Eastern times., 1855-10-25
Misttllanp.
AN HOUR AT THE BATTLE GROUND
BY THE BIRD OF THE AIR.


have just climbed the steep hill which
overlooks the scene of General Stark's victory
over Baum and what lovely spot One
can hardly believe that the demon of war ever
hovered over these fruitful fields The land
scape is so extensive, so diversified, so emf
nently picturesque, that battle-memories seem
to flee before the entertainments of natural
scenery. And as I sit here, where General
Baum's army planted their first guns, and
from which they could view vast area of
country, | wonder for moment that death
shots could ever have desecrated region of
SURPRISING beauty and fertility.
The battlefield is really in the state of New
! York, mile or two west of the line but the
heroic memories of the scene belong to the
Green Mountain State so that it was rightly
called the battle of Bennington. Should any
over-zealous Knickerbocker covet the glory Of
that victory for his own state, lie. him remem-
Der that the only reason the action took place
out of Vermont was that the Green Mountain
Boys could not wait for the enemy to come,
and so they went where they were, and took
them -l f.....
Never were braver hearts than beat in those
sturdy champions of the New Hampshire
Grants. Long trained to courage in the bor-
der warfare which preceded the revolution they
were overfowing with heroism when Bur-
goyne came, like another AttiIa, to subdue the
land. Those were dark days too. The
clouds that overhung the patriot cause chilled
even the hopeful spirit of Washington 1t
was during that unfortunate summer of III,
when Ticonderoga, the jewel of Aliens
bravery, and the strength of the north, had
been recovered by the enemy. The startling
news of this disaster could hardly be credited.
The key of North America was gone The
great magazine of military stores, upon which
brave men relied, was possessed by foes. The
sunshine which had cheered the cause of free
dom was suddenly exchanged for winter
clouds. Public fasts were held in some states,
and prayers were freely put up to the God of
battles, while the Green Mountain boys coolly
set down at Bennington to brush up their fire.
locks and try their fiints. -.
| Burgoyne was now sitting in true English
dignity at Ticonderoga, waiting for the af-
| frighted towns and citizens to obey his procla-
nation and make their submission. The 18th
day of July was set apart for this expected re-
ception. Even Washington said AS mat
ters are going on, General Burgoyne will find
little difficulty in penetrating 10 Albany r
The inhabitants of the region likely to be
invaded were horror-struck at the barbarities
which had been committed by Burgoyne's In
dian allies and they began to move their
children and effects towards Massachusetts.
| Burgoyne was now in want of stores for his
military movements on the Hudson. General
Baum was therefore despatched with detach-
ment of soldiers, to scour the country; to
make prisoners of all officers, civil and militia
ry, acting under Congress; to tax the towns
where they halted with such articles as they
wanted; to bring all horses fit to mount the
Dragons, with as many saddles and brides as
could be found. At least thirteen hundred
norses were to be brought, which should be
tied In strings of ten each, that one man might
lead ten horses. With such and many more
directions, and with sovereign contempt fol
the rebels who might chance to be in his path
Baum sat out for his first plunder. His eve.
at once lighted on what he called "a cluster O
poor cottages and well furnished magazine
at Bennington, and soon his army was withir
four miles of his prize. '
l The crisis had now come! The hard,