Subject: Richard Wallace - An Act of Courage
Source: Gathered Sketches from the Early History of N.H. & VT - Adventures
of Our
Forefathers and the Incidents of Olden Time. by Francis
Chase, M.A.,
Claremont, N.H., Tracy, Kenney & Company, 1856
p.165
An Act of Courage
From Rev. G. Power's "History of Coos Country" -
1777
It will be recollected by those who are acquainted with the history of the
revolution, that as
soon as the battle was fought at Bennington and the Americans began to hope
that Burg-
oyne's army would fall into their hands, they set about retaking the forts of
Ticonderoga
and Mount Independence, on the shores of Lake Champlain, which forts Burgoyne
had
left in his rear, supplied with troops for the defence. Ticonderoga was
taken and Mount
Independence was besieged for some time. There was a good deal of hard
fighting
and it was confidently expected that Mount Independence would surrender; but
it did not.
The British shipping had full possession of the lake. Ticonderoga was upon
the west side of the lake, and Mount Independence on the east. Our troops on
the west side could hold
no communication with those who had invested Mount Independence, and of
course they
could have no concert in action. It was at this time, when the greatest
solicitude was felt
by the two American commanders to know each other's minds, that the following
expedient
was adopted by the commander at Ticonderoga. He called on his men to know if
there were
any two of them who would volunteer to swim the lake in the evening and carry
despatches
to General Lincoln, near Mount Independence.
p.166
For a time none offered to undertake the hazardous enterprise; but when
informed how much was probably depending upon it, [Richard] Wallace of
Thetford, VT., stepped for-
ward and said he would attempt it; and then followed him, Ephraim Webster of
Newbury,
who originated in New Chester, N.H.
The documents were made out and about sundown an officer took these two men
upon an
eminence which overlooked the lake and pointed out to them the course they
must take to
avoid discovery ty the British shipping and then where they would probably
find the
American camp.
At dusk of evening the same officer attended them to the margin of the lake,
assisted them to prepare for the voyage, little expecting ever to hear from
them again; for as they had to swim up and down the lake, in a zigzag course,
to avoid the enemy, they must swim more than two miles before they could make
terra firma; and it was so late in the season, the
water was quite cold.
They rolled their despatches in their clothes, and bound them upon the back
part of their
neck by cords passing round their foreheads. As soon as they entered the
water, Wallace
said to Webster, "We shall never reach shore, it is so cold;" but this he
said without any
thought of relinquishing the enterprise.
p.167
When about midway of the lake, the cord which fastened Wallace's clothes to
his neck
slipped down from his forehead to his throat, and cut him so hard as almost
to strangle him.
He made several attempts to replace the string upon his forehead, but failed
and was on the
point of giving up all for lost. The thought, however, of the importance of
his undertaking seemed to inspire him with new life and vigor, and he
succeeded in replacing the string and
passed on without saying a word to dishearten Webster. They passed so near
the British
shipping as to hear the oft-repeated cry, "All's well!"
They took no care to contradict that report, but buffeted the waves with
stout hearts and
sinewy limbs. They kept in company until they came near the eastern shore of
the Lake,
when Webster seemed to fall into the rear, a few rods at the north of
Wallace; and just as
Wallace struck the twigs of a tree which lay extended into the lake, he heard
Webster say,
"Help, Wallace; I am drowning!"
Wallace sprang to the shore, caught a stick, rushed into the water, and
extended it to
Webster in the act of sinking and drew him ashore. Webster could not stand;
but Wallace
rubbed him briskly and put on his clothes and he soon recovered so as to
walk. Webster
was so full of expressions of gratitude to Wallace for the preservation of
his life, that
Wallace had to caution him not to speak so loud, for the enemy would hear
them.
p.168
But new difficulties now presented themselves. It was dark, and they were in
a strange
place. The enemy was near and had their sentinels on shore, as well as the
Americans; and
what was worst of all, they knew not the countersign of the Americans on that
side of the
lake. They started however, in quest of the American camp, and after
traveling about nearly
one hour, they were hailed by a British sentinel and did but just make their
escape.
They then took a different direction and Wallace gave both despatches into
Webster's
hands and told him to keep in the rear and he would go forward; and if he
should happen
to fall into the hands of the emeny, Webster might have opportunity to escape
with the
despatches. But they had not proceeded a great way before Wallace was hailed
by a
sentinel. "Who comes there?" "A friend," says Wallace. "A
friend to whom?"
says the
sentinel. "Advance and giver the countersign."
This was a fearful moment. Wallace hesitated for an instant and then
replied, by way of
question, "Whose friend are you?" The sentinel responded, "A friend to
America."
"So am I," said Wallace, "and have important despatches for your
General."
They were immediately conducted to the general's quarters, the despatches
were
delivered, and Wallace and Webster were received with every mark of surprise
and
gratitude, and every thing was done to render them comfortable and happy.
p.169
But Wallace never enjoyed the degree of health afterwards that he did prior
to that
chill and incredible effort. Wallace departed this life February 7, 1833,
aged 80. Mrs.
Wallace died May, 1831 aged 82.
Webster's subsequent history is worthy of a passing notice. At the time he
visited
Newbury last, he was residing among the Oneida Indians, New York. They had
adopted
him as their brother, promoted him to be chief of their tribe and to render
the tie indissoluble
they had given him for a wife one of the black-haired maidens of the forest.
Webster's
health was not permanently injured by his dangerous adventure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
At the time of the Revolutionary War, there were 75 "able-bodied" men in
Thetford. Ten enlisted in the army and six others were employed as scouts.
The remaining men formed a militia unit which was called upon to defend
against Tories and Indians.
Richard Wallace, another pioneer, swam through the British fleet off
Ticonderoga in 1777, carrying dispatches for General Lincoln.
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