The morning call., 1893-07-17
A MONUMENT TO HEsSIANS.
Proposal to Erect One in the Ceme-
terry at Bennington Center, Vt.
Troy Times


The story comes from Buffalo that an impos-
ing memorial is likely to be erected In the old
cemetery at Bennington Center, VT, 10 those
Hessains who fought and fell at the title of Benz
nington in 1777. considerable number OF
the descendants OF the dessians are scattered
through the Mohawk Valley, ard also in Penn
sylvania, ana, according to the Troy Times, 1t
is these persons, many of whom are well-to.do,
that contemplate the erection OF suitable
monument to their ancestors. AT the close
of the battle the British loss was 2O7,
the great majority of which was Hes
slams. and the burial took place on and
near the field Of action. The prisoners num-
bered about 700, Of whom about wo-thlrds
were Hesslans, and were marcDed 10 Bennlpg-
ton, where they were Kept under guard several
months. A considerable number OF the
prisoners we're wounded and many dled IN
Those who died OF injuries or other causes
subsequent to the battle were buried In
rude way, uncOffined and without ceremony,
in the churcbyard at Bennington Center.
How many were buried there is not known.
but the number has generally been stated
to be thirty-three though some authorities
have placed the number at fifty. The whole
matter is so lost in a mist Of traditions that
much discrepancy exists among local his
torians. A small space, still vacant in The
burying grounds, shows where the HesslanS
were sepuIchered 115 years ago.
on this spot. three or four rods long and two
or three rods wide, II is proposed TO 0uid the
On very hand rise moSsy slabs. landmarks OK
finished life Journeys of men eminent in local.
State or national history. OF the two patriot
companies OF local militia that helped to win
The victory at Remington nearly every soldier
sleeps close to the Hessians. To The south and
partly bounding one side OF the cemetery is the
old First Church, where long generations have
WorShippd, and a third OF "A mile or more TO
the north. with the American flag streaming as
from the huge main-rOyal masthead OF a mon.
Strous ship, The battle monument rises grlmly
into cOudand in cOmmemoratOn OF tile signal
defeat of the British army and OF an important
event In American history.
In early times 1t would nave teen considered
a paradox that MANY of the dead of both armies
should be buried side by side and both be hon
ored with monument-the one for preserving
American institu' ions and the other for trying
to pull them down. fhe idea Of erecting
monument to the Hessians appears TO have
| originated with Adophe Osder of Buffalo fif-
| teen years ago or more. The late Colonel Jer-
ONE B. ParmenIer of Bennington not only held
| correspondence but personally interviewed
number of tie residents OF the Mohawk VAL
| ley who were interested in the matter, and he
| became quite familiar with the views OF many
| OF the descendants of the Hessians. Nothing
| definite Is known at Bennington about The de-
| sign of the proposed monument. 1t was
| rumored some time ago that a lofty and mas.
| sive granite pedestal, surmOunted by bronze
| figure of heroic size of German grenader In
| full uniform, was favored by the promoters OF
| the enterprise. just what the figure Is in
| tended 10 symbolic or what the description, il
any, will be Is not known.