The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-19

movable effects, (where there is dan.
ger of their being embezzled,) and
keep in safe custody until after trial.
If they are acquitted, to give unto
such person or persons such seizour
but II found guilty, to make return
to the Council. You are to call to
your assistance, such person or per-
sons as you shall find necessary, keep
ing regular accounts of all your pro-
cedures."
"By Order of Council,
IRA Allen, Sec.
This resolution of the Council was
obeyed to the letter. The ones APP
pointed to act as commissioners were
chosen for their upright patriotism,
and well known enthusiasm, and in
executing the laws of the civil author
| ity, they often took an unusual plea
sure as they came in contact with
those neighbors and formerly friends
separated by opinions, a separation
often bitter in the extreme.
Thus it was that Colonel Samuel
| Herrick's regiment OF Rangers was
raised and supported, and thus it was
| that the other incidental expenses of
: the common defense were met in Yer
mont In New Hampshire the forces
called out to serve under Stark and
| Whipple, were supported by private
loans, for the public treasury was
long since empty. John Langdon,
merchant of Portsmouth, and Speaker
OF the Assembly, was among the fore
most in reviving the public courage,
at a time when the outlook for the
future looked anything but bright
and promising. He said. 81 have
three thousand dollars in hard mon
ey; | will pledge my plate for three
thousand more; have seventy hogs
heads of Tobago rum, which shall be
sold for the most it will bring These
are at the service of the state. If we
succeed in defending our fresides
and homes, | may be remunerated; il
we do not, the property will be OF
no value to me. Our old friend,
Stark, who so nobly maintained the
| honor of our state, at Bunkers Hill,
may safely be intrusted with the con-
duct of the enterprise, and we will
check the progress Of Burgoyne."
This proposition infused new life in
to the Assembly. and no trouble was
experienced in raising the two brig
AIDES.
Stark. on arriving in Bennington,
| hardly knew whether to remain there
or proceed at once to the Hudson to
oppose Burgoyne in his southwark
career. 1t was not until the 18th,
that he, learning of the advance OF a
body OF Indians, as far as Cambridge,
dispatched Lieut-Col Gregg, with
two hundred men, to oppose them.
On the morning of the 14th, Colonel
Baum reached Van Schai's mills, and
| found there Colonel Gregg's force In
possession. Gregg was forced TO re-
| treat before a superior number
Baum, in his letter to BurSoyne thus
relates the affair
"Sancoik, Aug. Il, 1777. o'clock.
Sir: | have the honor to inform
your Excellency that | arrived here
at eight in the morning, having had
| intelligence of a party of the enemy
being in the possession OF a mill
which they abandoned at Our ap-
proach but in their usual way fired
! from the bushes, and took the road
to Bennington 4 savage was slight
! ~ wounded They broke down the
brige which has retarded our march
about an hour They lett In the mill.
about seyenty-eight barrels OF very
! line -four, one thousand bushels OF
wheat. twenty barrels of salt and
about one thousand pounds worth OF
pearl and pot ashes have ordered
thirty provincias and an officer to
guard the provisions and the pass OF
the bridge BY five prisoners here,
they agree that fifteen hundred TO
eighteen hundred men are in Benning
ton but are supposed to leave it on
our approach. will proceed so far
today as to fall on the enemy tomor-
row early, and make such disposition
as | think necessary from the intelh-
gence | may receive. People are
docking in hourly and want to be
armed The sayages cannot be con
trolled, they ruin and take everything
they please.
am. ETC.
Fl Baum"
ITO General Burgoyne."
DtS goui l|ANNliNANJ W POI
the hurry OF this letter; it is written
on the head OF a barre"
The Council of Safety, on learning
of Baum's approach, addressed the
colonies of the state militia a circu-
lar, urging them to assemble with
all haste at Bennington.
Vermont Council of Safety to the Col
onels of the State Militia.
State of Vermont, in Council of
Safety
Bennington, 18th Aug, 1777
Dear Colby express, this day,
received from the Commanding Off
Ger of the Northern Department, we
Learn that a Door has now opened
for the Troops of this State to do
Duty on this side the North River
which will be clear from Gen. Schuy
ler's Command, and as an Expedition
is on foot, of the greatest importance
which is to remain secret till the
Troops are Collected, these are there
fore the most Positive terms to re-
quire you, without a moments Loss
of Time to march one half of the Reg
iment under your Command, to this
Place No small excuse at this juno
ture can be received.
whilst | am writing this, we are
informed by Express that Large
Body of the Enemy's troops were dis
covered two hours ago, in St Koik,