Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-20
BATTLE MONUMENT DEDICATED
70 Commemorate the Battle Of BsnninR.
ton--rhe Fraudulent Present.

TO Commemorate the Battle Of BsnninR.
ton--The President Present.
BENNINGTON, VT, Ang. s0-The cere-
mony of dedicating the monument
erected TO commemorate the Battle OF
Bennington crowded this little town to
overlooking Wednesday. The presence
OF the president of the United States
and members of his cabinet, as well as
the governors of three Of the states,
gave the event a more than local inter
est.
1t brought Yeople from all parts of the
United States, but particularly from the
New England states, TO witness and take
part in the ceremony.
The town was gaily decorated.
The principal interest was in the ar.
rival OF the president and his party, who
had spent the night at the home of Gen.
cral ]. 9. Mccullough at North Ben.
nington, five miles away.
En- route to Vermont from Cape May
he was received with ovations at almost
every place the train stopped
All the way from North Bennington
to Bennington the president was greeted
with cheering, to which he responded by
taking off his hat and bowling In the
forenoon there was grand street pa
rade OF military and civic organizations,
old veterans, ETC., On Main street there
was small reviewing stand from which
the president and members Of his party
reviewed the parade, after which they
were driven to the monument.
AT the reviewing stand while the pro-
cession was passing the platform just
behind the president broke, but forum
ately it fell only few inches, and
though number of distinguished guests
were shaken up none was at all hurt.
The president was on u smaller stand in
front and he was not concerned in the
accident.
AT the monument speeches were made
by ex-Commander-in-chi of The Grand
Army Veazey, Governor Page, of Yer
mont; Ex-Governor Prescott, of New
Hampshire, and Edward j. Phelps, of
Burlington, Vt, orator Of the day. The
president made short extempore
speech after Mr.. Phelps had concluded.
While the president was delivering his
address the platform behind him, on
which were the members of the cabinet
and other distinguished guests, broke
down. The fall was short one, how
ever, and nobody was injured.
The procession then reformed and
marched back to the town.
The president and his escort were
driven Immediately to the large tent
near the soldiers home, where a ban
quet completed the exercises of the day
At night there was display of fire
works ON the soldiers home grounds.
The Battle of bennington.
The Battle of Bennington was fought
on Aug 16, TIT, and was one of the i'm
portant battles Of the revolution. Gen
eral Burgoyne, starting from Quebec,
had marched south, capturing Fort
Ticonderoga, and intended to meet at
Albany part Of the forces of Sir Will
lam Howe, who occupied New York
city. This junction, had it been effect
ed, would have cut off New England
from the rest Of our army and have de-
prived General Washington Of his north
ern supplies. by the time 1t drew near
Bennington General Burgoyne's army
was greatly in need of arms and provi-
sions. He sent detachment under
Baum and Breyman to capture the Con
tinental storehouse at Bennington. This
expedition was defeated and its com
manders killed. IL it had been success
full General Burgoyne would have got
his supplies, he would probably not have
been compelled to surrender to General
Gates, he would have joined Sir Will
lam Howe at Albany, and the revolu-
tion would have had later, and might
have had different ending.
Various unsuccessful attempts to get
money enough for monument com
memorating this battle have from time
to time been made. AT length, in 1890,
the Vermont legislature made an APP
preparation both for the monument and
for the celebration of Vermonts admis-
aion as state. The site of the monu-
ment is near Mount Anthony, and over
looks the Walloomsac river in the val
ley nearly 800 feet below. The solid
rock of Mount Anthony is the founda-
ton for the monument which is in the
form of an obelisk, and is built of native
stone, and faced with magnesia lime
stone or Sandy Hill dolomite. 1t Is 307
feet high. Its cost, including the site,
is about 100000, of which the United
States contributed 100000, Massa-
chusetts $4,000, New Hampshire 49,
800; Vermont $4,000 and supple
mental appropriation for the site. Pri-
vate contributions have brought the total
up to 100000. As the real anniversary
of the battle, Aug. l6, fell on Sunday
this year, Aug. 10, was chosen.