Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-08-25
From the Rutland Herald Aug. l6.
The Battle of Bennington.
AUGUST 16, 1777.

AUGUST 16, 1777.
This is the ninety-fourth anniversary
of a noble historic event, the battle of
Bennington at which was won decisive
victory over the British troops. Thevic-
tory was one of much Importance to the
American cause 1t is fitting that the
people of Bennington celebrate the vic
tory of which their town was the scene
and John Stark the hero. 1t was the
turning point in the series OF successes
which had crowned the British arms, and
which had produced in them an over
weening confidence. The enemy admitted |
that ''this unfortunate event has paral- |
yzed at once our operations" and Bur-
goyne wrote four days after the battle,
"The Hampshire grants in particular,
country uupeopled and almost unknown
in the last war, now abound in the most
rebelIious race of the continent and hang
like gathering storm upon our left"
Washington also wrote Zone more stroke
by New England such as that of Ben
nington would crush Burgoyne." The
victory was more decisive because taught
by unframed militia against veteran
regulars. 1t was the seed OF all the fu-
ture successes of Gates, which the COM
mand of Stark afterward joined. All
offensive operations of the British in the
north terminated with the surrender of
Burgoyne and his whole army at Still
water two months after the battle of Ben
nington.
A brief outline of the history of events
previous to the battle and description
of the battle may refresh the memory OF
our readers in reference to the event
whose commemoration is to take place at
Bennington to-day.
The people of Vermont rendered effici-
ent service to the garrison at TicoDdero-
ga by forwarding them supplies Of -four,
at time too when they had only bread
enough for sixteen days, and we're hourly
expected an attack On the 9th of July
1777, the Americans, under General St
Clair. evacuated Ticonderoga, in conse
: quence ofthe presence of Burgoyne, whc
: detached portion of his cammand fol
J the purpose of pursuing them. They
came up with the Americans at Hub
bardton, on the 7th, where a desperate
f encounter took place, in which tht
r Americans were routed. Theinte ligenc
D of the approach of Burgoyne filled tn
t people of Vermont with alarm, exposed
Y as they were to the encroachments ant
t of the means of securing it.
g In this desperate emergency they ar
s pealed to Massachusetts, and New Hamp
:. shire for aid, and the latter placed
J. large force at their disposal under job
e Stark. General Stark first halted q
e Manchester with his troops, numberin
q 400 men, six hundred of whom wer
IS Green Mountain Boys under COL Set
/; Warner, and next, disregarding the o.
t. ders of Gen. Schuyler, who directed hiI
,s to Join the army ON thewest side of Hue
/. son River, collected his own at Bei
d nington, leaving Colonel Warner at Mar
se chester General Burgoyne, with th
t, British army, lay at Fort Edward. Frol
this force General Burgoyne detacne
" Colonel Baum with about l 300 German
" and 100 Indians for the purposeof secu
W Vermont as far as Connecticut River, an
o. "trying the affections of the country
in He was also to cross the mountains
of Rockingham and Brattleboro, and briI
" 300 horses or more, as we'll as cattl
I'd for labor and provisions, returning to Il
~ army with his booty within fourteen day
7 Baum was likewise directed to tell q
or people that his detachment was the a
or vance guard of the British army whie
yo was marching to Boston. The aifectio
lie of the people were found to be very di
N erent from what had been anticipate
m and they we're determined to try {
ck strength of this advance guard if not
,o- ing more.
nd In accordance with their determin
le- ton when the Indians, who were the
an oneers under Baum, were seen by Stari
err army on the 18th of August, about twel
Die miles from Bennington, Stark sent q
ip, William Gregg with two hundred m
,to to obstruct their march. Towards eve
ing news was brought to Stark that
md body of regular troops with artillery "
ne. advancing towards Bennington and
me next morning with his whole hriga