The Hero of Ticonderoga Part 23

The battle of Lexington fired the country.

Within a few days an army of twenty thousand men had gathered round Boston.

New Hampshire sent its militia, with John Stark at its head; Rhode Island sent her quota under the leadership of Nathaniel Greene.

New Haven was not behind, for a regiment was dispatched from that city with Benedict Arnold as leader.

All this news was conveyed to Ethan Allen by Eben Pike, who had been dispatched on the dangerous mission to Boston to find out what the Provincials meant to do. No more trusty messenger could have been found than the young scout of the Green Mountains.

"What shall we do?" asked Baker.

"Fight!" was Allen's curt reply.

"Shall we join the patriots at Boston?"

"No; Connecticut has offered a thousand dollars toward the expenses of capturing Ticonderoga, and that reward we will win."

To capture the fort with its treasures would be to strike a blow at England's supremacy which would tell more than any concerted action at Boston.

"Call the roll," ordered Allen.

Two hundred and seventy men answered the call, and Allen shouted for joy.

"Men of the Great Mountains, we are strong, because a mountain boy is worth ten men of the valleys. We shall capture Ticonderoga. I cannot offer you life; many may be killed, more wounded; but remember we have fought for our homes, we must now fight for our country. We have driven the Yorkers out of the Green Mountains, we must now drive the English out of America, or compel them to recognize our right to govern ourselves. Will you follow me?"

A tremendous shout in the affirmative went up from those brave patriots, and Ethan Allen was so overcome with emotion that for a few moments he could not speak.

Then, raising his sword above his head, he shouted:

"On to Ticonderoga! Victory and freedom, or death, for every man who hears my voice!"

And the Green Mountain Boys took up the cry:

"On to Ticonderoga! Victory or death!"

CHAPTER XIII.

BENEDICT ARNOLD.

"At last I see my way to a position. They said I was a ne'er-do-well.

We shall see!"

The speaker, a fine, handsome-looking man, paced the floor of a small room in Cambridge.

It was one week after the battle of Lexington.

He was restless; every muscle in his body seemed to quiver with excitement.

Anyone looking at him would prefer him as a friend rather than an enemy, for there was that in his face which betokened strong pa.s.sion.

He was ambitious. For the gratification of that ambition he would sacrifice anything, even honor.

He had been brought up as a merchant, and had splendid opportunities in his native Colony of Connecticut for success, but he was restless, and wanted a fame greater than he could obtain as a merchant.

He had suggested the formation of a company of militia, to be called the "Governor's Guards," and had also hinted that they should rival the royal guards of England in appearance and attire.

The governor was pleased with the suggestion, for he loved display, and commissioned Benedict Arnold to put into effect his suggestion, and to take the rank of captain.

Arnold cared less for the career of a merchant than ever.

He designed a uniform which should outshine even the famous Life Guards of London in splendor.

Buckling on a sword, he would pose before a mirror and salute his own reflected image in the gla.s.s.

Gathering around him a number of well-connected young men, men of good figure and tall in stature, he proceeded to impress upon them his own importance, and made them believe that all the honor of their position depended upon his favor.

Arnold was a favorite, and so the young men of New Haven accepted his authority and became the willing followers of Capt. Arnold.

The governor threw a wet blanket on his scheme when he told him that if the guards wanted uniforms they must purchase them, for the funds of the colony could not be used for such a purpose.

Arnold had to moderate his gorgeousness and accept a much plainer uniform for his guards.

The company was formed, and drill commenced. The young captain showed that he knew more about the manual of arms than he did of mercantile practices.

The militia grumbled at the harshness of the discipline, but a few words from their captain won them over.

When the war commenced Arnold was a strong royalist, or tory.

He wanted the guards to be recognized by England as a part of the royal forces. In fancy he saw himself driving the "rebels" into the sound and being sent for to London to receive the thanks of the king in person; he imagined himself promoted to the rank of general, and perhaps made life governor of one of the colonies.

But the airy castles he built fell to the ground when he was bluntly told that the king could do without his "guards," and that when there was need of soldiers the king could provide them.

From that moment Arnold resolved on throwing in his lot with the very men he had asked permission to shoot down. He became a "rebel."

When the news of the battle of Lexington reached New Haven he clapped his hands and became more excited than he had ever known himself to be.

He called his guards together, and in an impa.s.sioned speech bade them be ready to march against the English, and win freedom for their native land and honor and renown for themselves.

He denounced the king.

He ridiculed the parliament.

The tories were treated to such an outburst of eloquent denunciation that, had any of them heard him, they would have trembled.

"Guards! soldiers of the nation! I salute you. To you is intrusted a banner which must ever be kept in the front of the battle. Some of us may fall, but, if we do, our names shall be writ on our country's history in imperishable letters. To those who survive no honor will be begrudged, no reward will be too ample for a proud country to bestow.