Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-02-19

tuls eucouhler was very COnslueTaOic-lh
killed, wounded and prisoners, G2i.
The British having supposed that large
portion of the inhabitants on the New
Hampshire grants were opposed tothe Rev
olution, and that it was necessary only to
march an enemy into their country, and
furnish them with arms, to bring them all
round the royal standard. Burgoyne had
issued proclamation addressed to the
inhabitants Of the country assuring them
Of his protection on condition of submission
to the king. To their honor, however, be
it said, notwithstanding the darkness and
gloom which at this time enveloped Amer
lean affairs, very few were found disposed
to abandon the cause of their country. So
far from this, on the 18th of July, the
committee of safety of Vermont assembled
at Manchester, not only agreed to raise all
the men they could to oppose the enemy,
but at the same time wrote in tho most
urgent terms to New Hampshire and
Massachusetts to send on Il bodyoftroops to
their assistance. In response to this call,
the legislature of New Hampshire imme-
diately rallied their militia. and hurried
them forward, under General John Stark
an officer Of some reputation in the French
war, and who had also distinguished HIM
self at the battle of Bunker Hill Agreea.
BILE to his orders, Stark with about 800
men, made haste 20 Join the Vermont
troops, who, to the number of about 600,
were collected at Manchester under the
command of Col. Seth Warner. Not
long. meantime, were these patriots to
wait for an opportunity TO display their
courage and to win unfading laurels.
Having learned that large quantity of
provisions were collected at Bennington,
designed for the American army, and still
laboring under the delusion that majority
of the people in that quarter were friendly
to the royal cause, Burgoyne detached a
select body of about 500 regular troops
under the command of Colonel Baum, 70
surprise the place and secure these stores,
of which he was in perishing need, for his
own army. General Stark, who was now
at Bennington, receiving intelligence of
this contemplated attack, proceeded on the
10th of August, to intercept and to make a
general attack upon the enemy. After
about two hours hard fighting the enemy
were overpowercd and utterly routed
their commander, mortally wounded, fall
ing into the hands Of the victorious Amer
leans, as also nearly all his men. The
enemy's loss was 207 killed. That Of the
Americans was tritling in comparison.
The battle of Bennington, though of no
great magnitude-a mere outlying skirm-
ish-yet in consideration of its influence
upon the fortunes of the war, it was after
all important and decisive. Since the fall
of the gallant Montgomery an uninter-
rupted series af rcvcrses and defeats had
attended the American arms in the north
crn department; in consequence of which
many of the most ardent friends of the
cause. of freedom had begun to despond.
But this splendid victory of Stark, achiev-
ed principally, too, by undieciplined mill
tia over veteran regular troops, proved
naturally as encouraging to the patriots Us
it was dsheartening to the British. Not
only did it disabusc the mind Of the royal
general in regard to there existing on this
territory any considerable number still
friendly to the royal cause, but it demon
strated to the country that, well appointed
as they might be, and naughty rs were their
pretcnsions, the royal arms were not yet by
any means, absolutely invincible. The
hopes and courage of the Americans We're,
therefore, hereby greatly revived, and vol
untccrs from every quarter now tlocked to
| the American standard.
Meanwhile, us brilliant and signal rs
had been their feats with the sword, even
more brilliant and signal, if possible, dur
ing this revolutionary err, were the ieats
of these Vermonters in diplomacy. In
deed the history Of the American Revolu-
ton is, perhaps, marked by II no moro
singular and notable episode than that to
which reference is now about to be made
while one cannot but be impressed by the
spectacle of II handful of men accomplish
ing by policy what they could have never
done by power-hatlljng and for two OF
three years holding at bay, IN army
10000 strong, and thus averting, notwitE'
standing an utterly exposed and unpro'
tected frontier, ruinoas invasion and dev-
astaton.
| The Revolutionary war was still wearing
on. The claims to Independence. on the
part of Vermont, were still unackn0wl
edged bv congress, and New York was
still importunate and veXltious Under
these circumstances the British generals
in America entertained hopes of turning
these disputes to their own account by de
taching Vermont from the American
cause and making it II British province
The first intmation of their views and
wishes in this regard was communicated
in letter, from Colonel Beverly Robinson
dated New YORK, March 30, 1880, tc
Ethan Allen. The British agents gave
assurance that if Vermont would return tc
her allegiance she should become Il roya
colony with privileges equal to those en-
joyed by any other colony; while those
who assisted in accomplishing this objec
would be suitably honored and rewarded
Allen Immediately communicated the con
tents of this letter to Gov. Chittenden
and not long after nclosed the communi
cation itself in letter to congress. Sub
sequently the governor appointed Ira
Allen one Of commission. on the part oi
Vermont, to negotiate an exchange o.
prisoners with British officials in Canada
A cessation of hostlities with Vernon
was one of the conditions of this exchange
During this interview the British agents