The Bennington daily banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1877-1877, 1877-08-13

q numbers and his speed. The Indians il
camp we've restivo and kept track of tb
d army of relief. They badgered st. Legsr T.
retreat, and threatened to abandon him
They raised the alarm, "They are comm 2 /!
and for the number Of patriots approaching
; they pointed to the leaves of the forest.
ST. LEGER's FLIGHT.
On the 22d Of August, while Arnold wn,
yet at Utica, st. Leger fed.
EFFECT ON THE COUNTRY
The effect of Oriskany ON the Americans
was electric. Washington said: "Herkimer
hrst reversed the gloomy scene" of the cam
paign. Gen. Gates wrote of "the severe blow
Gen. Herkimer gave johnson and the scalp
ers under his command" Gen. Schuyler, in
reply TO Gen. Herkimer's report, said: 'The
Rallantry Of you and the few men that stood
with you and repulsed such superior num-
Der of fsavages, reflects great honor upon YOU"
Gov. George Clinton expressed "the highest
sense OF the loyalty, valor and bravery Of the
militia of TryOn county, manifested in the
victory gained by them under the command
OF their late worthy Gen. Herkimer, for
which as the chief magistrate of the free and
Independent State of New York, they have
my most hearty thanks" The defense of
Fort Stanwix led John Adams to declare that
'GaDsevOort has proved that it is possible TO
hold post" and the Oneida Spencer had
warned the TryoD patriots not TO make r..
conderoga of Fort Stanwix. i
These wise leaders estimated the battle bet
ter than writers like Irving, who intimates
that 1T docs not appear that either party
was entitled to the victory or DIR. Thatcher
who can only claim that "St. Leger's victory
over our militia was purchased at a dear
price," or Lossing, who bluntly speaks of the
defeat of the Herkimers" The patriots
held the ground, and carried off their wound
ed at leisure OF the Tory wounded Major
Watts lay two days uncared for. By the hat
tie 81. Leger was bottled up in his camp; by
1t, the forces ordered with Arnold, aud prob
ably also the Massachusetts troops who took
part in Wlllett's sortie, were able to Join in
the operations against Burgoyne, and were in
the first battle at Saltwater. The whole val
ley Of the Mohawk east it Q into the scales
for the victory at Saratoga.
Herl1imer started for Furt Stanwix, but his
force, except few scouts, did not reach il. |
hls little army was broken up. But its sac
rihee, costly as it was, saved the valley. The
fnghful slaughter of their leaders at first par
alyzed the settlers, Dut they rallied without
delay, and Joined Arnold's relief army in large
numbers. The battle penued st. Leger and
johnson and Rrant before Fort Stanwix. IL |
raised the spints of the beleagured garrison |
to a high pitch. With Bennington, which |
came afterwards, the Americans felt it gave
them great and glorious VICTORIES" and
'noshing EXCEEDED their exultation over
them:" and Il 9 "northern militia began now |
10 look high, and forget all distinctions be-
tween themselves and the regular troops.r
This confidence was worth armies. Congress
voted a monument to Herkimer, not vet
erected save in the hearts Of the people. and |
no one questioned that the gallant chief had
earned the distinction.