Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-05-10
VOLUME VI. NO. 10.

fugitives, or seeking refreshments, they were
surprised by new enemy, fer Breymann came
up with reinforcement, and appeared Of power
to revenge the anlhiIatiou of Baum's detsch-
ment Had he arrived one hour sooner he
might have changed the fortunes of the day.-
why not of the campaign of the war He
came on forced march, and yet according to a
British officer, his division spent thirty-t
hours in twenty two miles objectionable
sowness What though the weather was rainy
and many of those hours night and The road
muddy or through forest? Had his troops
made half the dispatch to succor their friends
which they made on their on own fight when
fear added wings to their feet, they might have
won lnurels which crowned, and crown, the men
Of New England. The forces under BreynalIr
were brunswick Grenadicrs light Iassntry ana
chasseurs, and 10 number, not less than a thou
sand. They overpowered the handful which
first opposed them. They had fair prospect
of cutting to pieces in detail the several dlvis-
ions of Stark's scattered Brigade, when "just in
the opportunity of opportunity" part of War
ner's Regiment, which during the previous night
had hurried from Manchester 10 SALISBURY, and
thence that morning to Bennington, and after
wards had been detained to put their fire.
locks to order, reached the field. They were
only one hundred and fifty men, but their com.
ing was as decisive as the arrival of Butcher at
Waterloo, or the charge of Kellerman at Maren-
go. The victorious advance of the Germans
was checked. Stark's battalons you would have
said to rise from the earth at the stamp of his
foot. After the first action he had ordered a
hogshead of ium, and it was ready for distribu-
ton among his men, but they refusing to taste
it while the victory was doubtful, and flushed
with their success an hour before, rushed to
meet the fresh troops Of Breymann. The field
pieces which we to night begin to possess, taken
from Baum were turned against those who came
to Baum's rescue. Breymanns cannon of larger
calible were taken and re taken more than
twice, but at last remained in The hands of the
Americans. The cannon were an emblem of
victory on that eventiul day.
Now sways it this way like mighty sea
Forced by the tile to combat with the wind
Forced to retire by fury OF the wind,
, But what could overcome the men who fought
r for their firesides and freedom, and who in the
words of Stark, " had each man been an ALEX
, ander or Charles of Sweden, could not have
t behaved more gallantly~ The sun went
r down, and no star of hope, save in flight,
: arose for the Germans. They were pursued till
q dark and in Starks judgment, "had there been
7 one hour more of day light the whole detachment
would have been killed captivated.n
e Ascertaimng that a veteran of Bennington was
Y still living some eight miles from my house in
d Wells River, paid him visit about a week
e ago. His name is Thomas Mellen, and though
!, upwards of ninety ears of age, he is SO far
|. from being bald or bowed down, that you would
$ think him in the Indian summer of life. His
>, dress was all Of gray homespun, and he sat on
7, a couch, the covering of which was sheepskins
= with the wool on. will repeat his statements,
IS as far as possible in his own words.
4. al enlisted" said he, 'at Orangestown, New
st Hampshire, in Col. Stckney's regiment, and
i Capt Clark's company, as soon as learned that
at Stark would accept the command of the State
IN troops Six or seven others from the same town,
~ joined the army at the same time. We marched
lie forthwith to Number Four, and stayed there a
n week; Meantime received horn of powder
of and run two or three hundred bullets. / had
i brought my own gun. Then my company was
nc sent IN to Manchester. Soon after, went with
a hundred others under Col. Emerson, dowr
the valley of Otter Creek. On this excursion
we lived like lords on pigs and chickens in the
houses of tories who had fled. When we re.
< turned to Manchester, bringing two hogsheads
I'd of West India rum, we heard that the Hessians
is were on the way to invade Vermont Late in
he the afternoon Of rainy Friday, we were ordered
OF off for Bennington, in spite of rain, mud and
g darkness We pushed on all night,cach making
Sc the best progress he could, About daybreak, l
a with Lieut. Miltimore, came near Bennington,
n and slept while on a huy-uow. When the
barn-yard fowls walked us, we went Tor bread
and milk to the sign of the Wolf, and then hur-
, ried three miles West, to Stark's main body.
"Stark and Warner,S rode up near the enemy
to reconnoitre, were fred at with the cannon
no and came gallopng back. Stark rode with BIZ
ed shoulders bent forward and cried out to his mel
his -" Those rascals know that am an officer
ie' don't you SEQ they honor me with big gun al
I'VE salute? We were marched round and roun(
Fps circular hill till we were tired. Stark said i
'as was to amQ-e to Germans All the while a can
ng nonade was kept up upon us from the breas
work. 1t hurt nobody and it esscned the feal
cir of the great guns. After awhile l was sen
ST. with twelve Others to lie in ambush on a knoll
de- little North and watch for tories on their way
r. to join Baum. Presently, we saw six coming
of towards us, who, installing us for tories can't
at too near US to escape. We disanned them, ant
L sent then undera guard of three to Stark. While
e. | sat on The hillock, espied one Indian, whom
v thought could kill, and more than once cooked
ne my gun, but the orders were not to fire. He
he was cooking his dinner, and now and then shot
y, at some of our people.
IN Between two and three o'clock the battle be.
+ gan. The Germans fred by platoons and were
nj soon hidden by smoke. Our men fired, each on
d. his own hook, aiming wherever they saw flash
e. Few on our side, had either bayonets or ear
e triages. At last stole away from my post and
n, run down to the battle. The first time fred
put three balls into my gun. Before had
10 time to fire many rounds, our men rushed over
q the breastwork, but / and many others chased
d. struggling Hessians in the woods. We pursued
; till we met Breymann with eight hundred fresh