Editing Ethan Allen (section)

===Capture of Fort Ticonderoga===
{{Main|Capture of Fort Ticonderoga}}
Allen received a message from members of an irregular Connecticut militia in late April, following the [[battles of Lexington and Concord]], that they were planning to [[Capture of Fort Ticonderoga|capture Fort Ticonderoga]] and requesting his assistance in the effort.<ref name="Jellison109">Jellison, p. 109</ref>  Allen agreed to help and began rounding up the Green Mountain Boys,<ref name="B116">Bellesiles, p. 116</ref> and 60 men from Massachusetts and Connecticut met with Allen in Bennington on May 2, 1775, where they discussed the logistics of the expedition.<ref name="Jellison109"/> By May 7, these men joined Allen and 130 Green Mountain Boys at Castleton. They elected Allen to lead the expedition, and they planned a dawn raid for May 10.<ref name="Jellison110">Jellison, p. 110</ref> Two small companies were detached to procure boats, and Allen took the main contingent north to Hand's Cove in [[Shoreham, Vermont|Shoreham]] to prepare for the crossing.<ref name="Jellison111">Jellison, p. 111</ref>

[[File:Benedict arnold illustration.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Engraving of [[Benedict Arnold]]]]
On the afternoon of May 9, [[Benedict Arnold]] unexpectedly arrived, flourishing a commission from the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. He asserted his right to command the expedition, but the men refused to acknowledge his authority and insisted that they would follow only Allen's lead. Allen and Arnold reached an accommodation privately, the essence of which was that Arnold and Allen would both be at the front of the troops when they attacked the fort.<ref name="Randall90">Randall (1990), p. 90</ref>

The troops procured a few boats around 2 a.m. for the crossing, but only 83 men made it to the other side of the lake before Allen and Arnold decided to attack, concerned that dawn was approaching.<ref name="Jellison115">Jellison, p. 115</ref> The small force marched on the fort in the early dawn, surprising the lone sentry, and Allen went directly to the fort commander's quarters, seeking to force his surrender. Lieutenant Jocelyn Feltham was awakened by the noise, and called to wake the fort's commander Captain William Delaplace.<ref name="Randall95">Randall (1990), p. 95</ref> He demanded to know by what authority the fort was being entered, and Allen said, "In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!"<ref name="Randall96">Randall (1990), p. 96</ref>{{efn | Despite holding a commission from neither one}} Delaplace finally emerged from his chambers and surrendered his sword,<ref name="Randall96"/> and the rest of the fort's garrison surrendered without firing a shot.<ref name="B118">Bellesiles, p. 118</ref> The only casualty had been a British soldier who became concussed when Allen hit him with a [[cutlass]], hitting the man's hair comb and saving his life.<ref name="Randall307">Randall (1990), p. 307</ref>