The Commanders and Chaplains of the American Revolution
Part Two: Waiting for Congress to Act
Part Two: Waiting for Congress to Act
On May 10, 1775 the Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia to consider what defensive measures could be taken in the colonies to prevent more British raids such as those at Lexington and Concord. A second, but no less important, matter was how to preserve the rights of Americans while also effecting some kind of reconciliation with Great Britain with what became known as the Olive Branch Petition. Of course some delegates such as John and Samuel Adams thought a reconciliation impossible. Independence from Great Britain must be discussed.
These peace deliberations were clearly behind times. Two New England colonies, Massachusetts and Connecticut, had already authorized an offensive operation against Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Not only did these provinces act without Congressional authorization, they attacked a fort in another colony.
On May 9, Colonel Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold led a force of 250 militiamen from Connecticut and the future Vermont to Ft. Ticonderoga where Lake Champlain met Lake George in New York. Allen and Arnold attacked at night and won a bloodless victory over 45 British regulars and their commander Captain William Delaplace, who greeted them in his night shirt.
Colonel Ethan Allen at Fort Ticonderoga
