The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-14
The Bennington Celebra ton.

The Bennington Celebra ton.
President Hayes will leave Washington
this afternoon 10 assist, with the greater
part of his Cabinet, at what is likely to prove
one of the most interesting of all the minor
Centennial celebrations. The recent one at
Oriskany, in this State, though connected
with the same general theatre of Revolution
airy events and closely related to the men,
orable Northern campaign which resulted
in the surrender of Burgoyne, was of a more
strictly local character. 1t may, perhaps, be
question with critics whether the battle Of
Oriskany or the battle of Bennington was the
more important as military event, but there
can be no question at all of the superior
rank of the affair at Bennington in general
popular estimation, although the title of
Vermont to any considerable share of the
credit is not so clear. The so-called battle
of Bennington was fought on the soil of
New York, by troops consisting chiefly, on
the American side, of New Hampshire
militia, under the command of New
Hampshire general. The bluff and brave
and somewhat testy old General Stark, who
commanded at Bennington, was the best
soldier New Hampshire contributed to the
Revolution. He was reinforced after his
arrival by the local Vermont militia and
q small band from Berkshire county,
in Massachusetts,, but his New Hampshire
brigade was the main portion of his
command. Although Vermont had but
subordinate place in the battle we applaud
her public spirit in giving SO much eclot to
the celebration She is the only State out
side of the original thirteen that can assert
any local claim to Revolutionary memories,
and it is creditable to her patriotism that
she makes the most of this exceptional
privilege. In the early part of the year in
which the battle occurred she had organized
as State, but the Continental Congress
declined to recognize her as such, because
the western part of her territory was claimed
by New York, and it was deemed inexpedient
to give offence to the latter State. The
bravery of her Green Mountain Boys was con-
spicuous in the Revolution, and no State of
the original thirteen will grudge her the
satisfaction Of celebrating the victory at
Bennington as her own achievement.
General Stark's victory was the immedi-
ate forerunner of that great military event,
the surrender of Burgoyne, to which it
powerfully contributed Burgoyne was
already in sore straits when he detached
Colonel Baum to seize imaginary cattle and
supplies at Bennington. He was in great
need of beef and draught animals; but
instead Of getting what he expected he lost
the greater part OF the detachment in killed
and prisoners, and the defeat of Baum dis
couraged his Indian allies and filled the
Americans with hope and courage. The
military events which followed removed all
doubts of the success Of our Revolution
and converted France from secret friend
into an open supporter of our cause. That
Northern campaign was the turning point
of our independence, and the battle Of
Bennington was the precursor Of the defeat
of Burgoyne and the defeat of his whole
army.
The Accomplishments, or, SO to speak, tho
costume, Of the battle of Bennington have
given it o strong hold on the popular imagi-
nation. General Stark was one of those odd,
original characters that make deep impress
sion on the public memory. His character
istic speech to his soldiers at the beginning
of the battle painted tho man :--"You see
those redcoats yonder before night they
must be ours or Molly Stark is a widow"
Moreover, there was dark shadow of tragic
romance resting upon that battle field. Poor
Miss McCrea, lovely and betrothed young
woman. had recently been butchered and
scalped in that region by Indians in the en-
ploy of Burgoyne's army, and every chival-
rous feeling of the American heart cried
aloud for vengeance. The elaborate and
splendid preparations for this Centennial
celebration made by tho people and State
authorities OF Vermont are justified by the
deep interest of the events which are to be
common GRATED.