Fort Ticonderoga is located on the western shore of Lake Champlain.
This was a very important fort for the British because it was close to Canada where they could get reinforcements and weapons.
On May 8th, Ethan Allen and the 130 men he had at his command moved to Hand's Cove which lies across the lake from the fort. (Right: The south barracks at Fort Ticonderoga)
On May 9th, Benedict Arnold arrived carrying papers that stated he was to take control of Allen's men and lead the attack on Fort Ticonderoga. When Ethan relayed this to his men, they proceeded to lay down their weapons because they were only willing to fight under him. Ethan then told Benedict that he could ride in front and come with them, but he was not to interfere with any of the Green Mountain Boys.
This was a very important fort for the British because it was close to Canada where they could get reinforcements and weapons.
On May 8th, Ethan Allen and the 130 men he had at his command moved to Hand's Cove which lies across the lake from the fort. (Right: The south barracks at Fort Ticonderoga)
On May 9th, Benedict Arnold arrived carrying papers that stated he was to take control of Allen's men and lead the attack on Fort Ticonderoga. When Ethan relayed this to his men, they proceeded to lay down their weapons because they were only willing to fight under him. Ethan then told Benedict that he could ride in front and come with them, but he was not to interfere with any of the Green Mountain Boys.
On May 10th, before the early morning lights, half the men rowed across to Fort Ticonderoga. They were not able to take the whole force across because of the few boats they had. After landing Ethan Allen followed by his men ran up to the fort. The sentry there misfired and Ethan sliced him across the forehead and demanded to be taken to the commander.
When Ethan arrived at the commander's corridors he told him to relinquish control of the fort to him. When asked on who's authority this attack was happening, Allen exclaimed, "In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!" With that Commander William Delaplace relinquished the control of the fort to Ethan Allen and his men.
(Above: A depiction of Ethan Allen confronting the commander.)
When Ethan arrived at the commander's corridors he told him to relinquish control of the fort to him. When asked on who's authority this attack was happening, Allen exclaimed, "In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!" With that Commander William Delaplace relinquished the control of the fort to Ethan Allen and his men.
(Above: A depiction of Ethan Allen confronting the commander.)
The Green Mountain Boys had taken control of the barracks and all the redcoats had laid down their weapons. The weapons and food were seized by the men and taken to be used in the Revolutionary War to support the Patriots. These weapons went on to support George Washington's push the British out of Boston.
(Right: A painting of the weapons from Fort Ticonderoga being moved to other battles of the Revolutionary War)
(Right: A painting of the weapons from Fort Ticonderoga being moved to other battles of the Revolutionary War)
Here is short and funny synopsis of the taking of Fort Ticonderoga.
Resources used:
Aronson, Virginia. Ethan Allen: Revolutionary Hero. Ed. Arthur M. Schlesinger. New York: Chelsea House, 2001. Print.
Raabe, Emily. Ethan Allen: The Green Mountain Boys and Vermont's Path to Statehood. New York: PowerPlus, 2002. Print
Randall, Willard Sterne. Ethan Allen: His Life and times. New York: W.W. Norton, 2011. Print.
Aronson, Virginia. Ethan Allen: Revolutionary Hero. Ed. Arthur M. Schlesinger. New York: Chelsea House, 2001. Print.
Raabe, Emily. Ethan Allen: The Green Mountain Boys and Vermont's Path to Statehood. New York: PowerPlus, 2002. Print
Randall, Willard Sterne. Ethan Allen: His Life and times. New York: W.W. Norton, 2011. Print.