“In The Name Of The Great Jehovah And The Continental Congress!”

On the night of May 10th, 1775, a small group of armed men quietly approached a sleeping Fort Ticonderoga located on the Western shore of Lake Champlain just North of Lake George. When they reached the fort, they found an unlocked gate, sneaked inside and captured the fort, the entire garrison of 22 British soldiers and the all-important cannon that the fort held. The 83 Green Mountain boys who captured the fort were led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. Allen later claimed to have demanded the surrender of the fort with the phrase that titles this post. That is a matter of some dispute by historians, however. What is not in dispute is that the capture of this strategic fort and its cannon had a major impact on the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. The cannon from Ticonderoga (as well as from the nearby fort at Crown Point) were later moved to Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston Harbor and caused the British fleet there to sail away in 1776.

I've been to Ticonderoga, which is now a historical site. A highly recommended day trip if you ever get the chance to visit. It has been completely restored and there are costumed interpreters who enact Colonial era history that you can experience.