HISTORY OF VERMONT. 45 



scntlal articles of powder and ball, and by the 

 undisciplined and disorderly behaviour of his 

 men. 



While Montgomery was thus employed at 

 St. Johns, colonel Ethan Allen made a rash and 

 romantic attempt upon ivlontreal. He had been 

 sent by the general with a guard of eighty men, 

 on a tour into the neighbouring villages. On 

 his return he was met by a major Brown who 

 had been on the same business. It was agreed 

 between them to make a descent upon the island 

 pf Montreal. Allen was to cross the river, and 

 land with his party a little north of the city ; 

 while Brown was to pass over a little to the 

 south, with near two hundred men. Allen 

 crossed the river in the night as had been pro- 

 posed, but by some means Brown and his pirty 

 failed. Allen soon found himself in a critical 

 situation. His party was altogether insufficient 

 to attempt any thing against Montreal, and the 

 enterprise had been undertaken without the 

 knowledge of Montgomery or any expectation 

 of assistance from him. Instead of returning, 

 Allen with great rashness, concluded to main- 

 tain his ground. General Carlcton soon re- 

 ceived intelligence of Allen's situation, and the 

 smallness of his numbers j and marched out a- 

 gainst him with about forty regulars, and a con- 

 siderable number of English, Canadians and In=- 

 diims ; amounting in the whole, to some hun- 

 dreds. Allen attempted to defend him.self, but 

 it was to no purpose. Being deserted by seve- 

 ral of the Canadians, and having fifteen of his 

 men killed, he was taken prisoner, on Septem- 

 ber the twenty fifth, with thirty eight of his mcHj 



