
1691
Major Peter Schuyler wrote in his Journal: - "Came Gerrard Luykasse and Herman Vedder with two Mohawks, from
a party of 80 Mohawks at a Lake right over Saraghtoga, who went by the way of Lake St. Sackraman and promised to meet us in six
days at Chinandroga." * * "-Lieut. (Abraham Schuyler) went out with 50 men and finished Canoes enough for the
Christians."
1758
Early in the morning the British troops embarked and by evening their old camp at the southern end of Lake George, while
the wounded were conveyed to Fort Edward and Albany, to which the ammunition and artillery were also sent.
-We reached a charming spot
To other mortals known as Isle La Motte,
But we, who gaily sailed o'er smiling
seas
Deemed it the land of the Hesperides.
*
* *
* *
* * *
Can you not see the shining beach that ran
Along the peaceful lake to Fort St. Anne?
The steep ascent?- the path across the hill
Beneath the trees?- The spreading oak tree
Is all that's left of that which used to be
Except the grass grown mounds of Fort St. Anne
Where once were wooden wall and barbican.
-Mrs. Palmer.
1909
At Isle La Motte the celebration was brought to a fitting close by religious and patriotic services. Regular troops
visited the island for the first time and at the Shrine of St. Anne, near the spot where first, in 1665, religious services were
held, solemn high mass was celebrated by Bishop Burke of Albany with sixty members of the clergy in attendance, the priests of the
diocese singing a plain chant mass and the Rev. P. J. Barrett of St. Mary's Cathedral, Burlington, preaching the sermon.
The literary exercises were opened with prayer offered by the Rev. John M. Thomas, D.D., President of Middlebury College.
Senator Henry W. Hill of Buffalo, a native of Isle La Motte, the first speaker, was followed by Gov. Prouty, Lieut. d'Azy
(representing the republic of France), Gov. Hughes and "Vermont's peerless orator," Judge Wenda;; P. Stafford, now of
Washington, D.C., who, as orator of the day, held 3,000 people enthralled while he eloquently told the story of the three
centuries in the valley since Champlain, "brave, able, ambitious, devoted, grasping for king and church, at the best the new
world had to offer," first saw this lovely island.
At the close of the ceremonies at the shrine the entire assemblage, headed by the band and escorted by Company
M, First Vermont Infantry and two troops of the Fifteenth U.S. cavalry, marched to the crest of the hill where the boulder, in
memory of Seth Warner and Remember Baker, the gift of the Patriotic Societies of Vermont Women, was to be dedicated. Mrs. Edward
Curtis Smith of St. Albans presided and the St. Albans Choral Union rendered "To Thee, O Country" and "Star
Spangled Banner" in which all joined. The address of welcome was was delivered by Mrs. F. Stewart Stranahan, State Regent of
the Vermont Colonial Dames and the presentation to the State made by Mrs. Clayton N. North of Shoreham, State Regent of the
Daughters of the American Revolution. The tablet on the face of the boulder was unveiled by Miss Dorothea Smith, daughter of
ex-Gov. and Mrs. Edward Curtis Smith, and Harry Hill, son of Senator and Mrs. Hill of Buffalo. In behalf of the state, Gov. Prouty
accepted the monument and Dr. Thomas made the dedicatory address.
In memory of the first white men who founded Christian homes upon this fair island, and in this ancient pathway of war sought to establish homes of peace, and in honor of Seth Warner and Remember Baker, intrepid heroes of the Green Mountains, lovers of liberty for their children, for whose freedom they gave their lives, who encamped while on perilous service for their country, and in commemoration of General Montgomery and his intrepid army, we place this boulder as a token of our gratitude for their mighty deeds and our veneration for their self-annulling devotion.-Dr. Thomas.
Mrs. Elvira Sarah (Warner) Parker of St. Johns, P.Q., great granddaughter of Seth Warner laid a laurel wreath upon the monument.
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