HISTORY OF VERMONT. 3| 



party, he gave them the necessary information, 

 and the same night they began their march to 

 the fort. 



With so much expedition and secresy had 

 the enterprise been conducted, that colonel Al- 

 len arrived at Orwell, opposite to Ticonderoga, 

 on the ninth of May at night, with his two hun- 

 dred and thirty green mountain boys, without 

 any intelligence or apprehension on the part of 

 the garrison. It was with difficulty that boat? 

 could be procured to pass the lake ; a few how- 

 ever being collected, Allen and Arnold passed! 

 over, with eighty three men, and landed near 

 the works. Arnold now wished to assume the 

 command, to lead on the men, and swore that 

 he would go in himself the first. Allen swore 

 that he should not, but that he himself would 

 be the first man that should enter. The dis- 

 pute beginning to run high, some of the gentle- 

 men that were present interposed, and it was 

 agreed that both should go in together, Allen 

 on the right hand, and Arnold on the left. On 

 the tenth of May, in the gray of the morning, 

 they both entered the port leading to the fort, 

 followed by their men. The sentry snapped his 

 fusee at Allen, and retreated through the cover- 

 ed way. The Americans followed the sentry, 

 and immediately drew up on the parade. Cap- 

 tain De la Place commanded, but he was so lit- 

 tle apprehensive of any danger or hostility, that 

 he was surprised in his bed. As soon as he 

 appeared, he was ordered to surrender the fort. ■ 

 Upon what authority do you require it, said 

 De la Place. " I demand it, said Allen, in the 

 name of the great Jehovah, and the Continental 



