Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-23
THE BATTLE or BENNINGTON-
AUGUST IS, III.

BY HILAND HALL.
In the following account Of the Battle of
Bennington, only the leading facts are at
tempted 10 he given, numerous interesting
and exciting incidents being necessarily
omitted.
In order to have just appreciation of
the battle and its consequences, II is neces-
sary 10 call 20 mind the condition OF the
country and of the State at the time of its
occurrence.
The campaign Of l776 in the northern de-
partment had been disastrous 10 the Amer
lean arms. Amer suffering severe losses
our forces had been driven from Canada in
| great distress, and the enemy, by the de-
struclion OF the American iotilla, had OBJ
tanned full command Of the waters of Lake
| Champlain. Great numbers of troops were
arriving at Quebec from Europe, and a
| fearful invasion was expected at the open
ing of the lake in spring. TO meet such
invasion extensive works had been erected
at Ticon nderoga, on which great reliance
was placed. But they were defective in ar
rangement, and but partially manned, and
on the approach Of Gen. Burgoyne, with a
powerful army, Gen. st. Clair found they
would be wholly unteuable, and felt COM
PEELED to- bandon them. The rear guard
OF his retreating army, under the COM
mand Of Col. Seth Warner, was overtaken
the next day, July I, l777, at Hubbardtou,
by large body of the enemy, and after a
brave resistance, during which many were
killed and wounded on both sides, was
hs,p nj a. -,
give way. The greater portion of st.
Clair's force succeeded in forming juno
ton with Gen. Schuyler at Fort Edward,
while the remnant of Col. Warmers regi-
ment, about 40 strong, took post at Man
chester.
Burgoyne's army, numbering about 1900
men, was equipped and furnished with ev-
cry war like material that wealth and skill
could supply, andconsis,ed mostly of Brit
ish and German veterans, with bodies of
Canadians and Tories, and a formidable
horde of Indians. It's commander expect
ed 10 make Triumphant march to Albany,
there TO be met by an army from New
York, and thus, by obtaining control of
the Hudson river, and cutting Off New
England from the other States, 10 complete
the conquest Of the country for the king
He had already issued flaming proclama-
ton, threatening destruction TO the lives
and property Of all who should oppose him,
but promising protection aud security to
tn ose who should give him their adhesion,
and offering payment in "solid coin" for
all provisions that should be brought to
his camp. On the 10th of July, having
reached Skenesborough, now Whitehall,
he issued another proclamation in which
he directed the inhabitants of Castleton,
Hubbardton, Rutland, Tinmouth, Pawlet,
Wells and Granville, with the neighboring
districts also the districts bordering on
White Creek (Salem), Camden, Cambridge,
etc., etc." 10 send ten persons or more
from each township to meet Col. Skene at
Castleton on the 18th, who would "com-
municate conditions upon which the per-
son and properties of the disobedient might
yet be spared" The proclamation con-
cluded with the following barbarous threat:
''This fail not under pain of military ere
cutiOn."
To large portion of the frontier inhab-
itants, Bnrgoyne's army appeared irresist-
ible. If he should let loose his horde OF
savages upon them, which in the first proc
lamaton he said "amounted TO thousands"
there would seem TO be no escape for them.
Great numbers from those towns, and some
from towns still further TO the south, repair
ed TO Col. Skene, and taking the oath of al
legiance TO the crown, some from choice
and some from supposed necessity, receiv-
ed written projections for their security.
OF these many took up arms against their
country, and Joined the invading army.
But the more patriotic and courageous por-
tion of the inhabitants, scornine submis-
sion TO the invaders, abandoned their homes
to the mercy of the enemy aud taking with
them such of their effects as they were
able 10 transport, fled to the south, some
stopping in Bennington, but most of them
going on TO their friends in Berkshire
county and Connecticut. Berkshire coun-
ty, i'm the language of contemporary, was
"burdened with these fugitves." Nearly
all of the territory between Bennington
and the route of Burgoyne towards the
Hudson and Albany was thus made, in ef-
feet, an enemy's country, and Bennington
became a frontier town.
ITlOT 10 the revolution the territory OF
Vermont was known by the name of the
New Hampshire Grants, over which the
government of New York claimed juris-
diction, and also the title to its lands. This
claim was disputed by its inhabitants, who
afler a long and severe controversy had,
by convention of their delegates held at
Westminster on the 18th of January, I777,
declared the territory an Independent State.
At the time:of the evacuation Of Ticonder-
oga by st. Clair, subsequent convention
of the new State was in session at Wind
sor, engaged in the work of framing its
constitution of government. and the aban-
donment of that post lel families of many
of its members in immediate peril. At
the news Of this alarming event the consti-
tuition was somewhat hurriedly adopted,
and having appointed council of safety to
manage the affairs OF the State until the
regular government could be put in opera
tion, the convention adjourned.
The council of safety thus constituted
met first at Manchester, but soon adjourn
ed TO Bennington, where it continued in
permanent session throughout the year,
adopting and carrying into effect the most
energetic measures for protecting the State
against its foreign as well as its domestic