The Bennington daily banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1877-1877, 1877-08-10
AN OLD SOLDIERS STORY.

t. j. Tiffany, Esq, hands us the following
very readable incident received by him from
a Boston business correspondent
Our readers will understand Especially
the old veterans of the army,) that even sol
diers, like sailors, sometimes indulge in
spinning yarns. A correspondent says:
BosTon, Aug. 9th, 1877.
DEAR SIR:-An old lady was looking over
file of old papers, called THE Yankee" and
published in the year 1872. Her eyes alight-
ed on THE Battle of Bennington" As your
town is about to celebrate the anniversary
of that event, and thinking that they might
be collecting all the old scraps and items
connected with the day, she has copied the
paragraph word for word, and encloses it to
you. R.H.
The item copied from 1.-THE Yankee" is as
follows:
"BATTLE Oh. BENNINGTON"
THE Story of an Old Soldier who was in
the actiOn.l
This was a proud day, said he, for the poor
Green AOuntaln boys. who were yet sore
from the wounds they had so lately received
in the retreat from Ticonderoga. They
could not so soon forget the slaughter of
their brethren of Colonel Warmers regi-
ment, who were almost all cut off at Hub
bardton. The word came, 1.-THE enemy's
coming, the alarm flew like wild fire-ev-
cry man left his pillow or axe, some even
standing in the field, and determined to
fight spell" some with officers and some
withoutAnone was anxious who should be
commanded or command the main object
was TO find good position, take sure aim,
fire away and load again.
| Here he proceeded to describe the order Of
battle, etc. but the most stIikng part was
concerning Colonel, who was ordered by
General Stark to reinforce with his regiment
part of one of the wings, that had sus-
tanned considerable part of the action. and
suffered much. The Colonel marched at the
Instant, but with a certain step peculiar TO
himself slow, firm and steady. The whole
parish was in his regiment, aud they had
brought with them their much loved parson,
without whose blessing they could scarcely
think Themselves in way to prosper The
officer commanding the corps to be rehev-
ed, fearing every instant that his men, from
fatigue and loss, would give way, sent to
hasten the Colonel. TEL EN-" said he,
"we're coming" and kept his pace steadily
on. This gentleman was, at home, deacon
wore an old fashioned, long WASTED coat,
with long pocket flaps aud herring bone
cuffs, and a three cooked hat the fore part
something resembling the handle of pipkin,
except that the extreme point Of 1t might
have endangered the eye of mosquito, had he
run unguardedly against it. A second ex-
press arrived. Colonel for Gods sake, hur-
~ my men are beginning to fall back
THAT viii make room for us-tell 'em we're
coming" keeping his still undated pace and
phiz, quite placid and unconcerned. A
third message was treated just as cody; when
they emerged from behind copice, in full
view Of the enemy, and several balls passed
over them. "HaltP said the Colonel. form
column aud let US attend prayers The
captain was called, and ordered, with all
due formality to attend to his duty, but,
during the solemnity, an unlucky shot
wounded one Of the men. The Colonel now,
for the first time, began TO show some impa-
tience for no sooner had the parson pro-
nounced amen" than the men were ordered
to march. But stu the Colonel kept his
steady measured pace, until he had taken
the ground in front Of the poor fellows who
we're almost ready to leave tho field. aud,
but for the love of liberty, could not have
kept it half 80 long Give it to EN-" said
the Colonel; give it to 'em, boys as he