HISTORY OF VERMONT. 135 



sures of general Burgoyne, had roused the re- 

 sentment and indignation of the New England 

 States, the prospect of success had increased 

 their courage and animation ; and the people 

 were everv where in motion. Findinsr that re- 

 inforcements were, and probably would be con- 

 stantly arriving, general Lincoln determined ta 

 make a diversion in the rear of the enemy. He 

 marched himself with the militia that had joined 

 him, from Manchester to Pawlct. From thence,' 

 on September the thirteenth, he sent off colonel 

 Brown with five hmidred men to the landing at 

 Lake George, to destroy the British stores, and 

 to release the American prisoners that had been 

 collected at that place. Colonel Johnson was 

 despatched with the same number of men to 

 Mount Independence. Johnson was to amuse 

 and alarm the enemy at the north end of Lake 

 George, while Brown was executing the busi- 

 ness at the south end : If circumstances and 

 opportunity favored, they were to join their 

 troops, and the one was to attempt Ticondero- 

 ga, and the other Mount Independence ; bCit 

 they were not to risk the loss of many men in" 

 tliese attempts. The same number of men were 

 also sent on under colonel Woodbridge, to 

 Skeensborough ; thence to fort Anne, and so 

 On to fort Edward. The design v/as to alarm 

 and divide the British forces and attenticii, by 

 assaulting all their out posts and stations at the 

 same time. With so much secresy and address 

 were these operations conducted, that by Sep- 

 tember the eighteenth. Brown had effectually 

 ^uiprised all the out posts between the landing 

 place at the north end of Lake George, and the 



