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 A 
 
 THE 
 
 CENTENNIAL HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Battle of Bennington; 
 
 COMPILED 
 
 From the most Reliable Sources, and fully 
 
 Illustrated with Original Documents 
 
 AND Entertaining Anecdotes. 
 
 Col. Seth Warner's Identity in the First Action 
 Completely Established. 
 
 BY 
 
 FRANK W. CO BURN. 
 
 EMBELLISHED WITH A PORTRAIT OF GF.NERAL STARK, A PLAN OF 
 THE BATTLE-FIELD, AND OTHER ENGRAVINGS 
 
 "True to its trust, Walloomsack long 
 The record bright shall bear, 
 Who came up at the battle sound 
 And fought 'or freedom there." 
 
 — Rev. E. H. Chapi.v, D. D. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 GEORGE E. LITTLEFIELD, 
 Antiquarian Bookstore, 67 Cornhill. 
 1877. 
 
 , 
 
COPYRIGHT, 
 
 1877. 
 
 RICHARD D. CHILD. 
 
 BOSTON : 
 
 W. F. BROWN * CO., STERBOTYPERS AND PRINTERS, 
 
 Kg. W BiOMriiiB Stiiit. 
 
 ^ \ 
 
TO 
 AS A TOKEN 
 
 OP MV 
 
 HIGHEST ESTEEM. 
 
 ^ 
 
 //^'/^ 
 
I 
 
 '-.,?• 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In the following pages I have endeavored to 
 present a comprehensive, readable, and above all, 
 a faithful account of the battle fought near Ben- 
 nington, August 1 6th, 1777. I have consulted, 
 in the preparation of this work, the Collections of 
 the Vermont and Massachusetts Historical Socie- 
 ties ; Records of the Council of Safety of Ver- 
 mont, edited by E. P. Walton ; Slade's Vermont 
 State Papers; Thompson's Vermont; Hemmen- 
 way's Vermont Magazine ; Isaac Jennings's Me- 
 morials of a Century ; Nelson's Burgoyne's Cam- 
 paign ; Everett's Life of Stark, and many other 
 authorities, unnecessary to mention here. From 
 these I have made a liberal use of facts. 
 
 My thanks are due to Messrs. Geo. E. Little- 
 field, and Richard D. Child, of Boston ; and to 
 Mr. Charles H. Guild, of Somerville, for their 
 kindness in loaning me material of great value, 
 not otherwise easily accessible. 
 
 That the work may contain errors, I do not 
 pretend to deny ; if it does, they are unknown to 
 me, for I have labored hard to make it correct. 
 Such as it is, I offer it to the people of my native 
 state, Vermont, and to those of New Hampshire 
 and Massachusetts. 
 
 Frank W. Coburn. 
 
 Somerville, Mass., July loth, 1877. 
 
.^■'r 
 
 ' ■ • »nr rT"--' V 
 
 The Mouth of the River Huquet. 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 Early in the month of May, 1777, General 
 John Burqoyne arrived in Quebec, and at once 
 proceeded to assume command of the army placed 
 there at his disposal. This force consisted of 
 upwards of seven thousand men, British and 
 German, a corps of artillerists, numbering about 
 five hundred, seven hundred rangers, under Col. 
 St. Ledger, t^vo thousand Canadians, whose ser- 
 vices as axemen and general camp assistants it 
 was foreseen would be needed, a sufficient num- 
 ber of seamen fo^ manning the transports on the 
 lakes, and on the Hudson, and a body of scouts, 
 to be used in whatever service that might be re- 
 quired. The officers who seconded Burgoyne in 
 this expedition, were all able and excellent in 
 their respective positions. Among these may 
 be mentioned Maj.-Gen.'s Reidesel and Philips, 
 and Brig.-Gen.'s Frazer, Powal, Hamilton, Specht 
 and Goll. 
 
 With all due haste Burgoyne marched down 
 Lake Champlain, and on the 21st of June landed 
 his army on the western shore, at the mouth of 
 
8 ,. The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 the river Boquet. At this place he was joined 
 by four or five hundred savages, lured by the 
 promise of a plenty of plunder, together with a 
 few gaudy presents in hand. Everything must 
 be done in military exactness and diplomatic pre- 
 cision with Gen. Burgoyne, and so he proceeded 
 to address these sons of the forest in a language 
 no more than half of which was within the scope 
 of their comprehensions. 
 
 " Persuaded that your magnanimity of charac- 
 " ter, joined to your principles of affection to the 
 " King, will give me fuller controul over your 
 " minds than the military rank with which I am 
 " invested, I enjoin your most serious attention to 
 " the rules which I hereby proclaim for your in- 
 " variable observation during the campaign. 
 
 " I positively forbid bloodshed, when you are 
 " not opposed in arms. 
 
 "Aged men, women, children, and prisoners, 
 " must be held sacred from the knife or hatchet, 
 " even in the time of actual conflict. 
 
 " You shall receive compensation for the pris- 
 " oners you take ; but you shall be called to ac- 
 " count for scalps." ■ -^r n •; . • , t 
 
 He gave them permission, however, to take the 
 scalps of the dead, when killed by their fire, and 
 in actual opposition ; " but on no account, or pre- 
 tence, or subtlety, or prevarication, are they to 
 be taken from the wounded, or even dying." 
 
 " Base, lurking assassins, incendiaries, ravagers, 
 and plunderers of the country, to whatever army 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 9 
 
 they may belong, shall be treated with less re- 
 serve ; but the latitude must be given you by 
 order, and I must be the judge of the occasion." 
 He gave them the privilege to retaliate on the 
 Americans for any acts of barbarity they might 
 commit. K^'^^ "■'- "7-^ -^'^■■-■: :-rvy:yjii-a^,,-i,yf:^^n 
 
 In reply an old chief of the Iroquois said, 
 "With one common assent, we promise a com- 
 mon obedience to all you have ordered, and all 
 you shall order ; and may the father of days give 
 you many and success ! We have been tried and 
 tempted by the Bostonians ; but we have loved 
 our father, and our hatchets have been sharpened 
 upon our affections." 
 
 On July I St the enemy arrived in the imme- 
 diate vicinity of Ticonderoga, and on the 4th 
 Burgoyne issued his famous proclamation where- 
 in he guarantees his fullest protection to the 
 "domestic, the industrious, the infirm, and even 
 the timid," provided they will " remain quietly at 
 their houses ; that they do not suffer their cattle 
 to be removed, nor their corn or foraQ:e to be 
 secreted or destroyed ; that they do not break 
 up their bridges or roads ; nor by any other act, 
 directly or indirectly, endeavor to obstruct the 
 operations of the King's troops, or supply or 
 assist those of the enemy." He wishes for more 
 persuasive terms to give his proclamation a suffi- 
 cient impression, but at all events "let not people 
 be led to disregard it," at whatever distance they 
 may be from the camp, for, " I have but to give 
 
lo The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 stretch to the Indian forces under my direction, 
 and they amount to thousands, to overtake the 
 hardened enemies of G. Britain and America." 
 
 He trusts in the eves of God and men to stand 
 acquitted for his zeal in denouncing and executing 
 the vengeance of the State on the wilful outcasts 
 who still continue in the " phrenzy of hostility." 
 
 On the afternoon of the 5th of July, the ene- 
 my gained the height of Sugar Hill, or Mount 
 Defiance, as it is now called, which commanded 
 both Fort Ticonderoga and the adjoining post. 
 Mount Independence. These two positions, held 
 by about three thousand Americans, were under 
 the immediate command of General Arthur St 
 Clair, subject, however, to Gen. Philip Schuyler 
 stationed some miles below, at Fort Edward, on 
 the Hudson. 
 
 St. Clair found it necessary to call a council of 
 war to determine on what course to pursue. It 
 was unanimously agreed that the posts were no 
 longer tenable, and therefore an immediate evac- 
 uation was decided upon. Early the next morn- 
 ing the troops were put in motion, and at four 
 o'clock, the rear guard, under Col. Francis, suc- 
 ceeded in making good their retreat. Some one, 
 contrary to distinct orders, set fire to a house on 
 Mount Independence, the blaze of which revealed 
 every movement of the Americans to the enemy. 
 This created not a little confusion amona: our 
 troops, but through the personal exertions of St. 
 Clai»-, order vas finally icstored. - c , . •• > >'■ <■ 
 
 -t: 
 
■y 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 II 
 
 Upon arriving at Hubbardton the rear guard, 
 consisting then of three regiments and a few 
 stragglers, was placed under the command ot 
 Col. Seth Warner, with orders to remain there 
 until the next morning, to allow those who had 
 fallen behind to come up. This force amounted 
 to twelve hundred men, and included, besides his 
 own, the regiments of Col.'s Francis and Hale. 
 
 When General Frazer perceived, in the morn- 
 ing of the evacuation, that the Americans were 
 retiring, he commenced an immediate pursuit. 
 General Reidesel, and most of the Brunswickers 
 were likewise ordered to join and act with Frazer, 
 or separately, as circumstances might warrant. 
 
 On the morning of the 7th, they came up with 
 Warner, and a bloody conflict ensued. Col. Hale, 
 with his men, ignominiously fled, leaving the reg- 
 iments of Francis and Warner to cope with the 
 enemy as best they might. Col. Francis fell in 
 the action, anc '^rner was forced to once more 
 sound the retreat. The loss of the Americans in 
 this battle was three hundred and twenty-four, in 
 killed, wounded, and prisoners, while the enemy's 
 loss was but one hundred and eighty-three. 
 
 Burgoyne, with his main army, still continued 
 on his southward course, using every exertion to 
 open the way from Skenesborough to Fort Ed- 
 ward; but so effectually had the American^ 
 blocked up his way, by various means, that his 
 army was frequently twenty-four hours in ad- 
 vancing one mile. On the 30th of July, Bur- 
 
■?"*•',!.'!!)'■ 
 
 42 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 goyne arrived and fixed his head-quarters at Fort 
 Edward, which post General Schuyler and his 
 whole force had evacuated on the 2 2d, and fled 
 further south, arriving at Stillwater on the ist 
 day of August. Burgoyne's forces were now 
 employed, from his arrival here, until the 15th of 
 August, in bringing forward batteaux, provisions, 
 and ammunition from Fort George, at the foot 
 of Lake George, to the first or nearest navigable 
 part of the Hudson, a distance of not more than 
 fifteen miles. The labor was excessive, more 
 especially for the European soldiers, whose inex- 
 perience in this part of warfare rendered them 
 almost unfit for any use ; and so with all the 
 efforts that Burgoyne could possibly make, he 
 was soon compelled to admit the alarming scar- 
 city of provisions in his camp. ' The Americans, 
 too, in retreating, had taken the greatest pains to 
 destroy everything that might be of any service 
 to the enemy, whether it might be in the shape 
 of food or otherwise. " I have called it a desert 
 country," said Glick, a German officer, " not only 
 with reference to its natural sterility, and heaven 
 knows it was sterile enough, but because of the 
 pains which were taken, and unfortunately with 
 too great success, to sweep its few cultivated 
 spots of all articles likely to benefit the invaders." 
 And so when the welcome news came that there 
 was a large store of provisions at Bennington, 
 news brought in by the Tories, Burgoyne at 
 once determined to seize that place to supply 
 
The Batik of Bennington. 
 
 n 
 
 his own necessities. He entered upon this pro- 
 ject with great ardor. " With all the elation of 
 " his hopes," says the Rev. Isaac Jennings, in his 
 ' Memorials of a Century.' " he fitted out this ex- 
 "pedition with much care. He selected for its 
 "nucleus and chief dependence a corps of Ried- 
 " sell's dismounted dragoons, — the same that 
 "had behaved so gallantly at Hubbardton, — a 
 "company of sharpshooters, chosen with care 
 "from all the regiments, under Capt. Frazer, — a 
 " most excellent officer ; — Peters' corps of Loy- 
 " alists, to be swelled as they proceeded ; a body 
 "of Canadian rangers; Hanan artillerists with 
 " two cannon ; a hundred and fifty Indians. He 
 " placed all under the care of Lieut.-Col. Baum, a 
 "skilled and thorougl ly brave German officer. 
 " To these troops he, after they had proceeded on 
 " their way a little, added fifty chasseurs." Bur- 
 goyne, as might be expected, again found it nec- 
 essary to add one more to his list of State Docu- 
 ments, a species of composition he particularly 
 delighted in. As usual, it was drawn up with 
 the greatest of care, and the minutest attention 
 to detail. I quote it in full : \, 
 
 •■1 
 
 >) 
 
 A 
 
 Burgoynes Instructions to Col. Baum. 
 
 "The object of your expedition is to try the af- 
 "fections of the country, to disconcert the coun- 
 "cils of the enemy, to mount the Reidesel's dra- 
 " goons, to complete Peters 's corps, and to obtain 
 "large supplies of cattle, horses, and carriages. 
 
H 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 The several corps, of which the enclosed is a 
 list, are to be under your command. 
 
 "The troops must take no tents, and what lit- 
 tle baggage is carried by officers, must be on 
 their own bat-hoises. 
 
 "You are to proceed from Batten Kill, to Aslin- 
 ton, and take post there, till the detachment of 
 provincials under the command of Capt. Sher- 
 wood, shall join you from the southward. 
 
 "You are then to proceed to Manchester, where 
 you will again take post, so as to secure the pass 
 of the mountains on the road from Manchester 
 to Rockingham ; from thence you will detach 
 the Indians and light troops to the northward, 
 towards Otter Creek. On their return, and also 
 receiving intelligence that no enemy is in force 
 upon the Connecticut river, you will proceed by 
 the road over the mountains to Rockingham, 
 where you will take post. This will be the most 
 distant post on the expedition, and must be pro- 
 ceeded upon with caution, as you will have the 
 defile of the mountains behind you, which might 
 make a retreat difficult. You must therefore 
 endeavor to be well informed of the force of the 
 enemy's militia in the neighboring country. 
 Should you find it may with prudence be effect- 
 ed, you are to remain there, while the Indians 
 and light troops are detached up the river, and 
 you are afterwards to descend the river, to Brat- 
 tlebury, and from that place, by the quickest 
 march, you are to return by the great road to 
 Albany. 
 
 " During your whole progress, your detach- 
 ments are to have orders to bring in to you, all 
 horses fit to mount the dragoons, under your 
 command ; to serve as bat-horses to the troops, 
 
^ 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 IS 
 
 led is a 
 
 vhat lit- 
 t be on 
 
 o Aslin- 
 ment of 
 )t. Sher- 
 l. 
 
 r, where 
 ihe pass 
 ichester 
 detach 
 -thward, 
 and also 
 in force 
 ceed by 
 ingham, 
 he most 
 t be pro- 
 lave the 
 h might 
 herefore 
 :e of the 
 country. 
 >e effect- 
 Indians 
 ver, and 
 to Brat- 
 [{uickest 
 road to 
 
 detach- 
 
 you, all 
 
 ler your 
 
 J troops, 
 
 "together with as many saddles and bridles as 
 " can be found. The number of horses requisite, 
 "besides those necessary for mounting the reg- 
 "iment of dragoons, ought to be thirteen hun- 
 " dred. if you can bring more for the use of the 
 "army, it will be so much the better. Your par- 
 " ties are likewise to bring in waggons and other 
 "convenient carriages, with as many draft-oxen 
 " as will be necessary to draw them ; and all cattle 
 "fit for slaughter (milch cows excepted), which 
 "are to be left for the use of the inhabitants. 
 " Regular receipts, in the form hereto subjoined, 
 " are to be given in all places where any of the 
 " above-mentioned articles are taken, to such per- 
 " sons as have remained in their habitations, and 
 "otherwise complied with the terms of General 
 " Burgoyne's Manifesto : but no receipt to be 
 " given to such as are known to be acting in the 
 " service of the Rebels. As you will have with 
 " you persons who are perfectly acquainted with 
 " the abilities of the country, it may perhaps be 
 "advisable to tax the several districts, with the 
 "portions of the several articles, and limit the 
 " hours of delivery ; and should you find it neces- 
 " sary to move before the delivery can be made, 
 " hostages of the most respectable people should 
 " be taken, to secure their following you the ensu- 
 " ing day. All possible measures to be used to 
 " prevent plundering. As it is probable that Capt. 
 " Sherwood, who is already detached to the south- 
 " ward, and will join you at Arlington, will drive 
 " a considerable quantity of horses and cattle in to 
 " you, you will therefore send in this cattle to the 
 " army, with a proper detachment from Peters's 
 "corps, to cover them, in order to disincumber 
 "yourself; but you must always keep the regi- 
 
 i 
 
i6 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 ment of dragoons compact. The dragoons 
 themselves must ride and take care of the 
 horses of the regiment. Those horses which are 
 destined for the army must be tied together by 
 strings of ten each, in order that one man may 
 lead ten horses. You will give the unarmed 
 men of Pete'*s's corps to conduct them, and in- 
 habitants whom you can trust. You must always 
 take your camps in good position, but at the 
 same time where there is pasture, and you must 
 have a chain of sentinels around your horses 
 and cattle when grazing. Col. Skeene will be 
 with you as much as possible, in order to assist 
 you with his advice, to help you to distinguish 
 the good subjects from the bad, to procure you 
 the best intelligence of the enemy, and to choose 
 those people who are to bring me the accounts 
 of your progress and success. 
 
 " When you find it necessary to halt for a day 
 or two, you must always entrench the camp of 
 the regiment of Dragoons, in order never to 
 risque an attack or affront from the enemy. 
 
 " As you will return with the regiment of dra- 
 goons mounted, you must always have a detach- 
 ment of Capt. Frazer's or Peters's corps in front 
 of the column, and the same in the rear, in order 
 to prevent your falling into an ambuscade, when 
 you march through the woods. 
 
 " You will use all possible means to make the 
 enemy believe that the troops under your com- 
 mand are the advanced corps of the army, and 
 that it is intended to pass the Connecticut on 
 the road to Boston. 
 
 " You will likewise insinuate that the main 
 army from Albany is to be joined at Springfield 
 by a corps of troops from Rhode Island. It is 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 »7 
 
 highly probable that the corps under Mr. War- 
 ner, now supposed to be at Manchester, will 
 rcuei .^ before you; but should they, contrary to 
 expectation, be able to collect in great force, and 
 post themselves advantageously, it is left to your 
 discretion to attack them or not, always bearing 
 in mind that your corps is too valuable to let 
 any considerable loss be hazarded on this occa- 
 sion. .' • ' ■ ■ > 
 
 " Should any corps be moved from Mr. Arnold's 
 main army, in order to intercept your retreat, 
 you arc to take as strong a post as the country 
 will afford, and send the quickest intelligence 
 to me, and you may depend on my making such 
 a movement a3 shall put the enemy between two 
 fires, or otherwise effectually sustain you. 
 
 " It is imagined that the whole of this expedi- 
 tion may be effected in about a fortnight, but 
 every movement of it must depend upon your 
 success in obtaining such supply of provisions 
 as will enable you to subsist for your return to 
 the army, in case you get no more ; and should 
 not the army be able to reach Albany before 
 your expedition shall be completed, I will find 
 means to give you notice of it, and give your 
 rout another direction. 
 
 " All persons acting in committees, or any offi- 
 cers under the directions of the Congress, either 
 civil or military, are to be made prisoners. 
 
 " I heartily wish you success, and have the 
 honor to be. Sir, 
 
 " Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 "J. ^viRGOY^^, Lieutenattt-General. 
 
 "Head-Quarters, August 9th, 1777, 
 
 It will be seen that the above document is 
 
40 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 dated August 9th, 1877, but it was not until the 
 early morning of the 12th that Baum left for 
 Bennington. The great object, as expressed in 
 his instructions, was to obtain horses and cattle, 
 but when his departure drew near at hand, the 
 consideration of provisions arose, and so these 
 same instructions were modified a little. 
 
 That afternoon, at four o'clock, they arrived at 
 the Batten Kill, and encamped. It was at this 
 place that the fifty chasseurs overtook them, that 
 Burgoyne had sent out as a reinforcement. At 
 five the next morning, Baum again moved forward 
 towards Cambridge, sending ahead a force of 
 thirty provincials and fifty Indians to surprise 
 an American army-guard, with some cattle, that 
 he had heard were stationed there, which suc- 
 ceeded in capturing five prisoners. Arriving at 
 Cambridge, Baum captured a number of horses, 
 cattle, wagons and carts, and then sent word back 
 to Burgoyne as to his progress, and the success 
 he had met with, not forgetting to inform him, 
 also, that it had been rumored there were at least 
 eighteen hundred men assembled at Bennington, 
 ready to receive him. Upon receiving this com- 
 munication, Burgoyne replied as follows : 
 
 General Burgoyne to Lieuteftaitt-Colonel Baum. 
 
 , • ,, "Near Saratoga, 14 August, 1777." 
 
 "Sir," 
 
 " The accounts you have given me are ver)-^ sat- 
 ** isfactory, and I doubt not every proceeding un- 
 
 I- 
 
The Battk of Bennington. 
 
 19 
 
 dcr your direction will be the same. I beg the 
 favor of you to report whether the route you 
 have marched will be practicable with a large 
 corps of cannon, without repair, or with what 
 sort of repair. The desirable circumstances for 
 your corps is, at present, to possess Bennington ; 
 but should you find the 6nemy too strongly 
 posted, and maintaining such a countenance as 
 would make a coup dc main hazardous, I wish 
 you to take such a post as you can maintain till 
 you hear further from me ; and upon your re- 
 ports and other circumstances, I will either sup- 
 port you in force or withdraw you. .. 
 " You will please send to my camp, as soon as 
 you can, wagons and draught-cattle, and like- 
 wise such other cattle as are not necessary for 
 your subsistence. Let the wagons and carts 
 bring off what flour and wheat they can, that 
 you do not retain for the same purpose. I will 
 write to you in full to-morrow in regard to pur- 
 chasing horses out of the hands of the savages. 
 In the meantime let them be assured that what- 
 ever you select from them, fit to mount the dra- 
 goons, shall be paid for at proper price. 
 
 " I am, &c., 1 '. ).v 
 
 : _ "John Burgovne." 
 
 ry sat- 
 
 To aid Baum, in case he needed it. General 
 Burgoyne, at 8 o'clock on the 1 5th day of August, 
 ordered Col. Breyman with a large force, consist- 
 ing of a company of yagers, and a battalion of 
 chasseurs and grenadiers to follow and act as a 
 re-enforcement. He had himself moved the main 
 army down the east bank of the Hudson, and the 
 
11 
 
 90 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 advanced corps succeeded in crossing over on a 
 bridge of rafts, and encamped near Saratoga. 
 The diflRculty Breyman's troops experienced in 
 crossing the Batten Kill, the muddy roads and 
 rainy weather, prevented them from reaching 
 Cambridge that day, and so they encamped seven 
 miles from that place. He had, before reaching 
 the night's encampment, despatched an express 
 to Col. Baum, informing him of his proposed as- 
 sistance, the reply to which he received the next 
 morning. 
 
 The progress of the invading army had been 
 watched with a great deal of interest by the 
 inhabitants through whose territory it passed. 
 The alarm spread rapidly far into New York, 
 and on the other side, even beyond the Green 
 Mountains to the Connecticut river. The spirit 
 that governed the people was generally one of bit- 
 ter opposition, although many submissively took 
 the oath of allegiance for the sake of protecting 
 their families, it was alleged, but the truth is they 
 were inspired more by cowardice than any of 
 the benefits of policy. Some of these were loud 
 in their denunciations of the course pursued by 
 the Parliament of Great Britain, but when the 
 opportunity came to vindicate their opinions, it 
 was discovered that they " did not believe in war " ; 
 that they had rather submit to "trifling wrongs" 
 than to "take up arms against their brothers." 
 Tender consideration! Burgoyne found, much 
 to his dismay, and by bitter experience, that these 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 ai 
 
 people existed in a small minority. He had flat- 
 tered himself that his "Proclamations" would at 
 once convince the greater portion of the inhabi- 
 tants the needlessness of rebellion, the folly of any 
 kind of opposition, the sublime mercy of the King! 
 This mistake did not fully dawn upon his mind 
 at once, but required the battle of Bennington to 
 develop. In a private letter to Lord George Ger- 
 main, dated August 20th, 1877, he says, "Wher- 
 ever the King's forces point, militia to the amount 
 of three or four thousand assemble in twenty-four 
 hours ; they bring with them their subsistence, 
 etc., and the alarm ovc r, they return to their 
 farms. The Hampshire Grants, in particular, a 
 country unpeopled, and almost unknown in the 
 last war, now abounds in the most active and 
 most rebellious race of the continent, and hangs 
 like a gathering storm on my left." That there 
 were some actuated by what they considered to be 
 right motives, none can doubt. They made sacri- 
 fices to sustain what they deemed to be pri \ciples. 
 Their estates in Vermont were sold to meet the 
 expences of an armed force to oppose them in the 
 field. They might have hoped to regain them at 
 some future day, but still it was, at least, the risk 
 of a sacrifice. ■ * •-■.,'!..' m.; • 
 
 The people who preferred to stand on the side 
 of the American cause were not without their 
 troubles and dangers. Those of them residing 
 in the northern parts of the Grants, and in some 
 parts of New York, were compelled to move their 
 

 22 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 t 
 
 worldly goods farther south in order to prevent 
 them from falling into the hands of the enemy. 
 Those residing in the south gladly received them 
 and shared with them the hospitality of their 
 roofs. They were willing, indeed, to share with 
 each other their "mutual cares, labors and dan- 
 gers." ^ ^ . 
 
 In order to meet Burgoyne with something like 
 a show of spirited opposition, the Vermont Coun- 
 cil of Safety, a body appointed by the Convention 
 that formed the Vermont Constitution to act un- 
 til the new government could be organized, called 
 upon New Hampshire and Massachusetts to aid 
 in the defence of the frontier, urging, as a reason 
 for their immediate action, that in case Vermont 
 was neglected, the war would of necessity be car- 
 ried into their own territory. 
 
 Address of the Council of Safety in Vermont, to 
 THE Councils of Safety in Massachusetts and New 
 Hampshire. 
 
 "/» Council of Safety^ State of Vermont, Man- 
 chester, fuly 1^, I'j'j'j, 
 
 " Gentlemen : This state, in particular, seems 
 " to be at present the object of destruction. By 
 "the surrender of the fortress of Ticonderoga, 
 " a communication is opened to the defenceless 
 "inhabitants on the frontier, who, having little 
 " more in store at present, than sufficient for the 
 " maintenance of their respective families, and not 
 " ability immediately to remove their effects, are, 
 " therefore, induced to accept such protections as 
 
 W 1?1 
 
The Battle of Bentmigton. 
 
 23 
 
 prevent 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 enemy. 
 
 1 
 
 (( 
 
 id them 
 
 ■ 
 
 i< 
 
 3f their 
 
 ■ 
 
 (> 
 
 re with 
 
 ■ 
 
 a 
 
 nd dan- 
 
 1 
 
 u 
 
 ing like 
 
 1 
 
 
 it Coun- 
 
 ■ 
 
 a 
 
 vention 
 
 1 
 
 
 act un- 
 
 M 
 
 « 
 
 d, called 
 
 1 
 
 
 ts to aid 
 
 -;<ra 
 
 (( 
 
 1 reason 
 
 % 
 
 « 
 
 /ermont 
 
 J 
 
 <( 
 
 ^f be car- 
 
 'h 
 
 
 
 -*'^j 
 
 
 :MONT, TO 
 
 s 
 
 « 
 
 AND New 
 
 ^ 
 
 « 
 
 are offered them by the enemy. By this means, 
 those towns who are most contiguous to them, 
 are under the necessity of taking such protec- 
 tion ; by which the next town or towns become 
 equally a frontier as the former towns, before 
 such protection ; and unless we can have the as- 
 sistance of our friends, so as to put it immediately 
 in our power to make a sufficient stand against 
 such strength as they may send, it appears that 
 it will soon be out of the power of this state to 
 maintain its territory. 
 
 " This country, notwithstanding its infancy, 
 seems to be as well supplied with provisions for 
 victualling an army as any on the continent; so 
 that on that account we cannot see why a stand 
 may not as well be made in this state as in the 
 Massachusetts; and more especially, as the in- 
 habitants are disposed to defend their liberties. 
 
 " You, gentlemen, will be at once sensible, that 
 every such town as accepts protection, is ren- 
 dered at that instant incapable of affording any 
 further assistance ; and what is infinitely worse, 
 as some disaffected persons eternally lurk in al- 
 most every inhabited town, such become doubly 
 fortified to injure their country, our good dispo- 
 sition to defend ourselves, and make a frontier 
 for your state with our own, which cannot be 
 carried into execution without your assistance. 
 Should you send immediate assistance, we can 
 help you ; and should you neglect till we are put 
 to the necessity of taking protection, you know 
 it is in a moment out of our power to assist you. 
 Your laying these circumstances together will, I 
 hope, induce your honours to take the same into 
 consideration, and immediately send us your de- 
 termination in the premises. I have the sati$fac- 
 
M 
 
 The Battle of Benningttn. 
 
 
 " tion to be, your honours most obeditnt and very 
 " humble servant, by order of council." 
 
 " Ira Allen, ^^^'rj/." 
 
 The state of New Hampshire replied as follows : 
 
 Letter from Meschech Weare, President ok ihe State 
 OF New Hampshire, to Ira Allne, Sljretary of 
 THE State of Vermont. 
 
 " Exeter, J ti.v 19, 1777. 
 
 " Sir : I was favoured with yours of the 1 5th 
 inst. yesterday by express, and laid the same be- 
 fore our general court, who are sitting. 
 
 " We had, previous thereto, determined to send 
 assistance to your state. They have now deter- 
 mined, that a quarter part of the militia of twelve 
 regiments shall be immediately draughted, formed, 
 into three battalions, under the command of Brig. 
 Gen. John Stark, and forthwith sent into your, 
 state, to oppose the ravages and coming forward 
 of the enemy ; and orders are now issuing, and 
 will all go out in a few hours, to the several 
 Colonels for that purpose. Dependence is made 
 that they will be supplied with provision in your 
 state ; and I am to desire your convention will 
 send some proper person or persons to Number 
 Four, by Thursday next, to meet Gen. Stark 
 there, and advise with him relative to the route 
 and disposition of our troops, and to give him 
 such information as you may then have, relative 
 to the manoeuvres of the enemy. In behalf of 
 the council and assembly, I am, sir, your most 
 obedient humble servant," 
 
 "Meschech Weare, President^ 
 
 •• Ira Allen, Esq., Secretary of the State of Vermont^ 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 25 
 
 your 
 will 
 imber. 
 Stark 
 
 route 
 e him 
 ilative 
 alf of 
 
 most 
 
 ^it. 
 
 Col. John Stark had retired from the service of 
 the Continental Army for the particular reason 
 that Congress in making out a new list of promo- 
 tions, had omitted his name, and advanced others, 
 whom, he considered, if not in rank, at least in 
 ability, every way his inferiors. His experience 
 among the Indians, and his valuable services in 
 the French War, had endeared him to the respect 
 of the citizens of New Hampshire, and in thus re- 
 tiring from the army, he had many sympathisers. 
 
 Stark was one of the first to start for the sea- 
 coast, upon hearing of the affair at Lexington and 
 Concord. He had left instructions for such as 
 desired to follow him as volunteers in the cause 
 of the Colonists, to rendezvous at Medford, a 
 small town four or five miles from Boston. About 
 twelve hundred men obeyed his call, although 
 some of these returned home on discovering that 
 the pursuit of military glory was not without its 
 attendant danger. These men were formed into 
 two regiments, and Stark received his commission 
 as Colonel of what was known as the First New 
 Hampshire. This regiment served with consi-'ler- 
 able credit at the battle of Bunker Hill, more 
 properly Breed's Hill, where they occupied a po- 
 sition on the left wing of the American lines of 
 defence. They came out of the action with a loss 
 of sixty in killed and wounded. 
 
 Colonel Stark and his men followed the fortunes 
 of the army until the time of the regimental en- 
 listment had expired. He succeeded, however, in 
 
II 
 
 1 
 
 26 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 getting them to remain for a brief period, and has- 
 tened himself to New Hampshire, to recruit others 
 for the service. It was while engaged in this 
 laudable enterprise, that the news came to him 
 of the omission of his name on the new promotion 
 list. Disappointed and almost angry, he sent in 
 his resignation, and returned to his farm, to fol- 
 low the avocations of a peaceful life. His letter 
 addressed to the New Hampshire Council, fully 
 expresses his feelings at that time. 
 
 " To the Honb'l the Council and House of Repre- 
 ''^ sentatives for the State of New Hampshire in 
 " General Court assembleilr 
 
 " Ever since hostilities commenced, I have as 
 in me lay, endeavoured to prevent my Country 
 from being ravaged and enslaved by our cruel 
 and unnatural Enemy, have undergone the hard- 
 ships and fatigues of two campaigns with cheer- 
 fulness and alacrity, ever enjoying the pleasing 
 satisfaction that I was doing my God and my 
 country the greatest service my abilities would 
 admit of, and it was with the utmost gratitude 
 that I accepted the important command to which 
 this State appointed me. I should have served 
 with the greatest pleasure, more especially at 
 this important crisis, when our Country calls for 
 the utmost exertions of every American, but am 
 extremely grieved thai I feel bound in honor to 
 leave the service. Congress having thought fit 
 to promote junior oficers over my head, so that 
 I should show myself unworthy the honor con- 
 ferred on me, and a want of that spirit which 
 should glow in the breast of every office^ ap- 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 27 
 
 " pointed by this Honorable House, in not suitar 
 "bly resenting an indignity. I must, (though 
 "grieved to leave the service of my Country,) beg 
 "leave to resign my commission, hoping that you 
 " will make a choice of some gentleman who may 
 "honor the cause and his country to succeed. 
 " Your most obedient 
 
 "and much obHged humble servant, 
 
 "John Stark." 
 
 The Council passed the following vote, March 
 2ist, 1777. 
 
 " Voted, that the thanks of both houses in the 
 "convention, be given to Col. Stark, for his good 
 "services in the present war, and from his early 
 "and steadfast attachments to the cause of his 
 "country, they make not the least doubt that his 
 "future conduct in whatever state of life Provi- 
 "dence may place him, will manifest the same no- 
 " ble disposition of mind." 
 
 In response to Vermont's call for aid, the As- 
 sembly of New Hampshire formed the whole 
 State Militia into two brigades, giving the com- 
 mand of the first to William Whipple, and of the 
 second to John Stark. In accepting this com- 
 mand, Stark had hesitated, still smarting under 
 the neglect of the Continental Congress. Upon 
 being assured that his name was a power in itself 
 among the soldiers, and above all, upon being 
 urged to accept as a duty he owed to his coun- 
 try, he could no longer resist the offer. He ac- 
 cepted, however, on the condition that he should 
 not be responsible to the Continental Congress, 
 
28 
 
 The Battle of Bejmington. 
 
 nor to any officers acting under that honorable 
 body, but to only the New Hampshire Assembly. 
 His terms were readily agreed to, and he went at 
 once to work. ^ ' 
 
 " State of New Hampshire, 
 
 ''Saturday, July i^tk, 1777. 
 "To Brig^ Gen^ Jn° Stark, — You are hereby 
 " required to repair to Charlestown, No. 4, so as 
 "to be there by the 24th — Thursday next, to 
 " meet and confer with persons appointed by the 
 " Convention of the State of Vermont, relative to 
 " the route of the Troops under your Command, 
 " their being supplied with Provisions, and future 
 "operations — and when the Troops are collected 
 " at No. 4, you are to take the command of them 
 "and march into the State of Vermont, and there 
 "act in conjunction with the Troops of that State, 
 "or any other of the States, or of the United 
 "States, or separately, as it shall appear Expe- 
 "dient to you for the protection of the People or 
 " the annoyance of the Enemy, and from time to 
 "time, as occasion shall require, send Intelligence 
 "to the Gen' Assembly or Committee of Safety, 
 " of your operations, and the mancsuvres of the 
 " Enemy. , " M. Weare." 
 
 Col. Warner, now stationed at Manchester, was 
 using his every exertion to collect troops for im- 
 mediate service. In his circular for aid, issued 
 to the commanders of the militia in Hampshire 
 and Worcester Counties in Massachusetts, he 
 says, " The number of Troops we have at present 
 "collected, don't exceed 500, and unless we have 
 "speedy help, (should the enemy approach,) we 
 
The Battle of Bemiington. 
 
 29 
 
 "must be obliged to retreat before them, and leave 
 " them to possess a great part of what we have. 
 "You may conclude the Frontiers will be where 
 "there is a Body of Troops sufficient to stand the 
 "ememy. All are desired to bring Kettles and 
 "utensils for Cooking." To Stark, from the same 
 place, he wrote: "I can, by no means, be able 
 "to make a stand, without assistance. It is there- 
 "fore, of the most pressing importance, that your 
 "troops be forwarded to this place with as much 
 "expedition as possible. . . . The Council of 
 " Safety of this State are present, and join me in 
 " urging the necessity of your speedy assistance." 
 General Stark, agreeably to the orders of the 
 Assembly, had stationed himself at No. 4, and in 
 response to Colonel Warner's request, had on the 
 28th of July, sent a body of men numbering two 
 hundred and fifty, to his aid, and again on the 30th 
 another detachment, at the same time promising 
 more as they came in. He remained at this place 
 until August 3rd, then leaving for Manchester. 
 August 6th, he arrived in Bromley, now known as 
 Peru, and on the next day he reached the head- 
 quarters of Warner at Manchester. The number 
 of troops he had forwarded, amounted, altogether, 
 to eight hundred men, and he found assembled at 
 Manchester, about six hundred more, making uni- 
 tedly, fourteen hundred. Brigadier-General Stark 
 was met here by Maj.-Gen. Lincoln, with instruc- 
 tions for him to join the main force of the Amer- 
 icans under Schuyler, on the Hudson. This Stark 
 
V 
 
 1 
 
 30 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 positively refused to do, on the grounds that the 
 best way to defeat Burgoyne's purpose, was not to 
 oppose him with small forces in the front, but to 
 hang upon his rear, and by continually cutting off 
 his supplies, so embarrass his movements, as to 
 finally disarrange his plans. General Lincoln 
 communicated what he deemed to be Stark's in- 
 subordination, to his superior, General Schuyler, 
 and also to Congress. Stark had shown under 
 what authority he was acting ; endeavored to ex- 
 plain that as he was working for the State of New 
 Hampshire, and that State alone; that he could 
 not possibly consider himself responsible to the 
 United States, and more especially as his com- 
 mission expressly stated that his responsibility 
 went no farther than that, he deemed himself as 
 inferior in command to no military officer. He 
 should be very glad, he said, to confer with Gen- 
 eral Schuyler as to the best way to meet the ene- 
 my; possibly something, better than had as yet 
 been suggested, might be done, but, he continued, 
 I never can join General Schuyler to act as a sub- 
 ordinate. The result of this was, that on the 
 19th of August, three days after the battle of Ben- 
 nington, and some time before they heard of it. 
 Congress voted, " that a copy of General Lincoln's 
 " letter be forthwith transmitted to the Council of 
 " New Hampshire, and that they be informed that 
 "the instructions, which General Stark says he 
 " received from them, are destructive of military 
 "subordination, and highly prejudicial to the com- 
 
 ' 
 
 wmm 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 31 
 
 " mon cause at this crisis ; and that therefore they 
 "be desired to instruct General Stark to conform 
 "himself to the same rules, which other General 
 "officers of the militia are subject to, whenever 
 "they are called out at the expense of the United 
 "States." V; .,,,. ; ;.:;■:,-',..':•' .,4V/- ^■.,* 'iv": 
 
 Stark, with ten or twelve hundred men, reached 
 Bennington, August 9th. This force consisted 
 partly of New Hampshire, and partly of Vermont 
 troops, the militia from the eastern side of the 
 mountains, being under the command of Colonel 
 William Williams. The only force left at Man- 
 chester, was Warner's regiment under Lieutenant 
 Colonel Samuel Safford. Warner, himself, had 
 deemed it for the best to go forward with StarJc, 
 as his knowledge of the country around Benning- 
 ton, might be of valuable assistance to him, and in- 
 deed, so it proved. 
 
 The activity of the Council of Safety could not 
 fail to instil a certain degree of enthusiasm in the 
 minds of all interested in the loyal cause of the 
 Americans. Every day witnessed the arrival of 
 new recruits in Bennington, and although many 
 came unarmed and even unprovided with camp 
 utensils, these deficiences were supplied as far as 
 lay in the power of the Council. Uniforms were 
 entirely unknown in the ranks of the volunteers. 
 Each one suited his own taste and ability in cloth- 
 ing himself, and these generally resulted in the 
 simple farmer's frock and pantaloons. Each one, 
 also, was expected to furnish his own firearms, 
 
 w^'i''^^'^^^'f^>ssmm^fmi'*'!W^^i 
 
 ■-'■■*■-— N"--'-:'--'- 
 
$2 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 which was readily clone, as every man in those 
 days, deemed a gun as one of the first implements 
 of necessity. Cooking utensils were what were 
 lacking most in the camp at Bennington. The 
 little experience of the militia in camp life, had 
 not, as yet, taught them the use of these articles, 
 and so in leaving home they had been overlooked 
 and forgotten. It may be, some thought of them, 
 but deemed them as too much of a luxury to be 
 troubled with their transportation over the moun- 
 tains and along the dusty roads. 
 
 Cattle and provisions for the army were daily 
 arriving. These were seized from the tories, or 
 purchased with the money seized goods brought 
 under the process of a forced sale. The Council 
 had rightly deemed the property of disaffected 
 persons as the proper source of support, as far as 
 it might go, of the militia, and accordingly com- 
 mittees were appointed to turn such property into 
 a state for immediate use. 
 
 Commission of Sequestratioit from the Council. 
 
 "In Council of Safety, State of Vermont. 
 "Bennington, 28th July, 1777. 
 
 " To — : You are hereby required, (agree- 
 
 " able to a previous resolve of this Council,) to 
 " seize all lands, tenements, goods, and chattels, 
 "of any person or persons in this state, whom you 
 "know, or may hereafter learn, to have repaired 
 "to the enemy, and a true inventory thereof to 
 "take, and return to this Council, except articles 
 " as are wanted for the use of the army ; which 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 53 
 
 were H 
 
 tt 
 
 The ■ 
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 icles, ^1 
 
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 okcd ^H 
 
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 daily H 
 
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 11 
 
 DUght ^1 
 
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 ected ^^ 
 
 (i 
 
 far as wk 
 
 t( 
 
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 mont. H 
 
 (( 
 
 77- 1 
 
 (( 
 
 agree- H 
 
 i( 
 
 ^n ^ fn ■ 
 
 (« 
 
 are wanted at Manchester or elsewhere, where 
 there is a contractor to receive and pay for them. 
 You will appoint three persons noted for good 
 judgment, who are, after being duly sworn, to 
 apprize the same ; and all other movable effects 
 you are to sell at public vendue, except such 
 necessaries as humanity requires for the support 
 of such families. And after paying necessary 
 charges, you are to remit the remainder of the 
 money to this Council. You will take the nat- 
 ural and artificial marks of every creature you 
 shall receive or take, and their age, from whom 
 they came, for what sold, and to whom sold. 
 You are to lease out all such lands and tene- 
 ments, at a reasonable price, not exceeding two 
 years, giving the preference to such persons as ' 
 have been dro\ e from their farms by this war. 
 You are further authorized to arrest any person, 
 or persons, you shall have sufficient grounds to 
 believe are enemies to this and the United States 
 of America, and all such persons as you shall 
 arrest, you will seize all their movable effects, 
 (where there is danger of their being embezzled,) 
 and keep in safe custody, until after trial. If 
 they are acquitted, to give unto such person or 
 persons, such seizour; but if found guilty, to 
 make return to the Council. You are to call 
 to your assistance, such person or persons as you 
 shall find necessary, keeping regular accounts of 
 all your procedures." 
 
 "By Order of Council, 
 
 " Ira Allen, Secy'' 
 
 This resolution of the Council was obeyed to 
 the letter. The ones appointed to act as commis- 
 sioners, were chosen for their upright patriotism, 
 
34 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 
 and well-known enthusiasm, and in executing the 
 laws of the civil authority, they often took an un- 
 usual pleasure as they came in contact with those 
 neighbors and {oxvciGxVj friends, separated by opin- 
 ions, a separation often bitter in the extreme. 
 
 Thus it was that Colonel Samuel Merrick's reg- 
 iment of Rangers was raised and supported, and 
 thus it was that the other incidental expenses of 
 the common defense were met in Vermont. In 
 New Hampshire, the forces called out to serve 
 under Stark and Whipple, were supported by 
 private loans, for the public treasury was long 
 since empty. John Langdon, a merchant of 
 Portsmouth, and Speaker of the Assembly, was 
 among the foremost in reviving the public courage, 
 at a time when the outlook for the future looked 
 anything but bright and promising. He said, " I 
 "have three thousand dollars in hard mon,.y ; I 
 " will pledge my plate for three thousand more ; 
 " I have seventy hogsheads of Tobago rum, which 
 " shall be sold for the most it will bring. These 
 " are at the service of the state. If wc succeed in 
 " defending our firesides and homes, I may be re- 
 " munerated ; if we do not, the property will be of 
 "no value to me. Our old friend. Stark, who so 
 " nobly maintained the honor of our state, at Bun- 
 " ker 's Hill, may safely be intrusted with the con- 
 "duct of the enterprise, and we will check the 
 " progress of Burgoyne." This proposition infused 
 new life into the Assembly, and no trouble was 
 experienced in raising the two brigades. 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 35 
 
 Stark, on arriving in Bennington, hardly knew 
 whether to remain there, or proceed at once to the 
 Hudson to oppose Burgoyne in his southward 
 career. It was not until the 13th, that he, learn- 
 ing of the advance of a body of Indians, as far as 
 Cambridge, dispatched Lieut.-Col. Gregg, with 
 two hundred men, to oppose them. On the morn- 
 ing of the 14th, Colonel IJaum reached Van 
 Schaik's mills, and found there Colonel Gregg's 
 force in possession. Gregg was forced to retreat 
 before a superior number. Baum, in his letter to 
 Burgoyne, thus relates the affair. ..,.,. 
 
 "Sancoik, Aug. 14, 1777, 9 o'clock." 
 
 "Sik: I have the honor to inform your Excel- 
 lency that I arrived here at eight in the morning, 
 having had intelligence of a party of the enemy 
 being in the possession of a mill, which they 
 abandoned at our approach, but in their usual 
 way, fired from the bushes, and took the road to 
 Bennington. A savage was slightly wounded. 
 They broke down the bridge, which has retarded 
 our march about an hour. They left in the mill, 
 about seventy-eight barrels of very fine flour, one 
 thousand bushels of wheat, twenty barrels of 
 salt, and about one thousand pounds worth of 
 pearl and pot ashes. I have ordered thirty pro- 
 vincials and an officer to guard the provisions 
 and the pass of the bridge. By five prisoners 
 here, they agree that fifteen hundred to eighteen 
 hundred men are in Bcnningi n, but are sup- 
 posed to leave it on our approach. I will proceed 
 so far to-day, as to fall on the enemy to-morrow 
 early, and make such disposition as I think nee- 
 
# 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 \ 
 
 1} 
 
 " essary, from the intelligence I may receive. Peo- 
 "ple are flocking in hourly, and want to be armed. 
 " The savages cannot be controlled, they ruin and 
 " take everything they please 
 
 " I am, etc., " F. Baum." 
 
 "To General Burgoyne." 
 
 " Beg your Excellency to pardon the hurry of 
 "this letter; it is written on the head of a barrel." 
 
 ■' The Council of Safety, on learning of Baum's 
 approach, addressed the Colonels of the state mili- 
 tia a circular, urging them to assemble with all 
 haste at Bennington. 
 
 Vermont Council of Safety to the Colonels of the 
 \ State Militia. 
 
 " State of Vermont, in Council of Safety." 
 "Bennington, 13th Aug., 1777. 
 
 " Dear Col. — By Express, this day, received from 
 the Commanding officer of the Northern De- 
 partment, we Learn that a Door has now opened 
 for the Troops of this State to do Duty on this 
 side the North River, which will be clear from 
 Gen. Schuyler's Command, and as an Expedition 
 is on foot, of the greatest importance, which is 
 to remain a secret till the Troops are Collected, 
 these are therefore the most Positive terms to 
 require you, without a moment's Loss of Time, 
 to march one half of the Regiment under your 
 Command, to this Place. No small excuse at 
 this Juncture can be received. 
 
 " Whilst I am writing this, we are informed by 
 Express, that a Large Body of the Enemy's troops 
 were discovered two hours ago, in St. Koik, 12 
 miles from this Place, 2.nd another Body at Cam- 
 
 % 
 I- 
 
 BMH 
 
 ■P W 
 
The Battle of Befinington. 
 
 in 
 
 '"bridge, About i8 miles from this, that they 
 "marched Boldly in the Road, and there will 
 " Doubtless, be an Attack at or near this place, 
 "within 24 bowers. We have the assistance of 
 " Maj.-general Stark with his Brigade. You will 
 " hurry what Rangers forward are Recruted, with 
 "all speed. Now is the Time, Sr. 
 
 I am, S', your Humble Servant. 
 
 " Sr, I Desire you would, By order of Council, 
 " Send this Express to General Baley, Peter Ol- 
 "cott, Col., Col". Marsh. 
 
 Jonas Fay, Vice President. 
 "To Maj. Israel SMrrH, of Strafford." 
 
 Although the Americans under Gregg had re- 
 treated and left Baum in full possession of the 
 field at Sancoik, yet that officer began to lose 
 that easy confidence and egotistical self-assurance 
 he had formerly experienced. Trained in the 
 military school of Burgoyne, he had learned to 
 look down on the sturdy farmers of New York, 
 and the New England States, regarding them as 
 extremely rustic in all that pertained to military 
 knowledge and experience. And yet Baum, while 
 he held in contempt the Americans as soldiers, had 
 the simplicity to believe in their general loyalty to 
 King George, proving again the thoroughness of 
 Burgoyne's teaching. He allowed the people to 
 go and come to and from his camp, readily believ- 
 ing their professions of smypathy with the royal 
 cause, and imparting to them most fully and com- 
 pletely all information as to his strength and de- 
 signs. This course, it seems, did not meet with 
 
38 
 
 The Battle of Bcmiington. 
 
 the approval of his subordinates. They believed 
 he was wrong in trusting to the country people to 
 such an extent as he had done. They believed, 
 many of them, that conceaU.d beneath the plain 
 manners and open countenances of the visitors, 
 there was a keenness and avidity in collecting facts, 
 and that under the guise of simple questions and 
 a careless listening to the answers, valuable in- 
 formation was being intentionally sought for and 
 too readily obtained. These simple inquirers 
 might be earnest and thoughtful ones ! One of 
 his own officers, in his account of the expedition, 
 says of Baum, " He considered all persons sincere 
 who professed attachment to the royal cause ; al- 
 luding in their presence, and without reserve, both 
 to his own numbers and designs ; and as by far 
 the greater portion were in reality traitors to us, 
 every circumstance connected with our disposi- 
 tions and plans became as well known to the 
 enemy as to ourselves." 
 
 As Gregg retreated fi^m Sancoik, he caused 
 the bridge to be destroyed, which so delayed 
 Baum, who had started in pursuit, that his force 
 retired unmolested. " The Americans," says Click, 
 "though they gave way at last, fought like men 
 conscious of their own prowess, and confident of 
 the strength of the support which was behind 
 them; and this, coupled with the rumors which 
 had reached us relative to the amount of the gar- 
 rison at Bennington, failed not to startle both Col. 
 Baum and the boldest of his troops." So much 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 39 
 
 time was occupied in repairing the bridge, that 
 Baum despaired of reaching Bennington that 
 night, and so he encamped but a few miles from 
 Sancoik, at Walloomsac. 
 
 Stark, on the night of the 1 3th, having learned 
 more completely as to the opposition Col. Gregg 
 was to meet with, determined to march with what 
 force could be immediately commanded, to his 
 assistance. On the morning of the 14th, he ral- 
 lied his brigade and what militia was at Benning- 
 ton and in the neighborhood; sent to Manches- 
 ter for the remnant of Warren's regiment ; left 
 definite orders for such volunteers as should come 
 in, to join him at once, and then marched to meet 
 the enemy. Some five or six miles on the way he 
 met Col. Gregg retreating before Baum. Here 
 Stark drew up his line of battle, expecting natural- 
 ly enough, to be attacked; but Baum preferred to 
 halt on a hill or advantageous rise of ground, and 
 then Stark retired a mile or two to develop more 
 mature plans. Before doing so, however, he killed 
 or wounded thirty of the enemy without the loss 
 of a single man. After halting, this the second 
 time, a council was called, and it was agreed to 
 attack the enemy on the following day, but on the 
 15th it rained, so that nothing more was accom- 
 plished, otherwise than a few skirmishes. Baum 
 occupied the day in strengthening his defenses 
 on the heights of the Walloomsac. 
 
 The farm of Walloomsac lay upon both sides 
 of the river, and consisting at that time of farm 
 
40 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 buildings to the extent of six or eight log huts, 
 scattered here and there over a narrow expanse 
 of cultivated ground. The position chosen by 
 Baum lay at the west of the river, on an elevation 
 admirably adapted for a vigorous defense. Here 
 he stationed the dragoons with a portion of the 
 workmen on the right in the rear of a little zig- 
 zag breastwork composed of logs and loose earth. 
 Such of the log huts as came within his lines he 
 filled with Canadians, supporting them with chas- 
 seurs and grenadiers, also entrenched behind 
 breastworks. Baum's whole force, with the ex- 
 ception of about one hundred men, were on the 
 west side of the river. The road in his flank was 
 held by the Indians. According to the map of 
 Lieutenant Durnford, Colonel Baum's engineer, 
 a corps of Reidesel's dragoons and a number of 
 Canadian Rangers were stationed behind the 
 breastworks ; some paces in advance a little down 
 the declivity towards the river was another corps 
 of Reidesel's dragoons ; still further down, at the 
 foot of the hill near the bend of the river, a body 
 of chasseurs; by the river, to the right, near the 
 bridge and on both sides of the road, miner for- 
 tifications defended by Canadian Rangers and Ger- 
 man Grenadiers ; nearly south of the principal for- 
 tifications, another body of Grenadier and Tories ; 
 and over the river, on a little rise of ground, still 
 other fortifications defended by tories under the 
 immediate command of Col. Pfister, as he was 
 popularly known, a retired British Lieutenant of 
 
The Battle of Benningto7t. 
 
 41 
 
 the French War. This position was nearly south- 
 east of Paum's principal line of defense, which was 
 situated on the top of a hill rising three or four 
 hundred feet above the Walloomsac, which flows 
 here nearly south. The road from Bennington 
 to Cambridge, runs, after crossing the river at 
 right angles, nearly westward, touching the base 
 of the hill. 
 
 Baum occupied the entire day of the 1 5th in 
 completing the defenses, nor was his work finished 
 with the setting of the sun, but lasted far into the 
 night. He had become really anxious as to the 
 results of the morrow, and this anxiety was shared 
 very generally throughout his whole camp. "There 
 we passed the night," says Glick, "not very com- 
 fortably, as may well be supposed, seeing that no 
 fires were lighted, and that we were all impressed 
 with a powerful sense of impending danger. . . . 
 There were few amongst us that slept very sound- 
 ly. We could not but remember that we were 
 cut off, by a wide tract of desolate country, from 
 all communications with our friends, and exposed 
 to attacks on every side from a numerous enemy ; 
 and the whoop which the savages raised from 
 time to time, as well as the occasional musket 
 shot, gave notice, that even now that enemy was 
 not inactive. Our anxiety for the return of day 
 was greater by far than perhaps any of us would 
 have been willing to acknowledge, even to his 
 dearest friend." Baum, feeling the need of rein- 
 forcements, dispatched a messenger to Col. Brey- 
 
42 Tke Battle of Bennington. 
 
 man, stationed at the Batten Kill, asking that 
 officer to come to his aid at once. 
 
 The rain falling so heavily on the 15th, pre- 
 vented Stark from making any general attack on 
 the principal line of defense, but small parties 
 were kept out actively skirmishing, much to the 
 annoyance of the enemy. In the meantime, the 
 Council of Safety was not idle. Messengers were 
 dispatched for ammunition to all quarters where 
 it was likely to be found. 
 
 "State of Vermont, 
 Bennington. — In Council of Safety, Aug. 15, 1777. 
 "Sir — You are hereby desired to forward to 
 " this place, by express, all the lead you can pos- 
 " sibly collect in your vicinity; as it is expected 
 "every minute, an action will commence between 
 " our troops and the enemies', within four or five 
 " miles of this place, and the lead will be positive- 
 " ly wanted. By order of Council, 
 
 "Paul Spooner, D. Sec'y. 
 
 " The Chairman of the Committee of Safety, 
 " Williamstown. 
 
 " The same request sent to the Chairman of the 
 " Committee, Lanesboro, the same date, sent by 
 " Jedediah Reed, Paulett. 
 
 " Madam — Please to send by the bearer, Jede- 
 
 " diah Reed, 6 or 7 lbs. of lead, by Col. Simonds' 
 
 " order. By order of Council, 
 
 " Paul Spooner, D. Sec'y. 
 "Mrs. Simonds." 
 
 Before daylight on the morning of the i6th, 
 Stark was reinforced by a small body of militia, 
 
The Battle of Bcnningtan. 
 
 43 
 
 under Colonel Simonds from Berkshire county, 
 Massachusetts. Among them was the Reverend 
 Thomas Allen, of Pittsburfx, whose warlike ardor 
 was of the most glowing kind. He was with Gen. 
 St. Clair at the evacuation of Forts Ticonderoija 
 and Mt. Independence, and always expressed a 
 great contempt for the quiet surrender of those 
 posts. He would say, that had he commanded 
 there, the ramparts, though carried at last, would 
 have first been baptized in blood. Subsequent 
 to the battle of Bennington, speaking of the out- 
 look for America's future, he writes, "A short 
 time will decide the fate of America. It must 
 depend on the treatment of those five general 
 
 officers who gave up Ticonderoga If these 
 
 cannot be brought to justice, than I am ready to 
 pronounce what is, in my opinion, the sad doom 
 of these States — the end is come!" He had 
 taken an active part in rallying the Berkshire 
 militia at the urgent call of General Stark, know- 
 ing well that where Stark was, there would be at 
 \q.2&X. fi-^hting, whatever the result might be. 
 
 It was during a drenching shower, that this 
 force reached the vicinity of the American camp, 
 and though wet to the skin, Kir. Allen sought 
 the General's headquarters. 
 
 "General Stark," said Allen, "the Berkshire 
 militia have often been summoned to the field, 
 without being allowed to fight ; now if you don't 
 give them a chance this time, they will never 
 turn out again." ; , 
 
44 The Bailie of Bciminglon. 
 
 Stark smilingly asked, " Do you wish to march 
 now while it is dark and raining?" 
 
 " No, not just at this moment," was the reply. 
 
 " Well, then," said the General, " if the Lord will 
 give us sunshine in the morning, and I do not 
 give you fighting enough, I will never ask you 
 to come out again." 
 
 And when the morning sun arose, hardly a cloud 
 was seen in the heavens, and, to use the words of 
 Glich, who was present, " the very leaves hung mo- 
 " tionless, and the long grass waved not under the 
 " influence of a perfect calm. Every object around, 
 "too, appeared to peculiar advantage; for the 
 " fields looked green and refreshed, the river was 
 " swollen and tumultuous, and the branches were 
 " all loaded with dew-drops, which glittered in the 
 " sun's early rays, like so many diamonds. Nor 
 " would it be easy to imagine any scene more rife 
 "with peaceful and even pastoral beauty. Look- 
 " ing down from this summit of the rising ground, 
 " I beheld immediately beneath me a wide sweep of 
 " stately forest, interrupted at remote intervals by 
 " green meadows or yellow corn-fields, whilst here 
 "and there a cottage, a shed, or some other primi- 
 " tive edifice, reared its modest head, as if for the 
 " purpose of reminding the spectator, that man had 
 "begun his inroads upon nature, without as yet 
 " taking away from her simplicity and grandeur. I 
 " hardly recollect a scene, which struck me at the 
 " moment more forcibly, or which has left a deeper 
 "or more lasting impression on my memory." 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 45 
 
 Stark's exact force was three New Hampshire 
 regiments of militia, under the respective com- 
 mands of Colonels Hubbard, Stickney, and Nich- 
 ols; a body of militia under Colonel William Wil- 
 liams, from the east side of the mountains ; Col- 
 onel Herrick's corps of Rangers, formed under 
 the authority of the Vermont Council of Safety ; 
 a body of militia from Bennington and vicinity, 
 under Colonel Nathaniel Brush, of which two 
 companies, commanded by Captains Samuel Rob- 
 inson and Elijah Dewey, were from Bennington, 
 and the force under Colonel Simmons from Berk- 
 shire County, making altogether about eighteen 
 hundred men. 
 
 The plan of attack as agreed upon by Stark 
 and his officers, and which seems to have been 
 carried out with the greatest attention to detail, 
 was as follows : 
 
 Two hundred men, under Colonel Nichols, to 
 take a wide circuit through the woods northward 
 of Baum's redoubt, and gain, undiscovered, a po- 
 sition at the rear of his left. Colonel Herrick's 
 Rangers, together with a part of Colonel Brush's 
 militia from Bennington and vicinity, in all, three 
 hundred men, to take a wide circuit southward, 
 gain a position in the rear of Baum's right, and 
 these two divisions to join and commence the at- 
 tack. In the mean time, in order to draw the at- 
 tention of Baum from the concerted movement in 
 Ijis rear. Colonels Hubbard and Stickney were to 
 assume a position before the Tory breastworks, 
 
 s^absM 
 
 miti^mmmiMiMi-^ 
 
46 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 situated on the opposite side of the river at the 
 southward, ivnd one hundred men to march to the 
 front of Baum, to be followed by Stark, with the 
 remainder of the American force, at the proper 
 moment. 
 
 The Battle — First Action. 
 Stark's encampment lay to . the eastward of 
 Baum, the Walloomsac flowing between, and 
 bending in such a manner as to necessitate the 
 crossing of it twice in passing- directly from one 
 encampment to the other. Foidable in all places, 
 
 
 ■ j..«..a.jjiali') 
 
 1!^ 
 
 FWWi%y» ! r |^j Hi«aB H |» - 
 
•wyrw^'^ 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 47 
 
 this did not inconvenience Herrick in his south- 
 erly circuit to gain Baum's right, nor any of 
 Stark's troop in marching to the front, 
 
 Silas Walbridge, a private in Capt. John Warn- 
 er's (brother of Seth Warner), company, a part of 
 Herrick's Rangers, says,' they went from Stark's 
 encampment, "west across the river, crossed it 
 "again below Sickle's Mills, and came in on the 
 " rear of the Hessian redoubt." Just before reach- 
 ing the redoubt, "we came in sight of a party of 
 " Indians, and fired on them. They retreated to 
 "tr.e northwest, leaving two killed. Our men 
 "came within ten or twelve rods of the redoubt, 
 "and began firing from behind logs and trees, 
 "and continued firing and advancing until the 
 " Hessians retreated out of their v/orks, and down 
 "the hill to the south. We followed on down 
 " the hill to the level land on the river, and some 
 "pursued on further." Jessie Field, who was in 
 Capt. Dewey's company, which went with Her- 
 rick's Rangers, says,' "When we came in sight 
 "of the enemy's works, we halted, and it seemed 
 "that the rear of our party had been detained for 
 "some cause. We stood but a short time, when 
 "the firing commenced from the party on the 
 
 "north. I recollect hearing Lieut. exclaim, 
 
 "'My God, what are we doing } They are killing 
 "our brothers ; why are we not ordered to fire V 
 " In a moment our adjutant came up and ordered 
 " us to advance. We pressed forward, and as the 
 
 « In a MSS. communication to Hon. Hiland Hall. 
 
48 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 " Hessians rose above their works to fire, we dis- 
 " charged our pieces at them." 
 
 After Col. Nichols had gone some little distance, 
 he sent back to General Stark for a reinforcement 
 of one hundred men, which were supplied him. 
 
 While Colonels Herrick and Nichols were 
 marching to the rear of the right and left of Baum, 
 Stark was occupied in diverting the attention of 
 the Hessians from that movement. "We were 
 "marched," says Thomas Mellen,' of Colonel 
 Stickney's New Hampshire regiment, "round and 
 "round a circular hill, till we were tired. Stark 
 "said it was to amuse the Germans. All the 
 "while a cannonade was kept up from their breast- 
 "work. It hurt nobody, and it lessened our fear 
 "of the great guns. After a while, I was sent 
 "with twelve others, to lie in ambush on a knoll, 
 " a little north, and watch for tories on their way 
 "to join Baum. Presently we saw six coming 
 "towards us, who, mistaking us for tories, came 
 "too near us to escape. We disarmed them, and 
 "sent them, under a guard of three, to Stark. 
 "While I sat on the hillock, I espied an Indian, 
 "whom I thought I could kill, and more than 
 "once cocked my gun, but our orders were not to 
 " fire. He was cooking his dinner, and now and 
 "then shot at some of our people." 
 
 Stark's stratagem was completely successful in 
 deceiving Baum himself, although not so his 
 whole camp. Glick, in his account, remarks, — 
 
 'In an oral statement to Rev. James D. Butler. 
 
■ .iri ^T •' 
 
 The Battle of Bennin^^ton. 49 
 
 " Scouts came in to report that columns of armed 
 II men were approaching; though whether with 
 "friendly or hostile intention, neither their ap- 
 " pearance nor actions enabled our infc -mants to 
 II ascertain. It has been stated, that during the 
 " last day's march our little corps was joined by 
 "many of the country people; most of whom de- 
 " manded and obtained arms, as persons friendly 
 " to the royal cause. How Col. Baum became so 
 "completely duped as to place reliance on these 
 "men I know not; but having listened with com- 
 " placency to their previous assurances, that in 
 " Bennington, a large majority of the populace 
 " were our friends, he was somehow or other per- 
 " suaded to believe, that the armed bands, of whose 
 "approach he was warned, were loyalists on 
 "their way to make tender of their services to the 
 "leader of the king's troops. Filled with this 
 " idea, he despatched positive orders to the out- 
 " posts, that no molestation should be offered to 
 "the advancing columns: but that the pickets 
 " retiring before them should join the main body, 
 "where every disposition was made to receive 
 " either friend or foe. Unfortunately for us, these 
 "orders were but too faithfully obeyed. About 
 "half-past nine o'clock, I, who was not in the 
 " secret, beheld, to my utter amazement, our ad- 
 "vanced parties withdraw without firing a shot, 
 "from thickets which might have been maintained 
 "for hours against any superiority of numbers; 
 " and the same thickets occupied by men whose 
 " whole demeanor, as well as their dress and style 
 "of equipment, plainly and incontestably pointed 
 
 " them out as Americans With the solitary 
 
 "exception of our leader, there was not a man 
 " among us who appeared otherwise than satisfied 
 
50 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 " that those to whom he had Hstened were trai- 
 " tors .... He saw no reason to doubt that the 
 " people, whose approach excited so much appre- 
 " hension, were the same of whose arrival he had 
 "been forewarned* and he was prevented from 
 " placing himself entirely in their power, only by 
 "the positive refusal of his followers to obey 
 "orders." 
 
 Stark waited patiently for the expected signal 
 of attack from the rear, and at three o'clock it 
 came, the scattering reports of firearms from the 
 direction of Nichols and Herrick announcing that 
 they had begun the attack. The welcome sound 
 sent a thrill through the American ranks, and 
 with wild hurrahs thus followed their leader and 
 Warner to the fight. Before the attack. Stark, 
 with his sword pointing to the breastworks, said, 
 My men, those are your enemies the red-coats 
 
 AND THE TORIES. We MUST CONQUER THEM, OR 
 
 TO-NIGHT MoLLiE Stark WILL 3E A WIDOW ! Driv- 
 ing in the tory out-posts, they crossed the Wal- 
 loomsac and rushed up the hill. 
 • Herrick's men had met the Indians and driven 
 them in, in the greatest confusion and wildest 
 alarm. Then came the attack on the front. "We 
 were surrounded on all sides ; columns were ad- 
 vancing everywhere against us," and Baum soon 
 realized that those whom he had believed as 
 friends were fast turning into enemies. A loud 
 shout from Stark's men in front, in answer to 
 those from the rear, and then all on to the onset! 
 The Indians, finding themselves in close q.uar- 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 51 
 
 ters and likely soon to be in closer, if they longer 
 remained, beat a hasty retreat, passing off in single 
 file as was customary with them, with horrid yells 
 and the harsh jingling of cow bells. No remon- 
 strance of Baum's could induce them to remain. 
 The vacancy in the intrenchments left by them 
 was filled by one of the field pieces, while the 
 other wa^^ still directed to the front. Baum's men 
 fought with the desperation of veterans. Repeat- 
 edly assailed on all sides, they maintained their 
 ground, trusting that Breyman's troops might 
 soon reinforce them. Their hopes were fruitless ! 
 Breyman came not ; yet they still toiled on, until 
 at last the solitary tumbril, which contained all of 
 their spare ammunition, become ignited and blew 
 up with a violence that seemed to shake the very 
 ground on which they trod. A momentary lull 
 in the angry shouts of battle, a temporary cessa- 
 sion of firing, and then, quickly, cheer upon cheer 
 from the Americans, as they pushed on to victory. 
 Rightly guessing the nature of the explosion, they 
 rushed over the parapet and hand to hand battled 
 with the foemen. "The bayonet, the butt of the 
 rifle, the sabre, the pike were in full play ; and 
 men fell, as they rarely fall in modern war, under 
 the direct blows of their enemies." Such a strug- 
 gle could not last long. Disheartened and dis- 
 couraged, Baum's men began to waver. Many of 
 them wounded and dying, and dead, and many of 
 them prisoners, the rest surrendered, or sought 
 safety in flight. But few escaped to tell the story 
 
&J» 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 of their defeat. Glich, with about thirty others, 
 burst through the American ranks where they • 
 appeared to be weakest, and fled, finding a refuge 
 in the depths of the forest. Colonels Baum and 
 Pfisterwere both mortally wounded, and were sep- 
 arately borne, the latter a part of the way on the 
 back of Jonathan Armstrong, of Shaftsbury, to a 
 house a mile and a half from the battle-field, where 
 they both died within twenty-four hours. 
 
 " Our people behaved with the greatest spirit 
 and bravery imaginable," says Stark, in his official 
 report to the Council of New Hampshire, dated 
 August 1 8th. " Had they been Alexanders, or 
 Charleses of Sweden, they could not have be- 
 haved better. The action lasted two hours ; at 
 the expiration of which time we forced their 
 breastworks, at the muzzle of their guns." And 
 then again, in his letter to General Gates, dated 
 at Bennington, August 22nd, he says, " It lasted 
 two hours, the hottest I ever saw in my life — it 
 represented one continual clap of thunder ; how- 
 ever, the enemy was obliged to give way, and 
 leave their field-pieces and all their baggage be- 
 hind them." The vigor of the Americans in their 
 attack is described by a Hessian eyewitness : "The 
 Americans fought with desperation, pressing with- 
 in eight paces of the loaded cannon, to take surer 
 aim of the artillerists." ;!. .k;: ^-y, i • c ,j.j;(4i . 
 
 Thus, for the first time in the American Revo- 
 lution, our soldiers stormed in a regular manner 
 the enemy's fortifications, and as a result their 
 
 ■PR 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 53 
 
 efforts were crowned with victory. It was a vic- 
 tory well earned, and one that only valor and the 
 truest devotion to the cause of Liberty could have 
 won. 
 
 The Battle — Second Action, t 
 At eleven o'clock at night, August 15th, Baum 
 had received a note from Breyman acquainting 
 him with his arrival in the vicinity of Cambridge. 
 Baum at once replied, stating his need for rein- 
 forcements, and urging him forward. Upon re- 
 ceiving this early in the morning of the i6th, 
 Breyman at once started, but the artillery horses 
 being very weak, in consequence of not having 
 been fed, as he himself stated, the march pro- 
 gressed but slowly. 
 
 Colonel Skeene, the tory royalist, who had been 
 stationed in advance at the St. Coik mill, sent 
 back to Breyman for one officer and twenty men, 
 " as the rebels showed signs of advancing on it." 
 Instead of sending these, Breyman despatched 
 Capt. Gleisenberg ahead, with an advance guard, 
 consisting of sixty grenadiers and chasseurs, and 
 twenty yagers, which he found there undisturbed, 
 on his arrival, at half-past four in the afternoon. 
 
 Up to this time Breyman knew nothing of the 
 fate of Baum ; nor did Skeene, although he in- 
 formed him that his force was but two miles 
 distant. With Skeene's advice, Breyman deter- 
 mined to continue his march, and they both set 
 out for Baum's encampment. .- i. i; - , 
 
54 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 After the battle of Hubbard ton, Warner's reg- 
 iment, numbering but one hundred and thirty- 
 men, was stationed at Manchester, twenty miles 
 north-east of Bennington. It will be remembered 
 that Stark, upon learning of the advance of the 
 force under Baum, sent a dispatch to them which 
 reached its destination on the 14th. Warner 
 being absent, the command of the regiment de- 
 volved to Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Safford. 
 Safford would have marched at once, but was 
 prevented from doing so by the absence of Cap- 
 tain John Chipman with a considerable force, who 
 had gone on a scouting expedition. On the morn- 
 ing of the 15 th they set out, and after a long 
 and weary march, through a drenching rain, every 
 man wet to the skin, arrived within a mile of Ben- 
 nington. It was late at night, nearly midnight, 
 says one who was with them, when they reached 
 this place, and the arms and ammunition having 
 been so long exposed to the inclement weather 
 that they occupied a considerable portion of the 
 next day's forenoon in preparing for action. Am- 
 munition, too, was not at all plenty, and this 
 might have detained them a little longer. At all 
 events it was about noon, or a little after, when 
 they marched through Bennington village on 
 their way to the battle-field. .; ;; 
 
 Stark, in his order issued previous to the first 
 action, had guaranteed the soldiers whatever they 
 might capture. " I promised in my order," he 
 says in his letter to Gates, "that the soldiers 
 
The Battle of Bennington.. 55 
 
 should have all the plunder taken in the enemy's 
 camp," and so when the few men Baum had left, 
 gave way and retreated, with the exception of 
 those who surrendered, many of the Americans 
 scattered over the field in search of desirable 
 property, while others, worn out and exhausted, 
 sought the most convenient place for rest. Guards 
 had also been dispatched with the prisoners for 
 Bennington, and consequently when the word 
 came that a fresh body of the enemy was in the 
 immediate vicinity, confusion in Stark's ranks 
 was almost complete. However, by the combined 
 personal exertions of the officers a sufficient force 
 was mustered to make a fair show of numbers, 
 and these were ordered into line of battle. 
 
 Breyman had now arrived in sight, and observ- 
 ing a considerable body of armed men, some in. 
 blouses and some in jackets, hastening towards 
 an eminence on his left flank, called Colonel Skin- 
 ner's attention to it. That worthy royalist felt 
 satisfied these were friends, and so rode towards 
 them, and calling out, received for a reply a vol- 
 ley that quickly convinced him of his error. Brey- 
 man then ordered one battalion to assail the 
 height, while the yagers and grenadiers advanced 
 on the right. 
 
 Stark, almost discouraged in his attempts to 
 rally the troops, was on the point of ordering a 
 retreat, when Warner rode forth, and exclaimed, 
 " StL .d to it, my lads : you shall have help im- 
 *' mediately." The enemy pressed close, and the 
 
56 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 Americans were on the point of yielding ground, 
 when the news came that Warner's regiment was 
 close at hand. An orderly sergeant,' who acted 
 in this regiment, thus relates their advance. 
 
 " We now began to meet the wounded 
 
 " Here I was put in command of the left flank 
 " guard, and the march was continued by the regi- 
 " ment down tli road, and by myself and guard 
 "across the flat..* There was also a flank guard 
 "on the right. We continued our march until 
 " we came to the top of the eminence, . . . where 
 " I found the regiment had halted. On inquiring 
 "the cause, I was told that a reinforcement of the 
 " enemy was near. I mounted a fence, and saw 
 "the enemy's flank guard beyond the next hill, 
 " say half a mile distant. We were then ordered 
 " to form a line for battle, by filing to the right ; 
 " but, owing to the order not being understood in 
 " the rear, the line was formed by filing to the left, 
 " which brought many of our men into a sort of 
 "swamp, instead of on the hill above, where we 
 " should have been. We, however, waited the ap- 
 " proach of the enemy, and commenced firing as 
 " they came up ; but owing, as I think, to the un- 
 " favorable nature of the ground, we soon began 
 " a retreat, which was continued slowly and in 
 "good order, firing constantly for about three- 
 " quarters of a mile, until we reached the high 
 "ground, west of the run of water, where we made 
 " a stand. The enemy had two pieces of cannon 
 " in the road, and their line extended a considera- 
 " ble distance both below and above the road. A 
 "party of Hessians undertook to outflank us on 
 " the right, and partly succeeded, but were finally 
 
 > Jacob SufTord, in a communication to Hon. Hiland Hall. 
 
The Battle of Benniiigtoit. 57 
 
 " repulsed and driven back. The action was warm 
 " and close for nearly two hours, when it being near 
 "dark, the enemy were forced to retreat. 
 
 Although Warner's regiment arrived fresh and 
 in high spirits, yet the vigorous attack of Breyman 
 seemed at one time to be carrying the day. His 
 two pieces of cannon, stationed advantageously, 
 had continued a fire of grape shot, clearing a way 
 for the Hessians to advance. Stark used the two 
 cannon taken from Baum, with considerable effect, 
 restraining the enemy, until his own men might 
 gain time to make a solid defense. 
 
 Breyman's ammunition at last giving out, his 
 cannon ceased firing, which so encouraged our 
 men, that they rushed on with renewed life. 
 Breyman endeavored, in vain, to save his field- 
 pieces ; they fell into the hands of the Americans, 
 and then the fortunes of the day turned. The 
 enemy retreated on every side, leaving their dead, 
 and many of their wounded on the field. The 
 Americans pursued, but darkness setting in, many 
 of them escaped. " Had daylight lasted one hour 
 " longer," says Stark, " we should have taken the 
 "whole body of them." The struggle ended at 
 Sancoik Mill, Stark hesitating to pursue farther, 
 for the fear of killing some of his own men in the 
 darkness. ■ , " J ^ • 
 
 After five hours of severe fighting, the Amcri- 
 cans were rewarded with victory ; most gloriously 
 had the day been won! ,, ^ (>*.., ^ 
 
 » 
 
 \ 
 
58 
 
 The Battle of Bejinington. 
 
 The Americans captured in this battle, four 
 brass field-pieces, four ammunition wagons, twelve 
 brass barrelled drums, seven hundred stand of 
 arms, several Hessian swords, and a number of 
 horses, carriages, etc. Six hundred and fifty-four 
 , prisoners were taken, two hundred and seven 
 killed, and eighty wounded, making the enemy's 
 total loss to amount to nine hundred and forty- 
 one in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Our loss, 
 according to Stark, "was inconsiderable; about 
 "forty wounded, and thirty killed." Stark lost 
 his horse, saddle, and bridle, in the action. 
 
 Of the cannon captured, two are now in the 
 State House at Montpelier. 
 
 One Hessian gun and bayonet, one broadsword, 
 one brass barrelled drum, and one grenadier's cap, 
 of the captured trophies, were presented to each 
 of the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 Stark's Letter Accompanying the Gifts to 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 "Bennington, September 15, 1777. 
 
 "General Stark begs leave to present to the 
 
 " State of the Massachusetts Bay, and pray their 
 
 "acceptance of the same, one Hessian gun and 
 
 bayonet, one broadsword, one brass barrelled 
 
 drum, and one grenadier's cap, taken from the 
 
 enemy, in the memorable battle, fought at Wal- 
 
 loomsac, on the 1 6th of August last ; and requests 
 
 that the same may be kept in commemoration 
 
 of that glorious victory, obtained over the enemy 
 
 that day, by the united troops of that State, 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 59 
 
 "those of New Hampshire, and Vermont, which 
 "victory ought to be kept in memory, and handed 
 "down to futurity, as a lasting and laudable ex- 
 " ample for the sons and daughters of the victors, 
 "in order never to suffer themselves to become 
 "the prey of those mercenary tyrants and syco- 
 "phants, who are daily endeavoring to ruin and 
 "destroy us." ' - 1 ■ >■■''■ -c. 
 
 Massachusetts, in accepting the trophies, replied 
 as follows : 
 
 "Boston, \2th of December, iTTT- 
 
 " Sir, — The General Assembly of this state, take 
 " the earliest opportunity, to acknowledge the re- 
 "ceipt of your acceptable present, — the tokens of 
 "victory at the memorable battle of Bennington. 
 
 " The events of that day strongly mark the 
 "bravery of the men, who, unskilled in war, forced 
 "from their intrenchments, a chosen number of 
 "veteran troops, of boasted Britons; as well as 
 " the address and valor of the General, who di- 
 "rccted their movements, and led them on to con- 
 " quest. This signal exploit opened the way to a 
 "rapid succession of advantages, most important 
 "to America. 
 
 " These trophies shall be safely deposited in the 
 "archives of the State, and there remind posterity 
 " of the irresistible power of the God of armies, 
 " and the honors due to the memory of the brave. 
 
 " Still attended with like successes, may you long 
 "enjoy the just rewards of a grateful country." 
 
 Vermont's acknowledgment. 
 
 " State of Vermont, in Council of Safety, 
 "Bennington, zofh Sc/)t. 1777. 
 " The Council beg leave to return their sincere 
 
6o The Batlle of Bcnnius^ion. 
 
 "thanks to the Hon. Brigadier-Gen. John Stark, 
 "for the infinite service he has been pleased to 
 "do them, in defending tliem and their constitu- 
 "ents, from the cruelty and bloody rage of our 
 "unnatural enemy, who sought our destruction 
 "on the 1 6th of August last. They also return 
 "their grateful acknowledgments for the honor 
 " the General has been pleased to do the council, 
 "by presenting them with one Hessian gun, with 
 "a bayonet, one broadsword, one brass barrelled 
 "drum, and a grenadier's cap, taken on the mem- 
 "orable i6th of August, for the use of this State. 
 " The General may rely upon it, they will be re- 
 " served for the use they were designed. 
 
 " I am, dear General, with sentiments of esteem, 
 "your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 " Thomas Chittenden, President. 
 "Hon. Brig.-Gen. Stark." 
 
 Stark also presented to the Vermont Council 
 of Safety, a Hessian broadsword, as a mark of 
 his approbation of their zeal in the public cause. 
 
 " /« Council pf Safety, dth Sept. 1777. 
 
 " The Council's Compliments most cordially 
 "wait on his honor, Brigadier-General Stark, with 
 " their sincere thanks, for the honor the General 
 " has been pleased to do them, by presenting them 
 " with a Hessian broadsword, taken by a number 
 "of troops from the State of New Hampshire, 
 "and elsewhere, under his immediate command, 
 " in the memorable battle, fought in Walloomsack, 
 "near this place, on the i6th of August last; and 
 " also for the honor the General has been pleased 
 " to do them, in applauding their exertions in a 
 " public weal, as a Council. Joseph Fay, Secy" 
 "Brig.-Gen. Stark." 
 
■'./>▼■'»"'/■ 
 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 6i 
 
 TrOPHIBS 09 TUB BaTTLB OF BbNNINGTOK. 
 
 The comparative strength of forces can never 
 be accurately known. Stark had under his com- 
 mand, most likely, between seventeen hundred and 
 eighteen hundred men; but they were mostly 
 what might be termed raw militia, who not only 
 worked under the disadvantage of no experience, 
 or but very little, but also, without full and com- 
 plete equipments, as possessed by the enemy. 
 I3aum had nearly six hundred men, not counting 
 his Indian allies, which were an hundred and fifty 
 more. Breyman, without doubt, had a thousand 
 men ; and so, as nearly as we can determine, the 
 forces were not far from being equal. Possibly 
 the Americans were a little the stronger, to the 
 amount of Warner's regiment, but the enemy's 
 superior military equipments and knowledge more 
 than offset this number. The only way to ac- 
 count for our victory on that day is to attribute 
 
62 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 it to the superior tact of our officers, and the 
 hardy valor and determined bravery of our men. 
 
 Official Report of General Stark to the 
 I New Hampshire Council 
 
 "Bennington, August xT^th^ 1777. 
 
 " Gentlemen, — I congratulate you on the late 
 " success of your troops under my command, by 
 " express. I propose to give you a brief account of 
 "my proceedings, since I wrote to you last. 
 
 " I left Manchester, Vt, on the 8th instant, and 
 "arrived here on the 9th. The 13th I was in- 
 " formed that a party of Indians were at Cam- 
 " bridge, which is twelve miles distant from this 
 "place, on their march thither. I detached Col. 
 " Gregg, with two hundred men under his com- 
 " mand, to stop their march. 
 
 "In the evening, I had information by express, 
 " that there was a large body of the enemy on their 
 "way, with field-pieces, in order to march through 
 " the country, commanded by Governor Skeene. 
 "The 14th, I marched with my brigade, and a 
 "portion of the State militia, to oppose them, and 
 "cover Gregg's retreat, who found himself unable 
 "to withstand their superior numbers. About 
 "four miles from this town, I accordingly met 
 " him on his return, and the enemy in close pur- 
 "suit of him, within a half mile of his rear; but 
 " when they discovered me, they presently halted 
 " on a very advantageous piece of ground. 
 
 " I drew up my little ar 7, on an eminence in 
 "view of their encampmcni, but could not bring 
 " them to an engagement. I marched back about 
 " a mile, and there encamped. I sent a few men 
 " to skirmish with them, who killed thirty of them, 
 
 MJIJMnWMMMM* 
 
The Battle of Dcnnington. 
 
 63 
 
 with two Indian chiefs. The 15th it rained all 
 day : I sent out parties to harrass them. 
 
 "The 1 6th, I was joined by this State's (Vt.) 
 militia, and those of Berkshire county. I divided 
 my army into three divisions, and sent Lieut. 
 Col. Nichols, with two hundred and fifty' men on 
 the rear of their left wing. Colonel Herrick on the 
 rear of their right, ordered, when joined, to attack 
 the same. In the meantime, I sent three hun- 
 dred men to oppose the enemy's front, to draw 
 their attention that way. Soon after, I detached 
 Colonels Hubbard and Stickney on their right 
 wing, with two hundred men, to attack that part; 
 all which plans had their desired effect. Colonel 
 Nichols sent me word that he stood in need of 
 a reinforcement, which I readily granted, con- 
 sisting of one hundred men ; at which time he 
 commenced the attack, precisely at three o'clock 
 in the afternoon, which was followed by all the 
 rest. I pushed forward the remainder with all 
 speed. 
 
 *' Our people behaved with the greatest spirit 
 and bravery imaginable. Had they been Alex- 
 anders or Charleses of Sweden, they could not 
 have behaved better. : < , 'v 
 
 " The action lasted two hours ; at the expira- 
 tion of which time we forced their breastworks, 
 at the muzzle of their guns ; took two pieces of 
 brass cannon, with a number of prisoners ; but 
 before I could get them into proper form again, 
 I received intelligence that there was a large re- 
 inforcement within two miles of us, on their 
 march, which occasioned us to renew our attack; 
 but, luckily for us, Colonel Warner's regiment 
 came up, which put a stop to their career. We 
 
 > In a letter to Gates, written four clays later, Stark says two hun- 
 dred men. 
 
64 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 soon rallied, and in a few minutes, the action 
 began very warm and desperate, which lasted 
 until night. We used their cannon against them, 
 which proved of great service to us. 
 
 " At sunset, we obliged them tci retreat a sec- 
 ond time ; we pursued them till dark, when I 
 was obliged to halt, for fear of killing our men. 
 
 " We recovered two pieces more of their can- 
 non, together with all their baggage, a number 
 of horses, carriages, etc. ; killed upwards of two 
 hundred of the enemy in the field of battle. 
 
 " The number of wounded is not yet known, as 
 they are scattered about in many places. I have 
 one lieutenant colonel, since dead, (Colonel 
 Baum), one major, sc: /en captains, fourteen 
 lieutenants, four ensigns, two cornets, one judge 
 advocate, one baron, two C; nadian officers, six 
 sergeants, one aid-de-camp, one Hessian chaplain, 
 three Hessian surgeons, and seven hundred pris- 
 oners. 
 
 " I enclose you a copy of General Burgoyne's 
 instructions to Colonel Baum, who commanded 
 the detachment that engaged us. Our wounded 
 arc forty-two, ten privates, and four officers, be- 
 longing to my brigade ; one dead. The dead 
 and wounded in tho other corps, I do not know, 
 as they have not brought in their returns yet. 
 
 " I am. Gentlemen, with the greatest regard, 
 " your most obedient and humble servant, 
 
 " JoMN Stark, Brigadier General Commanding. 
 
 " P. S. I think in this action, we have returned 
 "the enemy a proper compliment for their Hub- 
 " bardston engagement." 
 
 Congress, upon learning of Stark's victory at 
 Bennington, hastened to make up for their neglect 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 65 
 
 
 of his talents as a military leader, by making him 
 a Brigadier-General in the army of the United 
 States. Massachusetts voted him "a complete 
 suit of clothes becoming his rank, together with a 
 piece of linen." Everywhere people were loud in 
 in his praise. The man who had been so long 
 nefjlectcc' and forgotten ; the man who had been 
 laiighed and sneered at, as not capable of com- 
 manding anything more than a regiment, was 
 suddenly discovered to possess a military ability 
 of essential importance to the country ! 
 
 Was Col. Warner in the First Action } 
 
 I answer at once, yes, although on turning to 
 the pages of many of our National, and some of 
 our State Historians, we are led to believe that 
 he arrived with his regimeiit in time to meet Brey- 
 man's reinforcements. That Warner's regiment 
 arrived at that time, there is no reason to doubt. 
 That Warner came with them, is a mistake. Hil- 
 dreth, in his History of the United States, says, 
 " Warner's regiment luckily arrived at the same 
 time," meaning at the moment of Breyman's 
 arrival; nothing about Warner being there be- 
 fore then. Bancroft, in his History of the United 
 States : " Warner now first brought up his regi- 
 ment." Marshall in his Life of Washington : "For- 
 tunately at this critical juncture, Colonel Warner 
 came up with his continental regiment." Irving, 
 in his Life of Washington : " Colonel Seth War- 
 ner's corps fortunately arrived from Bennington." 
 
 A 
 
66 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 Nothing about Warner s being there previously. 
 Botta's American Revolution : " Colonel Warner 
 arrived at the head of his regiment." Ira Allen's 
 History of Vermont : " At this critical moment, 
 Col. Warner arrived with his regiment." Samuel 
 Williams's History of Vermont : "Colonel Warner 
 came up with his regiment from Manchester." 
 
 Warner was with Stark several days previous 
 to, and during the entire i6th of August. When 
 Stark first learned of the advance of the enemy 
 in force, he, to use his own words, " sent to Man- 
 chester, to Colonel Warner's regiment, that was 
 stationed there," as well as to the militia in the 
 surrounding neighborhood. " I then," he says, 
 "marched in company with Warner, Williams, 
 Herrick, and Brush, with all the men that were 
 present." When Breyman arrived, and seemed 
 about to turn the fortunes of the day. Stark says, 
 " Luckily for us, that moment Colonel Warner's 
 regiment came up fresh." Still farther along in 
 his letter to Gates : " Colonel Warner's superior 
 skill in the action was of extraordinary service to 
 In his official reports to the Council of 
 
 me 
 
 New Hampshire, he also speaks of Colonel War- 
 ner's regiment as coming up in time to put a stop 
 to the enemy's career. 
 . Daniel Chipman, in his Life of Warner, admits 
 that he might have been with Stark just previous 
 to the battle, but thinks he must have gone back 
 to get his regiment, Stark delaying the action 
 until he should arrive, and getting impatient at 
 
 •*«MliMMMiH 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 67> 
 
 three o'clock, commencing the attack. That Stark 
 having nearly eighteen hundred men, should wait 
 hours for one hundred and thirty more, before at- 
 tacking a force of six or seven, or even eight hun- 
 dred, is simply absurd. Stark, in his letter to 
 Gates, explains the delay : " I pursued my plan, 
 "detached Col. Nichols, with two hundred men, 
 " to attack them in the rear ; I also sent Colonel 
 " Herrick, with three hundred men, in the rear of 
 "their right, both to join, and when joined, to at- 
 '' tack their rear. . . . About three o'clock we got 
 "all ready for the attack. Col. Nichols begun 
 "the same, which was followed by all the rest." 
 That don't seem to indicate that he was waiting 
 for Warner. 
 
 Thomas Mellen, in a statement given to Rev. 
 Mr. Butler, says, "Stark and Warner rode up 
 " near the enemy, to reconnoitre ; were fired at 
 "with the cannon, and came galloping back. 
 "Stark rode with shoulder's bent forward, and 
 "cried out to his men : ' Those rascals know that 
 " I am an officer ; don't you see they honor me 
 " with a big gun as a salute ? '" 
 
 Solomon Saff ord, who turned out with Captain 
 Samuel Robinson's company, says,' " On the morn- 
 " ing of the battle, after the company had started 
 " off with Col. Herrick, Gen. Stark and Col. War- 
 ' ncr rode past him on horseback, and accosted 
 "him." 
 
 Rev. Isaac Jeninngs, in his Memorials of a Cen- 
 
 • MSS. statement to Hon. Hiland Hall. * • .'/ '* 
 
68 
 
 The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 tury, says, " William Carpenter of Swansea, N. H., 
 so his son, Judge Carpenter, of Akron, Ohio, told 
 me, used to relate, as what he himself heard, that 
 the order was given by Gen. Stark to an aid, 
 to retreat. Warner heard it, and said, ' Stand to 
 it, my lads ; you shall have help immediately,' " 
 meaning, of course, his own regiment. This was 
 immediately after the first action. :.. 
 
 Other proofs might be cited, but it is not nec- 
 essary. Sufficient have been given, to convince 
 any reasonable mind, anxious for the truth. Let 
 us trust future historians, when writing of the 
 Battle of Bennington, may be more careful in ren- 
 dering " honor to whom honor is due." 
 
 Anecdotes and Individual Experiences. 
 
 One venerable old man had five sons in the 
 battle. As might naturally be supposed, he 
 awaited, with anxiety, the results of the contest. 
 At last news came, but the messenger who brought 
 it, brought with him, also, tidings for the father, 
 that he feared would fill the old man's heart with 
 grief. As gently as possible, he told him he had 
 something bad to tell him, concerning one of his 
 sons. 
 
 " Did he disobey orders, or desert his post ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 "No." • '- ' • 
 
 " Did he falter in the charge ? " 
 
 "No, worse than that!" 
 
 " What then, worse than that?" 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 69 
 
 " He is dead ! " was the answer. 
 
 "Then it is not worse," exclaimed the father. 
 " Bring him in, that I may once more gaze on the 
 face of my darling boy." And when they brought 
 him in, covered with dust and blood, he called for 
 water and sponge, and with his own hand bathed 
 the disfigured features, declaring, at the same 
 time, that he had never experienced a more glo- 
 rious or happier day in his life. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Allen, of the Berkshire militia, 
 fought as a private, and was among the foremost 
 to advance on the Hessian's defense. Arriving 
 within speaking distance, he mounted a stump, 
 and called out to them to surrender, and thereby 
 save the effusion of blood. A volley was the only 
 reply, which, the reverend gentleman escaping, 
 he returned to the ranks. Here, finding himself 
 a better marksman than his brother, who was also 
 present, he said to him," Joe, you load and I'll fire," 
 and so they worked together, side by side, until 
 the last grand charge that carried Baum's works. 
 In after years he delighted to recall the scenes in- 
 cidental to that glorious day. In conversation, 
 some one asked if he killed anybody on that oc- 
 casion. 
 
 " I don't exactly know that I killed any one," 
 was the reply, " nor indeed how near I came to it. 
 " It was just this way ; off some distance, I observed 
 "a clump of bushes, from which arose, every now 
 " and then, a little cloud of smoke, preceded by a 
 " momentary flash, and the sharp report of a gun. 
 
 fv 
 
70 The Battle of Bennington, 
 
 " I noticed too, that one of our men fell, either 
 "wounded or dead, every time this phenomenon 
 "occurred, so I naturally concluded that some- 
 " thing was wrong for our side. I loaded up very 
 "carefully, and fired into the midst of that clump 
 '■ of bushes. I am not certain, mind you, that I 
 " did really /'/'// any one ; but I htow I put out that 
 'flash!'' 
 
 This was a proud day, said one old soldier, in 
 his reminiscences of the battle, quoting nearly his 
 own words, — this was a proud day for the poor 
 Green Mountain Boys, who were yet smarting 
 with the wounds they had so lately received at 
 the downfall of Ticonderoga. They could not 
 readily iorget the slaughter of their brothers of 
 Colonel Warner's regiment, that was so badly cut 
 to pieces at Hubbardtown ; and when the word 
 came, when the alarm sounded that the enemy 
 were coming, every man left his plow and his axe, 
 and forthwith marched to meet the invaders, and 
 drive them from the field. They marched, some 
 of them with officers, many of them without; 
 there was no anxiety as to who should command, 
 indeed little thought was give' as to whether 
 there should be any commander, the principal 
 idea being to gain a good position, and with care- 
 ful aim, bring down the invaders, one by one. 
 
 Stark ordered a Colonel with his regiment, to 
 reinforce one of the wings, that had sustained con- 
 siderable loss in the action. The Colonel marched 
 at the instant, but with a certain step peculiar to 
 
 ^ 
 
The Battle of Bennington. 
 
 71 
 
 himself, slow, firm, and steady. The whole par- 
 ish was in his regiment, and they had brought 
 with them their much-loved parson, without whose 
 blessing, they could scarcely think to prosper. 
 The officer in command of the corps to be relieved, 
 fearing every instant, his men, from fatigue and 
 loss, would give way, sent to hasten the Colonel. 
 "Tell them," said he, "we're coming," arid kept 
 his pace steadily on. This man was, at home, a 
 deacon. — wore an old-fashioned, long-waisted coat, 
 with large pocket-flaps, and herring-boned cuffs, 
 and a three cornered hat, the fore-part something 
 resembling the handle of a pipkin, except that the 
 extreme point of it might have endangered the 
 eye of a mosquito, had he run unguardedly against 
 it. 
 
 A second express arrived. " Colonel, for God's 
 sake hurry ; my men are beginning to fall back ! '* 
 " That will make room for us, — tell 'em we're 
 coming," keeping still the unaltered pace and phiz 
 quite placid and unconcerned. 
 
 A third message was trea*^ed just as cool. Soon 
 they emerged from behind a coppice, in full view 
 of the enemy, and several balls passed over them. 
 " Halt," said the Colonel, " form column, and let 
 us attend to prayers." The chaplain was called, 
 and ordered, with all due formality, to attend to 
 his duty, but during this solemnity, an unlucky 
 shot wounded one of the men. The Colonel now, 
 for the first time, began to show some little im- 
 patience, for no sooner had the parson pronounced 
 
 ♦ ,' 
 
 iMM 
 
■P- " m>"mffm9igF^i »* ' i n»'«.*t^^*|niPWW5PV^ 
 
 72 
 
 77/^ Battle of Benningtiyit. 
 
 " Amen," than the men were ordered to march. 
 But yet the Colonel kept his steady pace, until 
 he had taken the ground in front of the poor 
 fellows who were almost ready to leave the field, 
 and but for the love of Liberty, could not have 
 kept it half so long. And then the word came 
 from the Colonel, " Give it to 'em, give it to em!" 
 and he stepped along the ranks calmly as ever, 
 chewing his quid, which he now and then replaced, 
 often obliging those who stood next to him with 
 his box. " The Hessians are in front," said he, 
 our wives and children in the rear. Liberty is 
 the prize,— we fight for Liberty!" The enemy 
 pressed, but pressed on to their destruction. We 
 fought, we bled, and we conquered. 
 
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