Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-05-12
The Battle Of Bennington

Colonel Baum's Hessians, in July, l777, when
they marched, at General Burgoynes COM
mand, to seize the American stores at Benning
ton. Baum was in little fort, which he hasti
ly threw up on the top of hill, not far from
Wallolnsac River. Some cali the battle the
Battle of Hoosac, because it was in that town,
and not in Bennington and Pme call it the
Battle of the Wallenlsac. 7
"My father," said tile other, g was in the
same battle, bat on the other side; and have
often heard him tell this story Colonel War
ner was very active in calling out the people of
Berkshire county, in Massachusetts,, when the
alarm was given that the Hessians were COM
ing; and the minister of the place where my
father lived, marched off to Bennington, at the
head of his deacons and parishioners. Early
in the morning of July 10th, Colonel Warner
told large, athletic man, who was looking at
his troops, to fall into the front ranks but he
replied that he was u wagner, and had not
come to fight. The colonel then turned, and
addressed the old man, of small stature, with
white and flowing hair, and said The labors
of the day are likely to be severe, and it is my
request that you remain here as sentry over the
baggage Tho aged man seemed at once to
feel the animation of youth and quickly bring
ing his frelock to his shoulder, made kind of
hop forward, and exclaimed Not till have
had one shot at them first This restored the
feelings of the by-standers, which had been
little clouded by the cowardly speech that pre-
ceded, and the order to march was soon given.
! "They were led with much caution, but as
rapidly as possible, towards the Hessian fort,
taking advantage of narrow hollow, which
led part of the way in that direction, and ef-
fectually concealed them from the enemy.
When my father reached the end of the ra-
vine with his company, (or he was y captain,
and had the head of the line,) he found himself
at the foot of the fort, and saw soldiers above
pointing their muskets at him. The next in.
slant he fell, being shot with a musket-ball
through the foot. He succeeded in gaining his
standing and ON seeing, at a distance, a red
coat moving across the field, the thought oc-
Cured to him that he might encourage his men
by false report and he cried out They
run? They run 1t had the desired effect.
The militia rushed forward tiiEibcd the bill
and the wall of the fort, and the enemy turned
: and fled without resistance
" That is all true," said the first speaker
81 have heard my father in.law tell the same
story and he used to add what will now give
you.
80 ran, said he, across the field behind
the FORT but soon observed that was followed
by tall Yankee, who seemed determined to
and Of course of no use. threw away mine,
and began to gain on him. After while he
threw away his, and then he began to come up
again. Looking back once more, saw him
kick off his shoes; but mine were buckled and
would not come Off Before me was d grove of
trees, and pushed on for it with all my might
hoping to find some kind of refuge from my
pursuer. did not observe that only the tops
of the trees appeared. nor reflect that there
must be steep descent on this side. When
reached the spot, discovered that it was the
perpendicular bank of tie Wallmsac river !;
, and the next instant felt myself falling down
q great distance. Pat came my feet into the
deep, soft mud, on the edge of tie stream and
there stuck fast. Pat came my pursuer
right utter me for he also had been running at
too swift rate to check himself in time and
down he had come, and sunk into the mud al
most within my reach Had VIC been II little
, nearer, or had we kept our guns, we probably
, should have had fight i'll that singular posi-
tion. But we were just beyond each other s
, reach, and could not pick mp even a stone or n
! stick to throw or strike with. We then began
to make desperate struggles to extricate our
selves from the mud. He, Observed seemed to
f work to no effect, while iolt my shoes loosen
little under my feet and then | recolected
that he was barefooted, and that my shoes
/ might now give me some advantage, AT length
the straps Of my old fashioned buckles gave
way. drew up my feet, gaieed the hard
ground, and ran down the bank, where | was
soon out of sight among the bushes ran
and walked till was tired, then lay down and
slept. When awoke, | avoided every house
and sign of habitation, and steercd clear of
, the roads, until was almost starved to death.
The inhabitants were all Whigs, and great cne-
mics to us Tories; and ieariag they would mall
treat me, dreaded the sight of anybody. At
last ventured to tho house of " man | had
known, who treated me kindly, ted and lodged
me; but my face was 50 hackened by gunpow-
( der, that it was e,m, tins bhore3he recognized
/ me- As soon as was able, slipped sway, and
| soon found myself on the limo Of Burgoyne =
march. Overtaking his army, joined it, and
, was in the Tory fort at Bemiss Heights, in the
& Battle of Saratoga. 1t was on knoll the
4 sides of which were covered with trees, which
Q had been cut down and dragged there with all
t their branches to prevent the storming of the
4 work had no idea that the Rebels would
n dare to come up in the face of our fire.; but nc
. sooner did they see us before them, than they
Q ran toward US, clambered up among the Old
, trees and over the branches, and were close upon
+ us IN moment could compare their alr
: pcarance to nothing better, than to say that tlt
Yankees were as thick as hair on dog. W.
did not wait long for them; they soon had tht
II Tory fort all to themselves and was off tn,
!. best way could 60, concluding had had az
much of the war as was on tho whole, best fol
It me. The fact is the Rebels had the right sid
Of the quarrel, and that made them more thar
match tor us. "