The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-01-22
LConcluded from first page.)

(COncluded from first pdge.)
ton of the battle fought at Bennington
on the memorable 10Th of August, III,
and desire a copy thereof for the press.
JONAS FAY, Clerk of the Committee
Now as to Mr.. Lockes assertions
regarding New York troops in the battle
of Bennington. He says: "it now APP
pears that Col. John Williams of White
Creek, a hated New Yorker, at the head
ofNew York troops, saved the day. And
later on in his article gives full account
OF their action in the battle, by which
victory was won.
All this in the face of the fact, while
there is letter tending to show that one
Colonel John Williams was in the neigh
Sborhood with a party guarding roads,
there is not one Scintilla of proof that
anv New York troOps whatever took any
part in the battle on the colonial side.
The attempt to rewrite the history of a
battle more inan century after 1T occur
ed, furnishing all the details from the
Imagination of the!wrtcr instead of bas-
ing them upon shred of evidence, is an
operation so novel us to be amusing to
one conversant with the facts; but which
might he somewhat misleading to the
casual reader
Mr.. Locke does not hesitate upon his
own authority to contradict the strong
est evidence and directly cOntroverts the
statement of Gen. Stark, contained in
his report of the battle, to the effect that
Warne, began the second conflict. But
enough upon this point. If Mr.. Locke's
arguments as to how the battle was
known to the British and the question
of the credit due to New York in this
conf ct were to be weighed from the
British standpoint, no doubt Col. Piister
and his several hundred New York tory
participants would entitle that state to
consideration in the naming of the battle.
Now rs to Mr.. Locke's second PROPOSE
ton.
"Rurgoync did not fit ont an expedi-
ton against Bennington and did not send
Baum to capture stores there"
The original instructions to Baum I'M
questionably show that the first idea was
that of an expedition by way of Airing
ton and Manchester to the Connecticut
river and thence to Albany, but the proof
that these instructions were subsequent
w c""ntermanded is absolute and ire
fragable.
60 10Th of Auoust, III, Col Baum
wrote Burgoyne as fellows:
''Sr: / nlu The honor of aCQuainting
your eXcellency, by man sent Yesterday
evening by Col. Skeene to headquarters,
of the several corps under my command
being encamped at Saratoga, as well as
my intention to proceed the next morn
ing at o'clock; the corps moved at that
time and marched a mile, when | received
a letter from Brigadier General Fraser,
signifying your eXcellency'S order to
post the corps advantageOuSly on Batten
Kill till | should receive fresh instruc-
ton from your excellency; the corps is
now encamped atthatplace and wait your
excellency's orders"
The same day, 10y new instructions
given verbally, Gen. BurgOyne directed
Col. Baum. instead of going to Arlington
and thence by way of Manchester across
the mountain, to proceed directly to Ben
nington and capture the military supplies
and stores there.
Burgoyno's Estate of this Expedition"
page IS. 'Reidesels Memories" Vol. 1,
pages 1926 to Us inclusive.
The following day Col. Baum wrote
Gen. Burgoync as follows:
''Sir: In consequence of your excel
lency's orders l moved this morning.
Your eXcellcncy may depend on hearing
llON ll'N'A'l ~ lJClilll9 iOll anu vi MY
success there
The letters of Col. Baum and Gen. Bur-
goyne dated August ii, also mention in
directly that the expedition was to pro-
coed against Bennington. On August 20.
four davS aftcrthe battle Gen. Burgoyne
wrote Lord George Germaine as follows:
MY Inrn, II II" Won Known that the
enemy's supplies in live cattle from
large tract of country passed by the route
of Manchester. Arlington and other parts
of the Hampshire Grants to Bennington.
A large deposit of corn and of wheel car
riages was also formed at the same place
A scheme was formed to surprise Ben
nington. The possession of the cattle
and carriages would certainly have ell
abled the army to leave their distant ma
gaines and to have acted with energy
and dispatch"
Now let us see what Glich says in his
narrative: "About twenty miles to the
eastward of the Hudson lies the Obscure
village of Bennington. Here the enemy
had gathered together considerable
depot of cattle, cows, horses and wheel
carriages. An attemp to surprise it
seemed by no means unjustifiable. The
risk, though doubtless great, was consid-
cred by no means to outweigh the advan-
tage to be derived from success. Gen,
Burgoyne determined to incnr it. There
were attached to our little army POO Ger
man dragons. These the general selected
as part of the force to be employed in the
surprise of Bennington"
Mr.. Locke bases his statement that
Burgoyne did not fit out an expedition
against Bennington, and did not send
Baum to capture stores there, upon the
first instructions to Baum and prior let.
tiers written by Gen. Burgoyne.
. On the one side we have the statements
81 Mr.. Locke, on the other those of Gen.
Burgoyne, Col. Baum, Glitch and Gen.
Heidesel. Every British officer who has
expressed himself regarding this expedi-
ton definitely states that its was sent to
Bennington and was sent there to capture
stores.
When Mr.Locke's first article appeared
it was not my intention to answer it, but
repetitions of error tend to make history:
and, in view of his article in the Troy
Times of January 2, 1892 / feel that it is
due the town of Bennington and the state
of Vermont that the fanciful fabric he
has erected should be brushed aside.
Vermont has only reason to be proud
of her entire course throughout the revo-
lutiOnary w3r, anl if Mr.. Locke, in place
of the InSinuation contained in the last
paragraph of his recent article, will make
definite statements regarding the history
of Vermont during the last four years of
the revolutionary war, will take no less
pleasure in meeting them than l have in
exr Osing the fallacy of his statements
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