The Catamount Tavern in the future Old Bennington, served as the headquarters for the Green Mountain Boys.  This militia was formed to resist New York’s attempt to control the New Hampshire Grants which eventually became the State of Vermont after the Revolution.  As these regional skirmishes took a backseat to the broader conflict with Great Britian after the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Green Mountain Boys, under the command of Ethan Allen, received financial support and direction from Connecticut to attack Fort Ticonderoga and join forces with Benedict Arnold who had been sent with a similar commissioned from Massachusetts.  What is the best way to raise volunteers for a dangerous mission to Britian’s best fort in North America?  Why, naturally, a few rounds drinks!

Allen assembled his army about 50 miles north of Bennington in Castleton, VT.  While waiting for the full force to assembled, they all bellied up to the bar there for round after round of Stone Fence cocktails made with hard apple cider and shots of dark rum. Now fortified against the cold, they were prepared to march ten hours to attack the fort on the morning of May 10, 1775.  The British posted on only one sentry and upon seeing the Connecticut forces approach he fled his post after his musket misfired.  The rest of the garrison surrendered without a shot being fired.  The seizure of Fort Ticonderoga was the first American victory in the Revolutionary War.

Stone Fence Drink Recipe:

• 1 gil dark rum, applejack or rye whiskey
• 1 pint hard cider

Pour the rum into a tall bar glass the top off with hard apple cider.

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