Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-03-11
stllse&IIa II n
rom tue Nergennes (Vt0 Independent
Ire BATTLE OF BENNINGTON, AUGUST ia. ~

Aah HA1IAh OF FBENNINGToN, AUGUST Is ~
y guard from this thanking party were posted
In the rear to watch and guard the road 6c
ne indians fled along this road or path. and
some OF them came IN contact with the ernard
One man by the name of Henry Walbridoe from,
New Bennington, who was excead;noI,, so1e
WilIed and stubborn, refused to leave the r,att
'ie Il. 'l'-i.l We're following in their flight al
though ne was advised to do so by his comnan- :
Ions Ihey said to him q" you can fight inst a.
Wen in the bushes, one side of the path . Br,t
no-not an Inch of ground would he riro II,
was soon mortaliy wounded bv some Of tla In
dians; and his comrades supposed that he killed
or wounded several of them
when the guns Of the faugia, partv wcro
heard q havlAg commenced the aefact in tt,o
roa-, tAe-. ne II. =. t.'r nn,ler Stark was t.
/ advance over the plain, through the river "a
up the hill, to attack the enemy in front and #
possible TO drive them from their works.
! Among the people Of Bennington and the sur
rounding towns the excitement and Derr,lovit,
was very great. They dug holes in the wood,
and put IN brass kettles and other hoIIovv yro-a
hIIeG with some of their most valuable articles
and covered them over with leaves. DC So
that the enemy would not be likely to find
them.
IAe aged and indrn men, women and child
ren, were collected together near the centre Of
the town, to be in readiness for more convenient
flight, provided the people should he beaten
Many women and children fed oft TO BerLshi~a
county, Mas
The hanking parties having gained their al
lotted position without being discovered. and
having etfectually routed the Indians thew were
ready now TO pour their shot into the backs of
the Hessians and Tories who were fortified an
the hill
Stark and his little band heard the si-nal
guns Of their friends in the rear and they felt
thai they must now besfir themselves. PIacino
himself where he could be heard by his men.
Stark thus addressed them; Yon.ler are the
British, aud We viii lick them this dav, or Mol
" Stark goes TO bed Il widow Z"
This short address was received bv the Green
Mountain Boys with enthusiasm, and they com
menecd their march rapidly over the plain. with
the wated-word of victory or death upon
their tongues.
The Hessians opened heavy fire upon them
with their field pieces, As they were marching
In fair view across the plain, and as they as
cendcd the hill, This did not check their pro-
gress, for wonderful as it may appear, most of
their balls passed over, and did no injury TO
those brave men.
They advanced within musket shot, and then
commenced deadly fire upon the enemy
They continued to fire and advance, and havine,
nothing to shield them, they were constantly
upon tie watch. and when Hessian or Tory
raised his head above the breastworks, they
were pretty sure to be killed or wounded.
The battle waSed furiousIy before and behind
In every part of the field. On one side. men
fought for their Hves-for their wives and child
ren-for their aged fathers and mothers-for
their brothers and sisters-for their hoInes-for
Liberty.
On the other side they fought for hire Mill
tary discipline and honor were to suffer if they
were beaten. The issue of the contest did not
long remain doubtful A hand to hand contest
soon commenced the breast works were storm
ed at every point. The Hessians and Tories
were driven from their posts +; their field pieces
Were taken many of them were killed very
many wounded they fled to the woods in every
direction; they surrendered themselves prison.
ers, as our men overlook them. Col Baum was
mortally wounded, and expired soon after ii the
foot of a tree, near where the rail road is now
placed His sword was taken to Bennington,
and is stil kept as 4 trophy of the victory there
achieved.
One singular and melancholy event occurred at
the storming Of the Tory fort a small ~c-npa-
ny of men, consisting of about thirty, cane to
Gen Starks head quarters on the evening pre-
vious 70 the battle. They We're from Steven
town, IN the southeastern part of Rensselaer,
county, n. Y, or from that neighborhood. They
encamped for the night in an old deserted build
ing, near the camp Of Gen. Stark. They run
bullets and fixed their guns during the evening.
" hen the morning appeared, officer and
ABOUT half OF the men were missing and as it
subsequently appeared, they had deserted, gone
over to the enemy during the night, and We're
stationed at the Tory breasIwork. When they
came INTO action, 1t was 50 ordered that these
men came lRto action with each other and
and nearly every one of the deserters were Ell
ther killed or wounded. When firing at a dis
- b.o