cation between New
York and Canada. A few men were raised, which chiefly consisted of a
hardy race called Green Mountain Boys, and Ethan Allen, a Presbyterian
volunteer, was placed at their head. This force was unexpectedly joined
by Colonel Arnold, who after the battle of Lexington had received
a commission for the same purpose from the provincial congress of
Massachusets Bay. Arnold agreed to act under Allen, and they proceeded
together towards Ticonderoga. Captain Le Place, who commanded at
this fort, was a friend of Ethan Allens, and taking advantage of this
circumstance, Allen left his men in a wood hard by, and went to
the captain, and induced him to lend twenty of his soldiers for the
pretended purpose of assisting him in transporting some goods across the
lake. Allen having obtained his request, next made the soldiers drunk,
and then on the approach of night he drew his people from the woods,
and hastened to the fort. There were yet about forty soldiers with the
captain, but expecting no mischief there was not a single sentry on
duty, and the followers of Allen rushed into the place undetected,
and bade the soldiers lay down their arms. The captain asked by what
authority they required him to surrender the king's fort, to which Ethan
Allen replied, like a Puritan of old times, "I demand it in the name of
the Great Jehovah, and of the congress." There was no alternative, and
the captain responded to the demand: the place was captured with all
its store of ammunition and provisions. Ethan Allen next turned his
attention to the fort of Crown Point, which was reduced without any
difficulty, as there were neither found guard nor garrison therein.
Allen also surprised Skenesborough, a place occupied by Major
Skene, with his son and a few negroes, who were all made prisoners.
Intelligence of these events soon reached, congress; but though they
rejoiced at the spirit of enterprise displayed by Allen and his men,
they still feared that they might be charged with aggression at a time
when they were expressing a desire of accommodation; and under these
circumstances they recommended the committees of New York and Albany to
remove the stores to the south of Lake George, in order that they might
be restored when the breach was healed between Great Britain and her
colonies.

EXPEDITION AGAINST CANADA.

On the return of Allen from this enterprise, Colonel Arnold consented to
remain in garrison. Arnold, however, was not