part of this State, occasioned by the Revolutionary War, as well as the . documentary history connected therewith. Every intelligent Vermonter already knows that but very little has heretofore been published in relation to the Revolutionary military operations in Vermont or northern department. Therefore, to investigate the facts at this late day, and ascer tain whether this State has a just claim upon the Government of the United States for expenses incurred during the Revolutionary War, the whole field must be examined. Whatever documents we are deficient of in our State department, immediately connected with said facts, it becomes necessary to procure and arrange. I have endeavored to do this in as prudent and perfect a manner as iny personal means and time assigned would permit. In doing this, I was under the necessity of examining the many hundred bound volumes of manuscripts in the different State departments. I am nearly able to note the volume, page, date and substance of the documents needed, and in some instances have copied, and procured copied, important documents.

At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, each of the then thirteen States or Colonies were in a manner bounded by their several grants or charters from the English crown; but in forming the confederacy, the New Hampshire Grants could not be considered as belonging to said Union. The State of New Hampshire previous to this date had relinquished her claim. New York, by improper means, procured a decree from the crown, extending her bounds to the west bank of Connecticut River. Yet, on petition of the Green Mountain Boys, the crown was graciously pleased virtually to rescind the aforesaid decree as early as A. D. 1767.

The people of this State, for the purpose of establishing government, met in convention from time to time, and at length, on the 15th of January, A. D. 1777, in convention at Westminster, declared this State a free and independent State. From that period until this State was admitted into the Union, we were in most instances treated as a distinct commnnity, both by friends and foes.

The important military services rendered the United States by the patriots of this new self-created republic during the Revolution, need only to be partially enumerated, in order to enable any man to come to just and honest conclusions as to the importance of those services. On receipt of the news of the British striking their first blow at Lexington, a few patrlots assembled together at Bennington to consult for the general good. The proceedings at Westminster on the 13th of March previous were discussed, also the proceedings of the convention at Westminster 12th April. Their difficulties with their old adversary, New York, were revived. The question-what is best to be done, all things considered? was then under consideration. We find these few patriots thus situated, without funds, with few implements of war, contemplating on the vast importance of surprising and taking the Gibralter of America, a place which took the whole united colonies, aided by the crown, years to subdue, previous to A. D. 1759. Col. Ethan Allen and Col. Seth Warner favored the design;-this was enough. The Green Mountain Boys were invited to join,--they assembled at Bennington. It was then that they were joined by a few individuals from Connecticut and Berkshire County. From thence they marched, under the command of Allen, and in the gray of the morning on the 10th day of May, A. D. 1775, Allen, on the walls of Ticonderoga, issued his proclamation in behalf of the Green Mountain Boys and Continental

Congress, Warner surprised the fort at Crown Point and the nest that formed a communication betwixt the colonies and Canada. Not yet satisfied, follow them to Canada Fort St. John surrendered, and they returned with their shipping, cannon and militarystores in triumph to Ticonderoga. Again follow the Green Mountain Boys to Canada, under the command of Schuyler, then Montgomery, Allen, Warner and Baker, to the close of that campaign. Again on receipt of the news of the defeat_and death of Gen. Montgomery, their beloved friend, we find Warner at Bennington, with Ira Allen, Bowker, Safford and Brunson, recruiting a regiment of Mountain Boys, soon on their march in the dead of winter, 1776, for Quebec, for the relief of the long neglected aud suffering American army; and there, amidst disease and death, Warner makes his report of having 291 effective men, exclusive of officers. Follow the Americans in their retreat from Quebec. You there find Warner, with the sons of this republic, protecting the rear of the American army, closely pursued by the enemy, picking up the lame and diseased, assisting and encouraging those who were the most unable to take care of themselves, and generally keeping but a few miles in advance of the British, who were rapidly pursuing the American army from post to post. By steadily pursuing this conduct he brought off most of the invalids, and with his corps of infirm and diseased he arrived at Ticonderoga a few days after the body of the army had taken possession of that post. Highly appreciating his extraordinary exertions, the American Congress, on the 5th day of July, A. D. 1776, the day after they had declared Independence, resolved to raise a regiment out of the troops which had served with so much reputation in Canada. Warner was appointed Col., and Safford, Lieutenant Col. of this regiment, and repaired to Ticonderoga, where they remained till the close of the campaign.

At the time the American army returned to Ticonderoga, sick, naked and broken hearted, without provisions, &c. to whom did they apply for immediate relief but to the Committee of Safety at Bennington, for a regiment of soldiers and for provisions? This request was received at 11 o'clock, A. M. At 3 o'clock, P. M. the Committee returned answer, saying "1000 bushels of wheat is now ready, part at the mill grinding. Teams will start tomorrow with loads of flour, and will forward the remainder as soon as you will send men to drive the teams, for our men are now almost all with you." Again follow the Green Mountain Boys, 6th July, A. D. 1777, at the time St. Clair ordered Ticonderoga evacuated. The last to leave the fort, Warner, with his boys, was ordered by St. Clair to cover the retreat of the Continental army. Overtaken and surrounded by the enemy, and forsaken by St. Clair, he fought his way through all opposition, brought off the troops that refused to capitulate with Hale, checked the enemy in their pursuit, and contrary to all expectation arrived safe at Manchester.

What next? Gen. Philip Schuyler, Commander-in-Chief of the northern army, requires Warner and Stark forthwith to march from Manchester to Stillwater. The Cabinet Council of this Republic entered their solemn protest against Gen. Schuyler's power to give directions to the military operations in this Republic, (he being nothing more than a Continental officer.) The Council required Stark and Warner to march to Bennington. Here many of the left wing of Burgoyne's army found their grave, and the remainder safely camped in Bennington meeting-house, well guarded by the sons of freedom.

Where next? A portion of our troops are on their way to aid Gen. Gates

in his operations against Burgoyne. The remainder, in Burgoyne's rear, under the command of Col. Samuel Herrick, took possession of Burgoyne's reinforcement at Ticonderoga landing, with 200 batteaux and one schooner loaded with provisions and military stores, 291 prisoners; released 100 Continental prisoners taken at Hubbardton, 7th July; took possession of Lake George, and at length drove the remnant of the British army from Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Mount Independence, and Mount Defiance.Capt. Ebenezer Allen, to close the campaign, with fifty Green Mountain Boys surprised and took forty-nine of the enemy, one hundred horses, sixty head of cattle and thirty wagons, and marched them triumphantly up to Bennington. Thus closed the campaign of A. D. 1777.

Honest and sincere was Burgoyne when he wrote his Majesty-"The district of the New Hampshire Grants, a wilderness little known in the last war, abounds with the most hardy, active, rebellious race of men on the continent, who hang like a gathering storm ready to burst on my left." By the united forces of the Americans on the plains of Saratoga was witnessed the surrender of the remnant of Gen. Burgoyne's army, the left wing and the rear of this powerful army having been already captured by the Green Mountain Boys; which was, no doubt, of the greatest consequence to the then pending cause of the United States, from its more than threefold effects,-first, in uniting and strengthening the people and armies thereof; second,in discouraging the British and Hessians and loyalist troops in America, and strengthening the minority and opposers to the war in England and Ireland, which weakened the bonds of the ministerial sticklers for such a man in Great Britain, and lessened the influence of the tories in the United States. Thirdly, it enabled the United States to conclude a treaty with the French nation in 1778, which brought the French fleet and armies to act in concert with the ships and armies of the United States, with supplies of military stores, and not only opened the ports of France to the cruisers of the United States, but it brought France and other powers into war with Great Britain, and added generally to the consequence and credit of the United States in Europe, and enabled Mr. Adams to establish loans and to purchase military stores in Holland. During the campaign of A. D. 1778 and 1779 Vermont protected the northern frontier, and in the mean time contributed troops to the protection of the inhabitants in the vicinity of Albany. The campaigns of A. D. 1780 and 1781 may well be considered the two most important campaigns during the Revolutionary War. The British had about 30,000 troops in America; 20,000 of these troops south of West Point, and from 7,000 to 10,000 in Canada. Vermont, July, 1780, appealed to Congress for help. No answer was received-no aid rendered. We appealed to each of the Legislatures of the New England States, as well as to New York. No answer was received-no aid rendered. The British came up the lake with a powerful army, possessed Crown Point and Ticonderoga; destroyed Fort Ann and Fort George; took prisoners, killed and scalped many of the inhabitants in the northern part of New York, and even south of Fort Edward; took hundreds of prisoners, destroyed by fire their habitations, and returned to Ticonderoga unmolested by the New York troops, being reinforced in October, A. Ď. 1780. It was admitted by the officers commanding the northern department, that Albany and Schenecteday must be the northern line of defence.

It was at this time, while the blood of the murdered citizens and the smoke of the burning habitations of the good people of Royalton were

going up to Heaven, that Allen demanded of the proud Gen. Carlton to stay the tomahawk and scalping knife in this State, as well as in the northern part of New York. This demand was complied with, and hostilities ceased during the remainder of this campaign.

During the campaign of A. D. 1781, after being disowned and threatened with immediate annihilation by Congress, claimed by neighboring colonies, and threatened with invasion by said colonies, these threats and these denials brought the Green Mountain Boys square upon their taps; and on the 14th of February, A. D. 1781, the Legislature of this Republic laid jurisdictional claim to sixteen towns east of Connecticut River, and west to Hudson River, ready for the campaign.

The British were again in possession of Crown Point and Ticonderoga; the Continental troops withdrawn from the northern department to aid in the southern department; the capturing of Lord Cornwallis; the northern department in New York almost to a man disheartened, without provision, without money, without credit; the Indians pillaging and plundering the commanding General's habitation of his silver plate, took away his guard. It seems to me that they were as destitute of patriotism as they were of money or the necessaries of life. The Cabinet of this State were under the necessity of adopting policy in lieu of power. They did negociate an exchange of prisoners with the common enemy. It was the policy pursued by the Green Mountain Boys that prevented the British from south of West Point and from Canada uniting and laying waste a territory much more extensive than our own Republic. Such was our policy and such our military force at this period, that a general officer in the northern department writes to Gen. Washington, "Vermont troops are about to garrison Fort Edward."

It was during this campaign that we received an acknowledgement from the British commander, lamenting the accidental death of one of our sergeants. It was on the 27th October, 1781, that his Excellency Thomas Chittenden issued his proclamation appointing Tuesday, the 16th day of December, as a day of public thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, wherein he said "that He has been pleased to direct our councils and bless the administration of civil government in this State, and been graciously pleased to defend our frontier settlements in the midst of calamitous war, and in so signal a manner granted success to the American arms and their allies, in every part, both by sea and land. That in due time the just cause of this State may be fully acknowledged, when our enemies shall be confounded, when iniquity shall hide its head, and all nations be at peace." On the 14th of November, A. D. 1781, Gov. Chittenden wrote a confidential letter to Gen. Washington, informing him of the policy pursued by the Cabinet Council of Vermont, at the close of which he says, "And in the month of October last the enemy appeared in force at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, but were maneuvered out of their expedition, and are returned into winter quarters in Canada, with great safety, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, 'I will put my hook in their nose and turn them back by the way which they came, and they shall not come into this city (alias Vermont) saith the Lord." Thus closed the campaign of 1781. Gen. Washington was pleased, on the 12th January, A. D. 1782, to answer Gov. Chittenden's letter, by addressing a letter to Thomas Chittenden, giving him some gentle reproof. Gov. Chittenden, on the 6th March, in answer, says, "The glory of America is our glory, and with our country we mean to live or die, as her fate may be." Speak

ing of the delegates of Vermont being at Congress, he says, "should Heaven prosper the design of their negociation, we please ourselves much that we, who are of one sentiment in the common cause, and who have but one common interest, shall yet become one nation, and yet be great and happy." During the campaign of A. D. 1782, Vermont protected the northern frontier from invasion, and rendered essential service to the officers commanding in the northern department to the close of the war.

After collecting and examining the documents, as published by the founders of this State, as well as the documents on the part of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay and New York, (a list of which is herewith transmitted, with the documents inclosed,) I am decidedly of opinion that Vermont had a just right to form an independent republic-that Gen. Allen was right when he said-"And whereas this State hold their charter of liberty from Heaven and not of man or the will of man, have, upon a full and candid examination and consideration, determined not to submit Heaven-born freedom to the arbitrament of any tribunal below the stars." This Republic took from the enemy a large amount of military stores, and expended more than five hundred thousand dollars in defence of the United Colonies, for which we have received no compensation. Our fathers expended this money more for the protection and benefit of the thirteen American Colonies than for their own protection or interest. Various acts of the Provincial Congress go to show that they considered the New Hampshire Grants a separate, distinct and independent Republic. Numerous are the instances in which the Provincial Congress asked of this Republic assistance to fight their enemy. It is also a fact that the Provincial Congress, through their President and the commanding General of the American army, did, from time to time, ask from the Executive Cabinet of this State the performance of various important trusts. They did ask permission of the Executive of this State to arrest deserters from the Continental army within our territory. Permission was granted, upon the condition that no deserter, after being apprehended, should be taken out of our territory, without a fair hearing before a proper tribunal. They did refuse to lend their influence to redeem our citizens who were prisoners in the hands of their enemy. They did refuse to loan us seven of their prisoners in order to enable us to make an exchange with their enemy for an equal number of our citizens, even after we had furnished them with more than one thousand one hundred and fifteen prisoners taken of their enemy, in order to enable them to make an exchange with the enemy. They did resolve to move the cannon and other military stores, captured by the patriots of this State, to the south end of Lake George, when in our possession; and that the south end of Lake George should be the northern line of defence. Allen, the commander of the Green Mountain Boys, virtually refused to comply with said dishonorable, arbitrary and tyrannical resolves. He sent bis agent to the Provincial Congress with his solemn protest against the removal of said cannon and military stores to the south end of Lake George, and against said place being established as the northern line of defence. The Provincial Congress thereupon reconsidered their former unjust resolve. They virtually asked permission to move a portion of the cannon from Ticonderoga and Crown Point, in order to enable the commanding General to drive their enemy from the town of Boston. It was our cannon, placed at New Haven, New London, Groton, and Stonington, that bid defiance to the rule of tyrants. It was our cannon that drove the British from the town of Boston. It is a fact,

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