Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-08-21

instead OF 800. 1t Is the cause that is fought
for, the heroism and self sacrifice displayed,
and the consequences which follow, moral
aud political as well rs military, that give
significance to conflicts of arms. Judged
by these standards Bennington may well
he reckoncd among the memorable battles
of tho world
II was, on our side, the peoples fight No
government directed or supplied it; no regu-
lar force was concerned; it was part of no
organized campaign. New Hampshire sent
her hastily embodied militia, not tho less
| volunteers. In Vermont and Massachusetts
it was the spontaneous uprising of n rural
and peace-loYing population, TO resist in
vason, to defend their homes to Vindicate
! their right of self-government. LcXing
ton and Bunker Hill were in this respect its
only parallels in the revolutionary war.
The march of Burgoyne from Canada to
| the hudson, had been till then n continuous
victory. He was a brave and skitful sol
der, leading a wel-appointed and powerful
army. Ticonderoga, the key and strong
hold of the Northern frontier, had fallen
unexpectedly without a blow. The Yer
monters retreating thence had been over
! taken and utterly defeated at Hubbardton.
| The advance OF the British to saltwater had
been almost unopposed, and there was as
!
Washington, steel proof against despair
wrote that be saw not how Burgoyne's
march to Albany could be checked
The situation of the inhabitants of the
! Hampshire Grants was most critical.
| Their whole frontier was open to the incur
sious of an enemy whose allies were suv-
ages. They had been totally neglected 10y
! Congress; not step had been taken for
their relief Scattered sparsely through
the country upon their farms, without my
organized State government, almost desti-
tute Of the material of war; except the fire
arms in their houses, they still had no
thought Of flight or submission They call
ed upon God first. in a day Of fasting and
prayer appointed by their convention and
not only appointed but solemnly kept And
then they called upon New Hampshire
and John Stark. Sew Hampshire abla2e
with patriotic feeling, issued instant orders
| for her militia to march. Stark's reply
was brief, for he was not a man Of words.
81 am on the way" said he, "with ali tue
men | can muster With the eve of
born soldier he saw that the Nermonters
were right when they declared, that there
| could be no frontier but frontier of armed
! men. That the Hampshire Grants must be
/ held, because no enemy could be resisted TO
| whom the gates of the country were thus
|
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