The territory that makes up the modern day State of Vermont was a hotbed of controversy from the years preceding, during, and after the American Revolution. The colony of New Hampshire issued land grants in the area between the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain. This are became known as the New Hampshire grants. Subsequently, the British crown decided in favor of the colony of New York’s claims to this land, and New York issued grant to land in the are, happily ignoring those previously made by New Hampshire!
The majority of the population rejected the claims of New York, and that led to the establishment of a local militia, known as the Green Mountain Boys, lead by Ethan Allen, his brother Ira Allen, and their cousins Seth Warner and Remember Baker. By the 17700’s , they were several hundred strong and were the defacto rulers of the area.
In 1775, a body of the Green Mountain Boys joined with Connecticut Militia Colonel Benedict Arnold to seize control of Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point on Lake Champlain,. before advancing on as far as Quebec and Montreal, where their attempt to take the city during the winter failed.
In the summer of 1775, they became the basis of the Green Mountain Rangers in the Continental army, famously fighting at Bennington in 1777.
Vermont then declared itself and independent Republic. The Continental Congress chose to ignore the issue to avoid conflict between New York and New Hampshire, and it was not until 1791 that Vermont became part of the new UInited States as the 14th state.
The flag of this unit is well documented, with remnants still existing.
