Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-11-22
A Thing 10 he Done.

of fifteen thousand dollars towards the mon
ument. and two thousand dollars for the oh
seryance of the Centennial, provided seven
thousand dollars additional are secured from
other sources. One provision OF The bill
is that the Governor is directed to invite, in
the name Of this state, the states Of New
Hampshire and Massachusetts, TO unite with
the state of Vermont in erecting a monu-
ment at Bennington, on the site of the cele-
brated and historical battle which took place
there on the 10th Of August, IN We
have no doubt whatever that such PROPOSE
ton from the Executive Of this state would
be considered fayorably by our sister states.
When the committee of safety Of Vermont
met at Manchester on the 10Th Of July pre-
ceding, to devise measures to resist the adj
vance OF the enemy who were then prepar-
ing TO attack Fort Edward, they wrote in the
most urgent terms to New Hampshire and
Massachusetts, to send on body Of troops to
their assistance, The legislature of New
Hampshire Immediately formed their militia
into two brigades and sent part of each
brigade, under the command Of General
Stark, 10 stop the progress Of the enemy.
lie at once repaired with eight hundred men
TO Manchester, and joined the Vermont
troops Of six hundred men under the com
mand of General Warner. General stark
was repeatedly solicited to unite his troops
with those of General Schuyler at Albany,
but believing the most effective way TO
check Burgoyne was to hang on his rear aud
cut his supplies, neglected to obey the order
from Albany. Schuyler complained Of
Stark to Congress, aud while Congress was
passing a resolution OF censure upon Gen
eral Stark bis sagacity and courage were
achieving undying honor for himself and
his country in the prosecution OF his own
independent plans. For Burgoyne finding
himself unable to bring forward his sup
plies under the harassing movements of
the forces of General Stark, sent a select
body Of five hundred regular troops and one
or two hundred Indians, with two pieces Of
anilery--now in the Capitol Of Vermont
under the command Of Colonel Baune, to
capture quantity of American stores at
Bennington. After Il few days of skirmsh-
ing the opposing sides met near Bennington
about three o'clock in the afternoon Of the
10th of August, l7771. After a sharp fight
of two hours Colonel Baume was mortally
wounded, and nearly all his men were either
| killed or taken prisoners. Beside the New
| Hampshire troops under Stark, a detach-
ment of militia from Berkshire, Mass, UNI
der Colonel Symonds was engaged in the
battle. A hard battle speedily followed
| with the re-enforcements under Colonel
Breyman in which the troops under Warner,
who had not taken part in the first engage
ment, behaved with great spirit, and at sun
set the enemy gave way and fled before the
victorious allies Of the three New England
states. This action took place near the
west line of Bennington, and has gone into
history under the name of the Bdnlc NJ
Benning'on." 1t was a splendid victory aud
prepared the way for the speedy and subse-
quent surrender Of Burgoync.
1t is this brilliant battle on the field at Ben
nington, one hundred years ago, the birth
year of Vermont, that our legislature is
asked to commemorate, and to invite New
Hampshire and Massachusetts, to assist in
concentrating. And as illustrious deeds
are worthy Of the honor of men, 50 should
we wish to commemorate by soma permanent
monuments the valor and self-sacrihce O
those heroes who won for us the heritag,
we enjoy. And as New Hampshire anC
Massachusetts, promptly and eagerly res
pended to the cry of the Vermont com
mittee in sending their sons TO fight
common battle for victory whose fruit
were also a common advantage ; as thel
cheerfully gave their blood on this histori
cal field, and won by their devotion part o
its glory, we cannot doubt that they vii
as gladly join with Vermont in celebrating
this victory as they joined with us in vii
ming it. But il our Legislature asks them t
2 unite with it in erecting a monument TO tn
p patriots who died there, the request shoul
{ be prefaced with as liberal an appropriate
on our part, as was Nermont's old reques
I for the assistance OF their troops preface
s with a brave and patriotic force of her Owl
= field that has been reddened with tn
s blood of brothers should he commemorate
I by mutual gifts. And at no time coul
$ these three states more iittingly move i
d this matter than in the Centennial year {
S the younger state, within whose territoI
e this memorable and decisive engagemel
l. was fought.