The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-19

with rifles, 20 whose use they were accus-
toned, Just as they were beaten by the
minute men of the South at Kings Noun
tain and New Orleans. The defeat Of
Bennington, coming as it did on the heels
OF Sc. Leger's failure 70 capture Fort STAN
wix and descend the Mohawk TO Albany,
convinced Burgoyne, who was a man of
talent and keen observer of human ma
ture, that it was impossible to conquer
America The position selected by Baum
at Bennington was admirably chosen and
desperately defended, the Hessians fought
with great courage, and Baum died sword
In hand at the head of his men. The gal
liant and enterprising General Frazer, at
the head of the English light troops, Jared
no better afterwards when opposed to yeo-
manry similarly armed and led by Morgan
and Arnold at Saratoga.
The campaign of Burgoyne more than
any other during the Revolutionary strug-
gle was marked by desperate valor on part
of the Americans who charged up to the
mouth Of cannon with unexampled fury,
and to this desperate mode of fighting
may be ascribed the failure of the best
planned and most ably conducted cam
paign on the part Of the British during the
Revolutionary war;. Burgoyne lacked
neither ability, energy. prudence nor valor,
his subordinafes, Frazer, Reidesel. Phil
lips and Balcarras were men Of superior
military duality, yet he was overwhelmed
by disaster, for his employment Of Indians
converted the peaceful farmer into bitter
and formidable fighter, who cut off his
foraging parties on every side. compelled
his soldiers to fight at disad-
vantage from lack of food and trans
portation at Saratoga. and finally sur
render. The settlers knew by tradition, If
not by actual experience, the horrors Of
Indian warfare, and the menace of these
hostilities to their wives and children pro-
duced that feeling of terrible evaporation
which made such an astounding feat of
arms at Bennington possible to crowd Of
corn stock militia.
The evaporation and the desperate de-
termination it inspired will be understood
here in Washington by the early settlers
who had to meet and put down the Indian
war of 1856.
Stark, who enrolled the yeomanry, was
an old Indian fighter, a sinewy soldier,
Injured to peril in the old French war. and
at Bunker Hill and Trenton, but there
was little or no need of strategy or tactics.
The purpose was to surround on all sides
an enemy standing stiffiy at bay and de-
stroy them. 1t needed only knowledge
of the country, rapid movement and des-
perate courage. Struck ON each flank,
assailed furiously in front and rear,
in less than two hours time
Baum's detachment was destroyed.
Of generalship or leadership lit
tie was possible or needed. The men
fought in knots or clumps "on their own
hook" and judgment, moving forward on
wave of indignation, as it were, when
comrade tell, and gradually advancing IN
der the shelter of trees to a point so close
that their rifles silenced the two little
brass cannon that had not ceased to shoot
showers Of grape viciously at them. The
credit Of the second fight and victory Of
Connecticut physician and most accom-
plished soldier, for Stark had ordered re-
treat. bat vas persuaded by Warner, who
had Just teen reinforced BY the arrival of
80 fresh faen Of his own regiment from
Manchester, 70 rally the troops for sec
ond battle, which ended In victory.
Warner alone fought and won this
second fight, Stark taking little
Or no part In It. Warner planned
the asssgIt tba. won the first victory over
Baum, and was stark's right-hand man
through the whole battle. as he had dis
tinguishsd himself with the Continental
army In the campaign against Canada
with Arnod and Montgomery. The losses
in those days OF short-range firearms were
very severe, for the British dead alone
numbered ~. SMILE they lost $50 prisoners
and fur cannon, which did not leave much
Of the original detachment of 1900 men.
The American loss was but thirty killed
and forty wounded. 1t was a collision
between men of equal valor, but of UNEQUAL
moral force and determination, and the
hireling Hessians went down before the
yeoman fighting for his affairs and his
fires.
Finally coming OPPORTUNITY at time
when ray of success was sorely needed
in the long night of disaster. which had
scarcely lifted since the fatal day of Long
Island coming when the evacuation of
Ticonderoga and the doubtful, bloody
fight of Oriskany had filled all hearts with
despair, the victory of Bennington was an
event of more deep and lasting conse-
quence than Bunker Hill, for it convinced
the colonial soldiers that British troons
were not invincible even when they fought
behind entertainments, while Bunker Hill
had only taught them that the embattled
farmers were match behind breastyorks
for regulars charging in the open field.
Four days after this battle Burgoyne
wrote: Had succeeded, should have
effected junction with st. Leger. and
been now in Albany. The New Hamp-
shire Grants (Vermont) abound with the
most active and most rebellious race of the
continent, and hangs like a gathering
storm on my left"
Bennington was won August 18th. Bur.
goyne was badly worsted at Freeman's
farm September 10Th, completely defeated
at Saratoga October eth. and surrendered
October 18th. i777. Had Burgoyne reached
Albany, where he would have been Joined
by st. Leger from Oswego, and opened
communications with Howe at New York
CITY, England would have had fn1 ror,-