Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-23

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sent TO New Hampshire and Massachusett
for aid, such of the militia as could be gath
cred were called out TO strengthen the fore,
of Col. Warner al Manchester, where an at
tack was apprehended. A permanent force
to patrol the frontiers and TO guard agains
any covert outbreak Of the tories in theii
midst, was indispensable, and to provide
means for maintaining such force and t
meet their other expenses in defending the
State, the council ordered the property o.
those of their Inhabitants that had Joined
the enemy to be sequestered and sold. A
proper fund being thus secured, regiment
of rangers was organized undor the com.
mand of Col. Samuel uerrick, which did
efficient and valuable service TO the State
and country.
New Hampshire responded nobly 10 the
call o: The Vermont council. The assem-
bly, at once OF dered large portion Of their
militia TO be organized into a brigade and
placed under the command of General
John Stark. He had served with credit
and honor in the previous French war, and
as Colonel at Bunker Hill, and in Canada,
and under Washington at Trenton and
Princeton, but Congress had promoted the
junior officers over him, and he had re-
signed his commission and retired from
tho service, though he retained the same
patriotic ardor as before. He was Teluc-
tant to be placed under officers he had for
merly outranked, and there was also at the
time a very general dstrust in New Eng
land of Gen. Schuyler, who was in COM
mand Of the northern department; for
which reasons Gen. Slark's written instruc-
tions were of a discretionary character.
He was directed "to repair TO Charlestown,
No. T." aud when the troops were collected
there ito take the command of them and
march into the State of Vermont, and there
act In conjunction with the troops of the
State, or any ether of the States, or of the
United States, or separately, as it should
appear expedent to him, for the protection
of the people, or the annoyance Of the enc
N.Y."
Crossing the Green Mountains from
Charlestown with the greater part Of his
command, Stark reached Manchester on
the 9Th of August, where he met Gen. Lin
coin, who had been sent from Saltwater by
Gen. Schuyler TO conduct his militia TO the
west bank of the Hudson. Stark COM
municated his instructions and declined
obedience on the ground Of the dangerous
condition in which it would leave tho peo-
pie of Vermont, and because be believed
Burgoyne would be more embarrassed in
his operations by his re naming on his left
than by joining the army in front. But for
this refusal of Stark, which was founded
on the soundest military view Of the ate
Of affairs, Bennington would have been in
a measure defenceless, aud would, doubt
less, have fallen prey 10 the enemy.
At Manchester Stark found that con-
siderable large body of the enemy, which
for some time had been at Castleton, threat
e ming Manchester and TO cross over to
Connecticut river, had marched 10 the
ii udson lie with his force, passed on 10
Bennington, where he arrived on the 9th.
He was accompanied by Col. Warner,
whose continental regiment was len at
Manchester under the command of Lieut.
Col. Samuel Stafford. At Bennington Gen.
Stark encamped for few days, collecting
in formation in regard 10 the position and
designs of the enemy, and consulting with
relative TO future operations.
The progress Of Burgoyne towards Alba
ny had been so retarded by the natural dif-
fculties of the route, and the distractions
thrown in his way by the Americans, that
ii was nearly month afler his departure
from Ticonderosa, before he reached the
Hudson river. Here he found himself so
deficient in provisions, aud also in cattle
and carriages for transportation that he was
much embarrassed about the means for ad-
vancing further. Learning that the articles
he most needed had been collected in con-
siderable quantities at Bennington as con.
venient depot TO supply the American
forces, he resolved TO seize them for the use
Of his own army.
For this service Lieut.. Col. Baume was
selected. Burgoyne, in his letter to the
English Ministry, states the force under
his command TO have consisted of 200 dis
mounted Dragons, "Capt. Frazers marks
IN en- (called also rangersl, which were The
only British, all the Canadian volunteers,
a party of Provincials, (Col. Peters corps
of tories) 100 Indians and two light pieces
of cannon, the whole detachment amount
in 6 10 about 500 men," There is no doubt
this number is too small by several hun
dreds. The German official accounts give
the number OF the troops of Baume at 374
instead of 200; and of the British Ca
nadians and tories, the prisoners TAX
en- in the action amounted TO 230 as
will be seen hereafter, which would
swell Baumes force TO over 600, without
tn.. LAa l..
and the many who escaped by flight. There
can be little doubt that the number of men
brought into action by Baume exceeded
700, besides his 100 Indians. Col. Skene, at
the request of Burgoyne, had accompanied
the expedition, that the German command
er might have the benefit of his better
knowledge of the country, and of his sup
posed influence with its people.
PREPARING FOR THE BATTLE.
Baune set of with his force on the 18Th
Of August, and arrived the same day at
Cambridge, l6 miles from Bennington.
Early the next morning he reached San
coick, small settlement near the mouth
of the White Creek branch of the Wal
loomsac river, about half a mile below the
present village of North Hoosick. Here
he found party of Americans in possess
sion of mill, which they abandoned on
his approach, and in the mill, on the head
of barrel, he wrote Burgoyne an account
of his progress, informing him that "by
five prisoners taken here they agree that
1900 10 1900 men are at Bennington, but are
supposed to leave on our approach" They
did leave on his approach, but not in the
direction he had anticipated. The old mill
at Sancoick is still standing and in use by
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