A Narrative of Colonel Ethan Allen's Captivity

by Ethan Allen

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 edition. Excerpt: ...merely to gratify the King and his creatures; he uttered considerable unintelligible and grovelling ideas, a little tinctured with monarchy, but stood well to his text of hanging me. He afterwards forbade his surgeon to administer any help to the sick prisoners. I was every night shut down in the cable tire, with the rest of the prisoners, and we all lived miserably while under his power. But I received some generosity from several of the midshipmen, who in degree alleviated my misery; one ol their names was Putrass, the names of the others I do not recollect; but they were obliged to be private in the bestowment of their favor, which was sometimes good wine bitters, and at others a generous drink of grog. Sometime in the first week of June, we came to anchor at the Hook off New York, where we remained but three days; in which time Gov. Tryon, Mr. Kemp, the old attorney general of New York, and several other perfidious and over-grown tories and land-jobbers, came on board. Tryon viewed me with a stern countenance, as I was walking on the leeward side of the deck, with the midshipmen; and he and his companions were walking with the Captain and Lieutenant, on the windward side of the same, but never spoke to me, though it is altogether probable that he thought ol the old quarrel between him, the old government of New York and the Green Mountain Boys. Then they went with the Captain into the cabin, and the same aiternoon returned on board a vessel which lay near the Hook, where at that time they took sanctuary from the resentment of their injured country. What passed between the officers of the ship and these visiters I know not; but this 1 know that my treatment from the principal officers was more severe afterwards. We arrived at Halifax...

Genres: History

28 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1779

About the author

The "green mountain boys," troops of Revolutionary soldier Ethan Allen, helped to capture Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775 for America.

The province of New York settled Vermont, and this early guerrilla leader fought against this settlement and later for independence during the war.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Jayna Baas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting first-hand account, and even more interesting because it was published before the War for Independence was over. Allen does not mince words about his and other captives’ treatment at British hands (profanity warning), but he’s also surprisingly quick to point out those of his captors who were kind and humane. I had read this quite a while ago and revisited it for research purposes. It’s not too hard to read despite the rather archaic language, and it’s fascinating to get an inside look at Revolutionary politics and what happened to American prisoners of war.

[David Fitz-Gerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a 1988 reprint of the 1930 version. I was happy to read Ethan Allen's own account of his captivity, though I wish he had been more detailed in his account. The hardships he endured during captivity were unimaginable. This is an important historic perspective.

[david · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vaguely interesting account of Allen's misadventures during the Revolution