Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-09-01

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met at Manchester by General Lin
coin, who had been ordered to con
duet him and his recruits to Gener
al Schuyler's army, he absolutel.
refused to go. He arrived ut Ben
min gtOn ON the 9th of August
where his force was augmented b,
recruits from the settlers. Hear
ing Of an attack Of Indians at Cam
bridge, he sent u detachment to at
tend to them, aud during it's NIB
sence learned for the first time o
Colonel Baume's approach. Thel
he summoned Warmers re eimen
from Manchester and on tho 14tl
of August set forth to meet thu
enemy and support Colonel Gregg
who had been driven back. Five
miles out from Bennington Starl
met Gregg rerreating with the whole
force of the enemy mile behinl
him. He prepared for battle, bu
Baume began to entrench himself
and Stark fell back to await rein
torcements. The 10Th was rain,
and no action took place. The 1Gtl
dawned clear and was to become {
day of note in the American calen
dar. Colonel Baume had in hi'
command $40 IleSsians, POO Tories
100 Canadian rangers, 100 Frasers
marksmen, 80 chasseurs and 15(
Indians, or nearly 1000 men, most
ly trained soldiers. General Stark's
force consisted of 1850 men, OF
whom 1000 were from New llamp
shire, 500 frOln Vermont and the re
mainder from Berkshire, Mass
They were for the most part ''em'
battled farmers" drawn from their
peaceful calling to defend then
homes. They came together with
their own arms and ammunition
and in their own garb. Herrick'S
Green Mountain Rangers alone had
anything that could be called a
uniform. They wore frocks with
green facings. .
1t was noon before Stark was
ready to make the attack which he
had planed. Massing his men, he
is said to have mounted fence and
said, pointing his sword to the
heights where the enemy was en-
camped: "My men, yon1er are
the Hessians. They are bought for
81 10 pence man. Are You worth
more? Prove it. Tonight the
American flag floats over yonder
hill, or Molly Stark sleeps widow"
at once Herrick with 800 men was
sent to flank Baume's position on
the right, Nichols with $50 men
went to the left, and the two de-
tachments were to unite in an at.
tack on the enemy's rear, while 200
men under Stickney aud Hobart
were to make and attack on the en-
trcnched camp of the Tories to d.
vovt attention from the other move
ments. Meantime Stark with the
remainder of his force marched and
cOunter-marched about the hill, oc
cupying tie attention of Colonel
Baume and greatly puzzling him as
to the meaning of these mysterious
movements. 1t was 3 o'clock be-
fore the first volley from Nichols
detachment gave notice that the
fight had begun. Then Stark gave
the order for the attack in front.
The enemy's Indians fled at the first
onset, escaping between Nichols
and Herrick, before they could form
a junction. The Hessians fought
desperately. Said Stark, in his Of
neal report: "The tght lasted
two hours and was the hottest ever
saw. 1t was one continued clap of
thunder" The Tories were forced
in confusion upon the Hessians and
then the latter gave way. The en-
trenchments were taken by storm
after a fierce hand-to.hand strug-
gle
The Americans were dispersed
over the field engaged in plumber,
when Stark learned that reinforce.
mcnts for the enemy were within
two miles of the spot and that the
whole body was rallying to retake
the abannoned intrenchments. He
Immediately set about rallying his
own men, and fortunately at that
moment Colonel Warmers com.
mand, which had been left at Ben
appeared on the scene.
The conflict was renewed and kept
up until after dark, the British fin
ally retreating under cover of dark
ness toward the HoOsick. The
loss in this battle was
about one hundred men. OF the
British POI were killed, and about
700 men, exclusive of officers and
were captured. Among
the spells were four pieces of brass
cannon, 25O dragoon swords and
1000 stand of arms.
The moral effect of the victory
was incalculable. 1t sent thrill
Of rejoicing through all the colon
les. The dread of Burgoyne's ex-
petition was changed into hope and
the prelude of his defeat at Sarato-
ga was sounded among the hills of
Bennington. 1t is fitting that Yer
mont should celebrate an event OF
such moment in The early history
IF the republic, and that the Chief
of the nation and the
i, N + Il orit;uS of NtntaC 81 .nul,1 fob.
)art in the ceremonies. What is
chiefly commemorated was the spec.
al part taken by New Hampshire
md Vermont in the great events of
he Revolution, but their sons did
heir part Oh other fields through
tut the struggle.
The first annual fair of the Bel.
man (1,untv urinI, lturol Nnninfx,