Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-11-14
aE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.
Ok r. q


,ns fncidents Of the battle of
bennington. my father iu-'aw,
said one Of them, "was Tory,
ana went with Lieutenant Colonel
baum's Hessians, in JaIy. I'LL,
when they marched, at General
Durgoyne's Command, to seizs the
american forts as bennington
Baum was in little fort, which
he hastily threw up on the top OF
NIL, not far from Wallonsac
River. Some call the battle the
Battle OF Hoosac, because it was
In that town, aud not in Benniug-
ton; ahd some call it the Battle
OF the WaIlomsac.
my father" said tho other,
was In the slime battle, but on
the other side; and have often
heard him tell this story: Colonel
Warner was very active in calling
out the people Of Berkshire Conn-
ty, in Massachusetts,, when the
alarm was given that the Hessians
were coming; and'the minister Of
the place where my father lived
marched Off to Bennington at the
head Of bis deacons and parish
ioners Early in the morning Of
/. July 16 Colonel Warner told u
'lisrgA athletic man, who was look
a. MS troops, 10 fall into the
-5ht ranks; but he replied that
he was q WAGNER, and had not
come to fight The colonel then
turned and addressed an old man
OF small stature, with white and
flowing hair, aud said: The
labors OF the day are likely to be
severe. and it is my request that
you remain here as sentry over
the baggage The aged man
seemed at once to feel the anima-
ton OF youth, aud, quickly bring
ing his iireiock to MS shoul Ter,
made kind OF hop forward and
exclaimed: NOT ill have bad
one shot at them 6rstl Tbis re-
stored the feelings OF the by
standsrs. which had been litll.
clouied by the cowardly speech
which preceded, aud the order to
march was soon given
''Tsey were led. with much
cautiJn, but as rapidly as posi-
Bile, toward the Hesslan fort,
taking advantage Of II narrow
hollow, which led u part OF The
way in that direction, and effectu-
ally concealed them from the
enemy. When my father reach
ed the end of the ravine with his
company (for he WAS a captain,
aud had the head OF the line ho
found himself ut tue foot OF tue
fort, and saw soldiers above
pointing their muskets at hIn
Tue next Instant he fel, being
shot with musket- ball through
the fJot. He succeeded in gail-
ing his standing; aud on seeing.
at v distance, IL red-coat moving
ACROSS field, tho thought oc-
Cured TO him that he might en-
k;Qurage his men by u I ilse report; I;
&, he cried ont: They runl
hey runp 1t had the desired
8sct. Tue militia rushed for
lard, clim bed The hill aud the
Fall vi the fort. aud the euemy
lLurned aud Had withoat any re-
distance.
"Tbat is oil true, said the first
speaker. II have heard my
fAthsr-in-law tell the same stor, /;
and lie used to add what / will
now give you.
al ran. said he, across The
field behind the fort. bat soon
observed that l was foilowe W u
tall Yankee, who seem ID deter
mined TO CveituLe me. Both OF
our guns were uuloaded, and, OF
course. Of no use, / threw asay
mine. and began to 6 lln ON him.
After while he throw away lis,
and then lie began to come up
sgain. Looking back ouce more,
l saw him kick vi his shoe.; bu,
mine were buckled, and would
not come of. Before me was IA
grows Of trees. aud 1 pushed ou
for 1t with all my might. hoping
to hnd some kind oi ieiuee fio "A
my pursuer. l did not y so We
that only the tops Of the trees
appeared, nor renset that there
must be u steep descent On this
side. When l reached tue spot
/ discovered that it was ihe per
pendicular bank OF the WALTON
sac River; and the next instant
felt myself falling do~n u great
distance. Patl cams my feet into
the deep, soft mud on the elge
oil the stream; aud there l stuck
fast.
Pail came my pursuer right
after me; for lie also had bsel
funning ut too swift q rate tu
ohock him aalf in ,ima. anI daw,