besieged by that same people, who now scorn your tottering power, and who, appealing from tyranny to God, are proud of the noble, the grand, the sublime death of the patriot. Look to your crouching lion,—the eagle will yet flap his wings in triumph over his mangled carcass, and the good and the wise in other countries will hail the happy omen of a world liberated from the thraldom of ages. 66 The bright day is dawning, when the West CHAPTER III. Warlike Preparations throughout the Colonies-Ticonderoga and Crown Point taken-Taking of Skeenesborough and Garrison. "In the name of the Great Jehovah, and of the Continental Congress." I'm all submission; what you'd have it, make it.” WHILE the theatre of war was in the vicinity of Boston, other provinces were making active preparations for doing their part. The city of New York, where the English had the most friends, and which had hitherto manifested such reserve, became enthusiastic in the common cause with the colonies, after the battle of Lexington. The inhabitants adopted the resolutions of the general Congress: military training was commenced and steadily pursued; the arms and ammunition deposited in the royal magazines were seized; the women and children were removed from the seat of danger, and every preparation was made to defend themselves; and in case of failure it was resolved to destroy the city by fire! This threat perhaps had a tendency to bring over some of the tories, as the adherents of the king were called, since the time of the "Boston port bill," to distinguish them from the whigs, who favoured the cause of Boston. In South Carolina the people received the intelligence of the battle of Lexington with surprise and apprehension. Exposed to the formidable squadrons of Great Britain along their entire coast, 200 miles in length, without possessing arms and ammunition themselves, placed them in a very critical situation, especially as their own slaves might be bribed to massacre their masters. The people, however, were not to be intimidated by their unfavourable position, but on the night subsequent to the advice of the hostilities at Lexington, they rushed to the arsenal, took all the arms and ammunition, and distributed them among the soldiers in the pay of the province. A provincial Congress was convoked, where it was resolved that the Carolinas be united for the defence of their country, and that they were ready to march, whenever and wherever the Congress, whether general or provincial, should judge necessary. In New Jersey troops were levied, and the provincial treasure was taken possession of by the people to pay these troops. Maryland was in motion. The military stores and public magazines at Baltimore were taken by the people, in which, among other things, they found 1500 muskets. The inhabitants of Philadelphia passed such resolutions as they deemed best calculated to defend the common cause, notwithstanding the tardy movements of the Quakers, with their pacific ideas. The spirit, however, moved even them at last to lean on the side of the provincials. It may here be remarked that “The Assembly of Pennsylvania, convened about the close of the year 1774, was the first constitutional authority which ratified, formally, all the acts of Congress, and elected deputies for the ensuing. A convention having soon after been formed in this province, it was therein declared that, if the petition of Congress was rejected, and the government should persist in attempting to execute by force the late arbitrary acts of Parliament, it would then be requisite to resist also with open force, and defend, at all hazards, the rights and liberties of America. Not content with words, this Assembly recommended that provisions should be made of salt, gunpowder, saltpetre, iron, steel, and other munitions of war. Charles Thomson, and Thomas, afterwards General Mifflin, both men of great influence in the province, and much distinguished for their intellectual endowments, were very active on the occasion, and by their exertions the resolutions of the convention were executed with singular promptitude and vigour." The provincial Congress of Virginia, convened in the month of March, had recommended that volunteers should be raised in each county. The governor, Lord Dunmore, at these proceedings became exceedingly indignant; and apprehending the people intended to take possession of the public magazine at Williamsburg, he had all the powder conveyed on board an armed vessel, anchored in James river, in the night. The people, violently exasperated, flew to arms, but the municipal council interposing, succeeded in repressing the tumult and restoring tranquillity. The barbarous menaces of the governor to arm the blacks against their masters, and to destroy the city, spread the spirit of resistance anew like a mighty conflagration through the colony. Meetings were held in all the counties, where the conduct and menaces of the governor were denounced with great asperity; and in the county of Hanover and around it, the people took up arms, and, commanded by Patrick Henry, one of the delegates of the general Congress, marched against the city of Williamsburg to demand restitution of the powder, and to secure the public treasury against the attempts of the governor. After some of these volunteers had arrived in the suburbs of the city, a parley was opened-tranquillity was restored for the present, and the people returned to their homes. The governor now resorted to the usual plan of tyrants or their agents for supporting a sinking power against reason and justice. He fortified his palace as strongly as possible, placed a garrison of marines within, and surrounded it with artillery! From this palace, prison, or fortification, his lord ship issued a proclamation, declaring Henry and his followers rebels, and attributed the present commotions to the disaffection of the people. These were certainly not the most prudent measures to conciliate the good will of an insulted community. The inhabitants of Connecticut, not satisfied with mere legislation, undertook a very important enterprise. Expecting the war to continue, and knowing the importance of occupying the fortresses of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, they resolved to take them by surprise. The first of these, standing on Lake Champlain, near the north end of Lake George, upon the frontier, at the very entrance of Canada; and the other near the southern extremity of Lake Champlain, form the gates or keys of that province; and whoever occupied these posts could prevent all communication between it and the colonies. It was also known that the fortresses, though furnished with a very numerous artillery, of which the Americans were much in need, were left to the charge of a feeble detachment, the Governor of Canada not apprehending any danger. To strike such a bold blow, successfully, in the first warlike operations, would also have the effect of stimulating the ardour of the people. The troops were assembled at Castleton, on the great road to Ticonderoga, under the command of Colonel Ethan Allen. The greater number coming from the Green Mountains, called themselves Green Mountain Boys. Colonel Benedict Arnold, a man possessed of extraordinary genius and an intrepidity which at times almost resembled madness, had actually conceived the same plan. He had conferred with the committee of safety of Massachusetts, who appointed him Colonel, and gave him authority to levy soldiers. When Arnold arrived at Castleton, he was very much surprised to find himself anticipated; but determined to have a fight, at all events, he placed himself under the command of Colonel Allen, and they proceeded to execute their enterprise. Posting sentinels upon the roads, the commanders of the fortresses did not receive intelligence of their approach. If this precaution had been neglected, reinforcements would have been drawn from the neighbouring fortress of St. John. Arriving at lake Champlain in the night, opposite Ticonderoga, Allen and Arnold crossed over to the other bank, near the fortress. At day-break, while the garrison was yet asleep, they entered by the covered way, arrived upon the esplanade, raised a deafening shout of victory, and made all the noise and uproar in their power. The soldiers of the garrison started up from their sleep, and immediately commenced firing. A scuffle took place, but the British commander appearing, Allen demanded the fort. "By what authority?" asked the commander. "In the name of the Great Jehovah, and the Continental Congress," said Allen. Such a startling declaration might have overawed Cerberus himself. The effect was the obedience of the summons, and the surrender of the fort, with all its stores. Allen did not act under the authority of the Continental Congress, though he took the fort in its name. He acted under the authority of the state of Connecticut alone. The Americans obtained at this fort, 120 pieces of brass cannon, several howitzers and mortars, 1 cohorn, bombs, 10 tons of musket balls, 3 cart-loads of flints, 30 new carriages, 30 barrels of flour, and 18 of pork, &c. Crown Point was taken soon after, without difficulty, where over 100 pieces of artillery were found. With a view to control the lake, our heroes armed a schooner, the command of which was given to Arnold, while Allen was to bring on his men upon flat-boats, to take the only ship of the royal navy then on the lake, and which the English kept at anchor near fort St. John. Arnold, with a favourable wind, soon left the boats in the rear, and coming alongside of the British ship, he took possession of it without resistance, and returned with his prize to Ticonderoga. Allen, also, surprised and took Skeenesborough, with its garrison. Having appointed Arnold to command the fortresses in chief, Allen returned to Connecticut. If we felt disposed continually to remind the reader of our promise to give the war maxims of our heroes practically, we might here say, for Allen and Arnold, secrecy, despatch, and |