PURSUIT OF THE INDIANS. INTERESTING INCIDENTS. march with this undisciplined but brave | awakened by the rushing in of the savcorps, in pursuit of the savages, who were at this time encamped seven or eight miles ahead. The night was dark and he was guided amidst the logs, rocks and hills with which the wilderness abounded only by a few marked trees. When they supposed themselves near the Indians, they proceeded with caution, but as they were passing over a stream which was crossed upon a large log they were fired upon by the enemy's rear guard, which had been posted behind some trees near the place, and one man was wounded. House's party returned the fire, killed one Indian and wounded two others. The guard then retreated to the Indian camp, and House advanced within about 300 yards of the same, where he waited till day light without commencing an attack. Fatigued by the business of the preceding day, and now suddenly awakened from profound sleep, the savages were at first filled with consternation and thrown into the utmost disorder. They, however, soon recovered from their fright, and were not long in concerting measures for their own safety. They sent out an aged prisoner to inform the Americans that, if they proceeded to make an attack, they should immediately put all the prisoners to death. The proceedings thus far had caused two to be put to death; one to retaliate the death of the Indian, who had been slain, and the other for refusing to march, in the expectation that the Americans would relieve them. These were tomahawked as they lay bound upon the ground. Having placed their warriors in the rear to cover their retreat, they silently left their encampment, proceeded to Randolph, where they took one prisoner, passed through the west part of Brookfield, and, by the way of Winooski river and lake Champlain, to Montreal. House and his men were waiting for the dawn of day and deliberating upon the message brought them by the prisoner, till the Indians had departed and were far beyond their reach. They, however, followed upon their trail as far as Brookfield and then returned, having lost the opportunity of attacking the enemy by their caution and delay. On their way to Canada, the prisoners were well treated, and with respect to provisions fared as well as their masters. Of the twenty-six who were carried away, one died in captivity, and the rest were liberated the next summer and returned to their friends. During the attack upon Royalton, there were several occurrences which are worthy of notice. In one of the houses first attacked, two women, being suddenly ages, were so much frightened that they lost the use of their reason, went out of their doors naked, and stood motionless till the Indians brought them their clothes. This act of kindness restored their senses; they put on their clothes, collected the children and fled to the woods, while the savages were engaged in plundering the house. At another place one of the women had the boldness to reproach the Indians for distressing helpless women and children, telling them that if they had the spirit and souls of warriors, they would cross the river and go and fight the men at the fort. The Indians bore her remarks patiently, and only replied, squaw shouldn't say too much. At another place a woman having her gown carried out of the house with other plunder, resolved to recover it. Seeing it in a heap of pillage which the savages were dividing among themselves at the door, she seized it; upon which one of the Indians clubbed his gun and knocked her down. Not discouraged, she patiently awaited an opportunity when the savages were collecting more plunder, seized and brought off her gown, having at the same time one child in her arms and leading another by the hand. Another woman having her young son taken away with other little boys, followed the Indians with her other children, and entreated them to give him up, which they did. Encouraged by this success, she then interceded for others, and finally prevailed upon them to give up 12 or 15 of her neighbor's children. One of the Indians then in a fit of good humor offered to carry her over the river upon his back. She accepted his proposal, and her savage gallant carried her safely over, though the water was up to his middle, and she soon returned with her little band of boys, to the no small surprise and joy of their parents. A few days after the burning of Royalton there was one of the most extensive alarms in the county of Windham, experienced in Vermont during the war; but it proved to be wholly groundless. It happened, that as several men were surveying lands in Brookline, some of them undertook to imitate the Indian warwhoop. In this they succeeded to admiration, and were heard by the inhabitants of Athens, who, supposing them to be real Indians, took fright, fled, and rapidly spread the alarm through the neighboring towns. Immediately all was terror and confusion. To their bewildered imaginations every noise became the yell of the savage, and every rock and every tree of the forest a lurking place for the cruel ALARM IN WINDHAM COUNTY. foe. With such precipitation did they flee from their farms and dwellings that the men left their teams harnessed in the field, and women their ovens heating and victuals cooking by the fire. DELEGATES SENT TO CONGRESS. burning log and brush heaps, which had been piled by the industrious inhabitants of Newfane, and which had been set on fire as they saw the storm approaching. On the 8th of March, 1781, a party of When the intelligence reached Colonel British and Indians made prisoners of Sargeant at Brattleborough, he sent out Colonel Johnson, Jacob Page, and Jonaorders into the different towns requesting than Elkins, and carried them to Canada. their militia to assemble for the purpose In the following summer, a scout consistof stopping the progress of the Indians ing of four men from Peacham, while who were laying waste the settlements. proceeding up Hazen's Road, were fired A snow storm had commenced, and before upon by a party of Indians. Two of them night was so severe as to render the flight were killed and scalped, and the other of the inhabitants laborious and distress-two made prisoners. In 1782, a party of ing; and, as evening come on, numerous lights were seen along the horizon, which, it was not doubted, proceeded from the conflagration of the dwellings of the inhabitants wantonly plundered and set on fire by the Indians. This alarm spread cver most of the country, but was happily of short continuance. The brave soldiery narched into the deserted country, but they found nothing but a deep snow to interrupt their progress. The original cause of alarm was soon ascertained, and the lights, by which it had been height- inhabitants. ened, were found to proceed from the British and Indians, after killing one man and taking one prisoner at Newbury, proceeded to Corinth where they compelled the inhabitants to swear allegiance to the British king. Other towns were also visited by small parties of the enemy in the course of the war, but during the period of the negotiation, mentioned in the last section, and while Vermont was wholly at their mercy, these parties did very little injury, and probably had orders from the British generals not to molest the CHAPTER V. THE ADMISSION OF VERMONT INTO THE UNION. SECTION I. Extending from the completion of the eastern and western unions with Vermont on the 22d of June, 1781, to the dissolution of the same on the 22d day of February, 1782. their mission, and appointed a committee On the 18th of August, a conference Vermont, having completed her eastern took place between this committee and the and western unions, as related in the pre- delegates from Vermont, at which sundry ceding chapter, appointed Jonas Fay, Ira questions were proposed to the latter reAllen, and Bezaleel Woodward, delegates specting the extent, population, and reto the American Congress to negotiate sources of Vermont, and the views and for her admission into the federal union. wishes of the inhabitants; to all of which On the 20th, Full powers were given them to complete answers were returned. the arrangement; and, if they effected the committee made their report to Contheir object, they were authorized to take gress; whereupon that body adopted the their seats in Congress as the representa- following resolution: "Resolved, That it tives of Vermont. These delegates ar- be an indispensable preliminary to the rerived at Philadelphia in the beginning of cognition of the independence of the peoAugust, and about the time of the publi-ple inhabiting the territory called Vercation of Lord Germain's letter, as al- mont, and their admission into the federal ready mentioned. On the 7th of August, 1781, Congress took up the subject of State Papers, page 158. * For an account of this conference see Slade's RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS. VIEWS OF VERMONT AND NEW YORK RESPECTING IT. however declared their willingness to submit any questions, which might arise, with regard to jurisdictional limits between them and the neighboring states, to arbitrators mutually chosen; and, when admitted into the American union, they would not object to submitting such disputes to Congress. union, that they explicitly relinquish all | bitration of no power under heaven. They demands of lands or jurisdiction on the east side of the west bank of Connecticut river, and on the west side of a line beginning at the north west corner of Massachusetts, thence running twenty miles east of Hudson river, so far as said river continues north-easterly in its general course, then by the west bounds of the townships granted by the late government of New Hampshire, to the river running into East Bay, thence along said river and bay to lake Champlain, thence along the waters of said lake to latitude 45 degrees north." Vermont and New York were both dissatisfied with this resolution-Vermont, because it required as a condition of her admission into the union, that she should dissolve the agreeable connexions which she had just formed-New York, because it recognized the claim, against which she had so long and so earnestly contended; the one, because it bereft Vermont of one half her present territory, resources and importance-the other, because it would allow Vermont still to have something left which she could call her own. This appears from the proceedings of their respective legislatures. The Legislature of New York, on the other hand, regarding the resolution of Congress as a virtual determination of the controversy between that state and Vermont, passed a number of resolutions, and a solemn protest against the proceedings of Congress.* Having stated their claims, and some former proceedings of Congress on the subject, they went on to express their disapprobation and alarm at the evident intention of Congress, from political expedience, to establish an arbitrary boundary, which excluded from that state a great part of its territory. They declared that, in the opinion of the legislature, Congress had no authority, by the articles of confederation, to intermeddle with the territorial extent, or jurisdiction, of either of the United States, except in case of dispute between two or more states in the union, that to carry into execution said resolution of Congress, would be an assumption of power, and an infraction of the articles of confederation, and that they therefore solemnly protested against the same. The legislature of Vermont met at Charlestown, on the east side of the Connecticut river, in October, and on the 16th of that month, the foregoing resolutions were laid before them. The resolution held out to Vermont a faint pros- With the resolution of Congress of pect of an admission into the federal union | August 20th, a verbal message had been with her original territory, but having lost sent by General Washington to Governor much of her confidence in the assurances Chittenden, desiring to know what were of Congress, and having now consolidated the real designs, wishes and intentions of her unions at home, she felt herself in a the people of Vermont ;-whether they condition to demand better terms than the would be satisfied with the independence relinquishment of one half her territory proposed in said resolution, or seriously and population, to secure the indepen-thought of joining the enemy and becomdence of the other half. After delibera-ing a British province. On the 14th of ting and debating upon the subject for November, Governor Chittenden returnseveral days, the assembly, on the 19th of ed an unequivocal and decisive answer to October, voted that they could not com- the above communication, in which he ply with the foregoing resolution of Con- | said that no people on the continent were gress. * more attached to the cause of America They declared that a compliance would than the people of Vermont; but, that destroy the foundation of the harmony they would sooner join the British in which then subsisted in the state, and be Canada, than submit to the government a violation of the solemn compact entered of New York-that, driven to desperainto by the articles of union and confed-tion by the injustice of those who should eration-that they would remain firm in the principles on which they had assumed the powers of government-that they would hold inviolate the articles of union which connected the parts of the state together and that they would submit the question of their independence to the ar * For these proceedings, see Slade's S. P., p. 160. have been her friends, Vermont was now obliged to adopt policy in the room of power. He ascribed the late resolution of Congress,not to the influence of friends, but the power of enemies, believing that Lord Germain's letter had procured that, which the public virtue of the people could not obtain. * For these resolutions see Slade's S. P., p. 163. WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO CHITTENDEN. DIFFICULTIES WITH N. H. AND N. Y. to Vermont. This letter is dated January 1st, 1782, and from it we extract the following paragraph: During these proceedings, new difficul- | Fortunately, about this time, Governor ties were opening to Vermont in her east- Chittenden received a reply to his comern and western unions. A communica- munication of the 14th of November, from tion was received by Governor' Chitten- General Washington, which was obviden from one of the sheriffs in the eastern ously dictated by his paternal solicitude union, informing him that the government for the good of his country, and for a hapof New Hampshire, were about taking co-py termination of the troubles in relation ercive measures to bring those citizens of that state, who had joined Vermont, again under their laws and authority. The governor, on the 14th of December, directed General Paine, then lieutenant governor of the state, to call out the militia on the east side of the mountains, for the assistance of the sheriffs and the defence of the citizens; and, if armed force should be employed by New Hampshire, that he should repel it by the same. Mr. Paine forwarded a copy of this order to the council of New Hampshire, and informed them, that, if hostilities were commenced, he should execute his orders, and that New Hampshire must be accountable for the consequences. With these communications, commissioners were also sent to New Hampshire, to endeavor to accommodate matters, and prevent the effusion of. blood. "It is not my business, nor do I think it necessary, now to discuss the origin of the right of a number of inhabitants, to that tract of country, formerly distinguished by the name of the New Hampshire grants, and now by that of Vermont. I will take it for granted that their right was good, because Congress, by their resolve of the 7th of August, imply it; and by that of the 20th are willing fully to confirm it, provided the new state is confined to certain described bounds. It appears therefore to me, that the dispute of boundary, is the only one that exists; and, that being removed, all other difficulties would be removed also, and the matter terminate to the satisfaction of all parties. You have nothing to do, but to withdraw On the other hand, the military force your jurisdiction to the confines of your was called out in New York, to prevent own limits, and obtain an acknowledgVermont from executing her laws over ment of independence and sovereignty the inhabitants of her western union, and under the resolve of the 20th of August, to aid the sheriff of New York in appre- for so much territory as does not interfere hending several persons in the territory with the ancient established bounds of who had rendered themselves particularly New Hampshire, New York and Massaobnoxious to the government of that state. chusetts. In my private opinion, while This force was commanded by General it behooves the delegates to do ample jusGansevoort, who, being informed that tice to a people, sufficiently respectable Colonel Walbridge was advancing with by their numbers, and entitled, by other a large body of troops from the Grants, claims, to be admitted into the confederawrote to him on the 18th of December, to tion, it becomes them also, to attend to be informed of the object of his movement. the interests of their constituents, and Walbridge replied that it was to protect see, that under the appearance of justice the inhabitants, who, in consequence of to one, they do not materially injure the the union, professed allegiance to the others. I am apt to think this is the prestate of Vermont; that he wished con- vailing opinion of Congress. ciliatory measures might be adopted, but, Being endeared to all the friends of libif those persons who professed to be citi-erty by his integrity and virtue, and by zens of Vermont should be imprisoned and their property destroyed, he would not be accountable for the consequences. Affairs seemed now to have reached an alarming crisis, and all parties trembled at the prospect of a civil war. Happy was it that hostilities were not commenced before the parties had taken time to reflect upon the consequences of such a measure; for when they looked at the momentous struggle in which their country was engaged, every philanthropist was fully convinced that no differences between the states should, on any account, be permitted to endanger the cause of American liberty and independence. his disinterested exertions and sacrifices for the good of his country, such a communication from General Washington might reasonably be expected to exert a powerful influence upon the minds of the leading men in Vermont, and the event showed that it did. At the next meeting of the legislature, which was held at Bennington, this letter was laid before them. It served to open their eyes to the former errors of government, and, knowing it to have come from a man, who had only the interests of his whole country at heart, his advice was received with the greatest * Williams' History, vol. II, page 225. VERMONT UNIONS DISSOLVED. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. deference, and, after mature deliberation | in Congress. These resolutions declared upon the subject, the assembly on the 22d of February, 1782, resolved to comply with the preliminary required by the resolution of Congress of the 20th of August, and relinquish all claims to jurisdiction beyond the bounds therein mentioned.* that, if Vermont did not, within one month from the time these resolutions were communicated to Governor Chittenden, comply with the resolution of the 20th of August, and relinquish her jurisdiction beyond the bounds therein named, such neglect and refusal would be regardas an indication of hostility to the United States. Thus was dissolved a union which had greatly increased the power and conse-ed quence of Vermont, and which, it was believed, had prevented the division of Vermont between New Hampshire and New York. But this union was not dissolved without a struggle and much dissatisfaction in those parts which were cut off from Vermont, by the prescribed boundaries. The inhabitants of those parts had eagerly sought the union with Vermont, and they were too well satisfied with it, willingly to return to their allegiance to those states from which they had withdrawn. In that case Congress would regard the pretensions of Vermont for admission into the union as fallacious and delusive, and would, thereafter, consider the lands in Vermont to the eastward of the ridge of the Green Mountains, as granted to New Hampshire, and the lands to the westward of said line as granted to New York; and that the commander in chief of the American armies be directed to employ the military forces of the United States to carry these resolutions into full execution. After a long debate and sev not be obtained to pass these resolutions, and a few days after, as the excitement was beginning to subside, the agents from Vermont arrived at Philadelphia Vermont, having complied with the requirements of Congress, now confident-eral trials, it was found that a vote could ly expected an immediate recognition of her independence, and an admission into the federal union; and with it a termination of the disagreeable controversy with New York. The legislature therefore These agents were Jonas Fay, Moses proceeded to choose four agents to arrange Robinson, Paul Spooner, and Isaac Tichthe terms of admission, and then take enor, and they were instructed "to netheir seats in Congress as representatives gotiate and complete, on the part of Verof Vermont. But, in their expectations, mont, the admission thereof into the fedthe people of Vermont were again doom-eral union, and to subscribe articles of ed to disappointment; a disappointment, the pain and mortification of which could only be exceeded by the impolicy and injustice of the neglect which occasioned it. Congress still refused to admit Vermont into the union, and again reverted to her policy of evasion and delay. * perpetual confederation thereunto." On the 31st of March, 1782, they officially laid before Congress the proceedings of the legislature of Vermont on the 22d of February, by which they had fully complied with the requirement of the resolution of the 20th of August. Congress now again took up the subject and referred it to a committee of five members, who, on the 17th of April, reported, That in the opinion of the committee, Vermont had fully complied with the resolution of the 20th of August as preliminary to the recognition of her sovereignty and independence, and admission into the federal union; and that the conditional promise of such recognition and admission by Congress, is thereby become absolute and necessary to be performed.' tion declaring "That the district, or terThe committee then proposed a resoluitted in the resolution of Congress of ritory called Vermont, as defined and lim The refusal of Vermont on the 18th of October, 1781, to comply with the resolution of the 20th of August, had been communicated to Congress, and while the assembly of Vermont, in February; 1782, was reconsidering the subject and effecting a compliance with said resolu- the 20th of August, 1781, be, and it tion, Congress was engaged in warm de- hereby is, recognised and acknowledged, bate upon their preceding refusal. On by the name of the state of Vermont, as the first day of March, several spirited that a committee be appointed to treat free, sovereign and independent; and resolutions were proposed and discussed *For this Report, see Slade's State Papers, page * Williams' H. Vol. II. p. 227, Slade's S. P. p.168.170. |