The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-10-25
nIsroR1o BENNINGTON.
Berkshire at the Battle-An Entertaining
Letter.

Letter.
In this little town nesting among the
Green Mountains of Vermont are points
of historic interest for every true born
American, but more especially for those
who live among the Berkshire Hills, for
here it was that Berkshire distinguished
herself in the great struggle for National
independence one hundred and eleven
years ago.
When Patrick Henry's burning speech
spread like fiery sea over the length
and breadth OF the land, igniting in
every heart the flames of patriotism,
here among the Green Mountains and
there Pmong Berkshire's hills were
found hearts true as the truest and spir-
its brave as the bravest, to re-echo his
war cry, "Give me liberty or give me
DEATH" and to ratify it with their hearts
blood in the memorable battle of Ben
nington.
Berkshire and Bennington with the
brave boys OF New Hampshire, fought
and won the battle that led directly to
Burgoyne's capitulation and ultimately
to Americas victory.
Burgoyne was at Saratoga thirty miles
away.
He was in need of provisions and am
munitIon. Word having come to him
through the medium of the New York
tories that in this little mountain ham,
let were stored American supplies, he
detailed Col. Baum with his brutal Hes
slams and Indian allieAe'to come up here
and butcher and pillagSS to their hearts
content.
- kaI Hl"r with aanuIlinp
hopes that were fulfilled ''sanguinarilly"
IL not otherwise.
"What were handful of backwoods
men, uucouth and undisciplined to these
trained butchers and cunning savages p
So they started out full OF confidence
that they, who had captured Ticonde-
roga and Skenesboro and met nothing
but victory in their triumphant march
southwark, would just wipe out these
mountaIueers and erase from existence
the little village of Remington. -
Here on hilltop. in the yard of the
State Arms House, still standing, were
stored the supplies.
A little way below it on the left stood
the "Catamount House, the only tavern
in the place. This was the rendezvous
Of the lion hearted men of the town
who met and discussed ways and meant
to assist their country in the hour oil
need, Gen, Stark and a company oil
New Hampshire militia were stationed
here at the time guarding the stores, but
they were inefficient to battle with 60(
Hessians and a horde of savages, and 80
hearing of the advancing enemies, they
called a council of war.
What were they to do, this handful Of
unskilled men ? To think was to act
No time was to be lost. Berkshire wa
only twenty miles away and there wert
other men ready to do and dare.
Another Paul Revere was sent gallop
ing over hill and dale to spread the new
that the British were coming"
Through Pittsfield's quiet streets on
Sunday morning dashed the messenger
shouting his news, causing the entir'
population to flock together in excited
groups. Parson Allen was preaching
TO his flock when the news reached him
Stopping in his sermon he said: Broth
ers, there is time to pray and time tt
fight. This is the time to fight, and
am going to fight" Long live his mem
ory. The fighting parson wrote hi
name in history that day and his word
will last while the United States is 1
Republic.
Away over the mountains they spec
at their country's call, hardly waiting
to say good bye TO home and loved one
to some of whom it was forever-sC
anxious were they to meet the foe, ant
Pittsfield crowned herself with laurel
They arrived here after several hours o
fatiguing march and united with othe
l. .koI; ,,,r aI OF ~ n mi o
and cut off the enemy.
The horrible depredations committed
BY Baum's men and his savage allie
caused these patriots to go forth anc
meet the enemy as far from home ant
their loved ones as possible, thus avoid
ing for them the terrors of massacre.
Col. Baum and his dastardly torle
must have been much surprised to SCI
from their hilltop enoampment thiI
David OF an army coming forth to NEE
them, and thought, like Goliath, they
would make quick work of them, nj
doubt. Gen. Stark ordered halt oil
account Of the heavy downpour Of rail-
that was falling and they grounded
arms on another bill where they com
manded a view Of the red coats and thu
lovely valley Of Waloomsac inter
vening.
The rain continued all day, that 15tl
of August, TIT, as though all natur
grieved at the destruction that was to b
The fighting parson was impatient a
the delay and would have plunged
through the mud and rain 1--WE think h
must have had Irish blood in him) AM
thrown himself on the British at once
but Gen. Stark quieted him and com
forted him by saying "wait until tomor
row and if it is clear weather we'll Civ
you fighting enough, and our her
waited, but impatiently.
We can we'll imagine the feelings o
the little army through that dismal da.
Of rain and feel sure that on the morn
ing of the 18th Parson Allen was tn
first one astir, if, indeed, any slept. d
that morning commenced the menora
BILE battle that bathed the ground il
blood and our heroes in glory. In tn
darkness of night Gen. Stark had sent
detachment to attack the enemy in tn
rear as soon as the diminishing began
and that morning said to his men as b
viewed the British forming into battl
array, boys, there are the Red Coats
We must beat them today or Moll
Stark is a Widow" They did beat
The Indians were panic stricken whe
the rear attack began and broke an
fed like the wild things they were
which was a stroke of luck to the Gree
Mountaineer and his plucky friends O
Berkshire, whose spirits rose according
", fighting like lions until they scored
victory that was the straw that turne
the stream in favor of America. "20
Rn0 fpnr hraOa
and ammunition wagons, 800 swords an
1000 stands of arms were secured TO
the victors, while the American los
was but 200 in killed and wounded"
This was serious blow to Burgoyr
on his march to meet Lord Howe, an
led directly TO his capitulation, leavin
CORVALLIS to do the same afterwards.
Col. Baum was MORALLY wounded /
this battle and died the next day. W
held his sword in our hands the othe
day and we gloried over it. 1t is bi
enough to kill the Cardiff Giant shout
he ever rise from his stony sleep an
must have been sufficiently sharp
slash and cut cruelty Ill years agC
Notwithstanding the fact that it belong
ed to the enemy and doubtless cause
many a brave soul to leap into erernity
we could not but admire the courage {
him who must have welded it in man
a battle and the thlckest of the fight
leave its edge nicked like saw, frol
the clashing of Yankee blades. 1t is
heavy affair, with an iron guard to II
brass hilt, and leathern scabbard.
quaint camp kettle of Baum's and SCI
eral cannon balls picked up after IL
battle, with a bomb-shell that WI
IL o.rnr N hnnHrnd unnra Alter in IL