[10] “With the utmost difficulty ... eighty-three men crossing the lake with Allen, landed near the garrison. The boats were sent back; ... if ... waited for their could be no surprise.”—Bancroft’s U. S., vol. vii., ch. 32, p. 339.
[11] “As the first beams of morning broke ... Allen addressed them, ... ‘we must ... quit our pretentions to valor, or possess this fortress ... it is a desperate attempt, I do not urge it contrary to will. You that will undertake voluntarily, poise your firelocks.’”—Idem.
[12] “At the word, every firelock was poised.”—Idem.
[13] Allen “drew up his men in three ranks on the shore, ... and in a low, distinct tone harangued them.”—Lossing’s Pict. Field Book, vol. i., p. 124.
[14] “The king in council had ... dismembered New Hampshire, and annexed to New York the country north of Massachusetts and west of Connecticut River ... it was, therefore, held by the royalists that the grants made under the sanction of the royal governor of New Hampshire were annulled. Many of the lands for which the king had received the price ... were granted anew, and the former purchasers were compelled to redeem them.”—Bancroft’s U. S., vol. v., ch. 10., p. 214. “Sixty-seven families in as many houses ... had elected their own municipal officers; founded three several public schools; set their meeting-house among the primeval forests ... called their village Bennington. The royal officers at New York disposed anew of that town, as well as of others near it, so that the king was known ... chiefly by his agents, who had knowingly sold his lands twice over.”—Bancroft’s U. S., vol. v., ch. 14., pp. 291, 292.
[15] Allen led the party, “Arnold keeping emulously at his side.”—Idem, vol. vii., ch. 32, p. 339.
[16] “They marched quickly but stealthily ... to the sally port.”—Lossing’s Pict. Field Book, vol. i., p. 124.
[17] “The sentinel snapped his fusee at (Allen), but it missed, and he retreated within the fort under a covered way. The Americans followed, and were thus guided ... to the parade within the barracks. There another sentinel made a thrust ... but a blow upon the head from Allen’s sword made him beg for quarter.”—See Idem.
[18] “The Americans rushed into the fort ... and raising the Indian war-whoop, ... formed on the parade in hollow square to face each of the barracks.”—Bancroft’s U. S., vol. vii., ch. 32, p. 339.
[19] “Allen ... went ... to the door of the quarters of Capt. Delaplace, ... and giving three loud raps ... ordered him to appear, or the whole garrison should be sacrificed.”—Lossing’s Pict. Field Book, vol. i., p. 125.