The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-07-22
BATTLE OF BENNINGTON
History Of the Battle from Pamphlet
Written by Frank w. Coburn and
Published in 1917.
(Concluded.)

Daniel Chapman in his Life of War
ner admits that he might have been
with Stark just previous TO the bat
tie, but thinks he must have gone
back to get his regiment, Stark de-
laying the action until he should ar
rive, and getting impatient at three
o'clock, commencing the attack. That
Stark having nearly eighteen humid
dred men, should wait hours for one
hundred and thirty more, before at
lacking a force of six or seven, or
even eight hundred, is simply absurd.
Stark, in his letter to Gates, explains
the delay: 81 pursued my plan, de-
tached Col Nichols, with two hun
bred men, to attack them in the rear;
| also sent Colonel lIerrick with
three hundred men, in the rear of
their right, both to join, and when
joined, to attack their rear. About
three o'clock we got all ready for the
attack. Col Nichols begun the
same, which was followed by all the
rest" That don't seem. to indicate
that he was waiting for Warner.
Thomas Mellen, in statement Civ
en- to Rev. Mr. Butler, says, Stark
and Warner rode up near the enemy,
TO reconnoitre; were fired at with the
cannon, and came galloping back.
Stark rode with shoulders bent for
ward, and cried out to his men;
Those rascals know that am an Of
ficer; don't you see they honor me
with a big gun as saluteY
Solomon Stafford who turned out
with Captain Samuel Robinson's
company says, ION the morning of
the battle, after the company had
started off with Col. Herrick, Gen.
Stark and Col Warner rode past
him on horseback and accosted him.
Rev. Isaac Jennings, in his Mem
orials of a Century. says. william
Carpenter OF Swansea, n H., so his
son, Judge Carpenter, of Akdon.
Ohio, told me. used to relate, as
what he himself heard, that the or
der was given by Gen. Stark TO an
aid, to retreat Warner heard it.,
and said, Stand to it, my lads; you
shall have help Immediately, mean
| ing. of course, his own regiment. This
was Immediately after the first ac-
! ton.
Anecdotes and Individual Experiences
One venerable old man had five
sons in the battle. AS might natural
/ ly be supposed, he awaited, with anx-
iety, the results of the contest At
last news came, but the messenger
I - H,ntfubf ttrffh him a
so, tidings for the father, that he
feared would fill the old mans heart
with grief. AS gently as possible. he
told him he had something bad TO tell
him. concerning one of his sons
Did he disobey orders, or desert
his post?' he asked.
NO"
Did he falter in the charger
No. worse than that
What then, worse than that?'
HE is dead" was the answer
"Then it is not worse" exclaimed
the father Bring him in, that may
once more gaze on the face Of my
darling boy" And when they brought
him in. covered with dust and blood,
be called for water and sponge, and
with his own hand bathed the dis
figured features, declaring at the
same time. that he had never ex-
perenced a more glorious or happier
day i'm his life.
Rev Thomas Allen, Of the Berk
shire militia. fought as a private, and
was among the foremost to advance
ON the Hessians defense. Arriving
within speaking distance, he mounted
q stump. and called out to them 10
surrender and thereby save the ef-
/ fusion of blood 4 volley was the
reply. which. the reverend gentleman
ESCAPING. he returned 10 the ranks.
Here. finding himself better marks
man than his brother, who was also
present. he said 10 him. Joe. YOU
load aud lll fire and SO they worked
together. side by side until the last
grand charge that carried Baum s
works. I'm after years he delighted
20 recall the scenes incidental to that
glorious day. In conversation. some
one asked II he killed anybody on that
occasion.
Il don't exactly know that ! killed
any one was the reply, nor indeed
how near ! came to 1t. II was just
this way; of some distance, observ-
ed a clump of bushes. from which
arose. every now and then, little
cloud OF smoke. preceded by a NOM
entary fash, and the sharp report OF
gun. noticed too, that one of our
men fell. either wounded or dead,
every time this phenomenon occurred
50 naturally concluded that some
thing was wrong for our side. load
ed up very carefully, and fired into
the midst OF that clump of bushes. !
| en- not certain, mind you. that ] did
really kin any one; but | know ! put
out that fash!
This was proud day. said one old
soldier, in his "reminiscences OF the
battle. quoting nearly his own words,
this was a proud day for the poor
Green Mountain Boys who were yet
.narfina with the wounds they had