Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-15
ParSOn ALIENS Description of the Ben
ningtOn Battle.


into the battle. 1t is related of him, tn;
OF just before the Massachusetts regimen
he made their assuault on the redoubt, he nd
ed vancod before the line and in loud voic
called on the tories in Baum's ranks t
OF come away and not fight their brothe
a. Americans. The answer was II vollev O
IN bullets, whereupon he called on his brothe
er Joseph to give him gun, saying: "Yol
ar load and will fire, and actually fired thu
p first gun in the battle. Being asked sub.
II sequently if he actually killed man Al
e Bennington, he answered that he could
I'd not tell; but that seeing flash from Ger.
ID tain bush which was generally followed
II by the fall of one of Stark's men, he fired
+, at the flash and put it out" His account
it OF the battle was originally published in
is the Connecticut COarant, August %, 1777,
= and was as follows:
it Saturday, August 16, was memorable
), Day on account of n signal victory which
- inc militia. under the command of Gener.
al Stark, obtained over body of the
Il kings troops, commanded by Gov. Skeene,
G some account of which is here given bv
G one who was himself in the action. 1t
seems that Gen. Burgoyne had detached
thls corps, consisting Of fifteen hundred
men, chiefly WaldeckerS and Brunswick,
lntermixed with some British troops and
> tories-a medly compound-to penetrate
us lar us Bennington and farther, if it
should be found practicable, with view
10 increase the number of his friends, TO
uisperse his projections " in the country,
TO procure for his army provisions and to |
wreak his wrath and vengeance on those
who had disregardcd his calls of mercy
and sighted with ndignity his proffere1
protection. Gov. Skeene had advantage
ouSiy posted this corps within about five
miles OF Bennington meeting house, where,
IN different places, they made breastworks
ior Their own security. This DEPRESSION
was OF such Ill tendency and savored SO
mucR OF presumption, that Gen. Stark
VINO was at this time provdentially at
bennington, with his brigade of militia
from New Hampshire State determined to
give him battle. Col. Simonds' regiment
OF militia in Berkshire county was invited
70 MS assistance, and part of Col.
Drown S arrived seasonably to attend ON
the action; and some volunteers from diff s
lerent towns; and Col. Warren, with a {
part OF his own regiment, Joined him the
same day. The general, it seems. wisnlv
laid his plan of operation, and Divine
llo'iuence blessing us with good wealth |
er' between three and four O'clock p. NJ.
ne attacked them in front and flank in
three or four different places at the same Y
instant, with irresistible impetuositv. =
Inc action was extremely hot for be- 9
tween one and two hours. The thanking :
divisions had carried their point with prea1
success when the front pressed on to their h
breast-works with an ardor and n,tinnre h
beyond expectation. The blaze off Guns l.
OF the c,ontending parties reached each 8
olher' lhe lire was so extremely hot l.
ana our men easily surmountinG their fl
0reastworks amid peals of thunder and "
flashes OF lightning from their guns. with.
out regarding the roar of their field. pieces
that the enemy at once deserted tboir b.
c lE, ana ran; and in about five minutes n
IncIr whoIe camp was in confusion and nj
disorder. All their battalons were broken =
IN pieces and fled most precipitately; al Ut
men instant our whole armev pressed W
alter with redoubed ardor pursued them of
lor II mlle' made considerable slaughter G.
t.m0ng them and many prisoners. One -
lelu piece had already fallen into onr Vi
lands. At this point our men stoned thn
pursuit to gain breath when the encmv
BENG reinforced, our front fell back n few al
, ,o.oS ior convenience of ground, and BEING W
lrected and collected by Col. RossiteTr re
ma reinforced by Major Strafton. renew tn
ID the tight with redoubed arClor, and felt co
n upon them with great impetuosity, pul ~
mem to confusion and flight, and pursued III
hem about mile. making many nris. ha
ners. Two or the more brass field. nieres 81
ell into our hands and are supposed IN bo ~
ne WI. whole OF what they brought with them. ",
~ lhls time darkness came upon us and M
'reVented our swallowing up the whole of
MS BODY. The enemy fled precipittteIy b.,
nc succeeding night toward the North !"
lVer' ana unless they should be met by a thu
urly OF our army may have reached pa
iere without further molestation. Gov IN.
keene IN surprise and CONSERVATION took ~
orSe and fled. This action which ~. an
oundS so much to the glory of the great is
ord OF the heavens and God of armies col
! the American lasting monument Ce
'le dlVlne power and goodness. and a 81
loSt powerful argument of love to. and iu'
'ust in God W. "'''' i'm
Our loss is about forty or fifty killed and thr
10 U'S o',, n Their baggage fell into lie
Al n''nos' lie number of prisoners taken to
' ABOUT SIX hundred. Two of their colonies :"
ere among the prisoners and morlnllv {
ounded. A number of their inferior Of 40,
'ers have also fallen into our hands. and 'io'
particular the generals ald-de.c amp. I'le
gooa number deserted and Joined rs Ro
MS victory is thought by some to eonal ter
y that has happened during the present tto
nroVerSy, and as long as prudence Wv
Liberation, sobriety and valor are Of INV lie
tlmatlon among these United States will rea
" iall to endear Gen. Stark to them II in
the opinion of some that ifa LARGE bodv ,vit
milltla was now called to act in coninnc-
m with our northern army, the e1nn,v ceS
lght be entirely overthrow. Nav MI wei
concerned to give God the glory Whilst l bel
>. commend the good conduct of the Off rec
- anu soldlers IN general on so impor-
Mt an occasion. The best account of The
noer OF prisoners taken in the above
ton is as follows: ''' .,o
Two colonies, l lieutenant colonel mn. law
) captains, u lieutenantsi 4 ensions . nat
madam officers, one Judge advocate / gov
rom D surgeons, 81 British and 308 Ger tor;
an privates, IT'S tories; $50 besides obi,
FUNDED; 2 brass four Founders. 2 brass ,l
'ee-pounders, l medicine wagon and n puC
antity of baggage. eO'' ""' " be
The following is memorandum contain. r
in Mr.. Aliens pocket dairy. feat
Aug ia memorable battle fougbt ven
the militia near Bennington. 0 y"
)ne thousand the enemy killed, wound as
and taken prisoners. "O''''" one
expended on my tour to BENNINGTON Stat
zen shilliEngs and sixpence. non
Expended for ammunition, nine shillncs y vo
! sixpCnce. N.Y. wv.
W, that
The latest from the Chisolm affair in dsE
'slSslppi is, Mrs Chisolm writes that Chi,