American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-05-24
GENERAL STARK.

burrb-married in Ireland and emigrated to Anne
RIGA at the beginning of the last century.-He made
his first settlement at Londonderry, but soon alter
removed to Deer6eld, (now Manchester) and set
tied on the east bank of the Merrimacls near Amos
keag falls, On the breaking out OF the seven years.
war, John Stark then twenty one years OF age, his
brother William and Amos Eastman of this town.
and John Stinson of Londonderry, while out on a
hunting excursion on the upper branches OF this
river, surprised by the Indians ; Stinson was
killed on the spot, Eastman and John Stark were
taken prisoners and William Stark escaped. Stark
conducted by the Indians to St. Francois and
from thence to Montreal where, after remaining
four months in captivity. he was purchased by MIR.
Wheelright of Boston and returned home by way
ofAlbany. Soon after, he engaged in company of
Rangers, of whom he was first commissioned lieu
tenant and afterwards captain. Here he found field
suited to his daring and adventurous sprit-he re-
manned in this service until the close of that war; de
ring which he retained the confidence & friendship of
the British gen Id Howe until the death otha noble
man, who was killed in stormng the French lines
in that sanguinary s. doubtful contest Stark was al
ways found cautious on march, vigilant in camp
and undaunted in battle; and it was probably owing
to the experience he here acquired, that inyariable
success attended, so far he was concerned, his
battles OF the subsequent revolution which separat-
ed these states from Britain.
At the close of the French war he returned to
his fathers house, was soon after married and
manned in the enjoyment of domestic life, until the
report OF the battle of Lexington spread like an
electric shock through the country. When this re-
port reached Stark, he at work in his saw mill
at Amoskeag Falls he stopped his mill, went i'm
mediatey to his house, took his musket and with
band OF heroes, proceeded to Cambridge. The
morning after his arrival he received coonel's
commission and in less than two hours he enlisted
800 men On the memorable 18th Of June, at
IS
suuctive hand OF the back-wood's -men of N Hamp-
shire. Stark, during the whole of this engagement
evinced the most consummate bravery and intrepid
zeal for his country and his and heroism
will live forever in the annals of that eventful period
The night after this battle, the works on Winter
Hill were commenced; and so jealous were the
soldiery, that on the morrow they presented bold
and commanding front, that kept The British in awe
and prevented further depredations.
After the British evacuation OF Boston, Stark
went to the no tern posts to assist the rereating
army from Quebec. On the arrival of the army at
Ticonderoga, the important point of Mount Indie
peDdence was assigned to his command and the ar
duous task Of certifying that peninsula. Alter the
British quit the lakes, he joined general Washing
ton in Pennsylvania, preparatory to the battle of Tren
ton. And here it may be important to notice an
event which was related on the day of his funeral
by venerable companion in arms, then present 81
may be placed. 1t is we'll known that just previous
to this important action, the American army was
on the point Of being broken up by suffering, deser
ton and the expiration of the term of enlistment of
great portion of the troops. A few days previous,
the term of the New Hampshire troops expired -
Stark was the first to propose engagement for
six weeks :-he for the moment, left his station as
commander and engaged as recruiting officer and
1t is added, not man failed to re-engage. He led
the van of this attack-and the event is we'll known
Seven days after, he was with general Washington
at Trenton, when lord CORVALLIS with twelve thou
sand men, nearly hemmed them in ; by consum-
mate address, the impending fate of the Americans
was avoided-Wa shington fell on the enemy's rear
at Princeton and broke up the British plans that
the enfeebled American army was enabled in turn,
to hem up the British 10 the environs OF New York.
In 1777, the overwhelming force of Burgoyne
drove the Americans from their strong post at Ii
Observation-Disclosures alarm prevailed in the north
at the rapid approach of the British: Stark was
found ready to meet ard conquer them He voIun-
tarily marched to Vermont and az the head of un
disciplined, but ardent troops, he mmortaized his
name by planning and concentrating the attack at
Bennington-the most extraordinary and least ex-
pected event of the whole revolution, in which two
different corps of British, Hessian and Indian in.
vincbles" were attacked and beaten, in rapid sue
cesson the FIRST in their redoubls and the second
while coming up to the relief Of the other. This
victory, from state of the lowest depression, in
spired Americans with the highest confidence 81
Stark, with myriads of other volunteers, joined
general Gates at Saratoga; and by his exertions,
aided in the overthrow of Burgoyne He was of
the convention which negotiated the British surren-
der but was decidedly averse to any other treaty
Than surrender at discretion.
The following year the northern frontier was as
signed to his command, with feeble force still
his old friends the militia prompt at his call, pre-
sented such an attitude secured the frontier from
assault. In '78 he was at Rhode Island and prn-
clnallu