The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-07-11
BIOCR.APHIC.4L SKETCH OF
GENEkAL JOHN 81 ARK.
No. I.

pressed in almost every countenance, We had
Langdon IN the cabinet to cheer our droop-
ing spirits, and a Stark, who could show us
now 10 vanGuish the enemies OF freedom IN
ihe held. Ine legislature of New Hamp.
Shire called upon Stark 20 lead the militia to
meet the invader.
Although he was ready to obey the call,
yet he could not submit to the humliating
consideration OF being commanded by those
who had been under his command, therefore, {.
the Legislature concluded TO give him the
independent command and discretionary or
dcrs To act in New Hampshire, or push for
ward beyond the line oi the State, as he
might think best, to arrest the ogress oi
the enemy. Number four (Charlestown) on
Connecticut river was his place OF rendez-
vous. The cnizens rushed on the confines
Jf the State with the same alacriiy they aid
at the alarm of the battle OF Lexington, TO
speak TO the enemy at the muzzie ot their
n ausaets, IND iorbic their pollutins with their
iCet the land oi freedom.
Scarce had he arrived at this place Of rem
Gczvous when the Green Mountalneers invited
him 10 come to them, join his ii.tle force to
thcils, and lead them against the common
enemy, who thsy were in daily expectation
would altempt to pass that part OF the ooun-
try. He sent one hundred men to the
he,gGts between number four and Iicohdcro-
50 10 observe the motion OF Burgoyne ; sent
oil IL mcdiately to the town Of Manchester,
,wen,y two mics northeast from Bennington,
sucn OF lis men as had arrived, amounting
10 four or five hundred, and followed himself
very soon, leaving orders for others to come
- soon they should arrive. rt u.H
". found The of his inaenen-
dent command Immediately upon his arrival
1t Manchester, for the packs OF bis men were
paraded as for march. He cnquired OF the
cause, and was informed that Gen. Lincoln
bad been there and had ordered them off to
The Spruuts, at the mouth of the Mehawk
liver. lie sought for and found Lincoln, and
demanded of him MS authority for underta-
king the command of bis men. Lincoln said
il was Ivy order of General Schuyler"
Stark desired him to tell Gen. Schuyler that
he consiGcred himself adequate 10 the COM
nland of his own men, and gave him copies
of his commission and orders. Schuyler C.
DenedsA CORE spondence with Stark and en-
deayoured to prevail OH him TO come to the
Sprouts. The latter gave hima detail oil his
intended operations, viz. to fall upon INC rear
of Burgoync /: 10 harrass and cut off mis- sup
pics. Gen. Schuyler approved of the plan,
md offered to furnish him with five or six
nundred men mote TO carry it into execution.
After few days tarry al Manchester, he
proceeded to Bennington While nc was
making arrangements TO execute his plan, on
,ne l4th Of August a woman came 10 him
as an express from the town OF Cambridge,
(lcn miles north west OF Bennington, in the
state of New-Yorl) informing bin that TWO
T. Il tl.
iag and in few hours another came from
.e same place for il was not safe for men
20 travel at that timc) WHO informed that fif-
cen hundred Hessians aud Tories had arriv-
. IL there since the Indians There was
,uanli,y of -four at some mills, few miles
.owards Cambridge from where lie lay, he
supposed the flour was their object, and he
sent off a party Immediately for its security,
ioiiowing himself with what force he had as
SOON as possible.
Just before night he met Col. Baum, at the
head OF his Hessians, Tories and Indians on
a branch of the river Hoosuck. Stark's
numbers were bit little more than half those
Of Baum, having Iessoned them considerably
by sending one party for arms, another for
beef, cattle, &c. However he made the best
show he could with the few men he had, By
spreading them OUT in a single fiic, and by
displaying the greatest number in the mos.
sightly situations. They both halted and
looked at each other till dark /; when Stark
iell back to his encampment left in the morn
iug, but kept patroles going al tight, by
WHICH he found that Baum was throwing ~
brest work In the morning Stark made
is disposition for attacking Baum in IRON
nd rear by sending two Aanking parties,
one on the right, and the other on the lett, to
meet his rear and begin the attack, while he
should show him Yankees play in front. Not
many minutes after the two parties had mar
chcd, il began TO rain violently, and thcy came
,sck to the main body, and all returned again
- their encampment. In the course OF the
Glowing night theyreceived some reinforce