Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-06-07
MIS- SCEI.L A N Y.
THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON
ny RICHARD NyEsEIr.

ny RicnARp EyEREIr.
John Stark. the hero Of Bennington, was
q native Of New Hampshire. Atau early
age he enlisted in company d Rangers.
participated In several conflicts with the
savages. and at last fell into thar hands q
prisoner Of war. Redeemed by his friends
Tor one hundred and three dollar, he join.
ed Rogers Rangers and served with di',inc
ton through tho French and Indian diih.
Guilty. When the news cane ic hi. quie,
home, that American blood had been split
upon the green a, Lexington, he rallied his
coun,rymen and hurried on b Boston with
eight hundred brave nountaineers. lie
presented himself before the American
commander on the eve Of the battle OF Dun.
ker Hill. and receiving Colouel's eommi..
sion. instantly hurried to the in,fencaments.
Throughout the hattie Of BunkG Till.
Stark and hi. New Hampshire men nobly
sustained the honor Of the pa,rio, cause,
and no troops exceeded in bravery ,h, mill.
TIA regiment Of Col. John Stark. u the
spring Of 1916 he went to Canada. ani a.
the battle Of Trenton Commanded the hght
wing Of washins,On's army. lie wa n,
Princeton. BenuOe.on. and several offer
severe battles, always sustaining III. rep,ra.
,a,ion as n brave. honorable. sterling pat.
riot. and able general. llo va, grc,, a.
vorite OF Gen. Washington, and very pop.
lar in the army. On the S,h Of May, is:22,
aged ninety three years. he "was gathe.ed
to hi, father. and hr, remain. repo,e upon
the sanks Of the beautiful Merrlmac. be-
meath a monument Of granite. which bear.
the inscriptions M,JoK GENERAL SraRs."
Having given 4 very brief'kc,eh Of the
celebrated oiicerwho led our piiriO, militia
upon the field oi bennington, We will pro-
ceed with the account Of that battle.
Tho magnificent army Of G,n. Burgoyne.
which invaded the State, ia lI1I. having
become Strengthened Tor po'i.ons aud
stores. the royal commander ordered halt,
and sen, Col. B,ume. . lie.san officer TO
'cour the country for supplies. Baume
took q strong force OF British infantry. two
pieces Of artillery and a squadron oi heavy
German Dragons. A srea, body Of In.
dian.. hired aud armed by the British. iol.
lowed hi. force. or acted a. scouts and flank.
ing parties.
Stark, on the intelligence OF BurcoynO''
invasion. as offered the command Of one
or two regiments OF troops which were
raised in New Hampshire. through the 81.
er,ions, chiefly Of John Langdon. Speaker
OF the General Assembly. Stark had .crv.
ell FOR n long periui as General. hut at ,ha,
time ws. at home private citizen. But
a, the call Of hi. ciun,rymsn he again took
the field. The two regiments were roon
raiscd. and with them, as senior officer,
Stark FASTENED to oppose the British army.
A, tia, time the Vernon, militia were en-.
rollen into an organization called the
=. Berkshire regiment" under Col. Warner.
ia arriving near Bennington, Stark sent
forward Col. Gregg, with small force 20
rcconpoitrc, but thu officer soon returned
with information that u strong forcs OF
British, iIcs.ians ant Indians was rapidly
approaching. Uponthis intelligence Stark
resolved 90 sta nd hi'ground and give bat.
,le. Messengers wre scn, at once 20 the
Berkshire militia tohurry on, and tho pat.
riots were directed q -ec that their weapons
were in good order. Thu. was on the li,h
OF August, l77G. During the day. Biume
and his army appeared. and learning tha,
the militia were cdle,,ing in front OF hi.
route. the COMMANDER ordered his army TO
halt. and throw up ,n,renchments. AneI.
pres. was also sen, % Gen. Bursoyne for TO.
Inducements.
The 18th was dul and rainy. Both ar.
mics continued thir preparation. while
waiting for re eniIeemen,'. Skirmishing
was KEEP, up all day and night, between the
militia and tho inihns. and the latter sui.
fered 50 severely that great portion OF the
savage iorce lei, tho Geld, saying that the
woods we're full ,f Yankees. About IL
o'clock on the niglt Of tho 18th, party Of
Berkshire militia came into the American
camp. A, the head OF one company was
Rec. Mr.. Allen OF Piusield, and ths, wor.
thy gentleman APPEARED full Of scal TO meet
the enemy. Sometime before daylight he
called on Gen. Stark, and said, " General,
the people Of Berkshire County have often
been called out. without being allowed to
fight, and il you don't give them chance
they have resolved Lever to turn out again. "
Very WELL" replied Stark. do you want
to go at It now, w,ils tits dark and rainyy'
"No, not just THU moment, said tho war
like minister. "fhen." said the General,
+" II the Lord shal once more give US sun.
shine, and | do not give you d:htIng enough,
Ill never ask ysu TO come on. again ~
This 'a,i,Ged the preacher, and he went out
to cheer up hi, il'ek with the good news.
Day dawncd bright and warn, on the
10Th. All na,urs, invigora.ed by the mild
Angus, rain. glazed with beauty and fresh
ness. Before susrise the Americans were in
motion. while from the British entrench.
mcns the sound OF busles and .hc roll Of
drums told that Baumo's forces were Tea y
for action. Stark early arranged his plan
Of attack. Col. Nichols. with hnndE-d
men, was sent out 20 attack the British
rear. Col. lierrisk, with three hundred
A Al