
and adds: “Macdonough in this battle won a higher fame
than any other commander of the war, British or Ameri¬
can. He had a decidedly superior force to contend against,

.

History of Lake Champlain

25 3

the officers and men of the two sides being about on a
par in every respect ; and it was solely owing to his fore¬
sight and resource that we won the victory. He forced
the British to engage at a disadvantage by his excellent
choice of position ; and he prepared beforehand for every
possible contingency. His personal prowess had already
been shown at the cost of the rovers of Tripoli ; and in this
action he helped fight the guns as ably as the best sailor.
His skill, seamanship, quick eye, readiness of resource,
and indomitable pluck, are beyond all praise. Down to
the time of the Civil War he is the greatest figure in our
naval history. A thoroughly religious man, he was as
generous and humane as he was skilful and brave; one
of the greatest of our sea captains, he has left a stainless
name behind him.” Again Roosevelt says: ‘‘Captain
Perry’s name is more widely known than that of any other
commander. Every schoolboy reads about him, if of no
other sea captain, yet he certainly stands in a lower grade
than Macdonough.”

Writing to Secretary of the Navy Jones two days after
the battle of Plattsburg, Macdonough asked permission
to leave the lake and to be assigned to a position under
the command of Commodore Decatur at New York, add¬
ing: “My health (being some time on the lake), together
with the almost certain inactivity of future naval opera¬
tions here, are among the causes for this request of my
removal.” The favor asked was not granted and he
remained on Lake Champlain for several months.

The fleet remained in Plattsburg Bay for some time.
Repairs on Macdonough’s vessels and on the captured
ships were necessary and the mouth of the Richelieu River
was closely guarded to prevent any return of the British
gunboats. On October 2 the Saratoga, Con fiance, Ticon-
deroga and Linnet left Plattsburg for Whitehall. As the

'

.

-

254

History of Lake Champlain

/

Saratoga passed Burlington she fired a salute, “the last
gun, probably, that she ever fired” says Rodney Macdon-
ough. Late in October Macdonough went to Whitehall
and made arrangements for laying up the ships there.
The wounded were removed from Crab Island to Bur¬
lington in charge of Surgeon William Caton, Jr. Late in
the year 1814 a British transport sloop loaded with ammu¬
nition and stores, which had been sunk off Isle La Motte,
was raised.

On November 1 Macdonough turned over to Lieut.
Charles A. Budd the command of the squadron. He
remained at Whitehall on board the Confiance , however,
for several weeks, leaving early in December for his home
at Middletown, Conn.

The battle of Plattsburg ended the war in the Cham¬
plain valley. Rumors of another British invasion, how¬
ever, kept the people in this region in a state of anxiety
for many months. Although peace was declared in De¬
cember, 1814, several regiments were kept at Burlington
during the greater part of the year 1815. During the
latter part of the year 1814 General Strong, of Vermont,
and General Mooers, of New York, ordered their respec¬
tive forces to hold themselves in readiness for service.
General Macomb was kept at Plattsburg, where he caused
two redoubts, Forts Tompkins and Gaines, to be thrown
up, a little to the south of Fort Moreau.

With the opening of the year 1815, news not having
arrived of the signing of the treaty of Ghent, Governor
Tompkins, of New York, became alarmed at reports of
a British attack on Whitehall by way of Lake Champlain.
As a result he wrote Macdonough suggesting that he and
the famous naval commander consult with the Governor
of Vermont regarding the safetv of the American fleet.
Finally the authorities at Washington became apprehen-

.

255

History of Lake Champlain

sive, and Macdonough was ordered to Lake Champlain
to report on the situation. He conferred with Lieutenant
Budd, visited Burlington and Plattsburg, and on February
1, 1815, reported to the secretary of the navy that the
enemy were making no preparations that indicated an
attack upon the American fleet. He returned to Burling¬
ton February 3, and on February 4 went to Whitehall,
where he remained until the end of the war. During the
summer of 1820 Macdonough visited Vermont and the
scene of his great naval victory at Plattsburg, being wel¬
comed with great cordiality.

With the close of the War of 1812 the record of battles
on Lake Champlain, covering more than two centuries,
ended, it may be hoped, forever. The lake was still con¬
sidered a place of strategic importance, however, and in
1816 a fortification was begun at Rouses Point, N. Y.,
which was called in derision “Fort Blunder.” After the
work of construction had been begun it was discovered
that the site of the fort was on Canadian soil. In 1842,
by the terms of the Webster-Ashburton treaty, a narrow
strip of land at this place was ceded to the United States,
the line being drawn 4,200 feet north of the true, parallel
of 45 degrees latitude, supposed to be the actual boundary.

In 1843 the building of Fort Montgomery was begun.
At the outbreak of the Mexican W ar work was suspended.
At the close of hostilities construction was resumed and
continued at intervals until 1870, when it was abandoned.
In appearance the fort was a formidable looking stone
structure, being entirely surrounded by water, and con¬
nected with the mainland by a drawbridge about twenty
feet long. Xo garrison was ever stationed in the fort, an
ordnance sergeant and an engineer watchman constituting
the only occupants.

ir

256

History of Lake Champlain

In the spring of 1908 the fort was entirely dismantled,
the guns being given to various towns and cities upon
request. The fort remains, a picturesque object on the
frontier, and a reminder of the importance in earlier days
attached to the control of Lake Champlain.

On August 2, 1817, the United States government
intimated to Great Britain a desire for a mutual reduc¬
tion of the naval forces on the American lakes. As a
result an agreement was entered into by Acting Secretary
of State Richard Rush and the British minister, Charles
Bagot, proclamation being made by the President on
April 28, 1818. It provided that the naval force main¬
tained thereafter on Lake Champlain by the governments
of Great Britain and the United States should consist of
one vessel each, not exceeding 100 tons burden, armed with
one lS-pound cannon. No other war vessels were to be
built or armed on the lake. Provision was made that this
agreement might be annulled upon six months’ notice
given by either party. With the passing of Macdonough’s
ships war craft on Lake Champlain became only a memory.

• ■

. ; • _ n " .

■

J

*

** ' ^ «***-*• j- ij.pi. njLJJf <i>.

*■ • *t ■ ■ ~ ■■ ■

<r~i «

‘a *

:«K * ' y ,v-^*

■v>^ ^ ,

• -- - - "

. *

■x

■ <; .

i »

/, ,. ••

'■ ** ‘ '*

•** f Si'

•7

'■f+u

*V*

• * V .

41 >

t*f+

” ' ft
‘ ' V ' ^

' / J kV „

' '" =j*«rty •*; •■•

*** * ~
,> J?‘

K '*t

li* -+*<

J*

:•

. •»

,*

< „ ,j>

f J J?

{Br ' •iT fi

•,5- '"V
- ,&>>**& •
■T

-* &

/ > \ r * :•;< t ':’v' '•

t"

... j* 7 *

*7 4 .t j*

• < *.

I >•

.. /

f

'.v^rw

:. * ( “ . v,

* J ~ x-<. r*

■* -,zi' i ■'

rn* '-Z :;: • ■■

r ■

_ ><*“* ■■' • ." ■ i/ '

' v' >* -;

■ ,-' '/■.** »*s2C

■ • . X/ ■> w

•v> '.'-J . •:

, • y O I- ' ^

„ -- Vs t*

. ’.ft~ ." . * -

^ **•

»<» <'•

^ v j

■ •• •'/ 4* <• .

.•■ > r

. j£t +ik

V^J

» W'aJfG.’ftil -»J.V*-v AnV

LAKE CHAMPLAIN FROM BATTERY PARK, f3U RL INGTON. VT

CHAPTER XV

NAVIGATION ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN

WHEN Peter Kalm, the Swedish naturalist, visited
the Champlain valley in 1749, he travelled from
Fort Frederic to St. Johns in a sailing craft called
a yacht, which made regular trips between the two places,
and was said to be the first sailing vessel built on Lake
Champlain.

Until the close of the Revolutionary War, transporta¬
tion on the lake was largely a matter of military expedi¬
tions, including their equipment and sustenance. Differ¬
ing in most respects in method, in reality it was still the
same kind of traffic that had been carried on in this valley
for unnumbered centuries before the white men came;
and it all spelled War.

With the declaration of peace, and the great influx of
settlers into the valley the business of lake transportation
immediately became an important one. With no rail¬
roads, few highways, and those little more than bridle
paths, Lake Champlain offered a natural and easy route
to all the region drained by this body of water and its
tributary streams. Settlers came in boats in summer and
drove with teams over the smooth surface of the ice in
winter, seeking homes in the new country.

In 1788, Benjamin Boardman, a sea captain, who had
been engaged in the coasting trade in the southern Atlantic
region, and had made trips to the West Indies, with
shrewd foresight saw that boats would be needed on a
navigable body of water as large as Lake Champlain.
Accordingly he came from Norwich, Conn., and settled on
the Winooski River intervale, bringing with him a New
London boat builder named Wilcox.

■

'

258

History of Lake Champlain

During the same year, 1788, Gideon King came to
Eurlington from the Shaker settlement at New Lebanon,
and erected a house near the lake, King Street, in that
city, being named in his honor. He was an active business
man, and with Job Boynton soon built two small cutters
of about eight tons burden, which plied between Burling¬
ton, Essex, and Plattsburg. In 1790 King and Boynton
obtained possession of two heavy schooners, which had
been used for war purposes, and these were run between
Burlington and St. Johns, one boat being fitted for carry¬
ing horses. Later King was John Jacob Astor’s agent to
look after the fur trade in this part of the country. Owing
to his activity in building and operating boats he was
called “the admiral of the lake.”

In 1790 Boardman and Wilcox built a sloop of thirty
tons burden on the Winooski River, modelled after the
New London type, which was greatly superior to any
craft on the lake. After mills and a forge had been
erected at Winooski this boat was used in carrying pro¬
visions to Plattsburg. In the spring of 1793 the Dolphin
was built for King and the Burlington Packet for Boyn¬
ton, both vessels of about twenty-five tons burden, which
were constructed at the foot of King Street, Burlington.

In 1795 a 30-ton sloop known as the Lady Washington
was built at the same yard by Russell Jones. Notwith¬
standing her patriotic name it is said that the vessel had
a false bulkhead, and became notorious as a smuggling
craft. Another vessel about the size of the Lady Wash¬
ington was built at Burlington in 1793 by Caleb B. Smith,
a daring navigator. In 1797 the 30-ton sloop Maria was
built at Burlington for Gideon King by Richard Fittock.

There were no wharves at Burlington at that time, and
it was possible for some vessels to enter the Cove and
make fast to trees on the shore. Some cargoes were

.

;.r • '

History of Lake Champlain

259

thrown overboard from vessels too heavily laden to come
within several rods of the beach, and floated ashore, Fit-
tock owned a scow called the Old Lion which was used
as a lighter to bring ashore goods that needed to be
handled more carefully than pork, beef, or liquors. He
also kept a tavern in Burlington, and being a thrifty man,
desirous of wining the custom of “all sorts and conditions
of men,” he placed over the door of his inn a sign, on one
side of which was painted a portrait of Lord Nelson, the
British naval hero, while on the other side was a picture
of George Washington, “the Father of His Country.”
Thus the landlord aimed to attract both loyalists and
friends of the government. Capt. Moses Eggleston was
also a prominent boat builder, but until the War of 1812
the lake traffic was largely controlled by Gideon King.

It is said of King that during the period from 1790 to
1815 he furnished business for the greater part of the
lake craft; and although many of them originally were
built for others, he advanced money for their construc¬
tion, and sooner or later they came into his hands in whole
or in part, practically giving him control of water trans¬
portation.

Other sailing vessels built during this period are given
in the table on page 260, compiled by the late 1 homas H.
Canfield, of Burlington.

During the War of 1812 the Saucy Fox sailed under
the Spanish flag as a neutral vessel and was engaged in
the fur trade.

The principal captains and navigators of this early
period were: Gideon King, Caleb B. Smith, Elijah Boyn¬
ton, H. N. White, Daniel Davis, John Price, Russell
Jones, Almas Truman, of Burlington; Robert White,
Andrew White, and Lavater White, of Shelburne; Caleb
Barton, Ephraim Lake, Elijah Newell, Levi Ilinkley, of

'

■

J. ;• r- ‘ J i >• ’ ' ‘ ’ in* ,ijri ***’ ^0

■

260

History of Lake Champlain

Richard . G. King- . Essex, N. Y . Eggleston 60 1813

Leopard . J. Boynton . Essex, N. Y . Eggleston 50 1813

Rarer . G. King . Essex, N. Y . Eggleston 50 1813

I' am f i on . G. King . Burlington, Vt . Eggleston . 75 18H

i

History of Lake Champlain

261

Charlotte; Joseph Treat, of Bridport ; Eben Holabird,
Reuben Holabird, of Georgia; Hiram Ferris, of Chazv,
N. Y.

The military operations in the northern part of the
lake during the War of 1812 stimulated business with
Troy, Lansingburgh, and Albany, and a shipyard was
established at Whitehall, N. Y. Between Whitehall and
Troy merchandise was carried by teams.

The year 1808 was made notable in the history of navi¬
gation on Lake Champlain by the building at Burlington
of the world's second successful steamboat. The builders
were James and John Winans and J. Lough and she was

called the Vermont. This boat was built only a year after

* *

Fulton’s Clermont was first operated on the Hudson
River. The Vermont was launched sidewise, was stuck
in the sand, and it was some time before the boat was
floated. She was 120 feet long, 20 feet wide and of 167
tons burden. Fulton’s Clermont was 100 feet long, 12
feet wide, and of 160 tons burden.

There was only one room below the Vermont's deck,
twenty-five by eighteen feet in size, fitted with berths along
the side. A second hand engine of twenty horsepower
furnished the means of locomotion, and travel by this craft
was very uncertain, owing to numerous breakdowns. The
first regular trip was made in June, 1809. 1 he Vermont
was scheduled to make the trip from Whitehall to St.
Johns in twenty-four hours, but the round trip usually
consumed nearly a week. In moderate weather the V cr-
mont could make five miles an hour, but with a stormy
wind “Admiral” King’s sloops could pass her easily.
Naturally there was a strong rivalry between the sailing
vessels and the new steamer, and much ridicule for the
frequent accidents suffered by the Winans’ boat.

*

^ ■

-

262

History of Lake Champlain

In October, 1815, the connecting rod became detached
from the crank and was forced through the bottom of the
Vermont , causing her to sink near Bloody Island, a few
miles south of Isle aux Noix, in the Richelieu River.
Satisfied that there was a future for steam navigation
such active business men as Cornelius P. Van Ness, Moses
and Guy Catlin, of Burlington, and Amos W. Barnum of
Vergennes, determined to establish a steamboat line on
the lake. Enlisting the aid of Teunis Van Vechten,
Abram G. Lansing, Isaiah and John Townsend, J. Ellis
Winne, Samuel T. Lansing, and Joseph Alexander, of
Albany, N. Y., a charter for the Lake Champlain Steam¬
boat Company was procured from the New York Legis¬
lature March 12, 1813, the capital stock being $100,000.
Work was begun on the company’s first boat during the
winter of 1813-14, but the hull was only fairly started at
Vergennes when Thomas Macdonough appeared on the
scene with an urgent errand, the building of a fleet of
warships. As a result of his visit the proposed steamboat
did not turn out that kind of a craft at all, but became
the war schooner Ticondcroga of glorious memory.

Late that year, 1S14, the new company laid the keel of
another steamboat, the Phoenix , under the supervision of
Capt. jehaziel Sherman, of Albany, N. Y. He brought an
engine and boiler from the Hudson River steamer Perse-
vc ranee. Fulton and Livingston had been granted the
exclusive privilege of navigating steam craft on the Hud¬
son, and this shut out the Perseverance and the Hope
owned by a rival company. The owners became interested
in the Lake Champlain traffic seeing there with the eye
of faith the possibility of a wider held for the exercise
of the virtues of perseverance and hope than on the Hud¬
son. The Phoenix was launched in 1815 and began regu-

...

■

>c J

History of Lake Champlain

263

lar trips that year between Whitehall and St. Johns, under
the command of Captain Sherman.

The boat was 146 feet long, 27 feet wide, 9l/\ feet deep,
and was run by an engine of 45 horsepower. A canvas
awning was stretched over the main deck. Below there
were cabins for ladies and gentlemen, handsomely fur¬
nished, and in the charge of Sion E. Howard, later a
prominent business man of Burlington, as steward. The
boat was also provided with a small state room, a sitting
room, a smoking room, a barber shop, a kitchen and a
pantry, a captain’s office and a baggage room. The deck
was not fitted up for the use of passengers. The fare
for the trip from Whitehall to St. Johns, including meals,
was $10.

About one o’clock on the morning of September 5,
1819, while between Colchester Point and Providence
Island, the Phoenix was discovered to be on fire. The
regular captain. Jehaziel Sherman, had been kept at home
by illness, and his son, Richard W. Sherman, then a young
man, was in command. The passengers were aroused and
two boats put off, eleven persons being left on board.
Benches, boards and tables were thrown overboard in the
hope of saving the lives of those who had remained on the
burning steamer, but six persons, including one woman
and a boy twelve years old, were drowned, not being able
to swim. Captain Sherman was the last person to leave
the Phoenix. Most of the survivors landed on Providence
Island, a few finding refuge on Colchester Point.

Among the passengers was John Howard, who was on
his way to Montreal as a messenger from the Bank of
Burlington with a^ bag containing $8,000. His son was
the steward on the Phoenix. The younger Howard was
one of two men to row a boat load of passengers to Provi¬
dence Island, and took the money with him. Considering

' m0&t

>■

>

264

History of Lake Champlain

it his duty to return for the other survivors, he left the
money with some of the passengers and on his return
it could not be found. In the confusion it had been stolen.
One man was missing. He was pursued to Grand Isle,
and overtaken on his way to Plattsburg, by Sion E.
Howard. The thief drew two large knives and showed
fight but finally surrendered the money.

In 1815 the Vermont Legislature granted to the Lake
Champlain Steamboat Company the exclusive privilege
of navigating steam vessels on Lake Champlain for a
period of twenty-three years, a penalty of $500 being fixed
for each violation of this act. Later the federal courts
declared such laws unconstitutional.

During the winter of 1815-36 a steamer called the
Champlain was built under the direction of Capt. George
Brush, who commanded the vessel. The engine and
boilers of the old Vermont were used and the boat was
able to make about four miles an hour. About a year
later the engine of the Phoenix was transferred to the
Champlain, which increased her speed to six miles an
hour, a new engine being installed in the Phoenix which
gave her a speed of eight miles an hour. In 1817 the
Champlain made two trips a week between Whitehall and
St. Johns, but early in the season she was burned to the
water’s edge while lying at her dock at Whitehall.

In 1818 a new steamboat called the Congress was built
at Vergennes by Captain Sherman, Amos W. Barnum,
of Vergennes, Guy Catlin, of Burlington, and Teunis Van
Vechten, of Albany. The engine and boilers of the
Chain plain were used. Capt. Daniel Davis commanded
her for about two years, and for a time the Congress was
the only steamboat on the lake. In 1820 Capt. R. W.
Sherman took command. During the winter of 1819-20
the Champlain Steamboat Company built another boat

• '

.✓

History of Lake Champlain

265

called the Phoenix, the engine built for the first Phoenix
being used. Capt Jehaziel Sherman commanded and it
was claimed that the new Phoenix was the fastest steam¬
boat in the world. The Congress and the Phoenix made
three trips a week between Whitehall and St. Johns, the
fare one way being $6.

As the Otter Creek was closed by ice early in the sea¬
son it was determined in 1820 to remove the shipyards of
the Champlain Steamboat Company from Vergennes to
Shelburne harbor, where several acres of land were pur¬
chased, and wharves, shops, ways, storehouses, and mills
were built.

Early in this century the construction of the Cham¬
plain Canal introduced a new factor in lake navigation.
The Northern Inland Lock Navigation Company in 1792
secured a charter for the construction of a canal between
Lake Champlain and the Hudson River, and more than
$100,000 was spent, although no real progress was made.
In a report of the New York Canal Commission, made
March 19, 1817, reference was made to the desirability
of a Champlain Canal and the lumber and iron resources
of the region and the great deposits of Vermont marble
were cited as arguments for the construction of such a
waterway. A preliminary survey was made and on April
15, 1817 a bill authorizing the construction of the Cham¬
plain Canal was passed by the New York Legislature,
work being begun the same year. Whitehall, at the head
of Lake Champlain, and Waterford, on the Hudson River,
were the terminal points. The canal was opened for
traffic October 8, 1823. The canal boat Gleaner, a craft
built in St. Albans, owned by Julius Hoyt, N. W. King-
man, and John Taylor, of that town, commanded by Capt.
William Burton, and carrying a cargo of wheat and
potash, was the first boat to pass through the new water-

'

•. • * : : * ■

' ... 1

266

History of Lake Champlain

way. The Gleaner was compelled to wait at Waterford
a few days for the completion of the locks into the Hud¬
son. The boat was accompanied to Troy by a procession
of gaily dressed boats, and on her arrival at Troy she was
met by a large crowd of people and greeted with a salute
of artillery. Two of the proprietors, Mr. Hoyt and Mr.
Kingman, were passengers on the Gleaner and they were
escorted by a procession with music to the Troy House,
where a public dinner was given in their honor. The
boat was greeted at Albany, Poughkeepsie, and other large
river towns, and at New York City exercises similar to
those at Troy, but on a larger scale, were held in honor of
the opening of the canal. A New York poet was inspired
to write a song on this occasion in which the St. Albans
boat was called “the Barque of the Mountains.' ”

In 1822 Asa Eddy came to Whitehall and established
a line of canal boats when the route was opened, which
he continued to operate until 1831, selling the business at
that time to Peter Comstock, who owned two or three
boats prior to this purchase. Comstock formed a partner¬
ship with Barney and Martin of Whitehall, which was the
beginning of the Northern Transportation line. In 1840
the business was sold to James H. Hooker, of Troy.
Asa and Hiram Eddy organized the Northern line in
1834, selling to Eddy, Bascom & Company. In 1842 this
line of boats was sold to the Whitehall firm of Travis,
Eddy & Company, which established the Six Day line, no
boats being run on Sunday.

Improvements now (1909) under way on the Cham¬
plain Canal will canalize the Hudson River from Water¬
ford to Fort Edward, and will enlarge and deepen the old
waterway extending from the Hudson to Whitehall so
that the prism of the canal will be 12 feet deep, 75 feet
wide at the bottom, with locks 328 feet long and 45 feet

' ' ■ ■ -:UJ

-

:

# , I ^ b ,1 M T 0 I • J.'iniJfwn vrii

History of Lake Champlain

267

wide, 11 feet of water over the mitre sills, admitting the
passage of boats drawing from 10 to 10J4 feet of water,
and carrying from 1,000 to 1,500 tons of freight. The
expense of these improvements will be approximately
$7,000,000.

The construction of the Chambly Canal, in Canada,
around the rapids of the Richelieu River, between Cham¬
bly Basin and St. Johns, was begun in 1831, suspended
in 1835, resumed in 1840, and completed in 1843. The
length of the canal is twelve miles. The waterway was
made originally for a draught of Al/2 feet, but by dredg¬
ing and raising the height of the lock gates, the draught
was increased to 6J4 feet, there being 7 feet of water on
the sills. The breadth of the canal at the bottom is 36
feet, and at the surface, 60 feet. At St. Ours, fourteen
miles south of Sorel, the Richelieu is divided into two
channels and a canal one-eighth of a mile long has been
constructed to permit navigation, the draught being the
same as that of the Chambly Canal. These canals and the
Richelieu River form part of the Champlain water route
between the St. Lawrence River and the Hudson River.

The twenty years between 1825 and 1845 are said to
have been the palmy days of sailing craft on the lake.
Among the best known sloops and schooners were the
Daniel Webster, the Henry Clay, the Montgomery, the
General Scott, the Lafayette, the Hercules, the Billo-iv,
and the Water Witch. Captains Allen, Bush, Chamber-
lain, Price, Stoughton, and Tisdale were among the most
famous sailing masters of this period.

Owing to delay in the shipment of dairy products and
other goods, due in part to trans-shipments at Whitehall
and Troy, Messrs. Follett and Bradley, of Burlington, in
18-11, established the Merchants’ line of high grade canal
boats, sloop rigged, and able to stand heavy seas. At

■

■

'

.

•it- ■

268

History of Lake Champlain

Whitehall the rigging of these boats was taken out to
enable them to pass through the canal, and they were
towed down the Hudson to New York. Three or four
days were saved by shippers by this line. A large patron¬
age was secured and twenty or more boats were employed.
Judge Follett retired in 1847 to become president of the
Rutland and Burlington Railroad Company. The business
of the Merchants’ line was continued by Messrs. Bradley
and Canfield, of Burlington, and Nichols, Barton and
Chittenden, of St. Albans. Later it passed into the hands
of Thomas H. Canfield, of Burlington.

The New York and Canada line, established by Smith
and Wilkins, of Burlington, also conducted a successful
business. With the opening of the Rutland and Burling¬
ton and Vermont Central Railroads, about 1853-54, much
of the traffic was diverted to land routes, and the Mer¬
chants’ line was discontinued.

To resume the subject of steam navigation, the Ver¬
mont Legislature of 1824 chartered the Champlain Ferry
Company, granting permission to operate boats between
Burlington and Port Kent. Burlington men were large
stockholders, and Samuel Hickok, of that village, was
the president. In July, 1S25, the company opened the
ferry with the steamer General Greene, a boat of 160
tons, propelled by a 30-horsepower engine. Capt. Dan
Lyon was the commander. A few years later the steamer
was converted into a sloop. A new steamer, the Winooski,
was put in service on the ferry and the route was ex¬
tended to St. Albans Bav.

In 1821 a charter was granted to Charles McNeil, of
Charlotte, and FI. H. Ross, of Essex, N. Y., for a ferry
between those towns, the distance being about three miles.
At first the ferry was operated by means of an endless
cable, six horses furnishing the motive power. In 1827

. . . • < mot

- no * i*xj ubJ A fjf- 'i **

.:> ■• ' Ml - j ip.1- i ; ‘ •• oWotbiXttlB

• ' ’ 1 ■ ■ 7

History of Lake Champlain

269

this company built the steamer Washington , hut the cost
of operation was too great to be profitable, and the boat
was sold, being used at first for towing purposes and later
being transferred to the Champlain Transportation Com¬
pany. In 1848 this ferry company built the steamer
Bouquet, but when the railroads began to divert the lake
traffic to the land routes, the boat was sold to persons in
Canada.

Late in the year 1826 a charter was granted by the
Vermont Legislature to Lawrence Brainerd, Julius Hoyt,
William O. Gadcomb, N. W. Kingman, Noah B. Wells,
Orange Ferris, George Green, Daniel Stevens, Jr., and
Joshua Doane, under the name of the St. Albans Steam¬
boat Company. N. W. Kingman was president and L. L.
Dutcher was clerk. In 182S Charles Lampson built the
steamer Macdonough for the company and Capt. William
Burton was made commander of the boat. This steamer
plied between St. Albans Bay and Plattsburg, connecting
at the latter place with the through boats. In 1835 the
boat and the company’s franchise were sold to the Cham¬
plain Transportation Company.

In 1826 Ezra Meech, Martin Chittenden, Luther
Loomis, Roswell Butler, Eleazer H. Deming, and Stephen
S. Keyes secured a Vermont charter for the Champlain
Transportation Company. The first board of directors
consisted of William A. Griswold, Samuel Hickok, Luther
Loomis, James Dean, Jehaziel Sherman, Asa Eddy, Law¬
rence Brainerd, Peter Doolittle, and N. W. Kingman.
Later the board was enlarged bv the addition of Timothv
Follett, John Peck, Sion E. Howard, George Moore,
Andrew Thompson, Pieman Cadv, and Henry PL Ross.
William A. Griswold was elected president and Philo
Doolittle clerk and treasurer.

'

270

History of Lake Champlain

In 1827 the steamer Franklin was built at St. Albans
Bay for this company, Capt. Jehaziel Sherman superin¬
tending the work. This boat was very well equipped for
that period, having an upper deck, and a ladies' cabin on
the main deck. The fare between Whitehall and St.
Johns was reduced to $5. Capt. Jehaziel Sherman com¬
manded the Franklin during the short season of 1827, and
then retired, being succeeded by Capt. Richard W. Sher¬
man, his son. In 1832 Capt. Jehaziel Sherman built a
small steamboat at Fort Cassin called the Water Witch
which plied between Whitehall and Vergennes. Later the
boat was converted into a schooner and continued in '
service until about 1880. With more steamboats on the
lake than the business of the region demanded, the Lake
Champlain Steamboat Company became somewhat embar¬
rassed, sold its property in 1830 to Isiah Townsend, and
in 1833 was consolidated with the Champlain Transporta¬
tion Company. In 1835 this corporation purchased the
Water Witch, the property and rights of the Champlain
Ferry Company, and that of the St. Albans Steamboat
Company. This left the company without a rival on the
lake. The Franklin under Captain Sherman, and the
Phoenix under Captain Lyon, ran between Whitehall and
St. Johns while the Winooski , commanded by Captain
Flack, plied between Platts burg and St. Albans.

Soon after this consolidation Peter Comstock began the
construction of a steamboat at Whitehall, which the
Champlain Transportation Company bought to avoid com¬
petition, Comstock pledging not to build another boat for
eight years, or to oppose the company. The steamer was
completed in 1838 and was named the Whitehall . As the
boats of the company were becoming old another was
built at Shelburne harbor, called the Burlington, which
was completed in 1837. She was 190 feet long, 25 feet

••

■

'

History of Lake Champlain

27 1

wide, 9 feet deep, and had a speed of fifteen miles an
hour. Both the Burlington and the Whitehall were ex¬
cellent boats, Capt. R. W. Sherman commanding the
former, and Capt. Dan Lyon, the latter. In 1841 the
Saranac was built to take the place of the Winooski ply¬
ing between St. Albans and Burlington.

In passing it should be said that Capt. Richard W.
Sherman, the maternal grandfather of Vice-President
James S. Sherman, was one of the most famous of all the
captains who have sailed upon Lake Champlain. Presi¬
dent Martin Van Buren, often one of his passengers, said
of him: “He imagines that all of the world is the deck of
a ship, and he the captain.” In 1842 Charles Dickens,
while making his American tour, passed through Lake
Champlain. Although his criticisms of America and
Americans were considered very harsh at the time, and
were deeply resented in this country, yet his praise of
Captain Sherman and the steamboat Burlington was ex¬
pressed in a wealth of superlatives. In his “American
Notes” the famous novelist said : “There is one Ameri¬
can boat — the vessel which carried us on Lake Champlain
from St. Johns to W hitehall — which I praise very highly,
but no more than it deserves, when I say that it is superior
even to that on which we went from Oueenston to
Toronto or to that on which we travelled from the latter
place to Kingston, or I have no doubt I may add, to any
other in the world. This steamboat, which is called the Bur¬
lington, is a perfectly exquisite achievement of neatness,
elegance, and order. The decks are drawing rooms ; the
cabins are boudoirs, choicely furnished and adorned with
prints, pictures, and musical instruments ; every nook and
corner of the vessel is a perfect curiosity of graceful
comfort and beautiful contrivance. Captain Sherman, her
commander, to whose ingenuity and excellent taste these

tfjj lib': rr.-cn tqf .> • ; *y

272

History of Lake Champlain

results are solely attributable, has bravely and worthily
distinguished himself on more than one trying occasion;
not least among them in having the moral courage to carry
British troops at a time (during the Canadian rebellion)
when no other conveyance was open to them. He and his
vessel are held in universal respect, both by his own
countrymen and ours ; and no man ever enjoyed the popu¬
lar esteem, who, in his sphere of action, won and wore it
better than this gentleman.

“By means of this floating palace we were soon in the
United States again, and called that evening at Burling¬
ton, a pretty town, where we lay an hour or so. We
reached Whitehall, where we were to disembark, at six
next morning ; and might have done so earlier, but that
these steamboats lie by for some hours in the night, in
consequence of the lake becoming very narrow at that
part of the journey, and difficult of navigation in the
dark. Its width is so contracted at one point, indeed, that
they are obliged to warp round by means of a rope.”

The Champlain Transportation Company was not long
without a rival, a charter being obtained from the New
York Legislature for the New York and Champlain
Steamboat Company. Negotiations, however, were suc¬
cessful in arranging a consolidation of the new company
with the old, and the fare through the lake was reduced
to $3, with extra charge for meals and state rooms. As
soon as the bargain was made for consolidation of the
rival lines, Peter Comstock began building another boat
at Whitehall, which he called the Francis Saltus, better
known as the Saltus. The Champlain Transportation
Company determined not to attempt to buy off or buy out
any more rivals, and fitted up the Saranac as a competitor.
In 1845 the Saltus began her trips with I~I. G. Tisdale
as captain, the Saranac being commanded by Capt. P. T.

.

4

.

History of Lake Champlain

273

Davis. Both steamers ran as day boats, and being
scheduled to leave Whitehall at the same time naturally
there was a keen rivalry. Stories are told of throwing
pitch pine, barrels of tar, and other inflammable materials
into the furnaces of these steamboats in order to gain an
advantage, sacrificing safety to speed. The passengers
entered into these contests with great ardor, cheering
wildly when their own boat led. Sometimes the Saranac
won and at other times victory rested with the Saltus , the
latter boat being considered, on the whole, the faster of
the two.

The Champlain Transportation Company, being on a
better financial basis than its competitor, and having two
night boats on the line which charged regular fare, was
able to cut rates on the Saranac to fifty cents, and at
times even as low as twenty-five cents. Comstock laid the
keel for a new boat, the Montreal, but becoming finan¬
cially embarrassed he transferred the Saltus to persons in
Troy. By a natural process the Saltus and the Montreal,
in March, 1S4S, passed into the hands of the Champlain
Transportation Company. The Montreal was burned in
Maquam Bay in 1879.

This company in 1847 launched another steamer, the
United States, which was built at Shelburne bv William
Capes and Son, of New York. The boat was 240 feet long,
28*d> feet wide, 9 feet deep, with 250-horsepower engines,
a tonnage of 648, and cost $75,000. Her speed was
nineteen miles an hour, while fifteen miles an hour was
the best previous record. It is asserted that had Capes
been allowed to carry out his original designs a speed
even greater than this would have been developed. This
was the first boat on these waters to be equipped with
staterooms on the upper deck. Capt. P. T. Davis was the

| a |!

I

274

History of Lake Champlain

commander, and regular trips were begun in August,
1847, the United States displacing the Saranac.

In 1846 the Northern Transportation line built the
James H. Hooker for freight and towing purposes. This
boat was 136 feet long, 23 feet wide, and 7 feet deep.
In 1847 the Vermont Legislature granted a charter for
a steam towboat company. The principal stockholders
were John Bradley & Company, of Burlington, Nichols,
Burton & Company, of St. Albans, and Charles F. Ham¬
mond, of Crown Point. This company controlled most
of the through canal boats. A powerful boat for towing
and freight purposes, called the Ethan Allen, was built at
Shelburne harbor, in 1847, at a cost of $36,000. After
running between Whitehall and Rouses Point for two
years the boat was sold to the Vermont Central Railroad
Company for the transportation of passengers and freight
between Alburgh and Rouses Point. After the bridge
connecting those two points was built, the boat was sold
to the Champlain Transportation Company, and later was
transferred to the Northern Transportation Company, of
Whitehall. The latter company, in 1856, built another
boat of the same class called the Oliver Bascom.

In 1848 the Champlain Transportation Company ran
two day boats and two night boats. In 1S49 a majority
of the stock of this company was transferred to Drew,
Robinson and Company, of New York, proprietors of the
North River steamers, and Oscar A. Burton, of St.
Albans. The number of directors was reduced from
fifteen to seven. The Lake Champlain and Hudson River
steamers with the railroad from Whitehall to Troy as a
connecting link, formed a through line under one manage-
ment, known as the North and South Through line.

Owing to the construction of railroads, Rouses Point, in
1851, was made the northern terminus of the lake steam-

t' .

; ;r V! ' ' ./ ■

History of Lake Champlain

275

ers, instead of St. Johns. In 1851 Capt. T. D. Chapman
built the fastest steamboat on the lake at Whitehall. She
was called the R. IV. Sherman, but later the name was
changed to the America. This boat was 250 feet long,
31 y2 feet wide, 9l/2 feet deep, with a tonnage of 745,
a speed of nineteen miles an hour and cost $80,000. In
1852 the Canada was built at Whitehall by George L.
Schuyler, of New York. Her dimensions were: Length,
260 feet ; width, 33 feet ; depth 10 feet. Her tonnage was
881 ; her speed, eighteen and one-half miles an hour; and
her cost, $100,000.

On August 30, 1852, the Rutland and Burlington Rail¬
road Company bought all the property of the Champlain
Transportation Company, but not the franchise and corpo¬
rate rights. The steamboat service then was arranged to
suit the schedules of the Rutland and Burlington and
Whitehall and Troy railroads. This venture did not prove
the success that was anticipated and in the fall of 1853
the old company purchased all the boats it had sold with
the exception of the Boston, which was used for ferrying
and freight purposes between Burlington and Rouses
Point ; and the Francis Saltns, which had been sold to
the Plattsburg and Montreal Railroad Company. In 1856
Daniel Drew, Nelson Robinson, and Robert W. Kelley
sold their stock in the company to persons interested in
the Rensselaer and Saratoga and Whitehall railroads.
The Adirondack was built at Shelburne harbor for the
Champlain Transportation Company, under the direction
of Elijah Root, and was launched October 20, 1866,
beginning service August 5, 1867. She was 258 feet long,
34 feet wide, 11 feet deep and her speed was nineteen
and one-half miles an hour.

The Oakes Ames was built at Marks Bay, in South
Burlington, in 1868, by Orson S. Spear, for the Rutland

■ !*._

276

History of Lake Champlain

and Burlington Railroad Company. She was 255 feet
long, 34 feet wide, and 1 1 feet deep, with a speed of nine¬
teen and one-half miles an hour. The boat was con¬
structed to carry cars between Burlington and Plattsburg,
and was commanded at first by Capt. N. B. Proctor. This
scheme did not prove successful and the boat was sold
to the Champlain Transportation Company in 1S72. She
was remodeled as a passenger boat, called the Champlain,
and was run between Rouses Point and Whitehall, Capt.
George Rushlow commanding. The boat ran on the rocks
at Steam Mill Bay, about two and one-half miles north
of Westport, about ten o’clock on the morning of July 16,
1875. By lashing two gang planks together it was pos¬
sible to transfer the passengers to the shore. The steamer
Adirondack was hailed and took the passengers and a
schooner took off the freight. Several hours after the
wreck occurred a man, supposed to be dead, was found in
the stateroom. The foot of the mattress was in the water,
one end of the compartment was knocked in and the
side was crushed in within four feet of where the man
lay. He was not dead, however, but had slept through all
the noise and confusion of the wreck. He proved to be
a student who had recently gone through a very severe
ordeal of examinations and had slept the sleep of complete
exhaustion.

The Grand Isle was built at Essex, N. Y., in 1869 by
Orson S. Spear for Knowlton, Fortune and Tobias. The
boat was not a success as a passenger steamer and was
sold to the Northern Transportation Company.

The A. Williams was built at Marks Bay in 1870 by
A. B. Curtis for Warren Corbin and Andrew Williams.
She was 125 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 9 feet deep, with
a speed of twelve miles an hour. She was sold to the

■

History of Lake Champlain

277

Champlain Transportation Company in 1872. In 1880
she was rebuilt at Shelburne harbor.

The L. J. N. Stark was built at Whitehall, in 1869, for
the Northern Transportation Company. She was 185
feet long, 26 feet wide, and 11 feet deep, with a speed
of fourteen miles an hour. Capt. Richard Arbuckle was
her commander. The boat was burned at Point au Roche,
in 1870.

The Vermont was built at Shelburne harbor in 1871
by L. S. White for the Champlain Transportation Com¬
pany. She was 271 feet long, 36 feet wide, W/i feet
deep, and had a speed of nineteen and one-half miles an
hour. Her first commander was Capt. William H. Flagg.
This boat was rebuilt in 18S1.

After the completion of the New York and Canada
railroad in 1878 the northern terminal of the passenger
steamers was changed from Rouses Point to Plattsburg.
The Maquam was built at South Hero in 1880 by A. J.
Cookson for Warren Corbin. She was 145 feet long, 24
feet wide, and 9 feet deep, with a speed of fourteen miles
an hour. She was sold to the St. Johnsbury and Lake
Champlain Railroad Company and began trips in 1881,
Capt. B. J. Holt commanding. Later she was sold to the
Champlain Transportation Company and was commanded
by Capt. F. J. Hawley for several years.

On October 30, 1868 the steamer River Queen ran on a
ledge at Hathaway’s Point off the St. Albans shore, and
was sunk. This boat, a small craft, had been purchased
in July, 1868, by Warren Corbin, of South Hero, for the
St. Albans, Grand Isle and Plattsburg Ferry Company.
It was run between St. Albans Bay, Maquam and Platts¬
burg, and was commanded by Capt. William Rockwell.

The Grand Isle Steamboat Company was chartered by
the Vermont Legislature, November 10, 1S69. The char-

'

■

, ■ - ■ '

278

History of Lake Champlain

ter was amended December 23, 1880, and the first meet¬
ing of the company was held February 21, 1881. The
steamer Reindeer was built at Alburgh in 1881, by Capt.
E. B. Rockwell. The boat was 181 feet long, 27^4 feet
wide, and 9 j4 feet deep, with a speed of sixteen miles an
hour, and began her trips with Capt. E. B. Rockwell in
command. She was run first as a passenger boat, then
as a passenger and excursion craft, and finally for excur¬
sion parties only.

The steamer Chateaugay was built at Shelburne harbor
in 1888 for the Champlain Transportation Company. Her
dimensions are: Length, 205 feet; width, 54 feet; depth,
9j4 feet. Her gross tonnage is 742; horsepower, 1,000;
capacity, 1,200 persons. Her speed is twenty miles an
hour and her cost, $101,000.

The Vermont was built at Shelburne harbor, in 1903,
for the Champlain Transportation Company. Her length
is 262 feet; her width, 62 feet; and her depth, 10^2 feet.
The gross tonnage of the boat is 1,195; her horsepower,
1,800; and her capacity, 1,800 persons. The speed is
twenty-three miles an hour, and the cost was $201,000.

The Ticondcroga was built at Shelburne harbor in
1906 for the Champlain Transportation Company. Her
length is 220 feet; her width, 57*4 feet; and her depth,
11 feet. The gross tonnage is 892; the horsepower,
1,500; and the capacity, 1,500 persons. The steamer has
a speed of twenty-three miles an hour, and cost $170,000.

The Chateaugay, Vermont, and Ticondcroga have steel
hulls.

Some towing business on the lake is now done by the
Ottawa Transportation Company. Much is also done by
the Lake Champlain Transportation Company, of White¬
hall, which owns several tug boats and a fleet of canal
boats.

'

.

History of Lake Champlain

279

There are many pleasure yachts on Lake Champlain,
both steam and sailing craft and the large fleet of motor
boats on these waters is rapidly increasing.

An interesting feature in connection with Lake Cham¬
plain navigation is the “graveyard” for outworn ships at
Shelburne harbor. Among the craft famous in their day
that have been retired to this peaceful haven are the
America, Phoenix, Congress, Franklin, Winooski, Bur¬
lington, Whitehall, Saranac, Francis Saltus, Canada,
United States, A. Williams, Adirondack, Maquam, and
Vermont.

The following list of captains of Lake Champlain
steamers and their terms of service was compiled for
the most part by the late Capt. George Rushlow :

John Winans .

...Burlington .

1809-1815

J. Sherman .

. . . Vergennes .

1814-1827

George Brush . .

1816-1818

Daniel Davis . .

...Burlington .

1819-1820

R. W. Sherman .

. . .Vergennes .

1818-1847

George Burnham....

...Burlington .

1821-1823

Gideon Lathrop .

. . . Lockport, N. Y .

1823-1850

I. R. Harrington _

. ..Buffalo .

1827-1828

Dan Lyon . .

...Burlington .

1825-1844

Ebenezer Hurlbut....

. . . Georgia .

1828-1829

Tames II. Snow .

. . . Whitehall .

1828-1829

William Burton .

...St. Albans .

1831-1833

William Anderson..

. . . Burlington .

1831-18 77

W. W. Sherman....

...Vergennes .

1832-1834

Henry Mayo .

...Burlington .

1834-1884

C. Boardman .

...Whitehall .

1835-1839

R. N. Flack .

. . . Essex, N. Y .

1836-1838

William Phillips....

...Burlington .

1838-1842

P. T. Davis .

...Burlington .

1843-1858

H. G. Tisdale . .

. . . Whitehall .

1845-1868

Silas Hinckley . .

...Burlington .

18-16-1860

T. D. Chapman . .

...Burlington .

1847-1852

M. B. Proctor .

. . . Burlington .

1847-1S72

I.. Chamberlin .

. . . Plattsburgh .

1848-1860

John O’Grady .

...Burlington .

1849-1854

A. Brainard .

. . . Elizabethtown, N. Y. .

1844-1850

H. R. Snyder .

. . . Port Kent .

1850-1860

Seth R. Foster .

...New York City .

1853-1857

Moses Baxter .

...Chicago, Ill .

1852-1854

■ .

TOMttt . --J .

280

History of Lake Champlain

William H. Flagg...

A. D. Vaughn .

Richard Chapin .

Z. R. Stetson .

B. J. Holt.... .

Warren Corbin .

George Rushlow .

E. B. Rockwell .

F. J. Hawley .

E. J. Baldwin .

Bernard Sawyer .

E. R. Rockwell .

W. Warren Rockwell

Frank G. White .

John Rushlow .

C. J. Edson .

John E. Montgomery

Burlington .

Whitehall .

Whitehall .

Champlain, N. Y

Plattsburgh .

South Piero .

Highgate .

Alburgh .

Swanton .

Burlington .

Whitehall .

1852-1874

1857-1862

1857-1862

1860-1862

1868- 1887

1869- 1873

1870- 1892
1 SSI -1885
1882-1903

1884- 1909

1885- 1895

1903- 1925

1904- 1915
1913-1920
1908-
1915-
1915-

James Truman, of Burlington; Robert White, of Shel¬
burne; William Rockwell, and others, also commanded
steamers.

In 1893 the office of general manager of the Champlain
Transportation Company was created and Capt. George
Rushlow was appointed to the position. lie was suc-
ceded in 1903 by D. A. Loomis.

Among the men who have served longest on the lake
or in connection with its traffic are : Hiram Ferris, pilot
on the first Vermont, in 1809 who continued to act in that
capacity on various boats for the greater part of the time
until 1858; Elijah Root, employed for fifty-four years
by the Champlain Transportation Company, most of the
time as chief engineer and superintendent of construction
and repairs.

Barring an interval of six years (1SS5-1890) Capt.
E. B. Rockwell was continuously engaged in lake service
from 1842 to the time of his death December 3, 1928 at
the age of 9S years, 9 months and 15 days. He received
his first government license as pilot in 1856.

Col. Legrand B. Cannon was president of the Cham¬
plain Transportation Company for more than thirty years.

.

Histary of Lake Champlain

281

The first lighthouse on Lake Champlain was built in
1826 on Juniper Island, a few miles off the Burlington
shore. The Vermont Legislature in 1828 ceded to the
United States Government, at its option, either Juniper
Island or five acres of land on Appletree Point as a site
for a light tower, and the island was chosen. The next
lighthouses to be built on the lake were at Split Rock and
Cumberland Plead.

The lights to aid navigation, maintained at the present
time (1909) by the United States on Lake Champlain,
are given herewith : Windmill Point light station, Alburgh,
tower forty feet high, Rouses Point pierhead light station,
lantern on post.

Isle La Motte light station, lantern on tower twenty-
five feet high, dwelling one and a half stories.

Pointe au Roche light station, limestone tower fifty
feet high.

Gordon Landing pierhead light station, Grand Isle,
lantern on post.

Cumberland Plead light station, limestone tower fifty
feet high, connected by covered way with dwelling.

Plattsburg breakwater light station, two beacon lights
twenty-seven feet high

Bluff Point light station, tower thirty-six feet high on
limestone dwelling.

Colchester Reef light station, octagonal tower thirty-
five feet high, connected with dwelling.

Burlington breakwater north extension pierhead, north
end light station, portable beam ; Burlington north exten¬
sion pierhead south end light station, lantern on a post ;
Burlington breakwater south light, portable beacon.

Juniper Island light station, tower twenty-five feet high,
connected with dwelling by covered way.

• la

282 History of Lake Champlain

North Hero light, lantern on a stake on a pyramidal
crib.

South Hero light, lantern on a stake on a pyramidal
crib.

Split Rock light station, limestone tower thirty-nine
feet high, connected with dwelling by covered way.

Otter Creek light station, conical pier supporting a post.

Barber Point light station, near Westport, octagonal
tower on a dwelling.

Crown Point light station, limestone, tower fifty-five
feet high connected by covered way with dwelling.

Watch Point (Vt.) light station, small wooden house
surmounted by a post with bracket from which lantern is
suspended.

All the lights mentioned hereafter are between White¬
hall Narrows channel and the town of Whitehall : Old
Maid Place light, movable beacon with number on side ;
Lower End of Four Channels and narrows lights, movable
beacon with number on side ; Pulpit Point light stake in
pyramidal crib, with number on side; Above Pulpit Point
light, movable beacon with number on side ; Opposite
Belden Dock light, movable beacon with number on side ;
Chilson Bend light, movable beacon with number on side ;
Lower-end of Two Channels light, movable beacon with
number on side ; Maple Bend light, a mast with pier
foundation, with number on side; Plead of Two Channels
light, movable beacon with number on side ; Long Reach
light, movable beacon with number on side ; Steam Mill
Point light, movable beacon with number on side ; South
of Sandy Dock light, movable beacon with number on
side ; Opposite Chapman Dock light, stake on pier founda¬
tion, with number on side ; Cosey Camp light, movable
beacon, with number on side ; Benjamin Place light, post
on pyramidal crib, with number on side.

History of Lake Champlain
Supplementary Note

283

D. A. LOOMIS

Capt. E. J. Baldwin died in Burlington, Vt., November
26, 1909. His last service was captain of the steamer
Vermont which discontinued operations for the season in
September of that year.

Capt. E. B. Rockwell succeeded Capt. Baldwin as cap¬
tain of the steamer Vermont in 1910 and he continued
as captain of the steamer Vermont up to and including the
season of 1928. The boat discontinued servdce that year
in September and Capt. Rockwell died at his home in
St. Albans, Vt., December 3, 1928, at the advanced age of
ninety-eight years, nine months and fifteen days. He was
well known throughout the country and abroad as the oldest
living navigator in actual and continuous service.

Other captains not mentioned in the Crockett History
on page 280.

Capt. W. Warren Rockwell was a captain up to and
including the season of 1909, after which date he became
an employee of the government, Department of Commerce,
Steamboat Inspection Service as inspector of hulls.

Capt. Rockwell was succeeded on the Ticonderoga by
Capt. Frank G. White from 1910 to and including 1919.

Capt. John Rushlow, son of Capt. George Rushlow,
succeeded Capt. White on the Ticonderoga in 1920, re¬
mained in that position up to and including the season
of 1922. Elis service from that date to the present time has
been marine supervisor at the Shelburne Harbor shipyard
in charge of construction and maintenance of the com¬
pany’s floating and shore property.

Capt. C. G. Edson succeeded Capt. Rushlow as captain
on the Ticonderoga and is still in service.

Capt. E. R. Rockwell died May 25, 1925.

■

ni 3rriorf lid b&ib jtt&wifocjfi JqsO bfiB ni

. .

: £

284

History of Lake Champlain

Capt. John E. Montgomery entered the service of the
company as captain of the steamer Chat can gay in 1925 and
is still in service.

Col. LeGrande B. Cannon retired as president of the
company January 11, 1895, was succeeded by James
Roosevelt as president, who served in that capacity until
January 3, 1901. Mr. Roosevelt was succeeded as presi¬
dent by Horace G. Young who served until June 23, 1903.
Mr. Young was succeeded by David Wilcox who served
until May 29, 1907. Mr. Wilcox was succeeded by Leonor
F. Loree in 1907 and who is still the president of the com¬
pany.

On page 280 of this history my name is given as “D. C.”
Loomis, General Manager, succeeding Capt. George Rush-
low. My initials are D. A. I was appointed general mana¬
ger July 9, 1903, and have been in that position ever since.

The Champlain Transportation Company, which had
operated a through line service in connection with The Lake
George Steamboat Company, discontinued that service at
the close of the season of 1932, and same has not been
restored up to the present time, 1936.

Beginning with 1933 the company operated only one
boat. That was the Chatcaugay and the service which she
performed was between Burlington, Yt., and Port Kent,
N. Y., for the transportation of automobiles, freight and
passengers. The season lasted about six months, starting
the middle of May and ending November 1. This service
was continued 1934 and 1935.

In 1936 the increase in automobile transportation induced
the company to put on a second steamer, the Ticondcroga,
this boat operating from July 1 to Labor Day, September
7, which covered the period of the larger amount of tourist
travel. The Chatcaugay started May 17 and performed
service up to and including November 1.

.

"*5

History of Lake Champlain

285

The successful operation period is from about the middle
of July to Labor Day and after the tourist travel drops off,
the business is largely of a local character.

There may be some possibility when conditions are right
to restore the through line service but of that no definite
announcement can be made.

Additional ferry transportation facilities between Bur¬
lington and the New York ports have recently been pro¬
vided by the Green Mountain-Adirondack Ferry Company,
of which Florace W. Corbin of Grand Isle is president.
These boats, assembled at Burlington, are all metal, 150
feet long, driven by Diesel engines, have prow and stern
propellers and carrying capacity of forty cars. They are
all of the streamline type.

i tif : \ "■ ( 'rf ’ ^

rf I . ■ n. Itlx J*j ni ■ ■ i odpl

CHAPTER XVI

SOME LAKE CHAMPLAIN INCIDENTS

A FEW scattered incidents of importance connected
with tiie history of Lake Champlain, although hav¬
ing no consecutive relation, deserve to be mentioned
in this book, as do some facts relative to the development
of the Champlain valley.

On July 22, 1811, a flood of unusual severity occurred
in this region. Several lives were lost, houses and barns
were swept away, and hardly a mill was left standing on
a stream included in a section extending from the southern
part of Lake Champlain across the State to the Connecti¬
cut River. Thirty vears later evidences of this freshet
were plainly visible. Another terrible flood was experi¬
enced in 1830. From July 15 to July 21 of that year the
temperature every day ranged from 91 to 94 degrees in
the shade. On Saturday afternoon, July 24, rain began
to fall, and continued with slight intermission until the
following Thursday noon, July 29. During the five days
of the storm the rainfall at Burlington exceeded seven
inches, and of this amount 3.85 inches fell on July 26 in
about sixteen hours. The storm was accompanied often
by severe thunder and lightning. The water rushed down
the sides of hills and mountains in torrents. Crops were
destroyed, and houses, bridges, and fences were carried
away. Hardly a mill was left upon a stream. The country
to the height of fifteen feet above the ordinary level of
streams was one vast sheet of water. The Winooski and
New Haven river valleys suffered most. On July 27 the
Winooski River was from four to twenty feet higher than
ever before known, according to the width of the channel.

.

yr- ■ : in -0 b,r‘. r‘ '» ,1 81 V ) ?

.

History of Lake Champlain

287

About midnight on July 26, the New Haven River having
risen to an unprecedented height, was diverted from its
ordinary channel above the little mill settlement of Bee-
man’s Hollow, and following a highway swept down with
a head of ten or twelve feet. Twenty -one persons were
carried away with the wreckage of houses and mills and
only seven escaped. One man, Lemuel B. Eldridge, was
carried into a cornfield, and here, on a little rise of land,
he was able to stand until morning, keeping his head above
water. The other survivors were saved by clinging to
rocks or trees. The rainfall at Burlington for the year
1830 amounted to 59.3 inches.

In July, 1817, President James Monroe travelled from
Whitehall to Plattsburg on a steamer arriving at the
latter place on July 27. He also visited Burlington.

In July, 1818, the body of Gen. Richard Montgomery,
killed in the assault on Quebec, December 31, 1775, and
buried near the ramparts of that city, was disinterred
and taken to New York City for burial. It was conveyed
through Lake Champlain on the steamer Phoenix, which
was draped in black, the flags flying at half mast.

In the summer of 1825 General Lafayette visited Ver¬
mont and New York, going south from Burlington on a
lake steamer. President Martin Van Buren visited the
lake during his term of office. In 1840 Henry Clay came
to Burlington on a lake steamer.

After the execution of John Brown, December 2, 1859,
following his attempt to free the slaves at Harpers Ferry,
Va., Gov. Henry A. Wise delivered the body to Mrs.
Brown, who brought it by train to New York, then up
the Hudson by boat, and thence by rail to Vergennes. It
was so late in the season that the line steamers no longer
were running. The body was taken by team to Adams’
Ferrv, and across the lake to Barber’s Point and West-

HI £?3

it if ■ x ' ;;i "• b?‘ jl

: ■■ ! • ',r’s : : )m

288

History of Lake Champlain

port, where the funeral party remained over night, going
to North Elba, N. Y., Brown’s home, the following day.
Wendell Phillips, the famous orator and anti-slavery lead¬
er, was one of the party. The funeral was held Decem¬
ber 8, Rev. Joshua Young, of Burlington, being the offi¬
ciating clergyman. On his return from North Elba,
Phillips addressed a great audience at Yergennes.

On August 7, 1872, President and Mrs. U. S. Grant,
accompanied by their sons, Frederick and Jesse, Gen.
P. H. Sheridan and Gen. Plorace Porter, arrived at
Plattsburg from the Thousand Islands. On August 8 the
party crossed the lake on the steamer Vermont and were
cordially welcomed to* Burlington, where a large and
informal reception was held at the American Hotel. The
party proceeded south on the lake as far as Crown Point,
being enthusiastically received at every lake port by large
crowds.

On the morning of August 25, 1891, President Benja¬
min Harrison left Saratoga, N. Y., and arrived at Bur¬
lington, where he addressed a large crowd. In the after¬
noon the President and his party embarked on Col. W.
Seward Webb’s steam yacht Elfrida and proceeded to
Maquam Bay, where a special train took the distinguished
guest to St. Albans.

In the summer of 1897 President William McKinley
spent his vacation at Hotel Champlain, Bluff Point, N. Y.,
near Plattsburg. On August 4, 1897, President McKinley,
Vice-President and Mrs. Garrett A. Plobart, Secretary
of War and Mrs. Russell A. Alger visited Burlington,
crossing the lake on the steamer Maquam. On August 9
the President again visited Burlington, Col. H. W. Put¬
nam’s steam yacht Washita being placed at his disposal.

On September 5, 1901, Vice-President Theodore Roose¬
velt came to Burlington to address the Vermont Officers’

. : ‘ 0

-

. •* ; • -v <i :o ?■’ '■ *

. -•••.). ' 1

.

. J vt" • "• -•«

'

History of Lake Champlain

289

Reunion Society. The next day he went to Isle La Motte
as the guest of the Vermont Fish and Game League, going
on the steamer Chateangay. After the banquet the Vice-
President retired to the home of former Lieut. Gov. N. W.
Fisk to rest, and while there received a telephone message
announcing the assassination of President McKinley, at
Buffalo. A scene of happy festivities was changed in a
moment to one of deepest mourning as Senator Redfield
Proctor, in a voice trembling with emotion, announced the
sad news to the assembled audience. Colonel Roosevelt
returned to Burlington on Dr. W. Seward Webb’s yacht
Elfrida, and left by train for Buffalo.

During the week of July 4, 1909, New York and Ver¬
mont cooperated in staging a mammoth bi-state program
of Lake Champlain Tercentenary celebration exercises.
Commemoration exercises were held in many of the
churches in both states on Sunday, July 4.

At Crown Point Forts, N. Y., Monday’s celebration
featured a sham battle, Indian pageants by the descend¬
ants of the native tribes of the Champlain Valley, ad¬
dresses by Gov. Charles E. Hughes of New York, Seth
Low of New York and Judge Albert C. Barnes of Chi¬
cago, an original poem by Clinton Scollard of Clinton,
N. Y., an evening parade, pageant and fireworks.

At Ticonderoga, N. Y., on Tuesday, July 6, the celebra¬
tion continued with a review of the Tenth Regiment, New
York National Guard, by Governor Hughes and party;
sham battle along old French lines, afternoon addresses
by Governor Hughes, Gov. George H. Prouty of Ver¬
mont and Dr. Hamilton W. Mabie of New York, with
an original ballad by Percy MacKaye of Cornish. N. H. ;
salute to the President of the United States by the United
States Naval Flotilla and addresses by President Taft and
other distinguished guests; Indian pageants and fireworks.

;!7

■

?.,r r ? j • 0 to .M \ I ' 6 ; mutol

• A> . : — lr>f \ho Ifi

T&jftov ift hen; i(i£S£»q ,*bsi*q ^nif»V3 ns f .VI

290

History of Lake Champlain

The continued celebration on Wednesday, July 7, cen¬
tered at Plattsburgh, N. Y. This opened with an address
by President Taft at Cliff Haven, followed by Indian
pageants at the mouth of the Saranac River ; private recep¬
tion by the President to the representatives of foreign
governments and members of New York Legislature at
Hotel Champlain ; parade and review of military, civic
and fraternal organizations at Plattsburgh Barracks; ad¬
dresses by President Taft, Hon. J. }. Jusserand, the French
ambassador, Hon. James Bryce, the British ambassador,
Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux, postmaster-general of Canada,
Governor Hughes, Governor Prouty and the Hon. Elihu
Root, United States senator from New York; an original
poem by Daniel L. Cady ; evening parade at Plattsburgh
Barracks, Indian pageants, banquet to the President at
Hotel Champlain ; fireworks at mouth of Saranac River.

The celebration was shifted to the Vermont side of the
lake on Thursday, July 8. The Presidential Party crossed
the lake and arrived in Burlington at 10 a.m., and was
escorted from the King Street wharf to City Hall Park
by the Vermont Division of the National Guard, Col.
J. Gray Estey commanding. Governor Prouty of Ver¬
mont presided at the exercises in City Hall Park, which
opened with prayer by the Rt. Rev. Arthur C. A. Hall,
D.D., Protestant Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Ver¬
mont. Governor Prouty welcomed the Presidential party
to Vermont and Mayor James E. Burke extended the
welcome to Burlington. There were addresses by Gov¬
ernor Hughes, Messrs. Bryce, Jusserand and Lemieux, an
original poem by Bliss Carman and brief remarks by Presi¬
dent Taft, who reviewed a parade at noon. Governor
Prouty gave a luncheon to the guests at the Ethan Allen
Club. Members of the New York Legislature were enter¬
tained at luncheon at the University of Vermont. The

> ■( . »- u • i

0ffT jnoimd r )o \tiri9VMiU u<lJ nooihnul 1b bsnifil

History of Lake Champlain

291

afternoon program consisted of Indian pageants on the
water front, and inspection of the city by the Presidential
party. President Taft spoke at a banquet at the University
of Vermont gymnasium in the evening, and this was fol¬
lowed by Indian pageants.

The program of Friday, July 9, centered about Isle
La Motte, Vt., during the day and at Rouses Point, N. Y.,
in the evening. The Presidential party journeyed from
Burlington to Isle La Motte in the morning on the steamer
Ticonderoga and were joined there by the New York State
Commission and guests. The Rt. Rev. Thomas M. A.
Burke, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany,
N. Y., officiated at solemn high mass at 10.30. With
Governor Prouty of Vermont presiding, exercises were
held, opening with prayer by Dr. John M. Thomas, presi¬
dent of Middlebury College. Senator Henry W. Hill of
Buffalo welcomed visitors to Isle La Motte. Addresses
were given by Governor Hughes, Hon. Wendell P. Staf¬
ford, justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Co¬
lumbia, and an original poem was read by Prof. John
Erskine of Columbia University. There was music by
the St. Albans Choral Union. In the afternoon, a boulder
was dedicated in memory of Col. Seth Warner and Capt.
Remember Baker by the Patriotic Women of Vermont.
Indian pageants followed at Isle La Motte in the afternoon
and at Rouses Point in the evening.

The week’s celebration closed with a water carnival at
Rouses Point, N. Y., Saturday, July 10, followed by the
unveiling of a tablet to the memory of the soldiers of the
war of 1812, on the main building of the University of
Vermont, in Burlington. This building was used as a bar¬
racks for troops in the second war against Great Britain.

Probably the lumber industry is the oldest on Lake
Champlain, some of the earliest settlers having been en-

' I r • / kt b nolutmpQ

-

292

History of Lake Champlain

gaged in transporting timber to Canada. About 1855 a
large amount of lumber began to be shipped from Canada
to Burlington, the quantity increasing until in 1878 it
reached a total of more than 200.000,000 feet that year.
At this time Burlington was considered the third lumber
market in the United States, Chicago being first and
Albany second. Since then the lumber business on Lake
Champlain has decreased in volume.

For nearly a century the working of the iron ore de¬
posits of Essex County, N. Y., has been one of the impor¬
tant industries of the Champlain valley. The opening of
the Champlain Canal stimulated the trade and in 1S27 the
first blast furnace was built at Port Henry. According to
Hon. F. S. Witherbee there had been built at Port Henry
by 1865 “eight blast furnaces, at least twenty forges and
three rolling mills and two foundries. Iron ore was being
shipped in large quantities to the blast furnaces elsewhere
in the state, and even to Pittsburgh. In fact, Lake Cham¬
plain ores were used in Pittsburgh before those of Lake
Superior.”

The military post at Plattsbuig was established in 1815.
It was maintained with accommodations for two companies
until 1890, when it was converted into a full regimental
post.

In June, 1826, it was decided by the United States gov¬
ernment to establish an arsenal at Vergennes, and in 1827
the principal buildings were completed. There were offi¬
cers’ quarters, a magazine, a gun house, a laboratory and
shops at this place. The arsenal building was three stories
in height and was constructed of stone. Later this prop¬
erty was sold and the arsenal was abandoned, the buildings
being turned over to the State of Vermont for an Industrial
School.

; jH Oj

.

History of Lake Champlain

293

Through the efforts of Senator Proctor, of Vermont,
formerly secretary of war, Congress passed a bill to
establish a cavalry post in the town of Colchester, between
the villages of Winooski and Essex Junction, and not far
from Burlington. This reservation was called Fort Ethan
Allen, the construction of the first building being begun
in May, 1893.

Burlington became a city in 1895 and Plattsburg, in
1902, these two ports being the most populous and impor¬
tant on the lake. The extension of the main line of the
Delaware and Hudson Railroad from Whitehall to Platts¬
burg in 1874 added to the importance of this lake town.
In 1890 the Plattsburg State Normal School was opened,
and in 1895 the Catholic Summer School of America held
its first session at Cliff Haven, N. Y., near Plattsburg.

St. Albans became a city in 1897.

The Champlain valley is growing rapidly in popularity
with summer tourists. With natural advantages unsur¬
passed by any region, it should become one of the great
summer playgrounds of America. The first large summer
hotel to be erected on Lake Champlain, at Bluff Point,
N. Y., was built in 1889.

While it is a difficult matter to include in any com¬
pilation all the names of famous men who have been asso¬
ciated with the history of Lake Champlain, such a list
must include Samuel Champlain, Father Jogues, Governor
de Courcellcs, Marquis de Tracy, Arendt Van Corlear,
Gen. John Winthrop, M. de Beaujeu, M. de Contrecoeur,
Baron Dieskau, General Montcalm, General de Levis,
General de Bourlamaque, General Bougainville, Gen. Wil¬
liam Johnson, General Webb, Gen. James Abercrombie,
Gen. Jeffrey Amherst, Lord Howe. Gen. Piiineas Lyman,
Col. Ephraim Williams, Thomas Gage, John Stark, Israel
Putnam, Capt. Charles Lee, Ethan Allen, Ira Allen, Re-

.

III • I 1 . " u

294

History of Lake Champlain

member Baker, Samuel Herrick, Seth Warner, Ebenezer
Allen, Gov. Thomas Chittenden, Benedict Arnold, Silas
Deane, Gen. David Wooster, Gen. Henry Knox, Maj.
John Andre, Gen. Philip Schuyler, Gen. Richard Mont¬
gomery, Gen. John Sullivan, Gen. Horatio Gates, Robert
R. Livingston, Robert Treat Paine, Benjamin Franklin,
Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Gen. Anthony Wayne,
Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, Capt.
Thomas Pringle, Sir Guy Carleton, Gen. John Burgoyne,
General Phillips, General Fraser, Lord Balcarras, General
von Reidesel, Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, Marquis de Lafa¬
yette, Gov. George Clinton, Col. Zebulon Pike, Capt.
Thomas Macdonough, Capt. George Downie, Gen. James
Wilkinson, Gen. Wade Hampton, Gen. Alexander Ma¬
comb, Maj. John E. Wool, and Sir George Prevost.

For two centuries Lake Champlain was chiefly the
scene of warfare. For the past century its history has
been principally a record of commerce and recreation. Its
story of three hundred years, written often in letters of
blood, has been one of patriotic achievements and thrilling
adventures, second to that of no portion of the continent
of North America.

As lovely today as when it first gladdened the sight of
the great French explorer, through all the four seasons
Lake Champlain presents an ever-changing panorama for
the delight of all who, having eyes, are able to see Nature
in her fairest moods. When, to the charm of natural
beauty, is added a knowledge of the notable events that
have played an important part in the history of three great
nations, the past and the present unite in giving to the
Champlain valley a place unique in the Western World.

■J. nr.I

■ '

GONDOLA '•PHILADELPHIA" SUNK IN BATTLE AT VALCOUR IN 1775 AND RAISED IN '
THE MAST WAS STILL STANDING AFTER HAVING BEEN SUBMERGED 160 YEARS.

CHAPTER XVII

RECOVERY OF THE PHILADELPHIA AND

ROYAL SAVAGE

’HE Philadelphia, one of the smaller of Benedict
. Arnold’s ships, was sunk October 11, 1776, a short
distance south of Yalcour Island, in an unsuccessful
engagement of Arnold's fleet with a superior British force.
It was refloated August 9, 1935, after a submergence of
more than one hundred and fifty-eight years. The re¬
floating was a notable engineering feat, which added a
striking chapter to the history of Lake Champlain and
also of the Revolutionary period of our national life. A
tradition grew up in time that the vessel was raised soon
after the disaster, but this was quite improbable, however,
owing to the inadequacy of the mechanical equipment
available at the time and place. The ship was built at
Skenesborough, now Whitehall, X. Y., by ship carpenters
imported from New England seaport towns.

Recent interest in locating and salvaging the vessel
originated with two New Yorkers, Commodore J. Rup-
pert Schalk and Capt. L. F. Hagglund. The former had
sailed the lake in his yacht, the Linwood, for ten summers
and had become strongly enamored of its scenic beauty and
deeply interested in its historic associations. Both of
these gentlemen are students of Colonial history, espe¬
cially of the Revolutionary period, and Captain Hagglund
has done valuable research work relating to naval war¬
fare on the lake, especially of Arnold’s battle. He is
associated with one of the foremost of America’s marine
salvage organizations, and has been engaged in work of
this sort since his return from overseas in France.

'

[ . >Gff

296

History of Lake Champlain

This interest in the possibility of locating and refloating
of the Philadelphia was stimulated by the success of Cap¬
tain Hagglund’s efforts in the summer of 1934 to recover
the unburnt parts of the Royal Savage , Benedict Arnold’s
flagship. A very interesting and full account of this feat
was written by Mr. Robert G. Skerrett and published in
the United States Naval Institute Proceedings, November,
1935, from which some quotations are made later.

When Mr. Hagglund was in training for a commission
at Plattsburg in 1917 many stories about the Royal Savage
reached his ears from the residents. It was reported that
up to the middle of the nineteenth century and later that
the upper timbers of the schooner were visible in times
of low water, that relic hunters ravaged the exposed parts,
and that boatmen and fishermen were accustomed to take
sightseers to look at the visible parts. The resolve to
make an attempt at reclamation quickly formed itself in
his mind, should the opportunity olTer. In 1929 he took
the matter of recovery up with the federal and state authori¬
ties, but they were unable to provide funds for the work.
In 1932 he returned during his summer vacation with the
intention of carrying out his purpose alone. He found it a
difficult task. Accumulations of silt had either buried the
framework or made the upper timbers hard to recognize.
Assistance from the locality proved to be of little avail,
amounting to no more than a clue that the desired spot was
somewhere off the southwest corner of Valcour Island. He
proceeded to explore this area, and received the first intima¬
tions that the object was not far away, by finding some
cannon balls, bar-shot, grapeshot, and other objects of a
similar sort. “On the very last day of his vacation * * * he
rowed himself out and over the entire area and to scan the
lake bottom systematically. At the end of several hours of
that patient scrutiny, his eyes caught the dim outlines of

IGrir KX>TI es'/i 11 .

History of Lake Champlain

29 7

the ribs and timbers of a vessel lying just outside of the
area he had walked upon in his diving dress. The Royal
Savage was found! The position was approximately 150
feet offshore from the southwest tip of Valcour Island,
and the water at the uppermost end of the wreck was less
than twenty feet in depth. He could do no more that
season than to take cross ranges that would enable him at
some other time to go directly to the wreck and then try
to raise it.”

In the summer of 1934 Captain Hagglund returned to
the scene of his operations two years before, now
equipped with the necessary mechanical appliances to
recover what was left of the Royal Savage. He established
a camp on Valcour Island, trained local help to operate the
pumps and to perform other services required by a diver.
Her timbers were about sixteen feet under water and her
stern partly buried in about four feet of mud, about
twenty-four feet beneath the surface. He now made a
thorough search inside and outside of her to establish her
real identity. He was rewarded by recovering pewter
buttons bearing regimental symbols of troops known to
have been at Crown Point and Ticonderoga in the year of
Arnold's naval service; a number of pewter spoons, on
one of which w*as engraved “1776”; a variety of metal
adornments and parts of military accoutrement, and cannon
balls of sizes corresponding to the calibers of the guns
aboard the Royal Savage.

Having cleared away the mud the surviving framework
was lifted and brought to the surface by clever use of
empty drums found not far away, which had contained tar
for road construction. These provided the necessary buoy¬
ancy. In this way the wreck was brought to the surface
and towred shoreward.

■

I

i9il bns sv/ i9bnt> tss^ i»3iwa tuodc > eisdinti sR

* , ,r- Ip# • 1,1 • * *

^ a’WotnA

298

History of Lake Champlain

The framework was found to he 52 feet long and had a
beam of about 15 feet. It was estimated that the schooner
probably had a water line of 60 feet.

“Captain Hagglund carefully marked each piece of
timber, dismembered the wreck and saw them safely
aboard * * * to storage in the vicinity of New York City.
There all that is left of the Royal Savage reposes awaiting
appropriate housing.”

During the winter and spring of 1935 Messrs. Schalk
and Hagglund collaborated in an intensive study of
Arnold’s naval battle, sparing neither labor nor expense in
gaining access to all available authoritative sources of
information, especially maps of the locality published in
London four months after the battle from sketches made
by a British officer who was with the Royal fleet.

Having outlined an area within which the vessel was
most probably located, Messrs. Schalk and Hagglund,
with the help of a corps of assistants, including an expert
diver, William Lilja of New York, on board the Linwood,
began to drag the selected area some distance from the
west shore of Yalcour Island. This was August 1, 1935.
Late in the afternoon the drag caught and the boat stopped
as if anchored. This was encouraging and aroused hopes,
but it was not decisive, for the obstruction might be a
protruding rock or, possibly, a fisherman’s shanty which
some time had come to grief. It was now growing dark
and the men were growing tired. The spot was marked
with a buoy and operations suspended for the day.

The next morning the diver went down to examine the
object. His first report was that it was a fisherman’s
shanty. Later he made a second descent and brought back
the good news that the object was a naval craft, in proof
of which he exhibited some cannon balls picked up on
deck. He also reported the discovery of three cannons,

■

;RV «**> ■ ) rbirf’- ' i-itbiv/ i n i JO y«* Hj|j|

M T a 0 *.

'

A History of Lake Champlain

299

which were afterwards found to measure twelve feet in
length and twelve inches in diameter at the mouth.

Plans w’ere now made for refloating the ship. The
diver at once proceeded to make the necessary underwater
preparations for the lift. A derrick strong enough to
carry the load was generously provided at nominal cost
by the Cashman Construction Company, Burlington, and
brought into position for action by a tugboat of the
Champlain Transportation Company. This was August
9. A graphic and detailed account of the steps in the
preparation of the ship and the subsequent operations of
refloating appeared in the Burlington (Vt.) Daily News
of August 10, substantially as follows:

“William Lilja, a noted deep sea diver, employed for
the exploration, had prepared the Philadelphia for removal
from its watery grave. He had removed the three guns,
and left them on the lake bottom. He had already raised
aboard the Linwood some cannon balls and other relics
of the battle. Using a high-pressure water jet sixty feet
beneath the surface of the lake, Lilja had cut three holes
through the sands beneath the Philadelphia. He had run
rope slings through each of the holes, placed them amid-
ship, near the bow and near the stern. The ends of these
slings he had brought to the surface and fastened to logs,
extending crossways of the ship, across the gunwales, to
act as spreaders, lest the water-soaked ship be crushed
in an attempt to lift it. From the hook beneath the pulley
suspended from the derrick on the lighter by steel cables
dangled a twenty-five -foot chain. Six loops of rope were
suspended from the lower end of the chain.

“In the early afternoon Lilja donned his diving suit
and descended to the bottom of the lake. He fastened
the ends of the six rope loops near the six ends of the
three log spreaders and returned to the surface to give

4 ‘ l)

300 History of Lake Champlain

some instructions to the crew of the lighter. Again
descending to the bottom of the lake, Lilja signalled, by
means of his rope, to tighten the slack in the derrick line.
He continued his signal until a slight strain was on the line
and the huge lighter took on a list. Then the signal from
Lilja came to ‘hold it/ The diver soon came to the sur¬
face.

“He explained to the scores of spectators that he had
just cleared the mud from the bottom of the ship by means
of a powerful water jet and was holding the Philadelphia
by the derrick under a strain that it might slowly ease
itself free of the muddy bottom. This method, the diver
said, would be less likely to break the craft than a sudden
pull.

“Again descending, the diver signalled for a further
raising. He soon returned to the surface and brought
a line which he said was attached to the bow and which
he ordered a seaman to hold taut that the ship might be
raised parallel to the side of the lighter and to keep it
from turning. Having fully satisfied himself that all was
well with the lines beneath the surface, the diver told
Schalk to go ahead slowly. He then removed his suit.
Schalk signalled to the derrick operator and again the
steel cables slid through the pulleys of the derrick. It
was 2.30 o’clock when one of the two score of spectators
and workers on the lighter shouted, ‘There is the mast,’
and a few seconds later its tip broke through the surface
of the lake, as cheers resounded from the throats of pas¬
sengers, in the thirty-six assorted pleasure craft, who were
watching the salvage operations.

“When the boat had been lifted so that some six feet ol
the mast was exposed Captain Hagglund halted the pro¬
gress of the raising. He sent a member of the Limvood’s

o o

crew to nail a Colonial flag to its tip. The lad plunged into

, : l, WU-TOq bo; ,;.l

History of Lake Champlain

301

the lake and attempted to climb the mast, but it proved too
slippery to mount. A long plank was extended from the
side of the lighter and the seaman climbed up to the plank
and was then given the flag, which he nailed to the topmost
part of the mast amid the cheers of the spectators. Also
to the amazement of some persons who wondered why
the Stars and Stripes were not used, Schalk explained
that the flag used was the Colonial flag, like that flown by
Arnold’s fleet and that although it had thirteen stripes,
the stars were not adopted until years later.

“Hagglund explained that the obtaining of a flag for this
purpose was only one of the many difficulties encountered
in gathering together the equipment for finding and rais¬
ing the ship. After efforts to obtain a Colonial flag had
failed, Mrs. Hagglund and a friend made it themselves.

“With all hands carefully watching, lest some line be
fouled or something go wrong, the raising was resumed
and soon the hand-hewed bow appeared at the surface and
the operation was continued until the fore part of the
ship was awash with the stern lying some eight feet lower.

“Again the operations were stopped while Stephen M.
Driscoll, collector of customs, of St. Albans, megaphoned
for a minute of silent prayer. Next three volleys were
fired, also in honor of the fallen Revolutionary War
heroes. The solemn formality completed, the whistles and
horns blared forth in exuberance over the difficult feat
successfully accomplished. Then Commodore Schalk was
introduced by megaphone, as was Captain Hagglund, to
receive a burst of applause and other acknowledgments
from the nearby crafts.

“When shallow water was reached and the ship was
allowed to rest on the sand, interest centered in its physi¬
cal condition after such long submergence, and equally
in its varied contents.

• >'-nz ;

r. _ ' '

■ V'“

302

History of Lake Champlain

“Its state of preservation was marvellous, which Cap*
tain Hagglund, an experienced observer of underwater
effects on various materials, attributed to the fact that the
submergence was in fresh water. In his opinion deteriora¬
tion would have proceeded much further in salt water.

“Measurements were made and the vessel was found to
be 54 feet long and 15- foot beam. The mast was 35 feet.

“Still fastened to the deck were two wooden rails about
three by four inches in size, which evidently were tracks
for the gun carriage. Rings bolted into the sides of the
ship were a few feet from the bow, probably used for
tackle in running the gun back into position after the re¬
coil. Also close bv the rings were holes with their iron
lining rusted, but still in place. These might have been
used in the gun tackle or for anchor ropes.

“Fastened along each side of the boat, a little over a
foot below the gunwale were wooden rails, about four by
six inches in size, with holes partially carved for the car¬
rying of a dozen of cannon balls each. Only one shot
remained.

“Three holes beneath the water line were held to have
been ample cause for the sinking of the ship. The vessel
was planked inside and outside of the ribs. One cannon
ball was found between the two plankings.”

Great interest was aroused by the unexpected assort¬
ment of objects found on board. Three cannons and some
cannon balls have already been referred to. In addition
there were found human bones, teeth with no cavities,
pieces of leather shoes still soft and pliable, glass sections
and the wooden frame of an hour glass, wooden ramrods
with brass clips attached, parts of the ship’s rigging, a
spade with much of the wooden handle intact, hatchet
heads, pewter coat buttons with regimental numbers 26
and 40 and other relics of historic interest. When cleaning

History of Lake Champlain

303

out the mud from the bottom each shovelful was carefully
washed and screened to make sure that nothing of value
was lost. At the bottom was found a layer of cobble¬
stones, evidently used as ballast.

The souvenir hunter was there and had to be watched.
In spite of the vigilance of the customs patrol and crew
of the Linwood a pin used to hold a cannon in place was
missing. Suddenly a command was given by a customs
officer that if the missing article was not returned, every¬
body on the lighter and other nearby craft would be
searched. A few moments of suspense followed — then,
unnoticed, some person produced the pin.

After the completion of the examination of the ship
and its contents, preparations were made for towing it to
Burlington harbor and thence to Shelburne Harbor. It
was lashed to the Cashman lighter, the derrick of which
kept it afloat. Upon reaching its destination it was
removed from the water on the marine railway of the
Champlain Transportation Company. It was then fenced
in and roofed to protect it from pillagers.

Its final destination is as yet undetermined. It is said
to be the desire of Commodore Schalk and Captain Hagg-
lund that this precious relic shall remain in the Champlain
valley and preferably become the property of the Fleming
Museum of the University of Vermont. Should the
necessary funds be obtained a suitable building would be
provided near the museum. At the present time the
Philadelphia, housed on a barge, is on a tour of lake ports
in an effort to arouse sufficient interest to provide for its
permanent preservation.

'

.

.

fl> 111 , . ■ • fl*;I

CHAPTER XVIII

CHAMPLAIN BRIDGES

«*>

p AKE CHAMPLAIN has been an inconvenient and
I ^ costly barrier between what are now the States of
New York and Vermont since the earliest settlements
in -these regions. But while the lake has operated as a bar¬
rier to free intercourse between the States, it has also pro¬
vided an important route for water borne commerce, an
account of which will be found in Chapter XV. Until
1929 ferries had been practically the only means of travel
across the lake.

The inadequacy of the ferry service became increasingly
felt with the rapid growth of tourist travel, the multiplica¬
tion of summer resorts on both shores, the increasing
volume of commercial traffic, and the advent of motor
cars. The ferries operate not more than eight months in
the year, sometimes not more than six. Only few provide
night service. The long intervals between trips are often
inconvenient and sometimes costly.

Popular interest in providing more adequate facilities
for crossing the lake found definite expression when, in
1923, the Vermont legislature appointed an investigating
commission, which was reappointed in 1925. That same
year the New York general assembly appointed a commis¬
sion to examine the matter from the standpoint of that
State. Numerous joint meetings of these commissions
were held during the next two or three years, with the
result that now one bridge is in use and two others are
under construction.

.

■

.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN BRIDGE. CROWN POINT. N. Y. TO CHIMNEY POINT.

-

History of Lake Champlain

305

I. THE CHAMPLAIN BRIDGE

On August 26, 1929, the first vehicular bridge to span
Lake Champlain was dedicated and opened to the public,
with appropriate ceremonies, in which Gov. Franklin D.
Roosevelt of New York and Gov. John E. Weeks of Ver¬
mont participated. Such was the popular interest in this
interstate achievement that the occasion attracted, by con-
servative estimate, 40,000 people.

The bridge connects Fort St. Frederic in New York and
Chimney Point in Vermont, two points famous for scenic
beauty and historic interest. The Vermont end is the site
of the largest French settlement on the east shore of the
lake. The original block walls of Fortress Depieux are
still standing and are now enclosed by a thick veneer of
brick taken from Fort St. Frederic. In Revolutionary
times this was a tavern and a favorite rendezvous of Ethan
Allen and his Green Mountain boys, where plans for the
capture of Ticonderoga were discussed and matured. It
is now the residence of Millard F. Barnes, who has a large
and interesting collection of relics from Revolutionary and
pre-Revolutionary days. On the New York side there
still stand the remains of the old French Fort St. Frederic,
the building of which was begun in 1731 as a simple
stockade and later developed into a fortress of great
strength. Only about 200 yards to the west are the ruins
of the British Fort Amherst, begun in 1759 at enormous
expense but never finished.

The length of the bridge is 2,900 feet, 1,500 feet being
over water. The overall width is 32 feet, 24 feet being
roadway between curbs. On both sides there is a walk for
pedestrian use. The channel span is about 90 feet above
lake level, affording clearance for navigation purposes
equal to that prescribed for bridge structures on the Great

•• •

'

306

History of Lake Champlain

Lakes. To secure this clearance it was necessary for each
approach to the middle span to have a gradient of five and
a half per cent. The principal piers rest on bed rock at a
depth of about 100 feet. The roadway, except the middle
span, is on top of the supporting steel structure, affording
to the motorist an unobstructed view of Vermont and New
York scenery for many miles around.

The cost of the bridge was approximately a million
dollars, of which New York paid 60 per cent and Vermont
40 per cent. It is to be a toll bridge until all financial obliga¬
tions have been met, after which it becomes free to the
public. It is. estimated this will take twenty years, from
date of dedication.

II. ROUSES FOINT-ALBURG BRIDGE

A second bridge, in process of construction, connects
Rouses Point, New York, with Alburg, Vermont, some¬
what less than a mile below the Canadian border. Its length
from shore line to shore line is a little over a mile, 1,784
feet being over water. The maximum depth for the stand¬
ard low water of the lake to the hard bottom supporting
the tips of the foundation piles is 55 feet. For purposes
of navigation the bridge has a swing draw span with an
overall length of 320 feet. The vertical clearance at the
draw span, with the draw closed, is 22 feet 6 inches at
low water in the lake, and in the side spans varies to 11
feet. This clearance at the draw span permits Barge Canal
traffic to pass under the bridge at practically any water
level without the necessity of opening the span, which will
take care of the greater portion of water borne traffic. The
horizontal clearance when the span is open is 125 feet.
The draw span provides a fender pier 330 feet long, to
which boats may be tied for Customs inspection. This

••

'

•<->' * • ' 1 ' r 1 i* ,4 1

" J I

History of Lake Cham plant

307

avoids the inconvenience of entering the dock at Rouses
Point, a shoal making entrance somewhat difficult. The
greatest depth under the bridge is about 20 feet at standard
low water.

Much of the stone used in this bridge was taken from
the nearby Fort Montgomery. The cost of the bridge is
estimated at $805,000, 45 per cent of which is a gift from
the Federal government, the balance being borne jointly by
New York and Vermont. It is to be a toll bridge until the
revenues have become sufficient to provide for costs of
construction and maintenance, after which it is to be a free
highway. Being an interstate project it is managed jointly
by the States of New York and Vermont. The construc¬
tion will be completed in the spring of 1937.

III. SWANTON-ALBURG BRIDGE

third bridge, now under construction, to cross that
part of the lake known as Missisquoi Bay, will connect
East Alburg and West S wanton, seven miles west of
Swanton village. This together with the Rouses Point-
Alburg bridge will reduce the travelling distance from
Swanton to Rouses Point to fourteen miles. The present
distance by way of Canada is forty miles and by way of
Sandbar bridge seventy miles. This circumstance did
much to stimulate interest in the bridge project.

The total length from shore line to shore line, including
earthwork approaches, is 4,290 feet, 558 feet being over
water. The pier foundations vary from twenty to forty
feet under water. At the draw span there is a horizontal
clearance of 45 feet, and under all spans at low water a
vertical clearance of about 18 feet, which offers a free
course to the greater part of commercial traffic without
the inconvenience of opening the draw span. The width is

9 | • T. i. !.•: r. ir

1

308

History of Lake Champlain

26 feet, with an 18 foot roadway, flanked on either side
by walks for pedestrian use.

This is wholly a Vermont project. The estimated cost
is $514,000, the Federal government providing 40 per cent
of the sum. Bonds sold to the public to the amount of
$200,000 at four per cent and a second mortgage taken
by the State provided the balance. It is to be a toll bridge,
but it is expected that in twenty years it will become a free
bridge. The date of opening is the summer of 1937.

I N D

E

X

ABENAKIS, 63, 81, 180.

Abercrombie, 69, 71, 73, 75, 79, 87. 179, 184, 291.

Acland, Maj. John Dyke, 178, 188.

Addison, 37, 47.

Addison county, 207, 228.

Albany, N. Y., 21, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 37, 52. 53, 55, 58, 74, 92, 98, 99,
102, 117, 124, 136, 150, 160, 161, 173, 175, 179, 196, 200, 261, 262,
264, 266, 292.

Alburgh, 36, 46, 205, 274, 278, 281, 306, 307.

Algonquins, 3, 10, 12, 24, 25, 31, 180.

Allen, Capt. Ebenezer, 194, 197, 202, 294.

Allen, Eth*m, 93, 95, 97. 101, 102, 103, 105, 107, 109, 110, 111, 113,
114, 115, 117, 118, 120, 121, 123, 124, 125, 128, 132, 133, 138, 139,
140, 147, 148, 187, 203, 206, 293. 305.

Allen, Ira, 95, 97, 110, 114, 120, 125, 190, 206, 293.

Amherst, Fort, 80, 147.

Amherst, Gen., 68, 77, 78-85, 87, 91, 108, 293.

Andre John, 136, 149, 294.

Appletree Point, 281.

Arnold, Benedict, 101, 107, 108, 110, 116-121, 123-133, 136, 138, 142,
148-152, 160-169, 171-173, 185, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299.
Ausable River, 1.

Baker, remember, 95, 116, 125, 144, 145, 294.

Balcarras, Lord, 178, 188, 294.

Bancroft, 54, 58, 68, 153.

Basin Harbor, 211.

Battery Park, 210, 215. 234.

Beach, Gershom, 105.

Bearne, 63, 70, 72.

Bedel, Col., 146.

Beekmantown, N. Y, 204, 237, 249.

Beeman, Nathan, 111.

Bennington, 101-103, 105, 188. 190, 195, 197, 198, 206.
Benson, 109, 207.

Black Watch, 72.

Bloomfield, Gen. Joseph, 210.

Bluff Point, 291.

Boquet River, 1, 39, 89, 161, 167, 180, 197, 230.

Boston, 16, 30, 34. 100, 116, .136-138, 155, 215, 217, 227, 230.
Bougainville, 59, 62, 66, 77, 85, 293.

Braddock, Gen., 39. 51, 52, 68.

Bradstreet, John, 61, 71, 75.

Brandon, 1 05, 201.

Bridges, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308.

Bridport, 37, 93, 94, 109, 201, 205, 261.

■

310

History of Lake Champlain

British, 16, 17, 30, 33, 34, 36, 53-60, 63-71, 73-76, 78, 80-86, 89, 100,
105, 107, 113-116, 118-120, 127, 137, 139, 145, 147. 148, 150-152,
162-170, 172-180, 182, 184-195. 197, 199, 200, 201, 203, 204, 205,
213, 214, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 226-232, 234, 238-243, 245, 247,
249, 250, 252, 254, 256, 271.

Brown, John, 99-101, 115, 141, 143.

Brown, John (Anti-Slavery Leader), 287.

Bruyas, Father, 26.

Bull, Epaphras, 101, 103, 113.

Burgoyne, Gen., 74, 152, 177, 179, 180, 183, 184, 188-193, 195, 250,
251 294.

Burlington, 29, 38, 39, 96, 205, 209-212, 215-222, 223, 228, 229, 234,
252, 254, 255, 258-264, 268, 270, 271, 274, 275, 276, 279, 280, 281,
286, 290, 299, 303.

Burr, Aaron, 149.

/^ALD WELL’S UPPER MANOR, 36.

Callender, Amos, 94, 110, 117.

Camel’s Hump, 11.

Canada, 1, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 42, 50, 51,
62, 75-78, 81, 85-89, 96, 99, 117, 130, 131, 133, 138, 139, 142, 150,
152, 153, 154, 157, 170, 177, 193, 197, 199, 201, 209, 219, 226, 235,
267, 269, 292, 307.

Carignan, 20, 23, 24, 26.

Carleton, Gov., 117, 133, 135, 139, 142, 148, 163, 164, 167, 169, 170,
171, 173, 174, 177, 193, 202, 294.

Carrillon, 54, 59, 60-64, 67, 69, 73, 74, 76, 77, 79.

Carroll, Charles, 150, 294.

Carroll, John, 150.

Cartier, Jacques, 86.

Cashman Construction Companv, 299.

Cassin, Fort, 228, 229, 270.

Castleton, 95, 103. 105, 107, 108, 117, 121, 159, 188, 189, 192, 201.

Chambly, 2, 7, 8, 32, 33, 39, 84, 119, 143, 148, 152, 160, 235.

Chambly Dasin, 3, 7, 267.

Chambly Canal, 2, 267.

Chambly, M. de, 20, 24, 26.

Chambly Rapids, 3, 4, 5.

Champlain Canal, 2, 265, 266, 267, 292.

Champlain, Samuel de, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19,
22, 30, 85, 130, 293.

Champlain, town of, 39, 204. 210, 221, 222, 226, 227, 234, 235. 249.

Champlain Transportation Company, 2, 269, 270, 272, 273, 274, 275,
276, 277, 280, 2S4, 299, 303.

Chandler, Gen. John, 210, 211.

Charlevoix, 22, 35.

Charlotte, 91, 206, 261, 268.

Charlotte County, 87, 12o.

Chateaugay, 204, 221, 226.

Chazy River, Big, 1, 39, 84, 221.

1

.

'

History of Lake Champlain

311

Chazy River, Little, 1, 240.

Chazy, M. de, 20, 26.

Chazy, N. Y., 89, 204, 210, 217, 221, 227, 235, 236, 249, 261.

Chimney Point, 41, 47, 87, 92, 305.

Chittenden County, 207, 228.

Chittenden, Gov. Martin, 223, 224, 225, 228, 268, 269.

Chittenden, Gov. Thomas, 96, 210, 250, 294.

Churchill, Lieut. Sylvester, 215, 218.

Clarendon, 199.

Clark, Isaac, 71, 209, 214, 215, 216, 221, 222, 226.

Clinton County, 204, 237.

Clinton, Gov., 202, 203.

Colchester, 39, 95, 206, 293.

Colchester Point, 206, 263, 281.

Congress, 99,* 101, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 120, 122, 124, 125, 126,

127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 133, 134, 135, 138, 139, 140, 141, 146,

147, 148, 150, 152, 159, 160, 174, 177, 190, 203, 238, 251, 293.

Connecticut, 32, 53, 56, 72, 78, 92, 94, 95, 96, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105,
107, 111, 113, 116, 118, 122, 123, 125, 126, 128, 130, 132, 133,

140, 141, 142, 162, 190, 206, 212, 251, 254, 257.

Connecticut River, 16, 34, 81, 82, 83, 97, 108, 132, 286.

Corlaer, Arendt, 2, 21, 28, 293.

Corlaer, Lake, 2.

Cornwall, 37, 91.

Crab Island, 239, 247, 248, 250.

Crown Point, 15, 31, 32, 33, 35, 41, 42, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 54. 61, 68,
78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 87, 89, 91, 93, 97, 98, 100, 101, 105, 107,

116, 118, 119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 126, 128, 129, 131, 132, 138,

141, 142, 143, 145, 147, 151, 153, 154, 159, 160, 161, 162, 167,

168, 169, 170, 181, 188, 189, 202, 203, 204, 274, 282, 297.

Cumberland County, 98.

Cumberland Head,' 89, 162, 179, 217, 221, 222, 234, 235, 242, 247,
24S, 251, 281.

Darling, Charles h, 211, 231, 2 32, 243.

Deane, Silas, 101, 123, 294.

Dearborn, Gen. Henry, 212, 213, 214.

De Beauharnois, Marquis, 35, 40.

De Bourlarnaque, 59, 70, 72, 73, 77, 79, 80, 293.

De Casson, Father, 26.

De Courcelles, 20, 21. 22, 23, 24, 293.

Defiance, Mt., 74, 176, 184, 194.

De Fredenburgh, Charles, 90, 204.

Delaplace, Capt., 104, 112, 113, 115, 121.

De Levis, 59, 63, 65, 66, 71, 72, 293.

De Lotbiniere, 37.

De Rouville, 34.

De Tracy, Marquis, 22, 23, 24, 26.

De Warm, 32, 33.

Dewey, Capt. Elijah, 190.

'

’

312

History of Lake Champlain

Diamond Island, 195.

Dickens, Charles, 271.

Dieskau. Gen., 51, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 293.

Dorr, Mrs. Julia C. R., 106.

Douglass, Capt. Charles, 107, 109, 110, 160, 170, 171.
Downie, Capt., 240, 241, 243, 244, 245, 246, 248, 252, 294.
Driscoll, Stephen M., 301.

Duer, Judge, 126, 127.

Duquesne, 39, 50, 51, 68.

Dutchman’s Point, 203.

East creek, 176, 184.

Easton, James, 102, 109, 110, 112, 125, 141, 144.
Eldridge, Lemuel B., 2S7.

Elizabethtown, 204, 279.

Essex County, N. Y., 204, 205, 206, 237, 292.

Essex Junction, Vt., 293.

Essex, N. Y., 1, 151, 204, 205, 229, 258, 260, 268, 276, 279.

T^AIRFAX, 39.

1 Fairfield, 39.

Fair Haven, 207.

Fay, John, 190.

Fay, Jonas, 141.

Ferris, Peter, 91, 151.

Ferrisburgh, 38, 91, 206.

Fiske, John, 58.

Fort Amherst, 303.

Fort Ann, 186, 192, 194, 202.

Fort Edward, 59, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 74, 105, 185, 1S6, 192, 193, 196,

202, 266.

Fort Ethan Allen, 293.

Fort William, 95, IS 1 .

Four Brothers Islands, 2, 175, 230.

Francis, Col., 186, 187, 188.

Franklin, Benj., 142, 150, 151, 294.

Franklin County, N. Y., 204.

Franklin County, Vt., 207, 208, 228.

Franklin, town of, 39.

Fraser, Gen. Simon, 178, 183, 187, 188, 196, 294.

Eremin, Father, 26.

French, 16, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 34. 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49,

50, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 63, 64, 65. 68, 69, 70, 72, 73,

74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 88, 205.

Gage, thomas, 52, 69. 116, 135. 200. 293.

Garden Island, 166.

Gates, Gen. Horatio, 52, 153, 155, 159, 160, 161, 169, 170, 175, 196,
294.

■

.

'

History of Lake Champlain

313

George, Fort, 117, 193, 202.

George III, King, 118, 119, 133, 196, 235.

George, Lake, 1, 11, 15, 27, 34, 35, 37, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61,
62, 63, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 78, 92, 100, 105, 129, 131, 132, 133,
136, 141, 142, 150, 155, 170, 173, 176, 179, 183, 184, 188, 192,
194, 195, 396, 202, 204, 205, 235.

Georgia, town of, 38, 39, 96, 206, 261, 279.

Germaine, Lord George, 189, 196.

Germans, 34, 178, 179, 187, 205.

Gilliland, William, 89, 90, 110, 139, 145, 151.

Gloucester Countv, 98.

Goodhue, 105, 115.

Grand Isle, 90, 163, 175, 205, 264, 277, 281.

Grand Isle County, 2, 8.

Grant, Ulysses S., 84, 188, 288.

Granville, N. Y., 191.

Green, John Kichard, 49, 50, 51, 86.

Green Mountain Boys, 87, 92, 93, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 103, 105, 109,
114, 123, 124, 125, 128, 140, 141, 144, 145, 148, 149, 150, 210, 303.
Green Mountains, 1, 2, 11, 34, 197, 201, 203.

Guienne, 63, 72.

HAGGLUND. CAPT. L. F., 295, 296, 297, 298, 300, 301, 302, 303.

Haldimand, Gen., 36, 203.

Halsey, 103, 113, 127, 142.

Hampton, 216, 217, 220. 221, 223. 226, 294.

Hancock, John, 102, 140, 146, 147, 226, 227.

Hand’s Cove, 106, 108, 109, 110, 113.

Harrison, Benj., 288.

Hartford, Conn., 126.

Haviland, S4, 85.

Hawley, Joseph, 134, 277, 280.

Hebencourt, 67. 79.

Hemenway’s Gazetteer, 47.

Hendrick, 55, 56, 58.

Henley, Robert, 240. 244, 252.

Henshaw, Joseph, 126.

Herrick, Samuel, 106, 117, 122, 126, 194, 201, 205, 213, 294.

Hessians, 178.

Hickok, Ezra, 103, 105, 113.

Highgate, 39, 97, 205, 280.

Highlanders, 41, 69, 72, 73.

Hinesburgh, 96.

Hinman, Col., 126, 127, 141, 142, 144.

Hinman’s “Connecticut,” 103.

Hocquart, Gillis, 37.

Hope, Mt„ 176, 183, 184, 187, 194.

Howe, Admiral, 196.

Howe, Gen. William, 179, 196.

Howe, Lord, 68, 71, 72, 74, 196, 293.

‘

• : ' '

.

History of Lake Chaw plain

!

314

Hubbardton, 186, 187, 191, 192, 194.

Hudson River, 2, 11, 16, 30, 41, 51, 53, 134, 136, 179, 192, 193, 196,
203, 261, 262, 265, 266, 267, 268, 287.

Hurons, 3, 12, 23, 24, 31.

INDEPENDENCE, MT, 94, 156, 170, 175, 176, 183, 184, 186,
1 194, 195, 197, 202.

Industrial School, Vergennes, 290.

Inniskilling Foot, 87.

Irish, 53.

Iroquois, 3, 5, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 27, 30, 31, 33,
34, 53, 75, 180.

Iroquois, Lake, 2.

Iroquois River, 7, 8.

Isle aux Noix, 77, 79, 80, 84, 85, 145, 146, 148, 153, 175, 213, 220,
226, 230, 240, 242, 262.

Isle aux Tetes, 213.

Isle La Motte, 2, 6, 7, 8, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 35, 39, 84,
145, 153, 161, 205, 240, 254, 281, 289.

Isle Longue, 39.

Izard, Gen, 223, 229, 231, 235.

TERICHO, 96.

J Jesuits, 18, 19, 27, 55.

Jogues, Father Isaac, 19, 55, 293.

Johnson, Sir John, 202.

Johnson, William, 51, 52, 53, 55, 57, 59, 62, 84, 193, 293.

Juniper Island, 2, 281.

KALM, PETER, 41, 42, 46, 47, 257.

Kerlidou, Father, 28.

Knox, Plenry, 135, 136, 291.

Kosciusko, Thaddeus, 175, 294.

T ACOLLE, 210, 226.

J-— i Lacolle River, 144.

La Corne St. Luc, 64, 178, 198.

Lafayette, Gen., 200, 287, 294.

La Maunadiere, 38, 39.

Lamoille River, 1, 90.

La Mothe, M. de., 28.

Langdon, J., 148.

Languedoc, 54, 63, 72.

Laprairie, 32, 33, 85.

La Reine, 54, 63, 67, 72, 79, 84.

Lawrence, Stephen. 206.

Lee, Charles. 73, 165, 293.

Lilja, William, 298, 299, 300.

Lincoln, Gen. Benj., 193, 195, 196, 294.

mi .«! jut .« i .iw ,ra ,e» .w .

.

I

History of Lake Champlain

315

f

Long, Col., 185.

Longueil, 148.

Loudoun, Earl of, 61, 62.
Louisbourg, 68, 113, 178.
Lyman, Fort, 53, 54, 55, 57, 59.
Lyman, Phineas, 53, 57, 58, 293.

MACDONOUGH, RODNEY, 211, 218, 230, 241, 254.

Macdonough, Thomas, 211, 212, 213, 214, 216, 217, 218, 219,

220, 221, 222, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 238, 240,

241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 247, 248, 251, 252, 254, 255, 256,

262, 294.

Macomb, Gen. Alexander, 223, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 235, 236,
237, 239, 241, 250, 252, 254, 294.

Madison, James, 209, 211.

Mahan, Capt. A. T., 163, 171, 172.

Mallett, 96.

Mallett’s Bay, 1, 38, 87.

Manchester, 188, 190, 193.

Mansfield, Mt., 11.

Maquam Bay, 219, 273, 277, 288.

Marin, Lieut., 63, 76.

Massachusetts, 16, 32, 51, 54, 71, 91, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109,

116, 117, 119, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 130, 131, 132,

133, 134, 136, 141, 159, 171, 174, 190, 193, 198, 206, 252.

Mattis, Dinah, 197.

McKinley, William, 288, 289.

Memphremagog, Lake, 83.

Middlebury, 37, 94, 105, 201.

Middle Hero, 205.

Milton, 17, 96, 206.

Missisquoi Bay, 1, 82, 143, 208, 222, 307.

Missisquoi Falls, 88.

Missisquoi River, 1, 88, 146, 219.

Mohawk River, 53, 59.

Mohawks, 3, 11, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 31, 32, 33, 55, 57, 58.

Monklon, 38, 227.

Monro, Col., 62, 64.

Monroe, James, 287.

Montagnais, 3, 12, 13.

Montcalm, Marquis, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75,

76, 78, 85, 293.

Montgomery, Fort, 255, 307.

Montgomery, Gen. Richard, 145, 146, 148, 149, 150, 153, 287, 294.
Montmagny, 19.

Montreal, 26, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 54, 62, 66, 85, 86, 90, 100, 118, 119,
134, 138, 139, 143, 144, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 214, 221, 263, 275,

279.

Montresor, Col., 78.
Montreuil, 58.

t

.

316

History of Lake Champlain

Mooers, Gen. Bcnj., 204, 237, 250, 254.

Moriah, N. Y., 205.

Mott, Edward, 101, 102, 106, 107, 108, 122, 126, 127.

Newbury, 82, 232.

New England, 16, 17, 34, 53, 59, 61, 68, 99, 100, 109, 111, 129,
130, 132, 134, 142, 160, 162, 179, 190, 191, 192, 209, 250,
295.

New Hampshire, 54, 58, 78, 81, 89, 91, 93, 95, 98, 131, 132, 146, 156,
159, 177, 185, 190, 191.

New Hampshire Grants, 93, 97, 100, 101, 102, 133, 140, 141, 159.
New Haven, Conn., 101, 128.

New Haven River, 286, 287.

New Haven, Yt., 37, 38, 95.

New Jersey, 68, 72, 159, 170.

New York, 1, 30, 32, 34, 41, 61, 68, 87, 91, 93, 97, 126, 130, 132, 134,
136, 139, 140, 142, 145, 155, 159, 162, 166, 173, 203, 204, 207, 209,
212, 216, 221, 228, 235, 237, 249, 250, 251, 254, 262, 265, 272, 287,
304, 305, 306, 307.

New York City, 58, 189, 196, 266, 268, 273, 274, 275, 277, 279, 287,
298.

North Hero, 2, 39, 163, 203, 205, 282.

Number Four, Fort, 81, 83.

ODELLTOWN, QUE., 221, 227, 234, 235.

Ohio, 50, 51, 58.

Oneidas, 23.

Onion River, 95.

Onion River Company, 95.

Ontario, Lake, 6, 52, 54, 61, 240.

Orwell, 94, 200, 206.

Oswego, 54, 61, 75, 84, 85.

Ottaouechee, 83.

Ottawa Indians, 180.

Ottawa River, 50.

Otter Creek, 1, 37, 60, 78, 81, 87, 90, 94, 95, 101, 106, 131, 200, 222,
227, 228, 229, 230, 265, 282.

PAINE, ROBERT TREAT, 148, 294.

Panton, 37, 38, 91, 151, 168, 173, 206, 228.
Parkman, 5, 58, 75.

Parsons, Samuel H., 101.

Pawlet, 191, 195, 204.

Pellen, Edward, 164, 166.

Pennsylvania. 159, 174.

Peru, 204.

Peta-pargow, 2.

Peta-wa-bouque, 2.

Phelps, Elisha, 122.

.

;

History of Lake Champlain

317

Phelps, Noah, 101, 102, 103, 104, 122, 215.

Philadelphia, 112, 115, 150, 155, 175.

Phillips, Gen., 178. 183, 279, 294.

Phillips, Wendell, 288.

Philipsburg, Que., 222.

Philo, 199/

Pierron, Father, 26, 27.

Pierson, Moses, 91, 145, 199, 200.

Pike, Col. Zebulon, 210, 294.

Pike's Peak, 210.

Pitt, William, 61, 68, 75, 77.

Pittsfield, Mass., 91, 99, 101, 102.

Pittsford, 105, 201.

Platt, Zepheniah, 204.

Plattsburgh, 51, 6S, 90, 204, 209, 210, 211, 213, 217, 219, 220, 221, 223,
225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 231, 232, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 243, 248,
250, 252, 254, 255, 258, 264, 269, 270, 275, 276, 277, 279, 280, 281,
287, 2S8, 292, 296,

Point au Fer, 46, 139, 153, 163, 175, 203.

Point au Roche, 277, 281.

Point aux Trembles, 148, 149.

Port Henrv, 292.

Port Kent, 167, 268, 279, 284.

Poultney River, 1.

Prevost, Sir George, 218, 236, 239, 248, 250, 251, 294.

Pring, Capt. Daniel, 217, 222, 229, 230, 240, 241, 246, 248.

Pringle, Capt. Thomas, 163, 164, 294.

Providence Island, 167, 229, 263.

Putnam, Israel, 54, 60, 76, 293.

Putnam, N. Y., 205.

Putnam’s Point, 170.

Q

UEBEC, 3, 4, 16, 17, 22, 23, 28, 32, 34, 35, 38. 39, 51, 54, 75, 78,
81, 85, 90, 129, 138, 139, 142, 143, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 160,
178, 179, 193, 214, 287.

R AIM B AULT, M., 38.

Reid, John. 95.

Reidesel, Gen., 178, 184, 187, 192, 196, 294.

Richelieu, Fort, 19, 20. 46.

Richelieu River, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 16, 20, 23, 30. 32. 77, SO, 144, 145, 148,
152, 153, 160, 195, 213, 220, 221, 231, 240, 262, 267.

Rigaud, 61, 62.

Robertson, James, 88.

Robinson. Col. Moses, 190, 236, 237, 248.

Rogers, Robert, 47, 48, 60, 67, 69, 70, 76, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84.

Romans, Bernard, 101, 102.

Roosevelt, 232, 241, 242, 248, 252, 288.

Roosevelt, Franklin D., 303.

Roquemaure, 84, 85.

'

318

History of Lake Champlain

Rouses Point, 8, 84, 204, 226, 229, 274, 275, 276, 277, 281, 306, 307.
Royal Americans, 69, 78.

Royal Roussilon, 63, 72, 84.

Rovalton, 203.

Rutland, 105, 159, 188, 191, 198, 201, 268, 275.

Rutland County, 207.

QACKETTS HARBOR, 210, 220, 230.

Saint Pierre, 55, 58.

Salisbury, 94.

Salisbury, Conn., 94, 95, 96, 102.

Salmon River, 1, 249.

Saranac, 1, 204.

Saranac River, 90, 236, 239, 242, 249.

Saratoga, 129, 171, 172, 275, 288.

Sawyer, Capt. Thomas, 199, 200, 252.

Schalk, Commodore J. Ruppert, 295, 298, 300, 301. 303.

Schuyler, Abram, 32.

Schuyler Island, 2, 161, 167.

Schuyler, John, 32, 33.

Schuvler, Maj. Peter, 33.

Schuyler, Gen. Philip, 32. 128, 135, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147,
148, 150, 152, 154, 155, 159, 174, 175, 186, 18S, 190, 192, 193, 196,
294.

Schuyler’s Falls, N. Y., 204.

Scotch, 41, 95.

Scribner’s Magazine, 171.

Shelburne, 90, 145, 199, 200, 206, 212, 218, 259, 265, 270, 273, 274, 277,
278, 279, 280, 303.

Sheldon, 39.

Sherman, James S., 271, 279.

Sherman. Richard W., 270, 271, 279.

Shirlev, Gov., 51, 52, 53, 59, 61.

Shoreham, 94, 105, 107, 108, 109, 110, 115, 117, 200, 206.

Skene, Andrew Philip, 117, 120.

Skene, Philip. 87, 88, 97. 98. 107, 109. 117, 191, 192.

Skenesborough, 87, 88, 97, 105, 107, 10S, 117, 118, 122, 155, 159, 160,
169, 185, 188, 189, 191, 192, 194, 295.

Skerrett, Robert G., 296.

Smith, Lieut. Sidney, 212, 213, 214, 220, 242, 26S.

Sorel, M. de, 20, 23, 24, 26.

Sorel, Que., 267.

South Bav, 55, 131, 185.

South Hero, 205, 229, 277, 280. 282.

Split Rock, 167, 168, 281, 282.

St. Albans, 39. 96. 205. 223, 265, 266, 270, 271, 274, 277. 283, 293, 301.
St. Albans Bay, 268, 2o9, 270.

St. Anne, Fort, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29.

Stark, Gen., 54, 60, 72, 200, 293.

’

>

History of Lake Champlain

319

i <

i

i k

St. Clair, Gen., 74, 156, 175, 176, 183, 184, 187, 188, 189, 190, 195, 294.
St. Francis Indians, 82, 83, 99.

St. Frederic, Fort, 35, 41, 42. 43. 46, 47, 50. 51, 305.

St. Johns, 2, 46, 60, 75, 77, 84, 85. 116, 118, 119, 120, 123, 127, 128,

136, 138, 142, 143, 144, 148, 152, 153, 160, 161, 163, 170, 175, 179,

. 202, 220, 226, 257, 258, 261, 263, 264. 265, 267, 270, 271. 275.

St. Lawrence River, 1, 2, 17, 51, 134, 148, 149, 163, 195, 200, 267.
Story, Ann, 94.

Strong, Gen.. 237, 252, 254.

St. Sacrement, Lake, 27, 28, 42, 55, 60.

St. Theresa, Fort, 20, 21.

St. Theresa, Island, 4, 7.

Sullivan, Gen., 125, 127, 152, 153, 154, 155, 294.

Sunderland, Peleg, 99, 100, 116.

Swanton 39, 89, 205, 208, 219, 280, 307.

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION, vi, 289.

I Thacher, Dr. James, 162, 185.

Thomas, Gen., 151, 152.

Thompson’s “Vermont,” 103.

Three Mile Point, 170.

Three Rivers 54.

Ticonderoga, 6, 15, 37, 54, 58, 59, 61, 69, 74, 76, 79, 97, 98, 100, 101,
102, 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120,

121, 122, 124, 125. 126, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134. 135, 136.

137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143. 145, 146, 147, 148, 150, 151, 154, 155,

158, 159, 160, 169, 170, 174. 175. 177, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188,

189, 190, 192, 194, 195, 196, 197, 201, 203, 205, 297, 305.

Tories, 138, 199, 202.

Trevelyan, Sir George Otto, 163, 172.

Trumbull, Gov., 116, 118, 122, 126, 130, 132, 140, 143, 154.

Twiss, Lieut., 184.

UNITED STATES, 1, 86, 114, 150, 173, 209, 210, 215, 216, 224,
239, 255, 256. 272, 281, 289, 290, 294.

University of Vermont, 206, 223, 301.

Upper Amtnonoosuc River, 83.

Utrecht, Treaty of, 35, 49, 50.

VALCOUR ISLAND, 2, 80, 90, 162, 163, 164, 167, 295, 296, 297,
298.

Van Buren, Martin, 271, 287.

Vandreuil, Gov., 34, 37, 51, 59, 61, 62, 75, 76, 77, 85.

Vermont, 1, 27, 29, 33. 38, 54, 81, .87. 88, 96, 98, 103, 115, 188, 191,

197, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 207, 209, 211, 215. 216. 219, 222. 223.

2 24. 225, 226, 228. 230. 235, 249, 250, 251. 254. 255, 264, 265, 269,

274. 277. 281. 287. 293. 304, 305, 306, 307, 308.

Vergennes, 38. 93, 222, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 262, 264, 265, 270. 279,
287, 288, 290.

Vineyard, 205.

■ .

.

, * a ;

320

History of Lake Champlain

WAIT, MAJ., 194 ,197, 205
Waltham, 37, 33.

Warner, Seth, 110, 113, 116, 125, 140, 145, 143, 149, 150, 162, 177, 187,
188, 193, 195, 201, 291.

Warren County, 250.

Warren, Joseph, 100, 116, 134.

Washington County, 204, 205, 207, 250.

Washington, George, 50, 52, 58, 135, 136, 137, 141, 144, 150, 154, 157,
159, 170, 174, 177, 189, 203, 259.

Waterbury, Gen., 162, 164, 165, 166.

Waterford, 2, 265, 266.

Wayne, Gen., 152, 159, 170, 175, 291.

Webb, Gen., 62, 64, 91, 123, 206, 291.

Weeks, Gov. John E., 303.

Welden, Jesse, 96.

Wells, 191, 269.

Wentworth, Gov., 89, 91.

West Haven, 207.

Westport, 88, 89, 110, 139, 145, 276, 282, 288.

Weybridge, 37.

White Creek, 191.

Whitehall, 2, 87, 205, 211, 212, 254, 255, 260, 261, 263, 264, 265, 266.
267, 268, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 278, 279, 280, 282, 287,

293 295

White River, 83, 203.

Whiting, 56, 105, 108.

Wilkinson, 216, 220, 224, 226, 227, 228, 294.

William Henrv, Fort, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64. 66, 131, 200.

Williams, Col. Ephraim, 54, 55, 56, 103, 115, 199, 215, 219, 226, 293.
Williston, 96, 234.

Willsboro, 204.

Windmill Point, 36, 46, 161, 281.

Windsor, 188, 215.

Winooski, 95, 101,293.

Winooski River, 1, 34, 38, 39, 95, 116, 128, 146, 203, 208, 2 57, 286.
Winslow, John, 61.

Winsor, Justin, 179.

Winthrop, John, 32, 293.

Wolfe, Gen., 71, 81, 85, 178.

Wood Creek, 30, 32, 42, 60, 87, 186, 192, 193.

Woolsey, Lieut. Melancton, 204 , 209.

Wooster, David, 91, 92, 146, 150, 294.

Wynkoop, Jacobus, 159, 160.

WANKEES, 174.

I York, Pa., 149.

r-

'

v--'

<s