The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-03-08
From the New-Hampshire Patriot.
GENERAL STARK.

J0nn stark was Dorm AT LONDONDERRY, N.
H. August %, 1928, old style, corresponding
with August II, new style. His father was
native of Scotland and was educated at
the University of Edinburgh-married in
Ireland, and emgrated to America at the
beginning of the centnry.-He made his first
settlement at Londonderry, but soon after
removed to Deerfeld, (now Manchester,)
and settled on the east bank of the Mcrrl-
mack near Amoskeag falls. On the break
ing out Of the seven years war, John Stark,
then 81 years of age, his brother VIII
liam and Amos Eastman Of this town, and
John Stinson OF Londonderry, while out on
a hunting excursion, on the upper branch
es ofthis river, were surprised by the lud-
ans; Stinson was killed on the spot, East
man and John Stark were taken prisoners.
and William Stark escaped. Stark was
conducted by the Indians to Francois, and
from thence to Montreal !; where, after re-
naming four monthsin captivity, he was
purchased by Mr.. Wheelright of Boston and
returned home by way Of Albany. Soou
liter he engaged in company of Rangers,
Of whom he was frs. commissioned lieu
tenant and afterwards captain. Here he
found field suited to his daring and adven-
turous spirit--he remained in the service till
the close of that war; during which he main
tanned the confidence and friendship of the
ish general Howe until the death of
/ that nobleman, who was killed in storming
the French lmes--in that sanguinary and
/ doubtful contest, Stark was always found
cautious on a march, vigalent in camp and
undaunted in battle and it was probably
owing to the experience he here acquired,
that invariabe success attended, so far as he
was concerned, his battles of the subsequent
revolution which separated these states from
Britain.
At the close of the French war he return
ed to his fathers house, was soon after mar
ried and remained in the enjoyment Of do
mestic life, until the report of the battle of
Lexington spread like all electric shock thro'
the country. When this report reached
Stark, he was at work IN his saw mil at
Amoskeag Falls; he stopped his mill, went
Immediately to his house, took his mnsket
and with a band Of heroes, proceeded to
Cambridge. The morning after his arrival
he received colonc's commission and in
less than two hours he enlisted 500 men .
On the memorable II of juno, at Breeds
Hill, the British soldiers felt the destructive
hand of the back wood s-mcn of New Hamp-
shire. Stark, during the whole of this en-
gagement, evinced the most consumate bra
very and intrepid zeal for his country and
his name and heioism viii live forever in
the annals of that cventful period. The
night after this battle, the works OH Winter
Hill were commenced and so jealous were
the soldcry, that on the morrow they pres
ented bold and commanding front, that
kept the British in awe, and prevented fur
ther depredations.
After the British evacuation of Boston,
Stark went TO the northern posts, to assist
the rltreating army from Quebec. On the
arrival of the army at 'Eiconlcroga, the i'm
portant point of Mount Independence was
assigned to his command and the artuons
task of fortifying that peninsula. After the
British quit the lakes, he joined general
Washington in Pennsylvania, preparatory
to the battle Of Trenton. And here it may
be important to notice an event which was
related on tho day of his funeral, by ven
erab,c companion i'll arms, then present =
and in whose veracity the most Implicit re-
lance may be placed. 1t is well known that
just previous to this important action, the
American army was on the point of being
broken up by suffering, dcsertion, and the
expiration OF the term of enlistment of a
portion of the troops. A few days previous,
the term of the New Hampshiro troops ex
p;red:--Stark was the first to propose a re-
engagement for six weeks:--he, for the mo-
ment, left his station as commander, and en-
gagged as recruiting officer; and it is added,
not a man failed to re-engage. He led the
van of this attack the event is we'll
known. Seven days after, he was with Gen.
Washington at Trenton, when lord Corn
wallis with twelve thousand men. nearly
hemmed them in; by consumnate address,
the impending late OF the Americans was a
voided- ashiuston fell on the enemy 'srcar
at Princeton, and so broke up the British
plans that the enfeebled American army was
enabled in turn, to hem up the British in the
environs OF Ncw-Iork.
In Ivy, the overwhelming force of Bur-
goyne drove tne Americans from their
strong post at ficonderoga. Universal a
larm prevailed III the north at the rapid APP
proach of the British. Stark was found ready
TO meet and conquer them. He voluntarily
marched to Vermont, and at the head of I'M
disciplined, but ardent troops, he immortal
lied his name BY planning and consummat- /
ing the attack Mt tnnington-the most ex
traordinary and least expected event Of the
whole revolution, in which two different /
corps of British, Hessian and Indian "lnvin- |
cibles'' were attacked and beaten, in rapid
succcsson:--the first in their redoubts, and
the secoud willie coming up 10 the relief OF
the other. This victory. from state of the
lowest depression, inspired the Americans
with the highest confdence;-Stark, with
- IL. ,.,Sn ~