A rustic army of nearly twenty thousand men quickly gathered about Boston to besiege Gage there; but its warlike spirit ran too high to be contented with passive and defensive measures. Benedict Arnold suggested that expeditions be sent against the fortresses at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, which commanded the northern approach to the Hudson and were of great strategic importance. The suggestion was at once adopted. Arnold was created colonel and set out to raise a regiment among the Berkshire Hills. When he arrived there, he found that Ethan Allen had already raised a force of Vermonters and started for Ticonderoga. THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS [May 9, 1775] I Here halt we our march, and pitch our tent On the rugged forest-ground, And light our fire with the branches rent By winds from the beeches round. Wild storms have torn this ancient wood, But a wilder is at hand, With hail of iron and rain of blood, To sweep and waste the land. II How the dark wood rings with our voices shrill, That startle the sleeping bird! To-morrow eve must the voice be still, And the step must fall unheard. The Briton lies by the blue Champlain, In Ticonderoga's towers, And ere the sun rise twice again, Must they and the lake be ours. III Fill up the bowl from the brook that glides Where the fire-flies light the brake; A ruddier juice the Briton hides In his fortress by the lake. Build high the fire, till the panther leap From his lofty perch in flight, And we'll strengthen our weary arms with sleep For the deeds of to-morrow night. WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. Arnold overtook Allen and his "Green Mountain Boys" on May 9, and accompanied the expedition as a volunteer. At daybreak of the 10th, Allen and Arnold, with eighty-three men, crossed Lake Champlain and entered Ticonderoga side by side. The garrison was completely surprised and surrendered the stronghold without a blow. THE SURPRISE AT TICONDEROGA [May 10, 1775] 'Twas May upon the mountains, and on the airy wing Of every floating zephyr came pleasant sounds of spring,-- Of robins in the orchards, brooks running clear and warm, Or chanticleer's shrill challenge from busy farm to farm. But, ranged in serried order, attent on sterner noise, Stood stalwart Ethan Allen and his "Green Mountain Boys,"-- Two hundred patriots listening, as with the ears of one, To the echo of the muskets that blazed at Lexington! "My comrades,"--thus the leader spake to his gallant band,-- "The key of all the Canadas is in King George's hand, Yet, while his careless warders our slender armies mock, Good Yankee swords--God willing--may pick his rusty lock!"