Wanted: Ethan Allen

Before dawn on May 10, 1775, Ethan Allen, Revolutionary irregular, led 83 soldiers, mostly Green Mountain Boys of his own recruiting, across Lake Champlain. On the way Allen and Benedict Arnold wrangled profanely as to who was to command. They landed under the Grenadiers' Battery at Fort Ticonderoga. As the clear sky reddened into the day the American troopers, drawn up in three ranks, marched up to the British fort's sally port. The red-coated sentinel's fusee missed fire. The invaders pushed headlong and shouting into the walled parade ground.

Col. Allen strode to the door of Capt. Delaplace, British commandant, rapped thrice with his sword hilt. When Capt. Delaplace, surprised in his nightshirt, opened the door, Col. Allen exclaimed loudly: "I order you instantly to surrender!"

Capt. Delaplace: "By what authority do you demand it?"

Col. Allen: "In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress." Thus fell Fort Ticonderoga for the first time (it was recaptured later by the Brit ish) and thus Ethan Allen made his fame as a Continental trooper. More important than the 48 soldiers taken prisoner was the capture of 100 cannon with great stores of ammunition which, the following year, helped General Washington drive Lord Howe from Boston.

Despite Ethan Allen's blustering exploits, no real portrait or likeness of him is known to exist. Last week was posted a $250 reward for such a picture by Walter Butler Mahony, publisher and editor of the North American Review and John Pell, associate editor, Allen biographer, scion of the family that has owned the Fort Ticonderoga site for more than a century. Explained Mr. Pell:

"As far as my researches disclose, there is no authentic, portrait in existence and no exact description of his appearance. The statues in the national capital and in the Vermont State House were posed by Ethan's nephew.

"There can be no doubt that one or more portraits of Ethan were made. He was an astute publicity man and particularly fond of making an impression, wear ing bright uniforms, saying and doing dashing things. He lived in the age of the journeyman painter who rode from door to door with canvases on which the body was already painted so that only the head needed to be added. There must have been a picture of Ethan. It is probably still in existence, hidden away in some obscure attic or barn."

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