The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-09-27

haps rs they have Been told, "that stark
delivered the speech, turning In his sad
die Just before the chafee.n 1t IL wrong.
The poetic account Is much more nearly
correct, and is the only one which has the
color OF correctness to it. excepting recent
magazine account that gives the incident
and all as those test qualified to know 1t
say it should be. Let me correct 1t, and
use that writer's own expression of it,
which one Of the aged townspeople Of cid
Bennington recehtly ASSURED me was COR
rect in every particular:
I" As midday approached, the Ameri-
cans were massed to receive orders, the
locality being large field, the entrance to
which was by sliding bars and tall posts
peculiar to the vicinity. Stark leaped to
the topmost rail, steadied himself by the
tall post, and harangued his troops.
Now, my men, yonder
are the Hessians; they were bought for 97
10 pence man. Are you worth more !?
Prove it. Tonight the American flag
floats over yonder hill, or Molly Stark
sleeps widow"
! Although the fact of his jumping on q
rail fence, rather than delivering the
speech from his horses back, seems less
General like to the martial reader, yet it
waslike the man, and the story as told
here came from one who heard it from
the lips of survivor of the battle.
In the Battle of Bunker Hill the severest
loss the British met with was at the hands
of Stark and his New Hampshire Regi-
ment. An incident here will serve to
show both the unfiinching instinct and
tender grace which characterized Stark
-, h,ktIn xrsat RI
feat, at his own treside.
During the fight, and while there is a
short cessation in the struggle, a soldier
came to him, saying:
"My son, youth of but sixteen, has
just been killed; shall go and find him?
Without showing any emotion, the CON-
mander replied: Let the dead bury their
dead; this is no time to talk of such
events. You see the enemy who killed your
dear boy; return to your duty and avenge
his death" After the battle Stark singled
out the bereaved father, and with him
sought among the dead and wounded for
the supposed lost son. He was nowhere
to be found, but little further on saw him
alive and well. The report of his death
had spread by mistake.
At Trenton, in which battle Stark struck
the first blow, the Yankee commander was
asked by Washington about the best
methods Of defense. "Your men," said
he, shave too long been accustomed to
place dependence upon spades, and picks,
and hoes, for safety; but if you mean to
establish the independence of the United
States, you must teach them to put conf
dence in their firearms" which gave in
a nutshell the key to the situation, and is
in force equal to Cromwell's "Put yom
trust in God, my boys, and keep your pow
der dry"
1t was told to me by an old resident Of
Vermont that, when the New Hampshire
boys were building the Notifications OF
Breeds Hill, Stark said to them: "Thit
looks more like pound than fort, bu
no matter; give the enemy warm re
ception when they come to drive J ou ou
Of It,"
The question of long dispute whether
Stark's wife was named Molly or not is Of
course undecided. All agree that Eliza
beth was her name, or part of it, ant
there are many who believe, as does thu
writer, that Mary Elizabeth explains how
it happened that the brave General i'm
mortalized her as Molly, and how, witt
the younger people, she shares equally
with her husband the glory of Benning
on.
In reply to the Berkshire soldiers who
wanted to fight, their leader gave as forci
BILE reply as they could possibly wish
"Wait, my brave men, till tomorrow
| for it is now rainy and uncomfortable
But, if the Lord should give us sunshine
again, if do not give you all the fight
| ing you want, will never ask you tt
come with me again. And he did as ht
| promised. The terrible storm of the 18Th
stopped during the night The morning
| of the 10th broke soft and beautiful, and
when night had come, had been made his
toric by the great battle.
| Mr.. John W. Moore, veteran in the
service, writes of Stark what we al
know, that he was man superior in judg
ment to his enemies, foreseeing beyont
the leading men, the Tories, the Legis
lature of his State, and many of thu
Generals of his army. He received pro
motion when attempts were made to de
grade him, and received the thanks O
those he opposed for his efforts. his wis
dom, his courage and his patriotism.
Long he lived to enjoy the fruits Of hi
victory in Bennington. He was a man do
nestle and lovingto all around him. Yer,
fond of pets, this man who was terror Ii
battle had many, and at the time of hi
death a favorite horse followed his re
mains 10 the grave; where now grant
shaft, on the banks of the busy Merri
mack, in the field which he loved +
work, points over the spot of his sepul
cher-Manchester IN. H. Cor. Chicag
| Tribune.