Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-07-22

The BATTLE OF HUBBARDTON. July 9TH.
l777.-The eighty-second ann. .oersary of the
Battle Of Hubbardton was fitly observed. on
Thursday the 9TH instant, by completing,
with interesting ceremonies, a handsome
marble monument, commemorative of our
patri 1t soldiers who were in the battle,
VIII ch has been erected on the battle-ground
BIZ the Hubbardton Battle Monument Asso-
ciation. The assembly was large, numbering,
I we Judge, nearly five thousand people, gather
ed mainly from the counties of Rutland and
Addison; and all the services were appropriate
to the occasion. The officers Of the Associa-
tiOr, with the gentlemen who were to take
part in the public exercises, were escorted to
the battle-ground by the Allen Greys of
Brandon, under the direction Of Col. Parker
as Marshal, where the order of exercises, in
termingled with music from the Rutland
Brass Band, and the Brandon Band was as
follows
Reading of Scripture by Rev. Barna Allen
of Hubbardton
Prayer by Rev. DR.. Childs of Castleton;
Sketch of the Battle by Henry Clark, ESQ.
of Poultney;
Addresses by Hon. D. f. Nicholson of
Wallingford, Col. Allen of Fairhaven, and E.
P Walton of Montpelier;
and last, though not last in the order at
performances, nor least in interest, was of
representation Of the battle, as perfectly as
COZ Id he done-in which performance the
Allen Greys represented the British forces,
while the Green Mountain Boys were re-
presented by a company formed for the occa-
sion. This latter company, it was said, was
commanded by gentleman who happened
to be born on the other side of the Atlantic.
However this may be, be certainly entered
into this affair with all the spirit Of Yer
monter-born, not made. To US, very in
teresting part of the occasion was the meet
ing of several of the descendants of Vernon
ters personally engaged in the battle, and
among them Mr.. Churchill, now ninety
years Of age, who was lad of eight years at
the time of the battle We also heard of
Benjamin Hickock, now living in Benson,
who was taken prisoner at the time. His
presence was expected, but his great age
prevented him from the exposure OF the day,
and of the necessary journey. As probably
the very last surviving sufferer in that day,
he was honOrably remem bered. We ought
to add that Mr. Churchill is one of the
chief contributors TO the monument, and in
response to a toast in his honor, 1--WE forgot
to include the toasts in the programmed he
related some of his early recollections OF the
battle field. 1t was an occasion never e &C.
cur again. IT was ~~e.oiun well honored
also. and it will doubtless be remembered
with pleasure, perhaps not unmingled with
pride, by thousands. 1t will be worth ones
remembering, and worth telling to his child
ren as they read the history of Vermont, that
he on that day and in that way honored the
heroes, the patriots, and the martyrs. who,
on the 18th. of July, III, gained those lofty
titles on the field of Hubbardton.
The battle-ground is one Of the thousand
beautiful spots to be found among the hills
of Vermont; and it deserves rank among the
very beautiful spots, even of Vermont scene
~. 1t is upon the highlands Of East Hub
bardton-the battle-ground itself hill, "
ing beneath and east Of a striking promOn-
tory called Mount Zion. East of the ground is
rvulet, and then comes the mountain range
over which, and through the forest, Warner
and his men retreated on their way to Man
chester, and successfully defed pursuit
Down the valley of the rivulet was the old
military road to Castleton, by which st. Clair
retreated with his army: and the whole scene
embracing the battle-ground, this lovely
valley and the grand mountains-Is richly
worth a visit, counting as nothing even the
historic rememb brancesa visit would provoke
With the diagram of the field, in 1hompson's
Vermont, one will readily recognize the
spots where the contending forces met, and
from the neighbors the traditions of the faith
ers can be gathered, enlivened with relics
from the field. Let the Green Mountain
Boys of this generation make at least one
visit to the battle-ground of Hubbardton.
VI. Watchman.