Learn All About Ethan Allen, Revolutionary War Hero

On September 25, 1775, American Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen was captured by the British. He was to spend two years in prison. An excerpt from the article:

"Role in the American Revolution
At the onset of the Revolutionary War, the Green Mountain Boys immediately joined forces with the Continental Army. The Revolutionary War officially began on April 19, 1775, with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. A major consequence of the “Battles” was the Siege of Boston whereby colonial militiamen surrounded the city in an attempt to keep the British Army from leaving Boston.

After the siege began, Massachusetts military governor for the British, General Thomas Gage realized the importance of Fort Ticonderoga and sent a dispatch to General Guy Carleton, Quebec’s governor, ordering him to send additional troops and munitions to Ticonderoga.

Before the dispatch could reach Carleton in Quebec, the Green Mountain Boys led by Ethan and in a joint effort with Colonel Benedict Arnold were ready to attempt to overthrow the British at Ticonderoga. At the break of dawn on May 10, 1775, the Continental Army won the first American victory of the young war when it crossed Lake Champlain and a force that numbered around one hundred militiamen overran the fort and captured the British forces while they slept. There was not a single soldier killed on either side nor were there any serious injuries during this battle. The following day, a group of the Green Mountain Boys led by Seth Warner took Crown Point, which was another British fort just a few miles north of Ticonderoga.

One major result of these battles was that colonial forces now had the artillery that they would need and use throughout the War. Ticonderoga’s location made the perfect staging ground for Continental Army to initiate their first campaign during the Revolutionary War – an invasion of into the British-held province of Quebec, Canada."