The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-01
General John Stark.

AS the prowess and performances of Gen.
Stark are to be oommemorated and cele-
brated in the approaching centennial at
Bennington and as the popular impression
is that his military career was limited to his
brilliant campaign at Bennington one hum
dred years, ago we have thought it not in
appropriate to note some other incidents of
his long and busy life. We have on our
table memoir Of the general published in
1881 by an intimate personal friend who
derived his facts directly from hin.
His father, Archibald Stark was native
Of Glasgow Scotland, and came to this
country In 1720 but the ship having the
small pox on board was not permitted to
land at Boston but was compelled to find
a shelter on the coast Of Maine, then a
wilderness. The family the following
year established themselves at London
derry, N. II. The principal occupation OF
young Stark in his youthful days was trap
ping and hunting at which he was very ex-
pert. This mode of life which was follow
ed rather as a means of support than as an
amusement Injured our hero to extreme
hardship and fitted him for his subsequent
military career In 1862, the family then
living in Manchester, N. H., young Stark
while out on a hunting expedition was
taken prisoner by a party of st. Francis
Indians and taken across the state to the
Connecticut river. BY his skill in shooting
and trapping he became favoritc with his
captors. Because of his independent bearing
refusing to labor saying that work was for
squaws not warriors, the tribe adopted
him as the son Of their chief. And when,
as was the Indian custom he..was compelled
between two files of young Indians each
one armed with a rod he seized on club
and belabored the Indians right and left
escaping with little damage while his CON-
panion was severely injured. For this
spirited conduct he was applauded by the
elder Indians and squaws who laughed at
the young Indians. While in captivity he
learned much of the modes of Indian war
idlC WhlSh was VI SIudt eClfiCO W lin III
after life. He used to say in after life that
he received more genuine kindness from
the savages of st. Francis than he ever
knew prisoners of war to receive from auy
civilized nation. After few months stay
he was liberated on payment of 1903 dol
lars ransom. On his return he gained
great reputation as a leader and guide in
scouting expeditions and on the breaking
out of the seven year or French and Indian
war we find him lieutenant in Major Robert
Rogers corps of rangers doing service at
Fort Edward and Lake George under Sir
William johnson commander in chief.
During 1865 and subsequent years he has
engaged in repeated actions with the enemy
where by his bravery and skill he won pro-
motion and received the appreciation of his
superior officers. In one engagement
near Ticonderoga all his superior
officers were. either killed or dis
abled, the command devolving on him.
The evening before the fatal battle in which
Lord Howe was killed he was in consulta-
ton with Captain Stark who greatly ad-
mired and loved him and shed tears when
he heard of his sad fate. He continued
actively in the service until the peace in
1850. This French and Indian war proved
an excellent school to our young Americans
and prepared them in some measure for the
war that followed. During the tendency
of this seven years war in 1853, while home
on furlough he was married to Elizabeth
Page. In 1859 he again joined the army
and was employed with two hundred men
to cut a road from Charlestown, N. H., to
Lake Champlain. He continued with the
army until the peace in 1850. He would
probably remained longer as his commander
in chief Gen. Amherst urged him to do but
being sighted by his brother English Off
Ger, his sensitive nature took offence and
he decided to quit the service. From thi:
time until the breaking out of the war Of
the revolution he remained on his farm 10
Manchester, while his brother capt. VIM
Stark who had served with him in the sever
years war took sides with the British he
remained loyal to his country, and on hear
ing the news of Lexington battle he mount
ed his horse and proceeded TO the theatre
of action. He was Immediately elected
colonel and soon had regiment under
tolerable discipline. In the battle OF Bun
ker Hill his regiment formed the left of thu
American line and was opposed by thu
Welsh Fuslleers who were considered ont
OF the finest corps in the British service.
Three times the enemy advanced oil
these lines and were as often repulsed, will
great slaughter. When retreat became un
avoidable, Col. Stark drew off his regimen
r in good order. On the evacuation of Bos
ton, Col. Stark was ordered to New York
and assisted in arranging the defences o
: the city until 1776, when his regiment wa
ordered to proceed, by way of Albany, t
Canada. This expedition proved failure
On the close of this northern campaign
Col. Stark was ordered to join Gen. Wash
inston in Pennsylvania, where he took
conspicuous part in the battles Of Trento
: and Princeton,
| On the approach of winter in l770, tn
y term of enlistment of his regiment havin