Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-19

Canadians volunteers, party of Provin-
cials, [Col. Peters corps of Tories 100
Indians and two light pieces Of cannon,
the whole detachment amounting to
about 500 men," There is no doubt
this number is too small by several
hundreds. The German official accounts
give the number of the troops of Baume
at 374 instead of 200; and of the Brit
ish, Canadians and Tories, the prisoners
taken In the action amounted to 230, as
will be seen hereafter, which would swell
Baume's force to over 600, without reck-
oning those who were killed in battle
and the many who escaped by flight.
There can be little doubt that the num-
Der of men brought into action by Baume
exceeded 700, besides his 100 Indians.
Col. Skene, at the request of Burgoyne,
had accompanied the expedition, that
| the German Commander might have the
benefit of his better knowledge of the
country, and of his supposed influence
with its people.
PREPARING FOR THE BATTLE.
Baume set off with his force on the
18th of August, and arrived at Cam
bridge the same day, l6 miles from Ben
nington. Early the next morning he
reached Sancoick, a small settlement
near the mouth of the White Greek,
branch of the Walloomsac river, about
half mile below the present village of
North Hoosick. Here he found party
of Americans in possession of a smin
which they abandoned on his approach,
and in the mill, on the head of barrel,
he wrote Burgoyne an account of his
progress, informing him that "by five
prisoners taken here they agree that
1900 to 1900 men are at Bennington,
but are supposed to Leave on our ap-
prOach." They did leave on his ap-
proach, but not in the direction he had
anticipated. The old mill at Sancoick
is still standing and in use by John
Burke, the nrno~-1--''-'0r' anu Is aOouO
eight miles from Bennington.
Gen. Stark, on the 18th, had received
information from scouts that party of
Indians was at Cambridge, and he sent
Lieut.. Col. Gregg, of his brigade, with
200 men to stop their progress, but dur
ing the night he was advised that
large body of troops, with artillery, were
in the rear of the; Indians and that they
were advancing towards Bennington.
He Immediately sent to Manchester for
Col. Warmers continental regiment and
also for neighboring militia to rally to
his support. On the morning of the 14th
he assembled his brigade, and in compa-
ny with Colonels Warner, Williams,
Herrick, and Brush went out to meet
the enemy. 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 men in or
der of battle, but Baume halted in a
commanding position, and the ground
occupied by Stark being unfavorable
for a general attack, he fell back about
mile and encamped. His encampment
was in the northwest part of Benning-
ton, on the farm formerly owned by
Paul NJ. Henry, on the hill, upon which
a new dwelling has lately been erected
by Lewis Northouse, the present propri-
etor
The Walloomsac river is branch of
the Hoosick, fordable in most places,
having in general westerly course, but
which after passing Stark's encampment
runs in northern direction for half a
mile, then westerly for a mile and a
half, where it turns suddenly to the
south and pursues that course for three
quarters of mile or more. Here, on
the west side of the river, Baume halted
and made his arrangements for defense.
On the top of thickly wooded hill
which rises abruptly three or four hund-
red feet from the west bank of the
stream, he posted the greater part of his
Germans, under his own immediate CON-
mand. This position was west of the
sudden bend in the stream, and Baume's
front to the east was well secured against
an attack by the precipitous ascent of
the hill on that side, which impractical
BILE ascent extended from his camp for
half mile along the bank of the river
to the bridge at the southern foot of the
hill, over which the road from Benning-
ton to Sancoick and Cambridge passed.
On the top of this hill Baume prepared
entrenchments of earth and logs to re-
sist attacks from the west and on his
fanks.
For the defence of the important pass
at the bridge Baume caused a strong
breast work to be thrown up on the high
bank of the river, on which was mount
ed one of his cannon, in charge of a
body of German Grenadiers. Two small
breast works were also erected on oppo-
site sides of the road, near the west end
of the bridge which were manned by
Frazer's marksmen and the position
was still further strengthened by post
ing all the Canadians in log huts which
we're standing near the bridge, on both