The Bennington daily banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1877-1877, 1877-08-14

riences Of the Battle Of Behning-
ten.
One venerable man, Stephen Fay, had five
sons in the battle. As might naturally be
supposed he awaited with anxiety, the re-
suit of the contest. At last news came, but
the messenger who brought it, brought with
him, also, tidings for the father. that he
feared would fiji the old mans heart with
grief AS gently as possibly he told him he
had something bad to tell him concerning
one of his sons.
Did he disobey orders, or desert his postp
he asked.
"Nn.v
Did he falter in the charged"
mo. worse than thatw
what, then, worse than thatp
HE is deadW was the answer.
"Then it is not WORSE" exclaimed the
father. Bring him IN that may once more
gaze on the face of my darling boy" And
when they brought him in. covered with
dust and blood, he called for water aud
sponge, aud with his own hand bathed the
disdgured features, declaring, Mt the same
time, that he had never experienced a more
glorious or happier day in his life.
Rev. Themes Allen, of the Berkshire mill
tia, fought as private, and was among the
foremost to advance on the Hessian defense.
Arriving within speaking distance hemount-
ed a stump, and called out to them to surren-
der, aud thereby save the eifusiOn of blood.
A volley was the only reply. which, the rev
erend gentleman escaping, he returned to
the ranks. Here finding himself a better
marksman than his BROTHER who was also
present, he said to him, "Joe, you load and
I'll fire." and so they worked together. side,
until the last grand charge that carried
Baum's works. In after years he delighted
to recall the scenes incidental to that 9lo-
rious day. In conversation, some one asked
if he killed anybody on that occasion.
Il don't exactly know that | killed any
one" was the reply, nor indeed how near |
came to it. 1t was just in this way off some
distance observed clump of bushes, from
which arose, every now aud then. little
cloud of smoke, preceded by n mOmentary
flash, and a sharp report of IA gun. noticed
too, that one of our men fell, either wounded
or dead every time this phenomenon Oc-
CURED, so naturally concluded that some
thing was wrong on our side. 1 loaded up
very carefully and fred into the midst Of
that clump of bushes. am not certain
mind you, that did really kill any one; but
know put out the fash p
stark ordered a colonel with his regiment
to reinforce one of the wings that had sus-
tanned considerable loss in action. The col.
onel marched at the instant, but with GER
tain step peculiar to himself, slow, firm and
steady. The whole parish was in his regi-
ment, and they had brought with them their
much loved parson, without whose blessing
they could scarcely hope to prosper. The
officer in command of the corps to be re-
lieved, fearing every instant his men, from
fatigue and loss would give way, sent to hast
EN- the colonel. Tell Them" said he, were
coming" and kept his pace steadily on. This
man was, at home. a deacon, wore an old
fashioned, lOng-waisted coat, with large
pocket flaps, and herring-boned cuffs, and a
three-cornered hat, the fore part something
resembling the handle of pipkin, except
that the extreme point of it might have en-
dangered the eye of mosquito, had he run
unguardedly against it.
A second express arrived. Colonel, for
Gods sake, hurry; my men are beginning to
fall backw That will make room for us /;
tell 'em we're coming" keeping still the un-
altered pace and phiz quite placid and un-
concerned.
A third message was treated just as coOlly.
Don they emerged from behind a cOppice,
in full view of the enemy, and several balls
passed over Them. "Haltp said the colonel,
form column, and let us attend to prayers"
The chaplain was called and ordered, with
all due formality, to attend to his duty, but
during this solemnity, an unlucl1y shot
wounded one of the men. The colonel now,
for the first time, began to show some little
impotence, for no sooner had the parson
pronounced 'amen," than the men were or
dered to march. But yet the colonel kept
bis Isteady pace, until he had taken the
ground in front of the poor fellows who
were almost ready to leave the field, and but
for the love of liberty. could not have kept
it half so long. And .then the word came.
Colonel, give it to 'em p and he stepped
along the ranks calmly as ever, chewing his
guild, which he now and then replaced, often
those who sat next him with his
box. "The Hessians are IN 'front.'" said he,
"our wives and children in the rear. Liber-
ty is the prize-we fight for Iibertyp