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He saw the weak spots and gave orders that they should be charged.
A regiment sallied out and marched with band playing and banners flying.
Allen saw them approach, and at once communicated with Montgomery.
Orders were given to defend the weak places and to be content inholding the line.
The British had underestimated the courage of the Americans.
They had yet to learn that men fighting for a principle were strongerthan those who fought to obey orders.
Allen knew that many of his men were raw, never having stood up beforean enemy, and that when it came to fighting they might be frightened.
He called his officers together and addressed them.
"It is necessary that we reduce St. Johns, and as it is our first realbattle you must each be responsible for your men. Don't let anyfalter. At the first sign of retreat, unless I order it, shoot theleader; that will prevent the others from running. It is harsh, butnecessary. Now remember that our country depends on us for victory.We must prove ourselves worthy. Address your companies and inspirethem with courage. Let each man do his duty."
There was a magnetism about Allen which won respect and obedience.
"Do you not think he blundered?" an officer once asked another aboutthe great Napoleon.
"Blundered? Perhaps he did. But if he ordered me to cut off my hand Iwould do it. He owns me body and soul."
And it was just this kind of feeling which animated the men whofollowed Ethan Allen.
The British regiment charged the earthworks, and the Americans had allthey could do to hold their position.
The slaughter was large in proportion to the number engaged, and Allenfeared for the result.
But when the English began to retire he ordered his men to follow andchallenge to another combat.
The enemy, seeing the move, turned and prepared to resist the charge ofthe Americans.
Then commenced a series of masterly feints which won renown for theGreen Mountain hero.
His men fell back after the first volley, and the English pursued.
Again Allen rallied his men and charged the enemy, only to retreat asquickly as before.
Three times was this maneuver practiced, and each time the English weredrawn nearer the strongest points of the line of circumvallation.
Montgomery saw, at first with surprise, the movements of his ablecoadjutor; then, when the object became apparent, he ordered hisdivision to be in readiness, and after the third feint, with a loudshout the entire force of the Americans charged the English and pursuedthem into the town, slaughtering them like sheep.
Allen advised forcing an entrance into the town, but Montgomery knewthat the enemy would have every advantage, and that success was verydoubtful.
He preferred to wait, and by strengthening his position compel thegarrison to surrender.
The afternoon saw the white flag floating over both fort andearthworks. The emblem of peace meant that both sides wished to carefor the wounded and bury the dead.
It is a strange feature of civil war, and the war between the Englishand the Americans might be so called, that when the flag of truce ishoisted the men of both sides are ready to fraternize.
It was so in this instance before St. Johns.
Men who
had been aiming at each other an hour previously now drank fromthe same canteen and helped to bury each other's dead.
Among the wounded was young Eben Pike.
