The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-09-02
BATTLE OF HUBBARDroN
Marked an Epoch In Vermont History
Says Edward Everett Hale

The following is what Chaplain Ed
ward Everett Hale says 0a the battle
of Hubbardton:
Fort Ticonderoga was surrendered
to General Burgoyne by the American
General lie Clair on July 6, 1777. AS
the Americans numbering 1000 retreat
ed to the southwest across the hills,
they were pursued by the British army
numbering several thousands The
militia were overtaken and made a
very stubborn resistance, at Hubbard,
ton on July 18th where a sanguinary
battle was fought. Brigadier General
Simon Frazer, Lieut.. Col Of oath foot
commanded the British.
Seth Warner commanded the Green
Mountain Boys Colonel Nathan Hale,
then "a years old, cousin OF the mar.
tyr. who was hanged, and who was q
great uncle of Chaplain Hale, COM
manded a Massachusetts regiment and
was taken prisoner by the British. Col
Francis and upwards of two hundred
patriots were killed. six hundred were
wounded. The Americans lost also
one colonel, seven captains and two
hundred and twenty other prisoners.
The outnumbered American soldiers
were, indeed, at last compelled to re-
treat, as at Bunker Hill, but only after
a most gallant struggle.
Chaplain Hale justly thinks 1t really
pathetic that as well fought battle az
that of Hubbardton should appear In
the popular notion of that time as a
disgraceful retreat" The disgrace OF
1t, If any was IN the previous failure
of St Clair to anticipate the British
in occupying Mount Defiance.
The British loss was one hundred
and firty men. Gen Stark who after.
ward commanded at Bennington.
brought up the New Hampshire mill
tia. The full effect on subsequent eV-
ents of this gallant and stubborn 40
ton OF the American militia at Hub.
bardton can never be exactly estimAt
ed Like the resolute action at Bun
ker Hill 1t must have stimulated TO
the holiness and courage. which. forty
days later, on August 16, triumphed at
Bennington; and on September 10. at
Saratoga; and led to the surrender OF
Burgoyne on October II, 1777.
IL is well known that the battle 81
Bennington was not really fought on
the soil of Vermont, but across the
line in the state OF New York so that
IHubbardton is the only but strenuous
and important battle ever fought by
white men In the state.
Colonel Cressy enumerates the baA
tie of Saratoga OF which that at Hub.
bardton was really preliminary part
as one of the fifteen decisive battles
OF the world
The British government was OF
course greatly disappointed at the
urrender of Burgoyne and made II
the subject Of military Investigation.
The Earl OF Bacarras, and General
burgoyne in their testimony before
he House of Lords, spoke with ad-
miration of the gallant behavior OF
hese men at Hubbardton."
Chaplain Hale says There is NOT
a bit of revolutionary reading more
interesting than Burgoyne's statement
as to the spirit with which these men
engaged. He says they were not in.
experienced peasants but showed spir.
1t and courage"
1t is believed that neither Rutland
county, the state, or the country at
arge. have fully appreciated the bat
tie OF Hubbardton as II was reported,
more favorably perhaps. than was the
battle OF Bunker Hill by the British
commanders.
PAMELA:
Be sure to use Gold Medal Flour.
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