The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-08-18

= centennial anniversary Of the Revolutionary
battle of Bennington, and As timely re-
{ membranccr Of the event. II. w Herrick, in
and finely illustrated history of the battle and
its attendant incidents We copy so much as
relates directly to the conflict
The American troops comprised eight in
complete regiments: five companies from
: Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Col. Sim
mons; the Sixth New Hampshire, Colonel
Nichols; the Eleventh New Hampshire, Col.
Hobart Incorrectly given Hubbard in the re-
ports; the TweIf1y New Hampshire, Col.
; Stckncy; and hundred scouts, Col. Emcr
son. Vermont was represented by Il small
force of militia Col. Williams; Il regiment
from Bennington and the towns adjoining,
= Col Brush and the Green Mountain Rangers
Col lIcrrick The Contincntals of Warner,
140 in number, and EmersOns men, were yet
several miles distant. These organizations
were in process of formation, few of them be
ing half filled, None had II distinctive uni
form except the Rangers body OF Davy
Crockett men, dressed in frocks with green
iacings. In the tactics of the forest these
Rangers were at home, being Il good match
for the Indians, whose whoop they nearly imi.
ltatcd III their night countersign, which was
e three boots Of an owl
The commander Of the Americans with the
ltrusty Warner nj his side, moved rapidly
through the camp. He was in the prime OF
life, forty nnc years old, dressed as Contin-
entail brigadier, and mounted ON IL beautiful
brown colt. His only staff officer was Warner,
sixteen years his Junior; and his medical de-
apartment numbered but one or two surgeons.
The entire force was about LOO, OF which
New Hampshire furnished about 1000; Yer
Il 4 lysI,i 4 pp,rI
lmcnt from Worcester county, Massachusetts,
advanced aS far as old lIadley TO participate in
,hc action, but being too late for the service,
returned,
Baum's force comprised about 1000, of
whom ijO were Indians, 200 Tories, 100 Fras-
Icrs marlsmcn, 100 Canadian Rangers %
chasscurs and $40 Riedcsc's dragons, or
! Hessians acting us infantry. This number is
nearly twice as large as given by Burgoyne in
his official report to German, but this gener-
ais vcracity, when he had purpose to serve,
was of an exceedingly elastic order. The
/ British prisoners and dead numbered the next
day over 800, and Burgoynes orderly book
makes his loss in the two engagements over
200. The disposal of Baum's force was well
made the Tories, or Peters corps, with
small platoon of IIcssians held the small hill,
1.-The Canadians were posted in the Lighthouses,
a few Hessians were posted in the breastworks
west of the bridge, the chasseurs were at the
east declivity of the large hill, while the re
mainder of the ITcssians were in the redOubt
surrounded by the Indian scouts in the forest
The German commander evidently wished to
avoid battle; at half past nine he Withdrew his
outposts leaving the Indians only in the forest
to guard against surprise
As midday approached, the Americans
were massed to receive orders; the locality was
G,1l Al, 10 t.-hin vas
sliding bars and tall posts peculiar TO the Vi
cinity. Stark lcaped to the top,nost Ntl,
steadied himself by the tall post, ard haran
gued his troops in the well-kmown sentences :
4 "Now, my men, yondcr afe The sstSsans; they
were bought for seven poseyss ten,pence aman.
Are you worth more2 Prove it. Tonight the
American flag trats over yondcr hill, or Molly
Stark sleeps a widnw." Throwing knapsacks,
Jackets, and all baggage in heaps and placing
ia guard over Them, the force started. Colonel
HeTick u Rangers, with the Bennington mil
ftia, SF strong, were sent TO make IA detour to
1}seNn's right; Colonel Nichols with $50 men,
Twas sent to the rear of the enemy's lett-the
two forces, when joined. to make an attack ;
200 men under Colonel Stickncy and Colonel
Hobart including part OF the Berkshuc militia
were sent against the Tory works with direc-
) lions 10 keep concealed in a corn field near by
: and await the opening of the action ut Baum 5
t hill FOrcsccing that there would be close
work with the Tories, who were in citizens
dress, like his own force, Stark gave directions
to the attacking party that corn husk In the
hatband should be the badge OF his own men.
A guard under Il sergeant was posted near the
bridge to prevent communication between the
t two wings of the enemy duringth movements
of the thanking parties, and the disposal OF thc
forces was complete.
As cover to his designs, Stark now moved
. forward to his reserve, and employed the time
in marching slowly around a hill in full view
of the enemy. This seemed to prepleX Baum,
AS his servant, Henry Archelaus atterward said
He scanned the movement with tield-glass
and directed his arillery-men to fire on the
column" This cannonadc did no great harm,
and the rrSc was continued, with variety OF
movements for nearly three hours. At length,
about three O'Clock, the thanking parties had
: reached their coveted position and communl-
l. Gated with each other. Nichols was the first
To open fire. The Indians retired before the
: advancing line, and, paniC-struCk, fed To the
a redoubt, reporting thatshe. forest was full OF
, Yankees Seeing the columns closing with u
! Tightening coil around the hill, the savages
] dashed through the opening between the two
: detachments in single file, and, yelling like
demons, made their escape leaving lew oil
their number dead or prisoners. AS the Inc
dressed up To muskct range, Baum opened 4
fira of smalarms, and brought one of the can
non forward to the angle left exposed by the
1 flight of his savage allies. The action became
T. hot on both sides, but the ASSISTANTS being
c,L,ltcrcd by trees and brush, received little in
= iury from the Hcssian fire, delivered breast
: high without aim. New developments and
:. attacks now rapidly ensued in every quarter
l. the discharge Of musketry was rapid, continu
-, Gus, and olstinatcly maintained for nearly an
:, lhour, when an explosion occurred in the re
Il doubt that shook the hill by its violence, send
Il ing binding smoke and flying. fragments
: among the comha;ants. Appalled, at the dc
donation there was Il momenlary iui! among
. both parties The tumbril or ammunition
y cart. OF the IIcssians had exploded. Compre
" hcnding instantly the accident, the Americans
Il with a cheer alongthe whole line, made a d;ISt
Tor the parapct. 40 troopr could withstan,
--....l. N tiln. II nnnr-l I'm M cNcrX nngle VIII