HISTORY OF VERMONT. 105 



. As out two o'clock in the morning of July 

 the sixth, St. Clair left Ticonderoga ; and about 

 three, the troops from mount Independence, 

 v/ere put in motion. A French officer, M. Fer- 

 moy, contrary to orders, set fire to his housCj 

 and the whole mount was soon enlightened by 

 it. This event afforded compleat information to 

 the enemy, of what was going forward, and en- 

 abled them to see every movement of the A- 

 mericans ; at the same time it impressed the 

 latter with such an idea of discovery and danger^ 

 as precipitated them into great disorder and con- 

 fusion, many pushing off without much regard 

 to discipline or regularity. About, four o'clock^ 

 colonel Francis, a Massachusetts officer, brought 

 off the rear guard in good order, and conducted 

 their retreat in a regular manner ; and soon af- 

 ter some of the other regiments, through the 

 exertions of their officers, recovered from their 

 confusion. When the troops arrivfcd at Hub- 

 bardton, they were halted for nearly two hours ; 

 and the rear guard was increased by many who 

 did not at first belong to it, but were picked up 

 on the road, having been unable to keep pace 

 widi their regiments. The rear guard was here 

 pat under the command of colonel Seth War- 

 ner, with orders to follow the army as soon as^ 

 the whole came up, and to halt about a mile 

 and a half short of the main body. The army 

 then proceeded to Castleton, about six miles^ 

 further ; colonel Warner, with the rear guard 

 and stragglers, remaining at Hubbardton. 



The retreat of the Americans from Ticon- 

 deroga was no sooner perceived by the British^ 

 t^han brigadier general Frazier began an eager 



VOL. II. N 



