The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-09-20
DR. JENNINGS ADDRESS.
CONTINUED from Second Pagej

ike gathering STORM on my lelI.
Burgoyne had now fair proof that
hunting shirts and shot guns might
have heart enough back of them to
storm entrenched foes, and drive
! from their breastworks the tried war
riors of countries that made a trade
of war and trafficked in such murder
ers; that they who have been stung
to the quick by insult heaped upon
insult, and threat added to threat,
could and would defend their wives
and little ones, their homes and fire.
sides against all the minions OF the
King.
But he was in a sore dilema, there
was the order, perhaps the garter,
awaiting him If he went on, probably
the royal displeasure If he went back.
He had said this army never retreats,
and good reason for it now. Lincoln
Though he soon joined GatesD with
Warner and his men, was with others
between him and his Canadian en-
barking place. General Riedsel ad-
vised him to try 1t. Frazer was for
advancing. He did not know that he
was going to his death. Phillips was
non-committal. They crossed the
Hudson They hoped for an attack
from Gates, who now had superseded
Schuyler in command Gates knew as
well as Burgoyne that he, Burgoyne,
was on his last legs, and that he had
only to bide his time, when he should
receive his sword. Burgoyne, de-
feated already, delayed, hesitating to
hear the doomful word. He put up q
bold front at Freman's Farms and
then delayed some more. Then back
ed up little, then engaged the foe
again, or had to, albeit with the des-
peration of despair. and then trying
ruse was out-witted, and fled in the
night, only to run up against Stark
once more, in possession of the ford
that he must cross to reach Fort Ed
ward. Then changing his plan he
proposed to continue on the west
side of the river, and, reaching an
other ford above, return, but learned
that some of these same Hampshire
Grants men, he so much dreaded, had
possession, and there was nothing to
do but capitulate, which he did, and
the glorious army, which nine thous-
and strong had sailed up the Lake in
all the glory of June, now that the
autumn frosts had touched the
leaves, with barred heads laid down
their arms at Saratoga, some distance
from Albany, and took up their en-
forced march for Boston, as Burgoyne
had all along wanted TO do, under
other conditions
Now what did it all mean? The
results of this victory at Bennington
can scarcely be overestimated. 1t
was due to this, that the numbers Of
the British forces which could fight
on the west side of the Hudson, were
less by at least a thousand, probably
| fifteen or eighteen hundred, than they
would have been, and of a body of
men. of many of whom Burgoyne said
to Baum, Always bear in mind that
your corps is too valuable to let any
considerable loss be haZarded." II
was due to this, that they had TO
| fight hungry, when they did fght,
| and surrender at discretion. While
| the knowledge was gradually perco-
lating their intelligence that even
| New England peasants with their
| fowling pieces and scarcely bayonet
| could and would storm intrenchments
against chosen men from all the Brit
ish regiments, thing not known be-
| fore, and, moreover win the victory
a defeated army over a body of veter-
ans flushed with a series of success
es. 1t was inspiration indeed for the
anxious Continentals. Men of all
classes fiocked to the standard of
The Congress. The Provincials in
Burgoynes army, the Canadians and
the Indians skunk away. The latter
scalped no more after Bennington ."
Mount your dragons and send me
| thirteen hundred horses, seize Ben
nington, Council of Safety and all.
Cross the mountains, try the affect
ions OF the country, take hostages,
meet me fortnight hence at AL
bany." ordered Burgoyne-"Aye, Aye,
Sir" responded Baum. He writes on
the head of a barrel that ii is being
done. He sends back for more help
in a few hours. A few more hours and
he is dying in the humble cottage of
Vermont peasant, his troops on the
way to Massachusetts and his Pro-
vincials led two by two with rope at
tachments, to the meeting house on
the green in Old Bennington, prison
ers, Thus" says the Connecticut
Courant of the day, was the seed
sown of all the laurels Gates reaped
during the campaign" This achieve
ment of Stark emboldened the Green
Mountain rangers TO infest and break
up Burgoyne's communications with
his depots of privisions. and threw
them into month of practically en-
forced idleness, so far as active oper-
atoms were concerned, from August
10th. to September 18th, and in the
end prevented, as We have seen, his
escape to Canada.
False rumors flew thick and fast at
the time, as at all such times, but
they added to the conditions which
compelled Burgoyne's surrender.
They were the outcome of this bat
tie. Butler says:-"A hand bill was
published in Boston within q week,
with an exaggerated account of
Stark's victory. The criers announc-
ed it on the streets and the church
bells pealed it from their belfries.
BY skillful use of the same, Fort
Stanwix saw its besiegers no more,
and the announcement that Burgoyne
had been taken at Saltwater was only
by short time premature. Benning-
ton was indeed, "fatal'l
; Nor is this all, il the colonies
thought they saw Burgoyne's finish
in this defeat, yes, even the Kings
ultimate defeat. no less so did our
friends abroad, for we had them in
England and on the continent. At
least. it was plain If England was to
crush the rebellion over here they
must fight a continent which vronld