The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-08-21

The campaign of 17T6 in the northern depart
ment had been disastrous to the American
arms. After suffering severe losses our FORCES
had been driven from Canada in great distress,
and the enemy, by the destruction of the Amerl-
can hotilla, had obtained full command OF the
waters of Lake Champlain. Great numbers OF
troops were arriving at Quebec, from Europe, and
fearful invasion was expected at the opening OF
the lake in the spring, To meet snch INVASION
extensive works had been erected at Ticonderoga,
on which great reliance was placed. But they
manned, and on the approach OF Gen, burgoyne'
with powerful army, Gen. 81. GAR iound tneyy
would be wholly untenable. and he teit conlpeIeu
to abandon them. The rear guard OF his retreatng
army, under the command OF Col. Seth warner,
was overtaken the next day, July z. l177, at Hub
bardton, by large body Of the enemy, and, after
brave resistance, during which many were
killed and wounded on both sides, was overpow-
cred by numbers and obliged TO- give way; The
greatest portion Of st Clair's force succeeded IN
forming junction with Gen. Schuyler at Fort
Edward, while the remnant of COL warmers
regiment, about LAO strong, LOOK post az Manches-
, ter. -oao.,.,,.fy sttt.rl .,.t.,,.,,.o61, seyl,
l. was equipped and furnished with every warlike
material that wealth and skill could supply, and
l consisted mostly Of British and German veterans
4 with bodiesof Canadians and Tories, and for
" midable horde Of Indians, It's commander ex.
w. pected to make triumphal march to Albany,
there to be met by an army from New York, and
river, and cutting Of New England from the
other States, to complete the conquest OF the
country for the king. He had already issued
flaming proclamation, threatening destruction to
the lives and property Of an who should oppose
him, but promising protection and security to
those who thould give him their adhesion, and
offering payment "in solid COM for all provisions
that should be brought to his camp On the 10th
of July, having reached Skenesborough, now
Whitehall, he issued another proclamation in
which he directed ''the inhabitants of Castleton
Hubbardton, Rutland. linmouth' Pawlet, Wells
and Granville. with the neighboring districts Z
also the districts bordering on White Greek
(Salem). Camden, Cambridge, etc, etc" to send
ten persons or more from each township to meet
Colonel Skene at Castjeton on the 18TH who
would communicate conditions upon which the
persons and properties of the disobedient might
yet be spared" The proclamation concluded
with the following barbarous threat "This fail
not under pain Of military execution JIg'
,Toa large proportion of the frontier inhabi,
tants, Burgoyne's army appeared irresistible.
Hhe should let loose his horde of savages upon
them. which In his first proclamation he said
amounted TO thousands" there wonid seem to
be no escape for them. Great numbers from
those towns, and some from towns still further to
the SOUTH repair to Col. Skene, and taking the
p oath of allegiance to the crown, some from
choice, and some from supposed necessity, re.
ceiyed written projections for their security. OF
these some took up arms against their country,
and Joined the invading army. But the more
= patriotic and courageous portion Ofthe inhabi-
tants, scorning submission 10 the Invaders, aban-
doned their homes to the mercy Of the enemy,
AMI taking with them such Of their effects as they
were abet TO transport, fed Oihe south some
them BpllS
ll on to their friends in Berkshire county and
Connecticut.' Berkshire county, in the language
of a contemporary was "Bdrieued with these
fugitives." Nearly all Of the territory between
lY Bennington and the routes Of Burgoyne towards
the Hudson and Albany was thus made, in efect
an enemy's country, and Bennington became 0
frontier town. F- i1 800 InHI do d.
Prior to the revolution the territory of Yer
mont was known by the name Of the New Hamp
shire Grants, over which the government of New
York claimed jurisdiction and also the title to is
lands. This claim was disputed by Its inhabi-
tants, who after long and severe controversy
had, by a convention Of their delegates held il
Westminster on the 18th of January, 1777, de
clared the territory an independent State. Al
the time Of the evacuation Of Ticonderoga by st
Clair a subsequent convention Of the new State
was in session at Windsor, engaged in the worL
of framing its constitution OF government, and
the abandonment Of that post left the families o.
many of It's members in immediate peril. At the
news Of this alarming event the constitution was
somewhat hurriedly adopted and having ap
pointed council Of safety TO manage the affair.
of the State until the regular government could
be put in operation, the convention adjourned.
Tie council Of safety thus constituted met al