The Portland daily press., 1877-08-17
The Battle OF Bennington.

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With the exception Of Bunker Hill and tho
battle-felds of Concord and Lexington there is
no spot in New England more rich in historic
associations than the scene of the battle Of
Bennington. Three states claim share in the
glory of the victory that was won there, and
the citizens Of these and other states gather
in great numbers this week to celebrate the
one hundredth anniversary OF the famous fight
The general facts concerning the engagement
are familiar to all students of American histo-
ry, and the details are likely to be faithfully
elaborated in the historical addresses delivered
this week; but it may nevertheless, be matter
of some interest to give a hasty survey OF the
battle together with some account Of the event.
which led up to ii and the results which fol-
lowed from it.
The period preceding the battle was one of
gloom and dependency for the American
cause. Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Indepen-
dence had been evacuated without striking
blow by General st. Clair at the approach of
Burgoyne; the rear guard of the American ar
my had been disastrously beaten at Habbard-
ton, With a loss OF more than three hundred
men; Fort Edward had been vacated by Gen.
eral Schuyler who fled southwark with his
forces; and Burgoynes entire army was on the
east bank of the Hudson. There was no Amer
lean force strong enough to check his advance
In any direction he might choose to tack; but
hs was greatly embarrassed by the lack OF pro-
visions, which opposed sufficient check upon
aggressive operations. The Americans as they
retired, had swept the country clean OF every
thing which could afford sustenance to an
army; and a German officer with Burgoyne
bears evidence to the faithfulness with which
the work was done. II have called it stevile
country" he writes, mot only with reference
to its natural sterility, and heavens knows 1t
was sterile enough, but because of the pains
which were taken, and unfortunately with too
great success, to sweep its few cultivated spots
of all articles likely to benefit the invaders"
Affairs were in this condition when tories
brought in the news that there was large
store of provisions at Bennington, and Bur-
goyne Immediately determined to gain posses
sion of the town and of the stores accumulated
there He accordingly fitted out an expedition
comprising a corps of Riesdell's dsmounted
dlag0ons, company of sharpshooters under
Captain Frazer, Peters corps of loyalists, a
body of Canadian rangers, artillerists with two
cannon, and hundred and fifty Indians. The
expedition was entrusted to the leadership of
lieutenant Colonel Baum, an efficient German
oficer and on the 11th of August, ,1777,it set out
for Bennington.
Burgoyne with an almost childlike confidence
in the loyalty of the population permitted the
sarmers around to enter and leave his camp
freely, and put full faith in their professions Of
friendliness. Baum shared the confidence and
and on the march there was no attempt at Sc
cresy as to the destination or object OF the ex-
pedition. The alarm spread in all directions
among the patriot population. On the 10Th of
July the Vermont Council of Safety had sent
strong appeal to their brothers in New Hamp-
shire and Massachusetts admonshing them that
the frontiers were rapidly narrowing at the ad-
vance OF the enemy, showing that stand
could be made in Vermont as well as Massach-
nsetts and calling ferlhelp to meet and repel the
invaders. In response to this appeal the militia
Of New Hampshire was promptly formed into
two brigades, one of William Whlpple and the
other under John Stark, who, although still
smarting with resentment at the slight
put upon him by the Continental Congress,
was persuaded to accept the command as
duty which be owed bis country in an hour OF
great need. Colonel Warner who was stationed
at Manchester called for the cooperation of
the militia in Hampshire and Worcester coun-
ties, Massachusetts, tersely and truthfully OBJ
serving in his appeal, "You may conclude the
frontier will be where there is body OF troops
| sufficient to stand the enemy. Stark sent on
the troops which he recruited to Manchester
apd on the 7th of August when he arrived
| there to take command, he found about four
teen hundred men. six hundred of whom had
been recruited by Colonel Warner. Warner
left his regiment in command OF Lieutenant
Colonel Stafford, and went with Stark to Ben
nington. arriving there on the 9th. with
| force of ten or twelve hundred men, composed
| partly of New Hampshire and partly of Yer
| mont troops. The measures undertaken BY the
| Council of Safety, and the excitement occa-
| stoned by the proximity of Burgoyne's army,
| aroused the country people and recruits came
| in daily, none of them uniformed and some OF
| them unarmed, but all ready and eager to meet
l the enemy. On the 18th of August, Stark,
hearing that a body of Indians had advanced
| as far as Cambridge, sent force of two hun
hundred men, under command of Lieutenant
l Colonel Gregg, to attack them; and on the
| same day the Council of Safety, being apprised
| of Baum's approach, issued an urgent appeal
to the colonels of the state militia to rally their
men at once to Bennington.
Meanwhile Baum's expedition was on the
| march. On the evening of the 18th it was
| joined by fifty chasseurs, sent forward by Bur
] goyne as reinforcement; on the 18th 1t
| reached Cambridge, capturing cattle and sup
| plies and taking the guard prisoners; and on
| the 14th it reached Van Schaick's mills, find
l ing there Col. GTegg's forces, which retreated.
1 At Cambridge Baum first learned of the for
/ midable force assembled at Bennington to con-
test his advance, and in response Ito his repre-
sentatlons on this point, Burgoy ne, onsthe 18th.
| started out a large force, consisting OF COM
pany of yagers and battalion OF chasseufs
/ and grenediers, under Colonel Brey to
| support the expedition.
| On the 14th Stark started out from Benning-
| ton with all the forces at his command, first
| sending word to Manchester to bring up the
Warner regiment Five milessfrom Benning-
ton he met Col. Gregg retreating before Baum.
Il auu lLnmSQlaL6Iy ur6W up nlS IOrc6s III Iln6 OL
battle expecting an attack. Baum, however,
| preferred to act on the defensive, and hating
| his troops on the heightsfof the Walloomsac,
devoted the whole of the nextiday, which was
rainy, ito strengthening his defenses. This
| work he continued late into the night, and feel
ing anxiety as to the result of the morrow's en-
| gagement, he sent word to Breyman to hurry
| up his force. The Americans, meanwhile,
| were making their plans for the attack. Early
/ in the morning of the 10th, small reinforce
II arrival of mill rOf m r
shire county, led by Colonel Simonds, and con-
tanning in its ranks the Rev. Thomas Allen,
the fighting parson from Pittsfeld. Stark 8
forces on the 18th comprised altogether about
l eighteen hundred men. Three hundred men,
led by COL Nichols, were detailed to take .
| wide circuit Through the woods northward of
| the British redoubt and gain position at the
| rear of their left. Three hundred men, led by
/ Colonel Herrick, were detailed to make SIM
| liar circuit southwark and gain position in
the rear of Baum's right-the two divisions to
join and commence the attack. To divert atten-
tion from these movements the main body OF
the American force took up positions in front
of the Tory and British breastworks. Knowing
4 we'll every inch of the ground, the forces under
Nichols and Herrick had no trouble in carry
ing out their part of the plan and they reached
the rear of the enemy, while Stark, TO amuse
the Germans" as he said, marched portion OF
his force round and round circular hill, there
by giving an exaggerated impression OF their
numbers, At three o'clock reports OF rifle shots
| were heard from the lrear OF the British, show
ing that Nichols and Herrick had got to work,
| and Immediately General Starks, pointing first
| to the breastworks and exclaiming, "My men,
| those are your enemies the redkcoats and the
| Tories; we must conquer them or tonight
Mole Stark will be widow gave the word
to advance, and his mens dashed across the
Walloomsac and up the hill Herrick's force
had driven in the Indians from the rear in wild
confusion, and the vigorous attack in the
front gave the British the impression that they
were surrounded. The Indlans soon skunk
away in spite of Baum's remonstrances but
| his own men fought with courage and pluck,
hoping constantly for reinforcements from
Breyman. AT length the tumbr.l, which con-
] tained their spare ammunition, ignitea and