The Portland daily press., 1877-08-17
FRIDAY MORNING. AUGUST II.

niew up, and the Americans Immediately
e ~ over the parapet and engaged in hand
" nano encounter, fighting with rifle butt,
SABRE ana bayonet. Baum's forces wavered
ANU gave way; Baum himself was mortally
, mounoed, and all the survivors of the force
Mere taKen prisoners, except detachment OF
ABOUT thirty, which broke through the Ameri-
can ranks and fled into the forest The Amerl-
cans IN this encounter fought with desperate
Vaior hardly to be expected in unframed yeo-
manry, advancing within few PAGES OF the
loaded cannon in order to get more deliberate
aim at the artillerists.
After the victory the Americans were scat
tered over the field, some of them plundering
the enemy's camp and some in charge of prs-
oners on the way to Bennington. Just at this
juncture, Colonel Breyman's large and fresh
force, for whose arrival Baum had so anxiously
waited, appeared In sight. Breyman had not
learned OF Baum's defeat, but had come up in
response to his call for help. The American
ranks were In great confusion, and were with
difficulty mustered into line of battle. General
STARK was contemplating retreat, and his
men were begin ming to yield ground before the
enemy, when word came that Colonel War
ners regiment, numbering one hundred and
thirty men, was near. The regiment had
marched all the day before and half the night,
and reaching Bennington a little after noon,
started at once for the battlefield. The arrival
OF warmers men inspired the Americans with
fresh courage, but Breyman attacked with SO
mucn vlgor and used his cannon with such
sHect that at one time the battle seemed to be
JOSH for the patriots. Breyman's ammunition,
however, gave out, and his cannon ceased fir
ing. Then the Americans made fresh attack,
and the enemy retreated, leaving behind their
dead and many of their wounded. Stark pur-
sued them as far as Sancoik Mill, and then
withdrew his men on account of the darkness.
The British loss in killed, wounded and pris-
oners was nine hundred and forty.one, while
the Americans lost only thirty killed and
forty wounded. The British lost also four
brass field pieces, with ammunition wagons,
seven hundred stand of arms and other military
accoutrements.
This is, in brief, the story of the battle COM
memorated at Bennington with song and
speech and many joyous dem onstrations this
week: the deed was one in every way worthy
OF the pomp and display which will attend the
celebration OF Its one hundredth anniversary.
Although the Americans outnumbered the
British and had the advantage of meeting the
two forces opposed to them singly and beating
them In detail, it is not to be forgotten that
they were unframed yeomanry, and the enc.
my In their discipline, in their equipment and
In their position enjoyed superior advantages
This was the first time that the patriots had
stormed entertainments in the face Of cannon
and musket fire. The exploit gave them conf.
dence IN their own powers and resources. and
inspired with fresh courage the Americans
everywhere who had been made Respondent by
their reverses. 1t taught the British to hold in
greater respect the undisciplined countrymen
whom they had sometimes affected to despise
and In its motives and conduct, as well as its
fruits and consequences, it was glorious bat
tie, whose memory will be kept green in the
hearts of Americans as long as the republic
lasts--Bostoz journal.