The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-06-07
From the Vermont Patriot.
BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.
LANGDoN AND STARKE.

The following, politely furnished US by HEN.
RY STEVENS, ESQ. of Barnet, President OF
the Vermont Antiquarian Society, cannot fail
to interest our readers and the public, the de-.
scendents of Allen and Warner, Langdon and
Starkc. They serve 10 keep in remembrance
the heroic achievements and patriotic sacrifices
Of our hardy aud chivalrous ancestors:
The following anecdote of John Langdoq
affords noble example of the patriotism Of
That devoted friend of American Independ.
encr, at this hour of trial and danger. The
Provincial Legislature was in session at Exet
er when the appalling news of the fall of tt.
conderoga arrived. The members of that bo
dy were disheariened; the public credit was
exhausted; there were no means TO suhsist ey
en- n single regiment, provided one could be
raised. The men of New Hampshire had al
ready credited themselves 10 tho extent of their
ability. John Langdon was at that time
Speaker Of The Assembly, and addressed the
House as follows:
Il have three thousand dollars in hard mon
ey; | will pledge my plate for three thousand
more; have seventy hogsheads TobagO rum.
which shall be Immediately sold for
the most it will bring. These are at the
service at the staie-lf we succeed in defend
ing Our fire-sides and homes may be remun
Grated; if we do not the property will be of
TO value 10 ne. Our cid friend Starke, who
SO rob!y naintuined tie honor of our Stale at
Bunker Hill, may safely be trusted with the
conduct Of the enterprise; and we will check
the progress Of Burgoyne.'
This noble proposal infused new IFS into
the assembly; and in few days. by means Of
the private funds furnished by John Langdon.
Brigade was assembled and on its march foI
the frontiers. To John Langdon do we owe
the raising and sustaining of ibis gallant army
Of freemen; and to John Starke, who knew no
personal fear. who was as cool and deliberate
amid the hurry and confusion of the combat.
as when plouehing his acres al home, do we
owe the achievement Of one of the most brill.
liant exploits which grace the pages of Ameri.
can history.
The following letter from Gen. Starke to
Gen. Gates contains the best account of the
battle we have ever seen:
Bennington, August %, A. D. l777.
Dear General, Yours of the 18th was re.
ccived with pleasure. and | should have an.
swered it sooner, but have been very unwell
ever since General Lincoln has written you
upon the subject, with whom must cordially
cJncur in opinion.
vii now give you a short account of the
action near this place on the 18th of August.
Being Informed that party of Indians were
al Cambridge, on their way TO this Mace.
detached Lieut.. Col. Gregg with Two hundred
men TO oppose them; and in the night was in.
formed that large body of the enemy we're adj.
vancing in their rear. rallied NV br;oade.
sent orders to Col. Warner, whose regiment
lay at Manchester, and also an express'to the
militia 10 come in with all speed 10 our assist.
ance, which orders were promptly obeyed.
we then marched with our collected force in
quest OF the enemy. aud after proceeding five
miles, We met Gregg in full retreat, the enemy
being within mile of him. Our little ormv
was Immediately drawn up in order for bat,le
upon sight of which the British b,l,ad ~
commenced inirenching upon very advan,oae-
Gus ground. A party of skirmshers sent on,
upon their front had good effect. and killed
80 of them without loss on our side. The
ground where ] then was, not being fit for =
genera action, we retired one mile, encamped
and called council of war, when it was deter
mined to send two attachments to the rear
while the remainder attacked in front. The
10Th proving rainy afforded the enemy an op
Pofiunhy 10 surround his camp with a los
breast work, inform General Burgoyne of hi:
situation, and request a reinforcement. Or
Inc morning Of the 10th, Col. Simons Joined
US with party of Berkshire militia. In pur.
suance OF our plan, detached Col. Nicholas
WIN 2oO men 10 the left, and COL Herrick
WIN '''eo hundred 10 the right with orders 10