The Bennington daily banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1877-1877, 1877-08-17

the same patriotic ardOr as before. lie was
reluctant to he placed under officers no had
the time, very general distrust IN New
England of Gen. Schuyler, who was in
command of the northern department; for
which reasons Gen. Starks written instrue-
tOns were OF Il discretionary character. He
was directed to repair to Chnrlessown, No.
A." and when the troops were collected there
ito take the command Of them and march
into the State of Vermont, and there act in
conjunction with the troops of the State, OF
any other of the States, or of the United
States, or separately, as it should appear ex-
pedient to him, for the protection of the peo-
Pile. or the annoyance of the enemy.
Crossing the Green Mountain from Charles
town with the greater part of his command,
Stark reached Manchester on the 18th OF Au-
gust, where he met Gen. Lincoln, who had
been sent from Saltwater by Gen. Sc uyler
to conduct his militia to the west bank OF
the Hudson. Stark communicated his in
struetiOns, and declined obedience on the
ground of the dangerous condition in which
it would leave the people of Vermont, and
because he believed BurgOyne would be more
embarrassed in his operations by his remain
ling on his left than by. joining the army in
front But for this refusal OF Stark, which
was founded on the soundest military view
of the state of atfairs, Bennington would
doubtless have fallen a prey to the enemy.
At Manchester Stark found that a cOnsld-
Ierable large brdy Of the enemy which for
| uunn0 tlill0 hdu bCou Az OaobltNOuf
ing Manchester aud to cross over to Onnec-
ticut had marched to the Hudson, he with
his force, passed on to Bennington, where he
arrived on the 9th. He was accompanied by
!COl. Warner, whose continental regiment
| was left at Manchester, under command OF
Lieut.. Col. Samuel Sathird. At Bennington
Gen. Stark encainped for few days, collect
ing information in regard to the position
and designs OF the enemy, and consulting
| with the Council OF Safety and with Colonel
Warner relative to future operations.
The progress Of BurgUyne towards Albany
! had been so retarded by the natural difficult
ties or the route, and the distractions
| thrown III his way by tho Americana, that it
was nearly month after his departure
| from IicOnderhga, before he reached the
Hudson rlver. Here he found himself so de
| iicient in provisions, and also in cattle aud
carriages for transportation that he was
much embarrassed about the means of adj
yancing further. Learning that the articles
he most needed had been collected in consid-
cradle quantities at BenningtC,, as conve-
nient depot to supply the American forces
he resolved to seize them for the use of his
own army.
ected. BurRoyne, III his letter to the Eng
lish ministry states the force under his COM
mand to have consisted Of 200 mounted dra-
goons. Capt. Frazier's marksmen (called,
so ranRersl, which were the only British,
all the CANADIAN volunteers. party of Pro-
yineials. (Col. Peters corps of TOries), 100
Indians, and two light pieces of cannon, the
whole detachment amounting to about SOC
men," There Is no doubt this number is too
small by several hundreds. The German Of
fielal accounts give the number of the troops
Of Baume at 374 instead of 200; and of the
British Canadians and tories the prisoners
taken in the action amounted to $50, as will
be seen hereafter, which would swell Baume's
force to over 900, without reckoning those
who were killed iu battle aud the many
VINO escaped by flight. There can be little
doubt that the number OF men brought into
action bS Baume exceeded 200, besides his
100 Indians Col. skeene, at the request of
Burgoynes had accompanied the expedition,
that the German commander might have the
benefit of his better knowledge of the coua-
try, and Of his supposed Influence with the
people.
PREPARING FOR THE BATTLE.
Baune set off with his force on the 18th of
August, and arrived the same day at CAM
bridge, sixteen miles from Bennington
Early the next morning be reached SAnoOick
a small settlement near the mouth of the
White Creek branch of the WallOOmsae riV-
er, about half a mile below the present vii
lage Of North. HOoslck. Here he found q
party OF Americans III possession OF q mill
which they abandoned on his approach. aud
in the mill, on the head of a barrel, he wrote
Burgoyne an account of his progress, in
forming him that by five prisoners taken
here they agree that 1900 to 1900 men are at
Bennington, but are supposed 20 leave at our
approach" They did leave on his approach,
but not in the direction he had anticipated.
The old mill at Sancoick is still standing
and iuuse by John Burke, the present own
er, and Is about eight miles from Benning-
ton.
Gen. Stark, on the 18th, had received in.
formation from scouts that a party of In
dams was at Cambridge, and he sent Lieut..
Col. Gregg, Of his brigade, with 200 men to
stop their progress, but during the night he
was advised that large body Of troops, with
artillery were in the rear of the Indians,
aud that they were advancing towards Ben
ningtOn. He Immediately sent to Manches-
ter for Col. Warmers continental regiment,
and also Tor neIghbOring militia to rally to
his support. On the morning of the 14th he
assembled his brigade, aud in company with
Bush. Went ont to T" meet i the epemx III" He
had marched about five miles when he met
Gregg. ON his retreat from Sancoick, and the
enemy in close pursuit. Stark drew up his
NEIL 10 order of battle, but Baume halted in
a commanding position, and the ground oc-
cupied by Stark being unfavorable for gem
eral attack, he fell back about mile and
enoamped.' His encAmpnent was In the
northwest part Of Bennington, on the farm
formerly owned by Paul NJ. Henry, on the
hill, upon which new dwelling has lately
boen erected by Lewis NOrthouse, the pres
emit proprietor.
The Walloomsac river is branch of the
HOOsick, fordable in many places, having in
general westerly course, but winch, after
passing StarRs encampment, runs In a
northern direction for half a mile, then
westerly for q mile and halewhete it turns
suddenly to the south and puTsues that
course for three-quarters of mile or more.
Here, on the west side of the river Baume
halted and made his arrangements for de-
Tense On the top OF thickly wooded hill,
which rises abruptly three or four hundred
feet from the west bank of the stream, he
posted the greater part of his Germans, under
mis- own immediate command The position
was west of the sudden bend in the stream,
and Baume's front to the east was well Sc
cured against an attack by the precipitOus
ascent of the bill on that sido, which inn
practicable ascent extended from his camp
for bali mile along the bank Of the river
to the bridge at the southern foot of the hill.
over which the road from Bennington TO
Sancoick and Cambridge passed. On the
top of this hill Baume prepared entrenoh
lnents OF earth and logs to resist attacks
from the west aud on his TANKS.
For the defense of the important pass at
the bridge Baume caused strong breast
work to be thrown mp on the high bank of
the river, on which was mounted one Of his
cannOns, in charge of body of German
Grenadiers; Two small breastworks were
also erected on opposite sides of the road
near the west end Of the bridge, which were
manned by Fr1zers marksmen; and the pO-
sitiOn was still further strengthened by post
ing all the Canadians in log huts which we're
standing near the bridge on both sides Of the
river. This point is where the river is now
crossed by the covered railroad bridge about
three miles from North Bennington, on the
route to Troy.
Baume on his way from the Hudson. and
OF his encampmeut had been joined by y
considerable number of Tories, many of them
under the lead Of Colonel Francis P6ster,
half-pAy British officer Of wealth and extern
sive influence. who occupied an imposing
residence erected by him on the west bank
of the Hoosic. near what is now known as
HoOsic Corners. These with most of Peters
corps Of lOyalists were posted on a hill east
of the stream, 40 or so rods to the southeast
of the bridge. Here strong works of defense
were erected, known as the Tory Breast |
works" and Of which Col. Phster is under |
stood to have been placed in command. On |
its right was a sharp Tayine, and both tlanks |
would have the protection Of ball and grape
from the cannon nc the bridge. The other
cannon, 10 charge OF German Grenadiers. |
supported by some Tories, appears to have
been placed further to the west in a cleared |