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


lection of discipline, or of finished in
trenchments was sufficient to bring dist
enlargement to their view.
Stark gave the command, the attack
was made the -intrenehments stormed,
land the enemy defeated. What mira
| Giles will resolution and perseverance
effect. n SOD i2Ti eW UecW 7e -
That an undiciplined militia, without
the assistance of a single field piece,
should, in the face of cannon, confront
an enemy almost double in number, and
drive them from their. intrenchments,
marks the determination of Americans,
and affords an instance of bravery. with
out precedent in history.
| Soon after this the enemy, being re-
inforced. renewed the attack, and from
| the dictates of despair fought with per-
severing intrepidity, which in any other
| circumstances must have been the at
tainment of their wishes. In this crit
| ical moment the arrival of Colonel
| Warmers regiment, by adding to the
spirit of the men as well as to their num-
bars, completed the victory. Boast
then, We gasconading Britons, that two
| thousand of your men can effect
march from Saratoga to Springfield, for
| this action has evinced that a Stark,
| Warner and Herrick, with a number
of men little more than half equal to
yours could by the assistance of heaven
defeat your enterprise upon the first at
| tempt, and made two-thirds of your
body prisoners.
But | check this language because gas
conade is no mark of bravery, The
fame of this action spread throughevery
part of America, and was productive of
the most salutary effects in raising the
spirits of our army, which was worn
out by fatigues and hardships, and in
depressing those of the enemy which
for long time had been flushed with
victory. This battle being prelude to
those fought at Saltwater, which were
the immediate harbingers of Burgoyne's
resignation, had a powerful operation in
effecting that event, which was really
the most memorable and glorious that
ever graced the annals of America.
Can it be thought possible that the
heroism of few hundred Green Noun
tain boys, by being exhibited when the
whole country was depressed by re-
treats and misfortunes, should effect the
resignation of a general who COM
manded ten thousand men, and operate
the total dissolution of his army. To the
effects of this action must be attributed
in a considerable degree that series of
success which for the year past has con-
stantly attended our arms, and which
has made America so respectable among
the nations, that one of the most potent
monarchs in the world has not thought
it derogatory to court her alliance.
This establishes our independence and
must soon put a period to the calamities
of war. Are these the effects of the bat
tie of Bennington? Are these the pros
poets which attend the Republic of
America? Then what laurels are due to
Stark and those bold asserters of liberty
whose determined resolution and UNI
daunted courage effected the salvation
of theL country? a..gr
But in a speech of this kind it would
4 be impious not to make ascription of the
sublimest praise to that God whoseking
dom is over all. "Had not the Lord
Deen on Vuf eide, when men rose up
against US they had e--oIJovad us nm
quick" The Success of that day Is nor
to be attributed to the skill of the
officers, and the prowess of the soldiers,
hut to the inteTposition of heaven. That
omnipotent being who has been pleased
to style himself tile God of armies, in
spired our troops with intrepidity and
directed their charge in such manner
that opposition could produce nothing
but carnage and immediate death.
Those heroes who were active that day
were the instruments by which our de-
liverance was effected but God was the
author. To Him, therefore, let the first
and most grateful tribute be paid AS
the victory was complete, let the song
| N nj A nd
becomes all to unite in this glad work,
even those whose nearest friends
were numbered with the slain. By yield
ing themselves a sacrifice to the
flagitious eXertions of tyranny,
they discovered stability of sentiments
in the cause of freedom and sealed it
with their blood. 1t was custom
among the ancients to canonize those
who fell in BATTLE and to send them I'M
mediately to the Elysian fields. This
was productive of good effect among
the soldiers, as it made them believe
that to die in battle was only to enter
upon a more happy state. 1T is sweet
and glorious to die for ones country"
was maxim which they firmly be-
lieved.
In fighting, the death of some is neces-
sary, even on the side of victory and
that individual who would not resign
his life for the salvation of his country
must be possessed of soul the most par
tial and contracted. There is, therefore,
no just cause of lamentation to those
whose friends were slain, for by their
deaths our country was saved. Since
that event, the situation Of affairs in this
: northern department, has been very diff
ferent. The hurry and hustle of war
are now succeeded by the sweets of tran
guilty and retirement. Those who by
the savage cruelty Of the enemy were
driven from their habitatiOns are now
returned to a peaceful and furnishing
settlement, and instead of those horrors
and depredations which are lnseparable
from all wars, and with which this has
been particularly marked, all have now
the glorious prospect of a permanent
and uninterrupted, peace. When this
takes place, the necessity of maintaining
so numerous an army will cease, our
currency will again revert to its proper
value, and thousands will resort to this
(. State with designs of making it. the
place of their residence all the avenues
of commerce WILDE laid open, and the
inestimable blessings of government es-
tablished. Then, if we may be allowed
to put literal Construction upon the
enraptured prophecy of Isaiah: "The
wilderness and the solitary place shall
be glad foT them; and the desert shall
rejoice, and blossom as the rose"
TITLE PAGE OF POEM.
1 A poetical essay delivered at Benning-
ton on the anniversary of the 10Th of
August, 1871, by Stephen Jacob 1918,
Hartford Printed by Watson & Good
win, MDCCLXXIX. I