The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-09-20
DR. JENNINGS ADDRESS
Bennington and Its Relation to Bur
goyne's Surrender
Continued from Yesterday

,oyne's army from the still more saw
age Ottowas) were employed in this
region to intimidate and capture where
they could, but needed to be handled
With care, for they were headstrong
and irrepressible as we'll as irrespon-
ible. They exacted full toll from the
British, for all they contributed. At
length they went the limit, and in the
yanton murder of beautiful Miss Nc
Rea. drew down on their heads the
ceusure of the General, though she
dared not punish them. But they did
more, they awakened all the resis-
lance that could express itself on the
part of the natives. Their hostility
Tor the Tories was boundless, for the
Indians almost frenzy. Men came
to the rescue whom no other call
could reach. The appeal of the Coun-
ell of Safety, sitting in the Catamount
Tavern on the hill yonder, reached in
to Massachusetts and over beyond
the Connecticut, IF we are driven
back, the invader will soon be at
your doors; we are your buckler and
shield. Our humble cabins are the
bulwark of your happy firesides. But
we can't do it alone. You must help
us or we and you later perish"
To this pitiful appeal. the presiding
officer of the New Hampshire Assem-
bly, Jno. Langdon, addressing that
body. made answer:-'I have three
thousand dollars in hard money, my
plate will pledge for as much more,
have seventy hogsheads of Tobago
Rum. which shall be sold for the most
they will bring. They are at the
service of the state. If we succeed
| shall be remunerated, if not they
will be of no use to me. We can
raise a brigade and our friend Stark,
who so nobly sustained the honor OF
our arms at Bunker Hill, may safely
be entrusted with the command and
we will check Burgoyne." This was
like an electric thrill to that assemb-
ly, almost in despair not knowing
which way to turn for means.
Colonel Stark, who, stung with the
injustice of the Congress in promot-
ing junior officers over him, had re-
tired to his saw-mill and farm, heard
their appeal and replied he would UNI
dertake the job. He had. wisely or
unwisely, no confidence in the com
mander of the Northern Army, but he
would enter young Vermont and hang
upon the rear and TANKS of the army,
provided they gave him full authority
TO direct his own motions and he be
accountable to no one but New Hamp-
shire. They accepted his terms.
Men fiocked TO his standard, as they
had always done. and he was soon on
the way TO Manchester, and in few
days was rendezvoused about four
miles west of this village, while he
counselled with Warner and the
Council OF Safety sitting in the Gaia
mount Tavern.
Meanwhile. on the enemies side,
General Riedesel had rejoined the
main army at Fort Edward, and All
had moved forward to the point
where the Battenkill flows into the
Hudson.
At this point Burgoyne bethought
himself of the advice of General RE
DIESEL and requested him to make out
a plan of his suggestion that diver
sion be made toward the Connecticut
river This was not exactly General
Riedesel's intent. nor was it now in
his mind as feasible a thing as ii had
been before, but he obeyed as he was
in duty bound, insisting, so far as he
might, that, if such diversion be
made, 1t be simply for the purpose of
checking the uprising apparent TO the
eastward. for financing which, astute
Ira Allen. Ethan's younger brother,
had worked out a scheme of seques-
tration
Burgoyne had not forgotten his
long ago plan of sally toward the
Connecticut and Boston. He knew
Riedesel's dragons wanted horses (;
he had promised them. He also want
ed wagons and horses and provisions
and Provincials, for the weakening
of his main body by the giving up OF
a few regulars here and there for
guards. at the points made up TO the
present the slowness of the enfeebl-
ed provision trains in catching up
with him, from the base of supplies
now farther and farther behind him
the watchfulness of his enemy in
preventing forage and provisions fall
ing into his hands all made it import
ant that something be done. He was
persuaded that the inhabitants this
way would not be hostile to him in
the main. but if some OF them were he
was tempted by the fallacious reason
ing that if he could keep the New
England troops at home. IL would
leave st. Leger freer to make his pro-
posed march down the Mohawk. He
reflected that he could throw General
Frazer across the Hudson to keep
Schuyler's attention busy and prevent
Arnold's carrying succor either to
right or left He could please the
Germans by mounting their dragons.
always a desirable thing. He could
provide himself with stores and beef
cattle, supposed to be in this vicinity.
though on the 18th, deputy commits
sioner Tichenor drove a large body OF
these cattle TO Albany. OF this he
knew nothing. however. This move
successful would enable him. il he
should so decide, to cut loose from
his supplies at the rear and to push
Frazer forward for rapid run 10
Albany. So expecting nothing else,
but an easy victory IL fight they
must, and profitable excursion in
any case. and with General Riedesel's
suggestion as a basis. he planned an
excursion on paper TO Arlington,
Manchester. over the mountain to
Rockingham. down the Connecticut
and back again by the main road to
Albany perhaps covering his real
design
This would in some sense enable
him TO do what he had always wanted
TO do and not offend against his posi-.
tive orders from London II was to
go into a reputed Tory stronghold;
1t promised everything desirable and