The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-17


horse. Skone cut the traces of an artillery
horse and disappeared.
The fight was long and obstinate. Many
of the Germans on their knees called for
quarter. The main body was driven back
and their cannon captured. The pursuit
continued till eight o'clock, and darkness
alone saved the remnant of Burgoyne's
force. Our troops slept that night under
the open sky, some OF them with coTn'hill
for pillow. In the morning they woke so
stiff that they could scarcely move.
The forces OF Stark and of Capt. Webster
are said to have been as black as Indians
after the battle, but those swarthy faces
beamed with honest joy and patriotic pride,
and, az the news rolled away TO Lincoln
and Schuyler and Washington, 10 the coun-
Gil of safety in New Hampshire and Ver-
mont, and to congress in session, 1t came
like q flash of bright sunlight, after the
gloom of an arctic winter. Stark thought
he had paid the enemy proper compli-
ment for the affair at Hubbardlon. Lin
coin called it q capital blow. A great
stroke, said Washington. A signal exploit,
said Massachusetts and Congress. Yes, it
was greater, more signal, more capital than
any of them then knew. The numbers en-
gagged were not great, though larger than
they are commonly given. The whole force
OF Baum and Breymann appeared to have
been not far from fifteen hundred. OF the
American forces there are no complete ac-
counts. We only know from the roll in the
office of the adjutant-general of NewHamp-
shire, that Stark's brigade consisted of ex
actly 1923 officers and privates, of whom
one company was probably at Charlestown.
The diary OF Capt. Peter Kimball of Bos-
cawen also informs us that the spoil was
divided among $3.50 men. OF these, not
less than 2l50 must have been present az
the battle. The numbers were small, but it
was great thing for raw militia to meet
the best trained soldiers of Europe, greater
yet to storm their intrenchments, greatest
Of all for men almost destitute of bayonets
to charge and destroy a body armed to the
teeth behind their breastworks and cannon.
1t was the most remarkable affair Of the
war. 10 there more brilliant exploit re-
corded in the annals of wsrtare2 1t was
signal exploit. 1t signifed what the Yankee
soldier could do, when he fought for his
home. 1t signifed what Yankee general
could do, backed by trusty and trusting
band of his neighbors and friends, and left
to the guidance OF his own military genius.
1t signifed second time TO the British,
what Lexington had told them before, that
no enemy could move through New Eng
land, except on his bier. 1t signified to the
British general, what he confessed nine
weeks later, that his opinions of the rebel
troops were delusivc. 1t signifed to the
Indians that it was time to abandon the
British service. 1t signifed to the insurgent
tories that they had better depart or be
still. 1t signified to the neighborlng states
and to congress, that the New Hampshire
~. a;,,lx ~, ant
and on the spirit Of the nation, the army
and the people, the effect was magical.
Well did criers proclaim it round the streets
in Boston, and all the bells ringing out the
victory. 1t was capital exploit. 1t was
the definite beginning of the distant but
now certain end. Confessedly it at ouce
paralyzed Burgoyne's operations. 1t rallied
in flocks the forces that stopped him at
Saltwater. Bennington meant Saratoga,
too, where-when Burgoyne looked north
ward-John Stark lay in the rear.
This cluster Of events determined the
treaty with France, and thus furnished
openly the arms, ammunition and aid which
before were given only in secret. 1t
astounded the ministry into conciliatory
bills, too soon for King George, and too
late for America. 1t probably stimulated
Spain into war with Great Britain, encour-
aged the disaffection of Ireland, fostered
the British opposition at home, and thus
embarrassed the government. 1t fastened
hither the foreign military skill, which did
80 much for our armies. 1t cooled off the
hope Of Canadian and tory help, and de-
tached the last band of Indian allies. The
very existence of the infant state of Yer
mont, wrote Ira Allen, long afterward,
their families and property, were all pend
ing on the event. We might almost call it
our Thermopyle, only that our Leonidas
and most of his troops survived to strike
other blows for their country. 1t is sin
gular token of the skill of our marksmen
and the bewilderment of the foe that, while
the British left 207 dead on the spot and
many others MORALLY wounded, our loss
was but 30 killed and about 40 wounded.
Thirteen tories buried in one hole, mostly
shot through the head as they looked over
their breastwork, told of the aim of the
New Hampshire sharpshooters and the
bayonet of William Clement, that never
was withdrawn from the skull of another,
told of the hand-to.hand conflict that closed
the strife.
But there was mourning on one side.
The chief havoc was in the regiment of
Nichols, which gave the signal and opened
the fight on the hill. In each of four hon.
ored homes in Bennington there were Or
phans and widow. Four New Hamp-
shire officers were killed, and two died of
their wounds. Ten OF their townsmen,
privstes were laid with them 10 their
grave. Chaplain Hubbard in his old age
remembered we'll that burial service as the
most mournful occasion of kis life. New
Hampshire sent two OF her foremost men
Josiah Bartlett and Stephen Peabody-to
do everything in their power to assist the
sick and wounded. Let the names OF those
dead be carved here on a monument that
shall be coequal With this state and this ma
ton, and, while the grass grows green on
these mountain-sides and the granite rock
lies firm and solid beyond the Connecticut,
let the name of Seth Warner be craven in
Vermont, and the name of John Stark lie
embedded in the heart of New Hampshire.
Friends and fellow-citizens, the records
OF the past speak to us in vain unless they
speak also for the future. Many q sugges-
tive thought clings to this historic spot.
And, first of all, the battle of Bennington
Is as commemorative of piety as of bray-
cry. should be false to the truth of his
tory did fail to speak of the strong relig.
ious spirit in which this victory had its pre-
paration and it's achievement The smoke
of the battlefield mingled as il rose with
the incense of prayer. Each of the three
states that shared the victory had appointed
in the first half of August its special fast
day in view of the approaching csnfilct.
The Berkshire men fired 30 shot in the
battle till their pastor had prayed with
them TO the God Of battles. Col. Nichols
ia said to have knelt with his men in pray
er before he led them to the onset. Nc.
Clary on the previous Sabbath was exhort-
ing his soldiers to remember the Lords
day." and the bullet from his fatal wound
and the Bible from his breast-pocket were