The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-07-13
Battle of HubbardtOn.

The one hundredth anniversary of
the battle of Hubbardton was celebrated
with appropriate exercises last Satur-
day.
The battle of Hubbardton acquires its
chief Importance and dignity as being
the only contest of the Revolution
fought in Vermont. A brief review of
the events of that day my be of interest
to our readers at the present time. III
conderoga being abandoned by the
Americans on the morning of July G,
l777, their baggage, provisions and
stores were dispatched on 200 batcaux
to Skeenesboro (now known as White
halD, n. y, the main portion of the
army proceeding by the land route
through Hubbardton and Castleton.
Tho main body, under Gen. st. Clair,
proceeded to Castleton, seven miles dis
tant, leaving rear guard of from 800
to 1000 half-equipped men, under Coils.
Warner, Francis and Hale, TO wait at
Hubbardton for the stragglers. Here
they were attacked the following morn
ing, the 9TH, by superior force of the
enemy, nearly twice their number, COM
handed by Gen. Fraser. The battle be-
gan at seven o'clock, and after success
full charge by the Americans the enemy
reformed. At nearly the same time
Col. Francis fell MORALLY wounded and
his men fell back.
Gen. Riedesel then appeared with a
heavy reinforcement for the British and
Col. Warner was compelled to retreat,
leaving thirty of his men dead and 294
wounded and prisoners while the enemy
according to Ethan Allen, lost 300.
Col. Hale's command, consisting of 800
men, having withdrawn, were not
brought into action. For this he has
been greatly blamed by some and ex-
cused by others, He demanded court
martial to investigate the charges of
cowardice made against him, but died
In captivity before it could be held.
Col. Warner seeing the disastrous con-
illusions of the battle ordered the sol.
diers Of his regiment to join him at
Manchester. About 200 did this, while
the others, uniting with the remains Of
Francis regiment, repaired to the main
army at Fort Edward, N. Y. The place
where Col. Francis fell is now marked
by a marble shaft twenty-one feet in
height.
A pleasanter day could not have been
had for the celebration. At early dawn
the firing of cannon commenced and the
town was astir with its preparation fol-
the event. Flags were thrown to the
breeze and soon vehicles of all descrip.
tons began to stream into the village
depopulating the rural districts upon
the neighboring hillsides and bringing
delegations from the villages in the
vicinity. The farmers in the vicinity
did lively business taking care of the
teams of those who came from a dis
lance, and nearly all the fences were
occupied as hitching posts.
The Brandon, Castleton and Pittsford
bands were in attendance, also the
Spragne Guards and the Light Guards
Of Rutland.
The historical address was delivered
by Henry Clark, Esq, of Rutland.
Then came the picnic dinners.
After dinner letters were read from eX,
Cows. Hall of Bennington, and Fletcher
of Proctorsville regretting that that they
could not be present, etc.
A poem, written by Ii. b. Spailort
on the subject of the anniversary wa
read.
The following persons made shor
speeches on the OCCASION; Ira N
Churchill of Hampton, n. Y, who's,
father then boy, witnessed the combat
Rev. Daniel @. Roberts of Brandon
Judge w. c. Dunton OF Rutland; Mr.
A. p. Childs Of Bennington, L. W
Redington of Rutland; Prof. Bascom o
Washington; Rev. f. L. Hooker o
Castleton; Lieut-Gov. Proctor.
| Daanlatl1xo xxva,.a =, ll.o.ol II.
people Of Hubbardton for hospitality
the various speakers, military organiza
tons, bands and officers of the associa
tons.
Quite a number Of Revolutionary rel
les and ancient costumes were displayed
A large number of distinguished citi
zens from different parts of the stat
were present.