HISTOkt OF VERMONT. 177 



they were drawn up liwder the influence of that 

 state ; arid that their independence must be sup- 

 ported, with the ^ame firmness and spirit, with 

 which it had been declared : And they served 

 only to confirm the resolution of a people, who 

 with all the hardihood of antiquity, were well 

 acquainted with the nature and origin of their 

 own rights. 



During thi^ period, ho conti-oversy had 

 arisen with New Hampshire. That state had 

 go!ie flirtlier than any other, to admit ahd ac- 

 knowledge the independence of Verrriont. On 

 the 6th of July, 1777, the American army sta- 

 tioned at Ticonderotra, was forced to abandoil 

 that important post to the formidable army 

 commandc^d by general Burgoyne. THe people 

 in most of the towns on the west side of tlie 

 tnouhtains, were oblijied to abandon their habi- 

 tations, \vith circumstances of great distress and 

 confusion. 



The convention of Vermont was then sitting, 

 at Windsor. Their committee wrote in the*- 

 :^ost pressing terms,* to the committee of safe- 

 ty at Exeter in New Hampshire, for assistance i 

 informing them at the same time, if none should 

 be afforded, they must immediately retire into 

 the New England States, for support and safety. 

 The assembly of New Hampshire was immedi- 

 ately called together :' They put a large body of 

 their militia under the command of general 

 Stark, and gave him orders to " repair to 

 Charlestown on Connecticut river ; there to 

 consult with a committee of the New Hampshire 

 g-rants, respecting his future operations, and the 



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VOL. ir. X 



