The Bennington daily banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1877-1877, 1877-08-13
THE FIGHT.

He led his little band on. If he had befor
been cautious. now he was apdacious, Hi
course lay on the outside Of the river, avoid
ing its bends, where the country looses tn,
general level which the rude road sought I,
follow. when it could be found. For tllye,
Or foar miles hills rose upon valleys will
occasional glilleyA The trickinG sprlngs ant
the spring fTeshets had out more than ont
ravne where, even in the summer, the wa
ter still moistened the earth, These run to
wards the river from south towards The
north. Corduroy roads had been constructed
over the marshes. for this was the line Of
such travel as sought Fort Stanwlx and the
river otherwise than by boat. Herkimer had
come to one of the deepest of these raviDes
10 or 12 rods wide, running narrower UP tc
the hills at tho south, and hordering towards
the Mohawk into dat hottOm land. Where
the forests were thick, where the rude road.
way ran around tho marsh, and the rayine
crossed like a pocket, he pressed his way.
Not in sOldierly order, not watching against
the enemy, but in rough haste, the 800
marched. They reached the ravine at 10
o'clock in the morning, The advance had
gained tho higher ground, Then, as often,
the woods became alive. Black ewes flashed
from behind every tree. Rifles blazed from
a thousand unexpected cOverts. The Indi.
ans rushed ont, hatchet in hand decked in
paint and feathers. The brave band was
checked. 1t was cut in two, The assallants
aimed frat of al so aeiAe the supply train,
Colonel NisseheE who commanded it's
guard, showed his courage before and after.
and doubtless fought we'll here. as the best
informed descendants of other heroes Of the
battle believe. But his regiment was driven
northward towards the river,was out up or in
great part captured, with the supplies and
ammunition. In the ravine and just west of
it. Herkimer rallied those who stood with
him. Back to back, shoulder 20 shoulder
they faced the foe, Where shelter could be
had, two stood together so that one might
fire while the other loaded. Often the flght
grew closer, and knife ended the personal
contest Eye to eye. hand to hand. this was
fight Of men. Nerve and Drawn and mus
Gle were the price of life. Rifle and knife,
spear and tomahawk were the only weapons,
or the olubhed butt of the rife. It was not a
test Of science, not weighing Of enRinry,
not measure of calibre nor an exhibition of
choicest mechanism. Men stood against
death, and death struck at them with the
simplest implements. Homer sings Of char
lots and shields, Here were no such helps,
no such defences. Forts or earthwOrks, bar
ricades or abattis there were none. The
British force had chosen its ground. Two to
one it must have been against the band
which stood and fought In that pass, forever
glorious. Herkimer, early wounded aud his
horse shat under him. sat on his saddle be-
meath beech tree, just where the hill rises
at the west little north of the centre Of the
ravine, calmly smoking pipe wbile order.
ing the battle lie was urged to retire from
80 much danger his reply Is the eloquence
of herOi ] win face the enemy
The ground tells the story Of the fight.
Gen. Herkimer was with the advance, which
had crossed the ravine. His column stretch
ed out for nearly half mile. Its bead was
hundred yards OF more west Of the ravine,
his rear guard reached As far east of H. The
firing began fEqm the bills into the gulf.
HerBimer closed his line on its centre, and
on reaching that point bis white horse was
shot under him. t
Through the fopssta Of HeFklmer, from his
elevation, could catch the general outlines Of
the battle, Some OF his advance bad fallen
at the farthest point 10 which they had
marched. Upon their left. the enemy had
appeared in force. and had closed up from the
southward, and on the east side Of the ra-
vine. The patriots had pushed to the north
side Of the road, away from the line which
the corduroy still mafkss in the ra-
vine,l and those who had fed sought the
river. Skeletons have been found in the
smaller raYfnO about 300 yards vest and at