The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-17

command or General AT
thus ST. Clair, subject, however to
Gen. Philip Schuyler stationed some
miles below at Fort Edward, on the
Hudson.
st. Clair found it necessary to call
a council of war to determine on
what course to pursue. It was unan-
imously agreed that the posts were
no longer tenable and therefore an
immediate evacuation was decided
upon. Early the next morning the
troops we're put In motion, and at
four o'clock the rear guard, under Col
Francis succeeded in making good
their retreat. Some one, contrary to
distinct orders, set fire to a house
on Mount independence, the blaze OF
which revealed every movement OF
the Americans to the enemy. This
created not a little confusion among
our troops, but through the personal
exertions of st. Clair, order was fl
nally restored.
Upon arriving at Hubbardton the
rear guard consisting then OF three
regiments and a few stragglers, was
placed under the command OF Col
Seth Warner, with orders to remain
there until the next morning, to al
low those who had fallen behind TO
come up. This force amounted to
twelve hundred men and included, be
sides his own, the regiments OF co.'s.
Francis and Hale.
When General Frazer perceivd, in
the morning of the evacuation, that
the Americans were retiring, he
commenced an immediate pursuit.
General Reidesel and most of the
Brunswickers were likewise ordered
to Join and act with Frazer, or sepa'
rately. as circumstances might war
rant.
On the morning of the 18th they
came up with Warner and a bloody
conflict ensued Col. Hale with his
men. ANONYMOUSLY fed, leaving the
regiments of Francis and Warner to
cope with the enemy as best they
might Col Francis fell in the ac-
ton and Warner was forced to once
more sound the retreat The loss of
the Americans in this battle was
three hundred and twenty-four in
killed. wounded, and prisoners, while
} the enemy's loss was but one hun
dred and eighty-three.
Burgoyne, with his main army,
still continued on his southwark
course, using every exertion TO open
the way from Skenesborough to
Fort Edward; but so effectually had
the Americans blocked up his way,
by various means, that his army was
/ frequently twenty-four hours in ad-
yancing one mile On the 3Oth OF
July, Burgoyne arrived and fixed his
headquarters at Fort Edward, which
post General Schuyler and his whole
force had evacuated on the 2nd and
fed further south arriving at Still
| water on the LIST day OF August.
Burgoynes forces were now employ
ed. from his arrival here, until the
18th of August, in bringing forward
batteaux, provisions and ammunlt-
ion from Fort George at the foot OF
Lake George, to the first or nearest
navigable part of the Hudson, dis
lance OF not more than fifteen miles
The labor was excessive, more espec
tally for the European soldiers
whose inexperience in this part OF
warfare rendered them almost unfit
for any use: and so with all the eff
forts that Burgoyne could possibly
make. he was soon compelled to ad
nit the alarming scarcity OF provis
ions in his camp. The Americans
too. in retreating, had taken the
greatest pains to destroy everything
that might be of any service to the
enemy whether it might be in the
shape of food or otherwise. Il have
called it a desert country" said Glici
a German officer, mot only with ref
erence to its natural sterility, anC
heaven knows it was sterile enough
but because of the pains which vert
taken, and unfortunately with tot
great success. 10 sweep its few cul
. tivated spots of all articles likely Il
, benefit the invaders" And so whel
? the welcome news came that there
was a large store OF provisions a
= Bennington, news brought in by thu
, Tories, Burgoyne at once determined
. to seize that place TO supply his Owl
a necessities He entered upon thi
, project with great ardor with al
the elation OF his hopes" says tn,
j. Rev. Isaac Jennings, in his 'MemoI
I ials of a Century, "he fitted out thi
} expedition with much care. He Sc
| ected for its nucleus and chief Deepen
5 dence a corps of Reidsells dismount
3 ed dragons, the same that had be
. haved so CALAMITY at Hubbardton,-
r a company of sharpshooters, chose
, with care from all the regiments III
der Capt Frazer,--a most eXcelIen
\ ficer;-Peters' corps of LoyalistS
;. to be swelled as they proceeded;
4 dy of Canadian rangers; Hama
. artillerists with two cannon; a hui
o dred and fifty Indians. He place
q all under the care of Lieut.. Col Baur
4 a skilled and thoroughly brave Ger
r man officer. To these troops, he, a
r ter they had proceeded on their wa
n little added fifty chasseurs." Blu
d goyne, as might be expected, agai
|. found it necessary to add one NOR
/. to his list of state documents, a sp
}. cies of composition he particular
s delighted in. AS usual, it was draw
# up with the greatest of care and tn
e minutest attention to detail. | quot
L it in full:
It Burgoyne's instructions to Col. 6auI
o "The object of your expedition