The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-17
RUTLAND FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST H. 1877


hoped the enemy would give the oppor-
tunity, and he fulfilled the prophecy of for
mer years, that powerful army would
come from the north, which he with the
Green mountain boys, would cut Off wing
by wing.
When all this stir around Connecticut
had reached Its hight, things began to move
on the Hudson, like the opening Of some
tragic romance. The British general had
bored his way doggedly through forest and
swamp, and creek. He looked apxiously
down the river for some trace of Howe,
but no tidings came. Ten messengers had
gone by different routes, but never one had
gone through. Even the dispatch sent
him by Clinton In a silver bullet from Still
water, though swallowed by the bearer,
was recovered by an emetic, and the mes
senger was hanged as spy. Only one
message from Howe found its way to Bur-
goyne, packed in a quilt, but it came too
late and brought no hope. On the very
day Gully 30) when he was writing, 81 am
in total Ignorance of the situatian or inten-
ton of Gen. Howe" Washington was writ
ing, "Howe's in manner abandoning Bur-
goyne 10 30 unaccountable a matter. that,
while am fully assured of it, / cannot
help casing my eyes continually behind
puzzle In America and Great Britain, but
Charles Lee knew why. When Burgoyne
sailed for England, Lee,,was by his own
folly prisoner, clustering land .cowardly,
ill-mannered and profAne, ambitious and
disappointed. On March 90 he left Howe
an elaborate plan whereby he "could stake
his life" the rebellion could be crushed in
two months. 1t was TO be grand move
ment on Pennsylvania and the south, &C
companied by proclamation of amnesty.
Fortunately for the country it was followed
but partially and tardily. While the south
ern expedition was q failure, 1t abandoned
the northern to its fate. 1t would seem
from Burgoynes precautions delay that be
shrunk from the expedition to Bennington,
but he was nearly out Of provisions. He
knew here was a great deposit of corn,
flour and cattle, guarded only by militia.
Necessity knows no law, so he chose "the
best" of his German troops, and "the Sc
lect light corps of the British army" and
sent them on their perilous venture, and
with strangely gratuitous folly he handed
to the seizure of supplies long circuit by
Rockingham and Brattleboro round to AL
bany. 1t is supposed, however, by some
that his written orders were greatly modi-
fed by oral instructions.
Why repeat the oft-told story of the mes
sage TO Stark, that the Indians we're at
Cambridge, and to Baum that the rebels
were at Bennington; Of the lost letter of
the Hessian to his general, writicn on the
head OF barrel, promising ia fall on the
enemy early 10 the morning; OF Gregg
slowly falling back as Baum advanced, and
breaking down the bridge at Sancock Of
Stark advancing to his support and in vain
Offering battle; of Baum and his boldest
men thoroughly startled at last by the cool
ness and confidence of his foes; of that
18th of August storm with hurricane Of
wind and torrent OF rain, and Baum's men
tollipg all day long in the merciless tenn
pest at the intreDchment, as men who
fought for their lives. There was little
sleep that night at the British camp.
Through the pouring rain also came the
Berkshire men, drenched by rain, but with
powder dry and hearts all hot. They had
dropped the sickle for the musket. In the
procession rode Rev. Thomas Allen in his
old sulky, now being chariot of war.
Warmers troops and 100 New Hampshire
men were Fastening up nnder the INNER
sion to complete the victory, with Warner
himself with Stark, his counsellor and
right-hand man.
The morning OF the 10th opened In ab-
solutc beauty. Not cloud, not a stirring
leaf. The river relied along swollen and
tumultuous. The German officers nearly
forgot that beautiful scene. For hours not
an enemy had been seen or even heard of,
but it was the hush of the crouching cata-
mount. Scarcely we're the haversacks slung
and muskets piled when the men were re-
called in all haste to the ranks. The same
officer, Click, looking out from the zig-zag
breastworks on the hill, saw the outposts
retiring and the pickets Withdrawing, and
strange body of men hurrying from the
ticket behind. As they marched and csun-
termarched conspicuously in sight, two of
their officers rode forth to reconnoiter, and
as the British caunonier fred his harmless
shots he did not know that he aimed at War
ner and Stark. Suddenly Click heard
trampling behind in the forest on the right.
II was Herrick and his rangers in their
uniform of green. Then came a shout and
a rafting fire in the rear on the left. 1t
was Nichols of Amherst giving the signal
to begin. From before sunrise they have
wound in single file through the forest, and
now with a green twig in every hat-band
of the first fire died out when the Indians
broke and fled. A column pushes forward
on long breastwork this side the river. 1t
is Stickney and Hobart, and for badge
every man has q corn husk in his hat. At
a signal the main body moved up in front
and the battle ragged on every side. The
tories fled, and as they climbed the slippery
steep behind them, went rolling down be-
meath the shots of our marksmen. For
two hours, from three to FIVE O'Clock, the
fire was one continuous roar. Those death
dealing columns closed in nearer and nearer.
At eight PAGES distance they picked off the
cannoniers from their guns. Still nearer
they came till the flashes met. The am-
munition cart exploded within the intrench-
mente, and at the sound our men rushed
up, scaled the breastworks aud leaped
down within. Then came the terrible clash
Jog of sword and gun-stock and bayonet.
Gigantic John Mcneil strikes down tour
Hessians with the butt of his gun. In five
minutes twenty men broke through to the
forest. The rest we're all prisoners or dead
or dying. They fought CALAMITY, and their
leader died1a soldiers death.
The work was done, and the soldiers dis
persed for rest and the promised plumber.
John Culess was hunting up his kettle and
saddle, Samuel Small his horse, and Par
son Allen his surgeons paniers with the
bottles. Stark rallied his men to secure the
victory. A hogshead of rum was ordered
up. Before it could be served out word
came that British reinforcement was but
two miles away. The wearied troops left
the rum untasted, and marched to the new
conflict, through bottomless roads, with i'll
fed horses and upsetting wagons. Brey-
mann had crawled along scarce half mile
an hour, but in season to meet his doom
from Sancock mill. The tory Col Skene
hurried him up, but never hint did he give
that Baum's fate was sealed. Half mile
this eide of the mill he saw through the
woods armed men in jackets and shirt