HISTORY OF VERMONT. 5$ 



Parsons, and others engaged in the affair. The 

 success depended on the secresy with which the 

 affair could be managed. I'heir first object was 

 to^obtain a sum of money to bear the necessary 

 expences. They procured this to the amount 

 of about eighteen hundred dollars, from the 

 general assembly of Connecticut, by way of 

 loan. Several of the militia captains pushed 

 forward to Salisbury, the northwestern town in 

 that colony ; and alter a little consultation con- 

 cluded not to spend any time in raising men, 

 but to procure a quantity of powder and ball, 

 and set off immediately for Bennington, and en- 

 gage Ethan Allen in the business. With his 

 usual spirit of activity and enterprise, Allen un- 

 dertook the management of the scheme ; and 

 set off to the northward, to raise and collect all 

 the men that he could find. The Connecticut 

 gentlemen having procured a small quantity of 

 provisions, went on to Castleton ; and were 

 there joined by Allen, with the men that he had 

 raised from the new settlements. The whole 

 number that were assembled amounted to two 

 hundred and seventy, of which two hundred 

 and thirty were raised on the New Hampshire 

 grants, distinguished at that time by the name 

 of Green Mountam Boys ; so called, from the 

 green mountains, amon^ which they resided. 

 Sentries were immediately placed on all the 

 roads, and the necessary measures taken to pro^^ 

 cure intelligence of the state of the works and 

 garrison at Ticonderoga. 



While Allen and his associates were col- 

 lecting at Castleton, colonel Arnold arrived, at- 

 tended only by a servant. This officer belong- 



