The fight at Lexington in April had been quickly followed by aggressive action against this British stronghold.

No news of Lexington had reached the fort when early in May Colonel Ethan Allen, with Benedict Arnold serving as a volunteer in his force of eighty-three men, arrived in friendly guise.

The fort was held by only forty-eight British; with the menace from France at last ended they felt secure; discipline was slack, for there was nothing to do.

The incompetent commander testified that he lent Allen twenty men for some rough work on the lake.

By evening Allen had them all drunk and then it was easy, without firing a shot, to capture the fort with a rush.