Ethan Alline with a number of Green Mountain Boys made his appearance in this County yesterday well armed and equipt for the purpose of reducing the loyal Inhabitants of this County to submission to the authority of the State of Vermont and made Prisoners of Col. Patterson Lieut. Col. Sergeant & all the 'Militia Officers except one in Brattleborough with Mr. Townsend and a number of other Persons. They have also taken the Militia Officers in Putney & Westminster with others the number of Prisoners we cannot ascertain. Col. Alline declared that he had five hundred Green Mountain Boys with him--we are not able to ascertain the number, but believe there is not quite so many who are come from the west side of the Mountains; they are assisted by a number of the Inhabitants of this County, where they will carry the Prisoners we cannot tell--Col. Allin treated the people here with the most insulting language assaulted 'and wounded several persons with his sword without the least provocation, and bids defiance to the State of New-

966 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

York, declares they will establish their State by the sword, and fight all who Shall attempt to oppose them. Nothing but the reluctarice the' people here have to shedding human Blood could "hinder them from attempting to rescue the Prisoners--they had every insult which the human mind is able to conceive of to prompt them to it, Our situation is truly critical and distressing, 'we therefore most humbly beseech your Excellency to take the most speedy & effectual Measures for our Relief; otherwise our Persons and Property must be at the disposal of Ethan. Allin which is more to be dreaded than Death with all its Terrors. ,