The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-08-12
vermont's Great ceIe braticn.

On Wednesday of next week the grand old
State OF Vermont will celebrate in the neigh
borhood OF Bennington the centenary of her
admission into the Union. At the same
time the monument commemorative the bat
tie of Bennington will be dedicated. The
occasion will undoubtedly be, as 1t deserves
to be, the most important celebration ever.
held in the State. Vermont has lately dedi-
Gated on the most glorious portion Of the
field of Gettysburg an imposing monument
to tell to future generations the Important
and conspicuous part played by the brigade
OF Green Mountain boys at the decisive bat
tie In the American nations second great
struggle. The field of Bennington is the
place for the other great monument to Yer
mont yalor. Bennington was not a great
battle; but 1t was an important one. Bur-
goyne was sweeping down through New
York with the powerful column which was
expected to divide New England from the
rest Of the colonies and result in the CON-
plete subjugation of America. The defeat
OF Burgoyne at Saratoga has been included
by the English historian as one of the fifteen
decisive battles of the world. But Benning-
ton made Saratoga possible. Arbitrary old
John Stark, who had told his men at Bunker
Hill to ''aim at the Wristbands" of the Brit
ish, but who had retired to bis New Hamp-
shire farm after Trenton and Princeton be-
cruise he thought he had been sighted In
promotions, commanded. He had yielded to
New Hampshire's call for him to command
her forces only on the condition that he
might do as he wanted to, not as his military
Csrraa fArct affxlA ".
mont. rallied her militia, or Screen Noun
tain Boys" and at Bennington attacked
General Baum, who had marched from Bur-
g0yne's column with 1000 men to seize
stores. There they are, boys! We beat
them today, or Molly Stark is widowp
were the words of Stark when he came up to
the Hessians. If we may believe tradition,
which seems to have overlooked the fact that
Mrs. Stark's name was Elizabeth. Not more
than 100 men out Of Baum's 1000 got away
from Stark and his Green Mountain Boys.
who lost but IA killed and AZ wounded. This
battle paralyzed Bursoyue's operations, ard
prepared the way for Saratoga. Benning-
ton was won by Vermont soldiers and
New Hampshire general. The monument
which is to be dedicated is plain obelisk
OF limestone, Jul feet high.
1t is the particular glory of Vermont that
she fought two wars Of independence at
once. She did her part with combination
Of gallantry and Yankee shrewdness that
was remarkable. New York claimed the
Vermont grants made by the Governor of
New Hampshire as province Of her own.
The boys and girls of quarter of century
ago understood this dispute thoroughly from
their readings in that captivating patriotic
novel. THE Green Mountain Boys" Ethan
Allen was one of the leaders Of the Green
Mountain Boys, and was out'awed by the
New York authorities before The Revolution
broke out When the colonies declared in
dependence New York still chung to her
claim on the New Hampshire grants But
nevertheless in January. 1777, the people of
Vermont declared their independence, as
sumed the name Of Vermont, and requested
OF Congress permission to enter the Union.
But New York blocked their efforts. Con.
gress fearing. 1t is said, lest the great colony
might turn over to the King should 1t be
thwarted lin its plans to retain Vermont
This left Vermont In very hard place. She
was sending her sons to fight the attles of
independence at Bunker Hill, on the Della
ware. In New York and in Virginia: but
every blow she struck for the patriotic cause
seemed to fasten New York's claim to the
possessions of her people more firmly. More
over, Vermont was left without the pro-
lection Of the Continental armies, for the
purpose, the Vermonters believed, Of fore
ing them to ask the protection of New York.
In this situation they brought their Yankee
wits to their assistance The brothers.
Ethan and Ira Allen, with Thomas Chitten-
den, afterwards first governor of the state,
opened negotiations with the British. Great
Britain was made to believe that Vermont
might become dependency, and SO skilfully
did Ira Allen manage the negotiations that
a large British army, ready to invade Yer
mont. was kept inactive on the border I'm
til the close Of the war Vermont and that
portion of the United States as well was pro-.
tected from invasion by the diplomacy of the
Vermonters. After the war the United
States gave some signs of readiness to aid
New York in the enforcement of her claim,
so the Vermonters still kept the British ION
the string" as the saying is. Meanwhile
Vermont exercised all the functions of indie
pendence. She coined money. established
postal system, etc. Finally New York
agreed to relinquish her claim to the grants
for $4,000, a sum which was collected TO be
paid to New York In a little house which
still stands in Rutland. Then, in February,
1881, Congress passed an act admitting "the
new state Of Vermont" on the 4th day of
s malen 1871 Vermonps struggle for indie
pen1ence was arduous and perplexing, as
, wen as glorious. Her leading men have
p p''.,.s eiiucised for negotiating with the
nil.lsn' put this was only shrewd way Of
neutrallzing the intrigues Of New Yors The
deeds OF the Vermonters bespeak their low
atty to the cause, and If they made fools -
the British in order to prevent the enforce tH ~
ment OF what they considered the minis,
claims of New York, it was an offence which