The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-01-22
THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON


The following is an article by Edward
J. Hall, in answer to one 10y the Hon. S.
ID. Locke of HOOsick Falls, n. Y. Mr..
LOcke's argument was printed in the
Troy DdiLy Times of a late date: and
that of Mir. Hall in the Troy Press of last
Saturday. entitled bennington VS.. Wal
loomsac," We also add below the edi-
torIal comments of the Press, and ex-
tracts from other exchanges: Mr.. Hall
says:
The first and most requisite qualities
in student of history are care and pains.
taking research, combined with the
fairness of mind and breadth of mental
view which enables the searcher to give
proper weight to conflicting evidence
and to arrive at conclusions which may
be safely accepted by those who lack the
time or the inclination to investigate for
themselves.
Especially haYe we the right to ex-
pect the utmost care and thorough in
veStiiiation on the part of one who at
tempts to give anew name and new his
tory to Il decisive battle occurring more
than century prior to his essay.
This is the attempt which is made by
Mr.. Locke in recent issue of Troy pa
per, and the changes stTiven for by him
are so radical in their nature that not
only Mr.. Locke but all his readers should
consider with care before they wipe out
contemporary history; and, obliterating
the conclusions of Allen and Williams,
of Bancroft and Hildredth, of LOSING
and Hiland Hall, give us, as the precur-
sOr of the surrender at Saratoga, and as
one of the most important in its actual
results, if not indeed the decisive battle
of our revolutionary war, new battle
with new participants and new name.
Mr.. Locke begins his article by two
general propositions.
|. 'The battle fought at WallOOmsac
should be called the Battle of Walloom-
! sac "
7 2. "Burgoyne did not fit out an ex-
! pedition against Bennington and did not
send Baum to capture stores there"
wish to take issue directly with both
these propositions, and to show the many
oversights, errors and inaccuracies upon
which the arguments adduced in their
support are based.
Let us take up the arguments adduced
in support of the first proposition. They
are: THAT Bennington is too far away"
And Mr.. Locke makes the statement
that the engagement with Baum was
seven miles from Bennington and that
with Brey mann nine miles.
In reality old Bennington is between
four and five miles from the scene of the
first battle and that of the second is
about mile farther away.
He concludes his paragraph with the
statement: And / do not recall single
instance other than this under considera-
tion where battle field has taken the
name of hamlet of n dozen houses nine
miles away
As the population of Bennington at
the beginning of the revolutionary war,
as nearly as can be ascertained, was
about 800, and at the date of the battle
probably somewhat exceeded that num-
ber Mr.. Locke might almost be open
to n charge of disingenuOusnes in re-
ferring to it as "hamlet of dozen
house." However, it may be but nat.
ural that man propounding a new and
startling theory should be somewhat
careless as to details, and therefore we
will acquit him of any intent to mislead
his readers.
But surely Mr.. Locke will not want for
precedents as to many battle which