The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-19
BATTLE OF BENNINGTON
story Of the PamphIsWtten yFarnk W. COburr
and Published In 1877.

ner at Manchester. The number Of
1 troops he had forwarded amounted
altogether, to eight hundred men and
he found assembled at Manchester,
about six hundred more, making uni
tedly fourteen hundred. Brigadier
General Stark was met here by Maj.
Gen. Lincoln, with instructions for
him to join the main force OF the Am
orleans under Schuyler, on the Hud-
son. This Stark positively refused
to do, on the grounds that the best
way to defeat Burgoyne's purpose
was not TO oppose him with small for
ces in the front, but to hang upon
his rear, and by continually cutting
of his supplies, so embarrass his
movements, as to finally disarrange
his plans. General Lincoln commu-
nicated what he deemed to be Stark's
characterization, to his superior, Cen
eral Schuyler, and also to Congress.
Stark had shown under what author
| ity he was acting; endeayored to ex-
plain that as he was working for the
state of New Hampshire, and that
state alone; that he could not posi-
bly, consider himself responsible TO
the United States, and more especi-
ally as his commission expressly stat
ed that his responsibility went no
farther than that, he deemed himself
as inferior in command to no mill
tary officer. He should be very glad,
he said, to confer with General
Schuyler as to the best way to meet
the enemy; possibly something, bet
ter than had as yet been suggested,
might be done, but, he continued,
never can join General Schuyler to
act as a subordinate. The result OF
this was, that on the 18th of August,
three days after the battle OF Ben
nington, and some time before they
heard of it, Congress voted, that
copy of General Lincoln's letter be
forthwith transmitted to the Council
of New Hampshire, and that they be
informed that the instructions, which
General Stark says he received from
them, are destructive of military sub
ordination, and highly prejudicial to
the common cause at this crisis; ana
that therefore they be desired to in
struct General Stark to conform him
self to the same rules which other
General officers of the militia are sub
ject to, whenever they are called out
at the expense of the United States.
Stark, with ten or twelve hundred
men. reached Bennington, August ..
This force consisted partly of New
Hampshire, and partly of Vermont
troops. the militia from the eastern
side of the mountains being under
the command OF Colonel William Will
liams. The only force left at Man
chester, was Warmers regiment I'M
der Lieutenant Colonel Samuel SAT
ford. Warner himself, had deemed
it for the best to go forward with
Stark. as his knowledge OF the coun-
try around Bennington, might be OF
valuable assistance to him, and IN
deed so it proved
The activity Of the Council OF Safe
~ could not fail to instil a certain
degree of enthusiasm in the minds OF
all interested in the loyal cause OF
the Americans Every day witnessed
the arrival of new recruits in Ben
nington, and although many came un
armed and even unprovided with
camp utensils, these DEFICIENCIES were
supplied as far as lay in the power OF
the Council. Uniforms were entire
" unknown in the ranks OF the vol
unteers. Each one suited his own
taste and ability in clothing himself
and these generally resulted in the
simple farmer frock and pantaloons
Each one also, was expected to fur
nish his own firearms, which was
readily done. as every man in those
days. deemed a gun as one OF the
first implements of necessity Cook
ing utensils were what were lacking
most in the camp at Bennington. The
little experience of the militia in
camp life had not, as yet, taught
them the use of these articles, and
so in leaving home they had been
overlooked and forgotten. 1t may
be. some thought of them, but deem
ed them as too much OF a luxury TO
be troubled with their transportation
over the mountains and along the
dusty roads.
Cattle and provisions for the army
were daily arriving. These we're
seized from the tories, or purchased
with the money seized goods brought
under the process OF forced sale,
The Council had rightly deemed the
property of disaffected persons as
the proper source of support, as far
as it might go, of the militia, and
accordingly committees were APP
pointed to turn such property into a
state for immediate use.
Commission of Sequestration from
the Council
"1n Council of Safety, State of Yer
mont.
Bennington, Sth July 1777.
"To -: You are hereby requir-
ed agreeable to a previous resolve
of this Council,) to seize all lands,
tenements, goods, and chattels, OF
any person or persons in this state,
whom you know, or may hereafter
learn, to have repaired to the enemy
and a true inventory thereof to take,
and return to this Council, except
articles as are wanted for the use of
the army; which are wanted at Man
chester or elsewhere, where there is
a contractor to receive and pay for
them You will appoint three persons
noted for good judgment, who are,
after being duly sworn, to apprize
the same; and all other movable eff
fects you are to sell at public vendue,
except such necessaries as humanity
requires for the support of such fam
/ lilies. And after paying necessary