University of Vermont - Ariel Yearbook (Burlington, VT)

Page 22 text:

4 20 TI-IE ARIEL, 1907 they should assemble at Chimney Point, on Lake Champlain, one week from that day, to form themselves into a company, ready to march to the Nation's defence. Ethan Allen's no less eager and burning lieutenant was off upon his mission ere the sun of that day had reached the zenith. He went on foot and alone, traversing the almost pathless woods along Otter Creek and Little Otter, crossing both streams in the clumsy dug-outs of settlers and bearing gradually southwestward till he came out upon the shore of Lake Champlain and saw its beautiful mountain-bordered waters sparkling in the sun. Thence he followed the shore till he came opposite frowning Fort Ticonderoga, where a British garrison under Laplace lay in careless, insolent security. The Green Mountain Boy watched the fort intently for a time, hoping to gather some report of the garrison there to bear to his commander, but not a human being stirred outside the gloomy walls, the fort lay as grim and silent as if deserted. Suddenly, however, the young patriot started. A voice rang out over the forest-mantled wilderness,-a voice faint and far away, yet clear and resonant as some chapel bell. It was evening, and mists were gathering on the lake and floating over its surface like wandering spirits. At first, the young man thought the voice might come from some 'voyagemds canoe, hidden in the drifting fog, but presently he perceived that it came from above rather than below, from behind and not in front. He bent his head like a listening hound. The voice seemed ringing out in sharp, clear, distinct commands, like military orders. More than once the Green Mountain Boy was sure he heard the command March! and his eyes involuntarily sought the gray fort, scarce half a mile away across the narrowing channel of the lake. But there all was as still and motionless as if the whole garrison lay wrapped in sleep. At length the' listener became convinced that the voice proceeded from the rugged, precipitous side of Mount Defiance, towering behind him on the Vermont side of the lake, and he determined, while yet the light lingered, to investigate. Perhaps reinforcements for the British were coming over the mountain. Here would indeed be important, though unwelcome news for Ethan Allen. But better know the worst 1

Page 21 text:

THE ARIEL, 1907 19 Che flbaster of the flbist It 'Gale of jfort 'Giconberoga By JAMES BUCKI-IAM N ALL that I have read of American colonial history and tradition I can recall but one reference, and that an obscure one, to the strange Hermit of Mount Defiance. And yet in some respects no more patriotic figure adorns the annals of our great VVar for Independence. A weird, thoroughly romantic figure, certainly, is that of the I-Iermit, yet heroic in its large outlines, in its devotion and its sublime faith in the cause of American freedom. XV hat I have to tell about this romantic character is the story of my grandfather's grandfather, that came to me by word of mouth in my boy- hood, and has never yet appeared in any Written or printed document. I repeat it as my grandfather repeated it to meg he having received it from his grandfather one winter night as they sat in the glow of the great kitchen fireplace, with the northwest wind shrieking over the chimney of the Vermont farmhouse. ' My grandfather's grandfather was one of Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys, and lived next-door neighbor to that inflexible patriot in the then New I-Iampshire Grants, whither both had removed from Connecticut. On the day when the news of the Battle of Lexington reached the Grants, Allen, on a foaming horse, drew rein at my ancestor's door, and exclaimed: By the God of heaven, Lewis, the British have fired on our patriots and the war has begun! I-Ienceforth every American heart is red with that martyr' blood, and by great Jehovah! we will wash out the stain in the blood of the slayer! I Then the fiery patriot instructed his subordinate to carry word to the Green Mountain Boys, as far to the southwest as Skeensboro, that

Page 23 text:

THE ARIEL, 1907 21 than be unprepared for it! The young patriot's heart beat fast against his ribs as he crept up the darkening slope of the mountain, but it was with excitement rather than fear,- else he had speedily sought conceal- ment in that vast wilderness of woods. Yet he proceeded with caution, for he realized the importance of the mission on which he had been sent and would not endanger its accomplishment by any indiscretion or foolhardiness. At length, coming to a series of bare ledges, mounting one above another like the steps of a giant's stairway, he saw on the topmost shelf the figure of an old man, extending his right arm as if in command over the fast-darkening valley. Clearly audible now to the listener was the voice of that strange personage, as it rang out over the woods and lake:- Halt! Fix bayonets! Column left-march! Charge! As he gave this last command the old man ran excitedly to and fro along the edge of the rock, waving his arms and cheering till the cliffs and woods echoed. To the wondering Green Mountain Boy, concealed in the edge of the-forest, it seemed as if indeed regiments of soldiers must be pouring down the mountain side, and he listened, trembling, for the clank of scabbards and the tread of a thousand feet. Yet all was still as death throughout the woods,- all save the echoes of that wildly ringing, imperious voice. Could it be that this old man was indeed alone on the mountain? Was he mad, that he shouted thus to invisible hosts? Slowly the truth forced itself upon the Green Mountain Boy, that here was no real military commander, ordering the movements of actual troops, but only some crazed hermit, to whose disordered imagination platoons of shadows were marching through the air. At length the young man determined to step forth and make his presence known. Advancing beyond the shadow of the woods, therefore, and climbing to the top of the first ledge, he interrupted the frenzy of the old man with a ringing shout. ' The fantastic figure stopped and gazed downward. Coward! why hast thou lagged behind? 'i he shouted. VVhoever thou art, I command thee, hasten forward to thy place in rank! See! the army has reached the shore of the lake, and is about to embark. Hasten! or thou wilt be