The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-18
BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.

Grafton Delivered on the 10th Of August,
1876, by Rev. Isaac jennings, Pastor
Of the Congregational Church at Ben
nington Center.
Mr. President, and Ladies, and Gentle
celebrate the declaration of our national in
dependence. The 18th of August CON-
mcmorates the deeds by which that declar-
alton in It's pledges and undertakings were
carried into effect.
Mr.. President, on the occasion alluded to
and 10 connection with breaking ground
for the monument you tevored the assem-
bly, with succinct history of what at first
vas invdeetly received Tut soon came OF
right, and we now glory in the homely but
now almost world famous title of Cata-
mount tavern. 1t is not necessary, on this
OCCASION, that your speaker, go over the
same ground. Your address should be
printed in the local papers. The particulars
1t conteias are worthy to be renewedly
spread before the public in some form, but
1t is not worth while probably, in the brief
lcriod of IL few days and in connection
with the same proceedings substantially to
relterate the same details. should like to
do it. l should like to recount how thi,
roof, now gone, sheltered the committees
and the council of safety.
The council of safety has not been with
out its witness in the form of portion of
its journal which. fortunately, has been
preserved. Gov. Slade, in his state papers,
justly pronounces il the ''grea est political
curiosity which the history of Vermont can
furnish.
10 looking over the remarkable record
our blood tingeS in our veins and we catch
again some of the throbbing impulses of
that momentous time. | would ike to re-
call to you how here the first legislature
assembled and held its opening session on
its adjournment from Windsor. How the
supreme court held for period of time its
session here. How Ethan Allen had for a
season his home here and issued his sum-
mons to the Green Mountain boys to be
ready for the taking of TiconderOga. How
from this spot was issued the summons of
the Green Mountain boys to the patriots
of New Hampshire and Massachusetts,
Message after message came to New Hamp-
shire from outraged Vermont IN this style /:
"When we arc crushed and ceased to be
frontier and will be none except where
there are sufficient troops with arms in
their hands to defend it,"
STATE OF W., IN COUNCIL OF SAvETY,l
Aug. l6, 1777.
To Col. John Williams, Sir You will pro-
coed with your parry toward the lines, and II
the road leading to Hoosack, and If you make
any discovery, report to this council at the
same time you are to pay proper attention 10
the road leading from Ioosac TO Pownal
BY Order OF the Council.
Gen. Stark himself bad his headquarters
here. Here the poor tories received their
sentence and were assigned duty and des-
tiny by this council from 1851 to 1894, a
period of over 80 years. For long por-
ton az least of this period, this tavern
fr,t called the Green Mountain house and
thtn Catamount tavern, and all along,
meanwhile under the care of landlord
| Fay, the stuffed skin Of catamount sur
mounted the tavern sgn-post. The size
OF this particular cafamOunt we may not
ceitiinly know, but Williams in his history
| gives an account of one that measured 8
| feet, its body being and tail 3 feet, and
| that carried off calf from one Warren,
| jumped with it over fence A feet high,
and taking its leap up n rocky ledge, one
Of lis steps measuring Is feet and finally 1t
was brought down from a lofty tree, bid
ding defiance to its pursuers by shot from
II gun.
should like to recall TO you again how
as early as 1866, or earlier, arose on this
spot the less commodous dwelling, and
there came to reside here with his family
| Capt. Stephen Fay. And that this family
continued to be identified in many WAYS Of
distinguished and influential services with
the cause of the New Hampshire Grants,
and the great struggle of the Green Mount.
ain boys, first for their rights and then fol-
the existence a3 a state, and then for the
national life. Capt. Fay aud his son going
as messengers on one occasion with the
communication of the settlements of the
grants to the New York government at AL
bany, Jonas Fay, the son, was secretary of
the most important body connected with
the eventful carly history of this
commonwealth. How this man, Captain
Stephen Fay, sent five of his sons to the
Bennington battle, and when one of them,
the fathers and the mothers pride, and a
iayorlte with everybody, was slain
m the battle and brought home in his
blood. What the venerable father said
has been often related, and will not re-
peat the thrilling words that fell from his
llps-they are classic and will pass down
through oil lime as the genuine utterapces
of the purest patriotism and the most ex-
allied selt-sacriice of love for ones country
How this family lived and was numerous.