36 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



ed to New Haven in Connecticut. As soon a^ 

 the news arrived at that place that hostilities hacf 

 commenced at Lexington, Arnold, then a cap= 

 tain, set out at the head of a volunteer company, 

 and marched with the greatest expedition to 

 Cambridge. The day after his arrival, he at- 

 tended the Massachusetts committee of safety, 

 and reported to themi that the fort at 'i'iconde- 

 roga was in a ruinous condition ; that it was 

 garrisoned by about forty men, and contained a 

 large quantity of artillery and military stores ; 

 and might easily be captured. The committee 

 wished to avail themselves of his information 

 and activity ; and on the third of May, appointed 

 him a colonel, and gave hipi directions to enlist 

 four hundred men, and march for the reduction 

 of Ticonderoga. Under these orders, and with 

 this design, he joined the men that were assem- 

 bling at Castleion ; but was unknown to any of 

 them but a Mr. Blagden, one of the Connecticut 

 officers. His commission being examined, it 

 was agreed in a council, that he should be ad- 

 mitted to join and act with them ; but that Al- 

 len should also have the commission of a colo- 

 nel, and have the command ; and that Arnold 

 should be considered as his assistant. 



To procure intelligence, captain Noah Phelps, 

 one of the gentlemen from Connecticut, dis- 

 guised himself in the habit of one of the poor 

 settlers, and went into the fort, pretending he 

 wanted to be shaved, and enquired forabarben 

 Affecting an awkward appearance, and asking- 

 many simple questions, he passed unsuspected, 

 and had r.n oppoitunity to observe the state of 

 every thing within the v/alis. Returning to his 



