The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-08-22

Those Cannon,

&AOoS OlAuOns
Our readers have already learned that Con-
gress has voted to restore TO Vermont two field
pieces captured by The Green Mountain Bows
at Bennington in 1777. The following are
the proceedings of the House on this subject.
REVOLUTIONARY TROPHIES.
Mr.. COLLAMER, by leave, introduced
the following joint resolution:
Resolred, &c. That two brass feld-pieces
captured from the enemy at the battle of Ben
nington, in the State of Vermont, in1 III now
in the possession of the United States, be i'm
mediately we'll mounted, under the direction of
the Secretary of War, and delivered to the
Government of the State of Vermont, to be
hereafter holden as the property of said State.
The resolution having been read first and
second time
Mr.. COLLAMER addressed the House to
the following effect: Mr.. Speaker, a motion
has now been entertained that when the House
adjourns, it will adjourn to the 5th inst, and
thus therefore, for all the practical purposes of
this House, the 4th of July. / therefore take
this as fitting occasion to present this resolu-
ton. / am sensible that the House has little
of time or patience to listen to a subject to
them of so little importance, and will there
fore state, as concisely as possible, the history
ofthe two feld-pieces mentioned in the res
olution, and the claim of Vermont to the
same.
In 1775, before the declaration OF Indepen-
dence, and Immediately after the commence
ment of hostilities with England, the people of
Vermont, then called The Nep Hampshire
Grants, captured the fortresses of Ticondero-
ga and Crown Point, and therein took one
o,,l E
mortars and three howitzers, good for service.
These all passed into the service of the United
States, and the people Of Vermont have re-
ceiyed therefor no compensation. This con-
stituted the basis of the artillery with which
the war of the Revolution was achieved. In
l77G, little but disaster attended the American
arms. In 1777, General Burgoyne entered
the country, from Canada, with his imposing
army ofinvasion, the best appointed and best
furnished army, though not the largest, ever
landed in America He captured Ticondero-
ga, opened the whole Northern frontiers, push
ed forward to the Hudson, and spread conster-
nation through the country. 1t should, how
ever, be remarked that he had some proper
appreciation in Vermont. In the published
journal of his expedition as it advanced will
be found this entry of General Burgoyne ::
nO IluHtDWuC OIUItS, III Il COuD-
try unpeopled and almost unknown in the last
war, (thatis the old French tcdr, now abounds
in the most active and most rebelious race on
the continent, and hangs like a gathering
storm on my left" There was depot of pro-
visions at Bennington, in Vermont, and de-
tachment of Burgoyne's army under Col.
Baum was sent to capture it, and upon this
detachment this gathering storm burst like a
L I L. Al
United States troops were present. 1t was
the people of Vermont, assisted by their neigh
bors of New Hampshire under the gallant
Stark, and few bold neighbors from Berk-
shire, Massachusetts, who overthrow this ar
my under Baum, behind their breastworks and
captured over seven hundred men, besides the
killed and dispersed and then it was that
they took these two ield-pieces. Did they not
belong to that people? But, sir, they were
wanted by the country. They were taken
down to the Hudson, and constituted part of
the artillery in the battles of Bemis's Heights
and Saratoga, which resulted in the capture
Of the whole British army. They have been
retained by the United States ever since. Sir,
the expenses of Vermont in the Revolution
have never been settled or a dollar of them re-
paid.-Theirs at Ticonderoga, at IIubbardton,
at Bennington, and even those of the last war,
when Vermont rose en- mdSSe and went to the
rescue at Plattsburgh, have never been adjust
ed or dollar paid therefor by this nation.
All now ask is, that you return to Vermont
those two field-pieces, which you have kept
seventy years, and now, having worn out their
carriages, you have thrown them aside as val
ueless, outside your Arsenal; and there, sir,you
may now see them, neglected and corroding,
but there is chiselled on them the precious
memento that they were captured at Benning
ton, 1777. This Government regards them of
no ralue. May we have them? VIII you
remount and return them? To us of Yer
mont they are invaluable. We will put them
in the vestibule of our granite Capitol, and
they shall be kept bright,in patriotic, fiial, and
grateful remembrance of our fathers valor.
Again | ask, may 're hare hems
The resolution was then read third time,
and passed unanimously.