Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-08-24
BENNINGTON.
The Battle One Hundred Years Ago.
RnStnIa Inlli.nnl AIin. L.

With the exception of Bunker Hill
and the battlcfields Of Concord and Lex
ington there is no spot in New England
more rich in historic associations than
the scene of the battle at Bennington.
Three States claim share in the glory of
the victory which was won there, and
the citizens of these and other States
will gather in great numbers this week
to celebrate the one hundredth ami
versary of the famous fight. The gen
eral facts concerning the engagement
are familiar to all students Of Ameri-
can history, and the details are likely to
be faithfully elaborated in the histori
cal addresses which are to be delivered
this week; but it may nevertheless be a
matter of some interest to give a hasty
survey Of the battle, together with some
account of the events which led up to it
aud the results which followed from it.
The period proceeding the battle was
one of gloom and dependency for the
American cause. Fort Ticonderoga and
Mount independence had been evacu-
ated. without striking Il blow, by Gen
st. Clair, at the approach Of Burgoyne;
the rear guard of the American army
had been disastrously beaten at Hub
bardtown, with loss OF more than 300
men; Fort Edward had been vacated by
Gen. Schuyler, who fed southwark with
his forces; and Burgoyne s entire army
was on the east bank Of the Hudson.
There was no American force strong
enough to check his advance in any di
rection he might choose to take; but he
was greatly embarrassed by the lack OF
provisions, which imposed a sufficient
check upon aggressive operations The
Americans as they retired, had swept
the country clean OF everything which
could afford sustenance to an army; and
a German officer with Burgoyne bears
evidence to the faithfulness with which
the work was done. Il have called it
sterile country" he writes, not only
with reference to its natural sterility,
and heaven knows it was sterile enough,
but because of the pains which were
taken, and unfortunately with too great
success, to sweep its few cultivated
spots of all articles likely to benefit the
invaders" Affairs were in this con-
dition when Tories brought in the news
that there was a large store of provis-
ions at Bennington, and Burgoyne i'm
mediatcly determined to gain posses
sion Of the town. and Of the stores ac
cumulated there He accordingly fitted
out an expedition, comprising a corps
of Riedsell's dismounted dragons, Il
company of sharpshooters under Capt.
Frazer, Peters corps Of Loyalists, a
body of Canadian rangers, artillerists
with two cannon, and 100 Indians. The
expedition was entrusted to the leader
ship of Lieut-Col Baum, an efficient
German officer; and ON the 18th OF Au-
gust, 1777, it set out for Bennington.
Burgoyne, with an almost childlike
confidence in the loyalty of the popu-
lation, permitted the farmers around to
enter. and leave his camp freely, and put
all faith in their professions of friendli
ness. Baum shared the confidence and
followed the example of his superior
officer, and on the march there was no
attempt at secrecy as to the destination
or objects of the expedition. The
alarm spread in all directions among the
patriot population. On the 10Th OF Ju
~ the Vermont Council of Safety had
sent a strong appeal to their brothers
in New Hampshire and Massachusetts,
admonishing them that the frontiers
were rapidly narrowing at the advance
of the enemy, showing that IA stand
could be made III Vermont as well as in
Massachusetts,, and calling for help to
meet and repel the invaders In re-
sponse to this appeal, the militia of
NewHampshire was promptly formed in
to two brigades, one in command of
William Whipple and the other under
John Stark, who, although still smart
ing with resentment at the slight put
upon him by the Continental Congress,
was persuaded to accept the command
as a duty which he owed his country in
an hour of great need COL Warner,
who was stationed at Manchester, called
for the cooperation of the militia in
Hampshire and Worcester Counties, in
this State, tersely and truthfully OBJ
served in his appeal, You may conclude
the frontiers will be where there is Il
body of troops sufficient to stand the
enemy" Stark sent on the troops
which he recruited to Manchester and
on the 7th of August, when he arrived
there to take command, he found about
400 men, 600 of whom had been re-
cruited by Col. Warner. Warner left
his regiment in command of Lieut-Co
Stafford. and went with Stark to Ben
nington, arriving there on the 7th, with
force of 1000 or 1900 men, composed
partly of New Hampshire and partly of
Vermont troops. The measures under
taken by the Council of Safety, and the
! excitement occasioned by the proximity