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. http://www.letmeshowyouvermont.com/5-4.htm