George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition.

[340] square, to face each of the barracks. One of the

Chap. XXXII.} 1775. May 10.

sentries, after wounding an officer, and being slightly wounded himself, cried out for quarter and showed the way to the apartment of the commanding officer. ‘Come forth instantly, or I will sacrifice the whole garrison,’ cried Ethan Allen, as he reached the door. At this, Delaplace, the commander, came out undressed, with his breeches in his hand. ‘Deliver to me the fort instantly,’ said Allen. ‘By what authority?’ asked Delaplace. ‘In the name of the great Jehovah, and the continental congress!’ answered Allen. Delaplace began to speak again, but was peremptorily interrupted, and at sight of Allen's drawn sword near his head, he gave up the garrison, ordering his men to be paraded without arms.

Thus was Ticonderoga taken in the gray of the morning of the tenth of May. What cost the British nation eight millions sterling, a succession of campaigns and many lives, was won in ten minutes by a few undisciplined men, without the loss of life or limb.

The Americans gained with the fortress nearly fifty prisoners, more than a hundred pieces of cannon, one thirteen inch mortar, and a number of swivels, stores, and small arms. To a detachment under Seth Warner, Crown Point, with its garrison of twelve men, surrendered upon the first summons. Another party succeeded in making a prisoner of Skeene, a dangerous British agent; and in getting possession of the harbor of Skeenesborough.

Messengers carried to the continental congress news of the great acquisition which inaugurated the day of its assembling. ‘A war has begun,’ wrote