The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-16
TODAY in HISTORY
General Stark at Bennington,
TUESDAY, AUGUST ie, 1910.

On August Is l7TT. occurred the fam
Gus revolutionary battle OF Bennington.
IN which the Americans. under the gal
!ahl General stark, defeated the British.
In me midsummer OF l1I7 Burgoync, at
the head OF his English and Hcss!an
FORCES, found that in order To carry out
his scheme OF invasion from the Horlh.
he would have to execute Il rapid descent
OF The Hudson. which would ncsessitate
number OF horses far beyond that at
his disposal, lie had, however. been
told that the Americans had great
depot for horses and supplies for their
northern army at Bennington. Vermont,
and he accordingly determined 10 send
surprise.
On arriving at their destination the
.ngliFh eneainpcd on hill. IN beud
which stream stark ana his men were
stationed \ part OF the English force
was sntrenched on the further side OF
ne stream; opposite the hill, the same
side on which the Americans had en-
camped, only a mile distant. and on the
hill battery was set up.
Stark sent Colonel Nichols with 200
men to the rear of the enemy's left. and
rear OF their right. with orders 10 juin
forces as they came up. Colon1ls Hub
oard and Stickney. with 300 men, we're
directed TO move 10 the front I'm order to
detract the attention OF the English
stark, with the rest OF his force, kept
SLOWLY down the stream toward that post
Oh the enemy entrenched on the fiat OPP
posite the battery
Shortly after noon the action began.
As soon as the sound OF lnuokctry warned
stark that his detachments were upon
The British rear he ordered his own i'm
mediate command to advance at n point
where bend OF the stream revealed the
whole scene OF action. The story goes
that he pointed out the enemy with his
are the red coats. Before night they
are ours or Molly Stark is a widow" 4
loud shout was the answer rs the w'.cIe
column pushed rapidly on.
In an instant the British cannon had
opened on the dense ranks. Pressing
closely after their leader, tn. Americans
poured a destructive volley irto the
enemy, and then. rushing forward with
tachment across the stream behind the
batteries. Then began one OF the hotties;
fires OF muskctry ever witnessed among
| the same number Of troops Sta"S had
not a single cannon and scare. a bayo-
net, yet his men charged up 10 The mouth
OF the cannon and rushed on the in
trenchments with desperation and sue
cess.
The little hill was wrapped In flames.
and the two armies. now within n few
yards OF each other delivered th5r fire
with constancy and swiftness. The in
cessant volleys were almost cs@seless for
two hours, Stark said in his dispatch.
| like q continued clap OF thunder"
The American leader WAS himself IN
constant danger. His horse was shot
from under him, but with sword In hand
lie strobe steadily through his thinurd
ranks, cheering them on 10 the hral as
snult until the Americans Ind gene over
the cannon and over the breastworks and
won the field.
No sooner however. was the hill
cleared OF the enemy than the soldiers
dispersed on every side in search of plum :
der; and while they were In this dis
ordered state word came that a large
British reinforcement under Brcyman
was only two miles distant Stark en-.
deavored to rally his men. but before re
could restore order the army OF Baum,
advanced TO the attack.
The presence of another fight restored
the American forces to order, but the
fresh English troops rushed with furious
shouts TO the combat. and pressed the
Americans with such yigor that the day
seemed. after all about TO DO lost
The Americans were driven from one
hill To the other, post aftor post was
| carried. and symptoms Of disorder began
to be visible in the ranks. But at this
moment the Berkshire militia. who had
| remained behind TIL now to dry their
ammunition, came up. Fastening to
these fresh troops. Stark ordered them t.
the attack. and the result was the COM
plete defeat of the British just as night
was settling over the field.
On August l6, 1858. the first message
| was sent by cable across the Atlantic
ocean. II is the birthday of Antoine Lau-
| rent Lavolser the French chemist
lTiS); Jonathan Roberts, the statesman