Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-05-10
THE BATTLE OF BENNING-
TON.

EXTRACTS FROM THE ADDRESS OF
REV. J. d. BUTLER.
AAtleugth, about thee o'clock in The after
noon, sudden trampling was heard in the forest
North Of the fortifcations then loud shout, then
rapid, though struggling fire of musketry.--
The shout was signal given by detachment
of Americans, which had farthest to march, that
they.had reached their appointed post. The at
tack at once began on three sides of the breast
work. The first volley discharged by the New
Englanders drove in the Indians from tie sur
rounding woods, SSd movement of the flank.
ing as5ailants to unite in the rear, frightened
them to precipitate, though not bloodless flight.
The tales of terror they carried home, shielded
and tdboOed every village but one in Vermont
from Indian assaults through all the remaining
years ofthe Revolution. In the gap left by the
desertion of the Indians, one of the field pieces,
now before you* was mounted, while the brazen
mouth of the other thrust forth tongue of flame
in whatever direction, the assailants were seen
standing thick together. But the Americans
sheltered themselves, as with an extemporaneous
breastwork, behind stumps, trees, rocks, aud
hillocks. The conflict was long trial of sharp
shooting, as it were a thousand duels at one time
and in one place. The simple Hessdns had
been persuaded they were to fight with Gamma
balls, and that if captured they would be roasted
and eaten. Every moment they heard, no, they
only hoped they heard, Breymann's far-off bugIes
as he hatened to their rescue. They still had
hopes of forcing their way back to that father
land they were homesick to behold once more.
Baum cried in their ears that their discipline,
their position, their entertainments, and their
cannon must make them conquerors, even over
men fighting for their own farms. The tories
who had joined the kings troops, confident that
in these last days. the time OF recompense fol
all their maltreatment had come, were entrench
ed in front of the German battery. They braved
the battle fire, that they might if it were by any
) mems possible, turn their castles in the air t.
castles on the earth.
On the other hand the assailants saw befure
them band of mercenaries, bought at thirty
crowns head, and of whose speech they could
not understand syllable. They saw horde
whose orders were to make spoil of every horse
every OK, and every wheel carriage, every sad
die, every bride, leaving only the mich cows
as SPECIAL clemency, to carry off all provisions
= to tax every village as much as it could pay
tories being judges, to take hostages for the pay
ment of the tax, to let loose Indians and torie
to do what they pleased with the refractory van
pushed They knew that they were the las
= hope of New England, that if they were repel
led there was no reserve to fail back on, tina
The dragons, now dismounted before them, o
the morrow would be Cavalry, winged arm
bouncing on the fugitives in every valley, Will
. Indians would set fire, to every hillside han
= let and scalp its inmates. Stark was full (
\ high disdain from sense of injured merit. R
walls had been promoted over his head, and b
!. left subaltorn,--