Ethan Allen, an American Hero

Born on January 21st of 1738 in Connecticut, Ethan Allen was destined to be a hero. Allen not only helped to make Vermont a state, but he also captured Ft. Ticonderoga, and attempted to capture Montreal. This true American performed many amazing deeds in his 51 years, and even today, he is a known piece of our country’s history.

Allen, a tall, broad-shouldered man always had a love for Vermont which had been know then as the “Hampshire Grants”. After returning from a 3-year captivity in England and New York City, Vermont had declared itself free and independent though they unsuccessfully petition congress for regognition as a state. Between the years 1780 and 1788, Allen along with his two brothers, Ira and Levi, flirted with British agents to compel congress to recognize Vermont’s wanting of statehood. Allen himself held up the possibility of conducting a serperate peace or unity with Canada after the war. Luckily, none of the threats were put into play. Unfortunatly, Vermont didn’t become a state until 1791, two years after Allen’s death in 1789.

In 1770, Allen and a group of rough, roistering men formed an unauthorized militia which they called the “Green Mountain Boys”. For five years Allen and his Green Mountain Boys harrassed New York surveyors, sherifs, and settlers who had invaded Vermont land. But harrassing inmature buffoons was not enough. Allen felt that the capture of the British Fort Ticonderoga was essential. The once mighty fortress was slowly crumbling into pieces, but it was thought that it could be used as a base. Once given finacial support from Connecticut, Allen gained news that Benedict Arnold of Massachusetts, had also been told to capture the fort. Against their better judgements, Allen and Arnold formed an aliance in order to capture the fort. On May 9th of 1775, Arnold and Allen succeeded in capturing Ft. Ticonderoga and later hastened the British evacuation of Boston in 1776.

Unfortunatly, Allen’s good luck couldn’t last forever. After the capture of Ft. Ticonderoga, the plans to capture Montreal were quickly being put into play. The Green Mountain Boys were being used in this battle and , at a public meeting in Vermont, Seth Warner, a former subordinate to Allen, was chosen over him to raise the regiment of the Green Mountain Boys. Allen then joined General Philip Schuyler’s army as a volenteer and was sent to opperate behind British lines. It was there that Allen and John Brown decided to surprise the British and capture Montreal on their own. Allen was set to attack with his group of men waiting Brown’s arrival. When Brown and his men failed to show up, Allen still gave an attempt to follow through with his plan. He was easily overwhelmed and it was later stated by General Schuyler that “Mr. Allen’s impudence brought about his defeat and later on, capture.” But looking back today, though it was a completely idiotic idea to attack the British with only a small group of men, it was truly a patriotic deed.

Looking back on Allen’s deeds, they not not only played a role in our American Revolution, but they also played a role in the future of our Untied States. Whether it was helping to create a state or attempting an unsuccessful plan, Allen’s deeds never ceased to show off what American’s are all about. Many will say time and time again, Ethan Allen, a country man, turned out to be a true American hero.