The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-04
TUESDAY AUGUST 4. 1891.
Bennington's Monument.

Bennington's Monument.
During this present month OF August
the monument to perpetuate the bat
tie OF Bennington in Vermont is to be
dedicated with appropriate oeremo-
MES. The New England Magazine for
August gives full description OF 1t,
as well as graphic account OF the
battle fought there, August 10th, 177T,
and which may be termed tho turning
point in favor of the Americans under
General Stark, that led to American
Independence, and compared with the
late rebellion, the greater battle OF
Saratoga to which IL Immediately led |
was the Gettysburg Of the Revolution. |
The monument is built, of course, OF |
Vermont granite, and is single col. |
umn three hundred feet high. As tho
States Of Vermont, New Hampshire
and Massachusetts, contributed the
soldiers that gained the great victory
that led to the defeat and surrender OF
Burgoyne, the British general with all
his army, those States contributed the
money, $4,000 for the building OF
the monument.
Though the agitation for the build
ing OF this monument commenced
away back in 1858, it was not until the
Centennial in 1876 that the patriotic
spirit OF these New England mountains
GERS were aroused to patriotic sense
OF their duty, and when once aroused
they became as determined to build
the monument as they were deter
mined to whip General Baum and his
Hessian hirelings in III. Anyhow
the monument is now completed, and
the old revolutionary fires OF patriot.
ism will burn brightly when II is dedi-
cated. The New England Magazine
itself grows patriotic us it gives de-
scription of the battle.
1t can readily be excused for this, IN
deed We do not see how the heart of
any descendant Of revolutionary sires
can fail to beat with patriotic impulses
when the names OF Bennington, Gen.
Stark, Fighting Parson Allen, General
Seth Warren, Colonies Simonds, Ho-
bart, Stickney, Nichols, Williams and
Herrek, and the noble deeds they per
formed at that battle, are mentioned.
There were not many men engaged in
the battle. When compared with the
great armies of tho late civil war ii
was hardly skirmishing party, but
the number was large for revolution
airy times.
AS Burgoyne came down Lake Cham
plain from Canada to meet Lord How
on the Hudson at Albany he heard o.
the gathering of patriots at Benning
ton and of the large amount of sup
plies collected there. lie needed til
supplies and he had to disperse tn
gathering to make his way clear dow
the Hudson. 1t was no use sending
large detachment against them TO
they were only melitia in their shir
sleeves who would drop their guns
and run at the first approach OF
regiment OF veteran Hessians. Gencl
al Baum was sent to gathor in the ia
BILE but somehow he felt as il he woul
be safer with reinforcements and h
got them.
He was not anxious to attack tn
Americans and SO fortified and waite
TO be attacked. lie had not long {
welt. General Stark, who declare
that he would whip the British tia
day or "lTollle Stark would be
widow accepted the gage OF BATH
He sent 500 men to Turn tho right win
while he himself proceeded far To Il
front. Both armies were about equi
In numbers 200 each. But there vi
light in Stark and there was fight
his men. Tile battle was hot. but
was soon over.
The British not killed were take
prisoners. The British General WI
killed. but "Mollie" Stark was not
widow. This battle inspired the AmeI
can army with such confidence that
the tollowing.October Burgoyne al
his army of 5000 men surrendered
General:Gates at Saratoga, after viii
the end of the war began to come
sight The New England Maga2iI
also has an interesting account Of I
two battles following BennngtC
which preceded the surrender OF 81