Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-09-03

a Yankee.general could do, backed by
a trusty and trusting band of his neigh
bors and friends, and left to the guild
ance 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
England, except on his bier. 1t signi-
fed to the British general, what he con-
fessed nine weeks later, that his opinions
Of the rebel troops were delusiye. 1t
signifed to the Indians that it was time
to abandon the British service It sig
nifed to the insurgent tories that they
had better depart or be still. It signi-
fed to the neighboring states and to
congress, that the New Hampshire
grapss were certainly to become YER
mont; md 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
a capital exploit. 1t was the definite
beginning of the distant but now certain
end. Confessedly it at once paralyzed
Burgoyne's operations. It rallied in
focks the forces that stopped him at
Saltwater. Bennington meant Sarato-
ga, too, where-when Burgoyne looked
northward-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 concilia-
tory bills, too soon for King George,
and too late for America. 1t probably
stimulated Spain into war with Great
Britain, encouraged the disafection of
Ireland, fostered the British opposition
at home, and thus embarrassed the gov
ernment. 1t hastened hither the foreign
military skill, which did so much for
our armies. 1t cooled off the hope of
Canadian and tory help, and detached
the last band of India allies. The very
existence of the infant state of Vermont
wrote Ira Allen, long afterward, their
families and property, were all pending
on the event. We might almost call it
our Thermopyle, only that our Leoni-
das and most of his troops survived to
strike other blows for their country.
1t is singular 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 mortally
wounded, our loss was but 80 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 bay
onet 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 honored homes in Bennington
there were orphans and widow. -Four
New Hampshire officers were killed
and two died of their wounds. Ten Of
their townmen, privates were laid with
them in their grave. Chaplain Hibbard
in his own age remembered we'll thai
burial service as the most mournfu
occasion of his life. New Hampshire
sent two of her foremost men-Josial
Bartlett and Stephen Peabody-to Dc
everything in their power to assist the
sick and wounded. Let the names O
those dead be carved here on monu
ment that shall be coequal with thi
state and this nation, and, while tn,
grass grows green on these mountain
sides and the granite rock lies firm an(
solid beyond the Connecticut, let tn,
name of Seth Warner be craven in Yer
mont, and the name of John Stark Ii,
embedded in the heart of New Hamp
shire.
: Friends and fellow-citizens, the rec
ords of the past speak to US in vain un
less they speak also for the future
Many suggestive thought clings to thi
historic spot. And, first of all, tn
: battle of Bennington is as commemora
/ tive of piety as of bravery. I shoul'
, be false to the truth of history did
fail to speak of the strong religion
spirit in which this victory had its pre-
} paration and its achievement. Th
smoke Of the battlefield mingled as
rose with the incense of prayer. Fac
| Of the three states that shared the vic
tory had appointed in the first half Q
$ August its special fastday in view o
5 the approaching conflict. The Berkshir
s men fired no shot in the battle till thei
Y pastor had prayed with them to tn
0 God of battles. Col. Nichols is said
! have knelt with his men in prayer b
s fore he led them to the onset. McClar
t on the previous Sabbath was exhortin
| sol 11, kho nd