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HISTORY 


OF   THE 


STATE  OF  VERMONT; 


POr    THE    USE    OP   FAMILIES  AND    SCHOOLS. 


BY  ZADOCK  THOMPSON, 
Author  of  Gazetteer  of  Vermont,  Geography  of  Yttrmom, 
for  children  «&c.  &c. 


BURLINGTON : 

SMITH  AND  COMPANY 


>LM.d-  1858. 


Ti-i  -WY.ORK 

PUBlilUBRARY 


TILDPN  FOijN'C. 

1 900. 


h 


PREFACE. 


Tlie  acknowledged  want  of  a  concise  History  of 
Vermont,  adapted  to  the  use  of  the  higher  classes  in 
our  schools,  as  well  as  for  general  reading,  is  deemed 
a  sufficient  apology  for  adding  another  to  the  multi- 
farious publications  of  the  day.  The  early  History 
of  Vermont  is  unlike  that  of  any  other  state  in  the 
Union.  As  the  inhabitants  on  the  New  Hampshire 
grants  had  never  been  organized  as  a  province,  under 
the  crown  of  England,  and  as  they  constantly  re- 
fused submission  to  the  provincial  governments, 
which  claimed  authority  over  them,  they  found  them- 
selves without  any  bond  of  union  excepting  their 
common  interests,  and  their  social  affections.  The 
History  of  Vermont  is,  therefore,  that  of  a  people 
assuming  the  powers  of  self  government,  and  advanc- 
ing, by  successive  steps,  from  a  state  of  nature  to  tho 
establishment  of  a  civil  compact  and  to  a  regular  and 
efficient  organization.  These  peculiartieft  of  our 
early  history,  render  it  a  subject  of  uncommon  inter- 
est to  all,  and,  especially  so,  to  the  descendants  of 
those  statesmen  and  philanthropists,  to  whom,  through 
the  blessing  of  God,  are  indebted  for  all  their  val- 
uable institutions  ;  and  one  of  the  principal  motives 
which  led  to  the  compilation  of  the  following  pages 
was  a  desire  to  awaken,  and  perpetuate,  in  the  breasts 
of  the  young,  that  spirit  of  pafriotism,  independence 


*  PREI  AtF.. 

and  «elf  denial,  wliich  »o  nobly  animated  the  hearts 
of  their  fathers. 

The  materials  for  the  following  pages  have  been 
principally  derived  from  the  History  of  Vermont,  by 
Doctor  Samuel  Williams,  the  Vermont  State  Papers 
compiled  by  the  Hon.  William  Slade,  and  from  in- 
formation collected  by  the  Author,  while  compihng 
his  Gazetteer  of  Vermont,  in  the  year  1824.  Doctor 
Wiliams'  history  is  an  inten-esting  and  valuable  work, 
but  it  is  too  voluminous  and  expensive  for  general  cir- 
culation. The  collection  of  State  Papers  above  men- 
tioned, is  invaluable  to  the  historian  and  antiquarian, 
as  containing  the  elements  of  our  history,  but  is  not 
calculated  to  interest  the  young,  or  to  find  its  way  in- 
to all  the  families  in  the  state.  It  has,  therefore,  been 
the  object  of  the  present  undertaking  to  furnish  a 
work,  which  should  neither  be  so  brief  as  entirely  to 
preclude  any  of  the  important  incidents  of  our  early 
history,  nor  so  voluminous  and  expensive  as  to  place 
it  above  the  reach  of  any  individual.  With  what 
success  this  object  has  been  accomplished,  it  belongs 
not  to  the  writer  to  say ;  but  if  this  volume  shall  serve 
in  any  manner  to  revive  among  us  those  virtues,  for 
which  our  ancestors  were  so  much  distinguished, 
he  will  so  far  have  accomplished  one  of  the  princi- 
ple objects  contemplated  in  the  undertaking,  and  he 
will  hereafter  have  the  satisfaction  of  reflecting  that 
bis  humble  la^x)rs  have  not  been  altogether  useless. 


CONTENTS. 


Preface.         .         ......      Page  3 

Topographical  sketch,         ...         .        .         9 

C  H  A  P  T  E  R  I . 


INTRODDCTIOX INDIAN   AND    COLONIAL    WARS. 

Section  I.  Discovery  of  America — Discovery  and  set- 
tlement of  Canada — Discovery  of  Lake  Champlain,  13 

Section  II.  Progress  of  the  English  and  Dutch  settle- 
ments, from  1607,  to  1638,         ....         16 

Section  III.  French  and  English  Colonies — Transac 
tions  in  the  vicinity  of  Vermont  from  1638  to  1705,    19 

Section  IV.  French  and  English  Colonies. — Transac- 
tions in  Vermont  and  its  vicinity  from  1705  to  1749,    24 

Section  V.  French  and  English  Colonies — from  1748 
to  1756.  Braddock  defeated — The  French  defeated 
at  fort  William  Henry, 29 

Section  VI.  French  and  English  Colonies — from  1756 
to  1758.  Fort  William  Henry  surrendered  to  the 
French — Massacre  of  the  garrison,  .         .        35 

Section  VII.  French  and  English  Colonies — Events  of 
1758.  Capture  of  Louisburg — Abercrombie  defeated 
— Fort  Frontenac  and  Du  Quesne  taken,         -  39 

Section  VIII.  French  and  English  Colonies — Transac- 
tions of  1759  and  1760.  Quebec  taken — Ticonderoga, 
Crown  Point  and  Niagara  taken — Expedition  againei 


6  eONTE}«'TS. 

the  Si  Francis  Indians — Montreal  and  CUmfida  Furren- 

4le^       r ^ 

CHAPTER  II. 

SfTTUKMEXT,    AND   CONTROVERSY    WITH   NEW   YORK. 

3ectipn  I.     Vermont  previous  to  the  year  1760,      -   .   51 

Section  II.  Controversy  between  New  Hampshire  and 
New  York,  respecting  the  territory  of  Vermont — 
from  1749  to  1764, 54 

Section  III.  Controversy  with  New  York  from  1764  to 
1773, 58. 

Section  IV.  Character  of  the  settlers  on  the  N^w 
Hampshire  grants  and  their  modes  of  punishment,    63 

Section  V.  Controversy  with  New  York  from  1773  to 
1775 — Miniatory  act  of  New  York — Resolutions,  and 
remonstrance  of  the  settlers,         -         -  -         '67 

'  Section  VI.     Brief  review  of  the  progress  of  settlement 
previous  to  the  Revolution,         .         .        -         -    ^   75 

CHAPTER  III. 

WrVOLUTIONARV    WAR. 

Section  I.  Events  of  1775 — Reduction  of  Ticonderoga 
— Invasion  of  Canada — Carlton  defeated  by  Col  War- 
ner— St  Johns  and  Montreal  taken  by  General  Moiit- 
gomery — Assault  upon  Quebec,         ...         77 

Section  II.  Events  of  1776.  Small  Pox  fatal  in  the 
army — American  army  retreats — Unsuccessful  expedi- 
tion against  Three  Rivers — Affairs  at  the  Cedars — 
Chamblee  and  St  Johns  abandoned  by  the  Americans 
Naval  engagement  on  lake  Champlain — Crown  Point 
abandoned, 87 

Section  III.  Events  of  1777.  Advance  of  General 
Burgoyne — Ticonderoga  abandoned  by  the  Americans 
— Battle  at  Hubbardton — Retreat  from  fort  Edward — 


CONTENTS^  7 

■ 

Battle    at  Bennington — At   Stillwater — Surrender    of 
Burgoyne, 95 

CHAPTER  IV. 

CrtfL   POLICY    OF  VERMONT    DURING    THE    REVOLUTION. 

Section- 1.     From  the  year  1775,  to  the   Declaration  of 
.the  Independence,  of  Vermont  in  1777,         -      -      116 

Se(;tion  II.     Establishment  of  the  Government  of  Ver. 

..  mant — from  the  Declaration  of  Independence  January 

15, -1777,  to  the   meeting  of  the  General  assembly  on 

.the  12th  of  March  1778, 121 

Section  III.    Controversy  with  New  Hampshire  in  1778, 
•  ffnd  1779— Legislative  proceedings  in  Vermont,     127 

Spcljon  IV.     Controversy  with  New  York,  New  Hamp- 
• .  shire  and  Massachusetts,  in  1778 — 1779  and  1780,  133 

•Seftiion  V,      Union   of  Vermont  with  a   part  of   New- ' 
Hampshire  and  a  part  of  New  York  in  1781,  141', 

.Seption  VI.      Negotiation  with   the  British   in  Canada, 
from  1780,  to  1783, 145 

Se(ition".VIIv  Indian  depredations  upon  the  settlements- 
in  Vermont, -  159 

«  , 

•  ^    .  CHAPTER  V. 

.  niOCEEOINGS    RELATIVE  TO  THE   ADMISSION   OF   VERMONT  INTO 
*•  THE*  UNION, 

Secjtion  I.  Extending  from  the  completion  the  eastern 
and  western  unions  with  Vermont  on  the  22d  of  June, 
to  1781,  the  dissolution  of  the  same  on  the  22d  day  of 
February  1782, 166' 

Section  II.  Proceedings  of  Congress — Disturbances  in 
Vermont — from    the    Dissolutions    of  the    unions    in 

■  Vermont  February  22d,  1782,  to  the  Treaty  of  Peace 

.between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  January 

20th,  1783, 174 


■       ^  -       .•    T?  -     V.  •       .  • 

■■  •    ■  ■■*..  •  :  ■:  .     .  ■     ,.  ■>■.' 

',-8  ■     ^^  ■'■  CONTENTS.    •  .    .  •    ;--^i' 

•••  .   :*••>•••.■ 
.    •      .  ?■■ 

Section  III.     Disturbances  in  Vermont  growing  oUt  of 
the  controversy  with  N-ew  York,  -  -    .      181 

Section  IV.     Settlement  of  the  controversy,  witk.  New 
York,  and  the  Admission  of  Vermont  into  the  Uhioh,  • 

'    -^  V 

CHAPTER  VI.  ■   *  'Vv^ 

."    '  I ''  ■'••• 

CIVIL   POLICY   OF  VERMONT  AFTER  HER  ADMISSION   INTC>: -THfei  ■ . 
UNION.  '.Vt'^-' 

Section  I.     Extending  from  the  admission  of  Vejlnorfit 
into  the  Union  in  1791,  to  the   Resignation  ana^ifeath 
,     of  Governor  Chittenden  in  1797,  -    •      -    ,  •    1.91  " 

•    Section  II.     Legislative   proceedings  in  Verrri6Xit«'&oni 

,   •     the  year  1797  to  1812,         .        .  .  - .   •  I  ^P 

'  •■•*.' 

Section  III.     Legislative  proceedings  from  1812'to*l!8J5 

'.     ■  — War  with  Great   Britain — Events  on  Lake  .QTiaiTO. 

v.      plain — Battle  at  Plattsburgh,         -  -  -•  .,''^J2.; 


«• 


i. 


•  Section-  rV.v   Legislative  proceedings  from  ISM  to  the 
'..      close  of  the  year  1832,  ....       ;»?2j\ 

Section  V.  ''The  Frame  of  Government — Legislative. 
Powers — Executive  Power — Council  of  Cen^orsyftcii. 
ciary— Xavvs — Education — Diseases  &c.  '     -  >  .^2210 

APPENDIX.      ■         .       ?*.    " 

No.  1  Gov.  &  Lieu  Gov.  241|No.  7  Rep.  in  Congress,  2tf5 


■•.•No.  2Treas.  &Sec.  242 
No.  3.Speak.&  Clerks,  242 

:.•.  No.  4  Coun.  &  Towns,  243 
'/"^No.  5  Judg.  of  Sup.  C.      244 

.  No.  6  Senators  in  Con.    245 


No.  8  Lotteries,  .  •  246 
No.  9  Population,  ''  347 
No.  10  Banks,  > -248 

No.  11  Colleges,  ;  249 

No.  12  Councils  of  Ce'i  25A 


SKETCH  OF  THE  TOPOGRAPHY  OF  VERMONT. 


1.  Vermont  constitutes  the  north-western  part  of  that 
section  of  the  United  States,  which  is  called  New  Eng. 
land.  It  lies  between  42  degrees  44  minutes  ,and  45 
degrees  of  north  latitude  ;  and  between  3  degrees  31 
minutes,  and  5  degrees  24  minutes  east  longitude  from 
the  Capitol  of  the  United  States  at  Washington.  The 
length  of  this  State  from  north  to  south  is  I57i|  miles. 
The  width  is  various,  being  90  miles  at  the  north  end 
and  only  40  at  the  south.  The  mean  width  is  about  57 
miles,  and  the  whole  surface  of  the  State,  about  9000 
square  miles,  or  5,760,000  acres.  It  comprehends  the 
territory  lying  between  Connecticut  river  and  lake  Cham- 
plain,  which  was 'formerly  known  by  the  name  of  the 
New  Hampshire  grants,  and  is  bounded  north  by  Canada, 
east  by  New  Hampshire,  south  by  Massachusetts,  and 
west  by  New  York. 

2.  The  face  of  the  country  is  generally  uneven  and 
the  central  parts  mountainous.  The  range  of  Green 
Mountains,  which  give  name  to  Vermont,  extends  quite 
through  the  State  from  south  to  north,  keeping  nearly 
a  middle  course  between  Connecticut  river  and  lake 
Champlain.  These  mountains  rise,  in  several  places,  to 
a  height  exceflding  4000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea, 


10  TOPOGRAPHY    OF   VERMONT. 

but  they  are^  not  generally  precipitous,  and  are  most  of 
them  covered  with  timber  to  their  summits.  The  loftiest 
of  these  summits  are  the  Nose  and  Chin  in  Mansfield, 
Camel's  Hump,  and  Shrewsbury  and  Killington  peaks. 

3.  Among  these  mountains,  arise  a  great  number  of 
streams,  which  following  the  several  declivities,  find 
their  way  into  Connecticut  river  on  the  east,  or  lake 
Champlain  on  the  west.  The  principal  streams,  which 
fall  into  the  Connecticut,  are  the  Wantastiquet  or  West 
river.  Black,  Otte-Quechee,  White,  Wells  and  Pasump- 
sic.  Those  which/all  into  lake  Champlain,  are  Otter 
Creek,  Winooski,  or  Onion,  Lamoille  and  Missisco. 
Black,  Barton,  and  Clyde  rivers  run  northerly  into  lake 
Memparemagog.  These  are  all  considerable  streams, 
and  they  all  abound  in  falls  and  rapids,  which  might  af- 
ford water  power  for  propelling  machinery  to  almost  any 
amount. 

4.  Lake  Champlain  stretches  along  the  western  border 
of  Vermont  for  the  distance  of  about  100  miles,  and  varies 
from  half  a  mile  to  thirteen  miles  in  width.  It  affords  an 
easy  communication  between  the  Hudson  and  the  St 
Lawrence,  and"it  will  be  seen  by  the  following  pages  that 
both  the  French  and  English  frequently  availed  them- 
selves  of  the  facilities  it  afforded  in  their  predatory  ex- 
peditions  against  each  other.  Lake  Memphremagog  is 
situated  on  the  northern  boundary  of  Vermont  and  lies 
about  half  way  between  lake  Champlain  and  Connecticut 
river.  It  is  between  30  and  40  miles  long,  and  from  3  to 
4  miles  wide.  These  lakee,  as  well  as  the  rivers  and 
smaller  streams,  were  formerly  well  ^stored  with  fish; 
and  fromtheir  waters  the  natives  derived  a  large  share 
of  theirsubsistence. 

5.  When  first  visited  by  Europeans,  this  whole  tract 


TOPOGRAPiiY    OF    VERMOKT.  II 

of  country  was  one  unbroken  forest.  "  At  that  period  the 
hand  of  industry  had  no  where  laid  bare  the  soil  to  the 
genial  influence  of  the  summer's  sun.  The  borders  of 
the  lakes  and  rivers  were  then  shaded  by  a  beautiful  and 
lofty  growth  of  pine  and  elm — the  uplands  were  heavily 
timbered  with  maple,  beech  and  birch,  interspersed  with 
a  variety  of  other  trees — while  the  mountains,  which 
lifted  their  blue  heads  among  the  clouds,  were  clothed  to 
their  towering  summits,  with  the  perpetual  verdure  of 
their  hardy  evergreens. 

6.  These  forests,  and  the  margins  of  the  lakes  and 
streams,  were  well  stored  with  moose,  deer,  bears, 
wolves,  otter,  beaver,  and  a  variety  of  other  animals^ 
which  made  this  region  the  favorite  hunting  ground  of 
the  natives  ;  and  here,  from  time  immemorial,  the  succes- 
sive generations  had  pursued  the  cliase,  vying  in  fleetness 
with  the  passing  wind,  and  free  as  the  mountain  air^ 
which  they  inhaled. 

7.  Where  now  we  behold  smiling  villages,  thronged 
by  the  busy  multitudes,  and  cultivated  farms,  yielding 
the  peaceful  fruits  of  regulated  industry,  then  were  seen 
nought,  but  dark  and  gloomy  forests  and  the  pyres  erec- 
ted in  their  midst,  for  the  immolation  of  those,  whom 
the  fortune  of  war  had  thrown  into  the  hands  of  an  enemy. 
Where  now  from  our  fields  and  hamlets  the  hum  of  busi- 
ness daily  ascends,  save  when  exchanged  for  '  the  sound 
of  the  church-going  bell,'  and  hushed  for  the  rational  and 
solemn  worship  of  Almighty  God, — then  were  heard  only 
the  war-whoop  and  the  death  song  of  the  savage — the 
commingled  strains  of  fierceness  and  exultation — the 
horrid  shrieks  of  cruelty  and  of  death. 

8.  But  changes  so  auspicious  in  the  general  aspect  of 
things  have  not  been  effected  without  toils,  and  difficulties 


12  TOPOGRAPHT    OF    VERMONT. 

and  dangers,  to  which  the  present  inhabitants  of  Ver- 
mont, surrounded  by  their  conveniences  and  comforts, 
are  utter  strangers.  The  ruggedness  of  the  country, 
the  density  of  the  forests,  the  length  and  dreariness  of 
the  winters,  and  above  all  their  exposure  to  the  depreda- 
tions of  the  merciless  savages,  were  for  a  long  period 
sufficient  to  deter  all  from  emigrating  hither  excepting 
men  of  the  stoutest  hearts  and  most  robust  bodies.  And 
then  the  labors  of  cutting  down  the  forests,  subduing  the 
soil,  procuring  means  of  subsistence,  and  defending  their 
possessions  against  unjust  and  arbitrary  claims,  were 
calculated  to  continue  in  vigorous  exercise  all  their  pow- 
ers of  body  and  mind. 

9.  But  as  they  possessed  neither  the  means,  nor  the 
leisure  for  mental  cultivation,  their  characters,  as  would 
be  expected,  partook  very  much  of  the  boldness  and 
roughness  of  the  mountain  scenery  amidst  which 
they  resided.  From  being  accustomed  to  face  dangers 
of  different  kinds,  and  to  surmount  difficuliies  by  their 
personal  exertions  they  acquired  an  unlimited  confidence 
in  their  own  abilities,  and  imbibed  the  loftiest  notions  of 
liberty  and  independence.  These  traits  of  their  general 
character,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  pages,  were 
fully  developed  during  the  controversies,  in  which  it  was 
their  lot  to  be  for  many  years  involved,  and  they  have  at 
all  periods  marked  their  proceedings  in  the  council  and 
in  the  field. 


HISTORY   OF   VERMOJYT. 


CHAPTER     I. 

INTR0DrCT10]V. 
INDIAN  AND  COLO  N  I  A  L  W  A  R  S. 


SECTION     I. 

Discovenj  of  America — Discovery  and  Settlement  of  Cana- 
da— Discovery  of  lake  Champlain. 

1.  The  discovery  of  the  American  contment  by 
Christopher  Columbus,  in  1402,  awakened  a  spirit  of 
enterprize  not  only  in  Spain,  but  in  all  the  principal 
nations  of  Europe.  From  each  of  these  expeditions 
were  fitted  out,  and  swarms  of  adventurers  issued  forth, 
either  to  immortahze  their  names  in  the  annals  of  dis- 
covery, O)'  to  enrich  themselves  and  their  country  with 
the  treasures  of  a  new  world.  Spain  took  the  lead  in 
the  career  of  discovery,  and  was  followed  by  England, 
France  and  Holland  ;  but  while  Spain,  invited  by  the 
golden  treasures  of  the  Incas,  was  pursuing  her  con- 
quests and  exterminatmg  the  defenceless  natives  in 
the  south,  the  three  latter  nations  were  peaceably  and 
successfully  prosecuting  their  discoveries  in  more 
northerly  regions. 
2 


14  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

2.  Ill  1534,  James  Cartier,  in  the  service  of  France, 
while  exploring  tlie  continent  of  America  in  the  north- 
ern latitudes,  discovered,  on  St  Lawrence's  da}"^,  the 
great  gulf  and  river  of  Canada,  to  which  he  gave  tlie 
name  of  St  Lawrence.  The  next  year  he  returned 
with  three  ships,  entered  the  gulf,  and,  having  left  his 
ships  at  anchor  hetween  the  island  of  Orleans  and  the 
shore,  he  ascended  the  river  St  Lawrence  with  his 
boats,  300  miles,  to  the  Indian  town  of  Hochelaga, 
where  he  arrived  on  the  2nd  day  of  October,  1535. 
To  this  place  he  gave  the  name  of  Montreal,  which  it 
has  ever  since  retained.  This  was  doubtless  the  first 
voyage  ever  made  by  civilized  man  into^^  the  interior 
of  North  America,  and  liie  first  advance  of  a  civilized 
])eople  into  tlie  neigiiborhood  of  the  territory  of  Ver- 
mont. 

3.  Cartier  and  liis  companions,  were  every  where 
received  by  the  natives  with  demonstrations  of  joy  andv 
were  treated  by  them  with  the  greatest  respect  and 
veneration.  The  savages  seemed  to  «'onsi<ler  the  Eu- 
ropeans as  a  higher  order  of  beings,  whose  fiiendsbip 
and  favors  they  deemed  it  of  the  highest  importance 
to  secure.  And  this  was  true  not  only  of  the  Canada 
Indians,  but  of  the  natives  of  every  j'arl  of  the  Ameri- 
can continent;  and  the  suspicions  of  the  natives  v/ere 
not  generally  aroused,  nor  preparations  made,  either 
for  defence  or  hostility,  till  the  new  comers  had  mani- 
fested their  avarice  and  meanness  by  the  most  cruel 
acts  of  injustice  and  violence. 

4.  On  the  4th  of  October,  Cartier  departed  from 
Hochelaga,  and  on  the  11th  arrived  safely  with  his 
party  at  the  island  of  Orleans.  Here  he  spent  the 
winter,  during  which  he  lost  many  of  his  men  bv  the 
scurvy,  and  in  the  spring  returned  to  France.  In  1540, 
Cartier  again  visited  Canada  and  attempted  to  found  a 
colony ;  but  this  colony  was  soon  broken  up,  and  no 
further  attempts  were  made  by  the  French  b)  estal'lisii 
themselves  in  this  part  of  the  country  tor  more  ihati 
half  a  century,     iu  1G03,  SamueH^'hamplain,  a  Freiich 


DISCOVERIES   Arcr>     SETTLEMENTS.  15 

no!)lernan,  sailed  np  tlie  Si  Lawrpnce,  visited  the  sev- 
eral places,  wliich  Cartiev  had  described,  and,  having 
obtained  all  the  information,  which  he  conid  derive 
from  tlie  natives,  respectiiig  the  interior  of  the  country, 
he  returned  to  France  to  communicate  his  discoveries 
and  to  procure  assistance  in  establishing  a  colony. 

5.  It  was  not,  however,  till  the  year  1608,  that  the 
French  court  could  be  induced  to  fit  out  a  fleet  for 
the  purpose  of  founding  a  colony  on  the  river  St  Law- 
rence. This  fleet  was  placed  under  the  command  of 
Champlain,  who,  in  the  beginning  of  July,  arrived  at  a 
place  called  by  the  natives  Quebec.  The  siruation 
of  this  place  being  elevated  anci  commanding,  tmd 
its  being  mostly  surroundfMl  by  water  rendering  its 
defence  easy,  Chaiiiplain  liad  in  a  former  voyage 
designated  it  as  the  most  eligible  spot  for,  beginning 
a  settlement,  lie  therefore,  immediately  commenced 
cutting  <lown  the  timber,  clearing  th(r  land,  building 
houses,  and  preparing  the  soil  for  cultivation.  Here 
he  spent  the  following  winter,  in  the  course  of  which, 
his  little  colony  suffered  extremely  from  the  scurvy 
and  from  the  severity  of  the  climate. 

6.  In  the  spring  of  1609,  Chainplain  left  Quebec, 
accompanied  by  two  other  Frenchmen  and  a  [)arty  of 
the  natives,  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  the  interior  of 
the  country,  particularly  the  sojithern  lakes,  which  the 
Indians  informed  him  opened  a  connnunication  with  a 
large  and  warlike  nation  called  the  Iroquois.  Cham- 
plain  proceeded  up  the  St  Lawrence  and  the  river  now 
called  the  Sorel,  till  he  arrived  at  a  large  lake.  To 
this  lake  he  gave  his  own  name,  which  it  still  retains. 
Proceeding  southward,  he  reached  another  lake  Iving 
to  the  southwest  of  lake  Champlain,  which  he  named 
St  Sacrament,  but  wliich  is  now  known  bv  the  name 
of  lake  George. 

7.  On  the  shores  of  lake  George,  they  hdl  in  with 
a  ]mrty  of  the  Iroquois,  between  whom  and  the  Canada 
Indians,  a  Avar  had  long  subsisted.  A  skirmish  imme- 
diately ensued,  but  the  Frenchmen  being  armed  with 
muskets,  it  was  soon  decided  in  favor  of  Champlain 


16  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

and  his  party.  The  Iroquois  were  put  to  fiiglit,  leaving 
50  of  their  number  dead  upon  the  field,  whose  scal()S 
were  taken  and  carried  to  Unebec.  This  was  doubt- 
less the  first  time  the  Indians,  in  these  regions,  ever 
witnessed  the  effect  of  European  arms,  and  it  is  proba- 
ble the  panic  profUiced  in  the  astonished  natives, 
con'ribuled,  not  a  little,  to  a  favoiable  and  sj)eedy 
termination  of  the  combat. 

8.  Thus,  so  early  as  the  year  .1609,  was  lake  Chain- 
plain,  and  the  western  borders  of  the  present  territory 
of  Vermont,  discovered  and  partially  explored  by  the 
French  ;  and  aithou^'h,  aller  this  event,  more  than  a 
century  elapsed,  before  thistract  of  courtry  became  the 
residence  of  any  ci\ilized  inhabitants,  it  was,  during  this 
period,  and  long  after,  the  theatre  of  war,  and  a  scene 
of  Indian  havoc  and  cruelty,  of  the  most  appalling  char- 
acter. But  these  wars  were  wholly  carried  on  by  the 
Canada  Indians  and  the  French,  whose  seitlements  were 
rapidly  extending  up  the  St  Lawrence,  on  one  part, 
and  by  the  confederated  nations  of  the  Iroquois  on  the 
other,  previous  to  the  yr.ar  1G64.  This  year  the  Dutch 
settlement  of  Nev^^  Netherlands,  was  surrendered  to  the 
English,  and  its  name  changed  to  New  York  ;  and 
from  this  period  the  country,  now  called  Vermont,  and 
lake  Chamjjlain  became  the  great  thoroughfare  of  the 
French  and  English  colonies  and  their  Indian  allies  in 
their  almost  incessant  wars  with  each  other. 


SECTION    II. 

Prorgess  of  the  English  and  Dutch  setthiucnts,  from  1607, 
to  1038. 

1.     AVhile  the  French  were  foimding  their  colony 
at  Quebec,  exploring  the  regions  of  Canada,  and  rapid- 


DISCOVERIKS    AND    SETTLEMENTS.  17 

)y  exioiuliMg  their  scttlctneutrt  along  tlio  bnnks  of  the 
J^t  Lawreiico,  the  other  nations  of  Eiuo{>o  were  not 
inactive.  The  Enc,Hisli,  after  several  uiisuccepsful  at- 
tempts,  succeeded  in  1607,  m  making  a  permanent 
settlement  upon  the  banks  of  James  river  in  Virginia, 
and  about  the  same  time  planted  a  small  colony  in  the 
present  state  of  Maine.  In  1614,  Ca})t.  John  Smith 
exp'ored  the  sea  coast  from  Penobscot  to  cape  Cod, 
'  drew  a  map  of  the  same  and  denoninated  the  country 
\  New  England. 

2.  In  1609,  Capt.  Uonvy  Hudson,  at  that  thne  in 
the  service  of  Hollaad)  discovered  and  gave  his  own 
name  to  Hudson  river,  novv  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
and  in  1G14,  the  Dutch  began  a  settlement  on  the  island 
of  Manhattan,  where  the  citv  ofMew  York"  now  stands. 
To  the  country  they  gave  the  name  of  Nt-w  N.nher- 
lands  and  the  town  they  called  New  Amsterdam,  in 
allusion  to  the  country  and  city  they  had  left  in  Europe. 

^  About  the  sa7ne  time  they  built  fort  Orange  where 
Albany  now  is,  and  soon  after  began  settlements  at 
Schenectady  and  other  places  in  the  vicinit5^ 

3.  In  1G20,  a  band  of  English  subjv^cts,  who,  to 
void  persecution,  had,  20  years  before,  taken  refuge  in 

Holland,  and  v,ho  were  denominated  puritans  from 
their  scrupulous  religious  conduct,  embarked  for 
America,  where  they  hoped  to  be  allowed  the  privi- 
lege of  enjoj'ing,  undisturbed,  their  peculiar  notions, 
and  of  worshiping  their  Creator  in  that  unadorned 
simphci-y/ot  manner,  whirdi  they  supposed  the  scrip- 
tures to  ihcnlcate.  Their  place  of  destination  was  the 
mouth  of  Hudson  river ;  'and,  as  th^y^  contempiLi*:cd 
forming  their  settlement  under  the  protection  of  the 
English,  they  had  obtaip.ed  a  patent  of  lands  from  the 
Virginia  company  in  England  previous  to  their  em- 
])arkation. 

4.  After  encountering  many  difficulties  and  delays 
they  finally  got  to  sea,  but  then-  ]nlot.  either  through 
treachery  or  ignorance,  shaped  his  course  so  far  to  the 
northward,   that  the  first  land  they  discovered  was 

2* 


18  HISTORY    OF    VKRMOXT. 

cape  Cod,  distant  more  tlian  300  miles  fioiii,  tlie  near- 
est civilized  settlement,  und  not  within  tlie  limits  of 
their  patent.  Tlie  season  was  so  far  advanced,  it  being 
now  the  9th  of  November,  that  it  was  deemed  expe- 
dient to  attonj^t  a  settlement  in  the  section  of  country 
where  they  were,  and  preparations  for  that  purpose 
were  immediately  commeuced.  After  spending  some 
time  in  exploring  the  coasts  and  harbors;  and  after 
Laving  formed  themselves  into  a  body  pohtic  imderthe 
crown  of  England  and  chosen  John  Carver,  their  gov- 
ernor, they  landed  on  the  22nd  day  of  December,  and 
began  a  settlement,  which  they  called  New  Plymouth, 
(now  Plymouth  in  Massachusetts,)  in  allusion  to  the 
town  they  had  left  in  England. 

5.  This  colony  at  first  consisted  of  101  persons ; 
but  the  severity  of  the  cliiuate,  the  want  of  accommo- 
dations, their  unusual  hardshi]js  and  a  mortal  sickness 
which  prevailed,  reduced  their  number  to  5G  before 
the  opening  of  the  next  spring.  Their  drooping  spirits 
were  however  revived  during  the  next  summer,  by 
the  arrival  of  supplies  from  England  and  by  a  consid- 
erable addition  to  the  niunber  ot  settlers.  From  tJiis 
time  the  atfairs  of  the  Plymouth  colony  assumed  a 
brighter  aspect,  and  the  settlements  in  these  parts  were 
rapidly  extended. 

6.  As  early  as  the  year  1623,  the  English  had  begun 
settlements  at  Portsmouth  and  Dover  in  the  present 
state  of  New  Hampshire,  and,  in  1()3^3.  they  had  j)ene- 
trated  the  wilderness  to  Connecticut  river  and  establish- 
ed themselves  atJWindsor  in  Connecticut.  Inl635,  they 
had  extended  their  settlements  northward  up  this  river 
as  far  as  Springfield  in  Massachusetts,  and  soon  afl;er 
they  established  themselves  at  Deerfi(^ld.  Thus  early 
were  tlie  French  on  the  north,  the  Dutch  on  the  south 
and  the  English  on  the  east  advancing  their  settlements 
into  the  neighborhood  of  the  present  state  of  Vermont. 

7.  A  short  time  previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  Ply- 
mouth colony  a  mortal  sickness  had  ])revailed  among 
the  natives,  by  which  the  country,  in  the  neighborhood 


PEQUOD    WAR. 


19 


of  their  landing,  had  heeii  almost  divested  of  inhabi- 
tants. But  the  natives,  who  remained,  welcomed  the 
English  with  demonstrations  of  joy,  and  seemed  dis- 
posed to  admit  the  new  comers  into  their  country  upon 
friendly  terms.  But  the  repeated  acts  of  injustice  and 
extortion  on  the  part  of  the  settlers,  and  the  astonishing 
rapidity  with  which  their  settlements  were  extending 
over  the  country,  at  length  aroused  the  jealousy  of  the 
Indians,  and  in  1630,  a  general  conspiracy  was  formed 
by  the  Naragansets  and  other  tribes,  the  object  of 
which  was  the  total  extermination  of  the  English. 
The  settlers  however,  were  seasonably  informed  of  the 
plot  and  their  vigorous  preparations  to  defeat  it,  ef- 
fectually detered  the  Indians  from  attempting  its 
execution. 

8.  But  soon  after  this  event,  the  English  settlers 
were  involved  in  a  war  with  the  Pequods.  a  powerful 
tribe  of  Indians,  who  inhabited  the  northwestern 
parts  of  Connecticut.  This  war  was  prosecuted  with 
vigor  on  both  sides,  but  was  terminated  in  l'>37  by  the 
complete  overthrow  of  the  Pequods.  Seven  hundred 
of  the  Indians  were  slain,  some  fled  to  the  Mohawks, 
by  whom  they  were  treacherously  murdered,  and  the 
Pequods  who  remained  in  the  country  and  t'je  other 
tribes  of  Indians  were  so  much  terrified  at  the  prowes 
of  the  English  as  to  be  restrained  from  open  hostilities 
for  nearly  forty  years. 


SECTION    111. 

French  and  English  Colojiies — Transactions  in  the  vi- 
cinitj  of  Vermont  from  1038  to  1705. 

1.  Although  both  the  French  and  English  colonies 
had  long  been  in  the  habit  of  furnishing  the  Indians 
with  arms,  ammunition,  provisions  and  clothing,  when 


20  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

goin<^  to  war  either  among  themselves,  or  with  an 
opposite  colony  :  yet  pnn'iously  to  the  year  1689,  no 
expedition  had  ever  heeii  fitted  out  in  one  colony  for 
the  express  purpose  ot*  aiding  the  Indians  in  their 
depredation  upon  another.  This  year  it  was  resolved 
by  the  French  to  attempt,  by  the  aid  of  the  Canada 
Indians,  the  conquest  of  the  province  of  New  York, 
which  had  now  been  for  some  time  in  possession  of 
the  Enojish.  They  looked  upon  this  course  as  the 
on)}'  effectual  method  of  subduing  their  most  inveterate 
and  troublesome  enemy,  the  Iroquois. 

2.  It  was  proposed  that  a  large  body  of  Canadians 
a'nd  Indians  should  march  by  the  wa}'^  of  lake  Cliam- 
plain,  and  fall  upon  Albany  and  the  other  northern 
settlements  ;  and  that  the  city  of  New  York-  should  be 
at  the  same  time  attacked  by  a  fleet,  ordered  foi*  that 
purpose  from  France.  But  while  preparations  were 
making  and  before  the  arrival  of  the  fleet,  the  Iroquois 
made  a  descent  ujjon  Canada,  plundered  and  burnt 
Montreal  and  broke  upmost  of  the  frontier  settlements. 
Frontenac,  the  French  general,  was  so  much  disheart- 
ened by  tjiese  calasniries,  that  herelintiuished  the  hope 
he  had  entertained  of  conquering  New  York,  but  lie 
considered  some  attempt  against  the  English  settle- 
ments indis})ensabie,  in  order  to  revive  the  drooping 
spirits  of  the  Canadians  and  Indians. 

3.  Two  })arties  were  therefore  sent  out.  One  of 
these,  under  the  command  of  Seur  Hoi-tcl,  on  the  18th 
of -March,  IGDO,  succeeded  in  destroying  the  fort  at 
Salmon  falls  in  New  Hampshire,  where  they  slew  30 
of  the  E/iglish  and  took  54  prisoners,  whom  they 
carried  to  Canada.  The  other  party,  consisting  of  200 
French  and  50  Indians,  commanded  by  i).  Aillebout, 
set  out  from  Montreal  in  the  beginning  of  .Tanuary, 
and,  proceeding  by  the  way  of  lake  Champlain,  direct- 
ed their  march  towards  ScheJiectady,  a  settlement  on 
the  Mohawk  river,  14  miles  northwest  from  Albany. 
But  on  account  of  the  length  of  their  march  through 
deep  snows  in  the  midst  of  winter,  they  were  reduced 


MASSACRE    AT    SCHENECTADY.  21 

to  siicli  extremities  by  hunger  and  fatigue,  when  they 
arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  this  place,  that  they  thought 
seriously  of  surrendering  themselves  to  the  English  as 
prisoners  of  war.  They,  however,  sent  forward  their 
S])ies,  who  reported,  on  their  return,  that  the  inhabi- 
tants were  in  no  apprehension  of  danger — that  the 
soldiers  were  few  and  undisciplined,  and  that  the  place 
was  in  no  condition  for  defence. 

4.  Encouraged  by  this  intelligence,  the  party  moved 
forward,  and  on  the  8th  of  February,  1690,  at  11  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  they  entered  the  village  of  Schenectady, 
and  separating  into  small  parties  ap[)eared  before  every 
house  at  the  same  time.  Never  was  a  place  more 
completely  surprised.  Without  the  least  apprehension 
of  danger  the  inhabitants  had  just  retired  to  their  beds, 
and,  while  their  senses  were  now  locked  in  the  sound- 
est sleep,  the  terrible  onset  was  made.  A  general 
shriek  aroused  the  place,  and  to  many  it  was  the  shriek 
of  death.  The  terrified  and  bewildered  inhabitants 
attempted  to  rise  from  their  beds,  but  they  rose  only 
to  meet  the  tomahawk,  which  was  lifted  for  their 
destruction.  The  whole  village  was  instantly  in  flames ; 
and  to  add  to  this  heart  rending  scene,  the  infernal 
yell  of  the  savage  was  incessantly  commingled  with 
the  shrieks  and  the  groans  of  the  dying. 

5.  In  this  massacre  no  less  than  GO  persons  perish- 
ed ;  and  27  were  taken  prisoners  and  carried,  by  the 
French  and  Indians  into  captivity.  They,  who  escaped 
the]  hands  of  the  eni-my,  fled,  nearly  naked,  towards 
Albany  through  a  dee})  snow,  which  had  fallen  that 
very  night.  Of  those  who  succeeded  in  reaching 
Albany,  no  less  than  25  lost  some  one,  or  more,  of  their 
liinbs  by  the  severity  of  the  frost.  The  news  of  this 
awful  tragedy  reached  Albany  about  day  break  and 
spread  universal  consternation  among  the  inhabitants. 
The  enemy  were  rei)Grted  to  be  1400  strong,  and  many 
of  the  citizens  of  Albany  advised  to  destroy  the  city 
and  retreat  down  the  river  towards  New  York.  But 
Col  Schuyler  and  some  others  at  length  succeeded  in 


22  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

rallying  the  inhabitants,  and  a  parly  of  horse  soon  set 
off  for  Schenectad}^  Not  thinking  themselves  suffi- 
ciently (-strong  to  venture  a  hattle,  the  enemy  were 
suffered  to  remain  in  the  place  till  noon,  when,  having 
destroyed  the  whole  village,  they  set  off  for  Canada 
with  tlieir  prisoners,  and  with  40  of  the  best  horses 
loaded  with  the  spoils. 

G.  On  the  first  of  May  following,  commissioners 
from  the  several  English  colonies  met  at  the  city  of 
New  York  for  the  purpose  of  concerting  measures  for 
the  common  safetv  and  defence.  Here  it  was  as^reed 
that  the  conquest  of  Canada  would  be  the  only  effec- 
tual means  of  securing  peace  and  safety  to  their 
frontiers^  and  it  was  recommended  that  vigorous  efforts 
be  made  for  the  accomplishment  of  that  object.  Two 
expeditions  were  therefore  planned  ;  one  under  Sir 
William  Phips.  which  was  to  proceed  against  Quebec 
by  ^vater,  and  the  other  under  John  Winthrop,  which 
was  to  be  joined  by  the  Iroquois,  and,  proceeding  by 
the  way  of  lake  Champlain,  was  to  attack  Montreal. 
The  latter  expedition  was  abandoned  on  account  of 
the  lateness  of  the  season  and  the  refusal  of  the  Iro- 
quois to  join  it,  and  the  one  under  Phips  proved 
unsuccessful. 

7.  In  the  summer  of  1691,  Col  Schuyler  put  himself 
at  the  head  of  a  party  of  Mohawks,  who  were  a  tribe 
of  the  Iroquois,  and,  passing  through  lake  Cham])Iain 
and  the  western  borders  of  Vermont,  made  a  success- 
ful emotion  upon  the  French  settlements  on  the  river 
Sorel,  in  which  were  slain  300  of  the  enemy  ;  a 
number  exceeding  that  of  his  own  force.  In  January 
in  1()95,  a  party  of  six  or  seven  hundred  French  and 
Indians  marcIuMl  by  the  way  of  lake  ('hamplain  and  at- 
tacktid  the  Mohawks  in  their  own  country.  Intelligenee 
of  these  transactions  no  sooner  reached  Allmny,  than 
Schuyler,  at  the  head  of  200  volunteers,  iiastened  to 
their  relief.  Several  engagenu'iits  ensued,  in  which 
Schuyler  had  the  advantage,  and  the  enemy  W(!re  soon 
compelled  to  make  a  hasty  retreat  to  Canada. 


DEERFIELD    DESTROiTED.  23 

8.  These  reciprocal  depredations  were  continued 
till  the  treaty  between  France  and  Englan.l,  in  1697, 
put  an  end  to  liostihties  and  restored  peace  to  the 
colonies.  But  this  peace  was  of  short  continuance. 
War  was  again  declared  in  Europe  in  17G2,  and  in  this 
the  colonies  were  soon  involved.  During  this  war  the 
frontiers  of  New  England  were  kept  in  continual 
alarm  by  small  parties  of  tije  enemy  and  suffered  se- 
verely. The  town  of  Deerfield  in  Massachusetts  had 
been  settled  some  years  and  was  at  this  time  in  a  very 
flourishing  condition  :  but  being  the  Uiost  northerly 
settlement  on  Connecticut  river,  excepting  a  few  fami- 
lies at  Northtiekl,  the  French  and  Indians  devoted  it 
to  destruction. 

9.  In  the  winter  of  1704,  a  party  of  about  .300  of 
the  enenjy  under  De  Rouville  set  out  upon  an  expe- 
dition against  this  ill  fated  place.  Th^y  proceeded  up 
lake  Champlain  to  the  mouth  of  Winooski,  or  Onion, 
river  and,  following  uj)  that  stream,  they  passed  over  to 
Connecticut  river.  Proceeding  down  the  Connecticut 
upon  the  ice,  they  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  Deeilield 
on  the  29th  of  February.  Here  they  concealed  them- 
selves till  the  latter  j»art  of  ihe  night,  when,  perceiving 
that  the  watch  had  left  the  streets  and  that  all  was 
quiet,  they  rushed  foiward  to  the  attack.  The  snow 
was  so  high  as  to  enable  them  to  leap  over  the  for- 
tifications without  difficulty,  and  tliey  immediately 
separated  into  several  parties  so  as  to  make  their  attack 
upon  every  iiouse  at  the  same  time.  The  f)lace  was 
completely  surprised,  the  inhabitants  having  no  suspi- 
cions of  the  approach  of  the  enemy  till  they  entered 
their  houses. 

10.  Yet  supprised  and  unprepared  as  they  were, 
the  pco])]e  of  Deei-field  made  a  vigorous  defence;  hut 
were  at  length  overpowered  by  the  enemy.  Forty 
seven  of  the  inhabitants  were  slain  the  rest  captured 
an<l  the  village  plundered  and  set  on  fire.  About  one 
hour  after  5-unrise  the  en< my  hastily  de[)arted  ;  and, 
although  i)insucd  and  attacked  by  a  parly  of  the  En- 


24  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

glish,  they  succeeded  in  escaping  to  Canada,  where 
they  arrived  with  tJjeir  ]irisoners  and  booty  after  a 
fatiguing  march  of  25  days.  For  several  years  after 
tl)e  destruction  of  Deertield  the  frontiers,  botlj  of 
Canada  and  the  New  England  provinces,  were  one 
continued  scene  of  massacre  and  devastation. 


SECTION    lY. 

French  and  English  Colonies. — Transactions  in  Vennont 
and  its  vicimii)  from  1705  to  1749. 

1.  The  merciless  depredations  upon  tlie  frontiers 
of  New  England  still  continuing,  it  was  again  deter- 
mined, in  1709,  to  attera])t  the  conquest  of  Canada. 
The  plan  of  operations  was  very  similar  to  that  devised 
in  1690.  Qni^bec  was  to  be  attacked  by  water,  and 
an  arjiiy  of  jjrovincial  troops  was  at  the  same  time  to 
proceed  by  the  way  of  lake  Champlain  and  reduce 
Montreal.  But  the  failiu-c  of  Great  Britain  to  furnish 
a  fleet  for  the  entcrj)risc  against-  (Quebec,  and  the 
mortal  sickness,  which  })revai!cd  among  the  troops 
collected  at  Wood  Creek  and  designed  to  act  against 
Montreal,  defeated  all  their  plans,  and  the  army  raised 
was  consequently  disbanded.  The  failure  of  these 
designs  against  Canada,  again  left  the  English  frontiei'S 
exposed  to  all  the  honors  of  Indian  wurlkro. 

2.  The  next  vear  the  English  colonies  titted  out  an 
expedition  against  the  French  settleinents  at  Acadia, 
and  encouraj'cd  bv  ihcir  success,  they  )io\v  b(;<;an  to 
meditate  another  attempt  uj)on  Canada.  The  same 
j)lan  of  o})enitions  >\as  adoj^lefl,  which  on  two  fornuir 
occasions  they  hail  been  unable  lo  carry  iiito  effect. — 
Quebec  was  to  be  invested  by  water,  and  i^lonireal 
was  to  lie  at  the  rarne  time  ar-sailed  by  an  army,  which 
was  to  enter  Canada  by  the  v.ay  of  lake  Champlam. 


EXPEDITION   AGAINST    NORRIDGEWOK.       25 

The  fleet  designed  to  proceed  against  Quebec  ^as 
therefore  collected  and  equipped  at  Boston,  and  the 
army,  which  was  to  reduce  Montreal,  w'as  collected 
at  Albany ;  and  the  most  sanguine  hopes  of  success 
prevailed  throughout  the  colonies.  But  all  these 
hopes  were  blasted  in  one  fatal  night.  The  fleet  sailed 
from  Boston  on  the  30th  ot  July,  1711,  and  just  as  it 
entered  the  St  Lawrence,  it  encountered  a  storm  in 
which  eight  of  the  vessels  were  wrecked  and  more 
than  a  thousand  of  the  men  perished. 

S.  The  army  designed  to  enter  Canada  by  the  way 
of  lake  C'lamplain,  had  advanced  but  a  short  distance 
from  Albany,  when  they  received  the  disheartening 
intelligence  of  the  disaster,  which  had  befallen  the  fleet. 
Tlipy  immediately  returned  ;  the  expedition  was  given 
lip  and  the  army  disbanded.  Thus  terminated  the 
third  attempt  at  the  con(]uest  of  Canada,  leaving  the 
frontiers  still  ex])osed  to  the  inroads  of  a  merciless  foe. 
A  peace  was,  however,  concluded  in  Europe  between 
Great  Britain  and  Frruice  about  this  time,  which  put 
an  end  to  the  contest  between  their  colonies  in  Anjeri- 
ca,  and  during  the  next  year  treaties  of  peace  were 
made  with  most  of  the  hostile  Indian  tril)es.  But  the 
peace  with  the  Indians  was  of  short  continuance. 
They  had  long  been  jealous  of  the  growing  [>ower  of 
the  English,  and  were  ready  to  seize  upon  the  most 
trifling  injury  as  a  j^retext  for  the  renewal  of  hostilities. 

4.  From  the  year  1720  to  1725,  a  very  destructive 
war  was  carried  on  between  the  eastern  Indians  and 
the  New  England  provinces.  The  French  and  En- 
glish were  at  this  time  at  peace  ;  but  the  French  mis- 
sionaries, and  the  governor  of  Canada  himself,  were 
acfivcly  employed  in  instigating  the  Indians  to  hostili- 
ties, n  the  progress  of  this  war  the  English  made  a 
.*>;uccessful  expedition  against  the  Indian  town  of 
Norridgewok,  where  they  slew  th^  Jesuit  missionar^^, 
RalJi,  and  80  Indians,  and  destroyed  the  town  ;  and 
it  was  during  this  war,  in  the  year  1724,  that  the  first 
rivili/,(,'d  establishment  was  made,  within  the  present 
limits  of  Vermont,  by  the  erection  effort  Dunnner. 


26  HISTORY     OF    VERMONT. 

5.  To  the  yem- 1725,  a  long  peace  succeeded,  not 
only  between  France  and  Ei)gland,  but  also  between 
the  colonies  and  the  various  Indian  tribes.  But  the 
colonies,  during  this  time,  were  not  inactive.  They 
were  busily  em])loyed  in  advancing  their  out  posts, 
extending  their  settlements  and  preparing  for  future 
emergencies.  The  English  had  established  a  trading- 
house  at  Oswego  in  1722.  In  1726,  the  French,  in 
order  more  effectually  to  secure  to  themselves  the 
trade  with  the  natives,  launched  two  vessels  on  lake 
Ontario  and  repaired  their  fort  at  Niagara.  In  1731,. 
the  French  came  up  lake  Champlain  and  established 
themselves  in  the  present  township  of  Addison  in 
Vermont,  and  about  the  same  time  erected  a  fortress 
upon  a  point  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake  and 
nearly  opposite,  which  they  called  Ht  Frederick,  but 
which  afterwards  took  the  name  of  Crown  Point. 

6.  The  country  along  lake  Cham})lain,  where  these 
establishments  were  made,  belonged  to  the  Iroquois 
Indians,  but  was  claimed  by  Ncav  York  and  was 
granted  in  1G96  to  one  Dellius,  a  Dutch  clergyman  at 
Albany.  By  the  English  colonies,  the  proceedings  of 
the  French  were  obsen-ed  with  much  solicitude  ;  yet 
on  account  of  the  internal  divisions  in  tbc  ])rovincc  of 
New  York,  no  effectual  measures  Avcre  taken  to  j)rc- 
vent  them.  Thus  were  the  French  permitted  to  make 
their  advances  towards  the  English  set.dements  and, 
u]X)n  lands  claimed  by  tlie  English, to  erect  a  iortress, 
which  would  enable  them  to  ])rosec!Ue  their  futun; 
expeditions  against  the  frontiers  of  New  York  and 
New  I'ingland,  with  facility  and  sidety. 

7.  In  1744,  Grrat  Britain  and  France  were  once 
more  involved  in  war,  which  soon  extendc  d  to  th(>ir 
colonies  and  their  Indian  nllics,  wUcu  the  l^nglish 
began  to  exi)i;rience  in  tlu*  d(.'i)redations  of  the  enemy, 
their  extreme  folly  in  y)erinitting  the  French  to  es- 
ta!)hsh  themselves  at  Crown  J*oi))t.  Iloosuc  fort  at 
Williamstown  in  I\lassaehiis(;tl.s  and  near  the  south- 
west corner  of  Vernjont,  was  at  this  time  the  most 


DEFENCE  OF  HOOSUC  FORT.        27 

northerly  post  of  the  English  in  the  western  pait  of 
New  EngJand.  Afjain^t  this  place  an  army  of  ahoiit 
900  French  and  Indians  under  M,  de  Vaudrieul  pro- 
ceeded from  Crown  Point  in  August,  1746,  and  on  the 
20tli  of  that  month  appeared  before  the  fort.  The 
gari'ison  consisted  of  only  33  persons,  mchiding  w^omen 
and  children,  and  was  commanded  by  Col  Hawks, 
who  after  a  vigorous  defence  of  28  hours,  and  having 
expended  all  his  ammunition,  surrendered  to  the  ene- 
my. Hawlvs  lost  but  one  man,  while  more  than  40  of 
the  assailants  were  either  slain  or  mortally  wounded  ; 
and  he  supposed  that,  had  he  been  well  sup})lied  with 
ammunition  and  provisions,  he  should  have  been  able 
to  have  defended  the  fort  against  all  the  assaults  of  his 
numerous  enemy. 

8.  The  Enghsh  had,  at  this  time,  extended  their 
settlements  as  far  northward  along  Cennecticut  river  as 
JVumher  FouryUow  Charleston, in  New  Hampshire,  and 
had  erected  several  small  forts  on  the  west  side  of  that 
river,  in  the  vicinity  of  fort  Dummer.  Among  these 
were  Bridgeman's  and  Startwell's  fort  in  Vernon  Ver- 
mont, formerly  a  part  of  the  township  of  Hinsdale  New 
Hampshire.  Bridgeman's  fort  was  attacked  the  24th 
of  June,  1746,  by  a  party  of  20  Indians,  who  killed 
two  of  the  Ensflish,  wounded  one  and  took  several 
prisoners,  but  were  finally  repulsed.  They,  however, 
succeeded  the  next  year,  in  tcdiing  and  destroying  this 
fort,  in  killing  several  of  the  inhabitants,  and  in  carry- 
ing a  number  of  others  into  captivity. 

9.  In  1747,  the  settlement  at  Nunfuer  Four  was 
abandoned  by  the  inhabitants,  and  the  fort  at  that  place 
was  garrisoned  by  30  men  under  the  command  of  Cajjt, 
Phinehas  Stevens.  On  the  4th  of  A])ril  a  party  of  400 
French  and  Indians  under  M.  Debeline  surrounded 
this  fort  and  commenced  an  attack  by  firing  upon  it 
on  all  sides.  This  proving  ineffectual,  the  enemy  next 
endeavored  to  burn  the  fort  by  setting  fire  to  the  fen- 
ces and  huts  around  it  and  by  discharging  flaming 
aiTOws  upon  it.  Not  succeeding  in  this,  they  next 
prei>ared  a  wheel  carriage  which  they  loaded  with 


28  HISTORY  OF  VEBMONT. 

faggots,  and  by  pushing  tliis  before  tloni,  tlioy  onrlrav- 
ored  by  it  to  set  fire  to  the  fort  while  it  ])rot(M'te(l  tiieiii 
from  the  fire  of  the  garrison. 

10.  All  these  attempts  were,  however,  defeated  ])y 
vigilence  and  bravery  of  Stevens  and  liis  men,  ar)d 
at  length  an  interview  took  })lace  between  the  t\\o 
commanders.  At  this  interview  Debeline  boasted  of 
his  sn])erior  numbers,  expressed  his  deteiniiiiatioh  to 
storm  the  fort,  and  described  in  glowing  colors  the 
horrid  massacre,  whicli  would  ensue  if  the  fort  was  not 
surrendered  without  fiu'ther  resistance.  To  all  this 
Stevens  coolly  replied  ;  "7  can  assure  yon  that  my  men 
are  not  afraid  to  die."  After  this  interview  the'  attack 
was  renewed  with  much  spirit,  and,  afler  continuing 
it  for  three  daj^s  without  success,  the  Frencli  camman- 
der  proposed  to  Stevens  that  he  would  abandon  the 
siege  and  return  to  Canada  on  condition  that  the  gar- 
rison would  sell  them  provisions  for  the  jom-ney. 
This  Stevens  absolutely  refused,  but  ])ro])Osed  to  give 
them  five  bushels  of  corn  for  every  captive  for  whom 
they  would  leave  a  hostage,  until  they  could  he  brought 
from  Canada.  The  enemy,  not  relishing  these  condi- 
tions, after  firing  a  few  guns,  withdrew,  leaving  Stevens 
in  peaceable  possession  of  the  fort. 

11.  In  this  siege  Stevens  lost  not  a  man,  and  had 
but  two  men  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was 
not  ascertained,  but  must  have  been  ver}  considerable. 
And  so  highly  w^as  the  gallantry  of  Stevens  on  this 
occasion  esteemed  by  Sir  Charles  Knowles,  a  British 
naval  officer  then  at  Boston,  that  he  presented  him 
an  elegant  sword ;  and  from  this  circumstance  the 
township,  when  it  was  iiicorj)orated,  received  the 
name  of  Charlestown.  During  the  remainder  of  the 
war,  which  did  not  entirely  cease  till  1749,  the  New 
England  frontiers,  were  continually  harrassed  by  small 
parties  of  Indians,  but  no  ccmsiderable  cxp<'ditions 
were  undertaken  either  by  the  French,  or  English 
colonies. 


COLONIAL    CONVENTION.  ^9 

S  E  C  T  I  o'N    V. 

French  and  English  Colonies— from  1748  to  175C).  Brad- 
dock  defeated — the  French  defeated  at  fort  ffilliam 
Hem-y. 

1.  By  the  treaty  concluded  between  Great  Britain 
and  France  in  1748  at  Aix  laChapelle,  the  controversy 
respecting  claims  in  America  was  to  be  referred  to 
couunissioners  apj)ointed  by  tlie  sovereigns  of  the  two 
nations  These  comi  vissioners  met  at  Paris  m  1752, 
and  labored  for  some  time  to  establish  the  ,  claims  of 
their  respective  cop.rts  ;  but  they  found  it  im])0ssible 
to  come  to  an  agreement  on  the  subject,  and  soon  after 
the  t\vo  countries  were  again  mvolved  in  war,  in  which 
their  colonif'S,  as  r.sual,  shortly  after  parti ci[>ated. 

2.  In  1754,  a  convention  of  delegates  from  the  sev- 
eral English  }>roviiices  convened  at  Albany  for  the 
purpose  of  devising  some  general  and  efficient  plan  of 
operations  in  liio  struggle  v.hich  was  about  to  ensue. 
Here  it  was  resolved  to  apply  to  the  British-parliament 
for  an  act  constituting  a  grand  legislative  council  to 
be  composed  of  delegates  from  the  several  legislative 
assemblies  in  the  colonies,  and  subject  to  the  negative 
of  a  president  general  appointed  by  the  crown.  But 
this  plan  of  Union  had  the  singular  fortune  to  be 
rejected  both  by  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country. 
By  the  colonies  it  was  supjtosed  to  give  to  the  crown 
jn-erogatives  which  would  endanger  their  liberties, 
and  by  the  king  it  was  supposed  to  concede  to  the 
colonial  assemblies  rights  and  powers  which  he  washy 
no  means  prepared  to  acknowledge. 

3.  It  was  on  the  4th  of  July,  1754,  that  tht^  above 
plan  of  iVmerican  union  was  agreed  to  by  the  conven 
lion  J  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  this  plan  'was 
consummated,  July  4th  1776,  just  2"2  years  from  that 
day,  by  the  declaration  of  American  Independence. 
During'  the  deliberations  of  the  coiivention  and  the 

^2* 


30  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

intercliani^'e  of  views  and  opinions  l)et\vcon  ihe  colonies 
and  the  mother  country,  the  colonics  themselves  were 
makii]g  every  preparation  for  tlie  defence  of  their 
frontiers.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1755,  Governor 
Shirley  convened  the  assembly  of  Massachusetts,  and 
connnunicatcd  to  them  a  plan,  which  he  had  formed, 
tor  the  reduction  of  the  French  fortress  at  Crown 
Point.  The  assembly  readily  concurred  and  commis- 
sioners were  sent  to  the  neighboring  provinces  to 
reques'  their  assistance  and  co-operation. 

4.  Col  Johnson  of  the  province  of  xNew  York,  was 
appointed  to  couimand  this  expedition  and  all  the 
northern  colonies  were  engaged  in  making  [)r<>parations 
for  it,  when  Gen.  Braddock  arrived  in  Virginia  with 
two  Irish  regiments.  A  convention  of  the  several 
governors  an(i  commanders  in  the  English  colonies,was 
therefore  immediately  assembled  at  Albany,  in  which  it 
was  determined  that,  during  the  sumtner,  four  different 
expeditions  should  be  undertaken  against  the  French  ; 
namely  ; — one  imder  the  direction  of  Bnuldock  agaiyst 
ibrt  Du  Quesne, — one  under  Shirley  against  Niagara, — 
one  untler  Johnson  against  Crown  Point,  and  one 
under  Cols  Monekton  and  VVinslow  against  the  French 
settlements  in  Nova  Scotia. 

5.  JJraddock  set  out  for  fort  Du  Quesne  on  the 
2()th  of  April,  with  2200  men  and  marched  forwani 
confident  of  victory  and  fame,  but,  disregarding  the 
advice  of  his  officers  and  unaccustomed  to  American 
warfare,  he  fell  into  an  ambuscade  of  alout  400 
Fren(di  and  Indians,  by  whom  he  was  defecated  and 
slain.  The  regular  troo{)s  were  thrown  into  the  ut- 
most confusion  by  the  unexi)(!cted  onset  and  fiendlike 
yells  of  the  savaijes,  but  th(}  Virginia  militia,  which 
Braddock,  had  disdainfully,  placed  in  the  rear,  l)eing 
trained  to  Indian  figliting,  continued  unbroken  and, 
by  the  prudent  management  of  George  Washington, 
then  a  Colonel  of  the  militia  and  Aid  to  Braddock,  so 
etT(?ctually  covered  the  retreat  as  to  save  a  j)art  of  the 
army  from  destruction. 


TICONDEROGA     FORTIFIED.  31 

0.  The  army,  designed  for  the  rochiction  of  the  fort 
at  Niagara,  effected  nothing,  excej)t  the  strengthening 
of  the  fortifications  at  Oswego.  Johnson,  having 
collected  five  or  six  hundred  provincial  troops  at 
Albany,  for  the  exjjedition  against  Crown  Point,  sent 
them  forward,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Lyman, 
to  the  carrying  place  between  the  Hudson  and  lake 
George,  where  they  erected  fort  Edward.  Johnson 
did  not  leave  Albany  till  the  10th  of  August,  and  the 
latter  part  of  that  month  he  advanced  15  miles  beyond 
fort  Edward  and  encamped  near  the  south  end  of  lake 
<xeorge. 

7.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  at  this])lace,  he  received 
intelligence  from  his  scouts  that  the  French  had  taken 
possession  of  Ticonderoga,  which  commanded  the 
communication  between  lake  George  and  lake  Cham- 
plain.  Johnson  was  aware  of  the  importance  of  this 
pf>st,  and  hastened  his  preparations  that  he  might  move 
forward  and  dislodge  the  enemy.  But  before  his 
batteaux  and  artillery  were  in  readiness,  the  French 
had  erected  fortifications  sufficiently  strong  to  defend 
themselves  against  surprise,  or  an  easy  conquest. 

8.  Alarmed  by  the  exaggerated  account  of  the  I'^nglish 
force  assembled  at  lake  George,  and  designed  for  tiie 
reduction  of  the  fort  at  Crown  Point,  Baron  Dieskau 
hastened  forward  to  its  defence  with  a  considerable 
army  of  French  and  Indians.  But,  having  ascertained 
that  an  immediate  attack  from  the  English  was  not 
to  be  expected,  he  resolved  to  move  forward  and  attack 
the  English  in  their  camp,  and,  if  successfid,  proceed 
further  and  perhaps  get  ])ossession  of  Albany  and 
Schenectady.  He  emljarksd  his  army,  consisting  of 
1800  men,  in  batteaux  and  landed  at  South  bay,  which 
is  near  the  south  end  of  lake  Champlain.  Here  he 
learned  from  an  English  prisoner  that  fort  Edward 
was  almost  defenceless,  and  that  Johnson's  camp  at 
lake  George  v/as  protected  neither  by  entrenchments 
nor  by  cannon. 

9.  Dieskau,  therefore,  directed  his  march  towards  fort 


32  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

Edward  and  when  witiiin  thieQ  or  four  miles  of  tin* 
place  couiiiuinicaled  to  his  army  his  design  of  attacking 
the  fort,  and  expressed  to  them  entire  confidence  of 
success.  His  army,  which  consisted  mostly  of  Cana- 
dians and  Indians,  were  not  however  so  sanjaruine  in 
their  expectations.  They  by  no  means  relished  the 
idea  of  making  an  assault  upon  the  tort,  where  they 
should  be  exposed  to  the  destructive  fire  of  cannon  ; 
but  they  expressed  a  willingness  to  attack  the  English 
in  their  camp  at  lake  George,  where  they  sup])osed 
that  muskets  would  be  the  only  arms  emjjloyed  against 
them.  Under  these  circumstances  Dieskau  found  it 
necessary  to  comjjly  with  the  inclination  of  his  troc»ps 
and  inunediately  altered  the  direction  of  liis  march 
and  proceeded  towards  the  Enghsh  encaujpment. 

10.  Johnson  had  no  intelligence  of  the  a{»proach, 
or  of  the  designs,  of  the  enemy  till  after  tiieir  depar- 
ture frojD  South  ha}',  when  he  learned  that  a  large 
body  of  French  and  Indians  were  on  their  march 
towards  fort  Edward,  lie  inunediately  sent  off  two 
separate  messengers  to  apprise  the  garrison  of  the  in- 
tended attack,  and  to  bring,  him  intelligence  n^speot- 
ing  the  force  and  designs  of  the  enen»y.  One  of  these 
messengers  was  intercepted  and  slain  ;  the  other 
retm-ned  about  midnight,  and  reported  tijat  he  saw  the 
encuiy  about  four  miles  to  the  nortlisvard  effort  Ed- 
ward and  evidently  dcsignhig  an  attack  u];on  that  })lace. 
in  the  morning  it  was  resolved  in  a  council  of  >var 
that  one  thousand  English  and  a  number  of  Indians 
shouM  be  detached  and  sent  under  the  command  of 
<Jol  Williams  to  intercept  the  enemy  in  their  return  to 
lake  Champlain,  eitlicr  as  victors  or  defeated  in  their 
designs  upon  fort  Edward. 

11.  The  English  cncamj)ment  had  lake  George  vn 
one  side  and  two  other  sides  were  covered  by  swanjps, 
and  thick  woods;  and  after  the  departure  of  the  de- 
tachm(;nt  a  slight  breasi-work  of  logs  was  thrown  u)) 
and  a  few  cannon,  wliieh  had  just  arrivcti,  were  jjlanted 
in  fi'ont,  which  was  the  only  assuilabio  side.    Williams 


BATTLE  AT  LAKE  GEORGE.  33 

}ia(l  proccedetl  only  four  miles  wlien  he  mettliQ  enomy 
ill  lull  march  towards  Joljnson's  encampment.  An 
engagement  innncdiately  ensued,  liut  Wilh'ains  Avas 
obliged  to  retreat  before  tlie  superior  for^e  of  the  ene- 
ni}'.  Jolmson,  hearing  the  iiring  and  jserceiving  that 
it  a))proachcd,  beat  to  arnis  and  dispatched  Col  Cole 
with  300  men  to  cover  the  retreat,  while  he  made  the 
best  pre[)aration  he  could  for  receiving  the  enemy. 
Ai)out  ]0  o'clock  some  small  parties  came  running 
l)ack  to  the  camp  with  intelligence  that  the  detach- 
ment was  attacked  on  all  sides  and  was  retreating; 
and  soon  after  all  who  escaped  returned  in  considera- 
ble bodies  to  the  encam])ment. 

12.  At  half  after  eleven  o'clock,  the  enemy  were  seeu 
to  approach  in  regular  order  aiming  directly  towards 
the  centre  of  the  encampment.  When  they  arrived 
within  about  150  yards  of  the  breast- work,  they  halted, 
and  the  Canadians  and  Indians  filed  off  ujion  the  right 
and  left  flanks.  The  regular  troops  then  moved  for- 
ward and  commenced  the  attack  upon  the  centre  by 
platoon  firing,  which,  on  account  of  the  distance, 
produced  little  effect.  A  brisk  fire  was  now  opened 
u|)on  the  enemy  by  the  artillery  stationed  at  the  breast- 
work, which  so  terrified  the  Canadians  and  Indians, 
that  they  immediately  betook  themselves  to  the  swamps, 
where  from  behind  logs  and  trees  they  kept  up  an  ir- 
regular fire  upon  the  encampment. 

13.  The  engagement  now  became  general,  and  the 
French  regular  troops,  for  some  time,  maiiitained  their 
ground  and  order;  but  finding  tliemselves  abandoned 
by  the  Canadians  and  Indian;?,  and  suffering  severely 
by  the  incessant  fire  from  the  brea-t-work,  they  at 
length  directed  their  attack  to  the  right,  where  they 
were  received  with  firnmess  by  tlie  regiments  of 
Ruggles,  Williams  and  Titcomh.  After  continuing  an 
unsuccessfid  attack  upon  this  point  for  about  an  hour, 
and  sustaining  a  heavy  loss  from  the  fire  of  the  English^ 
Dieskau  attempted  a  retreat,  as  the  only  means  of 
saving  the  remainder  of  his  troops. 


34  HISTORY    OF    VERMOiVT. 

14.  Observing  liis  intention  a  party  of  the  English 
leeped  over  their  breast-work,  and  iiiliing  upon  the 
rear  of  the  French,  soon  dispersed  them.  Dieskaii 
was  found  resting  ujjon  the  stumj)  of  a  tree,  wounded 
and  unable  to  walk.  As  a  provincial  soldier  ai)proach~ 
ed  him,  he  was  putting  his  hand  in  his  pocket  for  liis- 
watch  to  present  to  him  ;  but  the  soldier,  su]>posing 
that  he  was  feeling  for  a  pocket  ])istol,  discharged 
his  musket  at  hmi  and  gave  liim  a  mortal  wound  in 
his  hip. 

J  5.  The  enemy  on  their  retreat  collected  and  made 
a  halt  at  the  place  where  the  engagement  began  in 
the  morning  with  the  detachment  under  Col  Williams. 
Here  they  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  200  men  under 
the  command  ol  Capt.  M'Ginnes,  a  New  Hampshire 
officer,  who  had  been  ordered  from  fort  Edward  to 
the  aid  of  the  main  army  under  .Tohnson.  The  at- 
tack was  made  with  iujpetuosity  and  spirit,  and  the 
French,  alter  a  resistance  of  nearly  two  hours,  were 
again  dispersed  in  every  direction.  In  this  last  en- 
gagement the  English  lost  12  men,  and  the  brave  M' 
Ginnes  died  a  few  days  after  [jis  arrival  at  Johnson's 
encampment,  of  the  wounds  he  had  received. 

16.  The  whole  loss  of  the  English  in  these  several 
engagements  was  I'JO  slain,  and  (>0  wounded.  Among 
the  slain  were  Col  Williams,  Maj.  Ashley,  and  Caj)- 
tains,  Ingersol,  Porter,  Ferrel,  Stoddard  and  M'Ginnes, 
and  among  the  wound(!d  was  Col  .Tohnson.  Of  the 
Ii]flians  belonging  to  .Johnson's  army  about  40  were 
slain,  among  whom  was  IJeiuh-ick,  a  distinguished 
Mohawk  sachem.  The  loss  of  the  French  was  about 
700  slain,  and  among  these  were  several  officers  of 
distinction.  Johnson  was  deterred  by  fear,  or  some 
other  cause,  from  ])nrsuing  the  retreating  enemy,  or 
making  any  attempt  ujion  th(>ir  works  on  lake  Cham- 
])lain  ;  and  the  remainder  of  the  campaign  of  1755,  was 
spent  in  erecting  a  fi)rt  at  the  south  end  of  lake 
George,  which  was  aftenvards  called  fort  William 
Henry. 


OSWEGO  TAKEN  BY  THE  FRENCH.     35 


SECTION    VI. 

French  and  English  Colonies— from  1756  to  1758.  Fort 
William  Henry  surrendered  to  the  French — Massacre 
of  the  garrison. 

1.  In  1756  a  considerable  number  of  troops,  and 
several  distinguished  officers  arrived  from  England, 
and  a  large  provincial  army  was  collected  at  Albany 
and  at  fort  William  Henr}^  But  while  the  English 
officers  Avere  deliberating  u})on  the  course  to  be  i)ur- 
sued  and  the  troops  were  lying  mactive,  the  French, 
under  the  brave  Montcalm,  were  prosecuting  their 
affiiirs  with  energy  and  success.  With  scarcely  any 
loss  on  their  part,  the}'  succeeded  in  taking  and  de- 
molishing the  forts  at  Oswego,  where  they  took  1400 
prisoners,  120  pieces  of  cannon,  14  mortars,  and  a  large 
quantity  of  ammunition,  military  stores  and  provisions, 
and  also  2  sloops  and  200  batteaux.  The  English 
suffered  the  season  to  pass  away  without  any  attempt 
to  retrieve  their  loss,  or  annoy  the  enemy. 

2.  The  comman'l  of  the  English  forces  in  Americi 
having  been  give^  to  Lord  Loudon,  he  sailed  from 
New  York  in  the  spring  of  1757,  with  (3000  men  for 
the  purpose  of  ca])turing  tiie  French  fortress  at  Louis- 
burg.  At  Ilaliiax  his  force  was  increased  to  12000 
men,  with  a  fleet  of  15  ships  of  the  line  and  a  large 
juunber  of  transports  und<>r  admiral  llolburne.  But 
iie  here  received  intelligence,  that  a  French  fleet  of 
17  line  of  battle  ships  and  three  frigates  had  arrived  ^t 
Louisburg — that  their  land  force  amounted  to  6000 
regulars,  3000  natives,  and  1300  Indians,  and  that  the 
place  was  well  provided  vit!)  ammunition,  provisions 
and  military  stores.  This  information,'  dissipating  eve- 
ry prospect  of  success,  the  expedition  was  consequently 
abandoned. 

3.  During  these  transactions  the  French  under 
Montcalm  were  by  no  means  inactive.     As  early  as 


36  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

the  20lh  of  Marcli,  they  made  an  attempt  to  take  fort 
William  Ilemy  by  surj)rise,  but  tlieir  object  was  de- 
feated by  the  bravery  of  the  garrison,  and  several  of 
their  number  slain.  They,  however,  succeeded  in 
burning  three  sloops,  a  large  nnmijer  of  l)atteaux,  three 
store  houses,  and  indeed  every  thing  of  value,  which 
was  not  protected  by  the  guns  of  the  fort. 

4.  At  the  opening  of  the  spring.  Col  Parker  was 
sent  down  the  lake,  with  a  detachment  of  al)out  400 
men,  to  attack  the  enemy's  advanced  guard  at  Ti- 
conderoga,  but  he  was  decoyed  into  an  ambuscade 
of  French  and  Indians,  who  fell  upon  him  with  such 
impetuosit}^  and  success,  that  only  two  officers  and  70 
privates  of  his  number  escaped.  Encouraged  by  this 
success,  Montcalm  resolved  once  more  to  attempt  the 
reduction  effort  William  Henry.  For  this  purjiose  he 
collected,  at  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  all  his 
forces,  amounting  to  about  10000  men,  and  consisting 
of  regulars,  Canadians  and  Indians. 

5.  General  W\'bb,  ujion  whom  the  command  of 
the  English  forces  devolved  on  the  de})arture  of  Lord 
Loudon,  wishing  to  examine  the  works  at  lake  George, 
and  to  ascertain  the  force  and  condition  of  the  enemj^ 
at  their  posts  on  lake  Cham])I;!in,  selected  Major 
I'ulnani  with  '200  men  to  escoit  him  to  fort  Williarji 
Ilenry.  Soon  after  their  arrival,  Putnam  set  out  wilh 
.18  men  in  tbree  boats  for  the  purpose  ofreconnoitering 
the  enemy  at  Ticonderoga  ;  but  before  he  reached  ihe 
northwest  l)ay,  he  discovered  a  b'ody  of  men  on  an 
island,  and  leaving  two  of  his  boats  to  fish  he  has- 
tened back  in  tin;  other  with  the  information. 

()'.  He  communicated  the  inteHigence  to  \>' ebb  only, 
who,  with  mucli  reluctance,  Jtermittcd  J'utnam  to  re- 
turn for  the  j»urpose  of  making  further  discoveries 
and  «»(■  bringing  off  the  i)oats.  \i\  accomplishing  this 
business  he  was  observed  and  pursued  by  the  ene- 
my and,  altliougli  at  times  nearly  surroiuidcd  by  their 
caiiors,  «-irect<'(i  his  retreat  to  tlic  l«>rt.  These  trans- 
acliojiB  were  carefully  coij<"ealeil    from    the   garrison 


SURRENDER   OF  FORT  WILLIAM  HENRY.     5/ 

by  an  injunction  of  secrecy  from  Webb,  who  ordered 
Putnam  to  pre])are  immediately  to  escort  him  back 
to  fort  Edward.  Putnam,  wishing  to  be  engaged 
in  surprising  the  enemy,  observed  "  lie  hoped  his 
excellency  did  not  intend  to  neglect  so  fair  an  op- 
]  ortunity  of  giving  battle,  should  the  enemy  presume 
to  land."  To  which  the  general  coldly  rephed  "  what 
do  you  think  we  should  do  here." 

7.  The  next  day  Webb  returned  to  Tort  Edward, 
and  the  day  following,  Col  Monro  was  sent  with  his 
regiment  to  reinforce  the  garrison  at  lake  George. 
The  day  after  his  arrival  the  French  and  Indians 
under  Montcalm  appeared  upon  the  lake,  effected  a 
landing  with  but  little  opposition,  and  immediately 
laid  siege  to  the  fort.  Montcalnj,  at  the  san:c  time, 
sent  a  letter  to  Monro,  stating  that  he  felt  himself 
bound  in  humanity  to  urge  the  English  commander 
to  surrender  before  any  of  the  Indians  were  slain  and 
their  savage  temper  further  inflamed  by  a  resistance, 
which  would  be  unavailing.  Monro  replied  that  as  the 
fortress  had  been  entrusted  to  him,  hoth  his  honor 
and  bis  duty  required  him  to  defend  it  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity. 

8.  The  garrison  amounting  to  about  2500  men, 
made  a  gallant  defence,  v/bile  Monro,  aware  of  Jiis 
danger,  sent  frequent  expresses  to  tort  Edward  for 
succor.     But  Webb  remnined  inaciive  and  aj);>arently 

. indittV>r«ent  during  these  aLirming  transaction?.  On 
the  8th  or  9th  day  of  the  siege.  Gen.  Joi.nson  was 
permitted  to  set  out  i'^r  the  relief  of  fort  William 
Henry  with  tlr;  ])rovineiai  regiments  and  PutP'Mrt's 
rangers ;  but  he  had  proceeded  only  three  m:. .-,  wnt.'i 
he  received  ord.s  i'viin,  V/ehh  for  his  inuiiediate 
return.  Webb  then  wrote  to  Monro  that  he  could 
afford  him  no  af-sii^tance,  and  advised  him  to  surrender 
on  the  best  terms  he  could  obtain, 

9.  vionro  and  his  garrison,  in  hour  y  expectation 
of  rri/effrom  fort  Edward  delended  themselves  wiih 
much    spirit  and  refeolutioa,  tijj    tlie  9ih  oi    Augu'ctj 

3 


58  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

when,  tlieir  works  having  become  mucli  injured  and 
their  air 'iimition  nearly  expended,  all  their  hopes  of 
holding  out  were  at  onrc  blasted  by  the  reception  of 
Webb's  letter,  w^hich  Montcalm  had  intercepted,  and 
now  sent  in  with  further  proposals  for  a  surrender  of 
the  fort.  Articles  of  capitulation  were  therefore 
agreed  upon  and  signed  by  Montcalm  and  Monro,  by 
which  it  was  stipulated,  that  the  garrison  sh(v,i!d  march 
out  with  their  arms  and  baggage — should  be  escorted 
to  fort  Edward  by  a  detachment  of  French  troops,  and 
should  not  seiTe  against  the  French  for  the  term  of 
18  montlis — that  tlie  works  and  all  warlike  stores 
shovdd  be  delivered  to  the  French — and  that  the  sick 
and  wounded  of  the  garrison  should  remain  ujider  the 
protection  of  Montcalm  and  should  be  permitted  to 
return  as  soon  as  they  were  recovered. 

10.  After  the  capitulation  no  further  troubles  were  ap- 
prehened.  But  the  garrison  had  no  sooner  marched  out 
of  the  fort,  than  a  scene  of  perfidy  and  barbarity  began 
to  be  witnessed,  which  it  is  impossible  for  language 
to  describe.  Wholly  regardless  of  the  articles  of  capi- 
tulation, the  Indians  attached  to  the  French  army, 
fell  upon  the  defenceless  soldier^-,  plundering  and  mur- 
dering all  who  came  in  their  way.  The  French  were 
idle  spectators  of  this  ])loody  scene  ;  nor  could  all  the 
entreaties  of  Co!  Monro  ])ersua(!e  them  to  fiuiiish  the 
escort,  as  stipulated  in  the  articles  of  capitulation. 
On  this  fatal  day  about  1500  of  the  EngMsh  were 
either  murdered  by  the  savages  or  rarrietl  by  them 
into  caj)tivity,  never  to  return. 

11.  The  day  Ibllovvhjg  these  horrid  transactions, 
Major  Putnam  was  des|)atched  from  fort  Edward 
with  his  rangers,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy. 
He  reached  lake  George  just  after  the  rear  of  the 
enemy  had  left  the  shore,  and  awjid  indeed  was  the 
scene  which  ])resented  itself.  "  The  fort  was  entirely 
demolished,  the  barracks,  out  houses  and  buildings 
were  a  heai)  of  ruins — the  cannon,  stores,  boats  and 
vessels  were  all  curried  awiiy.     'J'he  fires  were  still 


MASSACRE  OF  THE   GARRISON.  89 

hiiriiing — the  sinoko  and  stench  offensive  and  suffo- 
oating.  Innumerable  fragment^^  of  liuinaik  skulls  and 
bones,  and  carcases  half  consumed,  wave  still  frying 
and  broiling  in  the  decaying  fires.  Dead  bodies,  mang- 
led with  scalping  knives  and  tomahawks,  in  all  the 
wantonness  of  Indian  fierceness  and  barbarity,  were 
every  where  to  be  seen.  More  than  100  women,  butch- 
ered and  shockingly  mangled,  lay  upon  the  ground,  still 
weltering  in  their  gore.  Devastation,  barbarity  and 
horror  every  whei-e  apj^eared ;  and  the  spectacle  ]jre- 
sented  Avas  too  diabolical  and  awful  either  to  be 
endured  or  described." 

12.  The  French  satisfied  with  thoir success,  retired 
to  their  works  at  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and 
nothing  further  was  effected  in  this  quarter  worthy  of 
notice,  either  by  the  French  or  EngUsh,  during  the 
remainder  of  the  year ;  and  thus  terminated  the 
campaign  of  1757,  in  wliich  the  English  suffered 
exceedingly  in  lives  and  property  and  gained  nothing. 
This  want  of  success  was  doubtless  owing,  in  some 
measure  to  the  inefliciency  and  ignorance  of  the  British 
ministry  in  relation  to  American  affairs,  but  is  prin- 
cijjally  to  be  attributed  to  the  want  of  abihty  and  en- 
ergy in  the  generals,  to  whom  the  prosecution  of  the 
war  was  entrusted. 


S  E  C  T  I  O  ^"    Y  1 1 . 

French  and  English  Colonies — Events  of  17o8.  Capture 
of  Louishurg — Mtrcromhie  defeated — Fort  F'ontenac 
and  Du  Cluesnc  taken. 

].  The  repeated  failure  of  the  Biitish  arms  in 
America,  having  created  much  dissatisfaction  both  at 
home  and  in  the  colonies,  a  change  of  ministry  was 
found  to  he  indispcnsablo,  in  order  to  secure  the  pub- 


40  HISTORY     OF    VEKMO?^T. 

lie  coiifidoiK'c  and  revive  flie  drooping  spirits  of  tlie 
nation  ;  m!^:(1  this  whs  eflertnally  done  hy  the  appoint- 
ment of  Wilhani  i*i?t  one  of  the  secretaries  of  state. 
From  this  time  the  British  affairs  in  America  assiuned 
a  more  favorable  aspect.  Instead  of  defeat  and  dis- 
gTace,  victory  and  triumph  now  usually  attended  the 
Enf!;lish  arms.  Tvleasures  vvf^re  concerted  with  wisdom 
and  priideiiee  and  execLstv^d  with  promptness  and  vi- 
cror. 

^.  In  y)lnnnine:  the  campaign  of  1758,  it  was  deter- 
mijied  that  tiie  Frencii  settlements  should  be  artacked 
ijpon  several  different  points  at  the  snme  time.  I'vveJve  ♦ 
tljoiisand  troo))s  were  to  attempt  the  reduction  of 
Louisburjj^  in  tlic?  island  of  Cape  Breton,  16000  were 
to  procee<l  against  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Poi)it, 
and  8000  against  Du  Quesne  ;  and  the  several  Ameri- 
can colonics  were  called  upon  to  furnish  iroo[)s,  and 
to  make  all  the  exertions  in  their  power  to  aid  and 
facilitate  these  ex])editions. 

3.  General  Amherst  took  conmiand  of  the  expe- 
dition against  Louisburg,  assisted  by  (ieneral,  Wolfe 
Whitmore  and  Lawrence,  and  by  Admiral  Boscawen, 
who  connnanded  the  fleet.  The  fleet,  consisting  of 
157  sail  and  having  the  trooj)s  on  board,  sailed  from 
Halifax  in  Nova  Scotia,  oii  the  28th  of  May,  and  on 
the  2nd  day  of  June,  anchored  about  seven  miles  west 
of  Louisburg.  On  the  8th  a  landing  was  effected 
under  the  galhuu  Wolfe,  and  in  a  few  days  the  [dace 
was  comy)letely  invested.  The  garrison  consist.-d  of 
tipwards  of  3000  mm,  mostly  regulars,  and  the  har- 
bor was  defended  by  six  ships  of  the  line  anil  Ave 
friffates,  all  under  the  command  of  rlievelier  Drucour. 
Amherst  proceeded  with  caution,  but  with  such  vigor 
that  the  F'rench  ships  were  soon  destroyed,  and  the 
garrison  surrendero<l  ihetuselves  j)risoners  of  war  on 
(heSGth  of  July. 

4.  The  expedition  a,?ainst  the  French  posts  on 
lake  Champlain,  devolved  upon  General  Abercrom^.ic. 
Having  a.semhicd  about  7000  regulaF  atid  'JOGO  pro- 


ABERCROMBIE     DEFEATED.  41 

vincial  troops,  with  a  fine  train  of  artillery  and  the 
necessary  military  stores,  he,  on  the  5th  ot"  July  em- 
barked his  army  at  fort  William  lienr}^,  on  board  900 
batteaux  and  135  whale  boats,  and  the  next  morning 
landed,  without  oi)position,  near  the  north  end  of  lake 
George.  Forming  his  men  into  three  columhs  he 
moved  forward  towards  the  enemy,  whose  advanced 
party,  consisting  of  one  battalion,  lay  encamped  be- 
hind a  breast-work  of  logs.  On  the  ap})roach  of  the 
English,  they  set  fire  to  their  breast-work  and  tents  and 
retreated  with  precipitation.  The  English  continued 
to  advance,  but  were  soon  embarrassed  and  throAvn 
into  some  disorder  by  the  thickness  of  the  wood. 

5.  Lord  Howe  v.as  in  the  front  of  the  centre  col- 
umn with  Major  Putnam,  when  a  skirmish  commenced 
on  the  lefl  'with  the  party  of  the  enemy  which  had 
retreated  from  the  breast-work.  One  hundred  men 
immediately  filed  oft'  under  Putnam  and  Howe,  and 
they  soon  fell  in  with  the  enemy,  whose  first  fire  proved 
fatal  to  his  lordsliip.  Howe  had  made  himself  the 
idol  of  the  army  by  his  affability  and  virtues,  and  his 
fall  animated  Putnam  and  Iiis  party  to  avenge  his 
death.  They  cut  their  way  through  the  enemy  and, 
beiiig  joined  by  anotlier  party  of  the  English,  slew 
about  300  of  the  French  and  took  1-^8  prisor.ers.  But 
the  English  columns,  being  broken  and  embarrassed 
by  the  thickness  of  the  wood,  Abercrombie  deemed 
it  advisable  to  march  back  to  the  place  where  they  had 
landed  in  the  morning,  rather  tlian  pass  the  night 
where  they  were.  Tiie  next  day  Col  Bradstreet,  with 
a  detachment  of  the  army  took  possession  of  the  saw 
mills  without  opposition  and  the  general  once  more 
advanced  upon  the  enemy. 

G.  The  fort  at  Ticonderog*a  was  very  favorably 
situated  for  defence.  It  was  surrounded  on  three 
sides  by  water,  and  about  half  the  other  side  was  jjro- 
tected  by  a  deep  s'vamp,  while  the  line  of  defence 
was  completed  by  the  erection  of  a  breast-work  nine 
feet  high  on  the  only  assailable  ground.  The  ground 
3* 


42  HISTORY     OF     VERMOxNT. 

before  the  breast- work  was  covered  with  lelled  tiees 
and  with  bushes,  arranged  with  a  view  to  iiii{)ede 
the  approach  of  the  English.  The  French  garrison 
consisted  of  6000  men  and  a  reinforcement  of  3000 
troops  under  JM.  de  Levy,  was  expected  soon  to  join 
them. 

7.     Abercrombie,  wishing  to  get  possession  of  the 
fort  before  the  garrison  sliould  be  augmented  by  the 
expected  reinforcement,  sent  Ibrward  his  engineer  to 
recoimoitcr  the  works,  who  reported  that  the  breast- 
work was  unfinished  and  that  he  behevcd  the  place 
iniglit  be  immediately    assaulted  by    musketry    with 
a  fair  prospect  of  success.     The  general  confiding  in 
this  intelligence,  marched  forward  to  the  attack  in  reg- 
ular order  and  with  undaunted  firmness.     The  French 
opened  upon    them   a    well  directed  fire  from    their 
artillery,  notwithstanding   vvhicn,  the  English  moved 
forward  undismayed  till  they  became  entangled  and 
stopped  by  the  timber  which  had  been  felled  to  im- 
pede their  approach.    For  four  hours  they  strove  to 
cut,  with  their  swords,  their  way  to  the  breast-work 
through   the    limbs  and  bushes,  but  without  success. 
All  this  time  they  were  ex})osed  to  the  dearlly  fire  of 
the  enemy,  who  were  completely  sheltered  by  their 
breast-work.     Their  numbers  contiinially  diminishing 
and   no    prospect  of  success  apj)earing,  Abercroml)ie 
thought  it  expedient  to  retreat,   and    accordingly  led 
back  his  army  to  their  former  encami)ment  without 
being  pursued  or  molested  by  the  enemy. 

8.  The  English  lost  in  this  encounter  1800  men, 
killed  and  wounded,  and  2500  stand  of  arms.  Every 
pail  of  the  army  ejigaged  behaved  with  coohiess  and 
intrepidity,  but  the  loss  fell  heavies^  on  a  highland 
regiment  connnanded  by  l>oi-d  JMurray.  Of  this  regi- 
ment one  half  of  the  j)rivates  and  25  officers  were 
either  slain  on  the  spot  or  severely  wounded.  So  se- 
vere a  loss  determhied  the  couimander-in-chief  to 
withdraw  from  this  scene  of  carnage,  and  he  hastened 
back  with  his  shattered  army  to  the  encamj)nient  at 


ABERCROMBIE    DEFEATED.  43 

lake  George,  from  whence  he  sent  oft' all  the  wound- 
ed, who  could  he  safely  removed,  to  fort  Edward  and 
Albany. 

9.  How  far  the  conduct  of  general  Abercrombie  is 
reprehensible  in  this  unfortunate  atfair,  it  is  difficult 
now  to  determine.  The  censure  cf  mankind  almost 
always  follows  misfortune  ;  and  so  it  was  in  the  pre- 
sent case.  The  attempt  to  take  the  fort  by  storm  was 
considered  a  lash  and  imprudent  measure — and  the 
retreat  was  condemned  as  pusillanimous  and  unne- 
cessary. And,  indeed,  with  troops,  who  had  manifested 
such  courage  and  intrepidity  in  the  assault,  it  is 
very  difficult  to  conceive  what  could  have  prevented 
the  commencement  of  a  regular  siege. 

10.  Notwitlistanding  his  defeat  and  mortification, 
Abercrombie  did  not  suffer  his  army  to  remain  inac- 
tive. He  dispatched  General  Staiiwix  to  erect  a  fort 
at  the  carrying  place  between  the  Mohawk  and  On 
ondaga  rivers ;  and  Col  Bradstreet,  with  3000  men, 
mostly  provincials,  was  ordered  to  proceed  against 
fort  Frontenac,  situated  at  the  outlet  of  lake  Ontario. 
Bradstreet  landed  his  men  within  one  mile  of  the  fort, 
before  the  enemy  had  any  intelligence  of  his  approach, 
and  the  garrison,  consisting  of  only  110  Frenchmen, 
with  a  few  Indians,  could  do  no  other  than  surrender 
at  discretion.  In  the  fort  were  found  GO  cannon,  IG 
mortars,  and  small  arms,  military  stores,  merchandise 
and  provisions  in  large  quajitities.  He  also  captured 
all  the  enemy's  shipping  on  the  lake,  consisting  of 
nine  armed  vessels ;  and  having  destroyed  them  and 
the  fort  he  returned  to  Oswego. 

11.  While  these  things  were  transacting  General 
Forbes  was  making  his  advances  towards  fort  Du 
Quesne  of  which  he  got  possession  on  the  24th  of 
November,  the  French  having  abandoned  it  and  re- 
treated down  the  Ohio  river.  Having  repaired  the 
works,  he  changed  the  name  of  the  fort  to  Pittsburgh, 
in  honor  of  William  Pitt,  the  secretary  of  state  who 
was  then  at  the  head  of  American  affairs.     Such  were 


44  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

tho  events  of  the  year  1758.  The  British  arms  had 
every  where  been  successful,  excepting  in  the  attack 
upon  Ticonderoga,  and  tlic  hopes  and  confidence  of 
the  j)nblic  were  every  where  revived.  General  Am- 
herst, having  left  a  strong  garrison  at  Louisbm-g  returned 
to  Boston.  Thence  he  proceeded,  about  the  middle 
of  Sei)tember  to  Albany  with  six  regimejits,  a)id  the 
remainder-  of  the  tall  and  winter  rvere  there  spent  in 
concerting  measures  and  making  preparations  for  the 
campaign  of  the  following  year. 


— ,  L'^.WLJfJ 


SECTION    VIII. 

French  and  English  Colonics — Transactions  of  1759  and 
\7'<i0.  (Quebec  taken — Ticond€rog;a,  Crown  Point  and 
J^uigra  taken — Expedition  ac^ainst  the  St  Francis  In- 
dians— Montreal  and  Canada  surrender. 

1.  The  advantages  obtained  over  the  French  in 
the  preceding  campaign  gave  the  British  Blinister 
reason  to  hope  this  year  to  comj)lete  the  conquest  of 
Canada.  Tiirec  expeditious  were  therefore  }))'ojectcd, 
one  against  Quebec  under  the  conunand  ofCen.  Wolfe, 
one  against  the  forts  on  lake  Champlain,  under  Gen. 
Amherst,  who  was  connnander-in-chief  of  the  British 
forces  in  America,  and  one  against  the  French  fort 
at  Niagra,  to  be  conducteil  by  Gen.  Prideaux  and  Sir 
WilMaai  Johnson.  It  was  believed  that  while  these 
generals  were  making  their  attacks  on  different  })oints, 
they  would  assist  eacli  other,  by  dividing  the  forces 
and  embarra'^sing  the  roimcils  of  the  eniMuy. 

2.  The  con(piest  of  Ciuebec  was  looked  u])on  as 
the  most  important  and  the  niost  difficidt  object  of 
the  campaign.  The  city  was  strongly  fortified  by  na- 
ture aufl  art,  Ibrmidablo  on  account  of  the  number 
and  bravery  of  its  inhabitants,  and  in  a  situation  in 


QLEBEC    INVESTED  BY    WOLFE.  45 

-w'hicli  it  conkl  not  be  much  injiired  by  a  fleet,  or  be  ap- 
j)roaelied  but  ^vith  extreme  difficulty  and  Jiazard  by 
lan<l.  As  soon  as  the  season  would  permit,  Wolfe 
embarked  his  troops  at  Louisburg,  sailed  up  the  St 
Lawrence  and  in  the  latter  part  of  June  landed  his 
whole  army  on  the  island  of  Orleans  a  little  below 
Quebec,  without  difficulty  or  opposition. 

3.  Quebec  A^'as  commanded  by  Montcalm,  an  able 
and  experienced  general  ;  and  was  defended  by  works 
wltich  were  deemed  impregnable,  and  hy  an  army 
mnrli  more  numerous  than  that  of  the  English.  Wolfe 
continued  his  offi:"ns:\e  operations  ^^"ithout  a  prospect  of 
5-iicccss  till  the  beginning  of  September,  when  it  was 
resolved,  if  possible,  to  effect  a  landing  above  the 
city,  and  Ijring  the  enemy  to  a  gen(n-al  engagement. 
The  fleet,  with  tlie  army  on  board,  moved  up  the 
river,  under  Admiral  Saunders,  and  efl'ected  a  landing 
on  the  12th  of  September  a  little  after  midnight. 
Wolfe  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  first  l>arty,  as- 
cended the  heights,  and  drew  up  his  men  in  order  as 
fast  as  they  arrived. 

4.  Montcalm  no  sooner  learned  that  the  British  had 
gained  the  heights  of  Abraham,  than  he  abandoned 
his  strong  camp  at  Montmorenci,  resolved  to  hazard 
an  engagement.  Both  armies  were  soon  drawn  up 
in  order  of  battle  with  their  respective  generals  at 
their  head.  About  9  o'clock  the  French  army  ad- 
vancefl,  opening  at  the  same  time  an  irregular  and 
ill  directed  fire.  The  fire  of  the  English  was  reserved 
Jill  the  enemy  had  apj)roached  within  40  yards  of 
their  line,  wiien  it  was  o|)ened  with  effect  and  kept 
up  with  much  sj)int.  Both  generals  were  determined 
to  conquer  or  <lie,  and  for  a  while  the  conflict  was 
dreadful.  But  the  English  advanced  with  such  firm- 
ness and  intrepidity,  tliat  the  French  were  unable  to 
stand,  and  were  soon  defeated  and  dispersed  or  made 
j>risoners. 

5.  Wolfe  and   Montcalm  both   fell   at  the   head  of 
tlicir  respective  armies.    The  loss  of  the  French  in 


46  HISTORY    OF    VEREMONT. 

this  battle  was  500  slain,  and  about  1000  prisonors. 
The  English  had  50  killed,  including  9  offi<;ers,  and 
500  wounded.  Tlie  French  disheartened  by  their 
losses,  were  thrown  into  great  confusion  ;  and  on  the 
18th  of  Septernper,  the  remainder  of  the  French  troops 
and  the  city  of  Quebec  were  surrendered  into  the 
hands  of  the  English. 

6.  While  these  things  were  transacting  at  Quebec, 
Gen.  Amherst  was  cautiously  advancing  along  lake 
Champlain.  He  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  Ticonderoga 
in  the  latter  part  of  July,  without  opposition,  and  im- 
mediately began  to  make  preparations  for  reducing 
the  fortress  by  a  regular  siege.  The  enemy  at  first 
manifested  a  disposition  to  make  a  resolute  stand,  but 
soon  dispaired  of  holding  out  against  the  cautious  ad- 
vances of  Amherst,  and,  on  the  27th  of  July,  having 
dismanded  the  fortress,  they  abandoned  it,  and  repair- 
ed to  Crown  Point. 

7.  The  next  day  Amherst  took  possession  of  the 
fort,  and  began  immediately  to  repair  and  enlarge  it, 
and  to  make  preparations  for  proceeding  against  Crown 
Point.  He  had  scouting  parties  continually  employed 
to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy,  one  of  which  return- 
ed to  the  English  camp  on  the  first  of  August  with  in- 
telligence that  the  French  had  abandoned  Crown  Point 
also,  and  had  gone  down  the  lake  without  destroying 
their  works.  A  body  of  rangers  was  immediately  dis- 
patched to  take  possession  of  the  place  a?id  on  the 
4th  of  Auffusc  the  v.holc  armv  moved  forward  to  Crown 
Point,  where  ihcy  also  enlarged  and  strengthened  the 
fortifications. 

8.  The  French  troops  retired  to  the  isle  Aux  Noix, 
which  is  situated  at  the  north  end  of  the  lake,  and 
efl(  ctiially  commands  the  pusstige  into  Canada  in  this 
quiirtyr.  Here  they  collected  their  forces,  to  the  amount 
of  3500,  well  provided  with  artillery,  and  resolved  to 
make  a  stand  against  the  I'^nglish.  The  French  hav- 
ing four  vessels  on  the  lake,  mount.(Ml  with  cannon, 
Amhoi-8t  thought  it  not  advisiible  to  proceed  further, 


MAJOR  ROGERS'  EXPEDITION.      47 

till  he  had  provided  a  superior  naval  force.  In  the 
mean  time  he  was  determined  that  the  Indians  should 
feel  his  resentment  for  their  repeated  depradations 
upon  the  English  colonies.  Maj.  Rogers,  a  barve  and 
experienced  officer  from  New  Hampshire,  was  there- 
fore selected  to  conduct  an  expedition  against  the  St 
Francis  Indians,  whose  village  was  situated  on  the 
south  side  of  the  St  Lawrence  not  far  from  Three  Riv- 
ers. These  Indians  were  noted  for  their  massaoes 
and  cruelties  to  the  English. 

9.  Rogers  embarked  at  Crown  Point,  on  the  12th 
of  September,  with  200  men,  and  proceeded  down 
the  lake  in  batteaux.  On  the  fifth  day  after  he  set 
out,  while  encamped  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake, 
a  keg  of  gunpowder  accidentally  ex])loded,  b}' which 
a  captain  and  several  men  were  wounded,  who  were 
sent  back  to  Crown  Point,  with  a  party  to  attend  them. 
This  event  reduced  Rogers'  force  to  142  men.  With 
these  he  moved  forward  to  Missisco  bay,  where  he 
concealed  his  boats  among  some  bushes  which  hung 
over  one  of  the  streams,  and  lefl  in  them  provisions 
sufficient  to  carry  them  back  to  Crown  Point. 

10.  Having  lefl  two  of  his  rangers  to  watch  the 
boats,  Rogers  advanced  into  the  wilderness  ;  but,  the 
second  evening  after  he  left  the  bay,  he  was  overtaken 
by  his  trusty  rangers,  and  informed  that  a  party  of 
400  French  and  Indians  had  discovered  the  boats  and 
sent  them  away  with  50  men,  and  that  the  remainder 
were  in  pursuit  of  the  English.  Rogers  kc\)t  this 
intelligence  to  himself,  but  dispatched  a  Lieutenant 
and  eight  men,  with  the  two  rangers,  to  Crown  Point, 
to  inform  (Jen.  Amherst  of  what  had  taken  place,  and 
request  him  to  send  provisions  to  Coos  on  Connecticut 
river,  Ly  which  route  he  intended  to  return. 

11.  Rogers  now  determined  to  outmarch  the  ene- 
my, and  pushed  onward  towards  St  Francis  with  the 
utmost  expedition.  He  como  in  sight  of  the  village 
on  the  evening  of  the  4th  of  October,  and,  leaving 
his  men  to  refresh  themselves,  he  dressed  himself  in 


48  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT, 

the  Indian  garb,  and  went  forward  to  recounoiter  the 
town.  He  found  the  Indians  engaged  in  a  grand 
dance,  without  apprehensions  of  danger,  and,  return- 
ing about  one  o'clock,  he  led  forward  hii-  men,  within 
500  yards  of  the  town.  At  four  o'clock,  the  dance 
was  ended  and  the  Indians  retired  to  rest.- 

12.  Having  posted  his  men  in  the  most  favorable 
situation,  at  day  break  Rogers  commenced  the  assault. 
The  place  was  completely  surprised.  The  Indian 
method  of  slaughter  was  adopted. — Wherever  the 
savages  were  found,  without  regard  to  age  or  sex, 
they  were  slain  without  distinction  and  witljout  mer- 
cy. As  the  light  appeared  the  ferocity  of  the  pro- 
vincials was  increased  by  discovering  the  scalps  of 
several  hundred  of  their  countrymen,  suspended  on 
]')oles  and  waving  in  the  air.  They  "were  iletermined 
to  revenge  the  blood  of  their  iiiends  and  relations,  and 
spared  no  ])ains  completely  to  destroy  the  village  and 
its  inhabitants.  Of  the  300  souls,  which  the  village 
contained,  200  were  slain  on  the  spot,  and  20  taken 
prisoners.  The  English  lost  only  one  killed  and  six 
slightly  wounded. 

13.  Having  reduced  the  village  to  ashes,  and,  re- 
freshed his  men,  Rogers  set  out  on  his  return,  at  8 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  with  the  addition  of  five  En- 
glish captives,  whom  lie  had  retaken,  and  such  articles 
of  })lunder  as  he  couid  eyeily  carry  away.  To  avoid 
his  pursuers  he  proceeded  up  the  river  St  Francis, 
and  directed  his  course  toward  Coos  on  the  Connec- 
ticut. On  his  march  he  was  several  times  attacked  in 
the  rear,  und  lost  seven  men,  but  forming  an  ambus- 
cade on  his  own  track,  he  at  length  fell  upon  the 
enemy  with  such  success  as  to  put  an  end  to  further 
annoyance  or  pursuit. 

14.  in  the  mean  tune,  by  ruder  of  Gen.  Amherst, 
Samuel  Steven's  and  three  others  proceeded  fiom 
C'lnulesiown  tip  Connecticut  river,  wirh  two  canoes, 
loaded  with  provisions.  They  landed  on  Round  island, 
at  the  mouth  of  Pas^umpsuc  river,  wh;.'re  thry  encainp- 


"•    l.NDIAN    AND     COLOMAL    WAKS.  49 

vd  for  the  night ;  but  in  the  morning,  hearing  the 
report  of  guns  and  supposing  Indians  to  be  in  tlie  vi- 
cinity, they  were  so  teitified,  that  they  reloaded  their 
provisions  and  Jiastened  back  to  Charlestown.  Rogers 
was  at  this  time  encamped  a  few  miles  up  the  Pas- 
sumpsuc.  About  noon  he  reached  the  mouth  of  that 
river,  and,  observing  fire  on  the  island,  he  made  a 
raft  and  passed  over  to  it ;  but  to  his  surprise  and 
disappointment,  no  provisions  had  been  left.  His  men, 
already  reduced  to  a  state  of  starvation,  nere  so  dis- 
heartened by  this  discovery  that  oG  of  them  died  before 
the  next  day.  An  Indian  was  then  cut  to  pieces  and 
divided  among  the  survivors ;  and  the  next  day  Ro- 
gers gave  up  the  command  of  his  men  and  told  them 
to  take  care  of  themselves.  Some  were  lost  in  the 
woods,  but  Rogers  and  most  of  his  party  after  almost 
incredible  hardships,  succeeded  in  reaching  Charles- 
town. 

15.  While  Rogers  was  humbling  the  Indians, 
Amherst  was  preparing  a  naval  force  to  attack  the 
enemy  at  the  Isle  Aux  I\  oix.  This  being  in  readiness, 
he  proceeded  down  the  lake  in  the  beginning  of  Oc- 
tober ;  but,  the  season  being  far  advanced  and  the 
weather  becoming  tempestuous,  the  expedition  was 
abandoned,  and  he  returned  to  Crown  Point,  after 
having  taken,  or  destroyed,  most  of  the  enemy's  ship- 
I)ing.  Here  Amherst  spent  the  remainder  of  the 
autumn  in  enlarging  the  works  and  putting  every 
thing  in  readiness  for  another  camj)aign. 

16.  Gen.  Pridcaux  had  proceeded  to  Niagara  in\ 
the  begiiuiing  of  summer,  and  invested  the  fort  about 
the  middle  of  July  ;  but,  being  unfortunately  kilLd  on 
the  20tli  of  that  month,  the  command  devolved  upon 
Sir  William  Johnson.  Johnson  })rosecuted  the  siege 
with  the  great'St  vigor,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the 
24th  of  July,  intercepted  and  defeated,  after  a  severs 
condict,  a  body  of  ]  200  French  and  some  Indians,  who 
were  marching  to  the  relief  of  the  garrison.  This 
battle  was  fought  in   sight  of  the   fort,  and,  in  the 

o 


50  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT. 

evening  of  the  same  day,  the  garrison  surrendered 
themselves  prisonei's  of  war. 

17.  Montreal  was  now  the  only  place  of  much 
sti'ength,  or  consequence,  in  possession  of  the  French  ; 
and  towards  this  point,  at  the  opening  ot  the  campaign 
of  1760,  the  English  concentrated  all  their  efforts. 
It  was  resolved  that,  while  Gen.  Murray,  with  the 
English  forces  at  Quebec,  proceeded  up  the  St  Law- 
rence, Coi  Haviland  should  lead  on  the  forces  from 
lake  Champlain,  and  Gen.  Amherst  should  approach  . 
Montreal  with  a  considerable  force  by  the  way  of 
lake  Ontario.  These  armies  moved  forward  with 
but  little  opposition,  and,  what  is  remarkable,  without 
any  knowledge  of  each  others'  progi-ess,  they  all" 
arrived  at  Montreal  on  the  6th  and  7th  of  September^ 
within  two  days  of  each  other. 

18.  Amherst  began  immediately  to  prepare  for 
laying  siege  to  the  city,  and  was  getting  on  his  ar- 
tillery for  that  pui-pose,  when  he  received  a  flag  of 
truce  from  Vaudrieul,  the  French  commander,  who 
sent  two  officers,  demanding  proposals  for  a  capitu- 
lation. Amherst  stated  his  terms,  to  which  the  French 
finally  submitted,  and,  on  the  8th  of  September,  1760, 
the  whole  province  of  Canada  was  surrendered  ta 
the  British  ;  and  by  the  treaty  of  peace  signed  at 
Paris,  February  10,  ]7(YA,  this  province  was  formally 
ceded  to  the  king  of  Great  Britain. 


HISTORY  OF  VERMONT. 


CHAPTER    II. 


SETTLEMENT  AND  CONTROVERSY  WITH  NEW  TORE. 


SECTION    I. 

Vermont  previous  to  the  year  1760. 

1.  During  the  Colonial  and  Indian  wars,  the  ter- 
ritory of  Vermont,  as  already  remarked,  was  the  great 
thoroughfare,  through  which  most  of  their  expeditions 
proceeded,  and  on  which  many  of  their  battles  were 
fought.  Being  situated  nearly  at  an  equal  distance 
from  the  French  on  the  one  hand  and  the  English 
on  the  other,  it  was  constantly  exposed  to  the  depre- 
dations of  both,  and  became  the  favorite  lurking 
place  of  their  Indian  allies.  On  this  account  the 
settlement  of  the  country  had  long  been  regarded 
as  dangerous  and  impracticable:  nor  was  it  until  after 
the  complete  conquest  of  Canada  by  the  English  in 
1760,  that  any  considerable  settlements  were  made. 
Several  places,  it  is  true,  had  been  previously  occupied 
l)oth  by  the  French  and  English  ;  but  tliey  are  rather 
to  be  regarded  as  militaiy  posts  than  actual  settle- 
ments. 

2.  The  first  civilized  establishment  within  the  pre- 


52  HISTORY    or    VERMONT. 

sent  limits  of  Vermont,  was  made  in  1724,  by  the 
erection  of  foil  Dunuufr,  in  the  southeastern  corner 
of  the  townshi})  of  Brail h'borough.  The  whole  of 
this  tract  of  country  had  j)revious]y,  from  time  im- 
memorial, been  in  possession  of  the  native  Indians. 
But  it  does  not  aj)pear,  that,  subsequent  to  the  dis- 
covery of  this  territory  by  Champlain  in  1609,  the 
natives  had  ever  resided  here  in  very  considerable 
numbers.  The  western  parts,  including  lake  Cham- 
plain,  were  claimed  b}^  the  Irotjuois,  the  northeastern 
parts  and  iakeMeini;hremagog,  by  the  St  Francis  and 
other  Canadian  tribes,  ar.d  the  soutlieastern  j)arts  on 
Connecticut  river  were  regarded  as  belonging  to  the 
natives  in  the  neighborhood  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 
Some  cstablislmients  wore,  at  times,  made  upon  the 
shores  of  these  waters  by  these  several  tribes,  but  it 
appears  that  this  tenitory  was  rather  regarded  by  them 
as  a  hunting  grormd  than  a  ])ermanent  residence. 

3.  Although  this  tract  of  country  was  in  some 
parts  mountainous  and  un])roductive,  the  forests 
were,  in  general,  well  stored  with  game,  and  the  lakes, 
rivers  and  smaller  streams  abounded  in  excellent 
fish,  which  might  have  aflbrded  subsistence  to  a  very 
considerable  ])opulation  hi  the  savage  state.  We 
must  therefore  look  to  some  other  cause  for  the  scan- 
tiness of  the  population  of  these  regions,  than  the 
incapacity  of  the  country  to  PUj)port  it;  and  this  is 
undoubtedly  to  be  foinid  in  its  local  situation  with 
respect  to  the  various  Indian  nations.  Lying  on  the 
frontier  of  several  powerful  tribes  an  lio  were  inces- 
santly at  war  witli  each  other,  it  became  the  bloody 
theatre  of  their  battles  and  was  constantly  exposed 
to  hostile  invasions  from  eAery  qiiartor.  ITence  we 
perceive  that  the  same  causes  ).r(>vt.nted  its  becoming 
a  permanent  residence  of  the  Indians  in  earlier  times, 
which  operated  during  the  colonial  wars  to  prevent 
its  being  settled  bv  the  French  and  Fnglish. 

4.  As  eaily  as  the  year  1752,  it  was  j)roposed  by 
the  English  to  lay  out  a  townshi})  and  conmience  a 


FIRST    SETTLEMEItTS.  53 

settlement  at  Coos,  on  the  west  side  of  Connecticut 
river,  where  the  township  of  Newbury  in  this  state 
now  lies  ;  and  a  party  proceeded  up  the  river  for  that 
purpose.  But  before  they  had  completed  their 
survey,  they  were  observed  by  a  party  of  St  Francis 
Indians,  who,  perceiving  tlieir  design,  forbade  their 
proceeding  and  compelled  them  to  return  without 
accomplishing  their  object.  The  Indians  at  the  same 
time  sent  a  message  to  the  commander  of  the  fort  at 
Charlestown,  N.  H.  stating  to  him  in  the  most  positive 
terms  that  they  should  not  suffer  the  English  to 
settle  at  Coos  ;  and  so  much  was  the  resentment  of 
the  Indians  dreaded  at  this  early  period,  that  the  un- 
dertaking was  immediately  relinquished. 

5.  Soon  after  the  erection  of  fort  Dummer,  several 
block-houses  were  built  Tor  the  ]>rotection  of  the 
settlers  in  that  part  of  Hinsdale,  N.  H.  which  was 
situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  Connecticut,  and 
which  is  now  called  Vernon ;  and,  before  the  year 
1754,  settlements  had  been  commenced  in  Vermont 
as  far  up  the  Connecticut  as  Westminster  and  Rock- 
ingham. But  their  advancement  was  now  stopped 
by  the  breaking  out  of  what  was  called  the  French 
War,  which  continued,  as  related  ini|the  prece- 
ding chapter,  till  the  final  conquest  of  Canada  in 
1760.  During  this  war,  these  feeble  settlements 
were  continually  haiTassed  and  annoyed  by  the 
French  and  Indians.  The  inhabitants  could  not 
cultivate  their  fields  without  being  every  moment 
exposed  to  the  deadly  fire  of  a  lurking  foe.  Their 
block-houses  were  frequently  surprisr'd  a  sd  taken, 
and  the  inhabirants  either  massacred,  or  cai'ried  inio 
captivity. 

6.  No  permanent  settlement  was  effected  in  Ver- 
mont on  the  west  side  of  the  Green  Mountains,  till 
after  the  conquest  of  Canada  by  the  English.  When 
the  French  proceeded  up  lake  Champlain  and  erected 
their  fortress  at  Crown  Point,  in  1731,  they  began  a 
settlement  at  the  same  time  on  the  cast  side  of  the 


54  HISTORY    07    VERMONT. 

lake  in  the  present  townsliip  of  Addison.  This  settle- 
ment was,  however,  broken  up  and  all  the  settlers 
retired,  with  the  Fren$-h  garrison,  into  Canada, 
before  Gen.  Amherst  in  1759. 

7.  Such  was  the  original  condition  of  Vermont, 
and  such  were  the  establishments  inade  within  its 
limits  pi-evious  to  the  year  1760.  No  permanent 
settlements  had  been  macje,  at  the  close  of  this  period, 
except  upon  the  banks  of  Connecticut  river,  in  the 
present  county  of  Windham,  and  here  the  settlers 
were  few  and  scattered,  prol)ably  not  amounting  in 
the  whole  to  more  than  two  or  three  hundred.  But 
in  their  expeditions  against  the  French,  the  English 
colonists  had  made  themselves  acquainted  with  the 
fertility  and  value  of  the  lands  lying  between  Con- 
necticut river  and  lake  Champlain,  and  the  conquest 
of  Canada  having  now  removed  the  difKculty  and 
danger  of  settling  them,  swarms  of  adventurers  began 
to  emigrate  hither,  and  from  the  year  1760.  the  popu- 
lation of  Vermont  began  to  increase  with  considerable 
rapidity. 


SECTION    II. 


Controversy  between  JVew  Hampshire  and  JVew  Yo7'ki 
respecting  the  territori)  of  Vermont— from  1749  to 
1764. 

1.  "When  the  English  commenced  their  establish- 
ment at  fort  Dummer,  that  fort  was  supj)osed  to  lie 
within  the  limits  of  Massachusetts,  and  the  settlements 
in  that  vicinity  were  first  made  under  grants  from 
that  provincial  government.  But  after  a  long  and 
tedious  controversy,  between  Massachusetts  and  New 
Hampshire  respectnig  their  division  line,  king  George 
II.  finally  decreed,  on  the  5th  of  March,  1740,  that 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  province  of  Massachu- 


CONTROVERSY N.  H.  -AND    N.    YORK.  55 

setts,  be  a  similar  curve  line,  pursuing  the  coui'se  of 
the  Meriiiiac  river,  at  three  miles  distant  on  the 
north  side  thereofj  beginning  at  the  Atlantic  ocean, 
and  ending  at  a  point  due  (jjorth  of  Patucket  falls  ; 
and  a  straight  line  drawn  from  thence  due  west  until 
it  meeis  his  Majesty's  other  governments. 

2.  This  line  was  surveyed  by  Richard  Hazen,  in 
1741,  when  fort  Dummer  ^^■as  found  to  lie  beyond 
the  limits  of  Massachusetts  to  the  north  ;  and,  as  the 
king  of  Great  Britain  repeatedly  recommended  to  the 
assembly  of  New  Ham])shire  to  mike  provision  for 
its  support,  it  was  generally  supposed  to  have  fallen 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  that  province,  and,  being 
situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  Connecticut,  it  was 
supposed  that  New  Hampshire  extended  as  far  west- 
ward as  Massachusetts ;  that  is,  to  a  line  twenty  miles 
east  of  Hudson's  river. 

3.  In  the  year  1741,  Benning  Wentworth  was 
commissioned  governor  of  the  province  of  New 
Hampshire.  On  the  3d  of  January,  1749,  he  made 
a  grant  of  a  to\^nship  of  land  six  miles  scjuare,  situa- 
ted, as  he  conceived,  on  the  western  border  of  New 
Hampshire,  being  twent}'  miles  east  of  the  Hudson 
and  six  miles  north  of  Massachusetts  line.  This 
township,  in  allusion  to  his  own  name,  he  called 
Bennington.  About  the  same  time,  a  correspondence 
was  opened  between  him  and  the  governor  of  the 
province  of  New  York,  in  which  were  urged  their 
respective  titles  to  the  lands  on  the  west  side  of  Con- 
necticut river  ;  yet  without  regard  to  these  interfering 
claims,  Wentworth  proceeded  to  make  further  grants. 

4.  These  grants  had  amounted  to  16  townships 
in  1754,  but,  this  year,  hostilities  were  commenced 
between  the  French  and  English  colonies,  \Ahich  })ut 
a  stop  to  further  api)hcations  and  grants  till  the  close 
of  the  war,  in  1760.  During  this  war,  the  New  Eng- 
land troops  opened  a  road  from  Charlestown  in  New 
Hampshire  to  Crown  Point,  and  by  frequendy  passing 
through  these  lands,  became  well   acquainted  with 


56  HISTORY    OF    VERMOrfT. 

their  fertility  and  value  ;  and  the  conquest  of  Canada 
having  finally  removed  the  danger  of" settling  in  this 
part  of  the  country,  these  Jands  were  now  eagerly 
sought  hy  adventurers  a^^d  speculators. 

5.  The  governor  of  New  Hampshire,  by  advice 
of  his  council,  now  ordered  a  survey  to  be  made  of 
Connecticut  river  for  sixiv  miles,  and  three  tiers  of 
townships  to  be  laid  out  on  each  side.  As  the  ap- 
plications for  lands  still  increased,  further  surveys 
were  ordered  to  be  made,  and  so  numerous  Avere 
the  applications,  that  during  the  year  1761,  no  less 
than  sixty  townships  of  six  miles  square  were  granted 
on  the  west  side  of  Connecticut  river.  The  whole 
number  of  grants,  in  one  or  two  years  more,  had 
amounted  to  one  hundred  and  thirty  eight.  Their 
extent  was  from  Connecticut  on  tiie  east  to  what  was 
esteemed  twenty  miles  east  of  Hudson  river,  so  far 
as  that  river  extended  to  the  northward,  and  after 
that  as  far  westwanj  as  lake  Champlain. 

6.  By  the  fees  and  other  emoluments,  which 
Wentworth  received  in  return  for  these  grants,  and 
V)y  reserving  five  hundred  acres  in  each  township  for 
himself,  he  was  evidently  accumulating  a  large  for- 
tune. The  government  of  New  York,  wishing  to 
have  the  jiroiits  of  these  lands,  became  alarmiMl  at 
the  proceedings  of  the  governor  of  New  Hanqishire 
and  determined  to  check  them.  For  this  purpose 
Mr  Colden,  liout  governor  of  New  York,  on  the 
28th  of  December,  17G3,  issued  a  proclamation,  in 
which  he  recited  the  grants  made  by  Charles  II.  to 
the  Duke  of  York,  in  16G4,  and  in  1674,  which  em- 
braced among  other  parts  "  all  the  lands  from  the 
west  side  of  Connecticut  river  to  the  east  side  of 
Delaware  bay."  Founding  his  claim  upon  this  grant, 
he  ordered  the  sherilf  of  the  comity  of  Albany  to 
make  returns  of  the  names  of  all  ]>ersons  who  had 
taken  [)ossessioii  ol"  lands  on  the  w(\st  side  of  the 
Comiectif'ut,  under  titles  derived  from  the  govern- 
mont  of  New  Hampshire. 


PROCLAMATIONS  OF  THE  GOVERNORS.      57 

7.  To  prevent  the  effects  wliich  this  proclamation 
was  calculated  to  ])ro(Uice,  and  to  inspire  confidence 
in  the  validity  of  the  New  Ham})shire  grants,  the  gov- 
ernor of  New  Hanipsliire,  on  his  pait,  put  forth  a 
counter  proclamation,  on  the  13th  of  March,  1764,  in 
which  he  declared  thai  the  grant  to  the  Duke  of  York 
was  obsolete ; — tljat  New  Hampshire  extended  as  far 
west  as  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  and  that  (he 
grants  made  by  New  Hampshire  would  he  confirm- 
ed hy  the  crown,  if  the  jurisdiction  should  be  altered. 
He  exhorted  the  settlers  to  be  industrious  and  diligent 
in  cultivating  their  lands,  and  not  to  be  intimidated 
by  the  tlireatenings  of  New  York.  He  required  all 
the  civil  officers  to  exercise  jurisdiction  as  far  west 
as  grants  had  been  made,  and  to  j)unish  all  disturbers 
of  the  peace.  This  proclamation  served  to  quiet  the 
minds  of  the  settlers.  Having  purchased  their  lands 
under  a  charter  from  a  royal  governor,  and  after  such 
assurances  from  him,  they  had  no  idea  that  a  con- 
troversy between  the  two  provinces,  respecting  the 
extent  of  the  jurisdiction,  would  ever  effect  the  va- 
lidity of  their  titles. 

8.  New  York  had  hitherto  founded  her  claim  to 
the  lands  in  question  upon  the  grant  to  the  Duke  of 
York,  but  choosing  no  longer  to  rely  on  so  precarious 
a  tenure,  ap])lication  was  now  made  to  the  crown  for 
a  confirmation  of  their  claims.  This  application  was 
supported  by  a  j)etition,  purporting  to  be  signed  by  a 
great  number  of  the  settlers  on  the  New  Ham])shire 
grouts,  representing  that  it  would  be  for  their  advant- 
age to  be  annexed  to  the  colony  of  New  York,  and 
praying  that  the  western  bank  of  Connecticut  river 
mighc  be  established,  as  the  eastern  boundary  of  that 
province.  In  consequence  of  this  p(;tition  and  ap- 
plication of  the  government  of  New  York,  his  Majesty, 
on  the  20th  of  July,  1764,  ordered  that  "the  western 
bank  of  Connecticut  river,  from  where  it  enters  the 
]?rovince  of  Massachusetts  bay,  as  far  north  as  the  45th 
degree  of  north  latitude,  be  the  boundai-y  line  be- 


SB  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT. 

tween  the  said  provinces  of  New  Hampshire  and 
New^  York."  Tliis  determination  does  not  appear  to 
be  founded  on  any  previous  grant,  but  w^as  a  decision 
which  the  wishes  and  convenience  of  the  people 
were  supposed  to  demand. 

9.  Surprised  as  were  the  settlers  on  the  New 
Hampshire  grants  at  this  order,  it  })roduced  in  them 
no  serious  alarm.  They  regarded  it  as  merely  ex- 
tending the  jurisdiction  of  New  York,  in  future,  over 
their  territory.  To  this  jurisdiction  they  were  willing 
to  submit ;  but  they  had  no  apprehension  that  it 
could,  in  any  way,  affect  their  title  to  the  lands  upon 
which  they  had  settled.  Having  purchased  and  paid 
for  them,  and  obtained  deeds  of  the  same  under 
grants  from  the  crown,  they  could  not  imagine  by 
what  perversion  of  justice  they  could  be  compelled, 
by  the  same  authority,  to  re-purchase  their  lands  or 
abandon  them.  The  governor  of  New  Hampshire, 
at  first,  remonstrated  against  this  change  of  jurisdic- 
tion ;  but  was,  at  length,  induced  to  abandon  the 
contest,  and  issued  a  proclamation  recommending  to 
the  proprietors  and  settlers,  due  obedience  to  the  au- 
thority and  laws  of  the  colony  of  New  York. 


SECTION    III. 

Controversy  with  JVew  York  from  1764  to  1773. 

1.  The  royal  decree,  by  which  the  division  line 
between  New  Hampshire  and  New  York  was  estab- 
lished, was  regarded  very  differently  by  the  different 
parties  concerned.  The  settlers  on  the  New  Hamp- 
shire grants,  considered,  that  it  only  placed  them 
hereafter  under  the  jtiris(hction  of  New  York,  and  to 
this  they  wore  wilhng  to  submit;  but  they  had  no 
idea  that  their  titles  to  their  lands,  or  that  any  past 
ti'ansactions,  could  bo  affected  by  it.     Had  the  gov- 


CONTROVERSY — W.  Y.  AND  THE  SETTLERS.     59 

eramenl  of  New  York  given  the  royal  decision  the 
same  interpretation,  no  controversy  would  ever  have 
arisen.  The  settlers  would  have  acknowledged  its 
jurisdiction  and  submitted  to  its  authority  without  a 
murmur.  But  that  government  gave  the  decision  a 
very  different  construction.  It  contended  that  the 
order  had  a  retrospective  operation,  and  decided,  not 
only  what  should  thereafter  be,  but  what  had  always 
been,  the  eastern  limit  of  New  York,  and  consequent- 
ly, that  the  grants  made  by  New  Hauipshire  were 
illegal  and  void. 

2.  In  this  state  of  things  the  government  of  New 
York  jK'oceeded  to  extend  its  jtuisdiction  over  the 
New  Hamjjshire  grants.  The  territory  was  divided 
into  four  counties,  and  courts  of  justice  were  estab^ 
hshed  in  each.  The  settlers  were  called  upon  to 
surrender  their  charters  and  re-purchase  their  lands 
under  grants  from  New  York.  Some  of  them  com- 
plied with  this  order,  but  most  of  them  pereni])torily 
refused.  The  lands  of  those  who  did  not  comply, 
were  therefore  granted  to  othej-s,  in  whose  namesr 
actions  of  ejectment  were  commenced  in  the  courts 
at  Albany,  and  juilgments  invariably  obtained  against 
the  settlei-s  and  original  proprietors. 

3.  The  settlers  soon  found  that  they  had  nothing 
to  hope  from  the  customary  forms  of  law,  and  there- 
fore determined  upon  resistance  to  the  unjust  and 
arbitrary  decisions  of  the  court,  till  his  Majesty's 
pleasure  should  be  further  known.  Having  fairly 
purchased  their  lands  of  one  royal  governor  they 
were  determined,  not  willingly  to  submit  and  re- 
purchase them,,  at  an  exhorbitant  price,  of  another; 
and  when  the  executive  officers  of  New  York  came 
to  eject  the  inhabitants  from  their  j)ossessions,  they 
met  with  avowed  op-position,  and  were  not  suffered 
to  proceed  in  the  execution  of  their  business. 

4.  For  the  purpose  of  rendering  tlieir  resistance 
more  effectual,  various  associations  were  formed 
among  the  settlers  ;  andy  at  length,  a  convention  of 


60  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

re[)resentatives  from  the  several  towns  on  the  west 
side  of  the  mountains,  was  called.  Tliis  cojnention, 
after  mature  dL'lif)cration,  appointed  Samuel  Robin- 
son of  Bennington,  an  agent  to  represent,  to  the  Court 
of  Great  Britain,  the  grievances  of  the  settlers,  and 
to  obtain,  if  possible,  a  confirmation  of  the  New 
Hampshire  grants.  The  actions  of  ejectment  were, 
however,  still  going  on  in  the  courts  at  Albany,  but 
no  iiii-ntion  was  paid  to  them  by  the  settlers,  nor  was 
liny  dyfence  made  ;  but  the  settlers  were  very  careful 
that  none  of  the  decisions  of  the  court  should  be  car- 
ried into  execution. 

5.  In  consequence  of  the  representations  made 
by  Mr  Robhison  at  the  British  Court,  his  Majesty 
issued  a  special  order,  i)rohibiting  the  governor  of 
New  York,  upon  ])ain  of  his  Majesty's  highest  dis- 
pleasure, from  making  any  further  grants  wjiaisoever 
of  the  lands  in  (juestion,  till  his  Majesty's  further 
pleasure  should  be  known  concerning  the  same.  But, 
notwithstanding  this  exjdicit  prohibition,  the  gov- 
ernor of  New  York  continued  to  make  grants,  and 
writs  of  ejectment  continued  to  be  issued.  About 
this  time,  a  convention  of  the  settlers  was  held  at 
Bennington,  in  v»^hich  it  was  "  Resolved  to  supjjort 
their  rights  and  property  which  they  possessed  under 
the  New  Hampshire  grants,  against  the  usurpation 
and  unjust  claims  of  the  governor  and  council  of 
New  York,  hij  force,  as  law  and  justice  were  denied 
them." 

6.  A  spirited  and  determined  resistance  to  the 
civil  officers  of  New  York,  follewed  the  adoption  of 
this  resolution,  and,  in  consetjuence,  several  of  the 
settlers  were  infUcted  as  riotens.  But  the  officers 
sent  to  apprehend  them,  says  a  writer  of  that  period, 
"  were  seized  by  the  peojile  and  severely  chastised 
with  iwif!;s  of  the  mlderntss.^'*  A  military  association 
WHS  now  formed,  of  which  Ethan  Allen  was  appoint- 
ed Colonel  Commandant,  and  Seth  Warner,  Remem- 
ber Barker,  Robert  Cockran,  Gideon  Warner,   and 


CONTROVERSY — N.  Y.  AND  THE  GRANTS.     6l 

Bome  Others  were  appointed  cajjtains.  Committees 
of  safety  were  likewise  appointed  in  several  of  the 
towns  on  the  west  side  of  the  Green  Mountains. 

7.  On  the  other  hand,  the  militia  were  ordered 
out  to  assist  the  sheriff  in  the  execution  of  his  office* 
But  the  militia  of  the  neighborhood  were  rather  in 
sentiment  with  the  settlers,  and  had  no  disposition  to 
hazard  their  lives  for  the  emolument  of  a  few  specu- 
lators ;  and  the  sheriff  found  his  power  as  unavailing 
with  the  posse  comitatus,  as  without  them  ;  for  upon  the 
appearance  of  an  armed  opposition,  he  found  it  im- 
possible to  keej)  the  militia  together.  While  affairs 
were  in  this  state,  the  governor  of  New  York  issued 
a  proclamation,  offering  a  reward  of  £150  for  the 
apprehension  of  Ethan  Allen,  and  £50  each,  for  Seth 
Warner  and  five  others.  Allen  and  the  other  pre- 
scribed persons,  in  their  turn,  issued  a  proclamation 
offering  five  pounds  for  apprehending  and  deliv- 
ering to  any  officer  of  the  Grten  Mountain  Boys,  the 
attorney  General  of  the  colony  of  New  York. 

8.  lu  1772  the  governor  of  New  York  made  an 
attempt  to  conciliate  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  New  Hampshire  grants,  and  with  that  view  wrote 
to  the  Rev.  IMr  Dewy  of  Bennington,  and  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Bennington  and  the  adjacent  country, 
inviting  them  to  lay  before  him  tiie  causes  of  their  ille- 
gal proceedings.  He  assured  them  that,  both  he' and 
the  council,  were  disposed  to  give  them  such  relief  as 
the  situation  and  circumstances  of  the  peoj)le  would 
justify,  and  he  engaged  lull  security  and  protection  to 
any  persons  they  might  choose  to  send  to  New  York 
on  tbat  business,  excepting  Alien,  Warner  and  three 
others. 

9.  Answers  were  written  to  this  commimication 
of  Gov.  Tryon,  by  the  inhabitants,  and  L)y  the  ex- 
cepted persons,  in  which  they  gave  an  explanation 
of  their  conduct,  and  of  the  pjinciples  upon  which 
they  acted.  They  also  appointed  Capt,  Stephen  Fay 
and  Mr  Jurias  Fay  to  wait  upon  the  governor  with 
their  communicatiuns,  and  negotiate  business  on  the 

6 


62  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

part  of  the  settlers.  These  agents  were  kindly  re- 
ceived by  his  Excellency,  and  had  their  grievances 
laid  before  the  council.  The  council  reported  in 
their  favor,  and  recoinmenrled  that  his  Excellency 
afford  all  the  relief  in  his  power,  by  suspending,  until 
his  Majesty's  pleasure  should  be  known,  all  prosecu- 
tions in  behalf  of  the  crown,  on  account  of  crimes 
with  which  the  settlers  stood  charged.  They  further 
reconnnended  that  the  owners  of  disputed  landsy 
claimed  under  gi'ants  from  New  York,  should  sus- 
pend, during  the  same  period,  all  civil  suits  concern- 
ing the  lands  in  question. 

10.      The  report  was  approved  by  the  governor 
and  communicated  to  the  inhabitants  of  Bennington 
and  the  vicinity.     But  while  this  business  was  trans- 
acting, the  Green   Mountain  Boys  proceeded  to  dis- 
possess certain  settlers  upon  Otter  Creek,  who  claim- 
ed their  lands  under  titles  derived  from  New  York  ; 
in  consequence    of   which   the   overnor    again  ad- 
dressed  a   letter  to    the    inhabitants   requiring   the 
lands  and  tenements  to  be  restored  forthwith  to  the 
dispossessed  persons.     An  answer  to  this  letter  was 
returned  by  a  convention  of  delegates  from  the  prin- 
cipal towns  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountains  held 
at    Manchester,    August  27th,  1772,  in   which   they 
gave  a  minute  and  full  account  of  their  transactions> 
in  dispossessing  the  settlers  on  Otter  Creek  and  con- 
tended that  their   proceedings  were  justifiable  from 
the  cinMimstances  of  the  case.     The  inhabitants  re- 
quested his  Excellency  to  return  an  answer  to  their 
communication,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  he  saw 
fit  to  comi)Iy,  and  here  the  negotiation  pcrobably  end- 
ed. 


CHARACTER  OF  THB  SETTLERS.         63 


SECTION    IV. 

Vharacier  of  the  settlers  on  the  JVeiv  Hampsire  grants 
and  their  modes  of  punishment. 

1.  The  settlers  on  the  New  Hami)shire  grants 
were  a  brave,  hardy,  but  uncultivated  race  of  men. 
They  knew  little  of  the  etiquette  of  refined  society, 
were  blessed  with  few  of  the  advantages  of  educa- 
tion, and  were  destitute  of  the  elegancies,  and  in 
iHost  cases  of  the  common  conveniences  of  life. 
They  were  sensible  that  thej?^  must  rely  upon  the  la- 
bor of  their  own  hands  for  their  daily  subsistence, 
:and  for  the  accummulation  of  property.  They 
possessd  minds  which  were  naturally  strong  and  ac- 
tive, and  they  were  aroused  to  the  exercise  of  their 
highest  energies  by  the  difficulties  which  they  were 
compelled  to  encounter.  The  controversy  in  which 
they  were  engaged  involved  their  dearest  rights. 
On  its  issue  depended  not  only  their  titles  to  their 
possessions,  but,  in  many  cases,  their  personal  liberty 
and  safety.  Though  unskilled  in  the  rules  of  logic, 
their  reasoning  was  strong  and  conclusive,  and  they 
possessed  the  courage  and  perseverance  necessary 
for  carrying  their  decisions  into  execution. 

2.  We  have  already  observed  that,  at  the  head  of 
the  opposition  to  the  proceedings  of  New  York, 
stood  Ethan  Allen,  a  man  obviously  fitted  by  na- 
ture for  the  circumstances  and  exigencies  of  the 
times.  Bold,  ardent  and  unyielding,  he  possessed 
an  unusual  degree  of  vigor  both  of  body  and  mind, 
and  an  unlimited  confidence  in  his  own  abilities. 
With  these  qualifications,  the  then  existing  state  of 
.the  settlement  rendered  him  peculiarly  fitted  to  be- 
come a  prominent  and  successful  leader.  During 
the  progress  of  the  controversy,  Allen  wrote  and  dis- 
persed several  pamphlets,  in  which  he  exhibited,  in 


64  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

a  manner  peculiar  to  himself,  and  well  suited  to  the 
state  of  public  feeling,  the  injustice  and  cruelty  of 
the  claims  and  ])roceedings  of  New  York.  And  al- 
though tliese  pami)h]cts  are  unworthy  of  notice  as 
literaiy  productions,  yet,  they  were  at  the  time  exten- 
sively circulated,  and  contributed  much  to  inform  the 
minds,  arouse  the  zeal,  and  unite  the  efforts  of  the 
settlers. 

3.  The  uncultivated  roughness  of  Allen's  temper 
and  manners  were  well  suited  to  give  a  just  descrip- 
tion of  the  views  and  proceedings  of  a  band  of 
speculating  and  unprincipled  land  jobbers.  His 
method  of  writing  was  likewise  well  adapted  to  the 
condition  and  feelings  of  the  setders,  and  probably 
exerted  a  gi'eater  influence  over  their  opinions  and 
conduct;  than  the  same  sentiments  would  have  done 
clothed  in  the  chaste  style  of  classic  elegance.  Nor 
did  it  differ  greatly  m  style,  or  literary  merit,  from 
the  pamphlets  which  came  from  New  York.  But 
though  Allen  wrote  with  asperity  and  freedom,  there 
was  something  generous  and  noble  in  his  conduct. 
He  refrained  from  every  thing  which  had  the  appear- 
ance of  meanness,  injustice,  cruelty  or  abuse  towards 
those  who  fell  into  his  power,  and  protested  against 
the  same  in  others. 

4.  Next  to  Allen,  Seth  Warner  seems  to  have 
acted  the  most  conspicuous  part  among  the  settlers. 
He,  like  Allen,  was  firm  and  resolute,  fully  detennin- 
ed  that  the  decisions  of  New  York  against  the  settlers 
should  never  be  carried  into  execution.  But  while 
Allen  was  daring  and  sometimes  rash  and  imprudent, 
Warner  was  always  cool,  calm  and  comi)aratively, 
cautious.  After  Warner  was  proscribed  as  a  rioter, 
an  othcer  was  sent  from  New  York  to  apprehend 
him.  He,  considering  it  an  affair  of  open  hostility, 
defended  himself  against  the  officer,  and  in  turn  at- 
tacked, wounded  and  disarmed  him  ;  but,  with  the 
spirit  and  generosity  of  a  soldier,  he  spared  his  life. 

5^    Notwithstanding  the  attempts  which  had  been 


MODES    OF    PUMSHMENT.  65 

made  to  arrest  the  progress  of  the  controversy  and 
the  orders  which  had  been  received  from  the  crown, 
it  does  not  appear  that  the  government  of  New  York 
had,  at  any  time,  taken  measures  to  prevent  the  lo- 
cation and  settlement  of  lands  under  New  York 
titles.  The  cause  of  contention  therefore  still  remain- 
ed. A  reconciliation  had  been  attempted,  and  ,its 
failure  served  to  embitter  the  resentment  of  the  con- 
tending parties,  and  to  produce  a  state  of  hostility 
more  decided  and  alarming. 

6.  It  appears  tiiat  committees  were  appointed  in 
'the  several  towns  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountains, 
;and  that  these  committees  met  in  convention,  or  gen- 
eral committee,  as  occasion  required,  to  concert 
measures  for  the  common  defence.  Sy  this  conven- 
tion it  had  been  decreed  that  no  person  should  take 
grants,  or  confirmations  of  grants,  under  the  govern- 
ment of  New  York.  They  also  forbade  "  all  the 
inhabitants  in  the  district  of  the  New  Hampshire 
grants  to  hold,  take,  or  accept  any  ofiice  of  lionor,  or 
profit,  under  the  colony  of  New  York ;  and  all  civil 
and  military  ofiicers,  who  Iiad  acted  under  the  au- 
thority of  the  governor,  or  legislature  of  New  York 
were  required  to  suspend  their  functions  on  the  pain 
of  being  viewed^ 

7.  These  decrees  had  all  the  force  of  law,  and  the 
infraction  of  them  was  always  punished  with  exem- 
plary severity.  The  punishment  most  frequently 
inflicted  was  the  application  of  the  ^^  beech  seaV  to  the 
naked  back,  and  banishment  from  the  grants.  This 
mode  of  punishment  derived  its  name  from  allusion 
to  the  great  seal  of  the  province  of  New  Hami)shire, 
which  was  afiixed  to  the  charters  of  the  townships 
granted  by  the  governor  of  that  province,  of  which 
the  beech  rod,  well  laid  upon  the  naked  backs  of  the 
"  Yorkers,^^  and  their  adherents,  was  humorously  con- 
sidered a  confirmation. 

8.  That  the  reader  may  have  a  just  idea  of  the 
flummary  manner  in  which  the  convention  and  com- 

6* 


66  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT. 

mittoes  proceeded  against  tliose  who  violated  their 
decrees,  we  will  hiy  before  them  the  sentence  ofBen- 
jajnin  lloiigh,  as  a  sanjj)le.  It  a])pears  that  the 
culprit  iiad  accepted  ihe  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
unclerthe  anthoriiy  of  iN^ew  V'ork,  and  had  ofliciated  in 
that  ca[)acity.  Being  arrested  and  brought  before  the 
connnittee  of  safety  at  Sunderland,  he  pleaded  the 
jurisdictiou  and  autiiority  of  New  Yorlc,  but  was 
answtM'cd  by  the  decr(;e  of  the  coiivcnlioii,  which 
forbade  all  })ersons  holding  aiiy  office,  civil,  or  mili- 
tary, under  the  colony  of  New  York.  The  connnittee 
therefore  in  the  ])resence  of  a  large  concourse  of  peo- 
ple ])ronounced  upon  Jiiin  the  following  sentence, 
viz.  "  Thai  Ihe  prisoner  he  taken  from  the  bar  of  this 
cnmniitlee  'f  safety  and  he  lied  to  a  tree,  and  there,  on  his 
naked  hack,  receive  one  hundred  stripes ;  his  hctck  be- 
hiff  dressed,  he  should  depart  cut  of  the  district,  and  on 
return,  to  suffer  death,  unless  bj  special  leave  of  com- 
mittee.^' 

9.  Ahhough  the  application  of  the  beech  seal  was 
the  njost  coinmoii  piihishment,  others  were  frequent- 
ly resorted  to.  >S()i>ie  of  ihese  were  in  their  nature 
tridini!:  and  nuerih!.  TIk^  following  liiav  serve  as  a 
specimen.  A  gentlciMJin  of  Arlingron  became  a  par- 
tisan of  Nfnv  Vork  and  spoke  iu  jeproachlul  terms 
of  the  conv(,Mition  Jimloffb''  [>rnfeedings  of  the  (Jreen 
Moiiiiliiiu  Jioy,-^.  Jlc  ad\is';(]  the  settlers  to  yiil.'iiiit  to 
New  York,  and  re-j)urcliase  their  lands  from  that 
government.  Being  r<M|ucsted  to  desist,  and  disre- 
garding it,  he  was  arresled  <uid  «'ari-ied  to  the  Green 
Moujitain  tiiverii  in  In-nuiiiglon.  Tin;  committee 
after  hearing  his  d(3fe)!ce  ordfjred  him ''to  be  tied  in 
an  armed  chair,  antl  hoisted  to  the  i^ii:^n,  (a  rat amount^s 
skin,  slitffed,  silling'  upon  the  sitrn  pi>st  tweidij  five  fed 
fri'nii  the  irronnd.  with  laru;e  teeth,  n'rinviui^'  ioivards  J\\w 
York),  and  there  to  hang  two. hours  in  sight  of  the 
peo]>le,  as  a  ])imishment  merited  l)y  his  emnitj'  to  the 
rights  and  liberties  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  New 
Hampshire  grants."    This  sentence  was  executed  to 


CONTROVERSY    WITH   NEW    YORK.  ^ 

the  no  small  merriment  of  a  large  concourse  of  peo- 
ple ;  and  when  he  was  let  dowti  he  was  dismissed  by 
the  conmittee  with  the  exhortation  to  ■'  go  and  sin 
no  more." 


11  S  E  C  'C  ION    V . 

Controversy  with.  .,Ye?y  York  from  1773  to  1775 — Mina- 
torjf  act  of  JVtLo  York — Resolutions  and  remonstrance 
of  the  settlers. 

1.  Tiie  proceedings  of  the  settlers  on  the  New 
Hampshire  grants  against  those  who  were  sent  to 
dis{>ossess  them  of  their  lands,  and  their  simnnary 
treatment  of  those  whom  they  conceived  to  he  ene- 
mies to  their  rights  and  lii)erties,  were  reganled  by 
the  government  of  New  York,  as  open  arts  of  treason 
and  rebellion.  They  looked  upon  the  (ireen  Monn- 
tain  Bo3^s  as  a  lawless  bandilii,  and,  confident  in  their 
own  strength,  anvl  mis«'akMdatiiig  the  power,  and  re- 
sistance of  a  few  dcLormined  spirits  acting  on  the 
defenciv'c,  and  driven  to  despera'.ion,  they  resolved 
to  bring  them  to  nieiitcd  ])niii.-hnseni.  For  this  pur- 
pose the)'  i^roceeded  to  arlopi  measures  "the  most 
minatojy  and  despotic  of  any  thing  which  had  ever 
appeared  in  the  British  Colonies." 

2.  A  committco^of  the' general  {assembly  of  New 
York,  on  the  5th  day  of  February,  1774,  passed  sev- 
eral resolutions,  expressive  of  their  opinion  of  what 
they  were  pleased  to  call  the  la\^  less  an. I  riotous 
proceedings  of  the  "  Bennington  Mob  ;^^  and,  among 
other  things,  they  desired  his  Excellen'-y,  the  gover- 
nor to  offer,  by  proclamation,  a  reward  for  ai>i)rchend- 
ingand  securing  the  ringleaders,  in  those  transactions, 
in  the  jail  at  Albany.  This  committee  also  recom- 
mended tliat  a  law  should  be  passed,  the  object  of 


tJ8  HISTORY   or    VERMONT, 

which  should  be,  more  effectually  "  to  suppress  riotous 
and  disorderly  proceedings,  and  to  bring  offenders  to 
condign  punishment." 

3.  A  knowledge  of  the  doings  of  this  committee 
having  reached  the  settlers,  through  the  public 
prints,  a  general  meeting  of  the  committees  of  the 
several  townships,  Avas  held  at  the  house  of  Eliakini 
Wellers,  in  Manchester,  on  the  first  day  of  March, 
1774,  and  afterwards  by  adjournment,  at  Jehial  Haw- 
ley's,  in  Arlington,  on  the  third  Wednesday  of  the 
same  month.  At  this  meeting,  was  drawn  up  a 
sketch  of  the  ])roceedings  previous  to  this  period, 
and,  after  recommending  to  the  government  of  New 
York  to  wait  the  determination  of  his  Majesty,  before 
proceeding  to  further  extremities,  it  wa^  resolved, 
"  that  as  a  country,  we  will  stand  by  and  defend  our 
friends  and  neighbors  who  are  indicted  at  the  expense 
of  our  lives  and  fortunes."  It  was  also  resolved  "  that, 
for  the  future  every  necessary  preparation  be  made, 
and  that  our  inhabitants  hold  themselves  in  readiness, 
at  a  minute's  warning,  to  aid  and  defend  those  friends 
of  ours,  who,  for  their  activity  in  the  great  and  gen- 
eral cause,  are  falsely  denominated  rioters."  It  was, 
at  the  same  time,  agreed,  that  th(,'y  should  act  only 
on  tho  defensive,  and  should  encourage  the  execution 
of  the  laws  in  civil  cases,  and  also  in  criminal  j)rose- 
cutions  "  that  were  so  indeed.'''' 

4.  While  the  convention  of  the  New  Hampshire 
grants  was  discussing  and  adoi)ting  these  resolutions, 
the  general  assembly  of  New  York  was  proceeding 
to  cany  into  effect  the  resolutions  of  the  5th  ofFeb- 
mary ;  and  on  the  9th  of  March,  1774,  they  enacted 
a  law  which  put  an  <>nd  to  all  prospect  of  reconcilia- 
tion. This  extraordinary  law,  (which  is  of  too  great 
length  to  be  inserted  entire,)  enacted,  among  other 
things  equally  sanguinary  and  despotic, — that  if  any 
person,  or  persons,  oppose  any  civil  officer  of  New 
York,  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duty,  "  or  wihijlly 
burn,  or  destroy,  the  grain,  corn,  or  hay,  of  any  otiier 


CONTROVERSY    WITH   KEYT    TORK.  09 

persons  being  in  any  inclosure ;  or  if  any  persons 
unlauRilly,  riotously  and  tuniultuously  assembled  to- 
gether to  the  disturbance  of  the  public  peace,  shall, 
unlawfully  and  with  force,  demolish,  or  pu'l  down, 
or  begin  to  demolish,  or  pull  down  any  dwelling- 
house,  barn,  stable,  grist-mill,  saw- mill,  or  out-house, 
withhi  either  of  the  said  counties  of  Albany  and  Char- 
lotte ;  that  then  each  of  said  offences  shall  be  adjudged 
felony,  without  benefit  of  clergy,  and  the  offenders 
therein  shall  be  adjudged  felons,  and  shall  suffer  death, 
as  in  cases  of  felony,  without  benefit  of  clergy." 

5.  It  was  made  the  duty  of  the  governor  to  pubHsh 
the  names  of  such  yjersons,  in  the  public  papers,  as 
were  indicted  in  either  of  the  counties  of  Alhany,  or 
Charlotte,  for  any  offence  made  capital  by  this  or  any 
other  law,  with  an  order  in  council  ccmmandhigsuch 
offender,  or  offendei"s,  to  surrender  themselves  respec- 
tively, within  the  space  of  seventy  days  next  after 
the  publication  thereof.  This  order  was  to  be  for- 
warded to  the  sheriffs  and  posted  up  in  several  public 
places.  "  And  in  case  such  offenders  shall  not  re- 
spectively surrender  themselves,  he  or  they,  so  neg- 
lecting, or  refusing,  shall,  from  the  day  appointed  for 
his  surrendry,  as  aforesaid,  be  adjudged,  d^meed 
and,  (if  indicted  for  a  capital  offence  hereafter  to  be 
perpetrated,)  convicted  of  felony,  and  shall  suffer 
death,  as  in  cases  of  persons  convicted  of  felony  by 
verdict  and  judgment,  without  benefit  of  clergy." 

6.  All  crimes  committed  on  the  grants,  were,  by 
this  act,  permitted  to  be  tried  in  the  county,  and  by 
the  courts,  of  Albany  ;  and  the  courts  were  empow- 
ered by  it,  to  award  execution  against  such  as  should 
be  indicted  for  capital  offences,  and  who  should  not 
surrender  themselves  in  conformity  to  the  order  of 
the  governor  and  council,  in  the  same  manner  as  if 
they  had  been  convicted  on  a  fair  and  impartial  trial. 
A  proclamation  was  at  the  same  time  issued  by  the 
governor  of  New  York,  offering  a  reward  of  £50  each 
Sot  apprehending  and  securing,  Ethan  Allen,  Seth 


70  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

Warner,  Remember  Barker,  Roljert  Cockran,  Peleg- 
Sunderland,  Silvanus  Brown,  James  Brack enridgo,^ 
and  James  Smith,  whom  they  considered  the  most 
obnoxous  of  the  settlers. 

7.  We  have  already  observed  that  the  passage  of 
the  forgoing  law  put  an  end  to  all  prospect  of  recon- 
ciliation, or  submission  to  the  claims  of  New  York. 
It  was  regarded  by  the  settlers  on  the  New  Hamp- 
shire grants,  as  originating  solely  in  the  avarice  of  a 
set  of  unprincipled  speculators,  who  coveted  their 
lands  with  their  valuable  improvements  ;  and  as  de- 
signed to  terrify  them  into  submission.  They  were 
satisfied  that  the  ])opular  sentiment  was  in  their 
favor,  that  the  great  body  of  the  })eople  of  New  York 
felt  no  interest  in  enforcing  the  claims  of  that  pro- 
vince to  the  lands  in  question,  and  former  experience 
had  proved  that  the  militia  could  not  be  brought  ta 
act  against  them  with  any  effect. 

8.  Under  such  circumstances,  the  threatenings  and' 
arbitrary  laws  of  that  government  were  far  from  in- 
spiring terror.  They  were  rather  regarded  by  the 
settlers  with  contempt,  and,  instead  of  palsying,  they 
tended  to  nerve  the  arm  of  resistance.  Indeed,  the 
idea  of  submission  seems  never,  for  a  moment,,  to 
have  been  entertained  b}  these  brave  and  determined^ 
veterans.  Having  been  long  inured  to  toils  and 
hardships,  they  were  prepared  to  encounter  difficulties 
and  dangers  with  unflinching  resolution  and  firmness. 
And  so  very  highly  did  they  })rize  their  personal 
rights  and  liberties,  that,  rather  than  surrender  them 
to  the  arbitrary  claims  of  New  York,  they  almost 
unanimously,  resolved  to  meet  death,  if  necessai-y,  in 
their  defence. 

9.  These  views  and  feelings  are  fidly  manifested 
in  the  remonstrance  which  they  made  against  the  fore- 
going law,  as  will  appear  from  a  few  brief  cxtitacts, 
taken  from  that  fearless  and  spirited  production.  Af- 
ter portraying,  in  their  peculiar  style,  the  character 
of  the  New  York  government,  they  proceeded  to-say^ 


CONTROVERSY    WITH    NEW    YORK.  71 

"  that  by  legerdemain,  bribery  and  deception,  they 
have  extended  their  dominions  far  and  wide.  They 
have  v^^rangled  with,  and  encroached  upon,  the  neigh- 
boring governments,  and  have  used  all  manner  of 
deceit  and  fraud  to  accomplish  their  designs.  Their 
tenants  groan  under  their  usury  and  oppression,  and 
they  have  gained,  as  well  as  merited,  the  disappro- 
bation and  abhorrence  of  their  neighbors.  The  inno- 
cent blood  they  have  already  shed,  calls  for  Heaven's 
vengence  on  their  guilty  heads;  and,  if  they  should 
come  forth  in  arms  against  us,  thousands  of  their 
injured  neighbors  will  join  with  us,  to  cut  off  and 
exterminate  such  an  execrable  race  of  men  from  the 
face  of  the  earth." 

10.  Again,  says  that  document :  "  we  therefore 
advertise  such  officers,  and  all  persons  whatsoever, 
that  we  are  resolved  to  inflict  immediate  death  on 
whomsoever  may  attempt  the  same;  (that  is,  the  ap- 
prehension of  any  of  the  persons  indicted  as  rioters.) 
And  provided  any  of  us,  or  our  party  shall  be  taken, 
and  we  have  not  notice  sufficient  to  relieve  them  ;  or 
whether  we  relieve  them  or  not,  we  are  resolved  to 
surround  such  person,  or  persons,  as  shall  take  them 
whether  at  his,  or  their  own  house,  or  houses,  or 
any  where  that  we  can  find  him,  or  them,  and  shoot 
such  person  or  persons  dead.  And  furthermore,  we 
will  kill  and  destroy  any  person  or  persons  whomso- 
ever, that  shall  presume  to  be  accessary, — aiding  or 
assisting  in  taking  any  one  of  us,  as  aforesaid  ;  for,  by 
these  presents,  we  give  any  such  disposed  person,  or 
persons,  to  understand,  that  although  they  have  a 
license  by  the  law  aforesaid,  to  ^i7/  us ;  and  an  'in- 
demnification' for  such  murder,  from  the  same 
authority,  yet  they  have  no  indemnification  for  so 
doing  from  the  Green  Mountain  Boys ;  for  our  lives, 
liberties  and  properties  are  as  verily  precious  to  us  as 
to  any  of  the  king's  subjects;  but  if  the  governmental 
authonty  of  JVew  York  insista  upon  killing  tis,  to  take 
possession  of  our  "  vineyards^'' — let  them  come  on  ;  we 


72  HISTORY   OP    VERMONT. 

are  ready  for  a  game  of  scalping  with  them,  for  our 
martial  spirits  glow  with  bitter  indignation  and  con-' 
summate  fury,  to  blast  their  infernal  projects." 

11.  The  remonstrance,  from  which  the  foregoing 
are  extracts,  was  dated  the  26th  day  of  April,  1774, 
and  signed  by  Ethan  Allen  and  six  others.  About 
this  time  a  plan  was  concerted  to  avoid  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  New  York,  by  having  the  New  Hampshire 
grants  erected  into  a  separate  royal  government.  To 
effect  this  object,  Philip  Skeen,  a  colonel  in  one  of 
the  king's  regiments,  and  the  owner  of  lai-ge  posses- 
sions on  lake  Champlain,  went  over  to  Great  Britain^, 
and  seems  to  have  met  with  some  success  ;  but  noth- 
ing decisive  had  been  done  when  the  revolutioB 
commenced,  which  put  an  end  to  the  negociation. 

12.  The  opposition  to  the  claims  of  New  York 
had  hitherto  been  confined,  princi})ally,  to  the  inhabi-- 
tants  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountains.  The  settlers 
on  the  grants  in  the  vicinity  of  Connecticut  river,  had- 
many  of  them,  surrendered  their  original  chaiterSy 
and  had  taken  new  ones  under  the  authority  of  New 
York.  In  several  of  the  towns  the.y  submitted  quietly 
to  the  jurisdiction  of  that  colony,  and  stood,  in  a 
measure,  unconcerned  sj)ectators  of  the  controversy 
in  which  the  settlers  on  the  more  westerly  grants, 
were  so  deeply  involved.  And  where  this  was  not 
the  case,  they  had  not  yet  been  driven  to  desperation 
by  the  executive  officers  of  New  York.  Tliey  were 
not,  however,  indifferent  to  the  policy  of  Great  Brit- 
ain towards  her  American  Colonies.  The  settlers 
on  tlie  New  llami)shire  grants  were,  generally,  eme- 
grants  from  the  other  New  England  provinces,  and 
they  readily  sym])athized  witlt  their  kindred  and 
friends,  and  were  by  no  means  backward  in  imbibing 
tho  growing  spirit  of  op])osition  to  the  oppressive  and 
arbitrary  mcasines  pursued  by  the  mother  country 
towards  her  colonies. 

13.  The   affairs  of  the  colonies  had  assumed  so 
alarming  an  asj)cct,  that  delegates  from  most  of  the 


CONTROVERSY  WITH  NEW  YORK.         73 

pro-vinces  met  at  Pliiladelphia  on  the  5th  of  Sej»tem- 
ber,  1774,  to  consult  upon  measures  for  the  common 
safety.  The  meeting  of  this  congress  was  followed 
by  an  almost  universal  suspension  of  the  royal  au- 
thority in  all  the  colonies,  excepting  New  York,  which 
refused  its  assent  to  the  measures  recommended  by 
that  body,  and  the  courts  of  justice  were  either  shut 
up  or  adjourned  without  doing  any  business.  The 
first  interruption  of  this  kind  in  the  colony  of  New 
York,  happened  in  the  county  of  Cumberland,  on 
the  New  Hampshire  grants. 

14.  The  stated  session  of  the  court  for  that  county 
was  to  have  been  holden  at  Westminster,  on  the  13th 
of  March,  1775.  Much  dissatisfaction  prevailed  in 
the  county  because  New  York  had  refused  to  adopt 
the  resolves  of  the  continental  Congress,  and  exertions 
were  made  to  dissuade  the  judges  from  holding  the 
court.  But,  as  they  persisted  in  doing  it,  some  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Westminster  and  the  adjacent 
towns,  took  possession  of  the  court  house  at  an  early 
hour  in  order  to  prevent  the  officers  of  the  court  from 
entering.  The  court  party  soon  appeared  before  the 
court  house,  armed  with  gmis,  swords  and  pistols  and 
commanded  the  peojjle  to  dis])crse.  But,  as  they 
refused  to  obey,  some  harsh  languao-e  passed  between 
them  and  the  court  party  retired-to  their  quarters. 

15.  The  people  then  had  an  interview^  with  judge 
Chandler,  who  assured  thcjn  that  they  might  have  (jui- 
et  possession  of  the  hoUvSe  till  morning,  when  the  conit 
should  come  in  without  arms,  and  should  hear  what 
they  had  to  lay  before  them.  But,  contrary  to  this 
declaration,  about  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  the  sheriff, 
with  the  other  officers  of  the  court,  attended  by  an 
armed  force,  repaired  to  the  court  house.  Being 
refused  admittance,  some  of  the  party  tired  into  the 
house  and  killed  one  man  and  wounded  several  oth- 
ers. The  woundcd'mon  they  seized  and  dragged  to 
prison,  with  some  otliers  who  did  not  auccce<l  in 
n^akins?  their  escape. 

7 


74  HISTORY  OF    VERMONT. 

16.  By  means  of  those  who  escaped,  the  news  of 
this  massacre  was  quickly  spread,  and  before  noon 
the  next  day,  a  large  body  of  armed  men  had  collected. 
A  jury  of  inquest  brought  in  a  verdict,  that  the  man 
was  murdered  by  the  court  party.  Several  of  the 
officers  were  made  prisoners  and  confined  in  the 
jail  at  Northampton,  in  Massachusetts.  But,  upon 
the  application  to  the  Chief  Justice  of  New  York, 
they  were  released  from  prison  and  returned  home. 

17.  These  proceedings  aroused  the  spirit  of  oppo- 
sition to  New  York  throughout  the  grants  on  the  east 
side  of  the  mountains.  A  meeting  of  committees 
from  the  several  townships  was^held  at  Westminster^ 
on  the  11th  of  April,  1775,  at  which  a  number  of 
spirited  resolutions  were  adopted  relative  to  the  late 
unhappy  transactions.  Among  other  things  it  was 
voted,  "  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  inhabitants,  as 
predicated  on  the  eternal  and  immutable  law  of  self 
preservation,  wholly  to  renounce  and  resist  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  government  of  New  York,  until 
such  times  as  the  lives  and  property  of  the  inhabitants 
may  be  secured  by  it." 

18.  Thus  were  the  settlers  on  the  east  side  of  the 
mountains  driven  to  make  common  cause  with  their 
brethren  on  the  west,  in  opposing  the  government  of 
New  York.  The  indignation  of  the  settlers  through- 
out the  New  Hampshire  grants  was  now  raised  to 
the  highest  pitch,  and  probably  the  commencement 
of  the  American  war  at  Lexington,  on  the  19th  of 
April,  was  the  only  thing  which  prevented  the  parties 
proceeding  to  open  hostilities.  This  event  produced 
a  shock  which  was  felt  throughout  the  colonies  ; 
local  and  j)rovincial  contests  were  at  once  swallowed 
up  by  the  novelty,  the  grandeur  and  the  importance 
of  the  contest  thus  opened  between  Great  Britain  and 
Ijer  American  colonies. 


REVIEW    OF    THE    PRECEDING   PERIOD.  75 

SECTION    VI. 

Brief  review  of  the  progress  of  settlement  previous  to 
the  Revolution. 

1.  It  has  already  been  remarked  that,  although 
several  establishments  had  been  made  in  Vermont 
previous  to  that  time,  the  commencement  of  the  set- 
tlement may  projierly  be  dated  from  the  conquest  of 
Canada  in  1760.  In  that  year,  the  whole  number  of 
settlers  on  the  territory  of  Vermont  did  not  exceed 
300  persons,  and  althouf^h  the  settlem.?nt  began  from 
that  time  sensii)ly  to  advance,  it  was  by  no  means 
rapid  till  after  the  treaty  of  peace,  in  1763,  by  which 
Canada  was  ceeded  to  Great  Britain.  In  1764,  set- 
tlements had  been  commenced  in  most  of  the  town- 
ships on  Connecticut  river  as  far  north  as  Newbury, 
and  in  several  townships  on  the  west  side  of  tlie 
Green  Mountains. 

2.  In  1765,  the  government  of  New  York,  having 
acquired  authority  from  the  British  crown  to  exercise 
jurisdiction  over  the  New  Hampshire  grants  as  far 
eastward  as  Connecticut  river,  caused  a  division  to 
be  made  of  the  territoiy  into  counties.  The  south- 
western parts  about  Bennington,  were  annexed  to 
the  county  of  Albany  ;  the  northwestern,  towards  lake 
Champlain,  were  erected  into  a  county  by  the  name 
of  Charlotte,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  mountain, 
Cumberland  county  was  formed  of  the  southeastern 
parts,  and  Gloucester  county  of  the  northeastern. 

3.  This  was  the  first  division  of  Vermont  into  coun- 
ties, and  the  only  division  of  the  kind  previous  to  the 
revolution  ;  and  if  the  limits  of  these  counties  were 
then  accurately  defined,  it  is  now  difficult  to  deter- 
mine where  they  were.  It,  however,  appears  probable 
from  documents  published  in  Ethan  Allen's  Vindi- 
cation of  Vermont,  that  the  division  between  the 
counti»>3  of  Albany  and  Charlotte  passexl  along  tlie 
W)uth  lines  of  the  townships  of  Rujjert,  Dorset  and 


76  HI  STORY   OF    VERMONT. 

Peru,  and  thnt  Cumberland  (bounty  extended  so  far 
northward  as  to  include  about  one  third  part  of  the 
present  county  of  Windsor.  The  division  lines  be- 
tween the  counties  were,  however,  a  matter  of  little 
consequence,  towards  the  close  of  this  period,  for 
when  the  goverumeut  of  New  York  found  the  op- 
position to  their  measures  so  determined  and  so 
general  among  the  setth^j's  on  the  grants,  they  gave 
the  court  of  Albany  county  jurisdiction  over  the  whole 
tract  of  country.  This  gave  rise  to  the  expression, 
unlimited  county  of  Albany,  so  fi-eque]]tly  used  by  the 
Vermont  pamjihleters  during  the  controversy,  with 
New  York. 

4.  Previous  to  the  year  1770,  scarcely  any  settle- 
ments had  been  made  oji  the  west  side  of  the  Green 
Mountains  to  the  northward  of  the  ])resent  county  of 
Bennington.  During  the  next  year,  1771,  settlenjents 
were  commenced  in  several  townships  in  Rutland 
county,  and  this  year  was  taken  the  first  census  of  the 
inhabitants  on  the  grants  on  the  east  side  of  the 
mountains.  By  this  enumeration  it  appears  that 
Cumberland  county  contained,  in  1771,  3947  hdiabi- 
tants,  and  Gloucester  county  722,  and  it  was  estimated 
that  these  two  counties  contained  at  that  time  two 
thirds  of  the  people  in  the  whole  district.  The  whole 
number  of  inhabitants  must  therefore  have  been 
about  7000. 

5.  No  complete  census  was  taken  till  the  year  1791, 
and  hence  it  is  impossible  to  determine  the  precise 
poj)ulation  of  Vermont  at  the  time  of  the  com- 
mencement of  the  American  Revolution.  But  as  the 
settlements  were  raj)idly  extending  during  the  five 
years  succeeding  the  year  1771,  we  may  safely  con- 
clude, that  the  whole  po[)ulation  of  Vermont  at  the 
commencement  of  the  war  was  jit  least  20,000.  Ai)out 
the  close  of  the  war  we  find  the  ])oj)uIation  incident- 
ally estimated  by  Doct.  Williams  at  30,000  souls. 


HISTORY  OF  VEKMONT. 


CHAPTER    III. 

REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


SECTION'    I. 


Events  of  1775 — Reduction  of  Ticonderoga — Invasion 
of  Canada — Carlton  defeated  by  Col  Warner — St 
Johns  and  Montreal  taken  by  Gen.  Montgomery — As- 
sault upon  Qiiebec. 

1.  As  all  minor  contests  and  sectional  difficulties 
were,  for  a  while,  swallowed  up  by  the  great  and  mo- 
mentous concerns  of  the  revolution,  we  shall  now  pro- 
ceed to  a  brief  statement  of  those  mcidents  in  the  war 
for  independence,  with  Avhich  the  people  of  Vermont 
were  more  immediately  concerned.  The  affiiirs  at 
Lexington  ])roduced  a  shock,  which  was  felt  from 
one  extremity  of  the  colonies  to  the  other  ;  and  it  was 
now  perceived  that  their  only  reliance  for  safety  was 
to  be  placed  in  a  vigorous  and  effectual  resistance 
to  the  arms  and  arbitrary  power  of  Great  Britain. 

2.  The  military  posts  on  lake  Champlain  were  at 
this  time  garrisoned  by  British  soldiers,  and  the  Brit- 
ish government  had  been  pursuing  measures,  by 
which  they  might,  if  necessary,  avail  themselves  of 

the  strength  and  resources  of  Canada,  for  the  puipose 

7> 


T8  His'JORr  or  Vermont. 

of  subjugating  their  other  colonies,  in  case  of  revolt. 
The  importance,  therefore,  of  securing  these  posts 
to  the  Americans,  was  at  once  perceived,  and  the 
design  of  effecting  this  object,  engaged  at  the  same 
time  the  attention  of  several  adventurers,  both  in 
Massachusetts  aiid  Connecticut,  who  were  utterly 
ignorant  of  each  other's  views.  But  the  lirst  active 
measures  for  accom})lisliing  an  undertaking  so  desir- 
able as  the  reduction  of  these  posts,  appear  to  have 
been  taken  by  several  enterprising  gentlemen  of 
Connecticut. 

3.  As  the  success  of  the  enterprise  depended  upon 
its  being  managed  with  secrecy  and  dispatch,  they 
obtained  of  the  Connecticut  legislature  a  loan  of 
$1800,  and,  having  procured  a  quantity  of  })owder 
and  balls,  they  hastened  forward  to  Bennington  with 
the  view  of  engaging  Etlian  Allen  in  the  business. 
Allen  readily  undertook  to  conduct  the  enterprise  and 
set  off  to  the  northward  with  his  usual  spirit  of 
promptness  and  activity  for  the  pur})ose  of  enlisting 
and  collecting  men  for  the  expedition.  The  gentle- 
men ii'om  Connecticut,  having  purchased  a  quantity  of 
provisions,  proceeded  to  Castlcton,  where  they  were 
joined  by  Allen  with  his  recruits. 

4.  While  they  were  collecting  at  Castleton,  Col 
Arnold  arrived  there  attended  only  by  a  servant.  Tliis 
oflicer  had  been  chosen  ca))tain  of  an  independent 
company  at  New  Haven  in  Connecticut,  and,  as  soon 
as  he*  heard  of  the  battle  at  Lexington,  be  marched 
his  comj)any  to  Cambridge,  where  the  Americans 
were  ussembling  to  invest  Boston.  There  he  received 
a  Colonel's  cummission  Irom  the  Massachusetts  com- 
mittee of  safety  with  orders  to  raise  400  men  for  the 
reduction  of 'J'iconderogaand  Crown  Point,  which  ho 
rej)rescntod  to  be  in  a  ruinous  condition  and  feebly 
garrisoned.  His  commission  being  exanjined,  Arnold 
was  permitted  to  join  the  party;  but  it  was  ordered 
by  a  council  that  Allen  should  also  have  the  commis- 
sion of  Colonel,  and  should  be  first  in  command. 


REVIEW    OF    THE    PRECEDING   PERIOD.  79 

5.  To  procure  intelligence,  Capt.  Noah  Phelps,  one 
ot  the  gentlemen  from  Connecticut,  went  into  the 
fort  at  Ticonderoga  in  the  habit  of  one  of  the  settlers, 
where  he  enquired  for  a  harber,  under  the  pretence 
of  wanting  to  he  shaved.  By  affecting  an  awkward 
appearance,  and  asking  many  simple  questions,  he 
passed  unsuspected  and  had  a  favorable  opportunity 
of  observing  the  condition  of  the  works.  Having 
obtained  the  necessary  informaiion,  he  returned  to 
the  party,  and  the  same  night  they  began  their  march 
for  the  fort.  And  these  affairs  had  been  conducted 
with  so  much  expedition,  that  Allen  reached  Orwell, 
opposite  to  Ticonderoga,  with  his  men  in  the  evening 
of  the  9th  of  May,  while  the  garrison  were  without 
any  knowledge  of  the  proceedings  and  without.any 
apprehension  of  a  hostile  visit. 

(j.  The  whole  force  collected  on  this  occasion 
amounted  to  270  men,  of  whom  230  were  Green 
Mountain  Boys.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  boats 
could  be  obtained  to  carry  over  the  troops.  A  Mr 
Douglas  was  sent  to  Brid])ort  to  procure  aid  in  men, 
and  a  scow  belonging  to  Mr  Smith.  Douglas  stopped 
by  the  way  to  enlist  a  Mr  Cha])man  in  the  enterprise, 
when  James  Wilcox  and  Joseph  Tyler,  two  young 
men,  who  were  cibed  in  the  chamber,  hearing  the  story, 
conceived  the  design  of  decoying  on  shore  a  large 
oar  boat  belonging  to  Maj.  Skeen,  and  which  then  lay 
off  against  Willow  point.  They  dressed,  seized  their 
guns  and  a  jug  of  rum,  of  which  they  knew  the  black 
commander  to  be  extremely  fond, — gathered  foiu" 
men  as  they  went,  and,  arriving  all  armed,  they  bailed 
the  boat  and  offered  to  help  row  it  to  Shoreham,  if 
they  would  carry  them  there  immediately  to  join  a 
hunting  l>arty,  that  would  be  waiting  for  them.  The 
stratagem  succeeded,  and  poor  Jack  and  his  two  men 
suspected  nothing  till  they  arrived  at  vVllen's  head 
quarters,  where  they  were  made  i)risoners  of  war. 

7.  Douglas  arrived  with  the  scow  about  the  same 
time,  and,  some  other  boats  havhig  been  collected, 


80  HISTORY   or    VERMONT. 

Allen  embarked  with  83  men  and  landed  near  tlie 
fort.  As  the  morning  was  advancing,  it  was  deemed 
inexpedient  to  wait  for  the  remainder  of  the  men  to 
pass  over.  Arnold  now  wished  to  assnme  the  com 
niand,  and  swore  that  he  would  lead  the  men  into 
the  fort.  Allen  swore  he  should  not,  but  that  he  him- 
self would  be  the  fii'st  man  tliat  should  enter.  As  the 
dispute  grew  warm,  some  of  the  gentlemen  interpos- 
ed, and  it  was  agreed  that  they  should  both  enter  at 
the  same  time,  but  that  Allen  should  enter  on  the 
right  and  have  the  command. 

8.  Accordingly,  a  little  after  day  break  in  the 
morning  of  the  10th  of  May,  1775,  they  advanced 
toAvanls  the  works  followed  by  their  men.  Tlie  sentry 
at  the  outer  post  snapped  his  fusee  at  Allen,  and, 
retreating  through  the  covered  way,  was  followed  by 
the  Americans,  who  were  immediately  draAvn  up  on 
the  parade  within  the  fort.  With  so  great  expedi- 
tion and  silence  was  this  business  accomplished  that 
the  garrison,  excepting  the  sentries,  were  not  awaken- 
ed from  their  slumbers,  till  arosued  by  the  huzzas  of 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  already  in  possession  of 
the  fort.  The  Capt.  De  Laplace,  without  waiting  to 
dress  himself,  hastened  to  the  door  of  the  barrack, 
when  Allen  sternly  commanded  him  to  surrender, 
or  he  would  put  the  whole  garrison  to  the  sword.  De 
Laplace  enquired  by  what  authority  he  demanded  it. 
I  demand  it,  says  Allen,  "m  the  name  of  the  Great  Je- 
hovah and  the  Continental  Cons'ress.''^ 

9.  Surrounded  by  the  Americans,  the  British  cap- 
tain perceived  that  resistance  was  vain,  and  surrend- 
ered the  garrison  ])risoners  of  war,  without  knowing 
by  what  authority  Allen  was  acting,  or  that  hostilities 
had  commenced  between  Great  Britain  and  her  co- 
lonies. As  soon  as  Allen  had  landed  with  his  party, 
the  boats  were  sent  back  for  the  remainder  of  the 
men,  Avho  had  been  left  under  the  command  of  Col 
Seth  Warner.  Warner  arrived  soon  after  the  place 
surrendered,  and  takii','"  the  command  of  a  party,  set 


"REVIEW    OF    THE    PRECEDING    PERIOD.  81 

off  for  the  reduction  of  Crown  Point,  which  was  gar- 
risoned only  by  a  sergeant  and  twelve  men.  They 
surrendered  upon  the  first  summons,  and  Warner 
took  j)ossession  of  the  fort.  Skeensborough  was  also 
taken,  the  same  day,  by  another  party,  and  Major 
Skecn  made  prisojier. 

10.  By  these  enterprises,  the  Americans  captured 
a  British  Major,  a  Captain,  a  Lieutenant  and  forty 
four  privates.  In  the  forts,  they  foimd  more  than  200 
pieces  of  cannon,  some  mortars  and  howitzers,  and 
large  quantities  of  military  stores  ;  and  also  a  ware- 
house filled  with  materials,  for  carrying  on  the  business 
of  building  boats.  All  these  cost  not  the  Americans 
a  single  man. 

11.  Elated  with  their  success,  thev  now  determined 
to  secure  the  command  of  lake  Champlain,by  getting 
l)ossession  of  an  armed  sloop,  which  then  lay  at  St 
Johns.  For  this  purpose  they  armed  and  manned 
a  schooner,  and  ])rocured  a  number  of  batteaux.  Ar- 
nold took  command  of  the  schooner,  and  Allen  of 
the  batteaux,  and  they  both  set  out  together  upon  the 
ex})edition.  But  a  fresh  wind  springing  up  from  the 
south,  the  schooner  out  sailed  the  batteaux  and  Ar- 
nold soon  reached  St  Johns,  where  he  surprised  and 
captured  the  sloop.  Tlie  wind  innnediately  shifting 
to  the  north,  Arnold  set  sail  with  his  prize,  and  met 
Allen  with  liis  batteaux  at  some  distance  from  St 
Johns.  Thus,  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  and  by  a 
few  daring  individuals,  Avas  lake  Champlain  and  its 
important  fortresses  secured  to  the  Americans. 

12.  The  American  Congress,  having  received  in- 
telligence that  the  governor  of  Canada  had  been 
making  exertions  to  engage  the  Canadians  and  In- 
dians to  fall  upon  the  fi-ontier  of  the  colonies,  deter- 
mined to  send  a  body  of  American  troops  into  that 
provijice,  in  the  hopes  that  the  Canadians  would  join 
the  other  colonics,  in  opposition  to  Great  Britain. 
For  this  puri)Ose,  it  was  proposed  to  raise  2000  men, 
wlw  weix)  to  be  piac<Ml  under  tlie  command  of  Gen- 


82  '  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT. 

eral  Schuyler  and  Montgomery.  Much  pains  were 
taken  to  raise  the  troops,  and  a  large  number  of 
batteaux  and  flat  bottomed  boats  were  built  at  Ticon- 
deroga  and  Crown  Point  to  convey  the  forces  to 
Canada. 

13.  Montgomery  set  out  from  Crown  Point,  on  the 
21st  of  August,  but  soon  received  intelligence  that 
the  British  Gen.  Carleton  was  prepared  to  obstruct 
his  designs — that  he  had  provided  a  considerable  na- 
val force  and  was  about  enterii^g  the  lake  with  a  body 
of  British  troops.  To  prevent  this,  Montgomery  pio- 
ceeded  down  the  lake,  with  the  forces  which  had 
arrived,  to  the  Isle  La  Motte,  where  he  was  soon  join- 
ed by  Gen,  Schuyler ;  and  they  both  moved  forward  to 
the  isle  Aux  Noix,  where  they  took  proper  measures 
to  prevent  the  passage  of  the  British  vessels  into  the 
lake. 

14.  From  this  place,  the  American  generals  sent 
proclamations  into  the  adjacent  countiy,  assuring  the 
Canadians  that  they  had  no  designs  against  them,  and 
inviting  them  to  unite  with  the  Americans  in  asserting 
their  rights  and  securing  their  liberties.  On  the  6th 
of  September,  they  proceeded  without  opposition 
towards  St  Johns  with  their  whole  force,  which  did 
not  exceed  1000  men.  A  landing  was  effected  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  fort,  but,  while  advancing 
to  reconnoiter  the  works,  their  left  was  attacked  by 
a  party  of  Indians,  who  killed  three  and  wounded 
eight  of  the  Americans.  The  Indians  were,  however, 
soon  repulsed,  with  the  loss  of  five  killed  and  four 
severely  wounded.  Finding  the  fortress  well  garri- 
soned and  prepared  to  make  a  vigorous  defence,  the 
Americans  thought  it  prudent  to  return  to  the  Isle 
Aux  Noix,  and  there  wait  the  arrival  of  their  artillery 
and  re-inforcemcnts,  which  wer«i  daily  expected. 

15.  Schuyler  returned  to  Albany  to  conclude  a 
treaty,  which  had  been  some  time  negotiating,  with 
tlie  Indians,  leaving  the  command  to  Montgomery.  On 
tho  17th  of  September,  Montgomery,  having  receiv- 


REVIEW    OF    THE     PRECEDING    PERIOD.  83 

ed  the  expected  reinforcements,  proceeded  to  St 
Johns  and  laid  siege  to  that  fortress.  The  place  was 
garrisoned  by  the  greatest  part  of  two  British  regi- 
ments, and  contained  nearly  all  the  regular  troops  in 
Canada,  and  it  was  at  the  same  time  well  suppjie'i 
with  artilleiy,  ammunition  and  military  stores.  The 
first  measure  of  Montgomery,  was  an  attempt  to  de- 
tach the  Indians,  who  had  joined  Gen.  Carlton,  from 
the  British  cause.  Having  succeeded  in  this,  parties 
of  the  provincials  were  dispersed  over  the  country 
and  were  favorably  received  by  the  Canadians. 

16.  x4s  Col  Ethan  Allen,  with  80  men,  was  return- 
ing from  one  of  these  excursions,  he  was  met  by  Maj. 
Brown  who  was  out  upon  the  same  business  with 
200  men.  Brown  informed  Allen  that  Montreal  was 
entirely  without  defence  and  might  easily  be  surpris- 
ed ;  and  ic  was  linally  agreed  between  them  that  they 
should  proceed  to  make  an  immediate  attempt  upon  it. 
Allen  was  to  cross  the  river  and  land  a  little  north  of  the 
city,  while  Brown  was  to  land  a  little  to  the  south,  and 
both  were  to  commence  the  attack  at  the  same  time. 
Allen  crossed  over  with  his  little  band  of  80  men,  in  the 
night,  as  had  been  agreed,  but  he  waited  in  vain  for 
the  appearance  of  Brown  to  co-operate  with  him. 
And  when  day  light  appealed  and  rendered  the  sur- 
prise of  the  place  impracticable,  instead  of  sa\ing 
himself  by  a  retreat,  Allen  rashly  determined  to  main- 
tain his  groimd. 

17.  Gen.  Carlton  soon  received  intelligence  of  Al- 
len's situation,  and  early  in  the  morning  marched  out 
against  him,  with  about  40  regulars,  together  with 
several  hundred  English  settlers,  Canadians  and  In- 
dians. Allen's  force  was  made  uj)  of  Green  Mountain 
Bovs  and  Canadians  and  at  the  head  of  these  he 
fought  with  desperate  courage  until  most  of  the  Ca- 
nadians had  deserted  him,  and^^een  of  his  men  were 
killed  and  several  wounded.  But  courage  was  una- 
vailing against  such  a  superiority  of  numbers.  Allen 
was  taken  [)risoncr,  on  the  25th  of  September,  with 


84  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT. 

38  of  his  men,  and  by  order  of  Gen.  Carlton  they 
were  all  immediately  loaded  with  irons.  In  that  con- 
dition, they  were  put  on  board  a  man  of  war  and 
carried  to  England.  During  the  voyage  they  were 
treated  with  such  rigour  as  to  render  their  suffering 
almost  intolerable. 

18.  Montgomery  was  in  the  mean  time  pushing  the 
siege  of  St  Johns,  as  fast  as  his  embarrassed  circum- 
stances would  permit.  He  derived  much  assistance 
from  the  Canadians,  who  had  joined  him,  and  being 
informed  by  them  thai  the  little  fortress  of  Chamblee, 
situated  further  down  the  Sorel,  contained  a  large 
quantity  of  ammunition  and  military  stores,  of  which 
the  besiegers  were  much  in  need,  he  ordered  Major 
Brown  and  Livingston  to  proceed  against  it.  The 
garrison,  consisting  of  about  one  hundred  men, 
after  a  short  resistance  surrenderred  themselves  on 
the  18tli  of  October,  prisoners  of  war.  By  this  capitu- 
lation the  Americans  obtain»'d  120  barrels  of  ])owder, 
a  large  quantity  of  military  stores  and  ))rovisions,  and 
the  standard  of  the  7th  Regiment.  This  standard 
was  immediately  transmitted  to  Congress,  and  waa 
the  first  trophy  of  the  kind,  which  that  body  had  ever 
received. 

VJ.  The  besiegers  having  obtained  a  supj)ly  of  am- 
munition and  stores   by   the   ca])turc  of  Chamblee, 
niatl(;  their  advances  uj)on  the  fort  at  8t  .Johns  Mith 
increased  vigor,     'j'he  garison  con.sistcd  of  between 
six  and  seven  hundred  men,  who,  in  the  hopes   of 
being  soon   relieved  by  (jreri.  Carlton,  made  a  reso- 
lute   (li'lenee.     Carlton    exerted  himself  lor  this  pur- 
))ose,  but  such  was  the  disaliiction  of  the  (.^anadians 
to  the  JJritish  cause,  that  he  could  not  muster  more 
than  one  thousand  men,  including  the  regulars,  the 
militin  of  Montreal,  tiie  Canadians  and  the  Indians. 
With  these,  Ik^  pniposed  to  cross  tlu;  t^t  L;iwrence  ;uiil 
join  Cul.  Macli;;ui,  who  had  collected  a  lew  hniidn.'d 
Scotch  emigrants  and  taken  post  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Sorcl,  ho])ing  with  their  united  forces  to  be    able  to 


COL  WARNER  DEFEATS  GEN.  CARLTON.     85 

raise  the  siege  of  St  Johns  and  relieve  the  gairison. 

20.  In  pursuance  of  this  design,  Carlton  embarked 
his  troops  at  Montreal  with  the  view  of  crossing  the  St 
Lawrence  and  landing  at  Lnnguiel.  Their  embarka- 
tion was  observed  by  Col  Seth  Warner,  from  the 
opposite  shore,  who,  witJi  about  300  Green  Mountain 
Boys,  watched  their  motions,  and  }>repared  for  their 
approach.  Just  before  they  reached  the  south  shore, 
Warner  opened  upon  them  a  well  directed  and  in- 
cessant fire  of  musketry  and  grape  shot  from  a  four 
pounder,  by  which  unexpected  assault,  the  enemy 
w'ere  thrown  into  the  greatest  confusion,  and  soon 
retreated  with  i)recipitation  and  disorder.  When  the 
news  of  Carlton's  defeat  reached  3Iaclean  he  aban- 
doned his  position  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel  and 
hastened  to  Quebec. 

21.  By  these  events  the  garrison  at  St  Johns  was 
left  without  the  hope  of  relief  and  Major  Preston,  the 
commander,  was,  consequently,  obliged  to  surrender. 
The  garrison  laid  down  their  arms  on  the  3rd  of  No- 
vember, marched  out  of  the  works  and  became  pris- 
oners of  war,  to  the  number  of  500  regulars  and  more 
than  100  Canadian  volunteers.  Gen.  Montgomery 
treated  them  with  the  greatest  politeness,  and  had 
them  conveyed  by  the  way  of  Ticonderoga  into  the 
interior  of  New  England.  In  the  fort  was  found  a 
large  quantity  of  cannon  and  military  stores. 

22.  Col  Warner,  having  repulsed  Gen.  Carlton  and 
caused  Col  Maclean  to  retire  to  Quebec,  proceeded 
to  erect  a  battery  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel,  which 
should  command  the  passage  of  the  St  Lawrence, 
and  thus  block  up  Gen.  Carlton  at  Montreal.  In  this 
isitUHtion  of  things.  Gen.  Montgomery  arrived  from  St 
Johns  and  took  possession  of  Montreal,  without  op- 
position, on  the  13th  of  November,  Gen.  Carlton  hav- 
ing abandoned  it  to  its  fate  and  escaped  down  the 
river  in  the  night  in  a  small  canoe  with  muffled  oars. 
A  large  number  of  armed  vessels  loaded  with  provi- 
sions and  other   neces8arie!«,  and  Gen.  Prescot  with 

8 


86  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT. 

120  British  officers  and  privates,  also  attempted  to 
esca])e  down  the  river,  but  wfere  stoj)ped  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Sorel,  and  all  captured  by  the  Americans 
witliout  the  loss  of  a  man. 

23.  The  attention  of  Montgomery  was  immediate- 
ly turned  towards  Quebec,  where  Carlton  was  now 
making  every  preparation  for  defence.  Col  Arnold, 
after  surmounting  incredible  difficulties  aiid  hard- 
ships, had  jjassed  through  the  wilderness  Irom  Maine 
to  Canada  and  appeared  before  Quebec  with  700 
men  on  the  9th  or" November,  and  now  Montgomeiy, 
having  removed  every  obstacle,  hastened  forward  to 
join  him,  which  he  did  on  the  1st  day  of  December. 
Their  united  force  amounted  to  only  about  1000  men, 
while  that  of  the  garrison  numbered  1500 ;  but  as 
the  latter  was  made  up  princij)ally  of  Canadians  and 
miUtia,  Montgomery  still  had  hopes  of  success. 
Finding  that  the  artillery  and  shells  ])roduced  but 
little  effect  upon  the  town,  and  that  the  weather  was 
becoming  too  severe  to  cany  on  a  regular  siege,  it 
was  finally  determined  to  make  a  general  assault  upon 
the  town. 

24.  x\ccordingly  on  the  morning  of  the  31st  of 
December,  the  troops  were  led  on  to  the  attack.  Ikit 
it  proved  unsuccessful.  The  gallant  Montgomery 
was  slain,  and  nearly  one  half  the  American  troo])s 
were  killed,  or  taken  ])risoners.  Arnold,  though  se- 
verely wonnded,  took  the  command  of  the  shattered 
forces  and  continued  the  blockade  determined  to 
await  the  re-enforctnnents  which  he  beli('ved  would 
soon  be  sent  on  to  his  reli(^f.  'JMius  terminated  in 
this  quarter,  the  campaign  of  1775,  and  thus  connnen- 
ced  those  reverses,  which  were  to  attend  the  Amer- 
ican arms  in  Canada  dining  the  succeeding  year. 


RETREAT    OF    THE    AMERICAN    ARMY.  87 


SECTION   II. 

Events  of  177G.  Small  Pox  fatal  in  the  army — Amer- 
ican army  retreats — Unsuccessful  expedition  against 
Three  Rivers — Affairs  at  the  Cedars — Chamhlee  and 
St  Johns  ahandoned  by  the  Americans — J^aval  en- 
gagement on  lake  Champlain — Crown  Point  aban- 
doned. 

1.  The  re-enforcements,  which  were  sent  to  the 
relief  of  Arnold,  arrived  but  slowly,  and  when  Gen. 
Thomas  reached  the  camp  before  Quebec,  on  the 
first  day  oi  May,  1776,  t!ie  whole  American  force  at 
that  place  did  not  exceed  1900  men.  In  this  state  of 
things,  and  before  any  tliinj;  of  consequence  had 
been  attempted  against  the  city,  the  small  pox  com- 
menced its  ravages  anjoiig  tiie  provincial  troops,  and 
it  is  hardly  possible  to  conceive  the  distress,  the  ter- 
ror and  confusion  it  occasioned  in  the  American 
camp.  Ignorant  of  the  true  nature  of  the  disease,  and 
of  the  means  by  which  its  progress  might  be  impe- 
ded ;  and  anticij)ating  dangers,  which  their  feai-s  had 
greatly  magnified,  the  trooj)s  could,  with  difficulty,  be 
prevented  from  a  total  dispersion.  The  soldiers,  hav- 
ing heard  that  inoculation  was  the  surest  prevent- 
ive of  a  fatal  termination,  proceeded,  in  defiance  of 
orders,  to  inoculate  themselves ;  and  tiie  recruits  as 
they  arrived^  did  the  same,  and  thus  was  the  disease 
still  wider  diffused,  so  that  out  of  3000  troops,  which 
had  now  arrived,  not  niore  than  900  were  tit  for  duty. 

2.  After  a  lew  trifling  etibrts  against  the  town,  Gen. 
Thomas  was  convinced  that  notljing  of  consequence, 
could  be  effected  with  an  army  in  the  condition  to 
which  his  was  reduced,  and  being  nearly  destitute  of 
provisions,  and  daily  expecting  that  tin;  British  gar- 
ison  would  be  re-enforced  by  the  arrival  of  an  army 
from  I'.ngland,  it  was  concluded,  in  a  council  of  war, 
to  abandon  the  siege  and  make  the  best  retreat  their 


88  HISTORY    OK    vr.KMO.NT, 

circumstances  would  perniir.  The  next  da}'  aBriti.^h 
man  of  war  and  two  frigates  arrived  at  Quebec,  with 
succors  for  the  town,  ha\inir,  witli  incredihle  exer- 
tions and  dexterity,  cut  their  way  throuirh  the  ice 
while  the  navigation  was  extremely  difficult  £Uid  dan- 
fferous. 

3.  One  thousand  marines  being  landed  from  the 
ships,  Gen.  Carlton  put  himself  at  the  Jieail  of  these, 
and  800  of  his  own  troops  and  about  noon  marched 
out  to  cive  battle  to  the  Americans.  But  he  was  too 
late.  Gen.  Thomas,  foreseeing  this  event,  had  com- 
menced liis  retreat ;  bin  it  was  done  with  so  great 
precipitation  that  the  Americans  had  left  behind,  their 
artillery,  stores  an!  bagga^^c,  and  a  number  of  their 
siek.  Carbon  was  content  with  getting  possession 
of  these,  and  with  being  relieved  of  his  besiegers,  and 
did  not  pursue  the  An^.ericans.  The  prisoners  who  fell 
into  his  hands  v/ere  treated  with  the  most  humane 
and  kind  attention. 

4.  The  Americans  continu  ^d  their  retreat  to  the 
river  Sorel,  having  marched  the  first  45  miles  with- 
out halting.  IJerc  they  found  several  regiments 
waiting  for  them  under  Gen.  Thompson,  who  a  few 
days  after  succeeded  to  the  conjujand,  by  the  uidbr- 
tunate  death  of  Gen.  Thomas,  who  died  of  the  small 
pox.  Gen.  Sullivan  and  several  battalir)MS  arrived 
about  this  time,  and  Sullivan  having  taken  the  com- 
mand, now  planned  an  enteri)rise  against  the  enemy, 
which  savored  much  more  of  boldness  than  j)ru- 
dence.  The  Hritish  army,  which  was  now  augmen- 
ted by  re-enforcemenls  fiom  I:!urft})e  to  more  than 
13000,  had  their  chief  rendezvous  at  Three  Rivers,  a 
post  on  the  north  sidi^  of  the  St  Lawrence,  about 
halfway  betwien  Quebec  and  l\Ionireal.  Gon.  Sid- 
livan  conceived  the  design  (»f  surprising  this  post, 
and  for  that  purj)Ose  detached  Gen.  I'hompson  on 
the  7th  of  June,  with  1800  men,  who  preceded  down 
the  river  in  the  night,  expecting  to  reach  Three  Rivers 
before  day  light.     But  unavoidable  delav-i  rendered 

»  CD  » 


AFFAIRS  AT  THE  CEDARS.  89 

it  impossible.  .  They  were  discovered  by  the  British, 
before  they  reached  the  village,  who  marched  out, 
attacked  and  dispersed  them,  making  their  general, 
and  about  200  men,  prisoners. 

5.  Montreal  had,  early  in  the  spring,  been  placed 
under  the  command  of  Arnold,  who  was  now  raised 
to  the  rank  of  Brigadier  general,  and  a  party  of  390 
Americans  under  Col  Beadle  had  been  posted  at 
the  Cedars,  a  small  fort  43  miles  above  that  city. 
Being  frightened  at  the  appearance  of  a  force  de- 
scending the  river  to  attack  him,  Beadle  abandoned 
the  comniand  to  Maj.  Butterfield,  and  hastened  to 
Montreal  for  a  re-enforcement ;  and  Butterfield,  with 
ail  equal  want  of  spirit,  surrendered  the  fort  and  gar- 
rison on  the  15th  of  May. 

6.  As  soon  as  Beadle  arrived  at  Montreal,  Arnold 
detached  Maj.  Sherburne  with  140  men,  to  relieve 
the  fort  at  the  Cedars.  On  their  way  they  were  at- 
tacked, sun-oimded,  and  after  a  gallant  defence  of 
nearly  two  hours,  made  prisoners,  hy  a  body  of 
500  Indians.  Many  of  the  Americans  were  killed 
or  wounded  in  the  engagement.  Twenty  others 
were  atlerwards  put  to  death  in  cool  blood,  with 
all  the  aggravations  of  savaL'^e  barbarity.  The  re- 
mainder were  stripped,  driven  to  the  fort  and  delivered 
up  to  CapL  Foster,  to  whom  Butterfield  had  surren- 
dered. 

7.  When  the  intelligence  of  these  events  reached 
Arnold,  he  put  himself  at  the  head  of  eight  or  nine 
hundred  men  and  flew  to  the  rescue  of  the  unfortu- 
nate caf)tives.  Upon  his  approach  to  the  fort  he 
received  a  communication  from  Capt.  Foster,  inform- 
ing him  that  if  he  would  not  consent  to  a  cartel^ 
which  lie  had  already  forced  Maj.  Sher!)urne  and 
other  officers  to  sign,  the  prisoners  should  all  be  im- 
mediately  put  to  death.  Arnold  hesitated,  but  humanity 
and  a  regard  for  the  ca})tured  officers,  at  length  com- 
pelled him  to  acceed  to  the  pro[)osal,  and  thus  was 
his  vengeance  disarmed. 


90  HISTORY    OF    VERMO>T. 

8.  The  Aiiierican  arnjy  in  Canada  was  so  nnich 
interior  to  the  ]>rilisli,  that  nothing  remained  lor  theiri 
but  to  make  the  best  retreat  in  tiieir  power.  On  ihii 
14th  oi  June,  they  abandoneci  their  })ost  at  Sorel,  whicli 
a  few  hoUiS  afurwards  was  in  i>ossession  of  the  Brit- 
ish arniv.  Gen.  Ikuiiovne  w  tsimniediatelv  detached 
with  one  cokunn  in  pursuit  of  the  Americans,  but 
with  orders  not  to  hazard  an  eni;auement  until  he 
shoidd  receive  a  re-ejifojcenient.  On  the  15th  of 
June,  Arnold  witlKlrew  witli  his  trooj)s  from  Montreal 
and  marched  to  Cliamblee,  where  the  Anjerican  for- 
ces were  asseinhled,  and  were  engajred  with  much 
spirit  and  resolution  in  dragging  their  artillery  and 
store;  up  the  rapids. 

9.  This  service  was  attended  with  much  difficidty 
and  danger;  but  they  sticceeded  in  drawing  up  n)oro 
than  one  hundred  bntteaux,  heavily  laden,  and  having 
set  fire  to  the  mills  and  the  ship|)ing  which  they 
could  not  bring  oJf,  they  lelt  the  village  of  Cliamblee 
at  the  very  time  the  British  were  entering  it  on  the 
other  side.  On  tlie  18th  of  June,  Gen.  Burgoyne 
readied  St  Johns  in  the  evening,  but  the  Americans 
had  taken  away  every  thing  of  value  and  set  fire  to 
the  fort  and  barracks.  iVlaj.  Bigelow,  with  about  40 
men  remained  at  St  Johns  till  the  works  were  all 
destroyed,  and  left  that  place  the  same  evening  that 
Burgoyne  airived  there,  and  joined  the  American 
army  which  had  Jialted  at  the  Jsle  Aux  Noix. 

10.  The  British  were  ujiable  to  get  any  of  their 
vessels  over  the  rapids  at  Chamblee,  and  were,  con- 
sequontl},  unable  to  continue  the  jnirsuit  of  the 
American  army,  whicli  now  jiroceeded  in  safety  to 
Crown  Point.  This  retreat  was  conducted  by  Sid- 
livan,  with  such  consummate  skill  and  prudence,  as  to 
retrievo  Iiis  character  from  the  imputations  brought 
upon  it  by  tlie  rash  and  unsuccessful  expedition 
against  Three  Rivers,  and  to  merit  the  thanks  of 
Congress,  and  of  the  whole  army. 

11.  On  the  12th  of  Julj^,  Gen.  Sullivan  was  sue- 


CROWIV     POIIST     ABANDO^^ED.  91 

ceededby  Gen.  Gates,  in  the  command  of  the  northern 
army.  The  first  business  of  Gates  was  to  restore  to 
health  aud  suinidness  the  sirk  and  wounded,  and 
to  increase  his  force  by  new  recruits.  He  assembled 
a  council  of  war,  by  which  it  was  resolved  to  aban- 
don Crown  Point,  aud  concentrate  all  their  strength 
and  make  a  vigorous  stand  at  Ticonderoga.  and  on 
Mount  lndei)endence,  wliicii  is  situated  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  lake.  A  general  hosf)ital  was  established 
at  fort  George,  to  which  those  wlio  were  sick  with 
the  small  pox,  were  sent  forward,  and  to  avoid  this 
contagious  and  loathsome  disease,  the  new  recruits 
were  assembled  at  Skeensborougli.  On  the  sixth  of 
August,  six  hundred  men  arrived  from  New  Hamp- 
shire and  re-enforcements  were  daily  arriving  from 
other  quarters.  The  army  was  also  all  the  time  im- 
proving in  ht  alth  and  discipline,  and  was  active  and 
vigorous  in  preparations  for  defence. 

12".  As  it  was  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the 
Americans  to  preserve  the  command  of  the  lake,  by 
constructing  upon  it  a  naval  force  superior  to  that  of 
the  British,  they  engaged  with  tlieir  usual  activity 
in  accomplishing  this  object.  But  in  the  prosecution 
of  it  they  had  innumerable  difficulties  to  encounter. 
Their  timber  was  To  be  cut  in  the  woods  and  dragged 
by  hand  to  the  place  where  it  was  wanted  for  use  ; 
the  materials  for  naval  equipments  were  to  be  brought 
from  a  great  distance  over  roads  almost  impassable; 
and  the  ship-carpenters  were  so  well  empio}  ed  in 
the  sea  ports  that  it  was  with  extreme  ditiiculty  that 
any  could  be  ])rocured.  Yet,  notwithstanding  these 
obstacles,  by  perseverance  and  industry,  they  had, 
on  the  18th  of  August,  completed  ani  equi|)j)e(l  three 
schooners  and  five  gondolas,  carrying  in  the  whole 
55  cannon,  consisting  of  twelve,  nine,  six  and  four 
])ound('rs,  and  seventy  swivels.  This  armament  was 
manned  by  three  hundred  and  ninety  five  men,  and 
was  coujpletely  fitted  for  action. 

13.  In  the  mean  time  the  British  were  employed 


V^  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

in  preparing  a  fleet  at  St  Johns.  Six  armed  vessels 
had  been  built  in  England  and  sent  over  for  the  ex- 
])ress  pm-pose  of  being  employed  on  lake  Chaniplain  ; 
but  it  was  found  imj)Ossible  to  get  them  over  the 
falls  at  Chamblee  without  taking  them  in  pieces, 
transposing  them  in  that  form,  and  then  put  them 
together  again  above  the  rapids.  They  succeeded 
in  dragging  uj)  a  large  number  of  boats  entire,  and 
having  re-built  their  vessels,  they  were  ready  by  the 
first  of  October,  to  enter  tlie  lake  with  their  fleet. 
This  fleet  consisted  of  the  Inflexible,  carrying  eigli- 
teen  twelve  pounders,  the  Maria,  of  fourteen  six 
pounders,  the  Carlton  of  twelve  six  pounders,  the 
Thunden^r,  a  flat  bottomed  radeau,  or  raft,  with  six 
twenty  pounders,  six  twelves  and  two  howitzers, 
some  gondolas,  carrying  seven  nine  pounders,  twenty 
gun  boats,  carrying,  each  one  brass  field  piece  from 
nine  to  twenty  four  pounders,  and  some  with  howit- 
zers, and  four  long  boats,  with  each  a  carriage  gun, 
serving  as  tendeis.  These,  junounting  to  thirty  one 
in  number,  were  all  designed  and  j)rei)ared  for  attack 
and  batd(! ;  and  were  to  be  followed  by  a  siifiicient 
number  of  vessels  and  boats  for  the  transportation  of 
the  royal  ariny,  with  its  stores,  artillery,  baggage  and 
provisions. 

14.  This  fleet  was  navigated  by  seven  htnjdred 
experienced  seamen,  connnanded  by  Captain  Pringle, 
and  the  guns  were  served  by  a  detachment  of  men 
and  oflicers  from  the  corps  of  artillery,  and  far  exceed- 
ed any  thing  the  Americans  were  able  to  ]>rovide. 
On  the  llth  of  October,  the  British  fleet  and  army 
])roceeded  u|)  the  lake.  The  American  armament, 
whicli  amounted  to  1.5  vessels  of  different  sizes,  Avas 
])ut  under  the  connnand  of  Gen.  Arnold,  who  had 
taken  a  very  advantageous  })osition  between  Valcour 
island  and  the  western  main.  There  they  formed  a 
strong  line  of  defi^ice,  and  hoped  to  be  able  to  check 
the  ])rogress  of  tlie  enemy. 

3.5.   The  Jiritish  were  sensible  of  their  superior 


NAVAI.     ENGAGEMENT    ON    L.    CHAMPLAIN.  93 

strength,  and  mov^ed  forward  boldly  to  attack  the 
Americans.  A  severe  engaj^ement  ensued,  which 
was  maintained  for  several  hours  with  much  spirit 
and  resolution.  The  wind  being  unfavorable,  the 
British  were  unable  to  bring  the  Inflexible  and  some 
of  their  other  vessels  into  action,  which  was  princi- 
pally sustained  by  the  Carletou  and  the  gunboats; 
and  as  the  wind  continued  adverse,  the  British,  not- 
withstanding the  result  had  thus  far  been  in  their 
favor,  judged  it  prudent  to  withdraw  from  the  en- 
gagement ;  but  as  night  a[)f)roached,  they  again  advan- 
ced and  anchored  in  a  line  as  near  the  Americans  as 
possible,  to  prevent  their  escape. 

16.  This  engagement  was  sustained  on  both  sides 
with  a  courage  and  firmness,  Avhich  are  seldom  wit- 
nessed. Among  the  Americans,  Gen.  Waterbury,  of 
the  Washington  galley,  was  in  the  severest  part  of 
the  action.  Excepting  one  lieutenant  and  a  captain 
of  marines,  his  officers  were  all  either  killed  or 
wounded.  He  himself  fought  on  the  quarter  deck 
during  the  whole  action,  and  at  the  close  brought  off 
his  vessel  though  shattered  and  almost  torn  in 
pieces.  The  result  of  this  action  was  favorable  to 
the  British,  but  less  so  than  they  had  anticipated, 
knowing  their  own  force  to  be  double  that  of  the 
Americans.  They  had  one  ot  their  gondolas  sunk 
and  one  blown  up  with  60  men.  The  Americans 
had  one  of  their  schooners  burnt,  a  gondola  sunk,  and 
several  of  their  vessels  much  injured. 

17.  Arnold  was  now  convinced  that  he  could  not 
withstand  the  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  and  un- 
der the  cover  of  the  night,  which  was  dark  and  foggy 
resolved  to  attempt  a  retreat  to  Ticonderoga,  In  this 
measure  he  so  fi\r  succeded  as  to  pass  directly  through 
the  enemy's  line  unobserved,  and  to  be  entirely  out 
of  sight  of  the  British  the  next  morning.  As  soon  as 
it  was  discovered  that  the  Americans  had  fled,  the 
British,  anxious  to  obtain  a  decisive  victory,  commen- 
ced a  pui-suit,  and  during  the  day    an    American 


94  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

gondola  was  overtaken  and  captured.  On  the  13tli 
of  October,  the  wind  being  favorable  to  the  British, 
they  renewed  the  chase,  and  about  noon  overtook  the 
American  fleet  a  few  leagues  from  Crown  Point. 
A  Warm  engagement  ensued,  which  was  supported 
with  great  resolution  and  gallantry  on  both  sides  for 
nearly  four  hours.  The  Washington  galley,  comman- 
ded bv  Gen.  Watterbury,  had  been  so  shattered  in 
the  action  of  the  Hlh,  as  to  be  useless  in  this  engage- 
ment, and  was  surrendered  after  receiving  a  tew 
broadsides. 

18.  Arnold  was  on  board  the  Congress  galley,  which 
vessel  was  attacked  by  the  Inflexible  and  two  schoon- 
ers, all  within  musket  shot.  After  sustaining  this 
unequal  combat  for  nearly  four  hours,  Arnold  became 
satisfied  that  no  exertion  of  courage  or  skill,  could 
enable  him  much  longer  to  withstand  the  superior 
force  of  the  enemy.  He  was.,  however,  determined 
that  neither  his  vessels  nor  his  men  should  becom6 
tiie  trophies  of  their  victory.  Having  by  his  obsti- 
nate resistance  given  several  of  his  vessels  an  oppor^ 
tunity  to  escape  to  Ticonderoga,  he  now  run  the 
Congress  galley  and  five  other  vessels  on  shore,  in 
such  manner  as  to  land  his  men  in  safety  and  blow 
up  the  vessels  in  defiance  of  every  effort  which  the 
British  could  make  to  ])revent  it.  This  action  took 
place  at  no  great  distance  from  the  mouth  of  Otter 
Creek,  and  the  remains  of  Arnold's  vessels  were  to 
be  seen  there  upon  the  beach  for  many  years. 

19.  The  British  under  Gen.  Carlton  having  now 
recovered  the  command  of  lake  Champlain,  it  was 
supposed  they  would  next  attempt  the  reduction  of 
Ticonderoga  ;  and,  had  Carlton  moved  forward 
immediately,  it  was  supposed  that  he  might  have 
possessed  himself  of  that  important  fortress  without 
much  diflicuify,  as  it  was  illy  pn-pamd  for  defence. 
But  the  wirul  blowing  from  the  south,  Carlion  landed 
his  army  at  Crown  Point,  the  Americans  having,  a 
Cew  days  before  destroyed  the  fort  and  every  thing 


CARLTON  RETURNS  TO  CANADA.       ^  95 

tliey  coulil  not  carry  away,  and  joined  the  main  army 
at  Tioonderoga.  .  The  Americans  applied  themselves 
with  vigor  in  strengthening  their  entrfinchments  at 
Ticonderoga,  and  by  tlie  daily  arrival  of  re-enforce- 
ments, and  tije  recovery  of  the  sick  and  wounded, 
Gates  soon  found  himself  at  the  head  of  12000  effec- 
tive men.  In  this  situation  he  was  hot  rniwijling  that 
Carlton  should  make  an  attemjjt  to  get  possesion  of 
the  ])lace.  Hut  that  judicious  commander  did  not 
see  fit  to  hazard  an  assault  ;  and,  afterspending  about 
a  month  in  reconnoitering  the  American  works,  he 
re-eml.'arked  his  army  at  Crown  Point  and  returned 
to  Canada,  aiifl  thus  terminated  the  military  enterpri- 
ses on  lake  Champlain,  for  the  year  177G.  , 


SECTION    III. 

Events  of  1777.  Advance  of  Gen.  BurgoT/ne — Ti- 
conderoga abandoned  by  the  Americans — Battle  at 
Hubbardton — Retreat  from  fort  Edward — Battle  at 
Bennington — At  Stillwater — Surrender  of  Burgoyne. 

1.  Before  the  opening  of  the  campaign  of  1777,  Sir 
Guy  Carlton  was  superseded  in  the  connnand  of  the 
]*ritisli  forces,  designed  to  enter  United  States  from 
Canada,  by  Lieut.  Gen.  Burgoyne,  wlio  was  a  great 
favorite  of  the  ministry  and  an  office  of  some  repu- 
tation. He  was,  however,  unaccjuainted  with  the 
American  cliaracter  and  service,  and  was  by  no 
means  so  well  fitted  to  plan  and  execute  the  oj)tiia- 
tions  in  this  quarter  as  tiie  general  whom  he  sup- 
planted. The  reguhir  force  allottr-d  to  Burgoyne 
amounted  to  7113  men,  exclusive  (>f  the  corps  of 
aitillcry.  Cf  thrse,  .*)217  were  Germans  and  tlie 
remainder  British  troops.     This  force  was  expectfd 


96 


HISTORY    OF    VERM0?:T. 


to  be  increased  on  its  arrival  in  America  by  a  large 
number  of  Canadians  and  Indians,  lor  whom  arms 
and  accouti'ements  were  forwarded  from  England. 
Burgoyne  was  also  provided  with  an  excellent  train 


of  brass  artillery,  and  was  assisted  in  the  command 
by  Generals,  Philips,  Frnser.  Powel,  Hamilton.  Reid- 
spI  and  Sperht.  all  of  them  able  and  experienced 
officers. 


BURGOTJfE    ADVANCES    ON    L.    CHAMPLAIW  97 

2.  General  Burgoyne  arrived  at  Quebec  on  the 
6th  of  3Iay,  and  took  the  command  of  the  army  de- 
signed for  the  expedition.  On  the  ISth,  he  proceeded 
to  3Iwntreal,  using  every  possible  exertion  to  collect 
and  forward  the  troops  and  stores  to  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  Between  the  17th  and  20th  of  June,  his 
whole  army  was  assembled  at  Cumberland  Head,  at 
which  place  it  embarked  and  proceeded  up  the  Lake 
without  opposition.  June  21st,  Burgoyne  landed  his 
army  on  the  west  side  of  the  Lake  at  he  mouth  of 
the  river  Boquet,  in  the  present  township  of  Wills- 
borough,  New  York.  Here  he  was  joined  by  four 
or  five  hundred  Indians,  who  were  to  assist  in  the 
expedition.  After  making  for  the  Indians  a  war 
feast  according  to  their  custom,  Burgoyne  addressed 
a  speech  to  the  chiefs  and  warriors,  calculated  to  ex- 
cite their  savage  ardor  in  the  British  cause,  and  to 
give  such  dinu'tion  to  their  fiei-ceness  and  cruelty  as 
should  best  subserve  liis  designs  against  the  Ameri- 
c^ps. 

3.  General  Schuyler,  being  supposed  most  fully 
to  possess  the  confidence  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
part  of  the  country  had  been  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  northern  department  of  the  American 
anny,  but  he  arrived  at  Ticonderoga  only  four  days 
previous  to  Burgoyne's  council  with  the  Indians  at 
the  river  Boquet.  On  inspecting  the  works,  Schuy- 
ler found  them  in  many  j)arts  unfinished  and  the 
whole  in  a  very  bad  condition.  He  likewise  found 
that  very  fe»v  of  the  recruits  which  had  been  order- 
ed to  that  post,  had  arrived,  and  that  the  militia  of 
the  neighborliood  could  not  be  safely  called  in,  lest 
the  provisions  of  the  garrison  should  be  exhausted 
before  tlie  arrival  of  supplies.  Leaving  the  com- 
mand of  this  post  to  Grn.  St  Clair,  Schuyjer  re- 
turned to  fort  Edward,  for  the  })urpose  hastening 
forward  re-enforcements  and  provisions. 

4.  On  the  .'JOih  of  .Tune,  the  enemy  advanced 
towards  Ticonderoga  upon  both    sides  of  the  lake, 

I) 


98  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

and  encamped  for  the  night  about  four  miles  from- 
the  American  lines.  The  next  day  their  whole  ar- 
my and  fleet  proceeded  forward  and  took  their 
position  just  without  the  reach  of  the  American 
cannon;  the  fleet  anchoring  in  a  line  between  the  di- 
visions on  the  east  and  west  shore  of  the  lake.  On 
the  2d  of  July  a  party  of  500  of  the  ^  enemy  under 
Capt.  Fraser,  attacked  a  picket  of  60  men,  within 
200  yards  of  the  American  batteries,  and,  forcing" 
them  to  retire,  advanced  within  60  yards  of  the- 
works,  scattering  themselves  along  the  whole  front 
of  the  American  lines ;  the  right  wing  of  the  Brit- 
ish army  moved  up  from  their  position  on  the  lake 
at  the  same  time  and  took  poss(;ssion  of  Mount 
Hope. 

5.  St  Clair,  supposing  that  an  assault  was  intend- 
ed, ordered  his  men  to  conceal  themselves  behind  the 
parapets  and  reserve  their  fire.  Fraser's  party,  pro- 
bably deceived  as  to  th€  real  position  of  the  Amer- 
ican works,  which  were  in  a  measure  concealed  by 
bushes,  continued  to  advance  till  an  American  sol- 
dier discharged  his  musket,  which  seemed  to  be  un- 
derstood as  a  signal,  and  th^  whole  line  arose  and 
fired  a  volley; — the  artillery  following  the  example 
withojit  orders.  This  fire  was  made  at  random  and 
the  effect  of  it  was  to  produce  so  much  smoke  that 
the  enemy  could  not  be  seen  till  they  were  beyond 
the  reach,  of  the  American  guns;  and  consequently 
every  individual  excej)t  one  escaped. 

6.  On  die  4th  of  July,  Gen.  Burgoyne  issued  a 
proclamation,  designed  to  spread  teiror  among  the 
Americans,  and  persuade  them  to  come  and  hum- 
ble thetnselves  before  him,  and  through  him,  suppli- 
cate the  mercy  of  their  offended  king.  The  number 
and  ferocity  of  the  Indians,  their  eagerness  to  be 
let  loose  upon  the  defenceless  settlements,  and  the 
greatness  of  the  British  power,  and  the  utter  ina- 
bility of  the  rebellious  colonics  to  resist  it,  were  all 
»et  forth  in  l)old  relief.     His  gracious  protection  wa« 


AMERICAN    WOAKS    AT     TICONDEKOGA.  99 

■promised  to  all  those,  who  should  join  his  standard, 
•or  remain  quietly  at  their  homes  ;  hut  utter  destruc- 
tion was  denounced  upon  all  such  as  should  dare 
to  oppose  him.  This  proclamation  was  couched  in 
terms  the  most  pompous  and  bombastic ;  but  upon 
the  Americans  it  produced  no  other  emotions  than 
those  of  derision  and  contempt.  Its  threatenings 
■and  its  promises  were  alike  disregarded — none  were 
terrified  by  the  former,  and  none  were  won  by  the 
latter. 

7.    Although    every  possible    exertion  had   been 
made  by  St    Clair  and    his  men,  the  state  of   the 
American   works  and  of  the  garrison  were  not  such 
as  to  insure  a  long  and  vigorous  defence.     The  old 
French  fort  had  been  strengthened  by  some  addi- 
tional works,  several  block  houses  had  been  erected, 
and  some  new  batteries  had  been  constructed  on  the 
side  towards  lake  George.     The  Americans  had  al- 
so fortified  a  high  circular  hill  on  the   east  side  of 
the  lake  opposite  to  Ticonderoga,  to  wbich  they  had 
given   the  name   of  Mount  Independence.     These 
two  posts  were  connected  by  a  floating  bridge  twelve 
feet  wide  and  one  thousand  feet  long,  which  was 
supported    by   twenty   two   sunken   piers   of   large 
timber.     This  bridge  was  to  have   been    defended 
by  a  boom  strongly  fastened  together  by  bolts  and 
chains;  but  this  boom    was  not    completed  when 
Burgoyne  advanced  against  the  works. 

8.  Notwithstanding  the  ay)parent  strength  of  the 
posts  occupied  by  the  Americans,  their  works  were 
all  effectually  overlooked  and  commanded  by  a 
neighboring  eminence  called  Sugar  Hill,  or  Mount 
Defiance.  This  circumstance  was  well  known  to  the 
American  officers,  and  they  had  a  consultation  for 
the  express  purpose  of  considering  the  propriety  of 
fortifying  this  mountain;  but  it  was  declined  because 
they  believed  the  British  would  not  think  it  practi- 
■cable  to  plant  cannon  upon  it,  and  because  their 
"works  were  already  so  extensive,  that  they  could 


100  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

not  be  properly  manned,  the  whole  garrison  consist- 
ing of  only  2546  continental  troops,  and  900  militia  ; 
the  latter  very  liadly  armed  and  e(juij)ped. 

9.  St  Clair  was  sensible  that  he  could  not  sus- 
tain a  regtdar  siege ;  still  he  hoped  that  the  confi- 
dence of  Burgoyne  would  induce  him  to  attempt  to 
carry  the  American  works  by  assault,  against  which 
he  was  resolved  to  defend  himself  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity. But  to  the  surprise  and  consternation  of 
the  Americans,  on  the  5di  of  Jtdy,  the  enemy  ap- 
peared upon  Mount  Defiance,  and  immediately  com- 
menced the  construction  of  a  battery.  This  battery, 
when  completed,  would  effectually  command  all  the 
American  works  on  both  sides  of  the  lake  and  the 
line  of  communication  between  them  ;  and,  as  there 
was  no  pros])ectof  being  able  to  dislodge  the  enemy 
from  this  post,  a  council  of  war  was  called,  by  which 
it  was  unauimously  agreed  that  a  retreat  should  be 
attempted  that  very  night,  as  the  only  means  of  sa- 
ving the  armv. 

10.  Accordingly,  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing of  the  6th  of  July,  Gen.  St  Clair,  witli  the  gar- 
rison, left  Ticonderoga,  and  about  three  o'clock  the 
troops  on  Mount  Independence  were  put  in  motion. 
The  baggage,  provisions  and  stores  were,  as  far  as 
practicable,  embarked  on  board  200  batteaux,  and 
dispatched,  under  convoy  of  five  aruied  gallics,  to 
Skeensborough,  while  the  main  body  of  the  army 
proceeded  by  land  on  the  route?  through  Hubbard- 
ton  and  Castleton.  These  affairs  were  conducted 
with  secrecy  and  silence,  and  unobserved  by  the 
enemy,  till  a  French  oflicer,  im])rudently  and  contra- 
ry to  orders,  set  fire  to  his  house.  The  flames  im- 
imediately  illuminated  the  whole  of  Mount  Inde- 
pendence and  revealed  to  the  enemy  at  once,  the 
movements  and  designs  of  the  Americans.  It  at  the 
same  time  impressed  the  Americans  with  such  an 
idea  of  discovery  and  danger,  as  to  throw  them  into 
the  utmost  disorder  and  confusion. 


RETREAT — BATTLE  AT  HUBBARDTON.       101 

11.  About  four  o  clock  the  rear  guard  of  the 
Americans  left  Mount  Independence,  and  were 
brought  off  by  Col  Francis  in  good  order ;  and  the 
reginients,  which  had  preceded  him,  were  soon  re- 
covered from  their  confusion.  When  the  troops  ar- 
rived at  Hubbardton,  they  were  halted  for  nearly 
two  hours.  Here  the  rear  guard  was  |)ut  mider  the 
command  of  Col  Seth  Warner,  with  orders  to  fol- 
low the  army,  as  soon  as  those,  who  had  been  left 
behind,  came  up,  and  to  halt  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
in  the  rear  of  the  main  body.     St    Clair  then  pro- 

■ceeded  to  Castleton,  about  six  miles  further,  leaving 
Warner  with  the  rear  guard  and  stragglers,  at  liub- 
laai'dton. 

12.  The  retreat  of  the  Americans  from  Ticondero- 
^a  no  was  sooner  perceived  by  the  British,  than  an 
eager  i)ursuit  was  begun  by  Gen.  Fraser  with  the 
Jight  troops,  who  was  soon  followed  by  Gen.  Reid- 
sel  Avith  the  greater  part  of  the  Brunswick  regiments. 
Fraser  continued  the  pursuit  during  the  day,  and 
having  learned  that  the  rear  of  the  American  ar- 
my was  not  far  off,  ordered  his  men  to  lie  tliat  night 
upon  their  arms.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  7th, 
he  renewed  the  ])ursuit,  and  about  7  o'clock,  com- 
menced an  attack  upon  the  Americans  under  War- 
ner. Warner's  force  consisted  of  liis  own  regiment, 
and  the  regiments  of  Col  Francis  and  Hale.  Hale, 
fearful  of  being  overpowered  by  sui)erior  numbers, 
retired  from  the  field  with  his  regiment,  leaving 
Warner  and  Francis,  with  only  seven  or  eight  hun- 
dred men,  to  dispute  the  ])rogress  of  the  enemy. 

13.  The  conflict  was  fierce  and  bloody.  Francis 
fell  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  fighting  with  great 
resolution  and  bravery.  Warner,  well  supported  by 
his  officers  and  men,  charged  the  enemy  with  such 
impetuosity  that  they  were  thrown  into  disorder  and 
at  first  gave  way.  They,  however,  soon  recovered, 
formed  anew,  and  advanced  upon  the  Americans, 
who  in  their  turn  fell  back.     At  this  critical   mo- 

9* 


102  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT. 

ment,  a  re-enforcement  under  Gen.  Reidsel  an-ived, 
which  was  immediately  led  into  action,  and  the  ibr- 
tune  of  the  day  v/as  soon  decided.  The  Americans, 
overpowered  by  numbers,  and  exhausted  by  fatigue, 
fled  from  the  tield  in  every  direction. 

14.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  encounter 
was  very  considerable.  Hale,  in  his  cowardly  at- 
tempt to  escape  by  flight,  fell  in  witii  a  ])arty  of  the 
British  and  surrendered  himself  and  a  number  of 
his  men,  prisoners  of  war.  The  whole  American 
loss  in  killed  wounded  and  prisoners,  was  324.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  183. 
Gen.  St  Clair,  with  the  main  body  of  tbe  Ameri- 
can army,  was  at  Castleton,  only  six  ujiles  distant, 
during  this  engagement,  but  sent  no  as-sistance  to 
Warner.  After  the  battle  ^Varner,  with  his  usual  per- 
severance and  intrepidity,  collected  his  scattered 
troops  and  conducted  them  safely  to  Fort  Edward,  to 
which  place  St  Clair  had  retired  witb  the  arujy. 

15.  While  Gen.  Eraser  and  Reidsel  were  pursuing 
the  Americans  by  land.  Gen.  Burgoyne  himself  con- 
ducted the  })ursuit  by  water.  The  boom  ajid  bridge 
between  Ticoiideroga  aivd  Mount  Independence  not 
being  c()nij)!ete(i  were  soon  cut  tbrougli,  and  by  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  (jrb,  the  British  frig- 
ates and  gun  boats  had  passed  the  works.  Several 
regiments  were  immediately  embarked  on  board  the 
boats  and  the  chase  commenced.  By  three  in  the 
afternoon  liie  foremost  boats  overtook  and  attacked 
the  American  gallies  near  Skcensborougb,  (now 
Whitehall;;  and  upon  the  approach  of  tbe  frigates, 
the  Americans  abandoned  their  gallies,  blew  up 
three  of  them  and  escaped  to  tlu^  sborc.  The  oth- 
er two  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British. 

16.  As  the  American  force  was  not  sufiicient  to 
make  an  effectual  stand  at  Skeensborongh,  they  set 
fire  to  the  works,  mills  and  balteaux  and  retreated 
up  Wood  Creek  to  fort  Ann.  Being  ])ursued  by 
the  ninth   British  regiment  under  Colonel    Ilill,  the 


^ORT  EDWARD  ABANDONED. 


103 


Americans  tunied  upon  him  and  gave  liim  batde 
with  such  spirit  as  to  cause  liim  to  retire  to  the 
top  of  a  hiil,  where  he  would  have  been  soon  over- 
powered had  not  a  re-enforcement  arrived  at  that 
critical  moment,  to  his  assistance.  The  Americans, 
upon  this,  relinquished  the  attack,  and  having  set  fire 
to  fort  Ann,  retreated  to  fort  Edward  and  joined  the 
main  army  under  Schuyler. 

17.  The  retreat  fiom  Ticoncieroga  ^^'as  very  dis- 
astrous to  the  Americans.  Their  cannon,  amounting 
to  128  pieces, — their  shipping  and  hatteaux,  and  their 
provisions,  stores  and  magazines,  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  By  this  event  Burgoyne  obtained 
no  less  1748  barrels  of  flour  and  more  tlian  70  tons  of 
salt  provisions ;  and,  in  addition  to  these,  a  large 
drove  of  cattle,  which  had  aiTived  in  the  American 
camp  a  few  days  previous  to  their  retreat,  fell  into 
his  hands.  After  S^t  Clair  had  joined  Schuyler  at  fort 
Edward,  and  all  he  scattered  troops  had  come  in, 
the  vs'hole  American  force  at  that  place  did  not  ex- 
ceed 4400  men.  Sensible  that  with  this  force,  it 
would  be  impossible  to  make  an  effectual  stand,  it 
became  the  chief  object  of  the  American  generals 
to  impede  as  much  as  })ossib!e  the  progress  ol"  the 
enemy  by  cutting  down  trees,  blocking  up  the  roads 
and  destroying  the  bridges. 

]7.  Tlie  works  at  foit  Edward  being  in  no  con- 
dition to  afford  protection  to  the  Amercan  army, 
Gen.  Schuyler  abandoned  them  on  the  22d  of  July, 
and  retired  with  his  whole  force  to  Moses  Creek,  a 
position  on  the  Hudson,  a!>out  four  miles  below  fort 
Edward.  At  this  place  the  hills  ajjproach  very  near 
the  river  on  both  sides,  and  this  was  selected  as  a 
favoral)le  position  to  nsake  a  stand  and  dis})ute  the 
progress  of  the  enemy.  But  the  army  was  found  to 
be  so  much  reduc(>d  by  defeat  arid  disertion,  and 
the  disaffection  to  the  American  cause  was  found  to 
be  so  general  in  this  section  of  the  country,  that  it 
was  judged  best  to  redre  to  Saratoga,  and  subse- 


104  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

quently,  to  Stillwater,  at  whicli  place  the  army  ar- 
rived on  the  1st  day  of  August. 

19.  The  British  were  in  the  mean  time  bringing 
forward  their  artillery  and  stores,  and  opening  the 
way  from  Skeensborough  to  fort  Edward.  But  so 
efFeetually  hud  the  Americans  blocked  up  and  ob- 
structed the  road,  that  the  British  army  was  frequent- 
ly 24  liours  in  advancing  one  mile.  It  was  not  till 
the  30th  of  July  that  Burgoyne  arrived  and  fixed  his 
head  quarters  at  fort  Edward.  Nothing  could  ex- 
ceed the  joy  of  the  British  army  on  its  arrival  at 
the  Hudson.  They  flattered  themselves  that  their 
difficulties  and  toils  were  now  ended;  and  that  there 
was  nothing  before  them  but  a  safe  and  easy  march 
to  Albany,  and  thence  to  a  junction  with  the  British 
army  at  New  York. 

20.  The  British  had  su])posed  that  a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  inhabitants  on  the  New  Hampshire 
grants  and  in  the  uothorn  ])arts  of  New  York,  were 
opposed  to  the  revolution  and  that  it  was  necessary 
only  to  march  an  army  into  their  country,  and  fur- 
nisfi  them  with  arms  to  bring  them  all  around  the 
royal  standard.  Arms  had  therefore  been  forwarded 
by  Burgoyne,  a  ])roclamation  was  issued,  addressed 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  ccnmti-y,  and  Burgoyne  was 
now  waiting  lor  their  submission,  and  tor  the  arrival 
ci  his  tents  and  baggage.  But  notwithstanding  the 
darkness  and  gloom  which  enveloped  the  Ameri- 
can aflairs,  very  few  were  found,  who  were  disposed 
to  abandon  the  cause  of  their  country  for  that  of 
their  king. 

22.  At  this  period  settlements  had  been  com- 
menced in  most  of  the  towns  in  the  ])reseut  coun- 
ties of  Bennington  and  Kutland,  and  in  several 
towns  to  the  northward  of  Rutland  county.  But 
U|)or)  the  advance  of  Burgoyne  along  the  Jake,  the 
settlers  retired  towards  the  south,  and  at  the  time 
Biirgoyne  was  upon  the  Hudson,  veiy  few  settlers 
remained  uj)on  their  farms  to  the  northward  of  the 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  105 

present  county  of  Bennington.  But,  that  the  set- 
tlers were  true  to  the  American  cause,  we  are  assur- 
ed by  the  testimony  of  Burgoyne  himself.  In  his 
])rivate  letter  to  Lord  Germain,  dated  Saratoga,  Aug. 
20th,  1777,  he  says  "  The  Hamshire  grants  in  par- 
ticular, a  country  unpeo})led  and  almost  unknown  in 
the  last  war,  now  abounds  in  the  most  active  and 
most  rebellious  race  on  the  continent,  and  hangs  like 
a  gathering  storm  on  my  left." 

22.  On  the  15th  of  July,  the  committee  of  safety 
of  Vermont  assembled  at  Manchester,  where  they 
agreed  to  raise  all  the  men  they  could,  to  oppose,  the 
enemy,  who  were  then  advancing  towards  fort 
Edward.  They  at  the  same  time  wrote  in  the  most 
urgent  terms  to  New  Hauipshire  and  Massachusetts, 
to  send  on  a  body  of  troops  to  their  assistance.  The 
Legislature  of  New  Hamjjshire  immediately  formed 
their  militia  into  two  brigades,  and  placed  one  under 
the  connnand  of  Gen.  William  Whipple,  and  the 
other  under  Gen.  John  Stark.  One  fourth  of  his 
own  brigade,  and  a  portion  of  the  otlier  was  then 
ordered  to  march  immediately,  imder  the  connnand 
of  Gen.  Stark,  to  stop  the  progress  oi  the  enemy  upon 
the  north  western  frontier. 

23.  Stark  had  been  an  officer  of  some  reputation 
in  the  French  war,  and  had  also  distinguished  himself 
at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill ;  but  considering  himself 
neglected  by  Congress  in  not  being  promoted,  he 
had  lelt  the  continental  service,  and  would  not  accept 
the  present  command,  unless  left  at  liberty  to  serve, 
or  not,  under  a  continental  officer,  as  he  should  think 
proper.  As  there  was  no  time  for  delay,  the  assembly 
of  New  Hampshire  invested  him  with  a  sey)arate 
connnand,  with  orders  to  repair  without  delay  to  the 
New  Hamjishire  grants,  and  act  either  in  conjunction 
with  the  iroo|)S  of  the  grants,  or  of  the  other  states, 
or  sei)arat,ely,  as  he  should  judge  best  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  people  and  the  annoyance  of  the  enemy. 

24.  Agreeably  to  his  orders,  Stark  hastened  forward 


106  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

with  about  800  men,  and  joined  the  Vermont  troops, 
who  were  collected  at  Manchester  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Seth  Warner,  to  the  number  of 
about  600,  making  the  united  force  under  Stark,  about 
1400  men.  Gen  Schuyler,  wishing  to  collect  all  the 
American  troops  in  front  of  the  British  army  to 
prevent  its  apf)roach  to  Albany,  wrote  repeatedly  to 
Stark  to  join  him  with  the  men  under  his  command. 
But  Stark  believed  that  the  most  effectual  way  of 
checking  the  advance  of  Burgoyiie,  was  to  hang  upon 
his  rear  and  embrace  every  favorable  opportunity  to 
cut  off  his  supplies  and  annoy  him  from  that  quarter, 
and  therefore  neglected  to  obey  the  orders  of 
Schuyler.  Schuyler  complained  to  Congress  of  this 
want  of  subordination,  and  Congress  proceeded,  Au- 
gust 19th,  to  adopt  a  resolution  censurning  the  course 
]>ursued  by  the  New  Hampshire  assetnbly  in  giving 
to  Stark  a  separate  command,  and  requesting  them 
"to  instruct  Gen.  Stark  to  conforui  himself  to  the 
same  rules,  to  which  other  general  officers  of  the 
militia  are  subject,  whenever  called  out  at  the  expense 
of  the  United  States." 

25.  In  the  mean  time  Stark  wrote  to  Schuyler  that 
he  was  willing  to  unite  in  any  measures  which  would 
promote  the  public  good — that  he  wished  to  avoid 
whatever  was  inconsistent  with  his  own  honor — and 
that  private  resentment  should  not  prevent  his 
marching  to  his  camp,  if  it  was  deemed  necessary. 
He  was  at  the  same  time  watching  for  an  opf)ortunity 
to  manifest  his  courage  and  patriotism  by  an  attack 
upon  some  part  of  the  British  army.  Nor  was  he 
obliged  to  wait  long  for  the  opportunity  to  present 
itself.  Nearly  at  the  same  time  when  Congress  was 
censuring  his  conduct  by  a  public  resolutiori,  Stark 
and  his  brave  followers  were  acquiring  unfading  lau- 
els,  and  rendering  that  service  to  the  American  cause, 
which  soon  after  procured  for  him,  from  the  same 
Congress,  a  vote  of  thanks,  and  promotion  to  the  rank 
of  brigadier  general  in  the  army  of  the  United  State*. 


BE>MNGTON    BATTLE.  107 

26.  From  tlie  28th  of  July,  to  near  the  niidrlle  of 
August,  the  British  army  was  constantly  employed 
in  bringing  forward  their  batteaux  and  stores  from 
lake  George,  to  the  first  navigable  part  of  Hudson 
river.  But  with  all  his  efforts  and  diljofence,  Bur- 
guoyne  was  unable  to  brmg  forward,  with  his  other 
stores,  a  sufficient  quantity  of  provisions  for  daily 
consumption,  and  the  estabhshment  of  the  necessary 
magazines.  It  was  this  circumstance  which  induced 
him  to  attempt  to  replenish  his  own  stores  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  Americans.  Having  learned  that  a  large 
quantity  of  provisions  were  collected  together  at  Ben- 
nington, and  designed  for  the  American  army,  and 
that  they  were  guarded  only  by  militia ;  and,  moreover, 
being  made  to  beheve  that  a  majority  of  the  people 
in  that  quarter  were  friendly  to  the  royal  cause,  and 
were  ready  to  join  it,  whenever  an  opportunity  should 
permit,  Burgoyne  determined  to  surprise  the  place 
and  secure  the  stores  to  his  own  army. 

27.  For  this  purjiosc  he  detached  a  select  body  of 
about  500  regular  troops,  some  Canadians  and  more 
than  100  Indians,  with  two  light  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  placed  the  whole  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Baume.  To  facilitate  their  operations,  and  to  take 
advantage  of  their  sire  cess,  a  detachment  of  the  Brit- 
ish army  was  posted  npon  the  east  bank  of  the  Hud- 
son, opposite  to  Saratoga,  and  another  detachtnent 
under  Colonel  Breymen  was  stationed  at  Battenkil!. 
This  disposition  being  made,  Baume  set  out  with 
his  detachment  for  Bennington,  on  the  morning  of  the 
12th  of  August,  and  arrived  that  day  at  Cambridge. 

28.  Gen.  Stark,  who  was  now  at  Benjiington  with 
his  whole  force,  except  Warrer's  regiment,  receiving 
intelligence  that  a  party  of  Indians  were  at  Cambridge, 
despatched  Col  Greg  with  200  men  to  stop  their  pro- 
gress, but  before  night  it  was  ascertained  that  a  largr» 
body  of  regulars  were  in  the  rear  of  the  Indians  and 
that  they  were  advancing  towards  Bennington.  Stark 
sent  an  express  to  Warner  to  hasten  to  Bennington 


108  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

with  his  regiment,  and  he  also  sent  to  the  neighbor- 
ing militia  to  join  him  with  all  possible  despatch.  On 
the  morning  of  the  J4th,  he  directed  his  march  to- 
wards Cambridge,  and  at  the  distance  of  seven  miles, 
he  met  Greg,  retreating  before  the  enemy  who  were  ' 
at  that  time,  only  one  mile  in  his  rear. 

29.  Stark  immediately  drew  up  his  men  in  order 
of  battle,  and  Baunie,  {)erceiving  the  Americans  to  be 
too  strong  to  be  attacked  with  his  present  force,  halted 
upon  a  commanding  piece  of  ground,  and  sent  an  ex- 
press to  Colonel  Breymen  to  march  immediately  to- 
his  support.  In  the  m;'an  time  small  parties  of  the 
Americans,  had  frequent  skirmishes  with  the  enemy, 
in  which  they  killed  and  wounded  30  of  them,  two 
of  whom  were  Indian  chiefs,  without  any  loss  to 
themselves.  The  ground  occupied  by  the  Americans- 
being  unfavorable  for  a  general  action.  Stark  retreated 
about  a  mile  and  encamped.  Here  a  council  of  war 
was  held  by  which  it  was  resolved  that  an  attack 
should  be  made  U[)on  tlie  enemy  b(;fore  they  should 
receive  any  re-enforcements.  Two  detachments 
were  therefore  ordered  to  be.  in  readiness,  the  next 
morning  to  pass  round  and  fall  uj)on  the  rear  of  the 
enemy,  while  the  rest  of  the  troops  attacked  them  in; 
front.  The  next  day,  how(!Vcr,  proved  rainy,  which 
prevented  a  general  engagement,  but  there  were  fre- 
quent skirmishes  between  small  jmrties,  which  resulted, 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  afford  encouragement  to  the 
Americans. 

30.  Being  joined  by  a  small  party  of  militia  from 
Berkshire,  Massachusetts,  unrh.'r  Colonel  Symonds, 
Stark  proceeded  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  of  August, 
to  make  a  general  attack  upon  t)ie  enemy,  agreeably 
to  the  plans  which  had  been  concerted  tv\o  days 
before.  Ban  me  had  in  the  mean  tijne,  entrenched 
his  camp,  which  was  situated  near  the  Waloomsuc  a 
branch  of  the  Hoosuc.  and  had  rendered  his  [)ort  as 
strong  as  circumstances  would  permit.  Colonel  Nich- 
ols was  detached  with  200  men,  to  the  rear  of  the 


BENNINGTON    BATTLE.  109 

left  \^^ng  of  the  enemy,  and  Colonel  Herrick,  with 
300  men,  to  the  rear  of  their  right.  Colonels,  Hubbard 
and  Stickney,  with  200  men  were  ordered  on  the  right, 
and  100  men  were  advanced  in  front  to  draw  the  at- 
tention of  the  enemy  that  way.  The  several  divisions 
having  taken  their  positions,  about  three  o'clock  the 
action  commenced.  As  the  divisions  of  Nichols  and 
Herrick  approached  each  other  in  the  rear  of  the  ene- 
my, tlie  Indians,  apprehensive  of  being  surrounded, 
made  their  escape  between  the  two  corps,  excepting 
three  killed  and  two  woimded  by  the  fire  of  the  Anier- 
cans  as  they  passed. 

81.  Nichols  began  the  attack  and  was  immediately 
followed  by  the  other  divisions.  The  onset  was 
furious  and  determined,  and  the  sound  of  the  conflict 
has  been  likened  to  one  continued  peal  of  thunder. 
The  German  dragoons  made  a  brave  resistance,  and 
when  their  ammunition  was  expended,  they  were  led 
on  by  Colonel  Baume,  and  charged  the  Americans 
sword  in  hund.  But  their  bravery  was  unavailing. 
After  about  two  hours  hard  fighting,  the  enemy  were 
overpowered,  their  works  carried  on  all  points,  and 
their  two  pieces  of  cannon  taken.  Colonel  Baume 
was  mortally  woimded  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Americans,  and  all  his  men,  excepting  a  few,  who 
escaped  to  the  woods,  were  either  killed  or  taken 
prisoners. 

32.  This  victory  was  but  just  completed  when  Stark 
received  intelligence  that  the  re-enforcement  under 
Colonel  Breymen  was  rapidly  approaching  and  only 
two  miles  distant.  Fortunately  at  this  moment  Colo- 
nel Warner  arrived  with  his  regiment  of  Green  Moun- 
tain Boys.  Disappointed  that  he  had  not  arrived  in 
season  to  take  part  in  the  first  engagement  and  share 
in  its  glories,  Warner  immediately  led  forward  his  men 
and  attacked  the  re-enforcement  under  Breymen  with 
great  spirit  and  resolution.  Stark  collected  the  mili- 
tia and  hastened  to  his  assistance,  and  the  action  soon 
became  general.  The  combat  wag  maintained  with 
10 


110  HISTORY  or    VI.X.MONT. 

great  bravery  on  both  sides  till  sunset  when  the  enemy 
gave  way  and  were  pursued  till  dark. 

33.  In  these  two  engagements  the  Americans  took 
four  brass  field  pieces,  12  brass  drums,  four  ammu,- 
nition  waggons,  and  about  700  prisoners  with  their 
arms  and  accoutrements.  The  number  of  the  enemy 
found  dead  on  the  field  was  207 :  their  number  of 
wounded  not  ascertained.  The  loss  of  the  American;^ 
was  trifling  in  comparison  with  that  of  the  enemy. 
They  had  only  30  killed  and  about  40  wounded. 
This  action  took  place  near  the  west  line  of  Benning- 
ton, and  hence  it  is  called  "f/ie  battle  of  Bennington.'''* 

34.  Nothing  could  be  more  encouraging  to  the 
Americans,  or  disheartening  to  the  enemy  than  this 
splended  victory  of  Stark,  achieved  principally  by 
undisciplined  militia  over  veteran  regular  troops. 
Since  the  fall  of  Montgomeiy  an  uninterrupted  series 
of  defeats  had  attended  the  American  arms  in  the 
northern  department,  and  many  of  tlie  most  ardent 
in  the  cause  of  freedom  had  begun  to  despond.  But 
by  this  event,  they  discovered  that  their  enemy  was 
not  invincible^ — their  hopes  and  their  courage  were 
revived,  and  volunteers  from  every  quarter  flocked 
to  the  American  standard.  It  also  enabled  Stark  to 
vindicate  his  attachment  to  the  cause  of  his  bleeding 
country,  and  to  render  that  cause  a  service  far  more 
important  than  he  could  have  done  by  joining  the 
main  army  on  the  Hudson. 

35.  After  their  disasters  at  Bennington  the  British 
army  remained  quietly  at  their  camp  opposite  to  Sara- 
toga for  some  time,  awaiting  the  approach  of  Colonel 
St  Ledger,  who  had  been  sent  round  bythe  way  of 
lake  Ontario,  for  the  reduction  of  fort  Stanwix  on  the 
l^pper  part  of  the  Mohawk  river.  But  they  waited 
in  vain.  That  ofiicer,  after  encountering  many  dif- 
ficulties, was  obliged,  through  the  defection  of  the 
Indians  belonging  to  his  corps,  to  retreat  without 
accomplishing  the  object  of  the  expedition.  These 
events  had  not  only  retarded  tho  advance  of  Bur- 


I 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    GENERAL   LINCOLN.  Ill 

goyne,  but  they  served  to  depress  the  spirits  of  the 
royal  army,  while  they  at  the  same  time  encouraged 
the  Americans,  and  afforded  Gates,  who  had  now 
superceded  Schuyler,  time  to  strengthen  and  fortify 
his  camp. 

36.  In  the  mean  time  General  Lincoln,  who  com- 
manded a  body  of  New  England  militia,  determined 
to  make  a  diversion  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy.  He 
accorcbngly  proceeded  from  Manchester  to  Pavvlet, 
and  from  ihence  on  the  13th  of  September,  despatched 
Colonel  Brown  with  500  men  to  destroy  the  British 
stores  and  release  the  American  prisoners,  which 
were  collected  at  lake  George.  At  the  same  time 
he  ordered  Colonel  Johnson  with  an  etjual  number 
of  men  to  proceed  towards  Ticonderoga  to  divert 
the  attention  of  the  enemy,  while  Brown  was  ac- 
complishing his  object.  In  addition  to  these  he 
detached  Colonel  VVoodbridge  with  500  men  by 
the  way  of  Skeensborough  and  fort  Aim  to  fort  Ed- 
ward. The  design  of  these  expeditions  was  to 
alarm  and  divide  the  British  forces  and  to  cut  off 
their  supj)lies. 

37.  Brown  proceeded  with  such  secrecy  and  ce- 
lerity, that  by  the  ISthof  September  he  had  surprised 
all  the  out  ])osts  between  the  landing  place  at  the 
north  end  of  lake  George  and  the  main  fortress  at 
Ticonderoga.  The  Americans  had  likewise  recover- 
ed 3Iount  Hope,  3Iount  Defiance,  200  batteaux,  one 
armed  slooj)  and  a  number  of  gun  boats;  and  they 
had  taken  293  prisoners  and  had  liberated  more  than 
100  Americnns.  Encouraged  by  this  success,  they 
summoned  General  Powcl,  the  British  commander 
of  Ticonderoga,  to  surrender  that  fortress;  but  not 
being  in  a  condition  to  make  any  effectual  attempt 
against  it,  they  returned  in  safety,  and  with  scarcely 
any  loss,  to  Lincoln's  camp. 

38.  General  Burgoyne  crossed  the  Hudson  on  the 
I3th  and  14th  of  September  and  advanced  towards 
the  American  army,  which  was  posted  at  Stillwater. 


112  HISTORY    or   VERMONT. 

On  the  18th,  3000  Americans  marched  out  with  a 
view  of  attacking  the  enemy,  I  ait  finding  that  the  at 
tempt  would  he  too  hazardous,  they  remained  during 
the  day  in  full  view  of  the  royal  army,  without  com- 
mencing the  attack.  On  the  19th,  General  Burgoyne 
put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  right  wing  of  the 
British  army  and  advanced  towards  the  left  of  the 
Americans.  Generals,  Phillijjs  and  Reidsel,  at  the 
same  time  advanced  along  the  river  towards  the  right. 
Ahout  one  o'clock  some  of  the  American  scouts  fell 
in  with  those  of  the  British,  and  attacked  them  with 
great  boldness. 

39.  The  tiring  was  no  sooner  heard  than  the  ad- 
vanced ])arties  of  both  armies  j)ressed  forward  to 
battle.  Re-enfbrcements  were  continually  sent  on 
upon  boili  sides  and  the  contest  soon  became  obstin- 
ate and  general.  The  first  attempt  of  the  Americans 
was  to  turn  the  right  wing  of  the  British  army  and 
flank  their  line.  Failing  in  this,  they  moved  in  regu- 
lar order  to  the  left  and  there  made  a  furious  assault. 
Both  armies  were  determined  to  conquer,  and  the 
battle  raffed  without  intermission  for  three  hours. 
Any  advantage  upon  one  side  was  soon  counter- 
balanced by  an  equal  advanrage  on  the  other. — 
Cannon  and  favorable  })ositions  were  taken,  lost  and 
retaken  in  quick  succession;  and  the  two  armies 
might  be  compared  to  the  two  scales  of  a  mighty 
balance,  trembling  with  equal  burdens  in  doubtful 
oscillation,  and,  had  not  night  put  an  end  to  the 
struggle,  it  is  extremely  doubtful  which  would  have 
preponderated. 

40.  This  engagement,  though  undeci^ive,  was  ad- 
vantageous to  the  7\mericans.  The  British  lost  in 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  more  than  500  men, 
while  the  loss  of  the  Americans  amounted  to  ()4  killed, 
217  wounded  and  38  missing.  But  the  principal  ad- 
vantage arose  from  the  new  impressions  which  were 
made  upon  the  minds  of  the  royal  army.  They  had 
hitherto  regarded  the  American  army  as  an  assem- 
blage of  unorganized  cowardly  Yankees,  which  could 


BATTLE    OF    THB    SEVK>'TH    OF    OCTOBER.  113 

never  be  brought  to  face  regular  British  and  German 
troops  upon  the  field  of  battle.  And  when  they  came 
to  see  those,  whom  they  regarded  as  despicable  back 
woodsmen,  maintaining,  in  their  rustic  homespun  and 
leather  aprons,  with  no  other  arms  than  rusty  fowling 
pieces,  an  animated  and  determined  attack  upon  the 
royal  troops,  till  darkness  put  it  out  of  their  power  to 
continue  it,  their  hearts  sunk  within  them,  and  the 
most  sanguine  could  not  suppress  fearful  forebodings 
'with  regard  to  the  termination  of  their  expedition. 

41.  The  Indians  in  particular,  were  so  disheartened, 
that  nearly  all  of  them  immediately  left  the  British 
service,  and  about  250  of  them  came  over  and  joined 
the  American  army.  The  Canadians  and  Tories  also 
deserted  in  large  numbers.  From  the  20th  of  Sep- 
tember to  the  7th  of  October,  the  two  armies  lay  very 
near  each  other  and  skirmishes  between  small  parties 
were  continually  kept  up.  During  this  time  the 
American  army  was  receiving  daily  accessions  from 
the  surrounding  country,  while  that  of  the  British 
was  continually  diminishing  by  desertion  and  other 
causes.  On  the  7th,  General  Burgoyne  put  himself 
at  the  head  of  1500  regulars,  for  the  purpose  of  cov- 
ering a  foraging  party  and  discovering  whether  it 
would  be  possible  to  force  a  passage  down  the  Hud- 
son, should  it  be  found  necessary  to  alter  his  position. 

42.  As  soon  as  Gates  received  intelligence  of  the 
marching  of  this  detachment,  he  put  his  troops  in 
motion  to  meet  them,  and  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  an  a'^ttion  commenced  which  continued  till 
night,  and  was  one  of  the  most  animated  and  obstinate 
ever  fought  in  America.  The  British  troops  were  at 
length  compelled  to  retreat  to  their  camp,  and  some 
of  their  entrenchments  were  carried  by  the  Americans 
sword  in  hand  ;  their  loss  in  the  conflict  was  very 
severe,  compared  with  that  of  the  Americans.  Gen. 
Fraser,  Col  Breymen  and  several  other  officers  were 
slain,  and  Sir  James  Clark,  Major  Williams  and  Major 
Ackland  were  wounded  and  taken  prisoners.    Th« 

10* 


114  HISTORY  OF   VERMOM'. 

Americans  took  in  the  whole,  200  prisoner!*,  nine  pie- 
ces of  cannon,  and  a  large  quantity  of  ammunition 
and  camp  equipage. 

43.  As  the  force  of  Burgoyne  was  thus  con.«tantly 
diminishing,  while  that  of  Gates  was  daily  augment- 
ing by  iresh  arrivals,  it  became  obvious  that  nothing 
short  of  a  retreat  to  Canada  could  now  prevent  the 
complete  overthrow  of  the  royal  army.  This  Bur- 
goyne attempted  as  a  dernier  resort,  but  soon  found 
that  the  Americans  had  so  coujpleteiy  hemujed  him 
in,  as  to  render  it  utterly  inij)racticable.  Gates  now 
employed  every  means  to  cut  off  the  suj)jjlies  of  the 
enemy  and  the  situation  of  the  royal  army  t  ecame 
so  desperate,  that,  on  the  13th  of  October,  Burgoyne 
called  a  council  of  war  by  which  it  was  unanimously 
determined  to  propose  a  capitidation  The  next  day, 
Major  Kingston  was  sent  to  the  Americans  ;  hostilities 
were  suspended  ;  and  on  the  15th  and  l()th,  the  articles 
of  capitulation  were  severally  agreed  upon,  and  were 
to  be  signed  the  next  day.  During  the  night  of  the 
16th,  Burgoyne  received  intelligence  that  a  British 
army  was  advancing  up  the  Hudson  to  his  assistance  ; 
and  as  the  capitulation  was  not  yet  signed,  he  was 
of  opinion  that  it  was  best  to  suspend  the  execution 
of  it,  and  trust  to  events.  But  his  council  decided  that 
the  public  faith  was  already  pledged  for  the  execution 
of  the  treaty. 

44.  Gates,  who  was  well  apprised  of  the  advance 
of  the  British  up  the  Hudson,  and  fearful  that  Bur- 
goyne might  be  encouraged  by  it  to  further  resistance, 
got  every  thing  in  readiness  for  attacking  him  on  the 
morning  of  the  17th.  At  nine  o'clock,  the  time  fixed 
for  signing  the  articles,  he  sent  Colonel  Greaton  on 
horse-back  to  General  Burgoyne  for  his  signature, 
.allowing  him  only  ten  minutes  to  go  and  return.  The 
business  was  accomj)lished  in  the  time  specified,  and 
the  Americans  marched  back  to  their  camp  to  the 
tune  of  Yankee-Doodle.  The  whole  number  of 
troopjSj  which  were  surrendered  by  this  capitulation, 


1 


^URREXDER  OF  BURGOYX^E.  115 

was  6219,  together  with  all  the  arms  and  military 
stores  belonffino-  to  the  British  armv. 

45.  This  event  terminated  the  career  of  Burgoyne 
and  of  the  northern  British  army  in  America,  and 
nearly  put  an  end  to  the  war  in  the  vicinity  of  Vermont. 
The  regular  force  under  Gates  Vv'as  moved  off  to  com- 
bat the  enemy  in  other  quarters,  and  the  sturdy  yeo- 
manry, who  had  rallied  around  his  standard  and  fought 
the  battles  of  their  country,  now  returned  to  tlieir 
homes.  The  country  which  had  been  made  deso- 
late by  the  ravages  of  war,  began  again  to  be  inhabited  ; 
and  the  inhabitants  were  allowed  once  more  to  de- 
vote their  attention  to  their  civil  and  domestic  affairs. 

46.  We  liave  been  thus  particular  respecting  the 
invasion  of  Burgoyne,  as  well  on  account  of  its  effects 
in  breaking  u}>*The  settlements  in  the  western  ])arts 
of  Vermont,  as  of  the  important  part  performed  by 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys  in  checking,  and  finally 
captivating  the  British  army.  In  this  business  the 
people  of  Vermont  made  common  cause  with  those 
of  other  states,  and  we  have  therefore  not  interru})ted 
our  account  of  the  great  events  of  the  vevolution 
which  transpired  upon  our  borders,  by  any  account 
ofourmternal  ])olicy.  We  shall,  however,  proceed 
in  the  next  chajjter,  to  consider  more  particularly  the 
situation  of  Vermont,  with  respect  to  her  internal 
government,  and  her  relations  to  the  neighboring 
states,  and  to  the  British  forces  in  Canada,  during  the 
war  for  Independence. 


HISTORY  OF  VERMONT, 


CHAPTER     IV. 

CIVIL  POLICY  OF  VERMONT  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION. 


SECTION    I. 

From  the  year  1775,  to  the  Declaration  of  the  Indepen- 
dence of  Vermont  in  1777. 

1.  Having  completed  our  account  of  those  impor- 
tant events  in  the  American  war,in  which  the  people  of 
Vermont  were  more  particularly  concerned,  we  shall 
now  turn  our  attention  to  their  internal  j)olicy,  and 
endeavor  to  trace  the  successive  steps  hy  which  the 
powers  of  government  were  assumed,  and  their  po- 
litical fabric  erected.  The  New  Hampshire  grants, 
having  never  been  recognized  by  the  king  as  a  sep- 
arate jurisdiction,  and  having everrefused  submission 
to  the  authority  of  New  York,  were,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  revolution,  nearly  in  a  state  of  nature, 
being  without  any  internal  organization  under  which 
the  inhabitants  could  act  with  system  and  effect. 
Their  only  rallying  point  and  bond  of  union  was  their 
common  interest  in  resisting  the  claims  and  au- 
thority of  New  York.  Yet  the  same  interests  which 
drove  them  to  resistance,  gave  the  effect  of  law  to 
the  recommendations  of  their  committees,  while  a 
few  bold  and  daring  spirits,  as  if  formed  for  the  very 


CONrENTlOI?   AT   DORSET.  117 

occasion,  gave  impulse,  and  energy,  and  system  to 
their  operations. 

2.  Thus  stiuated,  were  the  inhabitants  of  the 
New  Hampshire  grants,  when  the  first  scene  of  the 
great  drama  of  the  revolution  was  opened  at  Lexing- 
ton, and  as  all  lesser  lights  are  swallowed  up  in  the 
superior  splendor  of  the  sun,  so  were  all  the  minor 
controversies  among  the  colonists  for  a  while  absorbed 
in  the  more  momentous  controversy  with  the  mother 
country.  But  the  partial  relief,  now  experienced,  from 
the  oppression  of  New  Yurk,  served  only  to  discover  to 
the  inhabitants  of  the  grants,  the  frailty  of  their  bond  of 
union,  and  to  convince  them  of  the  necessity  of  a 
better  organization,  both  to  enable  them  to  maintain 
the  grounds,  which  they  had  assumed  in  relation  to 
New  York,  and  to  put  it  in  their  power  to  render  effi- 
cient aid  to  their  countrymen  in  the  contest  with 
Great  Britian. 

3.  Accordingly,  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1775,  several 
of  the  leading  men  in  the  grants,  repaired  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  the  American  Congress  was  then 
sitting,to  procure  the  advice  of  that  body  with  regard 
to  the  course  proper  to  be  pursued,  under  existing 
circumstances,  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  grants. 
Congress  did  not  act  formally  upon  their  request, 
but  on  the  return  of  these  men  to  the  grants,  they 
spread  circulars  among  the  people,  setting  forth  as 
the  opinion  of  several  influential  members  of  that 
body,  that  the  inhabitants  should  immediately  form 
a  temporary  association  and  adopt  such  regulations 
as  were  required  by  the  exigencies  of  their  situation. 

4.  A  convention  of  delegates  from  the  several 
towns  was  according  assembled  at  Dorset,  on  the  16th 
of  January,  1776.  This  convention  forwarded  a  pe- 
tition and  address  to  Congress,  in  which,  after  giv- 
ing a  brief  sketch  of  the  controversy  with  New  York, 
thev  avowed  their  unwavering  attachment  to  the 
cause  in  which  the  colonies  had  unsheathed  the  sword, 
and  expressed   their  willingness  to  bear  their   full 


118  HISTORY   or    VERMONT. 

proportion  of  the  burden  of  prosecuting  the  war.  But 
at  the  same  time,  they  declared  their  unwilHngness 
to  be  considered  as  in  any  manner  subject  to  the 
authority,  or  jurisdiction  of  New  York,  or  to  be 
called  upon,  when  their  services  should  be  required, 
as  inhabitants  of  that  ])rovince. 

5.  This  was  the  first  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  grants  to  Congress,  and  the  committee  to  whom 
it  was  referred  reported,  that  it  be  recommended  to 
the  petitioners  to  submit  for  the  present  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  New  York,  and  assist  their  countrymen 
in  the  contest  with  Great  Britain  ;  but  that  such 
:submission  ought  not  to  prejudice  their  right  to  any 
lands  in  controversy,  or  be  construed  to  affirm,  or 
admit,  the  jurisdiction  of  New  York  over  the  coun- 
try, when  the  present  troubles  should  be  ended. 
Mr  Heiuan  Allen,  the  agent  by  whom  this  petition 
was  forwarded,  considering  the  report  of  the  coni- 
mittee  unfavorable  to  the  grants,  obtained  leave  to 
withdraw  the  petition,  and  thus  prevented  Congress 
from  coming  to  any  decision  upon  the  subject.  This 
took  })lace  on  the  4th  of  June,  1776  and  on  the  4th 
of  July  following.  Congress  published  to  the  world 
the  memorable  declaration  of  American  Independ- 
ence. 

6.  By  this  declaration  of  Independence,  the  [»eople 
on  the  New  Hampshire  grants  w  ere  placed  in  a  situa- 
tion more  difficult  and  embarrassing  than  before,  and 
there  were  various  o])inioi]s  with  regard  to  the  course 
which  should  be  j)ursued.  Some  thought  it  best 
to  place  themselves  under  the  jurisdiction  of  New 
Hampshire:  some  considered  the  submission  of  the 
grants  to  the  authority  of  New  York  the  only  course 
of  safety  ;  but  the  more  resolute  and  influential  were 
for  assuniing  the  jjovvers  of  government  and  hazard- 
ing the  consequences.  To  ascertain  the  state  of 
public  opinion  on  this  suliject,  it  was  determined 
that  a  general  convention  should  be  called,  and  cir- 


VERMONT  DECLARES    HER  INDEPENDENCE.  119 

culars  were  accordingly  addressed  to  the  different 
towns,  requesting  tliein  to  appoint  delegates. 

7.  There  was  a  general  compliance  with  this  re- 
quest, and  deleg'ates  from  thirty  five  towns  assembled 
at  Dorset  on  the  24th  of  July,  1776.  At  this  session 
it  was  agreed  by  the  delegates  to  enter  into  an  as- 
sociation among  themselves  for  the  defence  of  the 
liberties  of  their  countiy.  But  at  the  same  time  they 
resolved  that  they  would  not  associate  with,  or  sub- 
mit to,  the  provincial  government  of  New  York,  and 
that  all  such  inhabitants  of  the  grants  as  should  thus 
associate,  or  submit,  shoidd  be  regarded  as  enemies 
to  the  common  cause.  This  convention  met  again 
by  adjournment  at  the  same  place  on  the  25th  of 
September,  and  resolved  unanimous]}^''  to  take  suita- 
ble measures,  as  soon  as  maybe,  to  declare  the  New 
Hampshire  grants  a  free  and  separate  district." 

8.  On  the  ]5th  of  January,  1777,  the  convention 
met  again  at  Westminster.  The  sentiments  of  their 
constituents  were  now  well  ascertained,  and,  being 
convinced  that  there  was  now  no  other  way  of  safety 
left,  they  on  the  IGfh  of  that  month  ])ubiished  the 
following  declaration  :  "this  convention,  ^^■h()se  mem- 
bers are  duly  chosen  by  the  free  voice  of  their  con- 
stituents, in  the  several  towns  on  the  New  Hampshire 
grants,  in  jjublic  meeting  assembled,  in  our  own  namns, 
and  in  behalf  of  our  constituents,  do  licrchy  proclaim 
and  puhlicb/  declare  that  the  district  of  territory  compre- 
hendingy  and  usually  known  hy  the  name  and  description 
of  the  jYew  Hampshire  grants,  of  right  ought  to  bcy. 
and  is  hereby  declared  forever  hereof  er  to  be,  a  free  and 
independent  j<urisdiction,  or  state ;  to  he  forever  hereaf- 
ter called,  known,  and  distinguished  hy  the  name  of 
J\/ew  Connecticut,  alias  vekmont." 

9.  And  this  declaration  of  independence  fin-ther- 
more  asserts,  "that  the  inhabitants  wl  o  at  present 
are,  or  who  may  hereafier  become  resident,  either 
by  birth  or  emigration,  withi)i  said  tcrritor}',  shall  be 
entitled  to  the  same  privileges,  immunities  and  en- 


120  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

franchisements  as  are  allowed,  or  as  may  hereafter 
at  any  time  be  aHowed,  to  the  inhabitants  of  any  of 
the  free  and  independent  states  of  America:  And 
that  such  privileges  and  immunities  vshall  be  regula- 
ted in  a  bill  of  rights,  and  by  a  form  of  government 
to  be  established  at  the  next  session  of  this  conven- 
tion." 

10.  The  foregoing  declaration  was  unanimously 
adopted  by  tlie  convention  :  after  which  they  drew 
up  a  declaration  and  petition  to  Congres?,  in  which 
they  announced  to  that  body,  as  the  grand  represen- 
tative of  the  United  States,  that  they  had  declared 
the  territory,  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  the 
New  Hampshire  grants,  a  h*ee  and  independent  state, 
possessing  the  right  to  regulate  their  own  internal 
policy  in  any  manner  which  should  not  be  repug- 
nant to  the  resolves  of  Congress.  They  moreover 
declared  their  attachment  to  the  common  cause  and 
expressed  their  willingness  to  contribute  their  full 
proportion  towards  maintaining  the  war  with  Great 
Britain.  They  closed  by  praying  that  their  declara- 
tion might  be  acknowledged  by  Congress  and  that 
delegates  from  Vermont  might  be  admitted  to  seats 
in  that  body.  This  declaration  and  petition  was  signed, 
and  was  presented  to  Congress  by  Jonas  Fay,  Tliomas 
Chittenden,  Hemfm  Allen  and  Reuben  Jones,  four 
of  the  most  respectable  mcmb»;rs  of  the  convention. 

11.  These  prompt  and  decisive  measures  of  the 
convention  evinced  the  wisdom  and  boldness  of  the 
statesmen,  wlio  at  this  period  directed  the  affliirs 
of  Vermont,  and  placed  the  community  in  a  con- 
dition to  adoi)t  an  efficient  organization  of  its  own. 
Vermont,  in  justification  of  the  course  of  policy 
she  was  pursuing,  contended  that  she  had  the  same 
right  to  assume  the  powers  of  government,  which 
was  j)ossessed  by  the  continental  Congress,  and 
that  every  consideration,  which  could  justify  the  pro- 
ceedings of  that  body,  might  be  urged  as  a  reason 
why  the    peojjle   of  Vermont  should    «?mbracc«    the 


ESTABLISHMET    OF    THE    GOVER>\MENT.  121 

present  opportunity,  effectually  to  secure  themselves 
against  the  oppression  under  which  they  had  so  long 
suffered.  Hajjpy  was  it  for  the  new  state,  that  these 
measures  were  ado])ted  and  supported  with  that 
firmness  and  tenjjjerance,  which  were  alone  adequate 
to  •  secure  a  happy  result. 


SECTION     II. 


Establishment  of  the  Government  of  Vermont— from  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  January  15,  1777,  to 
the  Meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  on  the  12th  of 
March  1778. 


1.  These  proceedings  of  Vermont,  by  which  she 
had  declared  herself  to  be  a  separate  and  indepen- 
dent jurisdiction,  were  regarded  with  very  different 
feelings  by  the  neighboring  states.  While  New  Hamp- 
shire, Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  were  ready  to 
admit  Vermont  as  a  new  member  of  the  federal  un- 
ion, and  applauded  the  Sjjirit  and  boldness  with 
which  she  asserted  and  maintained  her  rights.  New 
York  regarded  these  tranasctions  as  open  acts  of  trea- 
son and  rebellion  against  the  lawful  authority  of  that 
state.  With  these  views,  the  convention  of  New  York, 
on  the  20th  of  January,  1777,  and  again  on  the  1st  of 
March,  of  the  same  year,  addressed  communications 
to  Congress,  in  which  they  represented  the  proceed- 
ings of  Vermont  as  resulting  from  the  arts  and  insti- 
gations of  designing  men,  and  n;.t,  as  had  been 
re[)resented,  from  a  general  desire  of  the  inhabitants 
of  that  district  to  renounce'their  allegiance  to  the  au- 
thority of  New  York. 

2.  They  con)plained  of  the  injuries  done  them  by 
Congress  in  the  appointment  of  officers  hi  the  disaffec- 
ted   portion    of  their   state   v/ithout  their   consent. 

11 


122  HISTORY    OF    VEllMONT. 

and  intimated  their  apprehensions  tliat  it  was  the 
design  of  Congress  to  countenance  the  insurgents  m 
their  rebellion.  TJiey  urged  upon  Congress  the  ne- 
cessity of  ininie(Hately  recalling  the  commissions^ 
given  to  Colonel  Wanier  and  the  officers  under  hinj, 
as  an  act  of  justice  to  New  York,  and  a*:  the  means 
of  oj)cning  the  eyes  of  the  "  deluded  peo[)le"  on  tlie 
grants,  who  had  set  up  i'or  a  separate  jurisdiction,  and 
were  now  desiring  Congress  to  sanction  their  illegal  j^ 
proceedings.  They  represented  the  influence  of  f 
Warner  as  veiy  inconsiderable,  even  in  the  disaffec- 
ted district,  and  that  his  services  were  a  matter  of  no 
consequence  to  the  country. 

'3.  While  New  York  Avas  thus  laying  her  grievan- 
ces before  Congress,  and  using  all  her  influence  to 
prevent  that  body  from  recognizing  the  inde})endence 
of  tlie  grants,  the  internal  affairs  of  Vermont  were 
rapidly  assiuning  that  form  and  regularity.  Which 
was  calculated  to  insure  a  permanent  and  efficient 
organization  of  the  government.  In  April,  Thomas 
Young,  a  distiuguished  citizen  of  Philadelphia,  ad- 
dressed a  communication  to  the  inhabitants  of  Ver- 
mont, in  which  he  jeprcsented  it  as  the  oj)inion  of 
several  of  the  leading  members  of  Congress,  that 
Vermont  should  proceed  in  her  organization,  form  a 
constitution,  and  ajtpoint  delegates  to  Congress  ;  and 
he  declared  it  to  be  his  own  individual  opinion  that 
Congrsss  would  not  hesitate  to  sanction  their  pro- 
ceedings, or  to  admit  their  delegates  to  a, seat  in  that 
honorable  body. 

4.  This  communication  was  ])refixed  to  a  resolu- 
tion, which  Congress  had  passed  on  the  15th  of  May, 
1776,  which  recommended^o  the  assemblies  and  con- 
ventions of  the  United  Colonies,  where  no  goveni- 
ment,  sufficient  to  the  exigencies  of  their  affairs,  had 
already  been  established,  to  adopt  such  government 
as,  in  the  opinion  of  the  representatives  of  the  ])eople, 
should  best  conduce  to  the  happiness  and  safety  of 
their  constituents.     This  resolution  was  regarded  by 


COMMUNICATIOrr    OF    THOMAB   TOUNG.  123 

the  anihor  of  tlic  corrnniinication,  as  a  full  license- 
from  Congress  to  the  grants,  to  assume  the  powers 
of  government,  and  he  recommended  that  no  tim3 
be  lost  in  availing  themselves  of  the  present  opportu- 
nity to  estal»!if4i  a  separate  dominion. 

5.  Alarmed  at  the  suggestions  iji  the  foregoing 
communication  of  Thomas  Young,  the  council  of 
safety  of  New  York  pro(^eeded,  on  the  28th  of  May, 
to  mak(;  a  fiu'thcr  effort  to  arrest  tin;  progress  of  Ver- 
mont. With  this  vi(;w  th<"y  ^tddressed  a  letter  to  the 
])resident  of  Congress,  in  whieii  they  say  that,  "as  a 
report  [)revails  and  daily  gains  credit,  that  the  revol- 
ters  are  privately  countenanced  in  their  designs  !)y 
certain  members  of  Congress,  we  esteem  it  our  duty 
to  give  this  information,  that  i)y  a  proper  resolutioji 
on  the  sul)ject,  the  reputation  of  Congress  may  cease 
to  be  injured  by  imputations  so  disgraceful  and  dis- 
honorable. However  unwilling  we  may  be  to 
entertain  suspicions  so  disreputable  to  any  member 
of  Congress,  yet  the  truth  is,  that  no  inconsiderable 
numbers  of  the  peoj)le  of  this  state,  do  believe  the 
rei)ort  to  be  vrell  foimd(;d." 

G.  With  a  viev/  of  bringing  Congress  to  a  decision 
on  the  subject  of  this  controversy,  on  the  23rd  of 
June,  one  of  the  New  York  delegates  laid  before  that 
body  the  communication  of  Thomas  Yotmg  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Vermont.  Congress  now  took  up  the 
matter,  and  the  ])et,ition.-5  and  comnnmications  from 
New  York  and  the  New  IIam[)shire  jrrants,  were 
referred  to  a  cnnimittcr^  of  the  whole.  This  ponwnit- 
tee,  on  the  30th  day  of  .I(me,  among  other  things 
resolved,  that  Congress  wou1<l  not  recommend  or 
countenance  any  thing  injurious  to  the  rights  and 
jurisdiction  of  the  several  communities  herein  rep- 
resented.— That  the  inhabitants  of  tlie  New  Hamp- 
shire grants  cannot  be  justified  in  their  declaration  of 
independence,  by  the  exam[)le  ef  the  United  C'olonies, 
nor  by  any  actor  resolution  of  Congress.-Tliat  the  pe- 
tition of  Vermont,  to  be  recognized  as  an  independent 


124  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

State,  and  to  have  her  delegates  admitted  to  seats  in 
Congress,  be  dismissed.  They  farther  resolved  that 
the  communication  of  Tlioraas  Young  was  derogatory 
to  the  honor  of  Congress,  and  contained  a  gross  mis- 
re])resentation  of  the  resolution  of  that  body  therein 
reterred  to,  and  was  calculated  to  mislead  the  peo- 
ple to  whom  it  was  adth'cssed. 

7.  Whihi  Congress  were  thus  resolving  to  dismiss 
the  petition  of  tiie  inhabitants  of  Vermont,  and  utterly 
to  discountenance  their  proceedings,  the  people  of 
Vermont  were  engaged  in  forming  a  constitution  for 
the  regulation  of  their  civil  govej-nment,  being  full}'' 
persuaded  that  their  independence  nuist  now  be  sup- 
ported with  the  same  firnniess  and  spirit  with  which 
it  had  been  declared.  The  same  convention,  which 
had  declared  the  independence  of  Vermont,  met,  by 
adjournment,  at  Windsor  on  the  first  Wednesday  of 
June,  and  apj)ointed  a  committee  to  make  a  draft  of 
a  consiitution  for  the  state.  They  also  adopted  a  reso- 
lution, recommending  that  the  several  towns  apj)oint 
delegates  to  meet  in  convention  at  Windsor,  on  the 
2d  day  of  July  following,  for  the  purpose  of  discuss- 
ing and  adoj)ting  said  constitution. 

8.  In  compliance  with  the  foregoing  resolution,  the 
convention  assembled  at  Windsor,  on  the  2(1  day  of 
July,  and  a  dralt  of  a  constitution  was  presented  and 
read.  While  the  convention  were  deliberating  upon, 
and  adopting  the  several  artii-les  of  this  important 
instrument,  they  received  the  news  of  the  evacuation 
on  the  Gth  of  July,  of  Ticonderoga  by  the  American 
troops.  This  event  left  the  whole  western  border 
of  Vermont  exposed  to  the  eiierny  and  spread  alarm 
and  consternation  through  this  and  the  neighboring 
states.  "In  this  awfid  crisis,"  says  Allen  in  his  His-" 
toiy  of  Vernunit  '•  the  convention  was  for  k'a\ing 
Windsor;  but  a  severe  thunderstorm  came  on  and 
gave  them  time'to  refliu't ;  while  some  members  less 
alarmed  at  the  news,  called  the  attention  of  the  con- 
vention to   finish  the  constitution,  which  was  then 


FIRST    COKSTITUTlOiV   ADOPTED.  195 

reading,  paragraph  by  paragra]:>h  for  the  laert  thne. 
This  was  done,  and  the  consention  a})|)ointeda  coun- 
cil of  safety  to  act  during  their  recess,  and  adjourned." 

9.  Immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  con- 
vention, the  council  of  safety  of  Vermont  wrote  to 
the  councils  of  safety  of  Massachusetts  and  New 
Hampshire,  setting  forth  their  exposed  condition 
since  the  abandonment  of  Ticonderoga,  and  calling 
upon  them  in  the  most  ])ressing  terms  for  assistance. 
These  communications  were  dated  at  Manchester 
July  15th,  1777,  Upon  this  application  the  council 
of  safety  of  New  Hampshire  immediately  convened 
the  assembly  of  that  state,  who  without  delay  placed 
a  large  body  of  their  militia  under  the  command  of 
General  Stark,  and  ordered  him  to  repair  to  Charles- 
town  on  Connecticut  river ;  consult  with  the  council 
of  Vermont  with  regard  to  supplies  and  future  ope- 
rations ;  and  act  in  conjunction  with  the  troops  of 
that  or  any  other  state,  or  of  the  United  States,  as 
in  his  opinion,  would  tend  most  affectually  to  stop 
the  progress  of  the  enemy  on  the  western  frontier. 
These  orders  were  promptly  obeyed,  antl  these  troops, 
in  conjunction  with  those  of  Vepmont,  at  Bennington, 
gave  the  enemy  the  first  effectual  check,  as  related 
in  the  preceding  cha'pter. 

10.  Previous  to  the  adjournment  of  the  convention 
it  had  been  ordered  that  the  first  election  under  the 
constitution  should  take  place  in  December,  1777; 
and  that  the  representatives  then  elected,  should  meet 
at  Bennington  in  January  following.  Public  attention 
was,  however,  so  much  engrossed  by  the  advance 
of  the  enemy  under  Burgoyne,  that  the  constitution 
was  not  printed  in  seiason  to  have  the  election  take 
place  tit  the  time  appointed.  The  convention  was, 
therefore,  again  called  together  at  Windsor  by  the 
council  of  safety,  on  the  24th  of  December,  where 
they  revised  the  constitution,  and  pos  poned  the  day 
of  election  to  the  first  Tuesday  of  March  1778,  and 

11* 


126  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

the  meeting  of  the  assembly  to  the  second  Thursday 
of  the  same  month. 

11.  The  maiiuer  in  which  these  ])roceedings  of 
Vermont  were  viewed  by  New  Hampshire  and  New 
York,  is  obvious  from  the  style  of  their  communica- 
tions during  this  period.  In  answer  to  the  a|)|jncation 
of  the  council  of  safety  of  V^erniont  for  assistance,  Mr 
Weare,  president  cf  tlie  council  of  New  Hainpsliire, 
adch'essed  Vermont  as  a  free  and  soveieiiiu.  but  new 
State,  and  in  such  terms  as  to  leave  no  doubt  but  tint 
New  Hampshire  willingly  acknowledged  her  inde- 
pendence. But  not  so  with  New  York.  The  pro- 
ceedings of  Vermont,  it  is  true,  had  changed  her 
policy,  but  had  by  no  means  reconciled  her  to  a  re- 
linquishiuent  of  her  jurisdiction  over  the  giants.  In 
his  proclamation  addressed  to  the  inhabitant  of  the 
grants,  February  23d,  1778,  the  Governor  of  New 
York,  after  confirming  their  tides  to  their  lands  in 
particular  cases  and  making  several  concessions  in 
their  favor,  expressly  declares  that,  that  government 
"  will  vigorously  maintain  its  rightful  suprtmacxf  over 
the  persons  and  property  of  those  disaffected  subjects." 

12.  The  overtures.jn  the  |)roclanniti()n  of  Governor 
Clinton,  from  which  the  above  extract  is  taken,  have 
a  scmblanca  of  iairness  which  might  have  misled  a 
people,  less  discerning,  and  less  jealous  of  theiV  rights 
than  they  to  whom  they  were  addressed.  But  the 
people  of  Vermont  had  been  too  long  accustomed  to 
a  thorough  investigation  of  every  poijit  in  the  con- 
troversy not  to  perceive  that  these  overtures  held  out 
no  prospect  of  substaiuial  relief.  They  perceived  at 
once  that  Ne\v  York  was  now  endeavoring  to  effect 
that  by  policy,  whieh  she  had  heretofore  vainly  at- 
temj)ted  by  l()rce.  They  had  ever  acted  upon  the 
conviction  that  the  claims  of  i\ew  York  were  ground- 
less ;  and,  having  now  declared  their  ind(!|)endence 
and  a  lof)ted  a  constitution,  they  were  by  no  means 
to  he  cajoled  into  ;m  acknowledgement  of  the  "su- 
premacy" of  that  state.    An  answer  to  this  proclania- 


4 


CeNTROTIRST    WITH    NEIV    HAMPSHIRE.  127 

tion  was  afterwards  published  by  Ethan  Allen,  in 
w^hich  he  points  out  its  sophistry,  shows  that  its  over- 
tures "are  all  romantic,  designed  only  to  deceive 
woods  peojjle,"  and  exlions  his  fellow  citizens  to 
maintain  inviolate  the  supremacy  of  the  iudei)endent 
state  of  Vernjont,.  as  the  only  means  of  security  to 
their  persons  and  j)roperty. 


SECTION     III. 


Controversy  with  JWw  Hampshire  in  1778,  and  1779 — 
Legislative  proceedings  in  Vermont. 

1.  After  the  royal  decision  of  the  controversy  be- 
tween New  Hampshire  and  New  York,  in  favor  of 
the  latter,  in  1764.  New  Hampshire  had  made  no 
attemj)t  to  continue  her  jurisdiction  over  the  disputed 
territory.  Hence  we  have  hitlierto  had  occasion  to 
consider  the  people  of  Vermont,  only  in  their  relation 
to  the  government  of  New  York  ;  but  tlie  declaration 
of  their  indcjiendence  and  the  organization  of  their 
government  were,  in  their  consequences,  the  occasion 
of  new  difficulties,  not  only  with  New  York,  but  also 
with  New  Ham])^hir8  and  Massachusetts. 

2.  The  original  territory  of  New  Hampsliire  was 
granted  to  John  Mason,  and  was  bounded  on  the  west 
by  d  hne  sixty  miles  from  the  sei.  The  lands  be- 
tween this  line  and  Connecticut  nver,  were  royal 
grants,  and  belonged  to  New  Hampshire  by  virtue  of 
the  connnissions  of  the  governors  of  that  i)rovince. 
Vermont  iiad  no  sooner  organized  her  government 
than  the  inhabitants  on  these  lands  manifested  their 
desire  to  dissolve  their  connexion  with  New  Hamp- 
shire and  unite  with  Vermont.     In  their  justification, 


198  HISTORY   OF    ^':ERM0]TT. 

they  contended,  that  all  the  territory  west  of  Mason's 
grant,  had  been  held  in  subjection  to  New  Hampshire" 
by  force  of  the  ro3\al  commissions — that  when  the 
royal  authority  ceased  in  tbe  colonies,  in  consequence 
of  the  declaration  of  independence,  their  allegiance 
to  New  Hampshire  ceased,  and  they  were  left  at  lib- 
erty to  form  a  sejjarate  government,  or  to  unite  with 
such  neighboring  government  as  would  consent  to  a 
union. 

3.  With  these  views  of  their  relations  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, the  people  on  tbe  territory  between  Mason's 
grant  and  Connecticut  river,  proceeded  to  make  ar- 
rangements for  proposing  a  connexion  with  Vermont. 
The  Legislature  of  V^ermont  met,  for  the  first  time, 
on  tlje  12th  of  March,  1778,  at  Windsor,  and  the 
same  day  a  petition  was  presented  from  sixteen  towns 
on  the  east  side  of  Connecticut  river,  praying  to  be 
admitted  to  a  union  with  V'ormont.  The  Legislature 
was  much  embarrassed  by  t'lis  ap{)lication.  Most  of  the 
members  from  the  west  side  of  tbe  mountains  regar- 
ded the  union  as  a  dangerou  measure  and  tbe  majority 
of  the  assembly  appeared  to  be  against  it;  yet  sever- 
al of  the  towns  iu  Vermont  on  Connecticut  river  were 
very  desirous  that  the  towns  from  New  Hampshire 
should  be  received,  and  went  so  far  as  to  ])roj)ose 
withdrawing  from  their  connexion  with  Vermont  and 
setting  up  another  state.  In  this  state  of  things,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  })reserving  its  own  unicvn,  the  Legisla- 
ture voted,  on  the  18th  of  March,  1778,  to  refer  the 
decision  of  the  question  to  the  people. 

4.  The  Legislature  met  again  by  adjournment  on 
the  4th  of  June,  at  Bennington,  when  it  aj)peared 
that  a  majority  of  the  towns  were  in  favor  of  the 
union  with  the  sixteen  towns  from  New  Hamj)shire  ; 
and,  June  llth,  it  was  "voted  that  the  union  take 
])lace — thirty  seven  in  the  affirmative  and  twelve  in 
the  negative."  It  was  also  voted  that  any  other  towns 
on  the  east  side  of  Connecticut  river  might  be  admit- 
ted to  a  union,  on  protlucing  a  vote  of  the  majority  of 


FIRST  UNION  WITH  A  PART  OF  >'.  HAMPSHIRE.      ]29 

the  inhabitants,  or  on  their  sending  a  re])resentative 
to  the  assembly  of  Vermont.  Having  thus  effected 
their  purpose,  the  sixteen  towns  informed  the  gov- 
ernment of  New  Hampshire  that  they  had  withdrawn 
from  their«jurisdictioii,  and  wished  the  division  hne 
to  be  established  and  a  friendly  intercourse  to  be 
kej)t  up. 

5.  Those  who  were  anxious  for  this  union,  had 
represented  to  the  Legislature,  that  the  inhabitants  of 
the  sixteen  towns  were  nearly  unanimous  in  their 
votes  to  join  Vermont,  and  that  New  Hampshire,  as 
a  state,  would  not  object  to  their  withdrawing  from 
her  jurisdiction.  But  the  event  ])roved  both  these 
representations  to  be  false.  The  government  of 
New  Ham])shire  was  justly  incensed  at  the  pro- 
ceedings. Mr  Vv'eare,  President  of  the  Council  of 
New  Hampshire,  wrote  to  Congress  on  the  19th  of 
August,  to  jjrocure  advice,  and,  in  case  of  necessity, 
the  interference  of  that  body.  On  the  22d  of  Au- 
gust, he,  hi  the  name  of  the  general  assembU^  of  that 
state,  wrote  to  3Ir  Chittenden,  governor  of  Vermont, 
claiming  the  sixteen  towns  as  a  part  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. He  stated  that  a  large  portion  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  those  towns  were  0[)j)osed  to  the  union, 
that  this  minority  had  claimed  the  protection  of 
the  state,  and  that  the  government  of  New  Hamp- 
shire considered  itself  Ijound  to  protect  them.  He 
urjjed  Governor  Chitendtii  to  exert  his  influence 
with  the  Legislature,  to  dissolve  a  connexion,  which 
would  endanger  their  peace  and  probably  their  po- 
litical existence. 

6.  On  the  reception  of  this  communication.  Gov- 
ernor Chittenden  convened  the  council,  and  it  was 
agreed  that  Colonel  Ethan  x\llen  should  repair  to 
Philadelphia  and  ascertain  how  the  proceedings  of 
Vermont  were  regarded  by  Congress.  On  his  return 
he  reported  that  Congress  was  unanimously  oppo- 
sed to  the  proceedings  of  Vermont  in  relation  to  the 
union  with  New  Hampshire ;  but  that  if  those  pro- 


130  HfSTOBY  or  VERMONT. 

ceedings  were  disannulled,  only  the  delegates  from 
New  York  would  oppose  their  independence.  The 
Legislature  met  again  by  adjournment  on  the  8th  of 
October,  1778,  at  Windsor,  and,  having  received  the 
report  of  Col  Allen,  Oct.  13th,  they  took  up  the  sub- 
ject of  the  union. 

7.  At  the  first  session  of  the  Legislature  in  March, 
the  state  had  been  divided  into  two  counties,  Ben- 
nington on  the  west  side  of  the  mountains,  and 
Cumberland  on  the  east.  After  considering  and 
debating  the  subject  of  their  connexion  with  the  six- 
teeen  towns  h"om  New  Hampshire,  from  the  13th  to 
the  21st  of  October,  votes  were  taken  in  the  Legislature 
on  the  following  questions,  the  result  of  which  evin- 
ced the  determination  of  a  majority  of  the  members 
to  proceed  no  further  in  that  hazardous  exi)erimcnt. 
Qiicstion  1st.  Shall  the  counties  in  this  state  remain 
as  they  were  established  in  March  last  ?  This  ques- 
tion was  decided  in  the  affirmative  ;  yeas  35,  nays  26. 
Qiiestion  2d.  Shall  the  towns  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Connecticut  river,  which  have  been  axhnitted  to 
a  union  with  Vermont,  be  included  in  the  county  of 
Cumberland  ?  Question  Sd.  Shall  said  towns  be 
erected  into  a  county  by  themselves  ?  The  last 
two  questions  were  both  decided  in  the  negative  : 
yeas  28,  nays  33. 

8.  Finding  by  these  votes  that  the  Legislature  did 
not  incline,  at  present,  to  do  any  thing  more  on  the 
subject  of  the  union,  the  re])resentatives  from  tlie 
towns  on  the  east  side  of  the  Connecticut,  with- 
drew from  the  assembly,  in  which  they  had  been 
admitted  to  seats,  and  were  followed  by  fifteen  rep- 
resentatives from  towns  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
together  with  the  Lieutenant  governor,  and  two  of 
the  Council.  After  these  members  had  withdrawn, 
the  number  left  was  barely  sufficient  to  constitute  a 
quorum.  They  therefore  j^-oceeded  to  transact  the 
remaining  business  of  the  session,  and  adjourned  on 
the  24th  of  October,  to  meet  again  at  Bennington  on 


FIRST    UHION    WITH    PART   OF    N.    U.  131 

the  second  Thursday  of  February  next,  having  re- 
solved to  refer  the  subject  of  tlje  union  with  New 
Hampsliire  to  their  constituents  for  instructions  how 
to  proceed  at  their  next  session, 

9.  The  secceeding  nienibers,  after  entering  a  for- 
niaJ  protest  upon  the  jonrnals  against  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Assembly,  held  a  meeting  at  which  they 
made  arrangements  for  calling  a  convention,  to 
which  they  invited  all  the  towns,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Coimecticiit  river,  to  send  delegates.  The  object  of 
this  convention  was  to  establish  a  government  in  the 
V  alley  of  the  Connecticut,  the  centre  and  seat  of 
which  should  be  some  where  upon  that  stream.  The 
convention  met  at  Coi'nish,  New  Hampshire,  on  the 
Dth  of  December,  and  a  union  was  agreed  u})on  by 
a  majority  ot  the  delegates,  without  any  regard  to 
former  limits,  and  a  proj)osal  was  made  to  New 
Huiiip.-Iilif,  ci'ilitr  to  iigi-ec  \\itlj  that  state  upon  a 
division  line,  or  to  submit  it  to  Congress,  or  to  ar- 
bitrators mutually  chosen.  In  case  neither  of  these 
proposals  was  accepted,  they  pro[)osed  that  they 
would  consent  that  all  the  grants  should  be  imited 
vvifli  New  liamps^hire  and  altogether  become  one 
entire  state,  coextensive  with  the  claims  of  New 
llamps.hire  previous  to  the  royal  decision  in  1764, 
Till  one  of  these  ))roposals  was  acceded  to,  they  "re- 
solved to  trust  in  providence  and  defend  them- 
selves." 

30.  Only  eight  towns  on  the  west  side  of  Connec- 
ticut river  were  represented  in  this  convention,  and 
the  delegates  from  some  of  these  dechned  taking  any 
part  in  making  the  foregoing  pro])osals  to  New 
Hamixshire.  From  the  proceedings  of  this  conven- 
tion it  became  obvious  that  the  whole  aim  of  the 
leading  men  in  the  vicinity  of  Connecticut  river,  was 
toestabli!?h  such  a  goverinnent  as  to  bring  themselves 
in  the  centre,  and  it  did  nota|)p"ar  to  be  material  with 
them  whetlier  this  was  effected  by  a  union  of  a 
l>art  of  Nev/  Hampshire  with  Vermont,  or  by  bring- 


132  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

iiig  the  whole  of  Vermont  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
New  Hampshire.  The  people  of  Vermont  were  now 
fully  sensible  of  the  impolicy,  as  well  as  injustice,  of 
aidinir  in  the  dismemherjiu-nt  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  ihey  were  wise  enough  to  embrace  the  first 
opportunity  to  retrace  their  ste[)S  and  dissolve  a  con- 
nexion which  threatened  their  ruin. 

Jl.  The  Legislature  of  Vermont  met  at  Benning- 
ton, according  to  adjournment,  on  the  llth  of  Febru- 
ary, 1779,  and   the  next  day  they  voted   to  dissolve 
the  union  which  had   subsisted  between  them  and 
the  towns  in  New  Hampsljire.     Tliis  determination 
of  the    Legislature   of  V^ermont,    was   innncdiately 
commuiuieated  to  the  government  of  New   Hamp- 
shire by  Ira  Allen,  and    was   received  while  efforts 
were  making  to  gain  the  assent  of  that  government 
to  the  proposals  made   by  the  Cornish    convention. 
Encouraged  by   these    divisions,  the  Legislature  of 
New  Ha.'npshire  now  resolved  to  lay  claim,  not  only 
to  the  sixteen    towns,  which  had  united   with  Ver- 
mont, l)ut  to  the  whole  state  of  Vermont,  as  grants 
originally    made     by    that     })rovince.      Aj)plii'ation 
was  made    to  Congress   for  a  confirmation    of  this 
claim,    and   at  the  same  tiuje  New  York  api)lied  to 
that  body  for  a  confirmation  of  lier  title  to  the  teri- 
tory  in  question. 

is.  Circumstances  connected  with  these  applica- 
tions convinced  the  peo])le  of  Vermont,  that  they 
were  the  result  of  the  intrigues  of  the  leading  men  in 
those  states,  and  were  dcsigjied  to  efil.'ct  a  division 
of  Vermont  between  them,  by  a  fine  along  the  sum- 
mit of  the  Green  Mountains.  As  the  other  states  in 
general  took  l}Ut  little  interest  in  these  controversies, 
and  as  the  adjustnu  nt  of  them  was  embarrassing  to 
Congress,  it  wasthought  that,  if  New  Hampshire  and 
New  York  shoidd  agree,  it  would  be  left  pretty 
much  to  those  tvto  states  to  settle  the  aflairs  of  Ver- 
mont between  thiin,  in  which  case  Vermont  must 
certainly  lose  her  separate  existence  as  a  state.     But 


COiVTROVERSY    WITH    N.    S.    AND    N.    Y.  133 

either  to  disappoint  the  parties,  which  appeared  to 
be  resolved  on  the  annihilation  of  Vermont,  or  for 
some  other  cause,  Massachusetts  now  interposed  and 
claimed  a  portion  of  the  disputed  territory,  as  within 
her  jurisdiction.  Thus  was  Vermont  struggling  to 
maintain  her  independence  against  the  three  adjoin- 
ing states  which  were  all  claiming  her  territory  and 
the  right  of  jurisdiction,  nor  had  her  proceedings  yet 
received  any  countenauce  of  encouragment  from  the 
continental  Congress. 


SECTIOIV    I!V. 

Controversy/   uith   JVeiv    3or,^,  J^eio  Hampshire   and 
Massachusetts,  in  1778 — 1779,  and  1780. 

1.  During  their  troubles,  resulting  from  their  union 
■with  a  part  of  New  Hampshire,  and  which  have  been 
mentioned  in  the  preceding  section,  Vermont  was 
still  as  deeply  as  ever  involved  hi  the  controversy 
with  New  York ;  but  now,  events  transpired  in  the 
southeastern  ]>art  of  the  county  of  Cumberland,  which 
gave  to  that  controversy  a  much  more  alarming  as- 
pect. On  the  7th  of  July,  1778,  Governor  Clinton 
wrote  to^his  friends  in  Vermont,  recommendinir,  tliat 
wherever  the  partizans  of  New  York  were  sufficient- 
ly powerful,  firm  resistance  should  be  made  to  the 
th-aughting  of  men,  the  raising  of  taxes  and  to  all  the 
acts  of  the  "ideal  Vermont  Stale  ;"  and  al&o  "that 
associations  be  formed  for  mutual  defence  against 
this  usurpation."  At  the  same  time  he  \vi-ote  to 
Congress,  urging  their  decision  of'  the  controversy, 
and  blaming  the  people  of  Vermont  for  the  violence 
of  their  proceedings. 

2.  In  conformit}'  to  the  recommendation  of  Governor 
Clinton,  the  friends  of  New  York  met  in   convention 
at  BruttlcboroiLgh  on  tlje  4th  of  Mav,  1779,  and.  hav- 
12 


134  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

ing  organized,  drew  ut)  a  fx^tition  to  the  Governor  of 
New  York,  in  which,  after  stating  the  siimmar}' man- 
ner in  wliich  the  pretended  State  of  Vermont  was 
])rocee(rnig  to  confiscate  their  property,  and  various 
oth(>r  grievances,  they  "  eiitreat  his  Excellency  to  take 
in)in('(hate  njeasures  for  j)rorectiiig  tlie  loyal  snhjects 
of  that  part  of  the  state,  and  for  convincing  Congress 
of  the  impropriety  of  delaying  a  decision  in  a  matter, 
which  so  nearly  concerned  the  peace,  welfare  and 
lives  of  many  of  their  firm  adherents."  Ahout  the 
same  time  a  military  association  was  formed  for  tJie 
purpose  of  op()osing  the  authority  of  Vermont. 

3.  In  consequence  of  representing  that  they  had  a. 
regiment  ot  500  men,  and  of  mriking  some  other  false- 
assertions,  several  conimissions  liad  heen  obtained 
from  Governor  Clinton  ;  and  the  government  of  Ver- 
mont, therefore,  found  it  necessary  to  take  measures  to 
put  a  stop  to  these  military  movements.  Etlian  Allen 
was  accordingly  ordered  i)y  the  governor  to  call  out 
the  militia  for  that  piirpose.  When  the  adheients  of 
New  York  were  informed  of  these  transactions  on 
the  ])art  of  Vermont,  Col  Patterson,  who  held  a  com- 
mission in  the  county  of  Cumberland  u.ider.the  au- 
tliority  of  New  York,  wrote  to  Governor  Clinton,  May 
5th,  for  directions  how  to  proceed,  and  suggesting  the 
necessity  of  sending  the  militia  of  Albany  county  to 
his  assistance.  This  letter  and  the  fore^joing  i)etition 
were  answered  by  tlie  governor  with  assurances  of 
protection  ;  and  he  recommended  tliat  the  authority 
of  Vermont  should  not  be  acknowledged,  except  in 
the  alternative  ofsii!)mission  or  inevitable  j'uin. 

4.  On  th  )  18th  of  May,  Governor  Clinton  wrote  to 
the  y)resi(lent  of  Congress,  "  that  matters  were  fast 
ap|)roaching  to  a  very  serious  crisis,  which  nothing 
but  the  ininiediate  inter|)osition  of  Congress  could 
possibly  prevent ;  that  he  daily  expected  he  should 
be  obliged  to  order  out  a  force  for  the  defence  of 
those  wlio  adhered  to  New  York ;  that  the  wisdom 
of  Congress  would  suggest  to  them,  what  would  be 


PR00EEDI.VG3    OF    CO>"GRES.S    OX    THE     SUBJECT.      135 

the  consequence  of  submitting  the  controversy,  espe- 
cially at  this  jiuicture,  to  the  decision  of  the  sword  ; 
bntiliat  jur^tice,  tlr;  faith  of  government,  the  peace  and 
saf('tv  of  s(jci.  tv  would  not  permit  ihrin  to  coniinne  anv 
longer  p'assive  spectators  of  the  violence  committed 
on  their  tbliow  citizens."  Tliis  letter  and  sundry  oth- 
er papers  relating  to  the  dispuies,  were  laid  before 
Congress  on  the  S'Jili  of  May,  J  779,  and  were  referred 
to  a  committee  of  t!ie  whole;  and  on  the  1st  dav  of 
June,  Congi-ess  resolved  "that  a  committee  be  ap- 
]>ointe»''  to  repair  to  the  inliabitants  of  a  cc-rtain  dis- 
trict, known  by  ihc  name  of  tlie  New  Hampshire 
grant"^,  and  en<]uire  into  tlie  reasons  why  they  reiiise 
to  continue  citizens  of  tlie  respective  states,  which 
liave  claimed  jurisdiction  over  the  said  disuict. 
And  that  they  take  every  prudent  njeasure  to  promote 
an  amicable  settlement;  a!id  to  prevent  divi.^ions  and 
animosities,  so  prejudicial  to  the  United  Slates". 

5.  Willie  Congress  was  engaged  in  passing  these 
resolutions,  Allen  marched  with  an  armed  force  and 
made  prisoners  of  the  Colonel  and  otlier  officers  v.ho 
were  acting  under  the  auihoritv  of  New  York.  Com- 
])laiiit  was  imme(hately  made  to  Governor  Clinton, 
with  an  earnest  request  tiiat  he  would  take  speedy 
measures  for  tlieir  relief.  Go\^ernor  Clinton  wrote 
again  to  Congress  on  the  7th  of  June  stating  Tvhat 
had  taken  place,  disapj)roving  of  the  resolutions  of 
Congress  before  mentioned^  and  requesting  that  the 
committep,  apjjointed  to  rej)air  to  the  New  Hamj»- 
shire  grants,  njight  postpone  their  visit  till  after  the 
next  meeting  of  the  New  York  Legislature.  June 
16th,  Congress  resolved  that  tlie  officers  ca|)tured  by 
Allen  should  be  liberated,  and  tliat  the  couimirtee 
above  mentioned  be  directed  to  inquire  into  the  cir- 
cumstaiH-es  of  tliat  transaction. 

6.  Ofthe  five  commissioners  appointed  to  repair 
to  Vermont  two  only  attended — Dr  Withei-spoon 
and3Ir  Atlee.  These  gentlemen  repaired  to  Ben- 
nington in  June,  had  several  conferences  with  the 


13G  mSTORY   OF    VBHMOWT. 

friends  of  Vermont,  and,  also,  witli  othei-s,  who  woi*e 
in  tli(3  interest  of  New  York.  It  seems  to  have  heen 
the  aim  of  these  commissioners  to  effect  a  reconcil- 
iation between  the  parties ;  but  it  appears  from  the 
report,  whicli  tin}'  mtule  to  Congress  on  the  13th  of 
July,  that  they  did  not  succeed  in  aceomplisliing  the 
object  of  their  mission.  Four  parties  were  now 
c]aimin<(  the  same  tract  of  country,  and  each  of  these 
parties  had  applied  to  Congress  lor  a  decision  of  tlie 
controversy.  Under  such  circumstances  Congress 
could  not  well  avoid  taking  up  the  niatter  and  among- 
others,  on  the  24th  of  September,  1779,  passed  several 
resolutions,  the  substance  of  which  was  as  follows; 

7.  Resolved  that  it  be  earnc'stly  reconun('nd(;d,  that 
JSfew  Hampshire,  Massachusetts  and  New  York  ex- 
pressly autliorize  Congress  to  determine  their  disputes 
relative  to  their  respective  l)oundaries — and  that  on 
tlie  first  of  February  next.  Congress  will  j)roc(?ed  to 
settle  and  determine  the  same,  according  to  equity. 
It  was,  moreover,  declared  to  be  the  duty  of  those  in- 
habitants of  the  New  Hampshire  grants,  who  did  not 
acknowledge  the  jurisdiction  of  either  of  the  above 
named  states,  to  refrain  from  exercising  any  power 
over  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  did  acknowledge  such 
jurisdiction,  an*l  it  was  likewise  recommended  to 
the  said  states  to  refrain,  in  the  mean  time,  from  exe- 
cuting their  laws  over  such  inhabitants  as  did  not 
acknowledge  their  respective  jurisdictions. 

8.  From  the  whole  tenor  of  these  resolutions,  it 
was  evident  that  Congress  wished  for  the  present  to 
pacify  the  parties,  without  coming  to  any  decision 
upon  the  matter  in  dispute ;  and  it  was  equally  evi- 
dent that  she  would  j)refer  sacrificing  Vermont  as  a 
separate  jurisdiction,  to  a  ru})ture  at  tijis  time  with 
'cither  of  the  states,  which  laid  claim  to  that  territory. 
Nor  shall  we  be  supprised  at  this  i)artial  and  evasive 
j)olicy,  when  we  consider  that  the  successtid  termina- 
tion of  the  war  for  independence,  which  was  then 
undecided,  and  the  fate  of  the  colonies  generally  do- 


VERMONT    APPEALS    TO    THE    WORLD.  137 

pended  upon  the  irUegrity  of  tlieir  union  in  the  com- 
mon cause. 

D.    Tiiose    resolutions   seem    to   Jjave   quieted  all 
parties  but  Vermont.     New   Hampshire   and   New 
York  complied  with  the  recommendations  and  au- 
thorized Congress  to  settle  the  dispute.     iMassacliu- 
setts  did  not  comply,  and  she  probably   neglccti-d   it 
for  the  pnrj)0sc  of  relieving  Congress  from  the  ne- 
cessity of  deciding  the  matter  at  the  time  aj)pointed 
and  of  preventing  the  sacrifice  of  Vermont.     A  com- 
jjliance  with  these  nisoliitions  on  the  )»fu't  of  Vermont, 
woidrl  have  been  to  admit  the  exist(,'nce  of  I'our  sej)a- 
rate  jurisdictions  at  the  same  time  in  the  sanje  terri- 
tory, and  in   a  territory  too,  tin;  inhabitants  of  which 
]iad  declared  themselves  to  be  free  and  independent, 
and  had  assmned  the  powers   of  goveinnjcnt  and  (.-x- 
ercised  them  in  all  cases  and  in   every  part  of  the 
territory.     No  alt(irnative  therefore  remained  to  Ver- 
mont.    Sh'!  had  taken  a  d(!cisive  stand — declared  Iku* 
jnde|:)endeMce— i/brwe^/  a  constitntion — enacted  laws, 
and  established  courts  of  justice,  and  now  nothing 
remained  for  her  but  to  go  onward  wilU  fimnoss  and 
resolution  ;  and  happy  was  it  for  lierthat  ,she  possess- 
ed stat(!smen    endowed   with   conrage   and    abilities 
suited  to  the  emergency  of  Inir  condition  ;  statesjuen 
who  well  imderstood  the  rights  and  interests  of  the 
comtnnniry  and  were  determined  that  they  shoidd  not 
he  sacrificed  by  the  neighboring  states,  or  hy  the  poli- 
cy of  Congress. 

10.  On  the  10th  day  of  December,  1779,  the  gov- 
ernor and  council  of  Vermont,  in  reference  lo  the 
foregoing  resolutions  of  C(»ngre.ss,  publislKul  an  ap- 
peal to  the  cantlid  and  im|)artial  world,  in  which 
they  d(;clared  that  they  could  not  view  themselves  as 
holden,  either  in  the  sight  of  God,  or  mail,  to  sub- 
mit to  the  execution  of  a  plan,  which  they  had  reason 
to  believe  was  commenced  by  neighboring  states; 
that  the  liberties  and  j)iivileges  of  the  state  of  Ver- 
mont, bv  said  resolutions  are  to  be  suspended  upon 

ia* 


138  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT 

the  arbitrament  and  final  determination  of  Congress, 
when,  in  their  opinion,  they  were  things  too  sacred 
ever  to  be  ar!)itrated  upon  ac  all  ;  and  what  they 
were  bound  to  defend  at  every  risk :  that  Con- 
gress had  no  right  to  intermeddle  in  the  internal 
pohcy  and  government  of  Vermont; — tliat  the  state 
existed  independent  of  any  of  the  thirteen  United 
States,  and  was  not  accountable  to  them,  or  to  their 
representatives,  for  liberty,  the  gift  of  the  benevolent 
Creator ; — 

11.  That  the  state  of  Vermont  was  not  represented 
in  Congress,  and  could  not  submit  to  resolutions 
passed  without  their  consent,  or  even  knowledge, 
and  which  put  every  thing  which  was  valuable  to 
them  at  stake  ; — that  there  appeared  a  manifest  in- 
equality, not  to  say  ])rcdetermination,  that  Congress 
should  request  of  their  constituents  power  to  judge 
and  determine  in  the  cause,  and  never  ask  the  con- 
sent of  the  thousands  whose  all  was  ar  stake.  They 
also  declared  tJiat  they  wore,  and  evej-  had  been, 
ready  to  bear  their  proportion  of  the  burden  and  ex- 
pense of  the  war  with  Great  Britain  from  its  com- 
mencement, whenever  they  were  admitted  into  the 
union  with  the  other  states.  But  they  were  not  so 
lost  to  ail  sense,  and  honor,  that,  after  fbin*  years  of  war 
with  Britain,  in  which  they  had  exj)en(li.'d  so  much 
blood  and  treasure,  they  slioultl  now  give  up  every 
tiling  worth  fighting  Ibi-, — the  right  of  making  their 
own  laws,  and  cijoosing  their  own  form  of  govern- 
ment,— to  the  arbitrament  and  determination  of  any 
man,  or  body  of  men,  und;r  heaven." 

12.  Congress,  as  already  noticed,  had  appointed 
the  first  day  of  February,  1780,  ibr  ^considering  ajid 
determining  the  matters  in  question  ;  but  contrary  to 
the  wishes  and  expectations  of  all  the  parties,  the 
subject  was  not  called  uj).  Congress,  however,  or- 
dered, on  the  21st  of  March,  that,  as  there  were  not 
nine  states  represented  in  that  body,  exclusive  of  tiic 
parties  concerned,  the  mt^tter  ehould  be,  for  the  pros 


REPLY  OF  VERMONT  TO  CONGRESS.       139 

ent,  postponed,  but  on  the  2d  of  June,  resumed  the 
consideration  of  if,  and  among  other  things  resolved 
"that  the  proceedings  of  the  people  on  the  New 
Hanipshire  grants,  were  highly  unwarrantable  and 
subversive  of  the  peace  and  vveltare  of  the  United 
States,  and  that  they  be  strictly  required  to  abstain 
from  all  acts  of  authority,  civil  or  miUtary,  over  those 
inhabitants  who  profess  allegiance  to  othor  states." 
The  subject  was  again  called  up  on  the  9th  of  June, 
and  the  further  consideration  of  it  postponed  to  the 
second  Tuesday  of  Scpteml)er  following. 

13.  The  foregoing  resolutions  and  proceedings  of 
Congress  were  communicated  to  Governor  Chitteti- 
den,  who  laid  the  same  before  his  council  ;  and  on 
the  25th  of  Jidy,  thpy  replied,  in  a  comnnmication  ad- 
dressed to  the  president  of  Congress,  that  "  however 
Congress  may  view  tliose  resolutions,  they  are  consid- 
ered by  the  people  of  this  state,  as  being  in  their  na- 
ture, subversive'of  the  natui-al  riijhts  which  thev  had  to 
liberty  and  mdependence,  as  well  as  incompatible 
with  the  principles  on  which  Congress  grounde(i 
their  own  right  to  independence,  and  iiad  a  natural 
and  direct  tendency  to  endanger  the  liberties  of 
America ;  that  Vermont,  being  a  free  and  indepen- 
dent state,  had  denied  the  authority  of  Congress  to 
judge  ol  their  jurisdiction  ; — ■ 

14.  That  as  they  were  not  included  in  t^he  thirteen 
United  States,  if  necessitated  to  it,  they  were  at  lib- 
erty to  offer  or  accej)t  terms  of  cessation  of  hostilities 
with  Great  Britain,  without  the  approbation  of  any 
other  man,  or  body  of  men."  And  they  further  de- 
clared that  if  Cong-ress  and  the  neiffhboring  states 
jicrsisted  in  the  course  they  were  pursuing,  they 
could  have  no  motives  to  continue  hostilities  with 
Great  Biitain,  and  maintain  an  important  frontier  lor 
the  benefit  of  a  country  which  treated  them  as  slaves. 
Yet,  notwithstaiidiug  the  injustice  done  them,  rtiey 
were  induced,  by  their  attaclnnent  to  the  cause  of 
liberty,  once  more  to  offur  union  v/ilh  the  Uuitod 


140  msToaT  of  tehmo^t. 

States,  of  which  Congress  were  the  legal  re})rescn- 
tative  body." 

15.  All  parties  now  anxiously  awaited  the  decis- 
ion of  Congress  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  Septem- 
ber, and,  although  Vermont  denied  the  authority  of 
Congress  to  determine  the  matter,  she  judged  it  pru- 
dent to  employ  Ira  Allen  and  Stephen  11.  Braclley, 
as  her  agents,  to  attend  the  deliberations  upon  the 
subject.  On  the  19th  of  September,  Congress  took 
up  the  subject  of  the  controversy  and  the  agents 
from  Vermont  were  permitted  to  be  j)resent,  but 
not  as  the  representatives  of  any  state,  or  of  a  ])eo- 
ple  invested  with  legislative  authority.  New  Hamp- 
shire and  New  York  now  urged,  and  endeavored  to 
prove,  their  respective  claiujs  to  the  disputed  t!;rri- 
tory,  and  it  soon  became  evident  to  the  agents  that 
Congress  did  not  regard  Vermont  as  a  party  in  the 
controversy,  but  that,  in  attemjning  to  decide  the 
disj)ute  between  New  Hampshire  and  New  York, 
she  was  adjudicating  upon  tlie  very  exi.^tence  of  Ver 
mont  without  her  consent. 

IG.  Alarmed  and  indignant  at  these  proceedings, 
the  agents  withdrew  their  attendance,  and  on  the 
22d  of  September,  transmiited  a  renjonstrance  to 
Congress,  in  which  they  (hiciare  they  can  no  longer 
sit  as  idle  spectators,  without  betraying  the  trust  re- 
posed in  Them,  and  doing  violoice  to  their  own  feel- 
ings ;  thr.t  by  the  mode  of  trial  which  was  adopted, 
the  state  of  Vermont  could  have  no  hearing  without 
denying  her  own  existence,  and  that  ihe^j  would  not 
take  on  themselves  such  humility  and  s!;if  abasement 
as  to  lose  their  political  lite  in  order  to  fiiid  it.  Tiiey 
expressed  the  willingness  of  Vermont  to  subnfit  tho 
dispute  to  the  jnediation  and  settlemenr  of  the  legis- 
latures of  dishiterested  states,  but  rejjrobated  the  idea 
that  Congress  could  sit  as  a  comt  of  judicature  and 
determine  the  matter  by  virtue  of  authority  given 
them  by  one  only  of  the  parties.  They  conclude  by 
observing,  that,  if  the  present  })olicy  be  pursued  by 


UISION.    WITH    PART    OF    N.    H.    AND    W.    Y.  141 

Coii.frress,  they  are  ready  to  appeal  to  God  and  the 
world,  to  say  who  must  be  accountable  for  the  awful 
consequence  that  niay^isue. 

17.  On  the'27ih  of '|||mteinl)er,  Congress  again  re- 
sumed the  subject  OKilie  controversy,  and,  liaving 
heard  the  evidence  on  the  part  of  New  Hampshire, 
resolved,  that  the  further  consideration  of  the  matter 
be  post))oned  ;  and  tliis  v.'as  doubtless  the  wisest 
course  of  pohcy  which  Congress  could  pursue  under 
existing  circumstances.  The  contest  \\ith  the  moth- 
er country  was  yet  undecided,  and  its  issue  doubtful, 
and  the  groimds  which  the  several  parties  in  the 
dispute  had  assumed  were  such,  that  Congress  could 
not  hope  to  make  a  decision,  which  would  satisfy 
thein  all ;  and  to  irritate  either  of  the  states  concern- 
ed, to  such  a  degree  as  to  drive  them  to  an  abandon- 
ment of  the  counnon  cause,  might  paralyze  the 
efforts  of  Congress  and  prevent  the  attaimnent  of  that 
liberty  and  independence  for  which  they  were  strug- 
gling. 


SECTION    V. 


Union  of  Vermont  with  apart  ofJVew  Hampshire  and 
a  part  of  JVew  York  in  1781. 

1.  The  indefinite  postponement  of  the  decision  of 
the  controversy  by  Congress,  as  mentioned  in  the 
j)receding  section,  was  by  no  means  agreeable  to  Ver- 
mont. She  well  knew  the  ground  on  which  she 
stood,  and  although  this  ])ostponement  evinced  that 
her  claims  to  indt.'pcndence  had  made  some  impres- 
sion on  the  mind  of  Congress,  yet  it  forbade  the  hope 
of  an  immediate  recognition  of  that  independence, 
and  her  admission  into  the  union.  And,  moreover, 
being  irritated  by  the  course  pursued  by  New  Hamp- 
shire and  New  York,  in  stibstantiating  their  claims, 
and  being  wounded  by  the  humiliating  ti-eatmeut, 


142  HISTORY   OF    •  ERMONT. 

which  her  agents  had  received  from  Congress,  Ver- 
nioDt  now  resolved  npon  a  course  of  ])oUcy,  which 
woidd  enahle  her  to  assume  aiiuore  u' \  osing  atitude, 
and  induce  hrr  o])j)onents  to  j^li^d  to  power  what  had 
been  so  long  denied  to  the  cl^js  of  justice. 

2.  Since  the  dissohnion  oi'ifre  union  between  Ver- 
mont and  the  sixteen  towns  fi-om  New  Hampshire, 
most  of  the  inhal)itauts  in  the  western  ;part  of  New 
Ham))shire  were  still  aiixii  us  to  be  annexed  to  Ver- 
mont: there  were  however,  some  among  them  who 
wished  New  l]<un))shire  to  sustain  her  claim  and  ex- 
tend her  juris(hction  over  the  whole  of  \  ermont. 
To  tiicilitate  the  accomplishment  of  the  object  last 
mentioned,  a  convention^  was  pi-oposed  to  be  ass(Mn- 
bled  at  Charlestown,  and  letters  were  sent  by  sever- 
al influential  men,  in  the  interest  of  New  Hampshire, 
into  the  western  towns  inviiing  them  to  send  rcpre- 
sejitatives.  Accordingly,  represenljitives  from  forty 
three  towns  assend)led  at  Charl(;stown  on  the  Knh 
of  January,  1781  ;  but,  to  the  surprise  and  disappoint- 
ment of  those  who  had  ]>roposed  the  measure,  a 
large  majority  of  the  convention  were  found  to  be 
0))posed  to  the  jurisdiction  of  New  Hampshire  and 
in  favor  of  a  union  with  \  ermont. 

3.  A  committee  was  therefore  apj)ointed  by  the 
convention  to  confer  with  v  ermont  on  the  subject 
of  the  union.  This  committee,  on  the  lOtli  day  of 
Febi-uary,  inforujed  the  assembly  of  v'ermont,  tlien 
sitting  at  Windsor,  that  "the  convention  of  the  New 
Ham])shire  towns,  was  desirous  of  being  united  with 
A'erujont,  in  one  SK'|)arate  independent  gov(M-nnient, 
U])on  such  principles  as  should  he  mutually  thouiiht 
the  most  ecpiitable  and  beneficial  to  the  state."  This 
aj)plication  was  referred  to  a  coimnittee  olthe  whole, 
on  the  report  of  which  it  was  resolved,  February  14th, 
that  "in  order  to  qui(!t  the  present  disturbances 
on  the  two  sides  of  Connecticut  river,  and  the  better 
to  enable  the  inhabitants  to  defend  their  frontier,  the 
legislature  of  this  state  do  lay  a  jurisdictional  claim  to 


SECOND    UNION    WITH   N.    HA»IPSKIRE.  143 

all  the  lands  east  of  Connecticut  river,  north  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, west  of  Mason's  hue  and  south  of  latitude 
45  degrees  ;  '  that  they  will  not  for  the  time  being 
exercise  said  jurisdiction." 

4.  The  couv'ention  of  the  New  Hampshire  towns 
was  at  this  time  sitting  at  Cornish  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  and,  after  repeated  conimunications 
beetvveen  the  connuittee  of  this  convention,  and  a 
committee  of  the  Legislature  of  \'eriuout,  the  articles 
of  union  were  finally  agreed  upon.  By  these  articles 
it  was  stipulated  that  the  constitution  of  \  ermont 
should  be  adopted  by  the  New  Ham})shire  towns — 
that  application  should  be  made  to  Congress  to  be 
admitted  as  one  of  the  United  States — that  full  act  of 
oblivion  be  passed  for  all  former  otfeu^es  against 
Vermont  by  persons  denying  her  jurisdiction — and 
that  the  towns  in  Vermont,  and  also  the  New  Hamp- 
shire towns,  should  be  called  upon  to  exj)ress  their 
oi)inions  of  the  j)roposed  union  ;  and  if,  at  the  ad- 
journed session  of  the  assembly,  in  April  next,  it 
should  appear  that  two  thirds  of  each  were  in  favor  of 
the  measure  the  union  should  then  be  consunnnated, 
and  representatives  should  be  admitted  to  the  assem- 
bly from  the  New  Hampsliire  towns.  These  articles, 
agreed  upon  by  the  conunittees,  were  confirmed  by 
the  assembly,  which  pledged  the  faiih  ot  the  state 
that  they  should  be  held  sacred. 

5.  The  assembly  of  v  ermont  met  again  at  Windsor 
agreeable  to  adjournment,  on  the  4th  of  April,  and 
the  convention  of  the  New  Hampshire  towns  also 
re-assembled  at  Cornish.  On  the  5th  of  April,  a 
conunittee  of  the  convention  informed  the  assembly 
that  thirty  five  towns  on  the  east  side  of  Comiecticut 
river  had  consented  to  t!ie  union,  beirjg  all  the  towns 
from  which  returns  had  been  received ;  and  that 
the  way  was  now  clear  on  their  ])urt  for  the  union 
to  take  place.  On  examining  the  returns,  which  had 
been  forwarded  from  the  towns  in  Vermont,  it  a})- 
peared  that  thirty  six  were  in  favor  and  seA'eu  oppos- 


144  HISTORY  or    VERMONT. 

ed  to  the  union ;  whereupon  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  inform  the  convention  tliat  a  major  part 
of  the  towns  in  Vermont  had  agreed  to  the  union, 
and  that  the  assemhly  would  receive  the  memhers 
returned  from  the  New  Ham})shire  towns,  on  the 
morrow,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Accordingly^ 
on  the  next  drry,  thirty  five  representatives  from  towns 
on  the  east  side  of  Connecticut  river,  took  their  seats 
in  the  General  Assemhly  of  V^ermont. 

6.  On  account  of  the  unjustifiable  measures,  by 
which  New  York  was  endeavoring  to  embarrass  and 
overturn  the  government  of  Vermont,  and  in  conse- 
quence of  repeated  solicitations  from  several  towns 
in  New  York,  which  bordered  on  Vermont,  to  be 
taken  into  union  with  this  state,  the  Legislature  of 
Vermont  had,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1781,  laid  juris- 
dictional claim  to  all  the  lands  west  of  her  present 
territory,  and  east  of  Hudson  river  to  the  head  there- 
of, and  thence  east  of  a  north  line  extending  to  the 
45th  degree  of  north  latitude;  with  the  proviso,  that 
this  jurisdiction  should  not  be  exercised  for  the  time 
being.  But  Vermont,  having  now  completed  her 
eastern  union,  once  more  turned  her  attention  to  that 
on  the  west.  On  the  11th  of  AjH-il,  1781,  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed  by  the  general  assembly  to  attend 
a  convention  of  delegates  fiom  the  towns  in  New 
York,  which  desired  a  union  with  \  ermont,  and 
make  the  necessary  arrangement  for  effecting  it.  This 
convention  met  at  Cambridge,  and  on  the  15th  of 
May,  the  articles  of  union  were  agreed  to  by  the 
connnittee  from  \  ermont  and  the  deh^gates  from 
twelve  districts  in  New  York  ;  and  on  the  l()th  of 
June  following,  they  were  confirmed  by  the  Legis- 
lature of  Vermont,  and  representatives  from  those 
districts  were  admitted  to  seats  in  the  general  assem- 

7.  By  these  I  old  and  decisive  measures,  \  ermont 
plac<  (1  herself  in  an  interesting  attitude,  and  evinced 
to  tlie  world  the  abilities  and  tlie  pectaliar  genius,  of 


NEGOTIATION    WITH    CANADA.  145 

her  statesmen.  Tlian  the  measures  wliich  we  have 
just  recorded,  no  course  of  policy  could  be  better 
calculated  to  enal)le  her  to  sustain  iier  independence 
and  thwart  the  dcsi^^ns  of  her  enemies.  IJy  the  un- 
ions, thus  ibrined,  slie  liad  doubled  the  extent  of 
territory  within  her  jurisdiction  and  added  greatly  to 
her  numbers  and  resources.  Siie  had  (juieted  the 
disaffection  of  her  jii-ople  at  home,  and  restored  con- 
fidence to  her  friends  abroad.  Slie  had  placed  the 
territory  in  a  condition  to  invite  emigration  from  the 
neighboring  states,  and  had  laid  the  foundation  for  a 
large  and  powerful  conimiuiity.  In  short  she  liad 
placed  herself  in  a  condition  to  coniniand  theresj>ect, 
even  of  her  enemies,  and  to  draw  from  them,  conces- 
sions which  justice  alone  had  sought  in  vain.  She 
therefore  wisely  determined,  so  to  manage  her  own 
afftiirs,  as  to  secure  her  own  safety  and  indej)endence, 
agninst  the  arms  of  the  Ih'itish  on  ;he  north,  and  the 
wiles  of  her  enemieij  in  other  quarters.  The  man- 
ner in  which  this  wtis  effected  will  be  related  in  tho 
lollowing  section, 


SECTION    Vic 

J\''egotiatwn  icith  the  British  in  Canada  from  1780,  to 
1783. 

1.  From  the  connnencement  of  hostilities  at  Lex- 
ingt(M),  no  pt.'oplc  iii  America  had  espoused  the  cause 
of  liberty  and  of  th<^ir  countr\'  with  great(!r  alacrity, 
or  sustained  it  witli  more  spirit  and  n'solutioii,  than 
the  people  of  \"er!nont.  Yet,  afler  iXi  their  efforts 
and  s.'jcritices  in  the  common  cause,  they  had  the 
mortificarion  ti)  fiml  themselves  dcMiicd  a  just  partici- 
pation of  the  blessings  which  they  had  la!>ored  to 
secure.  Their  claims  to  indf'pendenee  were  not 
acknowledged  by  Congress ;  the  dismemberment  of 
their  ti-rritory  and  the  amiiliilation  of  their  soverei-jn- 
ty  were  threatened  by  the  intrigues,  and  the  unjust 
13 


146  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

claims  of  the  neighboring  states,  and,  to  crown  the 
whole,  they  were  now  abandoned  by  the  power  which 
ought  to  protect  them,  and  left  to  contend  single 
handed  with  the  connuon  enemy. 

2.  But  notwithstanding  their  attachment  to  the 
cause  of  their  country,  the  peof)le  of  \  ermont  could 
not  fail  to  ])erceive  that  every  step  which  they  took 
to  support  it,  only  rendered  their  own  condition  more 
hopeless.  They  could  hardly  wish  to  lend  their  aid 
for  the  purpose  of  bringing  the  struggle  with  a  for- 
eign enemy  to  a  successful  termination,  when  they 
perceived  that  by  such  an  event,  they  should  be  sub- 
jected to  the  domination  o/  a  more  detestable  enemy 
at  home.  In  this  state  of  things,  Vermont  wisely 
consulted  her  own  safely ;  and  by  the  negotiation 
with  the  enemy  in  Canada,  in  which  she  now  enga- 
ged, she  was  as  fojtunate  as  to  secure  it. 

3.  The  British  generals  in  xVmerica  had  for  some 
time  entertaiued  hopes  of  turning  the  disputes  in  re- 
lation to  Vermont  to  their  own  account,  by  detaching 
tbat  district  from  the  American  cause  and  making  it- 
a  British  province.  But  the  tirst  intimation  of  their 
views  and  wishes  was  communicated  in  a  letier  from 
Colonel  Beverly  Robinson  to  Ethan  Allen  ;  dated  New 
York,  3Iarch  30th,  1780.  In  July,  this  letter  was  vle- 
liveredto  Allej]  in  the  street  in  Arlinaton,  bv  a  British 
soldier  in  the  habit  of  an  Ameiican  farmer.  Allen 
perused  the  letter,  and  then  told  the  bearer  that  he 
should  consider  it,  and  that  he  might  return. 

4.  Colonel  Robinson  began  his  letter  by  exj)ressing 
a  wi.-h  that  his  proposals  might  be  received  with  tiie 
same  good  intention  with  which  they  were  njade. 
He  then  proceeds: — "I  have  often  been  informed 
that  you  and  ujost  of  the  inhabitants  of  Vermont,  are 
opposed  to  the  wild  and  chimerical  scheme  of  tlie 
Americans  in  attem|)ting  to  separate  from  Great  Brit- 
ain and  establish  an  inde|)endent  government  of  their 
own  ;  and  that  you  would  willijiiilv  assist  in  unitin^' 
America  to  Great  Britain,  and  in  restoring  that  hap])y 


COL  Robinson's  letter  to  e.  allen.         147 

constitution  so  wantonly  and  unadvisedly  destroyed. 
If  I  liave  been  rightly  informed,  and  these  should  be 
your  sentiments  and  inclination,  1  heg  that  you  will 
coinnuinicate  to  me  without  reserve,  whatever  pro- 
posals you  would  wish  to  make  to  the  commander- 
in-chief;  and  I  hereby  {iromise  that  I  will  laithfully 
hy  them  before  him  according  to  your  directions, 
and  flatter  myself  I  can  do  with  as  good  effect  as  any 
person  whatev^er.  I  can  make  no  pro|)osaIs  to  you 
until  I  know  your  sentiments;  but  think,  upon  your 
taking  an  active  part  and  embodying  the  inhabitants 
of  Vermont,  under  the  crown  of  England,  you  may 
obtain  a  separate  govermnent  underthe  king. — If  you 
sliould  think  proper  to  send  a  friend  here  with  j)ro- 
posals  to  the  general,  he  shall  be  protected  and  allow- 
ed to  return  wlienever  he  pleases." 

5.  Allen  inunediately  communicated  the  cojitents 
of  this  lettf'r  to  Governor  Chittenden  and  some  other 
confidential  friends,  who  agreed  in  o|)inion,  that  no 
answer  should  be  returned.  Robinson,  not  receiving 
a  reply  to  his  letter  and  suj)[)osing  it  to  have  been  mis- 
carried, wrote  again  to  Alien  on  the  2d  of  February, 
1781,  enclosing  his  former  letter.  In  his  second  let- 
ter, after  saying  he  had  received  new  assurances  of 
the  inclination  of  Vermont  to  join  the  king's  cause,  he 
said  that  he  could  then  write  with  more  authority, 
and  assured  Allen  that  he  and  the  people  of  Vermont 
could  obtain  the  most  fiivoral)le  terms,  provided  they 
would  take  a  decisive  and  active  part  in  favor  of  Great 
Britain,  lie  requested  an  answer  ;  and,  that  the  way 
might  be  ])ointed  out  for  continuing  th(?  correspond- 
ence ;  and  desired  to  be  iiiforme<l  in  what  maimer  the 
yjeople  of  Vermont  could  be  most  serviceable  to  the 
British  cause. 

6.  Allen  returned  no  answer  to  either  of  tliese  let- 
ters; but,  on  the  9th  of  March,  1781,  inclosed  them  in 
a  letter  to  Congress,  informing  them  of  all  the  circum- 
stances, which  had  thus  far  attended  the  business.  He 
then  proceeded  to  justify  the  conduct  of  Vermont  in 

ll 


148  HISTORY   OF   VERMONT. 

asserting  her  right  to  independence,  and  expressed 
liis  determinate  resolution  to  do  every  tliini;  in  his 
}io\ver  to  establish  it.  Conscious  of  his  own  integ- 
rity, and  sensible  that  his  activity  mid  siifferiisiis  in 
the  canse  of  his  country  were  ^v<•ll  kuowu  throuiihout 
America,  he  ex]))-(  ssed  hinis(  If  in  tjje  following  inde- 
pendent and  decided  language. 

7.  "Jam  confident,"  said  he,  "that  Congress  will 
not  dispute  my  sincere  attachment  to  the  cause  of 
niy  country,  tliongh  1  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  I  am  fully 
grounded  in  o{)inion,  that  Vermont  has  an  indubitable 
right  to  agree  on  terms  oi  a  cessation  of  hostilities 
with  Great  Britain,  })rovided  the  United  States  persist 
in  rejecting  her  aji|tlicaiion  for  an  union  with  iJiem. 
For  Vermont  would  be,  of  ail  ])eople,  most  miserable, 
were  she  obliged  to  defend  the  indei)endence  of  the 
United  claiming  States,  and  they  be,  at  the  same 
time,  at  full  liberty  to  overturn  and  ruin  the  indepen- 
dence of  Vermont.  When  Congress  consider  the 
circumstances  of  this  state,  they  will,  I  am  persua- 
ded, be  more  surprised  that  I  have  transmitted  them 
the  inclosed  letters,  than  that  I  have  kept  them  in  cus- 
tody so  long;  lor  I  am  as  resolutely  determined  to 
defend  the  inde))cndence  of  Vermont,  as  Congress 
is  that  of  the  United  States  ;  and  rather  than  fail,  I 
ivill  retire  iviih  the  hardy  Green  Mountain  Boys,  into 
the  desolate  caverns  of  the  Mountains,  and  wage  war 
with  hunum  nature  at  Iarp:;eJ'^ 

8.  During  the  spring  of  1780,  some  of  the  scout- 
ing parties,  belonging  to  Vermont,  had  been  taken 
by  the  British  and  carried  j)risoners  to  Canada.  On 
the  application  of  their  friends  to  Governor  Chitten- 
den, he,  in  the  month  of  July,  sent  a  flag,  with  a 
letter  to  the  commhnding  ofhcer  in  Canada,  request- 
ing their  release  or  exchange.  In  the  fall,  the  Brit- 
ish came  tip  lake  Chamj)]ain  in*  gicat  Ibrc^e,  and  a 
yery  favorable  answer  was  retiirufd  by  Gen("ral  llal- 
dimand  to  Governor  Chittenden's  letter.  A  fiag  was 
at  the  same  time  sent  to  Ethan  Alien,  then  a  briga- 


NEGOTIATION    WITH    CANADA.  149 

dier  general  and  commanding  officer  in  Vermont, 
proposing  a  cessation  of  hostilities  with  Vermont, 
during  negotiations  for  the  exchange  of  prisoners. 
This  proposal  was  accepted  by  Allen,  on  condition 
that  the  adjacent  frontier  of  New  York  should  be 
includefl  with  Vermont.  The  British  officer  at  first 
objected,  but  finally  agreed  to  every  tbing  which  Al- 
len j)roposed. 

9.  The  governor  appointed  Colonel  Ira  Allen  and 
Major  Josejdi  Fay,  commissioners  on  the  part  of  Ver- 
mont, to  negotiate  the  ])roposed  exhcange  of  prison- 
ers ;  who,  soon  after,  had  an  interview  with  Captain 
J.  Sherwood  and  George  Smith,  agents  on  the  part 
of  the  British.  Diu-iiig  this  interview,  the  British 
agents  availed  themselves  of  the  opportuisity  to  ex- 
plain their  views,  and  to  make  proposals  for  the  es- 
tabbshment  of  Vermont  under  the  royal  autboriij'. 
The  commissioners  from  Vermont  received  these 
proposals  with  some  attention  ;  and,  although  they 
avoided  expressing  a  decided  opinion  on  the  subject, 
the  British  flattered  themselves  that  they  w  ere  in  a 
fair  way  to  effect  their  purposes. 

10.  The  next  year  the  British  entered  upon  the 
business  with  high  exy)ectations  of  success  ;  and  as 
the  British  army  in  Canada  was  10,000  strong,  and 
the  frontiers  of  \  errnont  without  any  adequate 
means  of  defence,  it  was  evidently  the  interest  of 
\  ermont  not  to  undeceive  them,  but  to  endeavor  to 
effect  that  by  policy,  which  they  could  not  do  by 
power.  And  as  the  cabinet  council  of  Vermont  be- 
lieved, that  tbe  forces  of  the  United  Slates  had  been 
withdrawn  from  her  territory,  for  the  purpose  of 
driving  them  to  seek  the  protection  of  New  York, 
they  felt  that  it  was  clearly  tbeir  duty,  by  managing 
the  British  attempts  to  corrupt  them  to  their  own 
advantage,  to  make  the  best  ]>rovision.  remaining  in 
their  power,  for  the  safety  of  the   people. 

11.  In  April,  1781,  Col  Ira  Allen  was  appointed  to 
settle  a  cartel  with  the  British  for  an  exchange  of 

13* 


150  HISTORY   or    VERMONT. 

prisoners.  Taking  with  him  one  subaltern,  two  ser* 
gcants,  and  sixteen  jwivates,  he  started,  \n  ith  a  fair 
wind,  on  tile  1st  day  ol' Ptlaj'^,  and  soon  arrived  at  the 
Isle  Aux  Noix,  where  he  was  |)Oiiiely  reeeived  by 
]\Iaj.  Dundas,  the  British  connnander  at  that  j)ost. 
Tiie  cartel  was  soon  agreed  to,  and  the  British  agents, 
Siierwood  and  Smith,  now  entered  npon  the  sub- 
ject of  the  armistice  and  the  establishment  of  the 
royal  aiuhoriiy  in  -.  erinont  with  high  hopes  of  ac- 
comj)!ishitig  ihcur  oliject.  Allen  acknowledged  that 
the  people  ot  Vermont  were  growing  remiss  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  war,  being  afraid  that  its  termina- 
tion in  favor  of  America,  would  subject  them  to  the 
government  of  New  York,  which  they  considered 
the  most  detestable  in  the  known  world  ;  and  that, 
to  such  an  event,  they  v/ould  })refer  to  become  a 
separate  colony  under  the  crowi',  and  that  the  Uni- 
ted States  should  be  again  brought  under  the  domin- 
ion of  "he  British  government. 

12.  The  British  agents  gave  assurance  on  their 
part,  that  Vermont  could  become  a  royal  colony 
with  privileges  equal  to  those  enjoyed  by  any 
other  colony  ;  and  that  they  who  assisted  in  ac- 
complishing sucli  an  object,  would  be  suitably  hon- 
ored and  rewarded.  With  such  consunnnate  skill 
did  Allen  manage  this  negotiation  on  the  j)art  of 
Vermont,  that  vvithout  committing  himself,  he  com- 
pletely ati'ected  his  own  views;  and  by  leading  the 
British  agents  to  an  agreement  that  hostilities  should 
not  be  commenced  against  Verujont,  till  after  the 
next  scv^^ion  of  the  assend)ly,  he  succeeded  in  keeping 
an  army  of  10000  of  the  enemy  inactive  upon  the 
frontiers.  Tliis  business  was  accomjjlished  after  a 
conference  of  17  days,  and  the  com n fission ers  par- 
ted in  high  friendship;  Allen  and  his  suite  being 
furnished  by  3hij.  Dundas  with  am])le  stores  for 
their  return  home.  On  his  way  Alien  encouraged  the 
settlers,  who  were  abandoning  the  country,  to  re- 
main peaceably  upoa  their  farms,  and  trust  to  tiie 


IRA  Allen's  mission   to  Canada.  151 

governor  anrl  council  to  provide  the  means  for  their 
defence  ;  and  he  assured  them,  that,  if  a  removal  be- 
came necessary  for  the  safety  of  their  families,  they 
should  have  tiniely  notice,  and  assistance  in  accom- 
plishing^ it. 

13.  It  w^as  generally  known  that  Colonel  Ira  Allen 
had  been  sent  to  the  enemy  in  Canada  under  a  com- 
mission from  the  Governor  of  Vermont,  but  the  pre- 
cise oi)ject  anVl  extent  of  the  negotiations,  were  knov/n 
only  to  eight  individuals,  viz.  Thomas  Chittenden, 
Moses  Robinson,  Samuel  SafFord,  Ethan  Allen,  Ira 
Allen,  Timothy  i>rownson,  John  Fassett,  and  Josef)h 
Fay.  And  when  it  was  understood  that  Colonel  Al^ 
2en  was  to  re]>ort  the  result  of  his  mission  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Legislature  at  Bennington,  in  June^ 
-curiosity  and  a  desire  to  know  the  trut^  state  ol'afiairs, 
drew  together  a  large  number  of  spectators  from  Ver- 
mont, the  neighboring  states,  and  Canada.  The  whigs 
in  Vermont  and  tlie  adjourning  states  were  jealous 
that  the  views  of  the  cabinet  council  of  Vermont  ex- 
tended to  something  farther  than  an  excliange  of  pris- 
oners ;  they  theretbre  sent  their  agents  to  watch 
the  Legislature  and  to  discover  whether  this  inter- 
course tended  to  any  thing  treasonable  on  the  part  of 
Vermont,  or  injm-ious  to  the  American  cause.     While, 

t)n  the  other  hand,  emissaries  were  sent  from  Canada 
to  see  'vhether  Colonel  Allen  reiiorted  any  thiii'^  con- 
trary  to  the  views,  interchanged  between  liiin  and  the 
British  agents  at  the  Isle  Aux  Noix,  with  regard  to 
the  establishiiient  of  "■  erniunt  as  a  British  })ro\  ince. 

14.  A  few  days  after  the  commencement  of  the 
session,  the  two  houses  met  in  jc.int  committee  on  the 
subject  of  Colonel  Allen's  mission  to  Canada.  Gov- 
ernor Chittenden  arose  and  stated,  that  Colonel  Al- 
len had  been  sent  to  Canajla  to  obrain  the  release,  or 
exchange,  of  sundry  per^^ife  belonging  to  tliis  state, 
who  were  jjrisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  enenjy,  and 
that,  with  much  difficult}',  he  had  completed  the  busi- 
ness in  behalfof  Vermont,  though  no  such  exchange 


152  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT. 

had  taken  place  with  the  United  States,  nor  with 
any  other  individual  state.  He  then  inibrmed  the 
conmiittee  that  Colonel  Allen  was  then  j)resent,  and 
that,  if  ftuther  inforniation  was  wanted,  he  could 
hest  give  it.  Colonel  Allen  then  arose  and,  after  re- 
capitulating substantially  what  the  governor  had  sla- 
ted, informed  the  committee  that  his  commission  and 
papers  had  been  h.'ft  at  home,  but  that  they  should 
be  submitted  to  their  inspection  the  next  day. 

15.  Accordingly,  on  the  next  day  he  attended  with 
the  {)apers,  which,  after  a  short  voriial  explanation, 
were  read.  From  these  it  aj)poared  that  the  British 
had  shown  great  generosity  in  the  exchange  of  pris- 
oners, but  they  contained  nothing  resj)ecting  an  ar- 
mistice, or  the  establishment  of  a  royal  govern  tnent  in 
Vermont ;  the  negotiations  on  the  two  latter  subjects 
having  been  ])uri)osely  conducted  on  the  part  of  Ver- 
mont by  means  of  verbal  coirespondence.  Colonel 
Allen  then  rose  and  stated,  that  if  any  member  of  the 
committee,  or  auditor  ainong  the  spectators,  wished 
any  further  information  respecting  the  business,  he 
was  ready  to  answer  their  questions.  All  seemed 
satisfied.  The  friends  of  the  United  States  comj)li- 
mented  Allen  for  his  open  and  candid  conduct  and 
the  spectators  froiu  Canada  returned  fidly  satisfied 
that  nothing  had  trans[)ired  inconsistent  with  their 
views  and  designs. 

16.  At  this  session  of  the  Legislature  Major  Joseph 
Fay  was  appointed  "  commissioner  of  prisoners,"  and 
in  July,  he  went  on  board  the  Royal  George  on  lake 
Champlain,  and  obtained  the  exchange  and  a  further 
extension  of  the  armistice.  About  this  time  a  corres- 
pondence was  carried  on  between  Ethan  and  Ira  Al- 
len on  one  ])art  and  the  British  on  the  other,  by  means 
of  a  British  guard  of  a  sergeant  and  eight  men.  This 
guard  conveyed  the  coimil&hications  from  the  British 
officers  to  Sunderland,  where  they  were  received  by 
one  of  the  Aliens  personally  in  the  dusk  of  the  eve- 
ning, who,  the   next  evening,  returned  an  answer, 


LORD  Germain's  letter  to  sir  h.^cli^ton.  153 

which  was  conveyed  by  them  to  lake  Champlain. 
And  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  (communications  were 
frequently  uiterdjanged  in  thia^  manner,  during  the 
years  1781,  a^id  1782,  witliout  discovery,  notwithstand- 
ing Sunderland  was  more  than  60  miles  fronj  the  fron- 
tier. 

17.  While  this  friendly  intercourse  was  thus  main- 
tained between  the  British  and  a  few  of  the  leading 
men  in  \ermo}it,  the  ])cople  generally  were  very 
i?neterate  in'their  hatred  towards  the  British  and  to- 
nes. A  y)erson  in  Arlington,  being  siipposed  to  en- 
tertain friendly  feelings  towards  the  British,  a  party 
collected  in  Manchester  aiul  were  proceeding  to  tear 
down  his  house.  In  Sunderland  they  were  met  by 
the  Messrs  Brownsonsand  Ira  Allen  who,  with  much 
difficulty  persuaded  them  to  returti.  Tluit  veiy  night 
Colonel  Allen  received  a  ]x\cket,from  a  British  guard 
«j)oti  the  same  ^ground  where  this  ])arty  were  per- 
suaded to  go  back,  and  returned  an  answer  the  next 


evenmg. 


18.  Jonas  Fay,  Bezaleel  Woodward,  and  Ira  Allen 
were  appointed  agents  to  Congress  by  the  Legisla- 
ture at  their  session  in  June.  About  the  time  of  their 
arrival  at  Pbiladtlphia,  a  letter  from  Lord  Germain  to 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  commander  of  the  British  forces 
in  America,  and  which" had  been  intercepted  by  the 
French,  was  published  in  the  Pennsylvania  Packet. 
It  ^^■as  dated  Whitehall,  February  7tli,  1781,  and 
among  other  things  contained  the  following  para- 
graph. "  The  returii  of  the  people  of  Vermont  to 
their  allegiancr',  is  an  event  of  the  utmost  importance 
to  the  king's  atrliirs  ;  and  at  this  time,  if  the  French 
and  Washiiigton  realy  meditate  an  irruption  into 
Canada,  may  be^  considered^,  as  opposing  an  insur- 
mountable bar  to  the  attem|)t.  General  Haldimand, 
who  has  the  same  instructions  with  you,  to  draw 
over  those  people  and  give  them  support,  will,  I 
doubt  not,  push  up  a  body  of  troops,  to  act  in  con- 
junction  with    them    and  secure    all  the*   avenues 


154  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

through  their  country  into  Canada ;  and,  when  the 
season  admits,  take  possession  of  the  nj'per  j)arts  of 
the  Hudson  and  Connecticut  rivers,  and  cut  offtlie 
communication  between  Aihany  and  the  JMoliawk 
country.  How  far  they  may  be  able  to  extend 
tliemselves  southward,  or  eastward,  must  de})end  on 
their  numbers  and  the  disjjosition  of  the  inhabi- 
tants." 

19.  The  information  contained  in  this  letter  was 
calculated  to  confirm  tiie  suspicions  which  the 
friends  of  American  liherty  had  entertained  with  re- 
gard to  the  negotiations  between  \  ermont  and  the 
British,  and  did  more  towards  disposing  Congress  to 
recognize  the  independence  of  Vermont  and  to  gain 
her  an  admission  into  the  union,  than  all  her  sacrifi- 
ces and  services  in  maintaining  the  war.  This  letter 
also  shows  that  not  only  the  British  generals  in 
America  were  deceiving  themselves  with  the  idea 
that  Vermont  was  about  to  return  to  her  allegeance 
to  the  king,  but  that  the  British  ministry  were  also 
deceived  ;  and  supposed  that  the  ])eople  of  Vermont 
were  generally  desirous  that  their  state  should  be 
made  a  British  j)rovince,  when  perhaps  jiot  more 
than  a  dozen  individuals  within  the  state  had  ever 
thought  or  spoke  of  such  an  event;  and  these  had 
only  countenanced  the  idea  of  it,  when  urged  to 
such  a  measure  by  the  British  agents,  and  then  only 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  northern  British  army 
inactive  upon  their  fjontiers  and  aftbrding  the  peo- 
ple protection  by  their  management  when  they  could 
not  do  it  by  force. 

20.  In  Se])tember,  1781,  Colonel  Allen  and  Major 
Fay,  had  another  interview  with  the  British  agents, 
at  which  a  plan  of  government  for  the  colony  of 
Vermont  was  discussed  and  agreed  u))on  by  the  par- 
ties. It  was  to  consist  of  a  governor,  aj)])()inted  by 
the  king,  but  who  should  be  a  citizen  of  \ermont ; 
a  lieutenant  governor  and  12  councillors,  who  should 
be  chosen  by  the  peoi)le;  and  aliouseof  representa- 


ARRANGEMENTS    WITH    BRITISH   AGENTS.  155 

lives,  the  members  to  be  chosen  by  the  respective 
towns.  The  British  agents  then  insisted  tljat  Ver- 
mont should  immechcitely  declare  herself  a  Biitish 
province.  The  \  ermoiit  conunis.sioners  rc])resented 
that  matters  were  not  yet  suthciently  matured  for 
such  a  declaration — that  the  iidiabitants  in  some 
parts  of  the  territory  were  not  yet  sjifficiently 
brought  over  to  the  Britisli  interests,  and,  until  that 
was  effected,  and  means  ])rovided  for  the  ])urpose,it 
would  be  extremely  difficult  to  defend  their  exten- 
sive frontiers  against  the  United  States. 

21.  The  British  agents  yielded  this  point  with  re- 
luctance ;  but  suggested  another  proposition,  which 
they  said  i7iust  be  complied  w  !h,  or  ihe  armistice 
must  be  ended,  which  was,  that  a  proclamation  should 
be  issued  by  the  British  general  in  October,  during 
the  session  of  the  Verment  Legislature,  declaiing 
Vermont  a  colony  under  the  crown,  and  contirujing 
the  plan  of  government  which  they  had  agreed  on  ; 
aiul  that  tlie  Legislature  of  Vermont  must  accept 
the  same,  and  take  suitable  measiu-es  for  carrying  it 
into  effect.  After  some  farther  discussion,  the  \  er- 
mont  connriissioners  judged  it  better  to  acceed  to  this 
unpleasant  proposition,  than  that  the  armistice  should 
be  discontinued  in  the  present  defenceless  state  of 
the  frontiers ;  after  winch,  the  commissioners  and 
agents  sef)ar8tedV,n  frieudh^  terms. 

22.  The  Legislature  of  Vermont  met  at  Charles- 
town  early  in  October,  and  about  the  same  time 
Gen.  St  Leger  ascended  lake  Chrjnplain  wiiha  })ow- 
erfnl  British  army  and  landed  at  Ticonderoga.  The 
Vermont  troops  were  tlien  at  CastleTon,  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Enos.  Gen.  Enos  and  Colonels 
Hetcher  aiul  Vv^albridge  were  now  well  acquainted 
with  tlj(!  negotiation  with  the  British,  but  the  army 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  knew  nothing  of 
it ;  and  hence  it  was  necessary  to  keep  up  ajjpear- 
ances  by  frequently  sending  out  scouts  to  observe 
the  movements  of  ihe  enemy.  One  of  these  scouts, 
commanded    by   Sergeant   Tupper,   fell  in    with    a 


156  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT. 

party  of  the  British  and  some  shots  were  exchanged. 
Tiipi)or  was  kiHed  on  the  spot,  and  his  men  retreat- 
ed. Gen.  St  Loger  ordered  Tuj)per's  body  to  be 
decently  hurled,  and  sent  Iiis  cloihinj^  with  an  open 
letter  to  Gt'n.  Euos,  in  wliich  he  expressed  his  re- 
gret for  tlie  (h^ath  of  the  sergeant.  This  con^.niuni- 
cation  and  the  apparel  were  ])ul)lic]y  delivered  to 
Gen.  Enos,  and  wej-e  the  occasion  of  much  mur- 
muring among  tlie  troop?. 

23.  Letters  vvej'e  immediately  N^ritten  by  General 
Enos  and  Colonels  Fletchtir  and  Walbridge,  and  for- 
warded by  express  to  Gov<  rnor  Chittenden  at  Charles- 
town.  TliP  bearer,  Ptir  Hathaway,  not  being  in  the 
secret  of  the  negotiation  with  the  British,  j)roclaimed 
the  extraordinary  message  of  General  St  Leger  in  tiiC 
streets  of  Chariestown,  in  consequence  of  which  the 
pec])le  followed  him  in  crowds  to  the  governor's 
apartiiiCMt  to  hear  the  news.  lu  tiie  room  with  the 
governor  were  several  })er.sons,  some  of  whom  were 
in  the  secret,  and  sonie,  who  were  eager  after  infor- 
mation that  they  might  nsake  all  ill  use  of  it.  On 
opening  the  letters,  they  were  found,  besides  an- 
nouncing the  arrival  of  General  St  Leger,  to  contain 
information  respecting  the  negotiation  which  it  was 
not  deemed  prudent  to  make  ])ul.'lic.  ' 

24.  While  these  letters  vven^  passing  round  among 
those  who  were  in  the  secret.  Major  Hunnels  entered 
the  room  and  demajided  of  Coloufd  Allen  why  Gen- 
ei'al  St  Leger  shoidd  be  sorry  Tu}'j><;r  was  killed. 
Allen  said  he  would  not  ell.  llimnels  repeated  the 
question  ;  and  Allen  rejjli-^l  that  good  m(^n  were  sor- 
ry when  good  men  v.cre  killed,  whieh  might  be  the 
case  with  St  Leger.  This  answer  enraged  Hunnels, 
and  he  again  loudly  demanded  what  reasons  couhl 
possibly  inijnee  a  IJiiti^jh'  general  to  be  sorry  when  his 
enemy  was  kill'-d  ai'.d  to  send  his  clothes  to  his  wid- 
ow.    Colonel  Allen  then  recjuesred  Major  Kimnels  to 

'go  to  his  regiment,  and,  at  the  head  of  that,  demancl  of 
St  Leger  tlie  reasons  of  hia  sunowrf ;  au'.l  not  stay 


'  NEGOTIATION!^    WITH    CANADA.  157 

there  asking  impertinent  questions  Q.nd  eating  up  the 
country's  provisions,  when  the  frontiers  were  invaded. 
Some  high  words  followed  between  them,  which 
called  the  attention  of  those  present  from  the  letters, 
and  Runnels  soon  after  left  the  room. 

25.  The  governor  then  convened  the  hoard  of  war, 
all  of  whom  v/ere  in  the  secret,  and  Hathaway  was 
left  to  detail  the  news  to  the  ])opuiace.  New  letters 
were  then  made  out  from  those  received,  in  which 
every  thing  relating  to  the  negotiation  and  armistice 
was  suj)pressed.  These  were  substituted  for  the 
original,  and  were  ])ubr!rly  read  before  the  council 
and  assembly  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  people.  In 
the  mean  time  Colonel  Allen  and  IMajor  Fa}-,  wrote 
to  the  British  agents  that  matters  ^vere  going  on  fa- 
vorably to  their  designs,  but  as  a  report  prevailed, 
that  Cornwallis  '^nd  Iiis  army  had  sin-rendered  to  the 
Americans,  vv'hich  was  doubtless  mifounded,  they 
thought  it  inexpedient, to  publish  the  proposed  proc- 
lamation till  more  favorable  news  should  remove  ^1 
doubts  with  regard  to  the  al)ility  of  the  British  to 
sustain  Vermont  in  the  measures  which  she  should 
adopt. 

26.  About  an  hour  after  this  communication  was 
delivered  at  Ticonderoga,  an  express  arrived  there 
from  the  south,  with  the  news  of  the  capture  of 
Cornwallis  and  his  whole  army,  and  before  night 
the  British  embarked  all  their  troops  and  stores,  and 
returned  to  Canada.  Thus  were  the  negotiatoi-s  in 
Vermont  relieved  from  their  enilianasment  and  dan- 
ger, which  would  have  l^^en  niuyh  increased  by  the 
publication  of  the  proposed  f)roclamation ;  and  thus 
was  terminated  the  campaign  of  1781,  in  wiiich  a 
few  sagacious  and  daring  individuals,  secured,  by 
their  negotiations  and  management,  the  extensive 
frontier  of  Vermont,  which  was  exposed  to  an  army 
often  thousand  of  the  enemy. 

27.  In  the  winter  of  1782.  the  British  in  Canada 
were  extremely  anxious  to  ascertain  how  the  people 

14 


158  BisTaRY  or  Vermont. 

of  Vermont  w^re  affected  by  the  capture  of  Corn- 
wallis.  Their  agents  wrote,  on  the  28th  of  Feb.  and 
again  on  the  22(1  of  Aj)ril,  in  tlie  most  pressing  terms  for 
i  ifoimaiion,  and  stat d  thai  t!ie  con  m  inder  in  chief 
had  fnll  |<o\vcrs  to  contirni  every  article  whicli  had 
been  agreed  npon  at  a  former  interview  for  the  es- 
tab!is})ment  of  Vermont  as  a  royal  government.  Im- 
patient at  not  leceivingan  answei',  they  wrote  again 
on  the  30th  of  April,  making  new  otfers  and  promises, 
and  designating  several  individuals  in  Vermont  for 
whom  his  excellency  was  authorized  and  disposed 
to  provide  in  the  distribution  of  the  royal  favors,  and 
in  several  cases  assured  them  what  commissions 
they  should  receive. 

28.  In  July,  Colonel  Ira  Allen  was  again  sent  to 
Canada  with  a  letter  from  Governor  Chittenden  to 
General  lialdimand,  requesting  the  release  of  two 
offi(;ers,  belonging  to  Vermont,  wlio  were  then  pris- 
oners in  the  hands  ofthe  ISritish.  The  British  agents 
thought  this  a  f  ivorable  op])ortujiity  Jbr  bringing  the 
negotiations  with  Vermont  to  a  decision,  and  used 
eveiy  art  to  piTsuade  Vermont  immediately  to  decla- 
re herself  a  British  |)rovince.  Allen  emj)loyed  every 
argument  to  justify  Vermont  for  delaying  it,  and  to 
prevent  the  renewal  of  hostilities.  Haldimand  was 
finally  prevailed  upon  to  continue  the  armistice  and 
to  liberate  the  prisoners  above  mentioned.  He  then 
wrote  to  Governrr  Chittenden,  announcing  his  pa- 
cific disposition  towards  Vermont  in  the  most  une- 
quivocal terms,  and  requesting  the  j)eopIe  of 
Vermont,  without  aj)prehension,  to  encourage  and 
promote  the  settlement  and  cultivation  ofthe  coun- 
try for  the  interest  and  happiness  of  themselves  and 
their  posterity. 

29.  With  this  year  terminated  the  war  and  the 
negotiations,  leaving  favorable  impressions  on  the 
minds  ofthe  British  tov.ards  Vermont.  Of  the  ben- 
eficial effects  of  the  policy  pm-sued,  to  Vermont  and 
to  liie  union,  there  can  be  no  doid)t,  but  ofthe   jus- 


DEPREDATIOx\S    OP    THE    INDIANS.  159 

tice  of  this  course  there  may  he  some  question.  On 
the  })art  of  the  British  the  negotiation  consisted  of 
repeated  endeavors  to  i)ersuade  the  leading  men  in 
Vermont,  to  abandc^n  the  American  cause  and  de- 
clare the  state  a  British  province.  To  these,  the 
leaders  in  Vermont  returned  evasive  and  auibiguous 
answers,  calculated  indeed  to  keej)  alive  the  hopes  of 
the  British,  but  not  in  any  way  to  pledge  the  govern- 
ment of  Vermont.  The  leading  men  iu  Vermont 
were  known  to  be  as  firmfriends  of  American  inde- 
pendence, as  any  individuals  on  the  continent ;  but, 
abandoned  as  Vermont  was  by  Congress^  and  expos- 
ed to  the  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy,  no  other 
means  of  security  remained  but  that  srtfnl  policy, 
'which  we  have  just  described  ;  and  which  kept  a 
powerful  British  army  inactive  on  the  northern 
frontier  of  the  union  durino-  thi'^e  successive  cam- 
paigns. 


SECTION     VII. 

Indian  depredations  upon  the  settlements  in    Vennont. 

1.  Having  now  completed  our  account  of  the  civil 
policy  of  Vermont  during  the  war  i\^  inde|)endence, 
excepting  such  parts  as  relate  particularly  to  the 
admission  ot.  Vermont  into  the  federal  union  and 
which  are  referred  to  the  next  chaj^ter,  we  shali 
here  give  a  brief  account  of  the  depredations  of  the 
Indians  upon  our  settlements,  and  notice  gome  other 
things  whic(]  have  been  omitted  in  the  preceding 
narrative.  Previous  to  the  conquest  of  Canada,  in 
1760,  the  French  and  Eninlsh  nations  were  enjja- 
ged  in  almost  j)eri)etual  war,  and  in  tht  se  wai-s  their 
colonies  and  Imlian  allies  were  always  involved. 
During  their  coutinuence  the  frontier  Englisli  settle- 


160  nrsTORY  of  vermo-\t. 

ments  were  frequently  broken  up  and  the  inhabitants 
either  maswu'red  or  (rariicd  into  captivit}^  Some 
account  of  these  transactions  in  the  vicinity  of  Ver- 
mont, has  already  been  given  in  the  first  chapter. 
But  as  ver}^  few  setdeinent!^  were  made  witliin  our 
limits  while  Canada  was  in  possession  of  tlie 
French,  the  first  settlers  of  Vermont  suffered  less 
from  the  incursions  of  the  Indians  than  those  of 
some  of  the  other  states. 

2.  We  have  already  mentioned  that  the  inhabitants 
of  Vernon  were  attacked  and  several  of  them  slain 
by  the  Indians,  in  3746,  and  that  Bridgeman's  fort 
was  taken  and  destroyed  by  them  the  next  year. 
This  place  again  receivcMJ  a  hostile  visit  in  1755.  On 
the  27th  of  July,  of  tliis  year,  Caleb  Howe,  Hilkiah 
Grout,  and  Benjamin  Gaftield  were  way-laid  and  fired 
upon  by  a  i);irty  of  Indians,  as  they  were  returning 
from  their  labor  in  the  field.  Howe  was  killed, 
Gaffield  was  drowned  in  attempting  to  ford  the  river 
and  Grout  escaped  unhurt.  The  Indians  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Bridgeman's  fort,  which  had  been  rej>air- 
ed,  where  they  made  prisoners  of  the  families  of  these 
three  men,  consisiing  of  their  wives  and  eleven 
children,  being  all  the  ])ersons  in  the  fort.  These 
were  all  carried  to  Canada  where  thej'  were  doomed 
to  sufffu' a  long  and  ciTiel  ca|;tivity.  Most  oftluMU, 
however,  were  afterwaids  redeemed  and  returned  to 
their  friends.    ■' 

3.  In  1756,  as  Captain  Melvin  at  the  head  of  about 
20  men,  was  niarching  through  the  wilderness  from 
jCharlestown,  Nesv  Hampshire,  to  Hobsuc  fort,  and 
wlien  in  the  southerly  ])art  of  New  Fane,  which  was 
then  uninhabited,  he  was  fired  upon  b}'  a  large  j>firty 
of  Indians,  who  were  lying  in  ambush.  A  severe 
conflict  ensued,  in  which  both  parties  suflered  con- 
siderably in  kiiii'd  vAvA  v»()tHid;<i.  Melvin's  party 
was  at  length  overpowered  by  ninnbers  and  was  obli- 
ged to  leave  the  field  in  j)ossession  of  tbe  enemy. 
Melvin  and  several  of  his  numln-r  made  their  escape 


DEPREDATIONS    OF    THE    INDIANS.  161 

and  arrived  safely  at  fort  Dummer.  The  next  day 
he  returned  to  the  battle  ground,  with  a  ])arty  from 
fort  Dumuier.  The  Indians  were  not  to  be  found, 
but  the  bodies  of  those  who  were  slaiu,  were  collec- 
ted and  buried. 

4.  At  the  time  of  the  American  revolution  the 
number  of  Indians  residing  in  the  vicinity  of  Ver- 
mont, was  greatly  diminished  ;  and  as  the  Americans, 
at  the  commencement  oftliat  siruggle,  got  jjossession 
of  the  military  jmsts  along  lake  Cham|)lain,  these 
few,  had,  for  a  while,  no  opjjortunit)  to  inolest  our 
settlements.  Kiit  when  tiie  Atnerican  army  retreat- 
ed from  Canada  in  177G,  and  the  Biitish  had  attain- 
ed I  he  conjmand  of  lake  Cha!n[)l.iin,  om*.  western 
borders  w^ere  wholly  at  the  m(;rcy  ofthe  enemy,  and 
continued  so  during  the  remainder  of  the  war.  All 
the  settleujents  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lake  were  bro- 
ken up,  and  the  settlers  retired  with  their  families 
to  the  southward.  The  frontier  military  posts-  were 
at  Castleton  and  Pittsfon},  on  the  west  side  of  the 
mountains,  and  at  Barnard,  Corinth,  Newbury,  and' 
Peachnm,  on  the  east  side. 

5.  Durini;  the  last  French  war  a  militarv  road  h&A 
been  opened  from  Charlestown  to  Crown  Point, 
which  was  now  very  beneficial  to  the  Americans, 
and  early  in  the  si)ring  of  1776,  General  Bailey  was 
ordered  to  o[>en  a  roa(l  from  NeW'bury,  tiirough  the 
wilderness,  to  St  Johns,  for  the  ])uri)ose  of  facilitating 
the  conveyance  of  troops  and  provisions  into  Canada. 
He  had  opened  the  roa<l  six  miles  al)()ve  Peacliam, 
when  the  news  arrived  that  our  army  had  retreated 
from  Canada,  and  the  undertaking  was  abandoned. 
But  in  1779,  General  Hazen  wns  ordered  to  Peach 
am  with  part  of  a  regiment,  for  tin;  ])urpos'>,  as  was 
said,  of  comi)leting  the  road  begun  by  Bailey,  so  that 
an  armv  miirht  be  sent  throu'^h  for  the  reduction  of 
Canada.  But  this  was  pi-obably  only  a  feint  for 
dividing  the  enemy  and  p'reventing  them  fro'n  send- 
ing their  "wliole  force  up  the  lake.     Hazen,  however, 


162  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

continued  the  road  fifty  miles  above  Pcacham, 
through  the  towna  of  Cahor,  Walden,  llardwick, 
Oreeut'horough,  Craftrsbury,  Albany  and  Lowel,  and 
erected  block  houses  at  several  places  along  the 
route.  This  was  a  great  convenience  to  the  settlers 
who  came  into  these  i)arts  after  the  war,  and  is 
known  at  this  day  as  the  "  Hrizen  Road.''''  It  termi- 
nated near  a  remarkable  notch  in  the  mountain  in 
Westfield,  and  which  has  since  been  called  Hazen's 
JVotch. 

6.  During  the  continuance  of  tlie  Nyar,  the  frontier 
towns  were  fre(|uentiy  alarmed  by  the  appearance  of 
Indian  scouting  parlies  in  their  neighborhood,  but  the 
inhabitants  were  seldom  molested.  Their  dwellings 
were,  however,  occasionally  plundered  and  some- 
times men  were  taken  ])risoners  and  a  few,  at  differ- 
ent times,  were  kille<l,  but  the  women  and  children 
werenot  usually  injured,  and  never  massacred  as- in 
former  wars.  In  1777,  the  Indians  killed  two  men  in 
Brandon,  took  several  of  the  inhalMtauts  prisoners  and 
burnt  their  dwellings.  On  the  9th  of  August,  1780, 
they  took  three  men  in  Barnard,  whom  they  carried 
to  Canada;, and  in  October,  of  the  same  year,  they 
made  a  successful  expedition  against  Royalton,  a  thri- 
ving settlement  on  White  river,  which  then  consisted 
of  about  300  inhabitants. 

7.  This  expedition  was  designed  against  Newbury 
^n  Connecticut  river,  for  the  object,  as  was  supposed, 
of  ca[)tuniig  a  Lieutenant  Whitcomb,  who  in  July 
1776,  wldle  on  a  scout,  had  wantonl}^  shot  General 
Gonlon,  a  Briiish  officer,  between  Chamblee  and  St 
Johns,  and  robbed  him  of  his  watch  and  sword.  The 
British  deeply  resentt;d  this  atlack  as  unworthy  of  an 
otiicer,  and  were  desirous  ofgetung  Whitconii)  into 
their  powen  The  party  consisting  of  al)out  300  men, 
jTiostly  Indians,  was  command('d  by  llorton,  a  British 
Lieutenant.  While  ])ro('eed:ng  up  Winooski  river, 
they  fell  in  with  several  hunters,  by  whom  they  were 
told  that  tlie  people  of  Newbury  were  expecting  an 


BURNINO    OF    ROYALTON.  163 

\ 

attack,  and  were  well  prepared  for  defence.  This 
information  induced  them  to  turn  their  attention  to- 
wards Royalton. 

8.  They  accordingly  proceeded  up  Stevens'  and 
jail  branch,  and  down  the  first  branch  of  White  river, 
to  Tunbridge,  where  they  lay  in  their  encampment 
during  the  sal)baih,  and  on  Monday  morning,  it  being 

if  the  16th  of  October,  they  commenced  their  depreda- 
tions, at  the  house  of  Mr  John  Hutchinson  who  lived 
near  the  Vine  between  Tunbridge  and  Royalton.  Af- 
ter  making  Mr  Hutchinson  and  his  brother  Abijah, 
prisoners,  they  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Mr  Robert 
Havens,  where  they  killed  Thomas  Pember  and  Elias 
Button.  They  then  went  to  the  house  of  Joseph 
Kneeland,  took  him  and  his  father,  and  Simeon  Belk- 
nap, Gik^s  Gibbs  and  Jonathan  Brosvn.  Proceeding 
tlience  to  the  house  of  Mr  Elias  Curtis,  they  made 
him  and  John  Kent  and  Peter  Mason  prisoners. 

9.  Thus  far  the  business  was  conducted  with  the 
greatest  silence,  and  the  prisoners  were  forl)id  making 
any  outcry  upon  pain  of  death.     They  at  length  ar- 

»  rived  at  the  mouth  of  the  branch,  where  they  made 
a  stand,  while  small  parties  proceeded  in  (hfterent  di- 
rections to  plunder  the  dwellings  and  briijg  in  jmson- 
ers.  By  this  time  the  alarm  had  become  gv?neral,  the 
inhabitants  were  flying  for  safety  in  every  direction 
and  the  savages  filled  the  air  with  their  horrid  yells. 
One  party  extended  its  ravages  down  the  river  into 
Sharon,  took  two  prisoners  and  burnt  several  iiouses 
and  barns.  Another  })arty  })roceeded  up  the  river, 
made  ])risoner  of  David  Waller,  a  young  lad  who 
lived  with  General  Stevens,  plundered  and  set  fire  to 
tiie  General's  house,  and  advanced  in  that  dii'ection 
about  three  miles,  killing  the  cattle,  and  plimdering 
and  setting  fire  to  the  buildings  as  they  passed. 

10.  After  completing  their  work  of  destruction, 
they  retnrned  with  tlieir  booty  to  the  j)lace  where 
they  commenced  their  attack  in  the  morning.  From 
this  place  they  proceeded  across  the  hill  to  Randolph, 


164  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

where  they  encamped  for  the  night  on  the  second 
brancli  of  White  river.  In  the  course  of  tlie  day 
they  had  killed  two.  persons,  taken  25  prisoners,  burnt 
up\vards  of  20  Jiouses,  aud  about  the  same  numl)er  of 
barns,  and  killed  about  150  head  of  cattle,  and  all  the 
shecj)  and  iiogs  that  fell  in  their  way;  having  suffered 
no  loss  themselves  and  scarcely  met  with  any  oppo- 
sition. "  Suj)prisefl,  affrighted,  and  scattered  from 
one  another,  the  inha!)itauts  could  take  no  stei)s  for 
their  defence;  the  alaim  however  soon  sj)read, 
and  a  number  of  men  innnediately  marched  from 
Connecticut  river,  and  the  adjacent  towns  By  eve- 
ning they  amoimted  to  several  hundreds,  aiicl  were 
collected  at  the  ])Iace  where  the  attack  was  first 
commenced.  Here  they  organized  themselves,  and, 
chose  for  their  commander  a  ca))tain  John  Housel 
who  had  served  several  campaigns  in  the  continenta 
army. 

12.  Early  in  the  evening,  House  began  his  march 
with  this  undiscij)'iined  but  brave  corps,  in  pursuit  of 
the  savages,  who  were  at  this  time  encamped  seven 
or  eifflit. miles  ahead.  The  nioht  was  dark  and  he 
was  guided  amidst  the  logs,  rocks  and  hills  with 
which  the  wilderness  abounded  only  by  a  few  marked 
trees.  When  they  supposed  themselves  near  the  In- 
dians, they  proceeded  with  caution,  but  as  they  were 
passing  over  a  stream  which  was  crossed  upon  a 
large  log  they  were  fired  ufjon  by  the  enemy's  rear 
guard;  which  had  been  posted  behind  some  trees 
near  the  place  and  one  man  was  wounded.  House's 
;;firty  returned  the  fire,  killed  one  Indian  and  wound- 
ed two  others.  The  guard  then  retreareil  to  the  In- 
dian camp  and  House  advanced  within  about  300 
yards  of  the  sanie  where  he  wailed  till  day  light  with- 
out commencing  an  attack. 

>13.  Fatiguc^d  by  the  business  of  the  preceding  day, 
and  now  suddenly  awakened  from  })rofound  ijleep, 
the  savages  were  at  first  filled  with  consternation  and 
thrown  into  tlie  utmost  disorder.     They,  however. 


ALARM  IN  WINDHAM  COUNTY.        165 

soon  recovered  from  their  fright,  and  were  not  long  in 
concertiTig  measures  for  tlieir  own  safety.  They  sent 
out  an  aged  prisoner  to  inform  the  Americans,  that,  if 
tliey  |)roceeded  to  njake  an  attack,  they  should  im- 
mediatel}'-  put  all  the  prisoners  to  death.  The  pro- 
ceedings thus  far  had  caused  two  to  he  put  to  death  ; 
one  to  retahate  the  death  of  the  Indian,  who  had 
been  slain  and  the  other  for  refusing  to  march,  in  the 
expectation  that  the  Americans  would  relieve  them. 
These  were  tomahawked  as  they  lay  bound  upon  the 
ground.  Having  ])lac('d  their  warriors  in  the  rear  to 
cover  their  retreat  they  silently  left  their  encampment, 
proceeded  to  Randolph,  where  they  took  one  prison- 
er, passed  through  the  west  part  of  Brooktield,  and, 
by  the  way  of  Winooski  river  and  lake  Champlain,  to 
Montreal. 

14.  House  and  his  men  were  waiting  for  the  dawn 
of  day  and  deliberating  upon  the  message  brought 
them  by  the  prisoner,  till  the  Indians  had  departed 
and  were  far  beyond  their  reach.  They,  however, 
followed  upon  tlieir  trail  as  far  as  Brookfield  and  ihen 
returned,  having  lost  tlie  op|)ortunity  of  attacking  the 
enemy  by  their  caution  and  delay.  On  their  way  to 
Canada,  the  prisoners  were  well  treated,  and  with 
resj)ect  to  j)rovisions,  fared  as  well  as  their  masters. 
Of  the  twenty  six  who  w'ere  carried  away,  one  died 
in  ca})tivity,  and  the  rest  were  liberated  the  next  sum- 
mer and  returned  to  their  friend:*:. 

15.  A  few  days  after  the  l)urningof  Royalton  there 
was  one  of  the  most  extensive  alarms  in  the  County 
of  Windham,  experienced  in  Vermont  during  the 
war ;  but  it  proved  to  be  wholly  groundless.  It  hap- 
pened, that  as  several  men  were  surveying  lands  in 
Brookline,  some  of  them  undertook  to  imitate  the  In- 
dian  war-hoop.  In  this  they  succeefled  to  admira- 
tion, and  were  hv^ard  by  the  injiabitants  of  Athens, 
who,  supposing  them  to  be  real  Indians,  took  fright, 
fled,  and  rapidly  spread  the  alarm  through  the  neigh- 
boring towns.    Immediately  all  was  terror  and  con- 


166  msTORT  or  Vermont. 

fusion.  To  their  bewildered  itiiagination  every  noise 
became  the  yell  of  the  savage  and  every  rock,  and 
every  tree  of  the  forest,  a  lurking  place. for  the  cruel 
foe^.  Willi  such  precipitation  did  they  flee  from  their 
farms  and  dwellings  that  the  men  left  their  teams  har- 
nessed in  the  field  and  wouien  tl  eir  ovens  heating 
and  victuals  cooking  by  the  fire. 

16.  When  the  intelligence  reached  Colonel  Ser- 
geant at  Brattlehorough,  he  sent  out  orders  into  the 
different  towns  requesting  their  n)ilitia  to  assemble 
for  the  purpos  ■  of  stopping  the  progreiss  of  the  Indians 
who  were  laying  w'aste  the  settlements.  A  snow 
•storm  had  conunenced  and  before  night  was  so  se- 
vere, as  to  render  the  flight  of  the  inhabitants  labori- 
ous and  distressing;  and,  as  evening  come  on,  tiu- 
irierous  lights  were  seen  along  the  horizon,  which 
it  was  not  t!oubted,  proceeded  from  the  conflagration 
of  tlie  dwellings  of  the  inhabitants  wantonly  plunder- 
ed and  set  on  Are  by  the  Indians.  This  alarm  spread 
over  most  of  the  country  but  was  ha])])ily  of  short 
continuance.  The  brave  soldiery  marched  into  the 
deserted  country,  but  they  found  nothing,  but  a  deep 
snow,  to  interru})t  their  ])rogress.  The  original  cause 
of  alarm  was  soon  ascertained  and  the  lights,  by 
which  it  had  been  heightened,  were  found  to  proceed 
frcm  the  burning  log  and  brush  !iea|>s,  which  had 
i)een  piled  by  the  industrious  inhabitants  of  New 
Fane,  and  which  had  been  set  on  fire  as  they  saw 
the  storm  appro-u-hiuir. 

17.  On  the  8th  of  March,  1781,  a  party  of  Hritish 
and  Indians  made  j)risoners  of  Colonel  Johnson,  Ja- 
cob Page  and  Jonathan  Elkins,  and  carried  them  to 
Canada.  In  the  following  summer,  a  scout  consisting 
of  four  men  from  P.acham,  while  proceeding  up 
Hazen's  Road,  were  fired  Uj)on  by  a  party  of  *ndians. 
Two  of  them  were  killed  and  scali)ed  and  tlu!  other 
two  made  prisoners.  In  1782,  a  party  of  IJritish  and 
Indians,  after  killing  one  man  and  taking  one  prisoner 
at  Newbury,  proceeded  to  Coriutli  where  tliey  com- 


DEPREDATIONS    OF    ItiM.    INDIANS.  167 

pelled  the  inhabitants  to  swear'allegiance  to  the  Brit- 
ish king.  Other  towns  were  also  visited  by  small 
parties  of  the  enemy  in  the  course  of  the  war,  but 
during  the  period  of  the  negotiation,  nientioned  in 
the  last  section,  and  while  Vermont  was  wliolly  at 
their  mercy,  these  |;art';es  did  v  ry  little  injuiry,  a)Kl 
probably  had  orders  from  the  British  generals  not  to 
molest  the  inhabitants. 


HISTORY  OF  VERMONT. 


C  tl  A  P  T  E  R      V. 


PROCEEDINGS    RELATIVE    TO    THE    ADMISSION    OF 
VERMONT    INTO    THE    UNION. 


SECTION    I. 


Extending  from  the  completion  of  the  eastern  and 
western  unions  with  Vei-mont  on  the  22/  of  June, 
1781  to  the  dissolution  of  the  same  on  the  22i/  day 
of  February  17b2. 

1.  Vermont,  having  completed 'her  eastern  and 
wester;;  unions,  as  related  in  the  jn'cceding  chapter, 
appointed  Jonas  Fay,  ira  Allen,  and  Bezaieel  Wood- 
ward, delegates  to  tho  American  Congresd  to  negoti- 


168  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

ate  her  admission  into  the  federal  union.  Full 
powers  were  given  them  to  complete  the  arrange- 
ment;  and,  if  thfy  effected  their  object  they  were 
authorized  to  take  their  sent  in  Congress  as  the 
re{)reseiitatives  of  Vermont.  These  delegates  arrived 
at  Philadelphia,  in  the  heginning  of  Augiist,  and 
about  the  time  of  the  ])ub!ication  of  Lord  Germain's 
letter,  as  already  mentioned.  On  the  7th  of  August, 
1781,  Congress  took  up  the  subject  of  their  mission, 
and  appointed  a  committee  of  fiv^e  persons  to  con- 
fer with  the  delegates  from  '^'ermont,  and  agree  with 
them  upon  the  terms  of  admission,  provided  Congress 
should  see  fit  to  recognize  \  ermont  as  an  indepen- 
dent state. 

2.  On  the  18th  of  August,  a  conference  took  place 
between  this  committee  and  tlie  delegates  from  Ver- 
mont, at  which  sundry  questions  were  pro|)osed  to 
the  latter  respecting  the  exti-nt,  poj>uIation,  and  re- 
sources of  \  ermonr,  and  the  views  an*!  wishes  of 
the  inhal)itants;  to  all  of  wiiich  answers  were  retur- 
ned. On  the  20th,  the  connnittee  made  their  report 
to  Congress  ;  whereupon  that  body  adopted  the 
following  resolution.  "Resolved,  That  it  bean  in- 
dispensible  preliminary  to  the  recognition  of  tlie 
inde[)endenee  of  the  people  inhabiting  the  territory 
called  \  ermoiit,  and  dicir  admission  into  the  federal 
union,  that  they  cx})]icitly  relinquis!)  all  demands  of 
lands  or  jurisdiction  on  the  east  side  of  the  west 
bank  of  Comieciicut  river,  and  on  the  west  side  of  a 
line  beginning  at  the  north  west  corner  of  Massa- 
chusetts, tiieiK  e  rujining  twenty  nnles  cast  of  Hud- 
son river,  so  far  as  said  river  continues  northeasterly 
hi  its  general  course,  then  by  the  west  bounds  of 
the  townships  granted  by  tJie  late  govermnent  of 
New  IIam|)shire,  to  the  river  rmiing  into  East  Bay, 
thence  along  said  river  and  bay  to  lake  Cham|)lain, 
thencc!  along  the  waters  of  said  lake  to  latitude  45 
degrees  north." 

3.  Vermont  and  New  York  were  both  dissatisfied 


RESCTLUTIONS    OF    VERxMONT   LEGISLATURE.         169 

I 

with  this  resolution — Vermont,  because  it  required 
as  a  roiulitiou  of  Um-  admission  isito  the  iniion,  that 
shi*  slioulil  dissolve  the  a;i;ree!il)le  coniiexioiis  which 
she  had  just  formed — New  York,  because  it  recog- 
nized the  claim,  a^^ainst  whicii  she  had  so  long  and 
so  earnestly  contended ; — the  one,  because  it  bereft 
Vermont  of  one  half  her  present  territory,  resources 
and  importance — the  other,  because  it  would  allow 
Vermont  still  to  have  something  left,  which  she 
could  call  her  own.  This  appears  from  the  proceed- 
in<js  of  their  respective  leofislatures. 

4.  The  legislature  of  Vermont  met  at  Charlestown, 
on  the  east  side  of  Connecticut  river,  in  Octdber,  and 
on  the  16th  of  that  month,  the  foregoing  resolutions 
were  laid  before  them.  The  resolution  held  out  to 
Vermont  a  faint  ))rosj)ect  of  an  admission  into  the 
federal  Union  with  hev  original  territory,  birt  having 
lost  much  of.  her  confidence  in  tiie  assurances  ot 
Congress  and  having  now  consolidated  her  unions  at 
home,  she  felt  herself  in  a  condition  to  demand  bet- 
ter terms  than  the  relinquishment  of  one  half  her 
territory  and  population,  to  secure  the  independence 
of  the  other  half.  Alter  deliberating  and  debating 
upon  the  sul)iect  for  several  days,  the  assembly,  on 
the  19di  of  October,  voted  that  they  could  not  com- 
ply with  the  foregoing  resolution  of  Con^sress. 

5.  They  declared  that  acomi)liance  would  destroy 
the  foundation  of  the  harmony  whicli  then  subsisted 
in  the  state,  and  be  a  violation  of  the  solemn  com- 
pact entered  into  by  the  articles  of  union  and 
confederation — that  they  would  remain  firm  in  the 
])riiicip!es  on  which  they  had  assumed  the  powers 
of  governmeiit — that  they  would  hoUl  inviolate  tiie 
articles  of  union,  which  connected  the  parts  of  tiio 
state  together — and  that  they  would  submit  tlie  ques- 
tion of  their  inde})endence  to  tlic  arbitration  of  no 
]jower  under  heaven.  They  however  declared  theii 
wiliingiiess  to  submit  any  queslions,  which  might 
arise,    with  regard  to  jurisdictioi;al    limits  between 

15 


170  ,  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

them  and  the  neighboring  states,  to  arbitrators  mutu-- 
all}'  chosen ;  and,  when  adnntted  into  the  American 
imion,  thpy  would  not  object  to  submitting  such  dis- 
putes to  Congress. 

6.  Tiie  Legislature  of  New  York,  on  the  other 
hand,  regarding  the  resolution  of  Congress  as  a  vir-- 
tual  determination  of  the  controversy  between  that 
state  and  Vermont,  passed  a  number  of  resolutions,, 
and  a  solemn  protest  against  the  proceedings  of  Con- 
gress. Havmg  .'Stated  their  claims,  and  some  former 
proceedings  of  Congress  on  the  subject,  they  vvent 
on  to  express  their  (hsa])pro!)ation  and  alarm  at  the 
evident  intention  of  Congress,  from  political  expcdi-- 
ence,  to  estaiilish  an  arhiirary  lioimflai y,  which  ex- 
cluded Iroin  that  state  a  gi-eat  ])art  of  its  territory. 
They  declared  that,  in  the  opinion  of  the  legislature, 
Congress  had  no  authority,  by  the  arlicles  of  confed- 
eration, to  intermeddle  with  the  t<Mr!torial  extent, 
or  jurisdiction,  of  either  of  the  United  States,  except 
in  case  of  dispute  between  two  or  more  states  in  the 
union, — that  to  carry  into  execution  said  resolution 
of  Congress,  would  be  an  assuuijjtion  of  p.owcr  and 
an  infraclion  of  tli(3  articles  of  confederation,  and  that 
they  tlierefon;  so!(;mnly  ])rotested  against  the  same. 

7.  With  the  above  mentioned  resolution  of  Con- 
gress, a  verbal  message  had  been  sent  by  General 
\Vasiiington  to  Governor  Chittenden,  desiring  to 
know  what  were  the  real  designs, wishes  and  intern- 
tions  of  tlie  people  of  Vermont; — whether  they 
would  be  satisfied  with  the  independt  nee  pro])o<ed 
in  said  r(\~iolutio]i,  or  siriously  ilioiiiriit  of  joining  the 
enrmy  and  becoming  a  ]iriti>h  ])rovince.  On  the 
14th  of  November,  Governor  Chittenden  returned  an 
unequivocal  and  decisive  answer  to  the  above  com- 
munication, in  which  he  s;iid  that  no  peoj)le  on  the 
continent  were  more  ailached  to  tli!3  cause  of  Amer- 
ica than  the  peoplt:-  of  Vermont;  but,  that  they  would 
sooner  join  tiie  British  in  Canada,  than  sidimit  to_the 
government  of  N<.'W  York — that,  driven   to  the  des- 


DIFFICULTIES    If    HIR    UNIONS.  171 

peration  by  the  injustice  of  those,  who  should  have 
been  her  friends,  Vermont  was  now  obliged  to  adopt 
policy  in  the  room  of  j)ower.  He  ascribed  the  late 
resolution  of  Congress,  not  to  the  influence  of  friends, 
but  the  power  of  enemies,  believing  that  Lord  Ger- 
main's letter  had  procured  that,  which  the  public 
virtue  of  the  })eople  could  not  obtain. 

8.  During  these  proceedings,  new  difficulties  were 
opening  to  Vermont  in  her  easten  and  western  un-  ' 
ioiis.  A  connnunication  was  received  by  Governor 
Cliittenden  from  one  of  the  sheriffs  in  the  eastern 
union,  informing  him  that  the  government  of  New 
Hanfpshire,  were  about  taking  coercive  measures  to 
Ibring  those  citizens  of  that  state,  who  had  joined 
Vermont,  again  under  t'jeir  laws  and  aiuhority.  The 
governor,  on  the  14th  of  December,  directed  Gene- 
ral Paine,  then  li(Mitenant  governor  of  the  .state,  to 
call  out  the  militia  on  the  east  side  of  the  mountains, 
for  the  assistance  of  the  shf^riffs  and  the  defence  of 
the  citizens  ;  and,  if  armed  force  should  be  employ- 
e<fl  by  New  Hampshire,  that  he  should  repel  it  by 
th  e  same.  Mr  Pame  forwarded  a  co|)y  of  this  order 
to  the  council  of  New  Hampshire,  and  informed 
ttiem,  that,  if  hostilities  were  commenced,  he  should 
e;xecute  his  orders,  and  that  New  Hampshire  must  be 
accountable  for  the  consequences.  With  these  com- 
Ji  nufications,  connnissioners  were  also  sput  to  New 
Hampshire,  to  endeavor  to  accommodate  matters, 
a  nd  [prevent  the  effusion  of  blooil. 

9.  On  the  other  hand  the  military  force  was  called 
'■out  in  New  York,  to  prevent  N'ermont  from   execu- 

ting  her  laws  over  the  inhabitants  of  her  western 
imion,  and  to  aid  the  sheriff  of  New  York  in  appre- 
hending several  persons  in  the  territory  who  had 
rendered  themselves  particularly  obnoxious  to  the 
government  of  that  state.  This  force  was  command- 
ed by  General  Gnnesvoort,  who,  being  informed  that 
^Colonel  VValbridge  was  advancing  with  a  large  body 
%of  troops  from  the  grants,  wrote  to  him  on  the  18th 


1752  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT 

of  December,  to  be  iiifornied  of  the  object  of  his 
movement.  Walbridge  replied  that  if  was  to  pro- 
tect the  inhabitants,  who,  in  conseqnence  of  the 
imion,  jirotessed  allegiance  to  the  state  of  Vermont; 
lleit  he  wished  conciliatory  nieasnres  might  be  adopt- 
t^d,  but,  if  those  persons  who  jirofessed  to  be  citizens 
of  Vermont,  should  be  imprisoned  and  their  })}operty 
destroyed,  he  woukl  not  be  accountable  for  the  con- 
sequences. 

10.  Affairs  seejned  now  to  have  reached  an  alarm- 
ing crisis,  and  all  parties  treml)led  at  the  prospect  of 
a  civil  war.  Hai)py  was  it  tliat  hostilities  were  not 
commenced  before  the  paities  had  taken  time  to  re- 
flect upon  the  consequences  of  such  a  measure  ;  for 
when  they  looked  at  the  momentous  struggle  in  which 
their  country  was  engaged,  every  philanthro[)ist  was 
fully  convinced  that  no  differences  between  the  states 
should,  on  any  account,  be  permitted  to  endanger 
the  cause  of  American  liberty  and  independence. 
Fortimately,  about  this  time,  Gevornor  Chittenden 
received  a  letter  from  General  Washington,  dictated 
by  his  paternal  solicitude  for  the  good  of  his  country, 
and  for  a  hap|)y  termination  of  the  trf)ubles  in  rela- 
tion to  \  ermont.  Tl'liis  letter  is  dated  January  1st, 
1782,  and  fntm  it  we  extract  the  following  j>aragiaph. 

11.  "It  is  not  my  business,  nor  do  I  think  it  necessar}', 
now  to  discuss  the  origin  of  the  right  of  a  nmnber  of 
inhabita.nts,  to  that  tract  of  country,  formerly  distin- 
guished by  the  name  of  the  New  Hampshire  grants, 
and  now  by  that  of  Vermont.  I  will  take  it  for 
granted  that  their  right  was  good  because  Congress, 
by  heir  resolve  of  the  7tli  of  August,  imply  it;  and 
by  that  of  the  20th  are  willing  fully  to  confirm  it, 
provided  the  new  state  is  confined  to  certain  de- 
scribed bounds.  Jt  ajtpears  therefore  to  me,  that  the 
dispute  of  boundary,  is  the  only  one  that  (exists  ; 
and,  that  being  removed,  all  other  difflc^dti^'S  woidd 
be  removed  also,  and  the  matter  terminate  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  parties.     You  have  nothing  to  do, 


Washington's  letter  to  gov.  chittenden.    173 

but  to  withdraw  your  jurisdiction  to  the  confines  of 
your  own  limiis,  and  oluaiu  an  ackiiowlecJgement 
of  independence  and  sovereignty  under  the  resolve 
of  tlie  20tl)  of  August,  for  so  much  territory  as  does 
not  intf^rfere  with  the  ancient  estai)Hsljed  bounds  of 
New  Hampshire,  New  York  and  3Iassachusetts.  In 
my  private  ojjinion,  while  it  behoves  the  delegates 
to  do  ain|)le  justice  to  a  pt.'ople,  sufficiently  resj)ecta- 
ble  by  their  numbers  and  entitled,  by  other  claims, 
to  be  admitted  into  the  confederation,  it  becomes 
ithem  also,  to  attend  to  the  interests  of  their  constit- 
;tients,  and  see,  tliat  under  the  aj)r)earance  of  justice 
to  one,  they  do  not  materially  injure  the  others.  I 
rSLin  apt  to  think  this  is  the  })revaihng  opinion  of 
Congress." 

12.  Being  endeared  to  all  the  friends  of  liberty  by 
his  integrity  and  virtue  and  by  his  disinterested  ex- 
ertions and  sacrifices  for  the  good  ol  his  country, 
such  a  coinmimication  from  General  Washington 
might  reasonably  be  exijected  to  exert  a  powerfid 
influence  u])on  the  minds  of  the  leading  men  in 
Vermont,  and  the  event  showed  that  it  did.  At  the 
^ext  meeting  of  the  legislature,  which  was  held  at 
Bennington,  this  letter  was  laid  before  them,  it 
served  to  open  their  eyes  to  the  former  errors  of 
government,  and,  knowing  it  to  have  come  fi'om  a  man, 
Avho  had  only  the  interests  of  his  ivhole  country  at 
heart,  his  advice  was  received  with  the  greatest  defer- 
ence, and  after  mature  deliberation  upon  the  subject, 
the  assembly  on  the  22d  of  February,  1782,  resol- 
ved to  comply  with  the  preliminary  required  by  the 
resolution  of  Congress  on  the  20th  of  August,  and 
a-elinquish  all  claims  to  jurisdiction  beyond  the 
boimds  therein  meiuioned. 

13  Thus  was  dissolved  a  union  which  had  greatly 
increased  th(3  j)owcr  and  consequence  of  Vermont, 
and  which,  it  v/as  believed,  had  ])revented  the  divis- 
ion of  Vermont,  between  New  Hampshire  and  New 
York.  But  this  union  was  not  dissolved  without  a 
*15 


174  HISTORY   OF   VERMONT!'. 

Struggle  and  murh  dissatisfaction  in  those  parW 
which  were  cut  off  from  ^  ei'niont,  hy  the  prescriljed 
boiinilaries.  The  inhabitants  of  those  parts  had 
eagerly  sought  tlie  union  with  Vermont,  and  they 
were  too  well  sati.sfied  with  it  wilhngly  to  return  to 
their  allegiance  to  those  states  Iroiri  which  they  had 
withdrawn. 

14.  \  ermont,  having  complied  with  the  requirements 
of  Congress,  now  confidently  ex})ected  an  immedi- 
ate recognition  of  her  independence,  and  an  admis- 
sion into  the  federal  union  ;  and  with  it  a  termina- 
tion of  the  disa<::reea!)le  controversy  with  New 
York.  The  legislature  therefore  j'roceeded  to 
choose  four  agents  to  arrange  the  terms  of  admis- 
sion, and  then  take  their  seats  in  Congress  as  rep- 
resentatives of  \  ermont.  But  in  their  ex})ectations 
the  people  of  Vermont  were  again  doomed  to  dis- 
iippointment  ;  a  disappointment,  the  jmin  and  mor- 
tification of  which  could  only  be  exceeded  by  the 
impolicy  and  injustice  of  the  neglect  which  occa- 
sitjned  it.  Congress  still  refused  to  admit  Vermont 
into  the  union  and  again  reverted  to  her  policy  of 
evasion  and  delay. 


S-E  C  T  i  O  N:fII. 


Procctdings  ^f  Confrrcss — Disturbances  in  Vermont — 
fi'om  the  Dissoiulions  of  the  miions  in  Vermont  Feb. 
22(1,  1782,  to  tht  Treaty  of  Peace  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Brilaui,  January  20th,  17c3. 

1.  The  refiisid  of  Vermont  on  lie  18ih  of  October, 
1781,  to  comply  with  the  nisolution  of  the  20tli  of 
August,  had  been  conununicated  to  Congress,  and 
while  the  assembly  of  \  ermont,  in  February  1782, 
was  reconsidering  the  subject  and  efl'ecting  a  com- 


AGENTS  REPAIR  TO  CONGRESS.        175 

pliance  with  said  resolution,  Congress  was  engaged 
in  warm  debnts  upon  their  preceding  refusal.  On 
the  first  day  of  March,  several  sj)irited  resolutions 
were  prf)posed  and  discussed  in  Congress.  These 
resolutions  declared  that,  if  Vermont  did  not,  with- 
in one  month  from  the  time  tliese  resolutions  were 
communicated  to  Governor  Chittenden,  comply  with 
the  resolution  of  the  20th  of  August,  and  relinquish 
her  jurisdiction  beyond  the  bounds  therein  named, 
such  neglect  and  refusal  would  be  regarded  as  an 
indication  of  hostility  to  the   United  States. 

2.  In  that  case  Congress  would  regard  the  pre- 
tensions of  Vermont  for  admission  into  the  union  as 
fallacious  and  delusive,  and,  would  thereafter  consid- 
er the  lands  in  \  ermont  to  rlie  eastward  <f  the  ridge 
of  the  Green  Pvlountain.s,  as  granted  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  the  lands  to  the  westward  of  said  line  as 
granted  to  New  York;  and  that  the  connnander  in 
chief  of  the  American  armies  be  directed  to  emi)loy 
the  n)iliiary  forces  of  the  United  States  to  cany 
these  rosolutions  into  full  execution.  Alter  a  long 
debate  and  several  trials,  it  was  found  that  a  vote 
could  not  be  obtained  to  pass  these  resolutions, 
and  a  few  days  after,  as  the  excitement  was  begin- 
ning to  subside,  the  agents  from  Vermont  arrived  at 
Philadelphia. 

3.  These  agents  were  Jonas  Fay,  Moses  Robinson, 
Paul  Spooner,  and  Isaac  Tichenor,  and.  they  were 
instructed  "  to  negotiate  and  com})l(3te  on  the  part 
of  ^  ermont,  the  admission  thereof  into  the  federal 
union,  and  to  subscribe  articles  o(  perpetual  confed- 
eration thereunto."  On  the  31st  of  'March,  1782, 
they  officially  hud  before  Congress  the  proceedings 
of  the  legislature  of  Vennont  on  the  22d  ef  Februa- 
ry, by  which  they  had  fully  complied  with  the  re- 
quiiement  of  the  resolution  of  the  20  h  of  August. 
Congress  now  ag.-iin  to(>k  uj)  the  subject  and  refer- 
red it  to  a  committee  of  five  members,  who,  'on  the 
17th  of  Aprilj  re])orted; — That  in  the  opinion  of  the 


176  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

committee,  Vermont,  had  fully  complied  with  the 
resolution  of  the  -SOth  of  August  as  preliminary  to 
the  recognition  of  her  sovereignty  and  independence, 
and  admission  into  ihe  federal  union  ;  and  that  the 
conditional  i)roniise  of  such  recognition  and  admis- 
sion by  Congress,  is  tiiereby  become  absolute  and 
necessary  to  be  performed. 

4.  The  connnittee  then  proposed  a  resolution 
declaring  "  That  the  district,  or  territory  called  \^er- 
mont,  as  defined  and  limited  in  the  resolution  of 
Congress  of  the  20th  of  August,  1781,  be,  and  it 
herel)y  is.  recognized  an  i  acknowledged,  by  the 
name  of  the  state  of  Vermont,  as  free,  sovereign  and 
indej)endent;  and  that  a  conjujittee  be  ajjpointed  to 
treat  and  confer  with  the  agents  and  delegates 
from  said  state,  u])on  the  terms  and  mode  of  the  ad- 
mission of  said  state  into  the  federal  union."  When 
thisrejjort  was  read,  motions  Vv^ere  successively  made 
that  its  consideration  be  assigned  to  the  first  Tues- 
day in  October,  the  fiist  Tuesday  in  June,  and  to 
Monday  next,  all  of  which  were  decided  in  the  nega- 
tive. 

5.  By  these  votes  it  became  evident  that  Congress 
did  not  intend  to  come  to  any  decision  U})on  the 
affairs  of  \'ermont,  and  the  agents,  of  Vermont  disap- 
pointed at  the  result,  address.'d  a  letter  to  ihe  j)resi- 
dent  of  Congress  orj  the  lO.'h  of  April,  and  innnedi- 
ately  left  PI  ihuK  Iphia.  In  this  communication  they 
say,  that  in  consequence  of  the  plighted  faith  of  Con^ 
gr(.>ss,  and  the  advice  of  gentlemen  of  the  first  charac- 
ter in  America^  Vermont  had  been  induced  to 
comply  in  the  most  ample  manner  with  the  resolu- 
tion of  the  ^Oth  of  August,  aiid  that  they  had 
ofKcially  connnunicated  said  conjpliance  to  Congress. 
They  exj)ressed  their  disappointment  at  the  delay  of 
Congress  to  execute,  on  tiieir  part,  the  spirit  of  said 
resolution,  and  })ointcd  out  the  critical  situation,  to 
which  Vermont  was  reduced  by  casting  off  a 
considerable  portion  of  her  strength, — by  being  ex- 


INTERNAL  AFFAIRS    OF    VERMONT.  177 

posed  to  the  main  force  of  the  enemy  in  Canada, 
and  by  receiving  !)o  aid  from  tlie  United  States,  in 
whose  cause  slie  had  freely  fought  and  suffered. 

6.  Wlien  these  proceedings  of  Congress  became 
known  in  Vermont  they  produced  universal  dissatis- 
faction. It  was  the  general  opinion  thattlie  resolution 
of  theQOtFi  of  August,  had  been  designed  to  dupe  the 
assembly  to  a  compliance  for  the  purpose  of  weak- 
ening Vermont  and  rendering  it  less  dangerous  to 
contravene  her  designs  and  wishes.  Faith  in  the 
virtue  and  integrity  of  Congress  was  nearly  dt-stroy- 
ed  ;  and  by  these  mea.«ures  of  ih.at  body,  the  ])eo|)le, 
and  the  assembly  of  Vermont,  were  determined  to 
adhere  to  the  bonndaries,  to  wjiich  they  had  agreed, 
and  rely  ui)on  their  own  strength,  resources,  and 
management  for  defence  and  safety  ;  and  urge  no 
further  upon  Congress  their  right  to  a  co  federa- 
tion with  the  United  States.  Still,  that  it  might 
appear  to  the  world  that  Vermont  was  not  in  fault, 
the  assembly  at  their  session  in  October,  again 
a})pointed  agents  with  full  ])owers  to  complete 
arrangements  for  her  admission  into  the  union. 

7.  Notwithstanding  the  unsettled  and  embarrassing 
state  of  her  relations  to  Congress  aiid  the  neighl)or- 
ing  states,  the  internal  tranquility  of  Vermont  had 
been  for  some  time,  but  little  disturbed  Her  polit- 
ical institutions  had  been  gr;iduallv  maturing,  and  the 
organization  of  her  government  had  assumed  a 
regularity  and  efficiency  which  commandt-d  the 
obedience  and  resjiect  of  the  great  body  of  the  cit- 
izens. New  York  had  not  relinquished  her  claim  to 
jurisdiction  over  the  territory,  but  she  had  not,  of  lata, 
made  any  serious  effort  to  exercise  it ;  and  had  con- 
tented herself  with  opposing  the  admission  of 
Vermont  into  the  union.  Still  there  were  vsome 
among  the  citizens  of  Vermont,  whose  submission 
was  reluctant,  and  who  were  ready  to  embrace  any 
ftivorable  opportunity  to  renounce  their  allegiaiioe 
and  support  the  claims  of  New  York. 


178  HIBTORT   OF   VERMO!^T. 

8.  As  the  continental  troops  had  been  withdrawn 
from  the  liOrthin-n  frontier,  and  as  Vermont  was 
e>:j)0sed  to  invasion  by  llie  enemy  from  Canada,  she 
fonnd  it  necessary  to  order  a  draft  oi  militia  for  the 
purpose  of  defence.  Tiiose  citizens  of  Vermont,, 
who  were  disaffected  toward  the  government,  resol- 
ved  to  take  this  opportunity  to  resist  its  authority^ 
Tliey  were  encouraged  in  tbis  measure  by  the 
governor  of  New  York,  who  gave  commissions  to 
sundry  {)ersons  in  the  southeastern  part  of  tlie  coun- 
ty of  Windbam,  and  had  reconniie nded  the  organi- 
zation of  a  mihtary  force  for  the  purpose  of  o[)posing- 
Vermont,  and  enforcing  the  laws  of  New  York. 
Vermont  became  alarmed  at  these  proceedings,  and, 
having  employed  lenient  measures  in  vain,  ordered 
out  the  militia  to  suppress  tliein.  The  leaders  in 
the  rebellion  were  taken,  five  of  the  most  obnoxious 
of  whom  were  banished  from  the  state,  and  the  oth- 
ers fin 'd  cr  otherwise  punished. 

9.  Disappointed  in  their  atten]j)ts  to  resist  the 
authority  of  Vermont,  the  insurgejits  apj.lied  to  the 
government  of  New  York,  under  which  tbey  preten- 
ded to  have  acted,  for  support  and  remuneration  for 
tlieir  sacrifices  and  losses  in  consequence  of  their  re- 
bellion. But  the  desired  support  New  York  was  not 
able  to  aflTord.  Vermont  feanid  not  her  power,  and 
therefore  her  promises  and  her  tlireatenings  were 
alike  disregarded.  A  remonstrance  was  tlien  for- 
warded to  Congress  setting  fortb  that  \  ermont  had 
proceeded  to  exercise  jurisdiction  over  the  persons 
and  properties  of  sundry  persons,  who  professed 
themselves  to  be  subject  to  the  state  of  New  York  ; 
This  remonstrance  was  seconded  by  a  letter  from 
the  governor  of  New  York,  and  on  the  14th  day  of 
November,  1782,  the  committee  in  Congress  to 
whom  tlie  subject  was  referred,  reported  "  tliat  the 
measures  complained  of  were  probably  occasioned  by 
the  state  of  New   York  having  given  commissions 

.both  civil  and  military,  to  persons  residing  in  Ver- 


RES0LUTI0N3  OF  CONGRESS.  179 

mont."  Tliey  also  recommended^  that  said  com- 
missions be  revoked,  and  tiiat  Vermont  should  make 
satisfaction  to  the  persons,  who  had  been  banished, 
or  who  had  sustained  damages.  But  Congress  re- 
fused to  ado})t  the  resolutions  reconuiiended. 

10.  On  the  5th  of  December,  Congress  again  took 
up  the  matter,  but  instead  of  fulfilling  their  engage- 
ment to  Vermont  made  by  the  resolution  of  the  2dth 
of  August,  1781,  then-  proceedings  were  full  of  cen- 
sure and  threatening  against  Vermont,  for  having  ex- 
ercised authority  over  persons,  who  professed  allegi- 
ance to  the  state  of  New  York,  in  violation  of  the 
resolutions  of  Congress,  pa-sed  on  the  24tli  of  Sep- 
teml)er,  1779,  and  on  th.'  2d  of  Jm'je,  1780.  Among 
other  things  tliey  resolved,  that  Vermont  be  reqtiir- 
ed  to  make  full  restitution  to  the  persons  condem- 
ned to  banishment  or  confiscation  of  jirojit-rty,  and 
that  they  be  not  molested  on  their  return  to  said  dis- 
trict, 'riiey  close  by  resolving  "that  the  United 
States  will  take  effectual  measures  to  enforce  a  com- 
pliance with  the  aforesaid  resolutions,  in  case  the 
same  shall  be  disobeyed  by  the  people  of  the  said 
district." 

11.  The  faith  of  the  ])eople  of  Vermont  in  the 
wisdom  ^nd  integnty  of  Congress,  weakened  l)y 
several  of  their  former  a(;ts,  was  by  the  foregoing 
nearly  destroyed,  and  with  it  tlie  revf^rence  and  res- 
pect of  the  j)eople  for  that  body.  The  govenior  and 
council  of  \  ermo!it  returned  a  spirited  remonstrance 
to  the  above  resolutions,  in  which  Congress  was  re- 
minded of  their  solemn  engagement  to  the  stale  of 
Vermont,  in  the  resolution  of  ihr;  20th  of  August, 
and  which,  after  the  fullest  compliance  on  the  ])art 
ol  said  state  with  the  requirement  of  Congress,  Con- 
gress had  refused  or  neglected  to  fullili.  Con^'ress 
were  told,  that,  iw  their  own  articles  of  confederation, 
they  had  no  right  to  intejincddle  with  the  internal 
]joliey  of  any  of  the  United  Stales;  and  least  of  all 
^^ith  that  of  Vermont,  ftom  whicli  she  ]^ad  received 


180  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT. 

no  delegated  authority  whatever.  It  asserted  that 
Vermont  had  as  much  authority  to  y)rescribe  meas- 
ures to  Cougress,  as  Congress  Imd  to  revoke  the  le- 
gal decisions  of  Veriiiont  in  the  case  of  the  criminals 
ah'eady  mentiont.'d.        .  ' 

The  remonstrance  went  on  to  assert  that  Vermont 
had  had  an  independent  jurisdiction  since  tiie  royal 
decision  in  17(J1,  and  that  tb-'y  did  not  intend  to  be 
resolved  out  of  it  by  the  infliience,  which  their  old 
adversari/,Ne\v  York,  possessed  in  Congress: — that 
Vermont  had  no  controversy  with  the  United  States, 
as  a  whole  ;  but  that  she  was  at  all  times,  ready  and 
able,  to  vinchcate  her  rights  and  liberties  against  the 
usurpations  of  New  York.  It  declares  that  Congress 
has  been  so  mutable  in  their  resolutions  respecting 
Vermont,  that  it  is  impossible  to 'know  on  what 
grounds  to  find  them.  At  one  time  tliey  guarantee 
a  part  of  her  lands  to  New  Hampshire  and  New 
York,  still  leaving  a  place  for  the  existence  of  Ver- 
mont though  nmch  diminished  in  extent.  At  another 
time  they  are  controlling  the  internal  government  of 
Vermont.  And  again,  at  another  time  prescribing 
terms  of  confederation,  with  the  United  States  and 
when  these  are  comj^lied  with  on  the  part  of  Vermont, 
Congress  will  not  ratify  the  union. 

14.  After  giving  a  full  reply  to  all  the  toj)ics  con- 
tained in  the  resolutions  of  Congress,  the  remon- 
strance concludes  with  a  request  to  be  immediately 
admitted  into  the  union,  and  with  an  assurance  that 
she  will  not  recede  from  her  compliance  v»^ith  the 
resolution  of  the  20th  of  August  1/81.  The  assem- 
bly met  at  Windsor  in  February  178'^,  and  on  the 
26th,  a  remoiistrance,  like  the  preceding,  s.})iritcd  and 
decisive,  was  forwarded  by  that  body  to  Congress. 
It  announced  in  the  ]>iainest  terms  that  Congress  had 
no  biisine'ss  to  intermeddle  in  the  internal  affairs  of 
Vermont,  and  that  Vermont  was  fully  determined  to 
maintain  her  independence  and  jurisdiction  within 
her  own  limits.     She  therefore  continued,  unawed 


biSTURRANCES    IN   WINDHAM    COUNTY.  181 

hy  the  threatenings  of  Congress,  to  enforce  the  decis- 
ions of  iier  courts  of  justice  -and  in  the  administration 
of  the  affairs  of  government,  and  Congress,  it  appears, 
did  not  judge  it  prudent  to  attempt,  by  force  to  carry 
into  eifect  her  resolutions  of  the  5th  of  December  1782, 


SECTION    III. 


Disturbances  in  Vermont  growing  out  of  the  controversy 
with  JVew  York. 


1.  The  disturbances  in  the  count}'  of  Windham, 
to  vvljicb  we  alluded  in  the  preceding  section,  per- 
haps deserve  a  more  particular  notice  than  was  thero 
given.  At  the  first  organization  of  the  government 
of  Vermont  in  1778,  thsn-e  were  many  people  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  state,  who  were  in  favor  of 
New  York  and  of  course  ojjposed  to  the  indepen- 
dence of  Vermont.  These  persons  embraced  eveiy 
opi)orrunity  to  embarrass  the  newly  organized  gov- 
ernment, and  at  several  times  resisted  the  authoi'ity 
of  Vermont  by  force.  Th<;  centre  of  this  opposition 
seems  to  have  been  at  Guilford,  at  that  time  the  most 
j)opulous  town  in  the  state  nunil)eri ng  nearly  3000 
souls.  During  most  of  the  revolutionary  war  a[^ma- 
jority  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  were  friendly  to 
New  York  and  were  therefore  denominateil  "  York- 
ers ;"  and  at  their  town  meetings  it  was  usually  a 
part  of  their  business  to  appoint  "a  committee  to  de- 
fend the  town  against  the  pretended  state  of  Ver- 
mont.'* 

2.  In  several  of  the  neighboring  towns,  panictdarly 
in  Brattlel)orough,  the  rlisaffected  towards  the  govern- 
ment of  Vermont  were  consiilerably  numerous,  and 
there  was  in  these  towns  an  organized  opposition 
to  the  government  of  the  state,  pjid  conventions  o^ 

16 


182  HISTORY    OF  VERMONT. 

delegates  from  them  occasionally  assembled  for  the 
purpose  of  adopting  an  uniform  plan  of  resistance 
throughout  the  whole.  The  measures  of  the  gov- 
ernment, most  vigorously  o|)posed,  were  the  collec- 
tion of  taxes  and  the  drafting  of  men  for  the  defence 
of  the  state  ;  and  it  was  a  customary  i)art  of  their  bu- 
siness at  their  town  meeting  in  Guildford,  while  the 
Yorkers  were  a  majority,  to  appoint  a  special  "com- 
mittee to  forbid  the  constable  acting."  And  to  secure 
a  majority  at  th(;ir  njeetings  tiie  new  state  j)cop!e 
were  frequently  excluded  from  the  poles  by  an  arm- 
ed force,  collected  from  the  neighboring  towns. 

3.  It  appears  that  in  Guilford  and  in  some  of  the 
other  towns,  the  two  parties  had  each  a  town  organi- 
zation of  their  own,  and  that,  in  some  cases  thtre 
were  two  sets  of  town  officers,  one  'professing  alle- 
giance to  Vermont  and  the  other  to  New  York.  Be- 
tween these,  and  their  partizans  on  each  side,  there 
were  fi'equent  skirmishes,  some  of  which  were  not 
terminated  without  the  shedding  of  blood.  During 
the  years  1783,  and  1784,  the  enmity  of  the  ])arties 
was  carried  to  an  alarming  extent.  Social  order  was 
at  an  end  ;  Physicians  were  not  allowed  to  visit  the 
sick  without  a  ])ass  from  the  several  committees. 
Handbills  bom  various  quarters  inflamed  the  minds 
of  the  people.  Relatives  and  neighbors  were  arrayed 
against  each  other.  The  laws  of  Vermont  were  dis- 
regarded by  the  partisans  of  New  York  and  her  ex- 
ecutive officers  were  openly  resisted. 

4.  In  this  state  of  things,  in  the  sunnner  of  1783, 
General  Ethan  Allen  was  directed  to  call  out  the 
militia  for  enfbrceing  the  laws  of  Vermont,  and  for 
suppressing  insurrection  and  distui-bances  in  the 
county  of  Windliam.  Allen  proceeded  from  l>en- 
nington  at  the  Iread  of  100  Green  Mountain  Boys, 
ancl  on  his  arrival  at  Guilford,  he  issued  the  follow- 
ing proclamation.  "/,  Ethan  Mkn,  declare  that  un- 
less the  people  of  ('•nilford  peaceably  svJwiit  to  the  au- 
thority of    Fermont,  the  town  shall  be  made  as  dcsc- 


DISTURBANCES   IN    'STI.NDHAJI    COUNTY.  183 

late  as  ivere  the  cities  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah.^  The 
Yorkers  having  fired  upon  Allen  and  his  men,  were 
|jur>i!e(l,  uiiil  all  eithpi'  rakfri  [)ri8oners  or  dispersed. 
'J'hose,  taken,  wer^3  put  under  honds  for  their  good 
behavior  mid  were  ccmpelied  to  furnish  sui)})lies  and 
qiiarfers  for  the  troops.  Under  Allen's  martial  law 
the  ('onsfr.ble  fbnnil  no  difficulty  in  tlie  ('«)l{cction  of 
taxes:  nor  was  he  very  scnijfulous  about  the  sura 
assessed  in  the  tax  hill  Produce,  horses,  cattle 
and  sheep,  aiul  whafevcsr  else'  coidd  be  found  Ijelong- 
ing-  to  the  most  violent  Yorkej-s  were  taken  and  sold 
for  the  benefit  of  the  state. 

5.  During  the  following  winter  the  disturbances 
became  stiii  more  serious.  On  the  niglit  of  the  17th 
of  January,  1784,  a  party  of  Yorkers  from  Guildford 
attacked  the  inn  of  Josiah  Arms  in  Brattlei)orough, 
whicli  was  the  quarters  of  General  Farns worth.  Ma- 
jor Boyden,  Constable  Waters,  and  some  others 
holding  offices  under  the  government  of  Vermont, 
and  demanded  the  immerliate  surrender  of  Waters, 
who  had  been  guilty  of  extorting  taxes  from  persons 
professing  aik  giance  to  New  York.  Not  being  in  a 
condition  to  make  an  effectual  resistance  to  an  ar- 
med force.  Waters  volitntarily  siu'rendered  himself 
into  the  hands  of  the  Yorkers,  but  not  till  after  they 
had  fired  about  30  halls  through  the  house,  and 
wounded  Major  Boyden  in  the  leg,  and  shot  a  travel- 
ler through  the  thigh.  W^ateis  was  carried  into  Mas- 
sachusetts, but"  the  jjarty  being  ])ursued  by  a  few 
Vermonters,  he  was  released  the  next  day  and 
returned. 

6.  The  legislature  of  Vermont  had,  at  their  session 
in  October,  "  voted  to  raise  200  men  for  the  defence 
of  Windham  county  against  the  Yorkers."  After 
the  affiiir  at  Brattleborough,  finding  the  people  of 
Guilford  determined  to  oppose  the  collection  of  tax- 
es, Colonel  S.  R.  Brarlley,  at  the  head  of  this  force, 
proceeded,  January  18th,  to  that  town  for  the  purpose 
of  enforcing  the  collections.    The  parties  of  Yorkers 


184  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

were  all  dispersed  without  opposition/excepting  one 
which  had  collected  near  the  line  of  Massachusetts. 
This  parry  consisting  of  25  men,  fired  upon  the 
\  ermonters  as  they  advanced,  hy  which  one  man 
was  severely  wounded.  The  Yorkers  then  retreated 
with  all  possihle  speed,  over  the  line  into  Massachu- 
setts. Several  of  the  leaders  were,  however,  taken 
and  hrought  to  m(>rited  })nnishment  hy  whij)})ing, 
fine,  and  i)illory.  Another  skirmish  occurred  on  the 
5th  of  ]\Jarch,  between  a  company  of  Vermonters 
under  Captain  Knights,  and  a  party  ol  Yorkers  near 
the  south  part  of  Guillbrd,  in  which  the  latter  had 
one  man  killed  and  several  wounded. 

7.  These  disturhances  continued  during  most  of 
the  year  1784 ;  hut  hcfore  the  close  of  the  )M'ar,  the 
Yorkers,  found  their  property  mostly  confiscated, 
and  themselves  so  harshly  handled,  hy  the  civil  and 
military  authority  of  Vermont,  that  they  either  sub- 
mitted and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  state, 
or  abaiuloned  the  country,  and  settled  in  other  ])la- 
ces.  The  greater  part  of  them  fled  into  the  state  of 
New  York,  and  settled  upon  lands  especially  granted 
by  that  state  for  the  benefit  of  these  sufferers.  This- 
dispersion  of  her  partisans  from  the  county  of  Wind- 
ham terminated  the  attempt?:  of  New  York,  to  main- 
tain her  aurhority  in  ^  ermont  by  means  of  a  military^ 
force  ;  and  although  she  di^l  not  readily  acknowledge- 
the  independence  of  Vermont,  she  piohably,  from 
this  ])eriod,  relintjuished  all  hope  of  overthrowing  the 
government  of  Vermont,  or  of  preventing  the  final 
acknowledgement  of  her  independence  by  Congress, 


CONDITION    OF    VERMONT    AFTER    THE    WAR.       185 

SECTION    IV. 

Settlement  of  the  Controversy  with  JVeiv  York,  and  the 
»/ldniission  of  Vermont  into  the  Union. 

1.  On  the  20t]i  of  January,  1783,  the  preliminary 
articles  of  peace  were  signed,  which  terminated  the 
war  with  Great  Britain,  and  estabUshed  the  inde- 
pendence of  tlie  united  colonies.  By  this  event, 
Congress  was  freed  from  their  eniharrassnients  with 
rejrard  to  Yei-mont,  and  Vermont  was  released  from 
alf  her  fears.  The  British  army  upon  the  northern 
frontiers  of  ^'erlnont,  whose  efforts  had  been  so 
long  palsied  by  the  artful  pohcy  of  few  individuals, 
was  now  withdrawn,  and  the  people  of  \  ermont, 
having  now  no  external  foes  lo  dread,  ceased  to  be 
solicitous  for  an  immediate  imion  with  the  confeder- 
ated states.  Thev  observed  that  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  was  becoming  embarrassed  in 
their  proceedings — that  their  currency  had  failed — 
their  revenue  was  dried  up — their  armies  unpaid 
and  dissatisfied — their  credit  gone — and  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people  in  their  wisdom  and  ability, 
nearly  destroyed. 

2.  Vermont,  on  the  other  hand,  in  consequence  of 
being  refused  admission  into  the  union,  found  her- 
self freed  from  all  these  dificuhies.  The  United 
States  had  incurred  an  imm  Mise  debt  in  the  ])rose- 
cution  of  the  war,  but  the  calls  of  Congress  uj)on  the 
people  for  money  to  [)ay  this  debt,  could  not  reach 
into  Vermont.  V  ermont,  it  is  true,  was  obliged  to 
paj^  the  forces,  which  she  ha'l  raised  for  her  own 
detence,  but  these  had  been  few,  as  she  had,  during 
much  of  the  war  relied  for  safety  more  upon  her 
policy,  than  her  })ower.  As  much  of  the  territory  of 
\  ermoi'.L  was  at  this  tiine  ungranted,  and  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  govermnent,  and  as  numerous  applica- 
tions were  now  made  for  diese  lands  by  settlers,  who 

16* 


186 


HISTORY  or  VERMON^T. 


were  flocking  in  from  other  states ;  Vermont  was 
thereby  enabled  to  siij)])Iy  her  own  treasur}^  and  to 
pay  her  debts  without  imposing  oppressive  taxes 
upon  the  people.  * 

3.  Thus,  by  one  of  those  sudden  transitions, 
which  are  not  unconnnon  in  hinnan  affairs,  was 
A  ermont  brought  from  a  condition  the  most  difficult 
and  embarrassed,  to  a  state  of  safety  and  haj)piness 
exceeding  that  of  any  of  her  neighbors.  Invited  by 
the  mildiii'ss  of  the  government,  the  comparative  ex- 
emption trom  taxes,  the  fertility  and  cheaj)ness  of 
the  lands,  large  additions  were  annually  made  to  the 
population,  and  resoiu'ces  of  Vermont  by  emigrants 
from  other  states.  The  government  had  attained  an 
efficient  organization — had  leai'ued  wisdom  from 
past  experience — the  j)eo}jle  were  coi  tented  and 
Ijapjjy  under  it — and  as  they  felt  that  their  own  situ- 
ation was  better  than  that  of  the  people  of  tbe  neigh- 

■  boiing  states,  they  felt  no  longer  any  solicitude  to  be 
admitted  into  the  confederation. 

4.  The  affairs  of  Vermont  remained  in  this  situa- 
tion for  several  years  after  the  close  of  the  war.  Dur- 
ing this  period  the  leading  statesmen  and  philanthro- 
pists in  the  United  States  became  alarmed  at  the 
operation  ajid  tendency  of  public  affiiirs.  They  per- 
ceived that  the  powers,  with  which  Congress  was 
invested,  were  wholly  inadequate  to  the  purposes  of 
government  and  that  a  more  solid  and  ethcient  or- 
ganizatioji  \ias  indispensable  in  order  to  secure  that 
liberty  and  independence,  which  they  had  i)urchased 
with  so  much  blood,  and  toil,  and  treasure.  There- 
fore at  the  suggestion  of  James  JMadison  of  Virginia 
and  in  conformity  with  a  resolution  of  Congress,  a 
convention  of  delegates,  from  the  several  states  as- 
sembled at  Philadelphia  in  1787,  and  after  mature 
•deliberation  adopted  a  constitution,  by  which  Con- 
gress should  afterwju'ds  be  liu*ijisije(.l  with  powers 
adequate  to  the  exigencies  of  the  government.  This 
constitution  waa  ratified  '      tlie  states  and  the  first 


RECOGNITION   OF  THE  FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT.      187 

Congress  assembled  under  it  on  the  3d  of  March, 
1789. 

5.  After  the  adoption  of  the  federal  constitdtion 
the  poiiry  and  jjroceeditigs  of  the  new  Congresd 
were  carefully  observed  by  the  p<'Ople  of  Vermont* 
During  two  sessions  they  tbimd  the  government  la- 
boring to  irj'Store  pubh(!  confichicce  by  providing  for 
the  payment  of  the  public  debts  and  by  the  establish- 
ment of  equid  law  and  justice  in  every  department 
of  the  federal  government.  Their  measures  appear- 
ed to  be  marked  with  so  much  wisdom  and  jirudence, 
as,  in  a  great  dejrree,  to  restore  to  tJie  people  of  Ver- 
luotit  that  confidence  in  the  federal  government, 
which  had  been  destroyed  by  the  evasive  and  vacil- 
latinjf  |»olicy  of  tbe  old  Congress,  and  to  remove  the 
aversion,  which  they  had  sometime  felt,  to  a  confed- 
eracy with  the  United  States. 

6.  The  ancient  difTicidiy  with  New  York,  however, 
remained  unsettled.  Tliat  state  well  knew  that  Ver- 
moiit  would  now  remain  a  free  and  independent 
stale,  and  she  jjrobably  felt  but  little  anxiety  that  it 
should  be  otbcrwise.  IJut  the  former  governors  of 
New  Yerk  had  made  grants  of  large  tracts  in  Vermont 
the  valirlity  of  which,  the  government  of  \  errnont 
refused  to  admit,  and  the  grantees  were  constantly 
complaining  to  the  government  of  New  York,  of  the 
injuries  done  theuj  in  not  being  permitted  to  take 
possession  of  their  proj)erty.  Nevv  York  did  not 
conceive  that  she  was  under  very  strong  obligation 
to  refund  what  had  been  extorted  for  these  grants  by 
tbe  cupidity  (jf  the  royal  governors  of  that  j)rovince 
before  the  war,  yet  she  manifested  a  disf)0siti<m  to 
com})romise  the  matter  and  have  the  difhculties  ad- 
justed on  amicable  terms.  * 

7.  Events  also  oc(Mirred  iii  relation  to  the  federal 
government,  which  dispose  d  New  York  still  more,  to 
admit  the  indcpi'iidence  of  V»-rmont,  and  to  wish  her 
confederation  with  the  United  States.  It  was  per- 
ceived that  by  the  exclusion  of  \'ermont,  the  eastern 


188  HISTORY   or   VfiRMOr?T. 

states  were  deprived  of  their  just  representation  of 
Congress,  and  New  York  could  not  but  see,  that,  if 
their  old  difficulties  could  l)e  settled,  the  interests  and 
influence  of  Vermont  would  in  almost  every  instance 
coiucide  with  her  own.  It  therefore  soon  became  ap- 
parent that  pul>lic  sentiment  in  N.  Y.  was  in  favor  of 
a  reconciliation.  Vermont,  it  was  said,  is  in  full  pos- 
session of  independence  ;  her  government  is  as  well 
organized  and  administered,  as  that  of  the  other 
states ;  and  shall  a  controversy,  which  originated  in 
the  cupidity  and  o|)pression  of  royal  governors  and 
councils,  whose  authority  has  long  been  extinct,  be 
l)ermitted  to  mar  the  constellation  of  America  and 
deprive  the  north  of  its  just  weight  in  the  council  of 
the  nation  ? 

8.  In  accordance  with  these  conciliatory  views,  the 
legislature  of  New  York,  on  the  15th  of  July,  1789, 
passed  an  act,  appointiiig  commissioners  with  fidl  pow- 
ers to  acknowledge  the  sovereignty  of  \  ermont,  and 
adjust  all  matters  of  controversy  with  that  state,  On 
the  23d  of  October  following,  the  legislature  of  Ver- 
mont api'.ointed  coiinnission  rs  on  their  i)art  to  treat 
with  those  of  New  York,  and  to  remove  all  obstruc- 
tions to  the  admission  of  Vermont  into  the  union. 
The  commissioners  on  both  ]);u-ts  were  very  anxious 
that  an  adjustment  should  be  effected,  and  the  only 
point,  whieh  occasioned  any  debate,  was  the  amount 
of  compensation,  which  (.*laiman<"s  under  New  York 
grants  should  receive  from  Vermont,  an  account  of  her 
having  regivuited  the  same  lands  and  excluded  the 
New  York  grante(;s  from  their  jiosse'ssion.  But  the 
settlement  of  this  j)oint,  after  two  or  three  meetings, 
was  amicably  agreed  upon  by  the  connnissioners. 

9.  On  the*7tli  of  October,  1790.  "the  commission- 
el's  for  New  York,  by  virtue  of  the  powers  to  them 
granted  for  that  |)ur|*ose,  declared  the  con^ent  of  the 
legislature  of  New  York,  that  the  state  of  ViMinont 
be  admitted  into  the  union  of  the  United  States  of 
America ;  and  that  innnediately  upon  such  admission, 


9ITTLEMEKT    WITH   BTEW    YORK.  189 

all  claims  of  jurisdiction  of  the  state  of  New  York, 
within  the  state  of  \  erinont,  shall  cease  ;  and  thence- 
forth the  perpetual  bound.-'rv  line  between  the  state 
of  \  ermont  shall  he  as  was  then  holden  and  pos- 
sessed hy  Vermont,"  that  is,  the  west  lines  of  the  most 
western  towns  wliich  had  been  granted  by  New 
Hampshire,  and  the  middle  channel  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain. 

10.  With  regard  to  the  lands  which  had  been  gran- 
ted by  New  York.  "  the  said  commissioners  by  virtue 
of  the  powers  to  them  granted,  declare  the  will  of 
the  legislature  of  New  York,  that  if  the  legislature  of 
the  state  of  \  erujont  should,  on  or  before  the  first  day 
of  January,  1792,  declare  that  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  Juno,  1794,  the  state  of  \  ermont  would  f)ay 
the  state  of  New  York,  the  sum  of  thirty  thousand 
dollars,  that  immediately  from  such  declaration  \\y  the 
legislature  of  the  state  of  \  ermont,  all  rights  and  ti- 
tles to  lands  wihin  the  state  of  Vermont,  under  grants 
froni  the  government  of  the  colony  of  New  York,  or 
from  the  state  of  New  York,  should  cease,"  those  ex- 
cepted, which  had  been  made  in  confirmation  of  the 
grants  of  New  Ham|)shire. 

11.  This  proposal  and  declaration  being  laid  before 
the  legislature  of  Vermo)it,  they  very  readily  agreed 
to  the  plan,  which  had  been  concerted  by  the  com- 
niissioners  from  both  states ;  and  on  October  28, 
1790,  passed  an  act  directing  the  treasurer  of  the  state,, 
to  pay  the  siun  of  thirty  thousand  dollars  to  the  state 
of  N.  Y,  at  the  time  proposed  ;  adopting  the  west  line 
above  mentioned  as  the  perpetual  boimdary  between 
the  two  states  ;  and  declaring  all  the  grants,  charters 
and  patents  of  land,  lying  within  the  state  of  Vermont, 
made  by  or  under  the  late  colony  of  New  York,  to 
be  null  and  void,  those  only  excepted  which  had  been 
made  in  confirmation  of  the  grants  from  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

12.  Thus  was  terrpipated  a  poutroversy  which  had 


t 

ISO  HISTORY   01    TBRMONT. 

been  carried  on  with  gi'eat  spirit  and  animosity  for 
twenty  six  years ;  and  whirli,  liaH,  on  the  part  of 
Vermont  railed  into  exercise  native  courage  and  tal- 
ents, which  have  i2W  parrallels  in  ancient  or  modern 
times.  The  crefficniiies  wi-:h  New  York,  being  ad- 
justed, the  legisiaiure  of  '.  ernjont,  proceeded  to  call 
a  convention  for  tha  purf)oso  of  ascertaining  the 
views  of  tlie  peo])!e  vrith  regard  to  an  union  with  the 
United  States.  This  convention  assembled  at  Ben- 
nington on  the  Gill  day  of  Januaiy,  1791,  and  after 
deli'oerating  and  debating  the  sufiject  for  four  days,  it 
was  finaly  voted,  yeas  J  05,  and  nays  2,  that  appli"a- 
tion  be  made  (or  admission  into  the  federal  union ; 
and  the  convention  was  then  dissolved. 

13.  On  the  10th  of  January,  1791,  the  legislature 
of  \  ermont,  met  at  Bennington,  and  on  the  18th, 
they  chose  the  Hon.  Nathaniel  Cliapman,  and  Lew- 
is R.  Morris  Esq.  commissioners  to  attend  Congress 
and  negotiate  the  admission  of  \'ermont,  into  the  un- 
ion. These  commissioners  immediately  re])aired  to 
Philadidphia,  and  laid  before  the  ]nvsident  die  pro- 
ceedings of  the  convention  and  legislature  of  \  er- 
mont;  and  on  the  18d)  of  February,  1791,  Congress 
passed  an  act  wliich  decdan d  "that  on  the  4th  day 
of  March,  1791,  the  said  state  by  the  name  and  style 
of"  the  state  of  \  ermont,"  shall  i)e  received  and  ad- 
mitted into  their  union,  as  a  new  and  entire  member 
of  the  United  States  of  America."  This  act  was 
papsed  without  debate,  and  without  a  dissenting  vote, 
and  by  it  v/ere  terminated  all  the  controversies  with 
refirard  to  Vermont. 


HISTORY  OF  VERMOIYT. 


CHAPTER    VI.  / 

CIVIL  POLICY  OF  VERMO'T  AFTEPc  HER  A.DMISSION  mTO 

THE    UI^ION. 


SECTION    I. 


Extending  from  the  admission  of  Vermont  into  the  Un- 
ion in  1791,  to  the  resignation  and  death  of  Governor 
Chittenden  in  J  797. 


1.  We  have  now  traced  the  history  of  Vermont 
from  the  rarli*t  settlements  down  to  the  time  of  her 
admission  into  tlie  federal  nnion.  Thns  i'lxv  Isei-  liis- 
tory  has  been  pecnliar  to  herself,  anil  has  been  filled 
with  incidents  of  uncommon  interest ;  the  more  so  on 
account  of  their  nnhkenrss  to  what  liaj)|)ened  in  any 
other  indivi(hiai  state.  Previous  to  tiie  revolution  all 
the  original  states  of  the  nnion  were  ps'o^inces  under 
the  crown  of  England,  each  having  an  organized 
provincial  government.  But  not  so  with  \  ermont. 
She  had  never  been  recognized  by  the  crown  as  a 
separate  jurisdiction  ;  nor  had  she  herself,  alter  the 
royal  decision  in  1764,  by  which  she  was  placed  un- 
der New  York,  ever  recognized  th.e  authority  of  that 
province,  or  of  any  other  external  power.     She  had 


192  HISTORY   or    T«RMONT, 

found  herself  in  a  state  of  nature,  and  her  citi- 
zens had  formed  themselves  into  a  hody  politic — • 
into  a  little  independent  re()ublic,  for  their  mutual 
benefit  and  defence,  and  by  the  wisdom  and  prudence 
of  her  statesmen,  she  had  succeeded  in  organizin":  an 
efficient  government  for  the  regulation  of  her  internal 
affair,  and  had  adoj)te(l  a  system  of  jurisprudence  ful" 
ly  ade(piate  to  the  wants  of  the  people. 

2.  But  from  the  time  of  the  admission  of  Vermont 
into  the  federal  union,  her  history  loses  in  a  great 
measure,  its  se])arate  and  peculiar  charactfer,  and  be- 
comes, either  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  United 
States,  or  resembles,  in  its  leading  features,  that  of 
the  other  individual  states.  We  have  therefore  re- 
served only  a  small  ])ortion  of  our  little  volume  for 
this  period  of  our  history,  and,  consequently,  we  phall 
not  hereafter  attempt  to  trace  the  course  of  political 
events  with  that  minuteness  which  we  have  hitherto 
observed.  At  the  time  Vermont  became  a  member 
of  the  confederacy,  her  own  government  had  become 
systematic  and  stable  by  the  practical  experience  of 
thirteen  years  and  that  of  the  United  States  had  been 
]ilaced  u]}on  the  foundation  of  its  present  constitution. 
At  the  head  of  these  governments  were  two  men, 
who  were  endeared  to  the  peojjie  by  tlieir  long  and 
disinterested  ])ublic  services,  and  in  wliose  aitilities 
and  virtues  the  ftdlest  confidence  was  reposed.  These 
men  were  Thomas  Chittenden,  governor  of  Vermont, 
and  George  Washington  president  of  the  United 
Stales. 

3  From  this  era  in  the  history  of  Vermont  and  in 
that  of  the  United  States,  the  two  governments, 
though  occasionally  slightly  agitated  by  the  liieker- 
ings  of  party,  have  gone  steadily  onward  in  the  ca- 
reer of  prosperity,  diffusing  their  blessings  through 
every  j)orrion  of  counnunity.  TIk;  tran(juifity  of 
Vermont  was,  for  several  y(\'irs,  scarc(>ly  afl:ected 
by  the  policy  and  intrigues  of  demagogues  and 
aspirants  after  office.     The  attachment  of  the  peo- 


ORIGIN    or    PARTIES    IN    VERMO^^T.  WS 

pie  to  their  old  governor  was  so  general,  that  the  pol- 
iticians scarcely  attempted  to  bring  forward  any  other 
candidate  for  the  first  office  in  the  gift  of  the  people, 
and  neither  the  honors,  nor  the  emoluments  of  the 
other  state  offices,  were  such  as  to  render  them  ob- 
jects  of  general  contest  or  ambition.  The  legislature 
met  annually  in  the  beginning  of  October,  and 
(Im'ing  the  first  week  of  the  session  they  usually  pro- 
ceeded to  make  the  appointments  of  the  civil  offi- 
cers for  the  succeeding  year,  and  this  was  done  for 
several  seasons  without  any  considerable  electioneer- 
ing or  management,  x^fter  this  business  was  dispo- 
sed of,  they  proceeded  to  enact  such  laws,  as  were 
required  by  tbe  exigencies  of  the  people  ;  and  they 
usually  completed  the  whole  busmess  of  legislation 
in  about  four  weeks,  affording  to  artful  demagogues 
but  little  opportunity,  to  acquire  power,  influence,  or 
poj)ulanty. 

4.  During  this  period  of  tranquility  and  union  the 
legislature  of  \  ermont  adopted  a  digested  and  judi- 
cious code  of  laws ;  and  for  a  while  nothing  seemed 
to  mar  the  general  barmony.  But  subsequent  events 
proved  this  tranquility  to  be  like  those  calms  which 
])recede  the  convulsions  of  nature.  Causes  were 
then  in  operation,  which  were  destined  to  pro- 
duce fearful  divisions  and  animosities  among  the 
people  of  the  United  States.  The  French  nation, 
urged  onward  by  their  infidel  philoso|jh\',  and  by  the 
example  of  Auierica,  had  overthrown  their  establish- 
ed government,  ai)o!ished  the  ancient  restraints  of  law 
and  religion  ;  and  they  vainly  imagined  ihat  they 
were  oji  the  high  road  to  a  state  of  perfectibility, 
such  as  the  world  had  never  yet  seen. 

5.  The  American  people,  grateful  for  the  aid  which 
they  had  received  from  France,  and  anxious  that  the 
blessings  of  liberty  should  be  more  generally  diffused, 
had  watched  the  progress  of  the  French  revolution 
with  deep  interest,  and  for  a  while  it  was  generally 
believed,  that  France  would  hecome  a  republic  with 

17 


194  HISTORY    or    VERMOXT. 

a  government  much  more  perfect  than  that  of  the 
United  States.  But  when  she  abandoned  the  princi- 
ples of  common  sense;  .ind  discarded  morahty  and 
virtue,  many  of  the  ppftple  of  the  United  i^tates, 
became  convinced  tbat,  instead  of  ]>romotin^  rational 
liberty,  they  had  opened  the  flood-gates  of  anarchy, 
to  be  closed  only  by  a  desj)otism  moie  severe  than 
that  under  wliich  they  had  previously  groaned. 
Thus  wliile  a  part  of  the  people  wished  to  go 
forward  and  follow  the  French  in  pursuit  of  their 
ehimerical  scheme  of  perfectibility ;  another  party 
was  feartul  for  the  consequences,  and  chose  rather 
to  remain  within  the  bounds  of  reason  and  experi- 
ence. 

6.  In  this  manner  the  peo{)le  of  the  United  States, 
and  of  Vermont  as  a  portion  of  the  Union,  gradual- 
ly became  divided  into  two  disitinct  parties,  both  of 
which  avovi^ed  their  attachment  to  the  constitution  of 
the  country  and  both  desired  alterations  in  that  instru- 
ment. While  ojie  party  wished  to  improve  the  consti- 
tution by  increasing  the  powers  of  the  government,  the 
other  wished  to  do  it  by  rendering  the  government 
more  democratic,  and  thus  increasing  the  power  of  the 
])eoplp.  These  ])artics  by  degrees  increased  in 
strength  and  violence,  but  were  for  several  years 
much  restrained  in  their  j)roceedings  by  the  virtue 
and  influence  of  Washington,  and^  in  Vermont, 
by  the  judicious  administration  of  Governor  Chit- 
tenden. 

7.  The  extreme  simplicity  which  characterized 
the  legislative  proceedings  of  ^  ermont,  dining  the 
administration  of  Governor  Chittenden,  left  but  little 
room  for  the  intriguers  of  politicians,  or  for  the  pro- 
gress of  party  and  faction.  It  was  not  then  the  '-us- 
tom  of  the  governor  to  make  a  speech  at  the  opening 
of  the  h'gislatnrc,  and  consecjueritly  the  diflerent 
parties  had  not  then  a  bone  of  contention  about 
which  to  wrangle,  as  they  had,  during  subsequent 
administrations ;     and,   previous  to   the  resignation 


BIOGRAPHY    OF    GOV.  CmTTE>DE.X.  ]^ 

and  death  of  Governor  Chittenden,  in  1797,  [)ai  ty 
spirit  in  Vermont  cannot  be  said  to  have  assumed  a 
very  serious  aspect.  As  througlj  the  instrumentality 
of  Governor  Chittenden,  Vermont  was  cliiefly  ena- 
bled to  establish  her  inde{)8n(ience  as  a  state,  and  as 
he  for  many  years  held  the  first  office  in  the  gift  of 
the  people,  we  shall  close  this  section  with  a  short 
sketch  of  his  biogra[)hy. 

8.  It  has  so  liappened,  that  almost  every  age  of 
tlie  world  has  produced  individuals,  who  seem  to 
have  been  moulded,  by  nature,  particularly  for  the 
exigencies  of  the  tiujes  in  which  they  lived.  There 
have  always  been  some  ujaster  spirits,  who  were 
peculiarly  fitted  to  control  the  agitated  waters  of 
public  opinion,  and  either  to  soothe  tliem  into  a 
calm,  or  else  to  mount  upon  the  wind  and  direct  the 
waves  ;  and  the  results  attained  under  their  guidance 
have  usually  i)een  liappy  to  community,  or  o  her- 
wise,  according  as  the  riding  motives  of  the  leaders 
have  been  patriotic  or  selfish.  These  results,  it  is 
true,  are  materially  affected  by  the  amount  of  virtue 
and  intelligence  among  the  people  ;  but  virtue  and 
intelligence  do  not,  alone,  fit  an  individual  for 
becoming  a  popular  and  successful  leader  in  trouble- 
some times.  There  is  necessary,  in  addition  to  these, 
a  certain  indescrih,able  tact  and  native  energy,  which 
few  individuals  have  possessed,  and  wliich,  perhaps, 
no  one  in  our  State,  has  manifested  in  a  more  emi- 
nent degree  than  Governor  Chittenden. 

9.  Governor  Thomas  Chittenden  was  born  at 
Guilfortl,  in  Connecticut,  on  the  (Jth  day  of  January, 
in  the  year  17'29.  At  the  age  of  aljout  20  years,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Meigs,  and  soon  after 
removed  to  Salislniry,  where,  by  his  industry,  and 
econonjy,  he  acquired  a  handsome  landed  j)roperty. 
While  he  raided  at  Salisbury  he  re^jresented  that 
town  seven  years  in  the  Connecticut  assembly,  be- 
came a  civil  magistrate,  and  a  colonel  of  the  militia 
of  that  state.     Early  in   the  spring  of  1774,  he  re- 


J^  Hi8T(>Rr   or   vr:RMO>r. 

moved  with  liis  family  to  the  aVew  Hampshire  grants, 
as  Vermont  was  then  eaih^d,  having  purch;iS3d  a 
tract  of  land  on  the  Winooski,  or  Onion  river,  in 
the  township  of  Williston.  Here  he  arrived  in  the 
month  of  April  or  May,  not  knowing  the  spot  on 
which  he  was  to  locate  himself,  and  withont  liaving 
any  hahilation  provided  for  the  shelter  of  his  family. 
At  this  time  there  were  scarcely  any  inhabitants  in 
Vermont  to  the  northward  of  Rutland,  and  none 
within  the  limits  of  the  County  of  Chittenden,  ex- 
(jepting  those  who  had  come  on  the  present  year. 
These  were  locating  themselves  at  Burlington,  Col- 
chester, and  some  other  places. 

10.  Seated  upon  the  beautiful  and  fertile  banks  of 
the  Winooski,  labor,  well  directed  in  the  cidtivation 
of  his  new  farm,  had  ))rocured  to  Mr  Chittenden  the 
hecesi-ary  provisions  for  the  comfortable  sustenance 
of  his  family,  and  had  opened  to  him  the  prospect 
of  many  of  the  conveniences  of  life ;  and  nothing 
could  be  more  flattering  than  the  ]>rospect  of  rural 
wealth,  abundance  and  independence,  as  the  natural 
and  certain  consequence  of  the  labor  of  his  hands 
and  the  fertility  of  the  soil.  It  was  in  the  midst  of 
these  improvements,  and  pleasing  anticipations,  that 
the  war  of  the  Revolution  connnenced,  and  the 
frontier  settlements  became  exposed  to  the  depreda- 
tions of  the  enemy — lo  the  merciless  inroads  of  their 
savaffe  allies.  In  this  state  of  things,  in  1775,  Mr  Chit- 
tenden was  employed,  with  four  others,  as  a  commit- 
tee to  repair  to  Philadelphia^  and  procure  intelligence 
with  regard  to  the  measiu'es  which  Congress  was 
pursuing,  and  to  receive  advice  respecting  the  politi- 
cal measures  propel-  to  be  adopted  by  the  people  of 
the  New  Hampshire  grants. 

Al.  The  retreat  of  tiie  American  army  from  Cana- 
da, in  the  spring  of  1776,  and  the  advatice  of  the 
British  upon  Lake  Champlain,  rendering  it  unsafe 
for  the  few  settlers,  scattered  along  the  western  bor- 
der of  Verrwont,  to   remain  upon   their   lands,   this 


BIOGRAPHY    OF    GOV.    CHITTKNDEW.  197 

section  of  the  country  was  wholy  abondoiied  by  the 
inhabitants,  who  retired  into  the  southern  part  of  the 
district,  or  into  Massachusetts  and  Ccnn.^cdcut.     P,Ir 
Chittenden  removed  his  family  to  Arlington,  in  June 
of  this  year,  was  appointed  President  of  the  Council 
of  Safetv  and  fsoon   became  a  leadinsr  man  in   the 
consultations  of  the  inhabitants.    Entering  with  deep 
interest  into  the  controversy  with  New  York  res- 
pecting the  titles  of  the  lands  in  the  New  Hampshire 
grants,  and  beiijg  more  acquainted  with  public  busi- 
ness than  any  of  the  settlers,  in  consequence  of  the 
ofRces,    which  he  had   held  in  his  native  state,  he 
was  universally  regarded  as  the  man  most  suitable  to 
be  placed  at  the  head  of  their  c[)er;itic-ns,     Mr  Chit- 
tenden perceived  that  the  general  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence, in  which  the  colonies  were  now  enga^/ed, 
presented  a  favorable  opj)ortunity  for  terminaiiiig  die 
controversy  with  New  York,  by  erecting  the  disputed 
territory  into  a  new  state,  and  establishing  a  SLj)aiate 
government;  and  having  adopted  this  decisive  plan 
of  sound  policy,  he  steadily  })ursued  it,  till  he  saw 
the  independence  of  \  ermont  acknowledijed  by  the 
neiahborxUg  states  and  by   the  general  government. 
12.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  convention  of 
delegates  from  the  several  tovvnshi|)s,  which  met  at 
Dorset,  September  25,  1776,  for  the  purpose  of  tak- 
ing into  consideration  the  expediency  of  declaring 
Vermont  an  independent  state,  and  at  the  subsequent 
meeting  of  the  convention  at  Westminster,  Jaimary 
15,  1777,  he  was  one  of  the  committee,  who  draught- 
ed   the    declaration   of    indepen  lence,    which    was 
there  adopted,  and  also  a  member  of  another  com- 
mittee, who,  at  that  time,  petitioned  Congress,  pray- 
ing that  body  to  acknowledge  Vermont,  a  ftea  and 
independent  state.     He  assisted  in  forming  the  first 
Constitution  of  Vermont,  which   was   adopted  by  a 
Convention,  July  2d,  1777,  and  in  1778  lif^  was  elected 
the  first  governor  of  Vermont,  which  office  he  held 
with  the  exception  of  one  year  till  his  death.     He 
17* 


1?*S  kl3T(>RT    (;/     Vy.KJIONT. 

was  one  of  tlie  eight  persons  who  secretly  nmnnged 
the  negotiations  with  the  British  in  Canada  in  1780, 
and  the  three  following  years,  with  such  consuiiniute 
adroitness  and  skill  as  to  deceive  alike  tlie  British 
and  the  people  of  the  United  Slates,  and  effectually 
to  secure  Vermont  from  the  hostilities  of  the  enemy, 
whose  forces  were  all  this  time  in  possession  of 
Lake  Champlain,  and  Vermont  without  any  other 
means  of  detence.  After  the  close  of  the  w-ar, 
Governor  Chittenden  again  removed  his  family  to 
Williston,  where  he  sf)ent  the  remainder  of  his  ac- 
tive and  useful  life.  Advanced  in  years  and  declining 
in  healtlj,  in  the  sunimer  of  1797  he  resiarned  the 
office  of  governor,  which  he  had  >held  for  18  years, 
and  died  the  same  season,  August  the  25th,  in  the 
69th  year  of  his  age,  beloved  by  ids  family  and  friends 
and  sincerely  esteemed  and  lamented  by  the  people 
of  Vermont. 

13.  As  already  remarked,  Governor  Chittenden 
possessed  in  an  eminent  ilegrce,  precisely  those' 
qualifications,  which  fitted  him  for  the  sjdiere  in 
which  he  was  called  upon  to  act.  He  had  not, 
indeed,  enjoyed  iiiaiiy  of  the  advantages  of  educa- 
tion, hut  his  want  of  education  was  am|)ly  compen- 
sated by  the  possession  of  a  strong  and  active  mind, 
which  at  the  time  he  emigrated  to  Vermont,  was 
matured  by  age,  practised  to  business,  and  enriched 
by  a  careful  observance  of  tnen  and  things.  His 
knowledge  was  practical  rather  than  iheoreiic.  He 
was  regular  in  lus  habits — f)lain  and  simple  in  bis 
manners — averse  to  ostentation  of  equipage,  or  dress, 
and  he  cared  little  for  the  luxuries,  the  blandishments 
or  the  etiquette  of  refined  society.  In  short,  though 
he  was  destitute  of  many  ot  the  qualifications  now 
deemed  essential  in  a  statesman,  he  possessed  all  that 
were  necessary,  and  none  that  wevh  superfluous,  in 
the  times  in  which  he  lived,  and  was  probably  far 
better  fitted  to  be  the  leader  and  governor  of  the 
independent,  dauntless  and  hardy,  but  uncultivated 


LESISLATIVE    PROCKEDIN6S.  199 

settlers  of  Vermont,  than  would  have  been  a  man  of  ♦ 
more   theoretic   knowledge,    or    polite   accomplish- 
menis. 


SECTION    II. 


Lpgislaiive    'proceedings    in    Vermont  from  the    year 
1797  to  1812 

1.  The  yjopularity  of  Governor  Chittenden  and  the 
certainty  of  his  re-election,  bad  hitiierto  prevented 
any  serious  efforts  being  made  to  bring  forward  oth- 
er candidates  for  that  office.  But  by  his  resignation 
and  death  the  political  parties  in  Vermont  were  re- 
lieved from  the  restraints  of  his  influence  and  new 
motives  were  laid  before  them  to  arouse  their  activi- 
ty and  exertions.  1'he  two  great  parties  had  already 
adopted  the  terms  federal  and  republican  as  the  rriot- 
tos  of  their  respective  standaid.^,  and  from  this  period 
no  means  were  left  unem[>]oyed  which  were  sup- 
posed to  be  calculated  to  increase  their  respective 
mfiuence  and  numbers. 

2.  The  republican  party  were  believed  to  favor  the 
principles  of  the  FVench  revolution,  and  to  be  desir- 
ous of  rendering  the  government  of  the  Union  more 
democratic,  while  the  federalists  were  accused  of 
partiality  to  Great  Britain  and  of  a  wish  to  make  the 
government  of  the  United  States  more  independent 
of  the  people  and  monarchical  in  its  ])rinciples.  The 
great  mass  of  both  these  political  parties  undoubted- 
ly had  the  good  of  their  country  at  heart  and  differed 
but  httie  in  their  views  of  the  proper  means  of  pro- 
motirg  it.  But,  by  the  influence  and  arts  of  design- 
ing politicians  and  demagogues  tliese  slight  differ- 
ences were  in  time  so  magniiied  and  distorted  as  to 
produce  the  most  violent  animosities  among  friends 
and  neighbors. 


200  HISTORY    or    VERMONT. 

3.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Vermont  assembly  in 
October  1797,  it  was  found  that  no  governor  had 
been  elected  by  the  people,  but  that  Isaac  Tichenor, 
then  chief  justice  of  the  srate  had  received  the  lar- 
gest number  of  votes.  Tlie  choice  ihen  devolving 
upon  the  general  assembly,  Mr  Tichenor  was  elect- 
ed by  a  large  majority.  He  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  his  office  by  making  a  speech  to  the  legislature, 
and  thus  introducing  into  Vermont  the  custom  of 
the  other  states.  In  his  sj)eech  he  applauded  the 
state  and  federal  constiiuiions,(ulIy  ap{)roved  of  the 
measures  of  Washington's  administration,  and  ex- 
pressed his  entire  confidence  in  the  abilities  and  in- 
tegrity of  Mr  Adams,  who  was  then  President  of  the 
United  States.  Tlie  sentiments  of  the  speech  were 
decidedly  what  was  calied  federalism. 

4.  To  this  s{)eech  the  legislature  returned  a  re- 
spectfid  answer  in  which  they  say  "we  are  not  dis- 
posed to  call  in  question  the  wisdom  or  integrity  of 
those,  who  have  been  concerned  in  the  a<lniinistra- 
tion  of  the  general  govn'junent,  nor  to  withhold  con- 
fidence where  it  ought  to  be  ins[)ired  ;  but  give  f^up- 
port  and  energy  to  every  measure,  which,  in  our 
opinion,  will  secure,  or  ])romote  the  national  pros- 
perity." Tlie  two  political  parties  were  distinctly 
formed,  but  they  had  not  yet  reached  that  state  of 
insolence  and  acrimony,  which  they  were  afterwards 
to  exhibit,  and  in  the  transaction  of  tlie  public  busi- 
ness, the  ]niblicgood  was  yet  obviously  paramount  to 
the  promotion  of  party  influence  and  power. 

5.  In  October,  1798,  the  legislature  met  at  Ver- 
gennes.  Mr  Tichenor  was  re-elected  governor  by  a 
large  majority.  The  country  was  now  much  agitated 
on  account  of  the  insolent  and  lawless  proceed- 
ing of  the  French — their  refusal  to  receive  American 
embassadors  and  their  demand  of  tribute  under  the 
name  of  a  loan ,  and  the  governor,  in  his  speech, 
expressed  the  strongest  disapprobation  of  their  policy 
and  proceedings.    The   house  returned  an  answer, 


LEOISLATITE    PROCEEDINGS, 


201 


imbued  with  the  same  spirit  of  hostihty  to  the 
French  ;  and  both  were  in  the  highest  tone  of  what 
was  called  federalism. 

6.  Early  in  the  session  a  committee  was  ap])ointed 
to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  which  was  soon  after  adoptefl  by  a  A'ote  of 
yeas  129,  and  nays  23.  In  this  address  the  principles 
and  proceedings  of  the  French  were  treated  with 
much  asperity.  It  expressed  the  entire  confidence 
of  the  legislature  in  the  president,  and  the  fullest  ap- 
probation of  the  measures  of  his  administration,  and 
declared  tbe  willingness  of  Vermont  to  take  up  arms, 
if  necessary,  for  tlie  defence  of  the  country  against 
the  rapacity  of  the  French.  To  this  address,  Mr 
Adams  afterwards  returned  a  very  polite  and  respect- 
ful answer,  in  which  he  complimented  the  people  of 
Vermont  for  their  ])atriotism  and  virtues,  and  express- 
ed the  high  satisfaction  derived  from  the  assurance 
of  tlieir  aj>})rol)ation. 

7.  It  was  during  this  session,  that  proscription,  on 
account  of  political  o[)inion,  was  first  practised  in 
the  distribution  of  the  civil  offices  in  Vermont.  Isra- 
el Smith,  who  had  held  the  office  of  chief  justice  of 
the  state,  and  who  was  a  man  of  uncorrupted  integ- 
rity and  virtue,  was  dropped  on  account  of  his 
attachment  to  the  re])ublican  party,  and  another  per- 
son chosen  chief  justice  in  his  stead.  For  all  the 
important  offices,  the  selections  were  made  from 
those  who  were  of  the  most  decided  federal  princi- 
ples, and  with  the  avowed  design  of  encouraging 
the  supporters  of  3Ir  Adams,  and  of  checking  the 
j)rogress  of  democi-acy. 

8.  After  the  appointment  of  the  various  officers 
for  the  current  year,  the  political  inflamation  sub- 
sided, and  the  assembly  ])roceeded  in  the  remaining 
business  of  the  session  with  their  usual  industry  and 
good  sense.  It  was  during  this  session  that  applica- 
tion was  made  by  some  Indian  chiefs  in  Canada,  for 
compensation  for  lands  which  they  claimed  in  Ver- 


203 


HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 


mont.  Their  claim  embraced  nearly  the  whole  of 
the  present  counties  of  Addison,  Chittenden,  Frank- 
lin and  Grand  Isle.  The  subject  was  referred  to  a 
committee,- who  reported  that  the  lands  claimed  had, 
in  their  Oj)inion,  formerly  belonged  to  said  Indians, 
but  whether  their  title  had  ever  been  extinguished 
by  purchase,  conquest,  dereliction  of  occupancy,  or 
in  any  other  way  they  could  not  ascertain.  The 
legislature  supported  the  Indian  agents  during  their 
attendance,  gave  them  a  hundred  dollars  in  token 
of  friendship,  and  they  returned  to  their  tribes  well 
pleased  with  their  present  success  and  hoping  to 
succeed  still  better  another  seasofj. 

9.  A  proposal  came  before  the  legislature  at  this 
session  from  the  state  of  I\lassachusetts  for  an 
amendment  of  the  constitution  of  the  United  St^ntes, 
providing  that  no  person,  who  was  not  a  natural 
born  citizen,  or  a  citizen  of  the  United  S^nt/^s  at  the 
time  of  the  declaration  of  indeptado  cj,  bii^^uld  be 
eligible  to  the  otRce  of  president,  or  vice  president, 
or  of  senator  or  representative  in  Congress.  This 
proposal  was  perfectly  agreeable  to  the  sentiuients 
of  the  assembly,  and  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  152 
}eas,  and  only  five  in  th  enegative. 

10.  In  October,  1799,  the  legislature  met  at  Wind- 
sor. The  spirit  of  oj)position  to  French  principles 
and  measures,  continued  to  run  high.  The  speech  of 
Governor  Tichenor  highly  a|)plauded  the  energetic 
measures  of  Mr.  Adams  for  putting  a  stop  to  the 
aggressions  of  the  French  upon  our  commerce,  and 
expressed  the  fullest  approbation  of  the  measures  of 
his  administration.  The  assembly  in  their  answer 
to  this  speech,  recij)rocated  the  same  sentiuients, and 
congratulate^^  his  excellency  on  account  of  the  ])ros- 
perity  and  felicity  of  the  state  under  his  administra- 
tion. In  the  apjKjjntuiciit  of  civil  otlicers,  the  as- 
sembly proceeded  with  more  moderation  than  they 
had  done  the  precechng  year ;  they  did  not  however 
see  fit  to  re[)lace  those,  who  had  been  dropped  on 


LEGISLATIVE    PROCEEDLXGS.  203 

account  of  their  attachment  to  the  republican  party. 
11.  At  this  session  the  governor  communica- 
ted to  the  assembly  the  result  of  his  inquiries 
respecting  the  claims  of  the  Indians  to  lands  in 
Vermont ;  which  was  that  said  claims  have  been 
fully  extinguished.  A  resolution  to  that  effect  was 
accordingly  adopted  i)y  the  assembly  and  communi- 
cated to  the  chiefs  of  the  six  nations  of  Indians  in- 
habiting Lower  Canada.  The  questions  which 
occasioned  the  most  excitement  and  debate,  related 
to  sundry  resolutions,  which  had  been  passed  by  the 
assemblies  of  \  irginia  and  Kentucky,  condenming 
the  proceedings  of  Congress  in  passing  the  alien 
and  sedition  laws,  and  declaring  individual  states  to 
be  the  legal  judges  of  the  constitutionahU'  of  the 
acts  of  Congress,  and  of  the  obligation  o(  the  state 
to  yield  obedi'^nce  to  them. 

12.  Resolutions  were  passed  by  the  assembly  of 
Vermont,  ex])ressi!]g  the  most  decided  disapproba- 
tion of  the  sentiments  contained  in  the  resolutions 
from  Virginia  and  Kentuoky.  They  declared  that 
"  it  belongs  not  to  state  legislatures  to  decide  on  the 
constitutionality  of  the  laws,  made  by  the  general 
government ;  this  power  being  exclusively  vested  in 
the  judiciary  courts  of  the  union."  On  the  passage 
of  these  resolutions  the  yeas  were  104,  and  nays  52, 
which  clearly  shows  the  strength  of  the  two  ])olitical 
parties  in  Vermont,  the  federalists  all  being  in  favor 
of  their  adof)tion,  and  tlie  republicans  all  in  the 
opposition.  The  minority  on  this  occasion  entered 
a  formal  protest  upon  the  journals  of  the  assejnbly, 
assigning  twelve  reasons  for  their  dissent  from  the 
majority.  This  y)rotest  was  signed  by  thirty-three 
of  those  who  had  voted  in  the  negative. 

13.  In  October,  1800,  the  legislature  met  at  Mid- 
dlebury.  The  political  excitement  had  a])parently 
much  subsided.  In  h'=:  speech.  Governor  Tichenor 
urged  the  attention  of  the  assembly  to  the  particular 
affairs  of  the  state,  but  alluded  to  the  administrations 


5^04  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

of  Washington  and  Adams,  in  terms  of  the  highest 
approbation.  The  answer  which  the  assembly  re- 
turned was  mild,  moral  and  sentimental ;  expressive 
of  the  dilKculties  of  legislation,  and  the  daiiger  of 
being  governed  by  passion  or  prejudice.  The  com- 
mon business  of  the  state  was  transacted  without 
the  violence  of  party  spirit,  and  several  of  the  officers- 
who  were  displaced  on  account  of  their  republican- 
ism in  1798,  were  now  reappointed. 

14.  Another  election  of  president  of  the  United 
States  was  soon  to  take  place.  It  was  known 
that  a  considerable  majority  of  the  Vermont  assembly 
were  in  favor  of  the  re-election  of  Mr  Adams;  the 
republican  members  therefore  introduced  a  kill  ))rovid- 
ing  for  the  choice  of  electors  by  districts,  thinking 
that  method  might,  prove  more  favorable  to  Mr 
Jefferson,  the  republican  candidate,  than  their  ap- 
pointment in  the  usual  way  by  tiie  council  and 
assembly,  or  by  any  general  ticket.  After  a  long 
discussion  this  bill  was  finally  rejected  by  a  vote  of 
95  to  73.  By  this  vote  it  aj)peared  that  the  re})ubli- 
can  party  had  considerably  increased  during  the  past 
year  and  tliat  the  majority  on  the  side  of  the  feder- 
alists amounted  to  only  twenty  two. 

15.  The  Indians,  having  been  so  well  su|)ported 
and  paid  at  their  former  attendance  upon  the  legis- 
lature, again  attended  and  urged  their  claims  to 
lands  in  Vennont.  The  governor  informed  them 
that  the  assembly  had  decided  that  they  had  no 
title  or  just  claim  to  any  lands  in  Vermont — that 
the  assembly  had  voted  to  give  them  $50  to  defray 
their  expenses  on  their  return  to  their  own  nations — 
but  that  no  more  money  would  be  given  them  either 
to  j)urchase  their  claims,  or  to  defray  their  expenses. 
These  decided  measures  brought  the  affair  with  the 
Indians  to  a  close.  During  this  session  was  also 
passed  an  act  incorporating  and  esta!)lishingj,a  college 
at  Middlebury  by  a  vote  of  117  to  51. 

16.  The   events  of  180],  gave   a  new  aspect  to 


LEGISLATIVE   PROCEEDINGS.  205 

political  affairs.  Mr  Adams  lost  the  election,  and 
after  repeated  trials,  Mr  Jefferson  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  by  a  majority  of  one 
vote.  He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  on 
the  4th  of  March,  and  in  his  inaugural  address,  he 
disclaimed  the  principles  of  political  intolerance, 
urged  those  of  candor  and  magnanimity^  and  de- 
clared that  the  difference  of  political  opinions  Avas 
not  a  difference  of  principles.  Notwithstanding  the 
apparent  diversity  of  sentiment  with  regard  to  the 
federal  constitution  and  government  "  we  are,"  said 
he,  "  all  federaUsts,  we  are  all  republicans." 

17.  By  so  frank  an  avowal  of  his  political  opinions 
and  intentions,  the  candid  of  all  parties  were  led 
to  believe  that  party  factions  and  animosities  were 
about  to  come  to  an  end,  and  that  all  would  now 
unite  in  support  of  the  federal  government.  This 
was  the  case  in  Vermont.  But  a  short  time  how- 
ever, elapsed  before  the  United  States  attorney  and 
marsiiall,  for  the  district  of  Vermont,  were  removed 
from  office,  and  their  places  filled  by  persons  of  de- 
cided republican  sentiments.  Similar  changes  were 
made  in  other  states,  and  it  was  now  believed  that 
Mr  Jefferson,  notwithstanding  his  professions,  would 
make  his  own  political  sentiments  a  necessary 
qualification  for  office. 

18.  In  this  state  of  ])ublic  affairs  the  legislature  of 
Vermont  met  at  Newbury  in  October,  1801.  In  flie 
house  of  representatires,  the  republican  party  now 
had  a  majority  of  about  twenty,  and  it  was  now 
generally  supposed  that  they  would  adopt  the  same 
course  pursued  by  the  federalists  in  1798,  and  make 
all  the  appointments  to  office  from  their  own  politi- 
cal party.  But  this  was  not  the  case.  Three  new 
judges  were  appointed  for  the  supreme  court ;  but 
they  were  not  selected  on  account  of  their  political 
opinions,  but  on  account  of  their  supposed  quahfica- 
tions  for  the  office.  In  the  other  appointments  they 
followed  the  customary    method   of  regarding  the 

18 


SOlB  HISTORY    or    VERMONT. 

county  nomination,  and  looked  ratlior  to  the  qualifi- 
cations of  the  candidate  thati  to  his  pol  tical  opinioris. 
The  nistomary  hnsin*  ss  of  lr^is!ati(in  wan  {lunsut'd 
W'iih  diligence,  (•ahnn-iS.s  jnid  iMi|i*rtia!iiy. 

19.  ]n   17  8,  the  fedt  rali.s,s    had    ihirodiurd    the 
rns;''in  of  adih'essing  the    ['.resident  of  the   United 
Sfat(s,  and    tht;  ie|.uhliean  party,  having  now  gfiined 
the  aseenrlf  iicv,  thon«;hi  ii  necessaiv  to  iniitat*-  the 
(xa!!»j)!r,  l=y  a  n  sprdfid  addn  ss   to  Mr  J<  fi^  rson. 
A  conuiiitti  e  was  aMj'oiiitM!,and  an  addi-.  ss  re)iorr<  (i, 
expii  s>ivf  of  s'.icng  aita(  l)in«  nt  to   the  eoi.sfiuition, 
and  to  the  piison  and  pohtieal  opinions  of  the  [)resi- 
dent,  hnt  eontainine  n(M-<  flections  nj)on  the  former 
a(hninisriation.       When    this  ad(h"tss    \\as   hiou^ljl 
heiore   the  honse   for  thi  ir  adaption,  the   fedeiahsta 
propos*  d  a  trifling  alteration  in  s<;me  oi'  the  expres* 
sions,  which  the  opposite  j^ariy  s.up}K)sed  was  design- 
ed  to  ]>revcnt  anyadchiss  hting  nsade.     A  d«  I.ate 
now  aios(^  ahoi.t  v\or(!s  and  ]dl^^;s«^•,  vl,i<h  gta(  lal'y 
incn  ascd    in  power   and  ^ioUn(•e,   till   the'  spirit  of 
party  was  vvKJiiglit  almost  to  phn  nsy  and   niadress. 
This  debate  was  continued  on  three  successive  days, 
and  ten  times  were  votes  taken   upon  it  hy  yeas  and 
nays.     At  length  after  seme  slight  altei.itions  the  ad- 
dress was  finally  adopted  hy  a  vote  of  86  yeas  to  59 
nays. 

20.  In  October  1802,  the  legislatm-e  met  at  Bur- 
lington, and  Mr  Tichenor  was  found  to  he  re-elected 
governor  hy  a  respeetai)le  majority.  In  his  speech 
lie  adverted  to  the  alarming  progress  of  party  spirit, 
and  to  the  dangers  to  he  apprp[iende<i  from  it  to  our 
])olitical  institutions.  The  house,  as  usual,  apj)oint- 
ed  a  comm':tt<'e  who  reported  an  answer  to  the 
speech.  I'his  answer  was  intended  not  oidy  as  an 
answer  to  the  governor  hut  a  declaration  of  the  s-fn- 
timenfs  of  the  housi;  with  regard  to  the  |)resent  and 
])recediug  administrations  of  the  general  govern- 
ment. It  was  written  in  a  |>eculiar  style,  abounding 
in  sly  insinuatk'ns,  fulsome  adulation,  and  amhigfi- 


LEGISLATITE    PROCEEDIKQS.  207 

■ous  paragraplis.  The  debate  tipon  this  answer  was 
wap;n  and  sp  rited,  but  it  was  filially  adopted  with- 
om  ftlteration  by  a  vote  or"  US  to  85.  The  minority 
entered  upon  the  journals  ot'  the  house,  a  j)rotest 
ajraiirst  this  answer  sijined  by  51)  uieni!»ers. 

21.  Atier  this  business  was  <lis|»osed  of,  and  to 
prevcMl  siiiilar  oeeasions  ot  e.xeiienient,  one  ot'  the 
nien/)ers  «:ravely  iiitroduced  a  niution  to  r<  coinuiend 
that  the  jrovernor  s/jou//  iwt  herLufter  make  a  formnl 
speed  .  Tiiis  motion  was  however  deciderj  in  the 
nej:ative,  and  liappily  no  oiher  Imsiness  was  broii/xht 
forward  wliich  was  calculated  to  arouse  the  prejudi- 
ces, or  inflame  the  minds  of  tbe  inemliers.  The 
repuhlican  majoriiy  was  evidently  less  than  it  was 
the  preceding  year,  atid  did  not  venture  to  liazartl 
the  adoption  of  violent  or  proscriptive  m  asiires. 
The  J  ippointiiMiiits  were  mosily  made  Iroin  the  re[Mil)- 
lican  party,  but  the  business  of  the  session  was 
generally  manair'MJ  wiih  prudence  ;mi!  ni.>a  ration. 

2*2.  In  1803,  the  lepslature  in"t  at  WcstJiiinster. 
Ever^  part  of  th"  country  was  now  a^^itated  l/y  [>o- 
liticaJ  intrigues  an<l  debates.  The  governor  opened 
the  s<!  s>ion  a>  usual  with  a  speech  ;  l)ut  hi>  carefully 
avoidrd  pnlifical  «]uestions,  and  .'ailed  tbe  aftenriou 
of  the  l''gis!afure  immediattily  to  tbe  business  of  the 
8tate.  A  committee  was  appointed,  who  reported  an 
atiswf  r  to  his  excellency's  speech,  whicli  was  adop- 
ted \.';t!iout  debate,  and  noibiii;:  occurred  to  call  up 
th'"  feelintis  of  pany,  till  the  appointni'iit  of  eivil 
ofTici*  rs  canii- on.  The  republictUis  bad  a  small  nia- 
joriiy  in  die  house,  and  they  now  resolved  to  employ 
it  in  weakening  th-'ir  oppom.'Uis.  Several  of  tbe 
judges  were  displaer.l,  and  men  of  more  ap|»roved 
repiil)  iiean  pr'.nci|)lis  appointed  in  llieir  places,  and 
the  v/ork  of  proseripfion  on  aectiunt  of  p<»  i.i -al 
opinic  ns  was  now  carried  further  tlian  i  was  by  the 
fcd.ra'istsin  1708.^ 

23.  The  subject  of  banks  first  caine  before  the 
legisla  ture  at  iliis  sessiop.     Petitions   were  receivod 


208  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

from  Windsor  and  Burlington  to  be  allowed  to  estab- 
lish banks  in  those  towns ;  but  the  legislature  was 
so  little  acquainted  with  the  nature  and  tendency  of 
such  institutions,  that  they  judged  it  prudent  to  refer 
the  subject  to  the  next  session  of  the  legislature.  It 
was  expected  that  proposals  would  be  received  from 
Congress  during  this  session  to  amend  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States,  so  as  to  oblige  the  electors 
to  distinguish,  on  the  votes  given  in,  the  person 
intended  for  president  from  the  one  intended  for 
vice  president.  As  it  was  supposed  that  the  adop- 
tion of  this  amemlment  would  secure  the  re-election 
of  Mr  Jefferson,  the  republican  members  were  ex- 
tremely anxious  to  act  upon  it  before  they  adjourned. 
But,  finding  that  it  would  require  the  session  to  be 
protracted  to  an  unreasonable  length,  they  decided 
upon  an  adjourned  meeting,  to  be  held  at  Windsor, 
on  the  last  Tuesday  of  January. 

24.  In  January,  1804,  the  legislature  met  at  Wind- 
sor according  to  adjournment,  and  the  proj)osed 
amendment  was  laid  before  them.  After  some  de- 
bate the  amendment  was  adopted  by  the  assembly ; 
yeas  03,  nays  G4.  This  same  question  was  bfjfore 
the  legislature  in  1799,  and  was  passed  in  the  affir- 
mative by  a  vote  of  94  to  42.  In  this  case  all  the 
federalists  voted  in  favor  of  the  proposed  alteration, 
and  all  the  republicans  against  it ;  but  in  18C4,  all 
the  republicans  were  in  favor  of  the  amendment,  and 
all  the  federalists  opposed  to  it.  Thus  it  appears 
that  both  parties  had  totally  changed  their  votes  in 
the  course  of  four  years,  and  that  they  had  either 
changed  their  principles,  or  that  they  acted  without 
principle. 

25.  In  October,  1804,  the  legislature  held  their 
annual  session  at  Rutland.  At  this  session  another 
proposal  for  amending  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States  came  before  the  assembly.  This  originated  in 
Massachusetts,  and  its  object  was  to  apportion  the 
representatives  from  the  several  states  accordijug  to 


LEGISLATIVE    PROCEEDINGS.  2G9 

the  number  of  free  white  inlmbitauts,  to  the  exclusion 
of  tliose  elected  on  account  of  4he  slaves  in  any 
state:  This  i)roj)Osal  was  rejected  hy  a  vote  of  106 
to  7G.  The  customary  business  of  the  session  was 
transacted  with  exi>e(htion  and  j)ro{)riety.  Conjplaint 
having-  been  made,  that  the  judges  of  the  supreme 
court  liad  taken  illegal  fees,  a  conmiittee  was  ajipoint- 
ed  towards  the  close  of  tlie  session  to  inquire  into 
the  subject.  The  commitlee  reported  the  lacts,  and 
that  in  their  opinion,  fees  had  been  taken  agreeably 
to  the  fee  bill.  The  house  accepted  the  report  so 
far  as  it  related  to  the  facts,  but  not  as  to  the  opinion 
given  of  the  legality  of  the  proceedings  of  the  judges. 
The  legislann-e  then  adjourned,  leaving  the  matter  in 
this  state  of  indecision. 

26.  In  October,  1805,-  the  assembly  met  at  Dan- 
ville. The  governor's  speech  related  piincipally  to 
the  internal  aftairr^  of  the  state,  and,  neither  that  nor 
the  answer,  which  was  returned  by  the  assembly, 
was  calculated  to  arouse  party  feelings,  or  afford  sub»- 
jects  of  controversy.  the  con;])laints  against  the 
judges  for  taking  ilkgai  f  es  was  again  taken  uj)  and 
occupied  the  assembly  for  several  days,  and  gave  rise 
to  much  warm  debate.  It  was,  Ijowever,  finally 
^^  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  house,  that  the 
fees  taken  by  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court,  were 
taken  with  upright  views,  and  that  no  further  order 
ought  to  be  taken  on  the  subject."  This  resolution 
was  passed  by  a  vote  of  100  to  82. 

27.  At  this  session  two  more  proposals  for  amend- 
ing the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  came  before 
the  legislatm-e.  One  from  North  Carolina,  having 
for  its  object  to  empower  Congress  to  pass  a  law  to 
prevent  the  fiirthcr  importation  of  slaves  into  the 
United  States,  and  the  other  trom  Kentucky,  the 
object  of  which  was  to  diminish  the  powers  of  the 
United  State's  courts.  The  former  proposal  was 
adopted  by  the  assembly  without  debate  or  opposition, 
and  the  latter  was  referred  to  the  next  session  of  the 


210  HISTORY  or  MLKhwar. 

legislature.  An  act  was  passed  at  this  session  em- 
Dowerinff  the  governor  to  take  measure?:  for  ascertain- 
iii<{  the  true  north  Tine  of  the  s:ate,  and  another  act 
fixing  upon  Montpeiier  as  iJie  perujanent  seat  of  the 
government  of  the  state,  from  and  after  the  year  1808. 

29.  The  next  session  of  the  legislature  was  held 
at  Middlehury  in  Octo'  er,  1806.  Mr  Tichenor  was 
again  re-elected  governr  r  by  a  respectable  majority, 
notwithstanding  the  efforts  made  by  the  repul)Iican 
party  to  prevent  ir.  His  opponents;  however,  had 
a  considerable  majoiity  in  the  assetnbiy,  and  in  their 
answer  to  the  governor's  sj)eech,  thry  did  not  attempt 
to  conceal  their  hostility  to  the  measures,  whirh  he 
had   reronjmended.       When   the   resolutions    from 

^Centucky,  wliich  had  been  laid  over  bj'^  the  former 
ssernbly,  came  up,  the  house  resolved  itst'lf  into  a 
ommittee  of  the  whole,  and  after  some  riel)ate  adop- 
ed  the  proposed  amendment  by  a  vote  of  148,  to 
54;  thus  manifesting  their  desire  to  increase  their 
own  powers  l)y  diminishing    those  of  the    general 
government.     It  being  reported  that  Mr  Jeffersc-Ji  in- 
tended to  retire  to  private  life  at  the  close  of  his  Hret 
term  of  office,  the  assembly  drew  up  a  respectful 
address  to   him,  which  was  intended  to  induce  him 
to  become  a  condidate  for  re-election.     An  act  was 
also  passed  at  this  session  establishing  a  state   bank 
consisting  of  two  branches,  one  at  Woodstock  and 
the  other  at  Middlehury. 

30.  In  October,  180/,  the  legislature  met  at  Wood- 
stock, and,  on  counting  the  votes,  Israel  Smith,  the 
republican  candiclate,  was  foimd  to  be  elected  gover- 
nor in  op|)osition  to  Mr  Tichenor.  In  his  speech, 
the  governor  confined  his  remarks  to  the  internal 
affairs  of  the  state,  and  particularly  suggested  such 
alterations  in  the  criminal  jurisprudence  of  the  state, 
as  to  substitute  confinement  to  hard  labor  in  the  j)lace 
of  coryioreal  punishment.  In  conformity  to  these 
suggestions  an  act  was  passed  during  tlie  session 
establishing   a   stale   penitentiary   at    Windsor    and 


LEGISLATIVE  PK0CEEDI>G3.  211 

makinjSf  the  necessary  appropriations  for  carrying  it 
into  (iflect. 

31.  The  lefris^iature  assemhlod  for  the  first  time  at 
Montpeher,  the  esrahlished  capital  of  the  state,  in 
October  1808.  Mr  Tichenor  was  elected  governor, 
in  opposition  to  Mr  Smith,  who  had  held  th<;  office 
the  preceding  year.  In  his  speech  he  expressed  a 
decided  disapprohation  of  the  leadijig  measures  of 
Mr  Jefferson's  administration.  Tlie  repuhlicans 
having  a  jnajority  in  the  assemhly  returned  an  an- 
swer, in  which  they  ex|)ressed  the  fullnst  confiden:!e 
in  the  -president,  and  a  hearty  apj)roval  of  his  meas- 
ures. No  suhject  of  unconniion  interest  was  brought 
forward  at  this  session,  and  the  ordinary  husiness  was 
disposed  of  in  the  usual  manner. 

32.  In  1800,  the  re[)uhlican  party  succeeded  in 
electing  Jonas  Galusha  govninor,  in  opposition  to 
Mr  Tichenor,  wiio  had  filled  that  office  with  fidehty 
for  eleven  years.  The  g»)vernor's  speech  and  the 
reply  to  it  i)y  the  assembly,  were  expressive  of  the 
political  opinions  entertaiii'id  hy  the  repuhlican  party 
generally  throughout  the  union..  A.t  this  session  an 
address  was  adopted  congratulating  James  Madison 
upon  his  elevation  to  the  presidency.  A  proposed 
amendment  to  the  federal  constitution  from  \  irginia 
also  canie  before  the  assemhly,  the  object  of  which 
was  to  enable  state  legislatures  to  remove  their  sena- 
tors in  Congress  from  office,  when  they  should  deem 
it  expedient.  The  amendment  was  however  rejec- 
ted hy  a  majority  of  the  house. 

33.  In  1810,  1811  and  1812,  Mr  Galusha  was 
successively  re-elected  goveriior  of  the  state,  and  the 
republican  party  had  each  year  a  majority  in  the 
assembly.  The  spirit  of  [)arty  now  run  extremely 
high,  but  the  usual  husiness  of  the  state  continued  to 
be  transacted  with  fidelity.  In  1811,  anotiier  i)ropo- 
sal  for  amending  the  constitution  of  the  Tniied 
States  came  before  the  assembly.  This  amendment 
eclared   that   any  citizen,   who  should  accept  any 


'212  HiST'   RV    or    VEKMON'f. 

title  of  ijobiiity  or  honor,  or  any  pension  or  emolu- 
ment, from  any  foreio^n  power,  without  the  consent 
of  Congress,  such  person  sjjail  cease  to  he  a  citizen 
of  the  United  States.  The  amendment  was  adopted 
by  the  assembly.  The  year  1812  is  memorable 
on  account  of  the  declaration  of  war,  by  the  United 
States  against  Great  Britian.  AVe  sliall  not  attemj)t 
to  give  the  particulars  of  this  war,  and  still  it  will 
probably  be  expected  that  we  should  at  least  give  a 
sketch  of  the  transactions  within  our  own  borders 
and  in  which  our  own  citizens  'vere  more  particularly 
concerned  ;  and  this  we  shall  attempt  to  do  in  thef 
following  section. 


SECTION      III 


Legislative    proceedings  from    1819    to    1815 — JVar 
With  Great  Britain — E.-ents  on  Lake  Cham  dam 
Battle  at  Plattsburo-h. 


't) 


1.  Ojir  limits  will  by  no  moans  permit  us  to  inves- 
tigate the  causes  by  which  the  United  States  were 
led  to  engage  in  the  s(K'ond  war  with  Great  Britiun, 
nor  to  mention  any  of  the  events  of  that  war  except 
such  as  transpired  in  our  immediate  vicinity.  Caus- 
es of  comjjlaint  had  existed  for  several  ye  u's,  which, 
as  early  as  1809,  led  to  the  jiassage  of  a  law  by 
Congress,  interdicting  all  coujuiercial  intercourse 
with  Great  Britian.  On  the  3d  of  April,  1812,  Con- 
gress laid  an  embargo  upon  all  the  sliipj)ing  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States  h)r  90  days,  and 
on  the  ]8thof  June  following,  an  act  was  passed 
declaring  war  with  Great  Britain.  On  the  passage 
of  this  act  the  vote  stood  as  follows;  in  the  house  of 
representatives  yeas  79,  nays  49,  and  in  tlie  senate 
yeas  19,  nays  13.  The  principal  causes  which  led 
to  the  adoption  of  this  measure  were  declared  to  be 
the  impressment  of  American  seamen  by  the  British- 


LEGISLATIVE  PROCEEDINGS.  213 

the    plundering   of   American   commerce,  and  the 
British  orders  in  council." 

2.  In  October,  1812,  the  legislature  of  Vermont 
assembled  at  Montpelier.  In  his  speech  Governor 
Galusha  urged  the  assembly  to  second  the  measures 
of  the  general  government — provide  tlie  means  for 
the  defence  of  our  own  citizens,  and  for  sustaining 
our  national  rights  and  honor.  The  assembly  return- 
ed an  answer  fully  concurring  in  the  sentiments  of 
the  governor ;  but  thinking  the  exigencies  of  the 
times  demanded  a  more  explicit  avowal,  they  resol- 
ved that  since  war  had  been  declared  by  the  consti- 
tuted authority  of  the  country  "we  pledge  ourselves 
to  each  other  and  to  our  government,  that  with  our 
individual  exertions,  our  example  and  influence,  we 
will  support  our  government  and  country  in  the 
present  contest,  and  rely  upon  the  great  Arbiter  of 
events  for  a  favorable  result." 

3.  The  above  resolution  was  passed    by  a  vote  of 
128  to  79.     But  the  muiority  were  not  silent.     They 
entered  a  protest  u[)on  the  journals  of  the  house  in 
which  they  declared  the  resolution  to  be  subversive 
of  the  true   principles  of  a   republican  government, 
and    also    expressed   their    decided   disapprobation 
of  the  leading  measures  of  the  administration,  pro- 
nouncing the  declaration  of  war  to  be  premature 
and  impolitic.     The  majority,  however,  proceeded 
to  act  up  to  the  S])irit  of  their  resolve,  and  passed  a 
law,  prohibiting  all  intercourse  between   the  people 
of  Vermont  and  Canada,  without  a  permit  from  the 
governor,  under  a  penalty  of  $1000  fine,  and  seven 
years  confinement  at  hard  labor  in  the  state's  prison. 
They  also  passed  an  act  exempting  the  person  and 
property  of  the  militia  while  in  actual  service,  from 
attachment — an  act,   laying  a  tax  of  one  cent  per 
acre  on  the  lands  in  the  state,  in  addition  to  the  usual 
assessments,  and  other  acts  relating  to  the  detaching 
and  paying  of  tlie  militia. 

4.  These  legislative   regulations  proving   oppres- 


21.4  WIST01.T    OF  ▼BEMONT. 

sive  to  the  people,  many  of  the  supporters  of  th€ 
war  abatidoiied  the  republican  ranks  and  went  over 
to  the  oj)po8ition.  As  the  elections  in  18J.3  a|»))r<)a('h- 
ed  both  parties  exerted  to  the  uttnosr  every  means  in 
their  power  to  ^rain  or  pr  serve  the  ascendency. 
When  the  assembly  came  toirciher  in  October,  it 
was  fomi'l  fliat  neitntM'  candidatt'  for  iM)V(n-n<)r  bad 
been  elect!  (1  by  the  people.  On  attem|itin;i  a  clHjiee 
by  tlie  assend)ly,  tbi  y  were  fonml  to  be  divided  into 
two  parries  exactly  equal.  After  much  mfmceuvreing 
EJkI  several  trials,  Martin  Chittenden,  the  federal  can- 
didate was  elected  by  a  small  majority.  The  senti- 
ments of  the  jrovernor's  speech  and  of  the  answer  to 
it,  were  in  the  highest  tone  of  federalism  and  conse- 
quently ill  direct  opposition  to  the  war  and  the 
measures  of  tlie  jreneral  jfovermrienr.  The  minority, 
75  in  number  however,  ])rotested  atrainst  these  senti- 
ments and  entered  their  reasons  U])on  the  journals 
of  the  house. 

5.  The  federalists  having  now  the  ascendency, 
nearly  all  the  a|>|)oiiitmeiits  to  office  were  made 
from  that  party:  after  vvbich  the  legislature  proceed- 
ed to  repeal  th'J  several  laws  before  mentioned  wbich 
had  been  enacted  the  pieceding  year.  The  spirit 
of  party  was  now  wrought  up  to  tbe  highnst  pitch, 
and  the  parties  did  not  hesitate  to  brand  each  other 
with  the  o|)probrious  names  of  tories,  tiaitoi"s  and 
enemies  to  their  country.  The  enmity  was  such  as 
to  destroy  tbe  harmony  and  intcrcoursf  of  fhmilies 
and  neigbbors  and  at  limes  tip  y  s<m  nied  to  be  on 
the  eve  of  proceediitg  to  open  bos  iliiif  s. 

6.  The  smuL'"gling  business  lerl  to  frequi^nt  encoun- 
ters between  the  smugglers  and  custom-lions  -otricers, 
during  the  war  fmdili'non  inreicomse  which  preced- 
ed if,  in  some  of  wbich  blood  was  shed  and  lives  lost. 
The  first  serious  afiray  of  this  kind  took  place  on  VVin- 
ooski  river,  at  Burlington  in  J808,  between  a  fwrty  in 
the  em})loy  of  the  custom  de|)artment  and  a  smuggling 
vesseJ  called  the  Black   Snake.     h\   this  encounter 


LOSS    or  THE    GROWLER  AND   EAGLE.  215 

two  men  were  killed  by  the  smugglers.  The  smug- 
glers were,  however,  taken  and  tri<^d  hy  a  special 
court  at  Biulinirion.  D*  an,  one  of  rhem,  was  execu- 
ted and  th-^  others,  exceptintr  Day  who  was  flisfhar- 
g<'<!,  wer^'  si'iiti-nct'd  to  the  vState's  prison.  Franklin 
CfHHity  was  ilic  s<'eiie  of  fr;  (pit'iii  skiruiish<'S.  The 
sniiijigiers  usually  travelled  in  the  night  and  went  in 
so  large, companies  and  so  will  arme/l  as  to  make  it 
very  dangi^nMis  busiu;  ss  for  the  custom-house  offi- 
cers to  interrupt  then).  Similar  distuibances  were 
con^mon  all  along  our  northern  li-ontier. 

7.  About  the  first  of  Septeml)er,  1813,  Samuel 
Beach  of  Canaan  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  state 
had  a  j)ermit  from  the  governor  to  go  into  Canada  to 
repair  a  mill  dim.  He  sent  forward  his  workmen 
with  a  team,  which  was  takcm  from  them  by  John 
Dennett  and  others,  and  driven  back.  15each  in  at- 
lemprijiL^  to  recover  his  team  was  tired  upon  isy  Den- 
nett and  killed.  Dennett  and  his  associates  were  ta- 
ken ami  confined  in  jail,  fiorn  which  lie  escaped  in 
.January  following  to  the  neighboring  forests,  where 
he  continued  till  the  next  August,  when  lie  was  re- 
taken, bin  not  till  after  he  was  mortally  wounded  l)y 
his  pursuers.  It  aj)peHred  that  Deimett  resisted  and 
was  shot  while  attempting  to  kill  Mr  Morgan,  by  a 
Mr.  Sperry  another  of  the  pursuers. 

8.  In  the  sunjmer  ot  1812  some  preparations  were 
made  on  lake  (Jham|)lain  to  oppose  the  naval  force  of 
the  British.  Nothing,  however,  occurred  on  the  lake 
worthy  of  notice  till  the  Sd  of  June  1813.  (Jn  that 
day  the  Growler  and  Eagle  sailed  from  Platisburgh  un^ 
der  the  counnand  of  Lieut  Smith  in  pmsuit  of  some 
British  gun  l)oats  which  had  made  their  appeal ance 
on  the  lake.  On  the  following  morning,  when  near 
Canada  line,  they  were  led  in  [nirsuit  of  the  boats,  in- 
to shoa!  water  near  the  shore,  where  the  Eagle  groimd- 
ed  and  became  unmanageable,  and  after  four  hours 
hard  fighting  they  were  obliged  to  Surrender  to  the 
British.  On  the  80th  of  Jnlv,  h  detachment  of  the  Brit- 


216  HISTORY   or    VERMONT. 

ish  about  1400  strong  landed  at  Plattsburgh,  where 
they  destroyed  the  American  barracks,  estimated  to  be 
worth  $25,000,  and  much  otlier  ])ropert5",  botli  public 
and  private.  Tiie  public  stores  having  been  previous- 
ly removed  to  Burlington  the  enemy  proceeded  thith- 
er and  fired  a  few  shot  upon  the  tOwn,  but  as  soon  as' 
the  cannon  began  to  play  upon  them  from  the  shore 
they  retired. 

9.  On  the  20th  of  August  the  Americans  had  equip- 
ped a  naval  force  upon  lake  Champlain  consisting  of 
the  President,  carrying  12  guns,  Com.  Preble  11, 
Montgomery,  11,  Frances,  6,  and  two  gun  boats  and 
six  scows  carrying  one  gun  each,  making  in  the  whole 
48  guns.  With  this  force  Com.  Macdonough  sailed 
from  Burlington  to  the  lines  in  Septemb  r  and  offered 
battle  to  the  enemy,  but  they  declined  and  retired  in- 
to Canada.  The  northen  army  was  assembled  at  Bur- 
lington under  the  command  of  Gen.  Hampton  and 
consisted  of  about  4000  men.  Early  in  September 
this  army  was  embarked  at  Burlington  and  landed  at 
Cumberland  head  near  Plattsburgh.  On  the  9tli  they 
proceeded  to  Chazy  and  attacked  the  enemy's  advan- 
ed  post  at  Odletown. 

10.  Finding  it  impracticable  to  make  his  way  into 
Canada  hj  that  route,  Hamj^ton  returned  to  Cham- 
plain  and  took  the  route  to  Chataguay,  where  he  ar- 
rived on  the  25th.  Col  Clark  was  in  the  mean  time 
detached  and  ordered  to  attack  a  small  British  force 
at  St  Armand  on  Mssisco  bay.  He  found  the  enemy 
drawn  up  under  Maj.  Powel,  but  wholly  unexpecting 
an  attack  by  land,  and,  after  an  action  often  minutes 
they  surrendered  themselves  prisoners  of  war.  The 
American  force  engaged  was  102,  and  the  number 
of  })risoners  taken  and  sent  to  Burlington  was  101. 
Nine  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  14  wounded. 
The  army  under  Gen.  Hamilton  engaged  with  the 
enemy  at  Chataguay  on  the  2()th  of  October,  but  be- 
ing unsuccessful  and  the  season  far  advanced,  he  soon 
after  returned  into  winter  quarters  at  Plattsburgh. 


EVENTS    ON    LAKE    CHAMPLAIN.  917 

11.  A  brigade  of  Vermont  iiiiiitia,  which  had  been 
drafted  into  tlie  service  of  the  Uiiiii'!!  Starrs  and 
marched  to  Piattsbiirgh,  were  on  the  lOth  of  Novem- 
ber discharged  from  service  by  a  prooiajnation  of 
Governor  Chittenden  and  on  it  red  to  return  lionie. 
To  this  order  the  officers  of  said  brigade  refnsed  obe- 
dience and  returned  a  written  nrotosl  against  it.  The 
militia,  however,  returned  lielore  their  time  of  ser- 
vice expired,  and  no  furtlier  notice  was  taken  of  the 
transaction.  Comnjodore  Pilacdonongh  went  into  win- 
ter quarters  at  Oiter  creek  wirli  bis  flojijla  on  the 
19th  of  December.  Thus  terminated  the  northern 
campaign  for  1813. 

12.  In  the  spring  of  1814,  the  nonh^rn  army,  hav- 
ing been  placed  under  Gt:n  ral  Wilkinson,  advancred 
from  Plattsburgh  along  the  west  side  of  the  lake  and 
entered  Canada.  After  an  unsuccesflful  attack  upon 
the  stone  mills  at  La  Cole,  and  some  orlir-r  skirmish- 
es, in  which  the  Americans  lost  a!  out  100  in  killed 
and  wounded,  they  found  it  necessary  to  retreat.  In 
the  mean  time  Commodore  Macdoiujugb  was  making 
every  effort  to  get  in  readiness  in  Otter  creek,  a  suf 
ficient  naval  force  to  match  that  of  the  enemy  upon 
the  lake.  On  the  14tli  of  iMay  the  enemy's  fleet,  con- 
sisting of  a  brig,  three  sloops  and  13  gall ies  passed 
up  the  lake  and  opened  a  s[)irited  fire  upon  the  bat- 
tery at  the  mouth  of  Otter  creek,  with  a  view  of  forc- 
ing their  w'ay  up  the  creek  and  destroying  the  Ameri- 
can shipping  before  it  should  be  ready  for  service. 
But  in  this  ihey  were  unsuccessful.  They  were  re- 
pulsed by  the  garrison  anri  Vermont  militia,  and  soon 
after  returned  to  the  northward. 

13.  x\boui  the  last  of  May,  Conmiodore  Macdonough 
entered  the  lake  with  his  flotilla  and  proceeded  to 
Plattsburgh,  and  afterwards  advanced  nearer  the  Ihies, 
but  nothing  of  consequence  occurcd  on  the  lake  tiil 
the  latter  part  of  the  season.  About  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember Governor  Prevost  entered  the  territory  of  the 
United  States  at  the   head  of  14000  men  and  Hdvan^. 

19 


518  KISIOSLY    OF    \■ZP.^1f!^Sr. 

eed  townrds  Plattsburgh,  v/hich  was  garrisoned  by 
only  one  brigade  luuler  General  Macomb  ;  the  main 
northern  army  having  marched  to  the  westward.  On 
the  7th  of  September  the  enemy  appeared  before 
Plattsbnrgh,  and  were  eni()Ioyed  in  getting  on  their 
battering  train,  erecting  batteries,  and  in  skirmishes 
with  the  Americans,  but  did  not  make  a  general  as 
sault  till  the  arrival  of  their  flotilla. 

14.  In  the  mean  time  every  effort  was  made  to  call 
in  the  neighboring  militia.  Expresses  were  sent  into 
Vermont;  and  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  without  dis- 
tinction of  party,  shouldered  their  guns  and  hastened 
forward  to  repel  invasion  ;  and  in  the  ])art  which  they 
took  in  the  subsequent  conriict  they  nobly  sustained 
their  high  character  for  firmness  and  bravery.  The 
American  laud  force  however  contin«ied  much  infe- 
rior to  that  of  the  Biitish.  The  British  force  upon 
the  lake  was  also  supeiior  to  the  American.  It  was 
commanded  by  Commodore  Downie  and  consisted  of 
a  Irigate  of  39  guns,  a  brig  of  16,  two  sloops  of  II 
each  and  13  gun  boats  carrying  18  guns,  amounting 
in  the  whole  to  95  guns,  and  manned  by  1050  men. 
The  American  foi-f^p  Miir!  >rCr.r-,r,  ^'.ne  M;t."'K)Uoiiiih 
coiisisied  of  the  Saratoga  of  26  guns,  the  eagle,  of  20, 
Ticonderoira  of  17,  the  Preble  of  7  and  lO.gmi  boats 
carrying  16  giuis,  amounting  i'l  he  whole  to  86,  and 
manned  by  820  men. 

15.  As  it  was  generally  understood  to  be  the  in- 
tention of  the  British  to  make  an  attack  both  by  land 
and  water  at  the  same  time,  Conunodore  Mac'donough 
determined  to  await  the  approach  of  the  enemy's 
squadron  at  anchor  in  Plattsburgh  bay.  Eaily  in  the 
morning  of  the  11th  of  September  the  lookout  boat 
announced  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  and  about  9 
o'clock  they  anchored  in  a  line  about  300  yards  from 
the  American  squadron.  In  this  situation  the  whole 
force  on  both  sides  became  engaged.  The  conflict 
was  exceedingly  obstinate  ;  the  enemy  fought  with 
great  bravery,  but  tlie  superiority  of  the  American 


RATTLE    AT    PZ-ATTSBURGM.  2]9 

gunnery  prevailed  over  tho  enemy's  superior  force. 
After  an  action  of  two  hours  and  twenty  minutes  the 
fire  of  the  enemy  was  silenced,  and  her  frigate,  hrig 
and  two  sloops  were  surrendered  to  the  Americans. 
Some  of  their  galhes  were  sunk  and  the  otiiers  made 
their  escape.  The  British  lost  in  this  action  84  kill- 
ed and  1 10  woiuided.  Amongt  he  killed  were  Couirno- 
dore  Downie  and  three  Lieutenants.  The  American 
loss  was  52  killed  and  58  wounded.  Among  the 
former  were  Lieutenants  Gamble  and  Stanshury. 

16.  The  commencement  *  f  the  naval  action  seem- 
ed to  be  the  signal  for  a  general  assault  by  land.  The 
enemy  opened  their  batteries  upon  the  Americaw 
works  and  at  the  same  time  attem[>ted  to  cross  the 
Saranac  a?id  gain  the  rear  of  the  Americans.  The 
Americans  kept  up  a  destructive  fire  from  their  forts 
and  met  the  enemy  at  every  point  with  the  most  de- 
termined bravery.  As  soon  as  it  was  known  that 
their  fleet  had  surrendered  the  enemy  relinquished 
all  their  hopes  and  began  making  arrangements  for 
a  retn^at.  During  the  afternoon  and  night  all  the 
enemy's  forces  were  withdrawn  and  they  retired 
with  such  precipitation,  and  were  so  closely  pursued 
by  the  An";ericans,  that  they  were  oI)liged  to  leave 
behind  their  wounded,  anrl  large  quantities  of  provi- 
sions, amunition  and  military  stores.  The  whole 
loss  of  the  enemy  upon  land,  in  killed,  wounded,  pris- 
oners and  deserters,  exceeded  2500  m,en.  The  aggre- 
gate loss  of  the  Anipvicans  did  not  exeeed  150. 

17.  After  the  battle  at  Plattsburgh  nothing  further 
occured  upon  lake  Champlaiu  worthy  o{' notice  dur- 
ing the  war.  The  legislature  of  Vermont  assembled 
as  usual  in  October,  and  it  again  appeared  that  no 
governor  had  been  elected'  by  the  suffia^'S  of  the 
people.  1  he  leffislatiu'e  thiM)  jiroceeded  to  the  choice 
of  a  governor  f;iid  Martin  Chittenden  was  elected  by 
a  majority  of  2^)  votes.  Much  complaint  having  been 
made  because  the  governor  did  not  order  out  the 
militia  for  the  det^jnce  of  Pittsburgh,  ioetead  of  call- 


220  HISTORY    OF    VERMONT. 

ing  upon  them  as  volunteers,  he  adverted  to  that  sub- 
ject in  his  s])eech  by  sayinsr,  tliat,  as  no  portion  of 
our  militia  had  been  detac'ned  by  the  President  for 
the  service  of  the  United  States,  a  call  up(>n  our  pa- 
triotic citizens  for  their  voluntary  services  was,  in  this 
case,  ronsider(  (1  to  l>o  liio  oii!y  mode  by  which  effi- 
cient and  timely  aid  could  lie  afforded. 

16.  He  s|)ok<^  in  the  hiiihest  term  of  the  officers 
and  men  emj)ioyed  in  re)>eir!ng  the  enemy  and  in 
teac'iing  them  the  "  mortit'ying  les?on,  that  the  soil  of 
freedom  will  not  hear  the  tread  of  hostile  feet  with 
impunity  ;"  and  declared  their  "  achievements  were 
not  surpassed  in  the  records  of  naval  and  military 
warfare,"  But  while  he  acknowledged  with  gratitude, 
the  interposition  of  Providence  for  preventing  the  de- 
signs ol  the  enemy  and  saving  our  borders  from  the 
desolations  of  war,  he  declared  that  his  opinion  of  the 
propriety  of  the  war  remained  unalrei-ed — that  he 
"  conscientiously  disapproved  of  it  as  unnecessary, 
unwise  and  hopeless  in  all  its  offensive  operations." 
To  this  s[)eech  the  house  returned  a  dignified  and 
respectful  answer,  reciprocating  the  sentiments  of 
his  excellency  with  regard  to  the  transactions  at 
Plattsburgh,  and  pledging  to  him  their  cordial  co- 
operation in  measures  calculated  to  promote  the  pub- 
lic good. 

17.  At  this  session  a  resolution  was  adopted  express- 
ing the  thanks  of  the  legislature  to  General  Macomb 
and  his  compatriots  in  arms — to  General  Strong  and 
the  patriotic  volunteers  from  Vermont  under  his  com- 
mand, and  to  Commodore  Macdonough  and  the  offi- 
cers and  crew  of  his  squadron,  in  testimony  of  their 
high  sense  of  their  bravery  and  good  conduct  on  the 
memoral)le  lltli  of  Sepremlx'r,  1814,  by  which  the 
enemy  W(  re  repulsed  by  land,  and  their  squadron 
cantured  upon  the  lak(\  In  the  fiirther  consideration 
of  t  is  service  s,  the  legis-lature  passed  an  act  granting 
to  Commodore  Macdonough  a  farm  belonging  to  Ver- 
moTit,  and  lying  upon  Cumberland  head,  and  in  full 


TREATY    Of    PE.VCK    V<ITH    GREAT    BRITAIff.  221 

view  of  the  late  navaJ  engagement  in  which  he  had 
acquired  so  much  honor.  A  communication  was  re- 
ceived during  this  session  from  the  legislature  ofMas- 
sachusetts  inviting  Vermont  to  appoint  delegates  to 
meet  delegates  from  the  other  New  England  States 
at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  to  take  into  consideration 
the  state  of  the  Union.  But  by  a  vote  of  the  assem- 
bly this  invitation  was  unanimously  declined. 

20.  From  this  period  the   violence  of  party  spirit 
in  Vermont  began  raj)id]y  to  abate.     The  invasion  of 
our  territory  by  the  fleets  and  armies  of  the  enemy,  had 
united  the  feelings  of  parties  in  the  common  defence, 
and  many,  who  were  at  first  opposed  to  the  war,  were 
now  convinced  that  the  good  of  their  countrv  demand- 
ed  tne  united  efforts  of  all  our  citizens  in  proseciiting 
it  to  an  honorable  and  successful  termination.  On  the 
24rh  of  December,  1814,  a  u*eaty  of  ])eace  was  signed 
at  Ghent  between  Great  Britain  and  America  by  their 
respective  plenipotentiaries.     The  tumults  of  war  now 
ceased — the   gloom  \Vhich  overhung  our  land  was 
dispersed,  and  all  were  rejoiced  to  see  our  soldiei-s  re- 
converted into  citizens — our  implements  of  war  into 
instruments  of  husbandry  and  to  hear  the  penccfljj 
hum  of  business  instead  of  the  roar  of  cannon  and  the 
trumpet  of  war. 


S  E  C  T  I  O  ZV     IV. 


Legislative  proceedings  from.  1814  to  the  dose  of  the. 
year  1832. 

1.  Before  the  meeting  of  the  assembly  in  1815, 
peace  had  been  restored  to  the  country,  and  ma»iy  of 
the  causes  wh eh  liad  agitated  the  conununity  had 
disapj)eare(l.  The  republican  party  had  now  gained 
the  ascendency  in  the  state,  and  Mr  Gallusha  wai 
again  elected  governor  bv  the  people,  by  a  htndsom© 
19* 


222 


HISTORY    OK   VERMO.NT. 


majority.  The  governor's  speech  contained  nothing 
to  revive  iJie  violence  of  party.  He  alhiderl  to  the  storm 
of  war  which  had  just  passed  over  their  heads  and 
was  now  succeeded  hy  the  cahn  and  sunshine  of 
peace,  and  then  invited  die  attention  of  the  legisla- 
ture to  the  immediate  business  of  the  state.  Among 
the  acts  passed  at  this  session  was  one  granting  to  a 
coni]jany  the  exclusive  right  of  navigadng  Icike 
Ciiamplain  by  steam  for  23  years.  This  act  was  af- 
terwards found  to  be  unconstitutional  and  void. 

2.  The  spring  and  summer  of  18JG,  were  remark- 
ably cold.  Snow  fell  to  the  depth  of  several  inches 
in  all  parts  of  Vermont  on  the  Sth  of  Jime,  and  from 
the  general  failure  of  the  crops  thei'e  was  an  uncom- 
mon scarcity  of  provision.  Mr  Gahisha  was  tliis 
year  re-elected  governor,  and,  in  his  s})eech,  he  cal- 
led the  attention  of  the  legislature  to  the  encourage- 
ment of  manufactures.  The  customary  answer  to 
his  excellency's  speech  this  year  gave  rise  to  a  spirit- 
ed debate,  in  wdiich  the  federal  j)arty  were  treated 
with  great  asperity,  on  accoimt  of  the  vote  of  the 
representatives  in  Congress,  irom  Vermont,  who  were 
federalists,  by  which  the  pay  of  the  representatives 
was  increased  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  the  freemen 
of  Vermont.  With  this  session  terminated  the  prac- 
tice of  returning  an  answer  to  the  governor's  speech, 
whicli  had,  from  the  first  election  of  Mr  Tichenor  in 
1797,  every  year  consumed  much  time,  and  oflen 
given  rise  to  the  most  violent  contentions. ' 

3.  At  the  three  following  elections  in  1817,  1818. 
and  1819,  Mr  Galusha  was  successively  chosen  gov- 
ernor of  the  state,  and  ncithing  occurred  to  excite 
the  violence  of  party,  or  to  interrupt  the  general 
prosperity.  Bountiful  harvests  rewarded  the  toil  of 
tlie  husbandman,  an<l  the  blessings  arising  li'om  tlie 
diffusion  of  knowledge,  the  success  of  the  mechanic 
arts,  and  the  influence  of  good  government  were 
generally  difiiised.  In  1817,  the  ])resident  of  the 
United  States,  Mr  Monroe,  in  his  tour  through   the 


LEGISLATIVE  PROCF.EDINGS.  223 

Miukile  and  eastern  states,  passed  through  Vermont, 
and  every  where  received  the  respect  due  to  his 
dignified  office,  and  the  gratitude  merited  by  a  hfe 
devoted  to  the  s«rvice  of  iiis  country. 

4.  Ill  1819,  the  usual  business  of  the  legislature 
Vvas  transacted  with  unaniniiry,  and,  among  other 
tilings,  a  resolution  was  adopted  approving  in  the 
highest  tertns  of  the  measiu'es  and  objects  of  the 
American  Colonization  Society.  Islr  Galusha  having 
signified  his  intention  to  retire  from  [)ublic  life,  the 
liouse  adopted  a  respectful  address  to  him  on 
the  occasion,  in  which  thi?y  say  that,  "on  a  re- 
view of  the  events  of  the  memorable  struggle  of  our 
fathers  for  independence,  we  find  you  in  early  life 
on  the  banks  of  the  Walloomsuc,  with  your  patriotic 
band  teaching  them  [)oldly  to  defend  their  country. 
In  discharging  the  duties  of  councillor,  judge  and 
governor,  you  have  ever  merited  and  received  the 
approbiition  of  your  fellow  citizens." 

5.  In  1820,  Richard  Skinner,  formerly  chief  justice 
of  the  state,  was  elected  governor.  In  his  speech, 
he  ])resented  a  clear  view  of  the  evils  resulting  from 
the  frequent  alterations  in  the  public  statutes,  and 
hp  expressed  as  his  opiiuon,  that  the  present  organi- 
zation of  the  Vermont  judiciary,  was  calculated  for 
the  despatch  of  business  and  to  prevent  the  multipli- 
cation of  lawsuits.  At  this  session  a  resolution  was 
passed  remonstrating  against  the  admission  of  Mis- 
souri into  the  union  with  a  constitution  legalizing 
slavt;ry,  and  the  cruel  and  unnatural  traffic  in  human 
blood,  and  instructing  their  senators  and  representa- 
tives in  Congress,  to  exert  their  influence  and  use  all 
legal  measures  to  prevent  it. 

G.  In  1821,  Mr  Skinner  was  again  elected  gover- 
nor. In  his  Sj)eech,  the  gov(;rnor  mformed  the  as- 
sembly that  he  had  received  comtnunications  from 
Maryland^ and  New  Hampshire,  respecting  the  ap- 
propriation of  the  public  lands  belonging  to  the 
United  States,  to  the  several  states  for  the  benefit  of 


224  HISTORY    or    VERMOWT. 

education,  and  said  that  the  people  of  Vermont "  could 
feel  no  delicacy  in  making  a  claim  of  this  kind,  for 
no  one  of  the  United  States,  in  proportion  to  their 
ability,  contributed  more  to  the  acquisition  of  those 
rights,  which  were  purchased  by  the  toil,  distresses 
and  sacrifices  of  the  revolutionary  war.  Situated  on 
the  frontier,  they  constituted  the  barrier  between  the 
enemy  and  the  confederated  states.  Not  having 
been  acknowledged  as  a  member  of  the  confedera- 
tion, no  part  of  the  expense  they  incurred  in  the  war 
has  been  assumed  by  the  general  governnient,  while 
they  have  participated  in  the  burden  of  the  public 
debt."  In  conformity  with  these  suggestions,  reso- 
lutions were  passed  declaring  the  right  of  each  of 
the  states  to  a  participation  in  the  benefits  of  the 
public  lands  and  requesting  oiu'  delegation  in  Con- 
gress to  use  their  endeavors  to  ])rocure  the  passage 
of  an  act  appropriating  to  the  use  of  the  state  of 
^  ermont,  for  the  purposes  of  education,  such  por- 
tion of  the  public  lands  as  should  be  equitable  and 
just. 

7.  Mr  Skinner  was  again  elected  governor  in  1822. 
In  his  speech  he  called  the  attention  of  the  h'gislature 
particulaily  to  the  subject  of  manufactures.  The  com- 
mittee on  manufactun.'S  to  whom  this  part  of  his  ex- 
cellency's s})eech  was  referred,  made  a  report,  in 
which  they  say  "  \'ermont  can  raise  as  fine  wool  as 
any  quarter  of  the  gloi)e,  and  her  mountains  roll 
down  their  thousand  streams  to  aid  us  in  its  manu- 
facture. It  also  abounds  in  ores,  and  minerals,  and  for- 
ests upon  which  thnjndustry  and  ingenuity  of  our  citi- 
zens might  operate  to  great  advantage,  could  suffi- 
cient ca})ital  [>e  allured  to  these  objects  by  the  pat- 
ronage of  our  laws."  In  comj)liance  with  a  recom- 
mendation of  the  governor  an  act  was  ])assed  de- 
claring all  contracts  void  where  interest  should  be 
taken,  or  secured,  at  a  higher  rate  than  six  per  cent 
per  annum. 

8.  Mr  Skinner  having  signified  his  wish  no  longer 


LEGISLATIVE  PROCEEDINGS.  225 

to  be  considered  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  govern- 
or, at  the  meeting  of  the  legislature  in  1823,  Mr  Van 
Ness  was  found  to  be  elected  in  his  stead.  In  his 
speech  he  invited  the  attention  of  the  legislature  to 
the  immediate  concerns  of  the  state,  but  was  not  sen- 
sible that  any  material  alteration  in  the  laws  were  at 
that  time,  demanded,  lie  discouraged  all  change 
which  was  not  ]>articularly  necessary,  as  producing 
uncertainty  in  law,  and  thereby  occasioning  perplex- 
ing and  expensive  law  suits.  An  act  was  passed  at 
this  session  |)rohii)iting  horse-racing,  under  a  penalty 
of  the  forfeiture  of  the  horses  and  money  staked; 
but  few  alterations  were  made  in  the  existing  laws. 

9.  In  1824  31  r  Van  Ness  was  re-elected  governor 
without  opj)Osition.  In  con^piiance  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  governor,  an  act  was  passed  at  this 
session,  giving  tho  choice  ot  electors  of  president 
and  vice  president  to  the  people  by  a  general  ticket. 
General  La  Fayette  having  arrived  in  this  country 
on  the  17th  of  August,  a  committee  of  the  legisla- 
ture reported  that  "as  a  nation  we  owed  to  him  a 
debt  ol  gratitude,  and  that  Vermont,  in  common  with 
her  sister  states,  would  rejoice  in  an  opf)ortunity  of 
manifesting  it."  A  resolution  was  accordingly  passed 
requesting  the  governor,  in  behalf  of  the  people  of 
this  state,  to  invite  Gen(  ral  La  Fayette  to  extend,  his 
tour  into  \  ermont  and  honor  its  citizens  with  his 
presence.  On  the  4th  of  July  1825,  La  Fayette 
entered  Vermont  for  the  first  time  at  Windsor,  where 
he  was  joyfully  received  by  the  governor,  and  a  nu- 
merous body  of  citizens  assetubled  to  welcome  the 
early  benefactor  of  their  country.  From  Windsor 
he  proceeded  by  the  way  of  Montpelier  to  Burling- 
ton, and  was  everywhere  received  with  the  warmest 
affection  and  gratitude,  and  with  the  mo«t  enthusi- 
astic demonstrations  of  admiration  and   applause. 

10.  Mr  Van  Ness  was  again  chosen  governor  in 
1825,  and  in  his  communication  to  the  assembly  he 
invited  their  attention  particularly  to  the  subject  of 


226  HISTORY    or    VERMO?fT. 

internal  improvements.  A  board  of  canal  commis- 
sioners was  appointed  and  five  hundred  dollars  were 
appropriated  to  defray  their  expenses.  It  was  made 
the  duty  of  these  cominissionei's  to  assist  any  en- 
gineers, who  might  be  em{)loyed  by  the  general  gov- 
ernment to  ascertain  the  most  j)ructicable  routes  for 
canals  within  this  state.  The  great  objects  contem- 
plated were,  thy  improvement  of  the  navigation  of 
Connecticut  river  and  the  connexion  of  that  river 
with  lake  Champlain  and  lake  Memphren)agog  by 
means  of  canals.  The  law  setting  forth  the  prin- 
ciples upon  which  the  grand  list  for  the  assessment 
of  taxes  in  this  state,  shall  be  maile  out, was  repeal- 
ed at  ths  session,  and  a  new  law  upon  this  subject 
enacted.  By  this  act  it  is  provided  that  there  shall 
be  an  apprisal  of  real  estate  once  in  5  yeai-s  and 
that  it  shall  be  set  in  the  list  at  the  rate  of  four  per 
cent  for  buildings  and  village  lots  iwA  six  per  cent 
for  other  real  estate,  on  its  appraiseti  value,  and  to 
this  the  rates  of  personal  pro[)erty  are  calculated  to 
correspond. 

II.  Mr  Van  Ness  hf.ving  signified  his  wish  no  lon- 
ger to  receive  the  suffrages  of  his  fellow  citizens,  Mr 
Butler  was,  in  1826,  elected  governor  of  the  state. 
In  his  speech  he  called  the  attention  of  the  assembly 
to  the  subject  of  lotteries  and  the  sale  of  lottery  tick- 
ets in  this  state.  In  consideration  of  which,  an  act 
was  passed,  prohibiting  the  sale  of  tickets  without  a 
licence  under  the  penalty  of  a  heavy  fine.  Mr  But- 
ler was  again  elected  governor  in  1827.  He  now 
invited  the  attention  of  the  legislature  to  the  existing 
laws  on  the  subject  of  education,  and  recommended 
the  af)pointment,  iti  each  town  or  county,  *f  cotnmis- 
sioners  for  the  examination  of  tfachers  and  for  the 
general  superintendence  of  Sidiools.  In  conatqiu-nce 
of  these  suggestions,  a  general  plan  of  education  was 
adopted,  designed  for  the  imitrovemcnt  in  schools 
and  for  [)roducing  uniformity  in  ihf*  methods  of  in- 
struction.    It  provided  that  a  superintending  commit- 


LEGISLATITE     PROCEEDINGS.  227 

tee  should  be  appointed  annually  in  each  town  and 
that  no  teachers  should  be  employed  in  the  pubhc 
sciiools,  who  had  not  been  examined  by  said  com- 
mittee, and  who  had  not  received  from  them  a  cer- 
tificate of  their  (juahfications  for  teaching.  It  al^o 
provided  for  the  appointment  of  five  school  com- 
missioners, wjiose  business. it  should  be  to  have  a 
general  supervision  of  the  business  of  education  in 
the  state,  procure  and  circulate  information  on  the 
subject,  recommend  suitable  books  to  be  used  in 
schools,  ascertain  if  any  alteration  in  the  law  be 
necessary,  and  make  an  aimual  roi)ort  to  tiie  legisla- 
ture. 

12.  In  1828,  Mr  Crafts  was  elected  governor.  In 
his  speech  he  congratulated  his  fellow  citizens  upon 
the  unrivalled  pros[)eriry  of  the  country — declared 
their  advance  in  population  and  resources  to  be  un- 
precedented in  liistoiy  of  man — and  the  means  of 
happiness  within  their  ])ower  to  be  mpre  abundant 
than  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  any  other  people.  The 
legislature  this  year  })assed  a  resolution  requiring 
their  senators  and  re])resentativcs  in  Congress  to  use 
all  justifiable  means  to  procure  the  passage  of  an 
act  granting  pensions  to  all  American  citizens  with- 
out regard  to  their  present  circumstances,  who  serv- 
ed during  thf^  war  of  the  ri'volutiou.  In'1829,  Mr 
Crafts  was  again  chosen  governor  by  the  votes  of 
the  freemen.  Among  the  subjects  which  came  be- 
fore the  assembly  was  a  resolution  of  the  legislature 
of  South  Carolina,  declaring  that  Congress  had  no 
constitutional  ])ower  to  lay  duties  on  imports  for  the 
encouragement  of  domestic  nianufictures,  or  for 
internal  improvements ;  and  also  comnuuiications 
from  Georgia,  Virginia  and  Missouri,  sancrioning  the 
same  principles.  The  legislature  disposed  of  this 
matter  by  resolving  that  lliev  would  not  concur  with 
the  South  Carolina  resolution. 

13.  As  already  observed,  on  the   return  of  peace 
in  1815,  party  spirit  rapidly  subsided,  and  for  sever- 


228  HISTORY  or  Vermont 

al  years  a  remarkable  unanimity  of  sentiment  with 
regard  to  men  and  measures  prevailed.  After  the 
election  of  Mr  Adams  to  the  presidency  in  1825,  an 
organized  opposition  was  formed  to  his  administra- 
tion l)y  the  friencis  of  the  rival  candidates,  who  suc- 
ceeded in  1829,  in  elevating  General  Jackson  to 
that  office  in  opposition  to  the  incumbent.  These 
two  great  divisions  of  the  ])eople,  were  founded 
chiefly  in  a  preference  of  particularmen,  aiid  not  in 
a  difference  of  })oiitical  principles.  Tiie  abduction 
of  William  Mcrgan  in  1826,  for  divulging  the  se- 
crets of  masonry,  gave  rise  to  another  party,  founded 
in  oi)j)osition  to  the  princij)les  of  njasonry,  and 
which  is  hence  called  the  anti-masonic  party.  And 
thinking  it  to  be  the  most  effectual  way  to  put 
down  an  institution,  which  they  believe  to  be  dan- 
gerous to  comtnunity,  they  have  made  it  a  part  of 
their  political  creed  that  no  adhering  mason  shall 
receive  their  support  for  office. 

14.  This  i)arty  was  not  distinctly  organized  in  Ver- 
mont till  the  year  lo29.  In  1830,  it  was  found  that 
three  candidates  for  governor  had  been  supported  and 
that  no  election  had  been  made  by  the  people.  Mr 
Crafts,  the  national  republican  and  masonic  candidate, 
received  113486  votes,  Mr  Palmer  the  anti-masonic 
candidate  had  10925  and  Mr  ?Jeech,the  administration 
candidate,  had  6285.  The  choice  devolving  upon  the 
legislature,  after  32  ballottings,  Mr  Crafts  was  elected 
by  a  small  majority.  The  abolition  of  imprisonment 
for  debt  had  in  former  years  frequently  engaged  the 
attention  of  the  legislature  and,  in  his  sj^eech,  the  gov- 
ernor again  invited  attention  to  the  subject.  After 
much  debate  a  law  was  passed  <leclaring  that  on  all 
judgments  oi)tained  upon  debts  contracted  after  the  1st 
day  of  January,  1831,  the  debtor  may  within  two  horns 
after  the  rendition  of  such  judgment,  belbre  a  court 
of  justice  submit  himself  to  an  examinaton  on  oath 
by  such  court  or  creditor,  or  his  attorney,  touching  his 
situation,  circumstances,  or  property,  and  may  be  en- 


LEGISLATIVE    PROCEEDmOS.  229 

titled  to  the  benefit  of  the  oath,  which  shall  be  admin- 
istered to  such  debtor  by  said  court  of  justice,  and 
a  record  made  thereof,  and  no  execution  shall  be  i^ 
sued  thereon. 

15.  In  1831,  each  of  the  three  parties  supported 
its  candidate  for  governor,  in  consequence  of  which, 
:no  election  was  made  by  the  people.  The  choice 
^ffain  devolving  upon  the  legislature,  Mr  Palmer,  the 
antimasonic  candidate,  was  elected  at  the  ninth  bal- 
lotting  by  a  majority  of  one  vote.  In  his  speech  lie 
^ays  that  "the  general  condition  of  our  country  is 
that  of  peace,  prosperity  and  happiness.  Compared 
•with  any  other  people  we  have  the  most  abundant 
cause  for  grateful  acknowledgment  to  the  Author  of 
all  good  that  our  lot  has  been  cast  here."  After  ma- 
king the  customary  appointments  of  civil  ofiicei-s,  the 
iiouse  proceeded  with  diligence  in  discharge  of  their 
remaining  duties.  Few  subjects  of  general  interest 
were  brought  up,  and  most  of  the  acts  j)assed  this 
session  were  of  a  local  or  private  nature.  Among 
the  bills  passed  was  one  taxing  foreign  bank  stock, 
one  incorporating  the  Bennington  and  Brattlehorough 
rail  road  comj)any  and  one  incorporating  the  Rutland 
and  Whitehall  rail  road  company.  Several  new 
banks  were  also  granted. 

16.  In  1832,  there  was  again  no  election  of  gov- 
ernor, by  the  people,  and  at  the  43d  ballotting,  Mr 
Palmer  was  re-elected  by  the  legislature.  In  com- 
pliance with  the  suggestions  in  the  governor's  mes- 
sage, a  law  was  passed  at  this  session  for  regulatjng 
and  governing  the  militia  and  resolutions  were  adopt- 
ed, approving  of  the  existing  tariff  law  of  Congress, 
of  appropriations  for  internal  improvement,  and  of  re- 
chartering  the  bank  of  the  United  States.  A  bill  was 
also  passed  providing  for  the  erection  of  a  new  state 
house  in  Montpelier  and  appropriating  $30,000  for 
that  purpose,  the  people  of  Montpelier  pledging  them- 
selves to  pay  one  half  that  sum  into  the  State  treasury. 

17.  We  have  now  brouglitdown  our  sketch  of  the 

20 


230  HISTORY    or    VERMONT. 

legislative  proceeding  in  Vermont  to  the  present  time. 
We  are  aware  that  it  is  too  brief  to  be  fully  satisfac- 
tory ;  and,  in  our  selection  from  the  mass  of  materials, 
we  are  not  sure  that  we  have  always  taken  those 
things,  which  are  most  interesting  and  valuable.  A 
lack  of  room,  on  account  of  the  i)rescribed  limits  of 
our  volume,  muSt  be  our  excuse  for  brevity,  and  a 
lack  of  judgment  and  leisure  for  research,  for  the  in- 
judicious selection  of  materials.  The  deficiencies  of 
our  narrative  will,  however,  we  trust,  be  made  up  in 
a  good  degree  by  the  following  summaries  and  tables,. 


SECTION    V. 

The  Frame  of  Government — Legislative  Power — JETa*- 
ecutive  Power — Council  of  Censors — Judiciary — Laws 
— Education — Diseases,  ^'c. 

1.  Vermont  declared  her  independence  and  her 
right  to  organize  a  government  of  her  own  on  the 
15th  of  January,  1777.  On  the  2d  of  July  following 
a  convention  of  delegates  fronj  the  several  towns 
met  at  Windsor  and  adopted  the  first  constitution. 
This  constitution  was  revised  by  the  same  conven- 
tion in  the  following  December,  and  went  into  ef- 
fect without  ever  being  submitted  tg  the  people  for 
their  ratification.  The  constitution  was  again  revis- 
ed in  1786,  and  in  1792,  and  was  adopted  in  its  pres- 
ent form  by  a  convention,  assembled  at  Windsor,  on 
the  4th  of  July,  1793.  The  following  are  the  most 
important  provisions  of  this  instrument. 

2.  The  supreme  Legislative  power  is  vested  in  a 
House  of  Representatives,  chosen  annually  by  the 
freemen,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  September.  Each 
organized  town  has  a  right  to  choose  one  representa- 
tive.    The  representatives  meet  on  the  2d  Thursday 


FRAME    OF    GOVERNMENT.  331 

of  the  October  succeeding  their  election,  and  are 
styled  "  The  General  Assembly  of  the  state  of 
Vermont."  They  have  power  to  choose  tlieir  own 
officers ;  to  sit  on  their  own  adjournments  ;  prepare 
toills  and  enact  them  ir.to  laws ;  they  may  expel 
members,  but  not  for  causes  known  to  their  constitu- 
ents antecedent  to  their  election  ;  iuiiu-ach  state 
criminals  ;  grant  charters  of  incorporation  ;  consti- 
tute towns,  boroughs,  cities,  and  counties.  In  con- 
junction with  the  council,  they  are  annually  to  elect 
judges  of  the  supreme,  county  and  probate  courts, 
sheriffs  and  justices  of  the  [)eace,  and  also,  as  often 
as  there  shall  be  occasion,  elect  major  generals  and 
brigadier  generals.  The  General  Assemhljf  have  all 
the  powers  necessary  for  the  legislature  of  a  free  and 
sovereign  state  ;  but  can  neither  add  to,  alter,  abolish 
or  infringe  any  part  of  the  constitution. 

3.  The  supreme  Executive  power  is  vested  in  a 
governor,  lieutenant  governor,  pnd  a  co^mcil  of 
twelve  persons,  who  are  also  chosen  iinnually  by  the 
freemen  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  September,  and 
meet  with  the  general  assembly  in  October.  They 
are  to  commission  all  officers ;  prepare  and  lay  be- 
fore the  assembly  such  business  as  shall  appear  to 
them  necessary  ;  sit  as  judges  to  hear  and  det<n-mine 
on  imi)eachinents.  They  tiave  power  to  grant  par- 
dons and  remit  fines,  exce|)t  in  cases  of  treason  and 
murder,  in  which  they  have  power  to  grant  re[)rieves, 
but  not  pardon,  till  after  the  next  session  of  the  leg- 
islature ;  and  in  cases  of  impeachment,  in  which 
there  is  no  remission,  or  mitigation,  of  punishment, 
but  by  act  of  legislation.  In  the  recess  of  the 
house  of  representatives,  they  may  lay  embargoes, 
or  ])rohibit  exportation  for  any  time  not  exceeding 
30  (lays,  and  may  call  a  special  meeting  of  the  gen- 
eral assembly,  whenever  thfty  shall  deem  it  necessa-. 
ry.  The  governor  is  captain-general  and  command- 
er in  chief  of  all  the  forces  of  the  state,  but  cannot 
command  in  person  unless  adviset]  thereto  by  the 


232  HISTORY  Of   VERMONT, 

council,  and  then  only  so  long  as  they  shall  approve  f 
and  the  lieutenant  goverro)  is,  by?virtue  of  his  office, 
lieutenant  general  of  all  ihe  forces  of  the  state.  To 
prevent  the  evil  conset^uenees,  which  might  result 
from  hasty  determinations,  all  bills  which  originate 
in  the  assembly,  are  laid  before  the  governor  and 
council,  for  their  revision  and  concuiTence,  or  })ro- 
posals  of  amendmetit.  The  governor  and  council 
have  no  negative  upon  the  house;  but  they  have 
power  to  suspend  the  passing  of  any  bilKuntil  the 
next  session  of  the  legislature. 

4.  The  constitution  provides  for  the  appointment 
of  a  council  of  censors,  consisting  of  thirteen  persons, 
to  be  chosen  by  the  peo})le  every  7th  year  on  the  last 
Wednesday  in  March,  and  who  are  to  meet  on  the 
first  Wednesday  of  the  June  following.  It  is  their 
business  to  inquire  whether  the  constitution  has  been 
preserved  inviolate  ;  whether  the  legislative  and  ex- 
ecutive branches  of  government  have  performed 
their  duty ;  whether  public  taxes  have  been  justly 
laid  and  collected  ;  and  whether  the  laws  have  been 
duly  executed.  They  also  have  power  to  pass  pub- 
lic censures,  order  impeachments  and  recommend 
the  repeal  of  such  laws  as  they  may  deem  contrary 
to  the  principles  of  the  constitution  ;  and,  should 
they  judge  it  necessary,  they  may  ])ropose  amend- 
ments to  the  constitution  and  call  a  convention  to 
act  upon  them.  These  powers  they  may  exercise 
for  the  space  of  one  year  from  the  day  ,of  their 
"election  and  no  longer. 

5.  The  constitution  of  Vermont  differsin  some  re- 
spects from  that  of  every  other  state  in  the  union. 
The  whole  legislative  power  is  vested  in  a  house  of 
representatives,  but  the  council,  though  not  a  co-or- 
dinate branch,  has  power  to  suspend  the  acts  of  the 
legislature,  and  prevent  their  becoming  laws,  for  the 
period  of  one  year.  Thus  every  law  which  is  not 
approved  by  the  council,  is  in  effect,  submitted  di- 
i^xit^yto   the  people.    If  the  people  approve  it,  they 


JUDICIARY    POWERS.  233 

will  manifest  it  tljrough  their  representatives,  the 
following  year.  If  the  legislature  re-enacts  this 
suspended  bill  at  the  next  session,  it  then  becomes  a 
law  without  the  concurrence  of  the  governor  and 
council ;  from  which  it  will  be  seen  that  the  govern- 
ment of  Vermont  approaches  very  nearly  to  a  pure 
democracy. 

6.  The  successive  councils  of  censors  have  fre- 
quently ])roposed  so  to  alter  the  constitution,  as  to 
establish  a  senate,  instead  of  the  executive  council, 
and  make  it  a  co-ordinate  branch  of  the  legislature, 
but  these  proposals  have  allvvays  been  rejected  by  the 
-conventions,  which  have  been  called  to  consider 
them.  Onlv  one  amendment  to  the  constitution  has 
been  made  during  the  last  forty  years,  and  that  only 
provided  for  the  naturalization  of  foreigners,  who 
«hould  settle  in  this  state,  agreeably  to  the  laws  of 
congress. 

7.  The  Judiciary  powers  are  vested  in  a  sujjreme 
court  and  court  of  chanceiy,  consisting  at  present  of 
five  judges  and  a  county  court  in  each  county,  con- 
sisting of  one  of  the  supreme  court  judges,  as  chief 
justice  and  two  assistant  justices  ;  a  probate  court  in 
each  probate  district,  of  which  there  are  nineteen : 
and  justices  of  the  peace  in  each  town,  all  appoint- 
ed annually  by  the  legislature.  The  supreme  court 
and  court  of  chancery  holds  one  session  in  each 
county  annually,  and  have  original  and  conclusive 
jurisdiction  in  all  suits  or  chancery  and  petitions  not 
triable  by  jury.  Appeals  may  be  had  to  this  court 
from  the  county  courts,  only  for  the  determination 
of  questions  of  law.  The  county  courts  hold  res- 
pectively two  sessions  annually  in  ea-^h  county. 
They  have  original  jurisdiction  of  all  criminal  mat- 
ters, excepting  such  as  are  made  cognizable  before 
justifies  of  the  peace.  Justices  of  the  peace  may  try 
actions  of  a  criminal  nature  where  the  fine,  or  for- 
feiture, does  not  exceed  $7.  They  have  original  and 
exclusive  jurisdiction  in  civil  cases,  where  the  inatter 

20* 


23^  HISTORY   OP    VERMONT. 

in  demand  does  not  exceed  $100,  except  for  slander- 
ous words,  replevin  above  $7,  and  trespass  upon 
freehold  above  the  sum  of  $20. 

8.  Crimes  and  'punishments. — Treason,  murder, 
perjury,  in  consequence  of  which  some  person's  life 
is  taken  away,  and  arson,  by  means  of  which  some 
person's  life  is  destroyed,  or  his,  or  her  body,  or 
members,  injured,  are  at  present  the  only  crimes 
punished  with  death  by  our  laws.  Manslaughter,- 
and  the  second  conviction  for  burglar) ,  are  punished 
by  imprisonment  at  hard  lai)or  in  the  state  prison  for 
life,  or  for  a  term  of  years,  in  no  case  less  than  seveny. 
and  in  that  of  manslaughter  not  less  than  ten.  The 
punishment  for  ])erjury,  where  life  is  not  taken  m 
consequence,  may  be  the  same  as  for  manslaughter^ 
Arson,  without  death,  burglary,  rape,  robbery,  purju- 
ry,  forgery,  theft,  adultery,  polygamy,  incest,  coun- 
terfeiting, and  swindhng,  are  punished  by  imprison- 
ment at  hard  labor,  and  by  fine,  in  no  case  exceeding 
$1,000,  or  either  of  said  punishments,  in  the  discre- 
tion of  the  court.  Only  three  executions  have  taken 
place  in  this  state,  by  sentence  of  a  court  of  law, 
since  the  assumption  of  the  government  in  1778. 
The  first  was  Dean,  who  was  executed  at  Burlington 
in  3808,  the  second  was  Godfrey,  executed  at  Wood- 
stock in  1818,  and  the  third  was  Virginia,  a  man  of 
color,  executed  at  St  Albans  in  1820.  David  Reding 
was  executed  at  Bennington  before  the  present  form  of 
government  was  established,  and  several  have  suf- 
fered, in  time  of  war,  by  sentence  of  court  martials. 
Since  the  establishment  of  the  state  prison  at  Wind- 
sor, the  average  number  of  convits  confined  there, 
has  been  about  100.  These  have  been  sentenced  for 
various  crimes,  and  for  different  terms  of  service, 
but  the  greatest  part  for  theft  and  counterfeiting. 

9.  The  laws  of  Vermont  consist  of  the  acts  of  the 
legislature,  which  are  published  at  the  close  of  the 
session,  making  an  annual  pami)hlet  of  from  50  to 
100  po^es.     Tho  first  attempts  at  legislation  in  Ver- 


KDXJCATIOK.  '.'P^ 

.'    '  '*.    '■"  . 

tnDnt  are  not  preserved.    The  laws  passed  pr€\'ious 
•to  Februaiy  1779,  are  not  on  record  in  the  office  of 
the   secretary  of   state.      The  most  important  acts 
from  that  time  down  to  the  close  of  the  year  1786,  are 
.yd^  he  found  in  the  valuable  work  entitled  "  Vermont 
•'^ate'Pdper,''^  compiled    by  the  Honorable  William 
..[Sldde,  Junior.     In  1787,  there  was  a  general  revision 
■.<lf! the  laws,  and  those  then  in  force  were  collected 
and  puljlished  in  a  single  volume.     They  were  again 
■..ifieyiBed,  digested  and   published  in  a  single  octavo 
;Voiuine  in  the  year  1825.     By  our  present  laws  every 
■  o^gdnized  town  is  obliged  to  support  all  the  poor, 
"wlio  have  a  legal  sertfement  in  the  same.     A  legal 
.•^ttlerjielitis  acquired  in  Several  ways;  as  by  a  res- 
idence of  seven  years  in  the  town,  without  expense 
.t^  the  town,  or  of  five  years  if  their  rateable  proper- 
•'i:y  has  been  set  in  the  list  of  the  town  during  that 
time  at  $60,  or  upwards.     Persons  sworn  into  town 
6jfice  two'.years,  gain  a  residence  thereby.    Married 
woitji'eh  always  have  the  settlement  of  their  husbands. 
Legitimate  children  have  the  settlement  of  their  pa- 
,irenlfe,'-and  illegitimate    children    the   setdement    of 
jheir  mothers.     Children  cannot  gain  a  settlement  in 
a.t^wri  by  birth  where  their  parents  have  not  a  legal 
^flefnent. 

:  •^l(L*fiducaiion. — There  are  few  states  in  the  Union 
in.wRich-ugeful  knowledge  is  more  generally  diffus- 
ed tljan  in  Vermont.  The  first  settlers  were  notgen- 
el'.ally  well  educated  men,  but  the  trying  circumstan- 
ces in  which  they  were  placed,  led  them  to  form  a 
ttn^  estimate  of  the  importance  of  education,  and 
we,2Uccordingly  find  them,  very  soon  after  assuming 
the»po.wers'of  government,  providing  for  the  establish- 
n^eut  of  sclijols  and  seminaries  of  teaming.  Each 
organized  town  is  divided  into  school  districts,  and 
ir^'each  district  a  school  is  maintained  during  a  part 
of >  the  year.  A  part,  antl  in  some  places,  all  of  the 
money  for  the  support  of  these  schools  is  raised  up- 
on the  Grand  List,  in  consequence  of  which  our 


336  insTour  of  \ermokt. 

schools  are  open  to  the  poor  as  well  as  the  rich,  and,, 
if  any  children  in  Vermont  grow  up  ^vithollt  a  com-  . 
petent  knowledge  of  the  common   useful  branches 
of  education,  the  fault  is   wholly  chargeable  upon 
themselves,  or  their  parents.     Besides  our  common 
schools,  academies   are  established  in  most   of  the  • 
counties,  where  instruction  may  be  had  in  the  highe;'* 
branches  of  education.     There  are  likewise  two  col- 
leges  and  three  medical  institutions  in  Vermont.    • 

11.  The  first  printing  office  was  established  in  Ver- 
mont at  Westminster  in  the  year  1778,  by  Judah  Padr 
dock,  Spooner  and  Timothy  Green.  The  same 
year  Judah  Paddock  and  Alden  Spooner  were  ap-- 
pointed  state  printers  by  the  General  Assembly.  In 
April  1781,  the  first  News  Paper  printed  in  Vennpntr 
was  published  at  Westminster  by  Judah  P.  Spoon6r 
and  Timothy  Green.  It  was  called  the  Veiinont  Gc^ 
zeite  or  Green  Mountain  Post  Boy,  and  its  motto  was 
characteristic  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Green  idoun^ 
tain  state.  ,  ' . 

"Pliant  as  reeds,  where  streams  of  freedom  glide, 
Firm  as  the  hills,  to  stem  oppression's  tide."  •    > 

This  paper  was  issued  weekly  on  Monday,  on  a 
sheet  of  pot  size,  but  was  continued  only  one  or  two' 
years.  •     . 

12.  The  second  paper  published  in  \L  was  thg  Ver- 
mont Gazette, or  Freeman^s  Depository.  ItwascoiAmeh 
ced  by  Anthony  Haswell  and  David  Russell,  June  ,5th 
1783,  and  has  been  continued  to  the  present  tinje. 
The  press  and  types  which  were  at  Westminster  haA'- 
ing  been  purchased  by  George  Hough  he  remqveed 
them  to  Windsor  in  1783,  and  in  partnership  with 
Alden  Spooner  commenced  ]mblishing  the  Verrrwnt 
Journal  and  Universal.  Advertiser  on  the  7th  of  August 
of  that  year.  This  was  the  third  paper  i)ublished.ih 
Vermont  and  the  second  which  continued  any  c«n 
siderable length  of  time.  It  is  still  continued  in  con- 
nection with  the  Republican  and  Yeoman.  There  are 
at  this  tinie  in  Vermont  no  less  than  twenty  four  pa- 


DfSEA8£8.  SST 

pers  pubVishedfweekly,  besides  three  or  four  period- 
icals whioh  are  issued  Jess  frequently. 

13.  Religion. — The  constitution  of  Vermont  secures^ 
to  every  person  freedom  of  i-eligious  opinion  and  wor- 
ship, and  declares,  "  that  no  man  can  be  compelled 
to  erect  or  support  anyplace  of  worship,  or  to  main- 
tain any  minister,  contrary  to  the  dictates  of  his  own 
concience."  No  person  can  be  deprvied  of  his  civil 
rights,  as  a  citizen,  on  account  of  his  religious  senti- 
ments, or  his  peculiar  mode  of  worship.  Yet  all  de- 
nominations are  enjoined  by  the  constitution  to  ob- 
serve the  Sabbath,  and  to  keep  up  some  sort  of  re- 
ligious worship,  which  to  them  shall  seem  most 
agreeable  to  the  revealed  will  of  God."  The  whole 
number  of  clergymen  in  this  state  is  about  350y 
and  they  are  of  the  following  denominations,  viz.. 
Congregational ists,  Methodists,  Baptists,  Freewill 
Baptists,  Presbyterians,'  Episcopalians,  Christians^ 
Universalists,  Unitarians  and  Frirnfls.  Some  new 
sects  have  occasionally  s[)rung  up  in  this  state,  but 
they  soon  came  to  nought. 

14\  Diseases. — Vermont  enjoys  a  pure  and  whole- 
some air.  The  diseases  most  common  to  our  cli- 
mate^ are  fevers,  dysentery,  consumption  and  other 
inflammatoiy  complaints,  arising  from  colds,  induced 
by  the  sudden  changes  in  the  weather  to  which  this 
state  is  subject.  The  typhus  or  slow  fever,  has  been  the 
most  common  in  Vermont,  though  it  has  not  generally 
been  very  fatal.  It  has  prevailed  more  or  less  in  almost 
every  year  since  the  settlement  of  the  state  was  com- 
menced. The  spotted  fever  commenced  its  rsvages  in 
thi*;  state  about  the  beginning  of  the  year  1811,  and 
continued  its  devastations  for  about  two  years.  This 
was  the  most  alarming  disease  ever  known  in  Ver- 
mont. It  usually  attacked  persons  of  the  most  ro- 
bust and  hardy  constitutions  and  often  proved  fatal 
in  the  course  of  a  few  hours.  It  was  not  uncommon 
that  the  patient  was  a  corpse  before  a  physician 
could  be  brought  to  his  assistance. 


238  HISTORY   OF   v|:rmont. 

15.  The  lung  fever  followed  the  spotted  fsveryand 
was  the  most  fatal  epidemic  disease  ever  experienced 
in  this  part  of  the  country.  This  disease  resembled 
the  spotted  fever,  except  in  having  its  principal  loca- 
tion upon  the  lungs,  and  being  slower  in  coming  to 
a  crisis.  It  commenced  in  this  state  in  the  autumn 
of  1812,  at  the  noithwestern  part.  It  proved  very 
mortal  in  the  United  States'  army  at  Burlington, 
carrying  off  from  10  to  12  in  a  iday,  before  it  spread 
among  the  inhabitants  :  It  was,  however,  but  a  short 
time  before  it  became  general  throughout  the  state 
In  the  course  of  the  succeeding  winter  it  swept  off 
from  20  to  60  of  the  most  respectable  and  useful  cit- 
izens in  almost  every  town.  Intermittent  fevers  were 
formerly  common  in  many  places  along  the  shores 
of  lake  Charaplain,  but  cases  of  this  disease  at  pres- 
ent very  rarely  occur.  The  dysentery  has  ever  been 
one  of  the  most  fatal  disordei-s  to  children,  and  has 
frequently  prevailed  in  different  sections  of  the  state 
to  an  alarming  degree.  This  disease  is  seldom  known, 
except  in  the  months  of  July,  August  and  Septem- 
ber. Some  cases  of  dysentery  have  occurred  almost 
every  year  since  the  state  has  been  settled;  but  they 
have  beerj  for  some  years  less  numerous  than  forrperly. 
In  the  autumn  of  1822  and  1823,  the  dysentery  ap- 
peared in  a  much  more  malignant  fonTi  than  ueual, 
and  was  very  fatal  in  some  places. 

16.  But  of  all  the  diseases,  which  continue  from 
year  to  year  to  make  their  inroads  upon  our  popula- 
tion, the  pulmonary  consumption  is  the  njost  fatal 
and  deplorable.  Slow  in  its  advances,  it  almost  im- 
perceptibly undermines  the  constitution — exhausts 
the  vital  energies,  and,  annually,  brings  down  hun- 
dreds within  this  state  to  an  untimely  grave.  The 
consumption  seems  to  have  its  origin  in  the  sudden 
changes  to  which  our  climate  is  subject,  and  as  the 
weather  has  become  more  variable  in  consequence 
of  clearing  and  cultivating  the  countjy,  we  have  an 
obvious  cause  for  the  increasing  ravages  of  the  dis- 


SEASONS.  239 

ease  ;  and  this  cause  is  not  a  little  aided  by  the  pro- 
pensity, which  prevails,  to  indulge  the  caprices  of 
of  the  fickle  goddess,  fashion.  Too  much  pains 
cannot  be  taken  Ijy  those,  who  prize  their  health, 
to  guard  themselves  against  the  effects  of  sudden 
changes  of  temperature.  The  measles,  canker  rash, 
influenza,  &c.  have  frequently  been  epidemic  in 
this  state.  To  the  Epidemic  Cholera  which  was  so 
fatal  in  many  parts  of  the  United  States  during  the 
summer  of  1832,  there  were  only  ten  or  twelve  vic- 
tims in  Vermont ;  and  it  may  be  safely  affirmed  that 
Vermont  enjoys  as  pure  an  atmosphere,  as  good  and 
wholesome  water,  and  as  healthy  a  climate  as  almost 
any  part  of  the  world. 

17.  Seasons. — The  Climate  of  Vermont  is  cold  and 
the  weather  is  subject  to  sudden  changes.  The  ex- 
tremes of  heat  and  cold  are  about  100  degrees  above, 
and  27  degrees  below,  the  zero  in  the  scale  of  Far- 
enherl's  thermometer.  But  few  observations  have 
hitherto  been  made  for  determining  the  mean  annual 
temperature.  Snow  usually  falls  about  the  first  of 
December  and  covers  the  ground  till  April,  and  du- 
ring this  time  the  cold  is  often  severe.  The  win- 
ters in  Vermont  are,  however,  milder  mid  more 
variable,  and  the  quantity  of  snow  less,  than  at 
the  time  this  state  was  first  settled.  Frost  commonlys 
cease  about  the  10th  of  May  and  commences  again 
about  the  first  of  October,  but  they  have  been  known 
every  month  in  the  year.  Ap})le-Trees  put  forth 
their  leaves  about  the  5th  of  May,  and  their  blossoms 
about  the  15th.  Indian  corn  is  planted  between  the 
10th  and  25th  of  May,  blossoms  in  July  and  is  ripe 
in  September.  Vegetation  is  about  eight  or  ten  days 
later  on  the  high  lands  thaia  it  is  along  the  lake  and 
rivers. 

18.  Vegetation  has  sometimes  suffered  for  the  want 
of  rain,  but  much  more  fi'equently  from  two  great  an 
abundance  ;  and  the  crof>s  along  our  rivers  are  fre- 
quently destroyed  by  sudden  freshets.     The  most  re- 


240  HISTORY   OF    VERMONT. 

markable  and  destructive  freshets  which  have  occur 
red  since  the  settlement  of  the  state,  w^ere  those  of 
1783,  1811  and  1830.  In  addition  to  the  vast  amount 
of  property  destroyed  by  these  floods,  many  hves 
w^ere  also  lost.  During  the  freshet  of  1830,  no  less 
than  14  persons,  were  drowned  in  the  town  of  New 
Haven  in  this  state. 

19.  Soil  and  productions. — The  soil  of  Vermont  is  in 
general,  rich  and  loamy,  producing  an  abundance  of 
those  kinds  of  vegetables,  which  are  common  in  our 
latitude.  Still  the  variety  of  soil  in  the  different 
parts  of  the  state,  is  very  considerable.  Bordering 
our  numerous  rivers,  are  beautiful  tracts  of  interval 
land,  which  consists  of  a  dark,  deep  and  fertile  allu- 
vial deposit,  very  productive  in  corn,  grain,  grass  and 
garden  vegetables.  Back  from  the  intervals,  the  land 
rises  in  some  places  gradually,  in  others  abruptly, 
into  hills,  and  further  back  into  mountains.  These 
are  intersected  by  numerous  streams,  and  in  general, 
})resent  a  broken  and  diversified  aspect.  The  up- 
lands in  many  places  are,  however,  scarcely  inferior 
to  the  intervals.  They  are  generally  sufficiently  free 
from  stone  to  admit  of  easy  cultivation,  and  produce 
good  crops  of  corn,  grain  and  grass.  Farmers,  who 
are  industrious,  seldom  fail  of  having  their  barns 
filled  with  hay  and  flax,  their  granaries  with  corn, 
wheat,  rye,  oats,  barley,  peas  and  beans,  and  their 
cellars  with  the  bestof  cider,  potatoes,  turnips,  beets, 
onions,  and  other  esculent  vegetables.  Those  hills 
and  mountains  which  are  not  arable,  on  account  of 
their  steepness  or  rocks,  afford  the  best  of  pasturage 
for  cattle  and  sheep.  The  prujcipal  articles  of  ex- 
port are  lumber,  marble,  co|)})eras,  horses,  beef,  pork, 
mutton,  pot  and  pearl  ashes,  butter,  cheese  and  wool. 
No  part  of  the  world  is  better  ada|)ted  to  the  pro- 
duction and  fattening  of  horses,  cattle  and  sheep, 
than  the  hills  and  mountains  of  Vermont.  The  rai- 
sing of  wool  constitutes  aii  important  branch  of  em- 
ployment. 


APPENDIX. 


No.  I. — Governors  and 

Lieutenant  Governors. 

Governors. 

Lieut.  Governors. 

1778 

Thomas  Chittenden. 

Joseph  Marsh. 

1779 

(t             (t 

Benjamin  Carpenter. 

1781* 

((             (< 

El  sha  Pa3'ne. 

1782 

(t                       n 

Paul  Spooner. 

1786 

(t                     n 

((             (( 

1787 

(C                           (i 

Joseph  Marsh. 

1789 

Moses  Robinson. 

((             (( 

1790 

Thomas  Chittenden. 

■-  Peter  Olcut. 

1794 

((                      u 

Jonathan  Hunt. 

1796 

t(              (( 

Paul  Brigham. 

1797 

Isaac  Tichenor. 

<(             t( 

1801 

H                          (( 

(«             (( 

1807 

Israel  Smith. 

((             i< 

1808 

Isaac  Tichenor. 

((             (t 

1809 

Jonas  Gaiusha. 

((              II. 

1813 

Martin  Chittenden. 

William  Chainberlairt^ 

1815 

Jonas  Gaiusha. 

Paul  Brigham. 

1820 

Richard  Skinner. 

William  Cahoon.. 

1822 

((             (( 

Aaron  Leland.. 

1823 

C.  P.  Van  Ness. 

((             (( 

1825 

Ezra  Butler. 

((             ((. 

1627 

((             (( 

Henry  Olin. 

1828 

Samuel  C.  Crafts. 

U                          tl 

1830 

((             i( 

Mark  Richard^?. 

1831 

William  A.  Palmer. 

Lcbbeus  Egerton. 

ift'ii 

((             (( 

((             (( 

*  In  those  years  which  are  omitted  as  from-  111%  &c. 
the  incumbents  were  continued  in  office. 
21 


342 


APPENDIX. 


No8.  II. — Treasurers  and  Secretaries. 


Treasurers. 

Secretaries  of  State. 

1778 

Ira  Allen. 

Thomas  Chandler. 

1778^ 

U                          (( 

Joseph  Fay. 

1781 

(<                        (C 

Micah  Townsend- 

1786 

Samuel  Mattocks. 

((              (( 

1788 

(C                             (( 

Rosvvell  Hopkins. 

1.01 

Benjamin  Swan. 

((             (( 

1802 

((             (( 

David  Wing  Jr. 

1806 

((             <( 

Thomas  Leverett. 

1813 

((             (t 

Josiah  Dunham. 

1815 

<(             (( 

William  Slade  Jr. 

1823 

C<                           C( 

Norman  Williams.          ' 

1831 

((                (( 

Timothy  Merrill. 

No.  1 1 1. ...Speakers  and  Clerks. 

Speakers. 

Clearks. 

1778 

Nathan  Clark. 

Benjamin  Baldwin. 

1778 

Thomas  Chandler. 

Bezaleel  Woodward. 

1779 

((             (( 

Roswell  Hopkms. 

1781 

Thomas  Porter. 

((             (( 

1782 

Increase  Mosely. 

((             (( 

1783 

Isaac  Tichenor. 

((             (i 

1784 

Nathan  Niles. 

((             (( 

'1785 

S.  R,  Bradley. 

^M 

1786 

Gideon  Olin. 

«              ^H 

1788 

((             i( 

Stephen  Jacob?. 

1790 

((             (( 

Lewis  R.  Morris. 

1791 

((             (( 

William  Eaton. 

1793 

Daniel  Buck. 

Richard  Whitney. 

1795 

Lewis  R.  Morris. 

((             (( 

1797 

Abel  Spencer. 

(t             (( 

1798 

Daniel  Farrand. 

Samuel  C.  Crafts. 

179^ 

Amos  Marsh. 

((             (( 

i8oa 

((             (( 

Nathan  Osgood. 

1801 

(t             (( 

James  Elliot. 

1802 

Abel  Spencer. 

(<             (( 

*  When  the  date  is  repeated  there  were  two  sessions  oi 
the  assembly  in  a  year. 


APPENDIX. 


248 


1803 
1804 
1806 
1808 
1S09 
181.3 
1815 
1818 
1819 
1820 
1822 
1823 
i824 
1825 
1827 
1829 
1830 
1831 
1832 


Sperkers. 

Theo.  Harrington. 
Aaron  Leland. 

Dudley  Chase. 

Daniel  Chipnian. 
Wm.  A.  Griswold. 
Richard  Skinner. 
Wm.  A.  Griswold. 
D.  Azro  A.  Buck. 

George  E-  Wales. 
Isaac  Fletcher. 
D.  Azro  A  Buck, 
Robert  B.  Bates. 
D.  Azro  A.  Buck. 
Robert  B.  Bates. 
John  Smith. 


Clerks. 

Anthony  Haswell. 
Martin  Post. 


William  D.  Smith. 


(( 

(( 

(( 

(( 

<( 

Timothy  Merrill 

(( 

>( 

(C 

t( 

u 

Charles 
Robert 

i  Davis. 
Pierpont. 

No.  IV. — Counties  and  Towns. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  time  of  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  several  counties,  and  the  number  of  town- 
ships and  gores  and  the  shire  towns  in  each. 


Counties. 

Incorporated. 

Towns. 

Gores. 

Shire  Towns, 

Addison, 

Feb.        1787 

23 

1 

Middlebury. 

Bennington,! 

Feb.  11,  1779 

17 

Bennington.   ) 
Manchester.  ) 

Caledonia, 

Nov.  5,  1792 

17 

3 

Danville. 

Chittenden, 

Oct.  22,  1782 

16 

1 

Burlington. 

Essex, 

Nov.  5,  1792 

18 

3 

Guildhall. 

Franklin, 

Nov.  5,  1792 

20 

1 

St  Albans. 

Grand  Isle, 

Nov.  9,  1802 

5 

N.  Hero. 

Orange, 

Feb.        1781 

17 

Chelsea. 

Orleans, 

Nov.  5,  1792 

23 

Irasburgh. 

Rutland, 

Feb.        1781 

26 

Rutland. 

Washington, 

Nov.  1,  1810 

17 

Montpelier. 

Windham, 

Feb.  11, 1779 

24 

4 

New  Fane. 

Windsor, 

>Feb.        1781 

23 

1 

Woodstock. 

2U 


APPENDIX. 


Nq.  v.— Judges  of  the  Snpre7ne  Court. 


nitcltdOct.,  1778. 
Musea  Robinson, 
John  Shopardson, 
John  Fassett,  jun. 
Thomas  Chandler, 
John  Throop. 

Oct.,      79. 
Motet  Robinson, 
John  Shepardson, 
John  Fassett,  jun. 
John  Throop, 
Paul  Spooner, 

Oct.,      80. 
Moses  Robinson, 
Paul  Spooner, 
John  Fassett,  jun. 
Increase  Mosley, 
John  Throop. 

Oct.,      81. 
Elisha  Pa^ne, 
Moses  Robinson, 
John  Fassett,  jun. 
Bezaleel  Woodwaid, 
Joseph  Caldwell. 

Oct.,      82, 
Moses  Robinson^ 
Paul  Spooner, 
Jonas  Fay, 
John  Fassett, 
Peter  Olcutt, 

Oct.,      83. 
Motes  Robinson^ 
Paul  Spooner, 
John  Fassett, 
Peter  Olcutf, 
Thomas  Porter. 

Oct.,      84. 
Paul  Spoontr, 
John  Fassett, 
Nathaniel  Niles, 
Thomas  Porter, 
Peter  Olcutt. 

Oct.,      85. 
Mases  Robinson ^ 
Paul  Spooner, 
*'athaniel  Nile*, 
John  Fassett, 
Thomai  Portef, 

0«.,      86. 
M»tet  Robinson, 
Paul  Spooner, 
Mathaniel  Nilen, 
Vaiha'upj  Chipmaa, 
Liika  Knowltoft. 
Ott.,       8T. 


Nathaniel  Niles, 
Paul  Spooner. 

Oct.,      88. 
Mosrs  Robinson, 
Paul  Spooner, 
Stfphen  R.   Riadley. 

0(t.,       89  &!:.      90. 
JVuLhaiiicl   Chipman, 
Noah  Smith, 
Samuel  Knight. 

Oct.,     91,  92  &  93. 
Samuel  Knight, 
Elijah  Payne, 
isuac  Tichenor. 

Oct.,      94  &  95. 
Isaac  Tichenor, 
Lot  Hall, 
Enoch  VVoodbrid^e. 

Oct.,      96. 
JVathaniel  Chipman, 
Lot  Hall, 
Enoch  Woodbridge. 

Oct.,       97. 
Israel  Smith, 
Enoch   Woodbridge, 
Lot  Hall. 

Oct.,     98,  09  &  1800. 
Enoch    TVoodbridrre, 
Lot  Hall, 
Noah  Smith, 

Oct.,      0!,<fc      02. 
Jonathan  Robinson, 
Royal  Tyler, 
Stephen  Jacob. 

Oct.,      on,  4,5  &  6. 
.Jonathan  Wnbuison, 
Royal  Tyler, 
TJieojiliikis  Jleriingtori 

Oct.,  U.=07  &  1808. 
Royal   Tyler, 
Theoph.   Hcvrington, 
Jonas  fJaiiisha. 
Oct.  lo(»U,  10,  11  &  12. 
Royal  Tyler, 
Theoph    Herrington, 
David  Fav. 

Oct.   1813  &  14. 
JVathanifl  Chipman, 
Uaniol  Farrand, 
Jonathan  H.  Hubbard. 

Oct.  1815. 
.^sa  .^Idis, 
Richard  Skinnor^ 
lames  Fisk. 
Oct.       16. 
Heka*^  Sk«D«£r 


James  Fisk, 
William  A,  Palmer. 
Oct.  1817,  18,  19  &  20. 
Dudley  Chase, 
Joel  i^loolittle, 
William  Brayton. 

Oct.,  1821. 
C.   P.    Van  JSTess. 
Joel  Doolittle, 
William  Brayton. 

Oct.,  1822. 
C.  P.    Van  JSTess, 
Joel  Doolittle, 
Charles  K.  Williams. 

Oct.,  1823. 
Richard  Skinner, 
Charles  K.  Williams, 
A.«a  Aikens. 

Oct.,  1824. 
Richard  Skinner, 
Joel  Doolittle, 
A.^a  Aikens. 

Oct.,  1825,  1826. 
Richard  Skinner, 
Samuel  Prentiss 
Titus  Hutchinson, 
Stephen  Royce  Jr. 

Oct.,    1827. 
Richard  Skinner 
Samuel  Prentiss 
Titus  Hutchinson 
Bates  Turner. 

Oct.,  1828. 
Richard  Skinner 
Samuel  Prentiss 
Titus  Hutchinson 
({jues  I'urucr 
Ephraim  Paddock. 

Oct.,  1289 
Stinniel  Prentiss 
Titus  Hutchinson 
Charles  K.  Williams 
Stephen  Royce  Jr. 
E]>li.aim  Paddock. 

Oct.,  1830. 
Titns  Hutchinson 
C.  K.  Williams 
Stephen  Royce  Jr. 
Ephraim  Paddock 
John  C.  Thompson. 

Oct.,  1831,    -32. 
TStxts  Hutchinsom 
C.  K.  Williamf 
Stephen  Royco  Ji\ 
Nicholas  Baylitia 
IS.  St  Pbeltw: 


APPENDIX. 


245 


No.  VI.— Senators  in  Congress. 
Senators,  elected.  Senators, 


Moses  Robinson, 
Isaac  Tichenor, 
Nathl.  Chipman, 
Israel  omiih, 
Jona.  Robinson, 
Jona.  Robinson, 
Isaac  Tichenor, 
Horatio  Seymour, 
Horatio  Seymour, 
Benjamin  Swift, 


Oct. 

>> 


179] 
179G 
1797 
1S03 
1807 
180S 
ISl'J 
182( 
182G 
1832 


elected. 


■Steph.  R.  Bradley,  Oct. 
Elijah  Paine,  .  '?j. 

Elijah  Paine, 
Steph.  R.  B;adley,    " 
Steph.  R.  Bradley,   " 
Dudley  Ciiase,  " 

Tames  Fisk,  " 

\Vm.  A.  Palmer,  " 
Dudley  Chase,  c" 
Samuel  Prentiss,      " 


1791 

im 

1800 
iSOl 
180G 
1812 
1817 
181& 
1824 
1830 


Representatives 


No.  VII.— Representatives  in  Congress.  j 

Term.       I  Representatives.     Term. 


Nath'l.  Niles,  1791—1795 

Israel  Smith,  1791—1797 

Daniel  Buck,  1795—1797^ 

Math.  Lyon,  1797—1801' 

L.  R.  Morris,  1/97—1803 

Israel  Smith,  1801—1803 

W.  Chamberl'n,  1803—1805 

M.  Chittenden,  1803—1813 

James  Elliot,  180.3—1809 

Gideon  Olin,  1803—1807 

James  Fisk,  1805—1809 

J.  Witherill,  1807— 180S 

Samuel  Shaw,  1808—1813 
W.  Chamberl'n,  1809—1810 

J.  H.  Hubbard,  1809—1810 

James  Fisk,  1810—1815 

Wm.  Strong,  1810—1815 

W.  C.  Bradley,  1813—1815 

Ezra  Butler,  1813—1815 

R.  Skinner,  1813—1815 

Charles  Rich,  1813—1815 

D.  Chipman,  1815—1817 

Luther  Jewett,  1815—1817 

C.  Langdon,  1815—1817 

Asa  Lyon,  1815—18171 
21* 


—1795  Charles  Marsh,  1815- 


JohnNoyes,  I8l5- 
Heman  Allen,  -1817- 
8,  C.  Crafts,  181 7- 
Wm.  Hunter,  1817- 
O.  C.  Mdrrill,  1817- 
Charles  Rich,  1817- 
Mark  Richards,  1817- 
William  Strong,  1819- 
Ezra  Meecli,  1819- 
R.  C.  Mallary,  1820- 
Elias  Keyes,  1821. 
John  Mattocks,  i821- 
VV.  C.  Bradley,  1823- 
D.  A.  A.  Buck,.  1823- 
Ezra  Meech,  1825. 
John  IMattocks,  1825. 
Geo.  E.  Wales,  1825- 
Benjamin  Swift,  1827. 
Jonathan  Hunt,  '  1827. 
Wm.  Cahoon,  1827- 
Horace  Everett,  1829. 
Heman  Allen,  1832- 
IWm.  Slade,        1832. 


-1817 
-1819 
-1825 
-1819 
-1819 
-1825 
-1821 
-,1821. 
-1821 
-1831 
-1823 
-1823 
-1827 
-1829 
-1827 
-4827 
-1829^ 
.-1^3L 
.-1832 


24fi  APPEJTDIX.  . 

No-  VIII. —Lotteries. 

The  practice  of  raising  money  by  lotteries  for  specific 
objects  was,  in  early  times,  sanctioned  by  the  legislatures 
of  most  of  the  states  in  the  Union,  and  by  that  of  Ver- 
mont  among  the  rest.  The  following  is  an  abstract  of 
the  several  acts  granting  lotteries  in  Vermont. 

1.  Feb.  27,  1783.     To  raise  $840,  for  building  a  bridge 

over  Black  river. 

2.  Oct.  26,  1789.     To  raise  X150,  for  repairing  the  road 

between  Chester  and  Black  river. 

3.  Oct.  26,  1789.      To  raise  X150,  to  aid  John  Hubbard 

in  erecting  a  brewery  in  Weathersfield. 

4.  Oct.  27,  1791,     To  raise  ^300,  to  make  a  road  from 

Woodstock  to  Rutland. 

5.  Oct.  28,  1791.     To  raise  £150,  to  repair  a  bridge  in 

Royalton. 

6.  Nov.  3,  179L      To  raise  £200,  to  aid  J.Hubbard  and  A. 

Downer  in  erecting  a  brewery. 

7.  Nov,  3.  1791.     To  raise  jC150,  for  building  a  road  in 

Shrewsbury. 

8.  Oct.  25, 1792.     To  raise  jCGOO  to  assist  in  building  a 

court  bouse  in  Rutland. 

9.  Oct.  31,  1792.    To  raise  £200,  to  Anthony  Haswell 

to  repair  loss  sustained  by  fire, 

10.  Oct.  31, 1792.    To  raise   £1200,  to  Jabez  Rogers,  to 

repair  losses  by  fire. 

11.  Nov,  8,  1702.     To  raise  £300,  for  building  a  bridge 

over  the  river  Lamoille. 

12.  Nov.  8,  1792.     To  raise   £500,  for  building  a  bridge 

over  White  river  at  Hartford. 

13.  Nov.  8,  1792.     To  raise  £150,  for  building  a  bridge 

over  Deerfield  river  at  Readsboroueh, 

14.  Oct.  25,  1793.     To  raise  $2500,  granted  to  A.  Spoon. 

er,  S.  Barrett  and  S.  Conant. 

15.  Oct.  30,  1793.    To  raise  ^500,  for  building  a  bridge  in 

Fairfax. 
16. 'Nov.  7,  1796.    To  raise   $500,   for   making   a   road 

from  Castleton  to  Sudbury. 
.17.  Nov.  8,  1796.     To  raise  §400,  for  building  a  bridge 

over  White  river  in  Stockbridge, 


APPENDIX. 


247 


18.  Not.  8,  1796.    To  raise  $500,  for  making  a  road 

from  Winhall  to  Bromlev- 

19.  March  7, 1797.    To  raise  .$500,  for  building  a  bridge 

over  Otta-Quechee  river  at  Woodstock. 

20.  March   9,1797.    To   raise  ^500,   granted    to  John 

Wood. 

21.  Oct.  30,  1798.     To  raise   ^2000,  granted  to  Joseph 

Hawkins  of  Albureh 

22.  Oct.  31,  1799.     To  raise  $1000,  granted  to  Horatio 

Knieht. 
23-  Nov.  1,  1800.     To  "raise  §4000,  granted  to  Stephen 

Con  ant. 
24  Nov.  8,  1804.     To  raise  2500,  for  building  a  bridge 

over  Otter  Creek  at  Vergennes. 


No.  IX. — Population. 


Only  five  complete  enumerations  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Vermont,  have  taken  place  since  the  organization  of  the 
government,  the  results  of  which  are  expressed  in  the 
following 

TABLE. 


Counties.       j 

1791        1800 

1810 

1820    j  1830 

Addison, 

9,488 

13,4^7 

19,993 

20,469     24,940 

Bennington, 

12,254 

14,617 

15,893 

16,125     17,470 

Caledonia, 

2,047 

7.566 

14,966 

16,669     20,967 

Chittenden, 

3,918 

9,563 

14,684 

16,055     21,775 

Essex, 

567 

1,479 

3,087 

3,334       3,981 

Franklin, 

1,939 

7,582 

16,427 

17,192     24.525 

Grand-Isle, 

1,155 

2,498 

3,445 

3.527       3,696 

Orange, 

7,334 

16,318 

21.724 

24,169     27,285 

Orleans, 

119 

1,384 

5,671 

6.819     13,980 

Rutland, 

15,565 

23,813 

29,487 

29,975     31,295 

Washington, 

711 

5,703 

10,190 

14,725     21,394 

Windham, 

17,693 

23,581 

26,760 

28,457     28,748 

Windsor, 

15,748 

26,944 

34,877 

38,233     40,623 

Total,  I  85,539   I154,465!217,804   235.749;280,679 


948 


APPENDIX. 


No,  X. — Bonks: 


In  April,  1781,  the  Legislature  of  Vermont,  for  the  payment. of 
the  State  debts,  authorized  the  issuing  of  IjIIIs  ou  the  credit  of  the 
state,  to  the  amount  of  $'25150.  These  Bills  were  to  be  redeemed 
by  the  treasurer  of  the  state,  with  specie  before  the  first  day  of 
June  1782.  The  first  bank  in  Vermont  vas  established  in  1806, 
and  consisted  of  two  branches,  one  at  Woodstock  and  the  other  at 
Middlebury.  The  next  year  two  other  branches  v/ere  establl3hefl,dne  at 
Burlington  and  the  other  at  Wfistminster.  This  bank  was  managed  by 
13  directors,  who  were  appointed  annually  by  the  legislature,  and  who 
chose  one  of  their  nund)er  president.  AH  the  property  and  profits  of 
this  bank  belonged  exclusively  to  tlie  state.  After  continuing  this 
experiment  for  a  few  years  the  bank  was  found  not  to  answer  the 
purposes  intended,  and  its  bills  were  consequently  withdrawn  from 
circulation.  There  are  at  present  17  Banks  in  Vermont,  incorporated 
as  exhibited  in  the  following. 


BANKS. 

CAPITAL. 

INCORPORATED. 

EXPIRE. 

Burlington  Bank 

$150,000 

Nov    9  1818 

Jan.  1 

1849 

Windsor  Bank 

100.000 

Nov.  9 

18 

do. 

49 

Brattleborough  Bank 

do. 

Nov.  5 

21 

do. 

37 

Rutland  Ba-ik 

do. 

Nov,  1 

24 

do. 

40 

Caledonia  Bank 

do. 

Nov.  1 

25 

do. 

41 

Montpelier  Bank 

do. 

Oct.  28 

25 

do. 

41 

St  Albans  Bank 

do. 

Oct.  29 

25 

do. 

41 

Vergennes  Bank 

do. 

Oct.  27 

26 

do. 

42 

Bennington  Bank 

do. 

Oct.  25 

27 

do. 

43 

Orange  Bank 

do. 

Nov.  3 

27 

do. 

43 

Woodstock  Bank 

do. 

Nov.  9 

31 

do. 

47 

Middlcburv  Bank 

do. 

Nov.  9 

31 

do. 

47 

Bellows  Falls  Bank 

do. 

Nov.  9 

31 

do. 

47 

Manchester  Bank 

do. 

Nov,  7 

32 

do.  ■ 

48 

Newbury  Bank 

do. 

Nov.  7 

32 

do. 

48 

Orleans  Bank 

60.000 

Nov.  8 

32 

do. 

48 

Essex  Bank 

40.000 

Nov.  7 

32 

do. 

48 

The  aggregate  capital  of  these  17  Banks  is  .$1,650,000.  Each  hank 
is  managed  by  a  board  of  five  or  seven  directors  and  their  proceed- 
ings are  annually  inspected  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  legisla- 
ture. Six  per  cent  of  the  profits  of  each  bank  iiicorporated  before 
1830,  and  ten  per  cent  of  those  incorporated  after  IHoO,  is  to  be  jjaid 
into  the  treasury  of  the  state.  A  Branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  United 
States  was  establislied  at  Burlington  in   1830. 

Although  Vermont  had  no  hanks  till  long  after  her  admission  into 
the  Union,  she  exercised  the  power  of  coining  money  sometinio  bo- 
foie  that  period.  In  1786,  Roul)en  Harmon  was  authorized  by  the 
legislature  to  estal)lish  a  mint  for  the  coining  of  co|)|>er  for  the  term 
of  eight  years  from  and  after  the  1st  of  July,  1787.  The  pieces 
coined  were  to  weigh  4  pwt.  15  grs.,  and  to  have  on  one  side  o  head 
with  the  moito  J^uctoi-if.ntc  Ycrmontcnsium ,  and  on  the  other  a  wo- 
man, with  the  letters  I  N  D.  E  T  L  I  B.,  for  Independence  and  lib- 
erty. 


APPENDIX. 


149 


No.  XI. — Colleges  in  Vermont. 


The  University  of  Vermont  was  established  at  Bur- 
lington by  an  act  of  legislature  passed  Novembers,  1791, 
and  went  into  operation  in  the  year  1800.  The  first  col- 
lege edifice  was  completed  in  1801,  and  was  IGO  feet  long, 
and  75  feet  wide  in  the  central  part  and  45  feet  on  the 
wings.  This  spacious  building  was  accidentally  consum- 
ed by  fire  on  the  27th  of  May  1824.  Three  new  buildings 
have  since  been  erected  on  the  same  site,  each  75  feet  in 
length  and  three  stories  high,  the  centre  one,  surmounted 
by  an  elegant  tower  and  dome.  The  following  table  ex- 
hibits the  succession  ot  officers  in  this  institution  in  the 
three  principal  departments. 


Presidents. 

Prof.  Math.  JV.  Phi. 

Prof.  Languages. 

1800  D.  C.  Saunders. 

1809 

James  Dean. 

1811 

<t         (( 

J.  C.  ChamberPn. 

1815  Saml.  Austin. 

G.  S.  Olds. 

James  Murdock. 

1819 

{(        (( 

Lucas  Hubbell. 

1022  Daniel  Haskell. 

James  Dean. 

((         (( 

1824  Willard  Preston. 

G.  W.  Benedict. 

J.  J.  Robertson. 

1825 

((         (( 

Wm.  A.  Porter. 

1826  James  Marsh. 

((         (1 

Joseph   Torrey. 

Middlebury  College  was  incorporated  by  the  legisla- 
ture November,  1.  1800.  Instruction  was  commenced 
in  this  institution  the  same  year.  The  following  is  a 
list  of  the  officers  in  the  three  principal  departments. 


Presidents, 

Prof.  Math 

.  JV.  Phi. 

Frof.  Languages. 

1800  Jere.  Atwater. 

1806        " 

Frederick  Hall, 

1810  Henry  Davis. 

1811        *♦        " 

Oliver  Hurlburd, 

1812 

John  Hough. 

1817 

il 

R.  B.  Patton. 

1818  Joikim  Batee. 

<i         <i 

Edward  Turner. \ 

John  Hough', 

250  APPENDIX. 

No.  XII. — Councils  of  Censors. 


List  of  the  Councils  of  Censors  elected  at  the  several 
Septenaries. 

Elected  on  the  last  Wednesday  of  March  1785. 
Increase  Moseley,  Ebenezer  Curtis,  Ebenezer  Wal- 
bridge,  Benjamin  Carpenter,  Stephen  Jacob,  Jonathan 
Hunt,  Ebenezer  Marvin,  Elijah  Robinson,  ^licah  Towns- 
end,  Joseph  Marsh,  John  Session,  Lewis  Bebee,  and  Jon- 
athan  Be  ace. 

Elected  in  1792. 

Daniel  Buck, Bridgeman,  Benjamin  Burt,  Elijah 

Dewey,  Jonas  Galusha,  Anthony  Haswell,  Roswell  Hop- 
kins, Samuel  Knights,  Beriah  Loomis,  Samuel  Mattocks, 
Elijah  Paine,  Isaac  Tichnor  and  John  White. 

Elected  in  1799. 
Moses  Robinson,  Nathaniel  Niles,  Samuel  Knights, 
Benj.  Emmons,  David  Fay,  John  White,  John  "Willard, 
Elijah  Dewey,  Jonathan  Hunt,  Noah  Chittenden,  Elias 
Buel,  John  Leverett,  and  Lot  Hall. 

Elected  in  1806. 
Moses  Robinson,  Isaac  Clark,  Apollos  Austin,  Loyal 
Case,  Udney  Hay,  Ezra  Butler,  John  Xoyes,  Mark  Rich- 
ards,  William  Hunter,  James  Tarbox,    S.  Huntington, 
Josiah  Fish,  and  Thomas  Gross. 

Elected  in  1813. 
Isaac  Tlchenor,  Nathaniel  Chipman,  William  Hall  Jr., 
Charles  Marsh,  Isaac  Bailey,  Luther  Jewett,  Ebenezer 
Clark,  Elijah  Stronsf,  Nicholas  Ba\'lies,  Robert  Temple, 
Daniel  Farrand,  David  Edmunds  and  Solomon  Bing- 
ham Jr. 

Elected  in  1820. 
Wm.  Hunter,  Charles  Rich,   Joel   Brownson,  Joseph 
Scott,  Augustine  Clark,  J.   Cushman,  J.  Y.  Vail,  Wm. 
Nutting,  John  Phelps,  Joel  Pratt,  Amos  Thompson,  Asa 
Aldis,  Jedediah  Hyde. 

Elected  in  1827. 
Asa  Aikins,  Wm.  A  Griswold,  Daniel   Kellogg,  John 
W.  Dana,   Jedadiah  H.   Harris,  Obadiah  Noble  Jr.,  Wm. 
Gates,  Wm.  Howe,'E."P.  Walton,  Bates  Turner,  Samuel 
S.  Phelps,  Leonard'Sargeant  and  Joel  Allen. 


CHRONOLOGICAL    IITDEX.  251 

TEAR.  PAOI. 

l-li>2  America  Discovcrec'  by  Christopher  ColumbuB           -  13 

l.")34  Rivor  St  Lawrence  discovered  by  J.  Cartier              -  14 

35  Cartier  visited  llochelaga — namod  it  Montreal             -  14 

1603  Chaniplaiii  first  visited  Canada        -            -            -  14 

07  Jamestown,  Va.  settled  by  the  English            -          -  17 

08  Qii.'bec  settled  liy  the  French  _  .  _  15 
O'J  Lake  Clinniplain  and  Lake  (ieorgo  Discovered        -        -  15 

09  Hudson  river  discovered  by  Henry  Uuilson  17 
14  Captain  iSniitii  ex|il>jred  tlie  (Mast  of  JSew  England  -  17 
14  New  York  Settled  by  the  DntcU  -  -  -  17 
20  riyniouth  settled  by  the  English           -          -            -  17 

23  Settlements  begnn  at  Dover  and  Portsmouth  N.  H.  18 

30  Indians  plot  the  extermination  of  the  English  -  19 
3U  Windsor,  Connecticut  settic'd  -  -  -  18 
;35  Fiiringtield,  .Massachusetts  settled  .  -  -  18 
37  \Var  with  tiie  lVt]U(i<l  Indians              -            -          -  19 

90  Inilians  destroyed  ►^ciicnoctady  and  Salmon  F.  Fort  20 

91  Colonel  S<:buyler  attacked  the  French  settlements        -  22 
1704  Deertielil  destroyed  by  the  Indians           -          -            -  23 

24  First  Settlement  made  in  the  territory  of  Vermont  25 

31  French  built  Crown  Point — Settled  in  Addison  26,  53 
41  South  line  of  Vermont  surveyed          -        -        -        -  55 

46  iloosuc  Fort  taken  by  tiin  French  and  Indians  -  27 
4G  Bridgeman's  Fort  detended  against  the  Indians          -  27 

47  Chariestown  del'endcil  by  Captain  Stevens  -  -  27 
49  First  townsiiip  granted  in  Vermont  -  -  -  55 
52  English  attempted  to  settle  at  (Jooa  -  -  -  52 
54  General  Colonial  Convention  _  -  .  -  29 
54  Settlements  made  on  Connecticut  River  -  -  -  53 
54  \\'hole  number  of  grants  in  Vermont     15         -          -  55 

54  (Jen.  liraddock  defeated  by  Frwich  ami  Indians          -  30 

55  The  French  Defeated  at  Lak«  ilcorge  -  -  32 
55  Fort  Williunj  Henry  built              -              -              -  34 

55  Bridgeman's  fort  taken  by  the  Indians                      -  160 

56  Oswego  taken  by  ilie  French            -          -  "*"   _          .  35 

57  Unsuccessful  Expedition  against  LouishurgJ            -  35 

57  Massacre  of  the  Englisii  at  Fort  AVilliam  llonry       -  37 

58  Abercrombie  defeated  at  Ticonderoga  -  -  41 
58  Louisburg  taken             -_..__  41 

58  Forts  Frontennc  and  I)u"Quesnc  taken         .         -         -  43 

59  UuelK'C  taken  by  Wolf 45 

59  French  retire  v)n  Lake  Champlain        •        -        -        -  46 

59  Rogers'  Expedition  against  the  St  Frai.cis  Indians       -  47 

60  All  Canada  Surrendered  to  the  F.ngligh         -            -  50 

61  Sixty  townships  granted  in  \'ernionl         -        -        -  55 

63  Controversy  began  between  N.  Hampshire  and  N.York  66 

64  Decided  by  the  King  in  favor  of  JSew  York  -  -  57 
6-1  Newbury  Sett!e<l          --..---  75 

65  Vermont  first  divided  into  counties  -  -  -  -  75 
71  Population'  of  Vermont  7000  -  -  .  -  -  76 
74  New  Viirk  passes  an  act  of  outlawry          -        -        -  68 

74  Remonstrance  against  said  act        -----  70 

75  Massacre  at  Westminster  March  13  .  .  -  73 
75  Battle  at  Lexington  Ajuil  19  -  -  -  -  -  74 
75  Ticonderoga  taken  by  Ethan  Allen  May,  10,          -  77 


253  CHRONOLOGICAL    INDEX. 

1775  Ethan  Allen  taken  at  Montreal,  September  S5,          -  83 

75  Colonel  S.  Warner  defeated  General  Carlton              -  84 

75  St  Johns  taken  by  General  Montgomery  November  3,  84 

75  Montreal  taken  November  13        -----  85 

75  Montgomery  defeated  and  sJain  at  duebec  December  3f  86 

76  Amer-^ans  retreat  from  Canada  -  _  _  -  88 
76  Naval  Battle  on  Lake  Champlain  October  II,  -  91 
76  Convention  met  at  Dorset  January   16  and  july  24  117 

76  .  Independence  of  the  United  States  declared  july  4  118 

77  General  Burgoyne's  council  with  the  Indians  June  21  97 
"  The  Americans  abandon  Ticonderoga  July  6  -  100 
"  Battle  at  Hubbardton  july  7  -  -  -  -  -  lOl 
"  Battle  at  Bennington  August  16  -  -  -  _  I07 
"  Burgoyne  crossed  the  Hudson  September  13  -  -  111 
"  Battle  of  September  19  -  -  -  - "  .  -  1(3 
"  Burgoyne  Surrendered  Oct.  17  -  _  -  -  114 
"  Vermont  declared  her  own  Independence  January  15  119 
"  Convention  to  form  a  Constitution  met  july  2         -  124 

78  First  meeting  of  the  Vermont  Legislature  March  12  128 
"  Sixteen  towns  from  N.  H,  united  with    Vt.  june  II  128 

79  Union  with  N.  H.  dissolved,  February  II  -  -  132 
"  Verjnont  ap{)ealed  to  the  world,  December  10          -  137 

80  Negotiation  with  Canada  begun,  March  30  -  -  146 
80  Royalton  Destroyed  by  the  Indians          -         ,        .  162 

80  Alarm  in  Windham  County         -          -          -          -  166 

81  Second  Union  with  part  of  N.  H.  April  -  -  143 
"  A  part  of  N.  Y.  received  into  Union  with  Vt.  June  16  144 
"  Colonel  1  Allen  sent  to  Canada,  May  I  -  -  149 
"  Allen's  Report  to  the  assembly  june  -  -  151 
'»  Letter  from  Lord  Germain  to  Sir  H.  Clinton  intercepted  153 
"  Allen  has  another  interview  with  the  British  in  Sept.  154 
"  The  Birlish  army  advanced  up  the  lake  October  -  155 
>'  Vermont  applies  for  admission  into  the  Union  -  167 
"  Preliminary  requisition  of  Congress,  August  20          -  165 

82  Gen.  Washington  wrote  to  Gov.  Chittenden  Jan.  1  172 
82  Vt.  Resolved  to  comply  with  the  resolution  of  Aug.  20  173 
82  Vt.  dissolved  her  Unions  February  22  -  -  173 
84  Distuil)ance3  in  Windham  County  -  -  -  182 
88  Peace  between  G.  Riitain  and  tlie  United  States  185 
90  Controversy  with  New  York  Settled            -            -  188 

9  1  Vermont  admitted|{intOf,tho  Union  March  4          -  190 

97  Resignation  and  death  of  Governor  Chittenden        -  194 

97  Parties  first  distinctly  formed  in   Ferment            -  199 

97  Mr.  Tichenor  elected  Governor        -        .        -        -  200 

1800  Middlebnry  College  incorporated           _          ,          -  204 

06  State  Bajik  established        -----  210 

07  Israel  Smith  d'cted  governor        _          .        _          -  210 

08  Black  Snakoatfair             -             -            -            -        -  214 

09  Jonas  Galnsha  tirst  elected  govornor  -  -  -  211 
10  I.  Smith  4th  Governor  of  /^'crniont  di«d> 

12  Embargo  laid  for  90  days  April  3           -         -          -  212 

12  War  declared  w'th  G.  Britain  June  18            ri        -  212 

13  Capture  of  the  Growler  and  Eagle        -  >fc"*  k         "     /  ^^^ 

14  Battle  at  La  Cole  Milli.  -  -  -  T  --\  y  I  ai7 
14  Battle  at  Plaltsburyh  September  11        -          -\     '-   •'  »17 


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