The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-11

pcloTe tue ItBlSIatlre OF DlasSaCDuBetts tOl
several weeks past, advocating an appro
priation for Bennington's Battle Monu
ment. VIM. II. Cook, ESQ.,, formerly ed
itor of the Bennington Banner, has given
his cordial cooperation, aud the result OF
such abors will be an appropriation of from
$4,000 to $4,000. We publish herewith
the unanimous report of the committee up.
on federal relations, of which Hon. Frank
W. Bird is conspicuous member, which
is of more than ordinary interest.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
March 30, 1877.
The committee on federal relations to
whom was referred the communication from
the governor of Vermont relating to the
centennial celebration of the battle of Ben
nington, submit the following report:
The letters from Governor Fait banks
invite Massachusetts to unite with Yer
mont and New Hampshire in celebrating
the centennial anniversary of the battle,
| as well a, in erecting monument. A
brief sketch of the battle, showing the part
massachusetts bore in this, then and since
recognized as one of the most important
engagements of the war, may not be amiss
The course of American history has been
marked at intervals by signal events, con.
spcuous to theiwhole world, and indica-
tive of that influence on the worlds pro-
gress which it has been the destiny of this
country under Providence to exert. The
landing of the Pilgrims was one of these
events the resistance to British aggression
made at Concord and Lexington was an.
ether; the formation of the national con-
stituton under the lead of Washington was
another. Secondary in importance to such
events as these, yet no less characteristic
of the spirit and capacity of the New Eng
land people, were such incidents as the re-
volt against Andres in 1859, the battle of
Bunker Hill in 1885, and the victory at Ben
nington two years later. These two battles
indeed, though fought at an interval of
years and distance of many miles, may be
regarded as no more than successive phases
OF the same engagement, in both of which
the same veteran captain, John Stark of
New Hampshire, had leading part. AT
Bunker Hill, the best soldiers OF the Brit
foh NiStOio III ibuuy u COultbt III Eu-
rope, were twice repulsed in attacking the
hasty intrenchments of the New Enelsnd
militia. At Bennington, the same militia,
without cannon or bayocets, and by the
mere force of courage, aided by skill in
statagy, drove from their strong intrench-
ments the best soldiers of Germany, follow
ers of the Great Frederick, who were fight
ing upon ground of their own choice, aud
with all the appointments Of a regular cam
paign. And it was the same Stark who
with his New Hampahre -shsrn-shnniers
covered the rs'- bloomington, leading the
same sbarpshooters, REINFORCED by the hun
ters of Berkshire and the Green Mountain
Boys, made the irresistible assault that
again repulsed the enemy from the invasion
of New England. What Gage had attempt
ed, with fleet and fortified town at his
back, and what Bunker Hill thwarted, was
again essayed by Burgoyne from the 9TH
er side of New England, with loyal prov
incc and the alliance Of savages at his back.
In neither attempt could the enemy march
a mile into the we'll defended borders of
New England, and never again was the
campaign renewed. Bunker Hill on the
east, Bennington on the west, gave fair
warning to old England that her Amerisn
namesake was not TO be conquered by in
vasion; and few reckless marauders on
the coasts of Maine, Rhode Island and Con-
necticut, in the succeeding years of the war
only served to call attention to the impreg-
nabe strength of New England.
1t is because the battle of Bennington 80
well illustrates what was and must ever be
the bulwark of New England, that its CEN
tennial commemoration should command
the attention and the cooperation of Mas
sachusetts. Yet the part taken by Massa-
chusetts men In the battle was by no means
trihng one and if New Hampshire fur
nished the general, and Vermont the time
ly aid of her partisan warriors, our Com
monwealth sent To- the camp of Stark that
picturesque accessory OF the combat, a
fighting parson. The Reverend Thomas
Allen, OF Pittsfield, who, at the head of his
parishioners, took an active part in the bat
tie, was fit representative of the relig-
ious element which entered 30 warmly into
the American Revolution, and contributed
so much to its suceess. Having taught his
people tor years that resistance to tyrants
was obedience to God" he was withheld
by no weak scruples from joining in the
crusade he had preached, and he handled
his musket at Bennington as bravely as he
handled his Bible texts in Berkshire. He
went to the fight, not 30 much chaplain
as a captain, and Stark had good cause
to praise his pious aid.
The situation of the national cause for
some months before the victory at Ben
nington, was gloomy indeed. General Bur-
goyne, at the head of a large and confident
army, had moved rapidly down from Que
bee, and early in July had compelled the
evacuation of Ticonderoga, which was look
ed upon as the key to New England and
New York. Flushed with victory, he
marched on to unite with Sir William Howe
on the Lower Hudson, whence, as he
thought, New England. cut off from the
rest of the colonies, would fall an easy prey.
The northern colonies were In panic
Schuyler was dstrusted and unpopular
Stark had retired from the army in disgust;
the towns OF New York, Vermont and
Western New Hampshire were encouraged
to take up arms against their fellow-coun-
trymen. At this crisis, Burgoyne, needless
of danger, but also impelled by the neoes-
sity Of procuring supplies, detached body
of men to ravage New York, and was med
itating like detachment for Vermont and
mhsnaCuuece'e. hePuI's Vi tno inPouuinB
danger reached New Hampshire, Stark was
called from his retirement and put in COM
mand of small army raised "for the de-
fence of this and neighboring states, to pre-
vent the encroachments and ravages of the
enemy thereinto," as the New Hampshire
legislature voted on the 18th of July, 1777.
The soldiers were on their march at once,
and before the LIST Of August were in Yer
mont, where they were jOined by the Green
OF the national army. and he refused to
obey orders from General Schuyler to
march his men into New York. He knew
where the danger was, and how the enemy
should be met, better than any one could
tell him. On the 9th OF August he encamp-
cd at Bennington, the very day on which
D.,..s..sz,a ;ss.,..d his l,.i