Nebraska advertiser., 1856-11-08

bAAIAA VI BkNNlNGTON.
Washington Irving, in his Life Of
Washington, gives the following spirit
ed account Of the battle of Benning-
ton:
In the mean time the more alert and
active Americcns had been mastering
from all quarters to Stark assistance,
with such weapons as they had at hand.
During the night of the 18th, Colonel
Symonds arrived with body Of Berk-
shire militia. Among them was a
belligerent parson, full of fight, Allen
by name, possibly Of the bellicose
family of the hero Of Ticonderago.-
General" cried he, @the people Of
Berkshire have been often called ont
to no purpose; if you don't give them
a chance to fight now, they will never
turn out again. "You would not turn
out now, while it is dark and raining,
would your" demanded Stark. "Not
just now" was the reply. "Well, if
the Lord should once more give us
sunshine, and / don't give you fight
ing enough, " rejoinedthe veteran, s.Tll
never ask you to turn out again"
On the following morning the sun
shone bright, and Stark prepared to
attack Baum in his intrenchments;
though he had no artillery, and his
men. for. the most part. had only their
/, lelo.ls st hayo-
S.
dred, under Colonel HeTidck, to The
rear of his right; they were to join
their forces and attack him in the
rear, while ColoneIs Hubbard and
Stickney, with two hundred men, di-
verted bis attention in front.
Colonel Skene and the royalists,
when they saw the Americans issuing
out Of the woods on different sides,
persuaded themselves, and endeavored
to persuade Baum, that these were the
loyal people Of the country focking to
his standard. The Indians were the
first to discover the truth. "The woods
are full of Yankees" cried they, and
retreated in single file between the
troops Of Nichols and Harrick, yelling
like demons and jingling COW BELLS
Several of them, however, were killed
or wounded as they thus ran the
gauntlet.
Atthe first sound of firearms, Stark
who had remained with the main body
in camp, mounted his horse and gave
the word, forsedrdl He had promised
his men the plunder of the British
camp. The homely speech made b,
him when in sight Of the enemy, ha
often been cited: fsNow, my men, ther
lare the redcoats! Before night the,
must be ours, on Molly Stark will be
: widow"
Baum soon found himself assailet
on every side, but he defended hi
+, works bravely. His two pieces Q
: artillery, advantageously planted, wer
very effective, and his troops, if slo,
lin march, we're steady in action. Fo
two hours the discharge of fre-arm
was said to have been like the constan
. rattlinc of the drum. Stark, in hi
dispatches, compared tito a "continue
!. EclaD Of thunder. It Was the hottie:
Efght he had ever seen. He inspire
his men with his own impetuosity.-
I They drove the royalist troops upo
Hessians, and pressing after the
stormed tho works thirresistible fur,
A Hessian eye witness declares thi
this time the rebels fought with desper
. alton, pressing within eight PAGES
n the loaded cannon to take sure aim
the ar-tillerists. The latter we're slai
the cannon captured. The rayalis
\ and Canadians took to flight, ar
ESCAPED to the woods. The Germal
still kept their ground, and foug
bravely, till there was not a cartrid.
Db left Baum and his dragons thu
e took to their broadswords and the j
{, fantry to their bayonets, and endeayo
= ed tc cut their way to road in t
s woods, but il vain; many were kille
= more wounded, Baum among the nul
Der, all who survived were taken pr
oners.
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