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

motion; but that the honor of deyising the
expedition, rs well as its successful eXecu'
ton, belongs to the Green Mountain Boys.
GEN. STARK AT TRENTON.
The IlerOIsm OF Himself and New England
Troops In that Precipitate AND PeFilOus
Fight.
We have promised in previous issues Of the
BANNER, to furnish our readers with an his
tOrical account of the part taken by General
Stark and his command in the important vic
tory gained by the American troops at Tren-
ton, in 1915.
We cannot better rebearse the part taken
by the hero of Bennington in the Delaware
and New jersey campaigns, than by cOntinu-
ing our extracts fIOm the record given in the
memoir and biography of Gen. Stark, edited
by bis grandson, Caleb Stark, rom which
we have already selected cOpious extracts,
Mr.. Stark, the biORrapher, says:
When it was ascertained that the British
army, under Sir Guy Carleton, had retired to
winter quarters in Canada, Colonel Starks
regiment, with several Others, were detached
from the northern army to reinforce General
arrived few days before the battle Of Tren-
ton, where, leading the van Of Sullivan's d.
vision, he contributed his share in that blood
less and fortunate "coup-de-main.p
II the invasion of Canada in 1775-6 had con-
cluded with no result commensurate with
the losses incurred. the attempt to defend
Long Island and New York with inadequate
forces, and without a feet, aRainsta superior
veteran force supported by powerful naval
armament, was still more unfortunate.
The Americans were driven from one
breast-wOTk to another. leaving at each re-
20, no nrrffah
to perish by thOusands-until o considerable
army was reduced to scarcely more than
brigadier's command 1t then retTeated
through New Jersey to Newtown, Penn, and
there waited until reinforcements could be
spared from. the northern army to aid in re-
trieViug its fortunes,
The timely arrival of several half-flled
regiments from TlcOnderOga, who had march
ed more than 200 miles, ill-snpplied, ill-elOthed
and so poorly shOd that their march could be
traced by their tracks in blood, mainly con-
tributed toward gaining two victories, which
revived the despOnding hopes OF the country.
Had these last efforts rallied, who can antiCi-
pate the melancholy TesulGi
In the council Of war, proceeding the affair
81 Is in gYgg ms opinion Stark Oh
have too long been accustoned TO place their
dependence for safety upon spades and
the Independence of these States, you must
teach them to place dependence upon their
firearms aud their courage"
Here it may be proper TO Introduce cir
cumstance, the particulars of which were re-
lated at the funeral of General Stark, by q
veteran cOmTade in arms there present. Pre-
vious to the important action of Trenton,
the American army was on the point of be-
lug broken up by suffering, desertion, and
the expiration of the term OF enlistment of a
great portion Of the troops. A few days pre-
ylols the terP Of III the New Hampshire 9, rsSi::
tue war had arrived, Every hope Of the
was concentrated in the action Of
the ill-suppled, ill-cIOthed, ill-shOd, and un-
paid troops, then assembled under Washing
ton, on the banks of the Delaware. Their
only chance OF striking blow was at some
of the detached posts OF the enemy by sur
prise. Trenton was the nearest practicable
point of attack, and Princeton, twelve miles
distant the next. An army of British vet
Grams, 1000 strOng.l well supplied, command
ed by Earl CORVALLIS, was approaching to
crush this fOrlUrn hope" of America. Had
these last efforts failed, heaven only knows
the result;
In this trying emergency, while officers Of
other lines did the same, Colonel Stark,
aware that the fate Of the country depended
upon the retention of the troops then in the
field, appealed to the patriotism of the men
of the granite hills, who composed the New
Hampshire regiments. He told them that #
they left the army all was lost; reminded
them of their deeds at Bunker's hill, and 9TH
er occasions in the Canada campaign; assured
them that If Congress did not pay their ar
rears, his own private pFaRerty should make
it up to them, He proposed q relnllstment
for ak weeks; and such was his Influence
and popularity, that not q man refused.
Thus two half-filled, but veteran regiments,
of tried yalOr and fidelity, were retained for
the approaching crisis, and nOblY they sus-
tanned the efforts of tneir leader.
The Hessians were attacked. at opposite
points Of the town, by the division of Sulli-
van, and that Jed by Washington, in person,
Col Stark led sullivan's ADVANCED guard, and
General Green that of Washington.
General SnlliYan's division. halted near
HoWells ferry, to enable the division led by
General Washington to make o circuit to, at
Here it was discovered by Captain John
Glover, of the Marblehead regiment, that the
heat secuned arms Of the officers and men
were wet, and not in firing condition. The
was made to General Sulll-l
van, In presence of General st. Clair. Sulli-
van cast look at st. Clair, and observed, |
Z" What is TO be done u who instantly replied
"You have nothing for IL but to push on and
charge"
We soon marched Colonel Stark in com.
mand of the advanced guard) the troops, |
with orders TO clear their muRlets as they
moved on, In the best manner in theirpOWer, |
WHICH uGtNhluntN koDu utHA VI
In the meantime an officer was despatched
to apprise the General (W) Of the state Of
our arms who returned for answer, by his
Colonel Samuel Webb, that we
" must advance and charge"
It was now broad day, and the storm beat
violently in our faces The attack had com
menced on the left, and was Immediately an
sWered by Colonel Stark in front, who forced
the enemy's picket, and pressed it into the
town, onr column helpH close qt bis heels |
The enemy made 0 momeitary show OF re-
sistance, by wild and ill.dire0ted fire from
the windows of their quarters, which they
as we advanced; and made an az |
tempt to form in the main street, which
might have succeeded, but for the six-gun
battery opened by Captain 4. Forest, under
the immediate orders Of General Washing !
ton, at tho head Of King street, which annoy |
ed the enemy IN several directions; and the
decision OF Captain William Washington,
who, seconded by Lieutenant James Monroe
led the advanced guard Of the left column
that the enemy were about TO
form a battery, rushed forward, drove the ar
tilerists from their guns, and took two pieces
OF the Important part taken by General
Stark In the war after the battle Of Trenton, |
and up to the time Of the battle of Benning. |
ton, his biegrapher says:
Col Stark was with Washington when he
re-cIossed the Delaware, was engaged at
PRINCETON, aud remained With him until his
winter anaElpTs were established on the
mems enlistment having then e3plted, ne re.
turned to New Hampshire toTeorhit smother
regiment.
in March, TIT. the new regiment was COM
plhtel, and be repaired 10 Exeter 10 receive
Instructions for the eampaiEn, IheIehe WaS
informed that new list Of promotions haq
been made out by Congress, and bis name
omitted, The cause of this fragrant injustice
was easily traced t0 the malignant influence
of several officers Of high rank, and mems
bers Of Congress, who were displeased with
his unbendiug character.
He waited upon Generals Sullivan and
Poor, wished them ell possible success, and