Bennington banner and reformer. (Bennington, Vt.) 1903-19??, 1903-08-20
ALlTTLE HISTORY,
Hon H. D. Hall Tells Some interesting Facts
About the Battle.

battle fought on the 10th of August
l777 in the present limits OF the town
Of aoosick. There has never been
any doubt as to the place where the
battle was fought The militia of
Bennington and Of Berkshire county,
Massac husetts, and the much larger
number from New Hampshire all un
der Gen. Stark, knew perfectly we'll
where they met the disciplined Hes,
sian soldiers under Gen Baum the
Canadian volunteers, and party Of
Progincials TOOL Peters Corps of
Tories which had been largely in
creased the day before the battle, un-
der the command of Col P6ster at tie
Tory breastworks. which was perhaps
eighty rods southeast from Baum's en-
campment on the hill. Col Phster
was a half pay British officer of wealth
with an imposing residence near Hoo.
SICK Corners, now the location Of Hon
Lee rande Tibbitts He was man of
influence and the wonder is not great
that be felt fortunate 10 controlling so
many, to swell the numbers of his
corps. But like Baum, in the vicissi
tude OF battle he was mortally wound
ed, and both were taken to house in
SALISBURY near the present state line
and after their death we're buried near
where they died across the highway
down by the river bank, It is supposed.
The parade was worthy the occasion.
The officers, troops, military compan
les, fire companies and the different
bands with the steamer and hose carts
in their march and manoeuvres was an
imposing and pleasing sight. The adj
dress of Judge Tierney was patriotic,
and did not have the fault of being
lengthy. 1t was sct olarly and given
in good voice and orstorically.
In the introduction Of the speaking,
as these words were used, "We do not
in celebrating the Battle of Walloomsac
desire to withhold any credit that is
the just due of our ancestral neighbors
who stood side by side with us 90 that
famous Geld Of battle, nor do we ask
their descendants to relinquish one
patriotic impulse born Of the memory
Of that eventfu conflict" was it not
to be expected that some names, or
even one name Of an influential soldier
would be mentioned from the state Of
New York, whose shoulder touched
that of Stark's menY This is not
saying there were no Hoosick men in
the battle other than Tories, but is to
firmly hint there were but few.
The writer does not think it strange
that the Judge felt "a great deal of
concern" 10 accepting the invitation
to deliver the address, as a patriotic
foundation for an address cannot be
found in the whole history of the af.
fair.
By whom is it claimed that Yer
mont furnished the troops and for that
reason the battle is rightly styled Ben
nington? Any we'll informed person
who has spoken or written upon the
subject has always conceded that New
Hampshire furnished the greater part
of Gen Stark's army of militia but
had it not been for the watcbful eyes,
the sleepless vigilance and the pstri
otic back. bone OF the men of Bepning-
ton Hnd through the Grants, in civil
and military life, the militia from New
Hampshire would not have been ap-
praised in season Of the necessity of
their being here at the time for the
protection of our borders
Expresses we're sent by the council
of safety, composed of such men as
Thomas Chittenden, Jonas Fay, Ira
Allen, Nathan Clark, Paul Spooner
and Moses Robinson, forwarding let
ter from Gen st Clair to the committee
of safety of New Hampshire, as early
rs the 9th of July and on the 10Th they
addressed letter to the executives Of
New Hampshire and Massaeh uhetts,
stating fully the distressed condition
their people were in from the advance
Of BurgoSne's army and expressing the
fear that they should be obliged to
abandon the whole territory, thus
rendering one or both of those states a
frontier unless powerful assistance was
speedily furnished them, Col Warner,
who was in consultation with the
council, three days afterwsrd, wrote
to the New Hampshire committee tU
the same effect. " The plea for troops
from the sister state was not UNDECIDED
The assembly Immediately ordered a
considerable portion of its militia to
be organized under the command of
Gen John Stark, and all through the
efforts uf Vermont men without the
aid of help west Of Vermont line