Mr. HOLT,
The following erroneous account of the reduction of Ticonderoga, was published in Mr. Thomas's Oracle of Liberty the 24th, May last, and as the writer of the account which follows it, had no opportunity of seeing it, till very lately, he being up at the forts, ever since they were taken, he could not contradict it sooner. I beg therefore you'll republish it in your next Journal, together with the account that follows it, which may be depended on.
I am, your's, &c.
[Here is reprinted the account which appeared originally in the New England Chronicle, at Cambridge, May 18, 1775]
As the above account of the reduction of Ticonderoga, which from its complexion, I suppose originated from that very modest gentleman, Col. [James] Easton himself, is so replete with falshood, and is so great an imposition on the public, that I think it my duty, in order to undeceive the public, and to do justice to modest merit, to give you a candid detail of the whole matter, for the truth of which I appeal to every officer and private who were present, which is as follows:
Some gentlemen arrived in the New-Hampshire grants from Connecticut, with a design of seizing on the fortress of Ticonderoga, were there joined by a number of men, among whom were Col. [Ethan] Allen and Easton, the former, with the assistance of Captain [Seth] Warner, collected about 150 men, with whom they marched to Castletown, 20 miles from Ticonderoga, where they left Col. Easton, and proceeded 10 miles towards Shoreham, the next day Col. [Benedict] Arnold, arrived at Castleton, from Cambridge, having concerted in similar plan, and being commissioned by the Massachusetts Congress to raise a regiment, he proceeded on to the party under the command of Colonel Allen, ———— when Col. Arnold made known his commission, &c ———— it was voted by the officers present, that he should take a joint command with Col. Allen (Col. Easton not presuming to take any command) ———— When the party had marched to Shoreham, two miles on the Lake below Ticonderoga, where they waited for batteaus to cross the Lake, until midnight, and none arriving, Col. Arnold, with much difficulty, persuaded about 40 men to embark with him in a batteau accidentally taken there, and landed half a mile from the fort, and immediately sent back the batteau, which by reason of a violent storm of wind and rain did not return until break of day with a small boat, and near 50 men in both, ---- It was then proposed by some gentlemen to wait open day, and the arrival of the remainder of the men which amounted at that time to near 100; this Col. Arnold strenuously opposed, and urged to storm the fort immediately, declaring he would enter it alone, if no man had courage to follow him ———— this had the desired effect, he with Col. Allen headed the party and proceeded directly to the fort ———— when they came within about 10 yards of the gate, the centry discovered them and made a precipitate retreat, he was pursued closely by Col. Arnold, who was the first person that entered the fort, and Col. Allen about 5 yards behind him ———— this I was an eye witness of being only a few yards distant. ———— Col. Arnold immediately order'd the men to secure the doors of the barracks, and went himself with Col. Allen to the commanding officer, Captain De la Place, and desired him to deliver up his arms, and he might expect to be treated like a gentleman, which he immediately complied with, as did the whole garrison.
I do not recollect seeing Col. Easton until 9 o'clock, and was told he was the last man that entered the fort, and that, not till the soldiers and their arms were secured, he having concealed himself in an old barrack near the redoubt, under the pretence of wiping and drying his gun, which he said had got wet in crossing the Lake. Since which I have often heard Col. Easton, in a base and cowardly manner abuse Col. Arnold behind his back, though always very complaisant before his face ———— Col. Arnold was soon made acquainted with the liberty he had taken with his character, and upon his refusing to give proper satisfaction, I had the pleasure of seeing him heartily kicked by Colonel Arnold, to the great satisfaction of a number of gentlemen present, although he (Easton) was armed with a cutlass, and a pair of loaded pistols in his pocket.
I am, your humble servant,
Ticonderoga June 25, 1775
N. B. This doughty hero, Easton, has since been appointed to the command of a regiment in the Massachusetts service.
