Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-08-29

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with only one hundred and nine ratable polls,
forty-two were in the conflict. Their captain
was the father of Daniel Webster. Massa-
chusetts sent lawyers, physicians, and a judge
and fighting parson. 1t was the best blood
of these states that flowed here. While this
commotion was fermenting in the states
Burgoyne was happy and easy. He was or
dering a feu-de-joie in honor of his victory
on the very day which Schuyler was de-
clining to furnish a soldier or musket to
defend Vermont. Instead of pushing on by
Lake George and the old road he halted at
Whitehall while his troops cut their way
through a dense forest, made forty bridges
in sixteen miles, and two miles of log-work
over one morass. Five days after he was no.
tilted of his appointment he appeared in
Charlestown. In advance of his instructions
he was forwarding troops TO Vermont, await
ing the enemy and looking up his supplies
Ii would be amusing were it not distressing,
to read of his difficulties But he makes no
apologies or complaints, he utters no doubts
or fears. As fast as his men come in by
squads he sends them along. just as soon
as the bullets were run Stark and his men
went off at the enemy. When all this stir
around Connecticut had reached its height
things were beginning to move on the llud-
son like the opening of some tragic romance.
The British general had bored his way dog
gedly through forest, and swamp, and creek.
lie looked anxiously down the river for some
trace of Howe, but no tidings came. Ten
messengers had gone by different routes, but
never one had gone through. 1t would seem
from Burgoyne's precautions and delay that
he shrank from the expedition to Benning-
ton. But he was nearly out of provisions,
&C
corn, flour and CATTLE guarded only by militia.
Necessity knew no law, so he chose the
best of his German troops, and " the select
light corps of the British army" and sent
them on their perilous venture, and with a
strangely gratuitous folly he added to 81 the
seizure of supplies "long circuit by
Rockingham and Brattlebory, round to AL
hany."
The morning of the 10th opened in abso-
lutte beauty, with not cloud, not a stirring
leaf Ran-drops glittered like diamonds IN
the trees. The river rolled along swollen
and tumutuous. For hours not an enemy
had been seen or even heard of but it was
the hush of crouching catamount. Scarcely
were the haversacks slung and the muskets
piled when the men were recalled in all
haste to the ranks. The same officer, Click,
looking out from the zigzag breastworks on
the hill, saw the outpostS retiring and the
pickets Withdrawing, and strange body OF
men hurrying from the thicket behind. Sud
denly Click heard tramplng behind in
the forest on the right. 1t was lIerrck and
his rangers in their uniform of green. Then
came shout and rafting fire in the rear
on the left. 1t was Nichols, of Amherst
giving a signal to begin. Scarcely had the
sound of the first fire died when the Indians
broke and fled. A column pushes forward
on a long breastwork, this side the river
1t is Stickney and Hobart, and for badge
every man has a cornhusk in his hat. At
signal the main body moved up in front and
the battle ragged on every side. The tories
fled, and as they climbed the slippery steps
behind them, they went rolling down be-
meath the shots of our marksmen. For two
hours-from three to five oclock-the fire
was one continuous roar, and those death
dealing columns closed i'll nearer and nearer.
The ammunition cart exploded within the
intrenchment, and at the sound our men
rushed up, scaled the breastworks, and leaped
down within. Then came IA terrible clash
ing OF sword and gun-stock and bayonet.
Gigantic John Mcneil strikes down four
llessians with the but OF his gun. In five
minutes twenty men broke through to the
forest; the rest We're all prisoners or dead
or dying. They fought galantly, and their
leader died soldiers death,
Ii was the most remarkable affair of the
war. Is there more brilliant exploit re-
corded i'll the annals OF warfare 1t is a
singular token OF the skill OF our marksmen
aud the bewilderment OF the Zoe that, while
the British left two hundred aud seven dead
on the spot and many others mortally
wounded, our loss wa, but thirty killed and
about forty wounded. Thirteen tories buried
in one hole, mostly slot through the head as
they looked over their breastwork, told of the
aim of the New Hampshire sharp-shooters,
and the bayonet OF William Clement, that
never was Withdrawn from the skull OF
another, told OF the hand-to-hand conflict
that closed the strife.
But there was mourning on our side. The
chief havoc was in the regiment OF Nichols
In each of the four honored homes in Ben
nington there were orphans and widow
-Four New Hampshire officers were killed
and two died of their wounds. Ten OF theil
townsmen, privates, were laid with them il
their grave. Chaplain llibbard in his ole
age remembered well that burial service a,
the most mournful occasion OF his life. Let
the names of those dead be carved here on
monument, that shall be coeval with thi,
grows green ON these mountain-sides anC
the granite rock lies firm and solid beyonc
the Connecticut, let the name OF Seth War
ner be craven in Vermont, and the name o.
John Stark lie embedded in the heart o.
New Hampshire.
Friends aud fellow-citizens, the records o.
the past speak TO us in vain unless the.
speak also Tor the future. Many a suggestive
thought clings TO this historic spot Ant
first OF all, the battle OF Bennington is a
commemorative of piety as OF bravery. Th'
snoke OF the battlefield mingled as it ros,
with the incense OF prayer. Each of the three
states that shared the victory had appointed
, III the first half OF August its special last-da,
IN view OF the approaching conflict Thu
Berkshire men fired no shot in the battle til
their pastor had prayed with them to the Goo
OF battles. Colonel Nichols is said to hav
knelt with his men in prayer before he lee
them TO the onset. McClary, on the prevou
Sabbath, was exhorting his soldiers to "re
member the Lords day." and the bullet fron
his fatal wound and the Bible from hi
breastpocket were long preserved togethe
III his family. All day long while the soun'
OF the cannon came pealng from the battle
! field, IN the churches OF Bennington AM
Willlamstown the voice of prayer was rs
/ cending, and IL never ceased till the tiding
5 came OF victory. John Stark forwarded y
4 New Hampshire the Hessian equipments a
trophies OF that glorious victory gwen then
. by the divine Being who oyerpowers am
rules all things" The men who achieve
/ our deliverance here feared God, aud the
q feared nothing else.