Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-04-07
BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.

Dh lie VI BENNINGTON.
TINS following is the account oil the Battle of
Bennington, given by Gen. Lincoln to the Coun-
ell OF Massachusetts. The lete was read, &C.
companiod ly verbal statement from the bearer,
Captain Bnrns, when It was ordered thu, the LET.
ter and account should be printed in u hand bill
that on the next morning all the bells of Boston
should he rung, and the town criers should 20
through Boston and leave copy at every door,
The Antiquarian OF Vermont furnished the an
neSed copy OF the hand-blll which has never
been published in Vermont. greut celebration
followed Mt Cambridge and in various parts of the
country, a, which the Green Mountain Bows were
'toasted' tremendously.
BENNINGToN, August 18Th, 1777,
UENTLEMEN,-l most sincerely congratulate
you on The late very signal success gained over
we enemy near this place, by n few Continental
troops, the Rangers from, the GRAMS some of the
militia from the Soie Of Massuchu sets and those
from he Giants, under the command Of Brea-
nler General SInrk. Officers and tnen, stimulated
ny the most Iuudable motives behaved with the
greatest spirit and bravery, entered the enemy's
several entertainments with fortnude and alacri.
w. amidst The lncessnnt fire from their field beces
nlId m,lSkery; our oss killed supposed to he be-
tween 20 and 30 wounded in common proporlion
Inc enemy were totally defeated. The number
OF their slain has yet been ascertained as thew
ioughI on retreat several miles in n wood but
supposed 10 I've about 200. large number of
INC wounded have fnllcn into our hands Wa
have taken one Lieut. Colonel niurtully wounded,
one MAJOR, five Captains twelve Leulenaiis foIr
Ehslgns, two Cornets, one Judge Advocate one
Baron, TWO Canadian officers, aud three Surgeons
BESIDES the above officers aud wounded there are
in our hands 81 British soldiers, 99S tlessians. IS
Cnnadiahs, and l55 Tories, four brass field pieces,
WIN considerable quantity Of baggage. The
number The enemy had ia the field cannot be MS
cerlalned perhaps 1900
Ii is very unhappy for the wounded and pain
InI 10 us, Tint such Is or situation that we cannot
afford them all that speedy relief which their dis
tresses demand of us We were under Il neccssI.
~ to forward lhe prisoners 10 the state of Massa
chusetts. They are now under the care of Cen
eral Fellows; he will wait the order Of Council
with respect to them
was ordered by General Schuyler few DAYS
since from this plnce to join the army at Swa-
Ter, and wns on return when The action happened
/ ms ls The bYst account obtain OF matters
~ present. IL appears by one of the enemy's
journals, that the day before the general action
they had 30 killed aud two Indian Chiefs, and
some wounded.
am gentlemen, with sentiments Of esteem and
regard, your very humble servant,
B. LINCOLN.
"''SHSh ~ OiuCi VI SOulCll
Captain Barns, who brought the above letter bv
express, WAS in those gallant actions; the follow.
Ing particulars of which were taken from his own
mouth viz that on Saturday The 10Th inst. about
1000 militia from New Hampshire Massachusetts
and the GRAMS, under the command of Brigadier
General Stark, about five miles west Of Benning-
ton, at place called Looms.cllork, attacked II
body OF tie enemy, consisting Of about 1900 in
their entrcrchmenls and after an o5stinnle en-.
puucmeuf UiSlOuUpu ihpm tI,air a.
making prisoners of upwards Of 300 men ard
taking Two field pieces General Stark being re-
n0Iced with 100 Continental! troops under Col.
Warner, took advantage Of tile confusion of The
enemy's retreat and pursued them with great
slaughter about two miles aud haf where tho
enemy were reinforced with 1000 men and two
field pieces; Il second and very severe engage.
tneu ensued and after continuing about 2 hours
Inc enemy beat Il retreat, the mi tia rushed on
with universal shout, which put the enemy into
such confusion thar they left their wounded be-
hind, and General Stark complete master OF the
heId Ia The second Qllsel, two nn,e fed PIECES,
together with 800 more OF the euefny wete Inken
among whom were Colonel, Mnjor, the Gen.
erals Ald-de Camp, and 80 other officers. The
prisoners arrived NJ Laneshor0ugh last Tuesday
nlgI Z. The enemy left nearly two hundred dead
on Iile field. Oar Iors was % killed and II mum.
u.s. wounded. Among the prisoners were 1917
lorles belongihgto this and other siales. That
HE parties sent out by General Stark The day nfier
me engagement brought in bout 100 more pris-
oners. In the whole the prisoners amounted TO
more than 700. The number Of the enemy in the
lines first attacked by tho miliia only, were cs
Captain Barns WIS Informed by the Abide. Cump
Di The General commanding, 1900 and that their
reinforcement consisted Of 1000, and about 1000
stand OF arms, and eight loads of baggage were
MISC taken, and 30 horses supposed 10 belong TO
The dragoous The Lieut., Colonel who was IA
ken, is since dead of his wounds General Stark
IS tie same person who commanded regiment ut
he famous battle Of Bunker Ill., and behaved
here with great intrepidily and courage
Captain Barns says that after the first action
General Stark ordered hogshead of rum for the
eresllment of the militia but so eager were they
o attack the enemy upon their being reinforced,
hat they tarried not taste of il, but rushed on
he enemy with nm nrdor perhaps unparalleled.