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

to attacks on every side from a mum.
erous enemy; and the whoop which
the sayages raised from time TO time
as well as the occasional musket
shot, gave notice, that even now that
enemy was not inactive. Our ankle
ty for the return Of day was greater
by far than perhaps any Of us would
have been willing to acknowledge.
even 10 his dearest friend" Baum,
feeling the need OF reinforcements,
dispa iched a messenger to Col Brey.
man, stationed at the Batten XIII,
asking that officer to come to his aid
at once.
The rain falling so heavily on the
18th prevented Stark from making
any general attack on the principal
line OF defense, but small parties
were kept out actively skirmishing,
much to the annoyance OF the enemy.
In the meantime the Council of Safe
ty was not idle Messengers were
dispatched for ammunition to all
quarters where 1t was likely to be
found.
State OF Vermont,
Bennington Council of Safety,
August 10, 1777.
"Sir-You are hereby desired to
forward to this place, by express, all
the lead you can possibly collect in
your vicinity; as 1t Is expected every
minute, an action will commence be-
tween our troops and the enemies,
within four or five miles of this place
and the lead will be positively want.
ed By order of Council,
Paul Spooner, d. Sec'y.
THE Chairman of the Committee
OF Safety, Williamstown
The same request sent to the
Chairman of the Committee, Lanes
boro, the same date, sent by Jeded-
iah Reed, Paulett
"Madam-Please to send by the
bearer, Jedediah Reed, 6 or 7 lbs. of
lead. by Col. Simonds' order. BY or.
der Of Council,
Paul Spooner, D. Sec'y.
Mrs. Smonds"
Before daylight on the morning OF
the 18th, Star was reinforced by a
small body of militia. under Colonel
Simonds from Berkshire county, Mas
sachusetts. Among them was the
Reverend Thomas Allen, of Pittsburg
whose warlike ardor was of the most
glowing kind He was with Gen. st.
Clair at the evacuation of Forts I'll
conderoga and Mt. Independence and
always expressed a great contempt
for the quiet surrender OF those
posts. He would say, that had he
commanded there. the ramparts,
though carried at last would have
first been baptized in blood Suisse
quent to the battle of Bennington,
speaking of the outlook for Americas
future. he writes, "a short time will
decide the fate OF America. 1t must
depend on the treatment of those five
general officers who gave up Ticon-
deroga If these cannot be brought
TO justice, then | am ready to pro
nounce what is. in my opinion, the
sad doom OF these States-the end
Is comet He had taken an active
part in rallying the Berkshire militia
at the urgent call OF General Stark,
knowing well that where Stark was,
there would be at least fighting,
whatever the result might be
1t was during a drenching shower,
that this force reached the vicinity
OF the American camp, and though
wet to the skin, Mr. Allen sought the
generals headquarters
General Stark" said Allen, "the
Berkshire militia have often been
summoned to the field without being
allowed to fight; now if you don't
give them a chance this time, they
will never turn out again
Stark smilingly asked, DO you
wish to march now while il is dark
and raining?"
NO, not just at this moment was
the reply.
We'll, then, said the general, III
the Lord will give us sunshine in the
morning, and do not give you fight
ing enough, | will never ask you to
come out again
And when the morning sun arose,
hardly cloud was seen in the heav-
ems. and, to use the words of Glich,
who was present the very leaves
hung motionless, and the long grass
waved not under the influence of a
perfect calm. Every object around,
too, appeared to peculiar advantage;
for the fields looked green and re-
freshed, the river was swollen and tu-
multuous, and the branches were all
loaded with dew drops which glitter
ed in the suns early rays, like so
many diamonds Nor would it be
easy to imagine any scene more rife
with peaceful and even pastoral beau
ty. Looking down from this summit
of the rising ground, beheld immed-
lately beneath me wide sweep of
stately forest, interrupted at remote
intervals by green meadows or yell
low corn fields, whilst here and there
a cottage. shed, or some other pri-
mitive edifice, reared its modest head
as If for the purpose of reminding the
spectator. that man had begun his
inroads upon nature, without as yet
taking away from her simplicity and
grandeur. | hardly recollect a scene
which struck me at the moment more
forcibly, or which has left a deeper
or more lasting impression on my
memory"
Starks exact force was three New
Hampshire regiments Of militia I'M
der the respective commands of Col
onels Hubbard, Stickney and Nichols,
body of militia under Colonel Will
liam Williams from the east side of
the mountains; Colonel Herric's corps
4 1 4