Green Mountain Boys: The Patriots Who Seized a Fort and Sparked a Revolution

In the early days of the American Revolutionary War, a group of rugged frontiersmen known as the Green Mountain Boys etched their names into history with a bold and strategic victory that shifted momentum in favor of the colonies.

Who Were the Green Mountain Boys?

The Green Mountain Boys were a militia group formed in the 1760s in what is now Vermont, then a disputed territory between New York and New Hampshire. Led by the fiery and charismatic Ethan Allen, these settlers resisted New York’s attempts to claim the region. Fiercely independent and loyal to one another, they became an organized and battle-hardened force well before the war for independence officially began.

The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

On May 10, 1775, just weeks after the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Green Mountain Boys joined forces with Benedict Arnold, who was then a respected patriot leader, to execute a daring plan: seize Fort Ticonderoga from the British. Located in New York near Lake Champlain, the fort was lightly guarded and poorly supplied but held something critically important—artillery.

In a surprise pre-dawn raid, the Green Mountain Boys overwhelmed the small British garrison. With almost no bloodshed, the fort was taken, and its cannons—under the guidance of Henry Knox—would later be hauled to Boston, playing a decisive role in forcing the British to evacuate the city in March 1776.

Impact on the Revolutionary War

The victory at Fort Ticonderoga was the first major American offensive of the Revolutionary War and came at a time when morale was fragile. It gave the Continental Army a much-needed arsenal and sent a clear message: the colonists were not only fighting back—they were capable of winning.

Furthermore, the Green Mountain Boys' actions helped solidify Vermont's unique role in the Revolutionary cause. Though not yet a state, Vermont would eventually join the Union in 1791—largely due to the courage and leadership that began with these mountain patriots.

Legacy

The Green Mountain Boys symbolize the spirit of American independence: bold, defiant, and driven by an unshakable belief in liberty. Their legacy lives on in the Vermont National Guard, which still honors their name.

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