Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-10-18
OCTOBER 18, 1886

y
the plan Of attack. fCol. Nichols, With three
hundred men, was sent out to attack the British
rear Col. Herrick, with three hundred men,
marched against the right flank, but was order
cd to join Nichols before making his assault
general. With aboutthree hundred men, Cols'
Hubbard and Stickney were sent against the en-
trenched front, while Stark with small reserve,
waited to operate whenever occasion offered. 1t
must be remembered that the American forces
were militia, while Baum's army was made up
Of well-disciplineds well-armed and experienced
troops. Many Of the patriots were armed with
fowling-pieces, and there were whole companies
without bayonet They had no artillery.
General Stark waited impatiently until the
roar Of musketry proclaimed that the different
detachments had commenced the attack, and
forming his small battalion, he made his MEM
orable speech" Boys, there's the enemy, and
We nust beat them, or Molly Stark sleeps .
widow Tonight Forward " The soldiers,
with enthusiastic shouts, rushed forward upon
the Hessian defences. and the battle became
general. The Hessisn dragons dismou nted,
and met the Americans with stern bravery. The
two cannons loaded with grape and canister,
swept the hillside with dreadful effect.
Stark's white horse fell in less than ten min
utes after his gallant rider came under fire, but
On foot, with his hat in one hand and his sabre
in the other, he kept at the head of bis men,
who, without dinching single inch, urged their
way up the little hill. Brave Parson Allen with
a clubbed musket, was seen amid the smoke,
fighting in the front of his company. The whole
field was a volcano Of FIRE. Stark, in his official
report, says that the two forces were within a
few yards of each other, and the roaring Of
the guns was like continual clap Of thunder" "
The Hessian and British regulars, accustomed
to hard-fought fields, held their ground stub
bornly and bravely For more than two hours
the battle hung in even scale. At length Baum
ordered charge at that moment he fell, NOR
tally wounded, and his men charging forward
broke their ranks in such q manner that the
Americans succeeded, after fierce hand to hand
fight, in entering the entrenchments. nd.
Stark shouted to his men, " Forward, boys
charge them home and his troops, maddsned
by the conflict, swept the hill with irresistible
valor. They pushed forward without discipline
or order, seized the artillery and gave chase te
the flying enemy. The field being won, plundel
became the object of the militia. The guns, sa
bres, and stores and equipments of the defeated
were being gathered up, when Col. Brsyman
with five hundred men, suddenly appeared upor
the field He had been sent by Burgoyne to re
inforce Baum, but the heavy rain prevented hi
men from marching at a rapid rate. The Hyinj
troops instantly rallied and joined the new af
fray, which speedily assumed an order of battle
and began to press the scattered forces Of tn
patriots. This was critical period. Stark pu
forth every effort to rally his men, but they wer
exhausted scattered and nearly out of ammuni
ton. II seemed as if the fortunes of the do,
were in the royal hands, when from the edge o
a strip of woods, half a mile off, came lou
and genuine American cheer. Stark turned
and beheld, just emerging from the woods, tn
Berkshire regiment, under Col. Warner. Thi
body Of men, also delayed by the rain, after
forced march had just reached the battlefield
painting for the affray. Gen. Stark hastened
the captain of the foremost company, and OF
dered him to lead his men to the charge at once
But the captain coolly asked, " Where is tn
Colonel want to see Colonel Warner befor
I move' The Colonel was sent for, and th
redoubtable captain, drawing himself up, sal
with the nasal twang peculiar to the puritans
old, Naow, Kernel, what dye want me t
dew!" "Drlve those rsd-coats from the hi
youder," was the answer Wall, it shall
done" said the captain, and issuing the nece
sary orders, he led his men TO tho charge witt
out q moments hesitation.
Said an eyewitness, afterwards, " the last v
saw Of Warmers regiment for half an hour WI
when they entered the smoke and fire half wa
up the hill" Stark, with q portion Of h
rallied troops, supported the Berkshire men, ar
the royal forces were defeated after close col
test. portion of them escaped, but sew
hundred men and officers were taken prisoner
among the latter, Col. Baum, who soon died
bis wounds.
The British lost two hundred and seven me
killed, and large number wounded. The Anne
leans had about one hundred killed, and ii
same number wounded. The spoils consisted
four pieces of cannon, several hundred stand
excellent muskets, two hundred and fifty dragot
swords, eight brass drums, clothing &c.