The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-02-28
New York and Bennington

new YORK ana bennington
A bill is now pending in the New
York legislature for the purchase of
210 acres in the town of Hoosick, In
Guiding the entire farm of William n.
Stevens and a portion of the farm of
Myron Cottrell. a sum not to exceed
$4,000 being appropriated for the
land and $4,000 more for converting
it into park and for its care and
maintenance. On this tract OF land,
on the west bank of little stream
known as the Walloomsac river, was
fought the battle of Bennington.
The location of the camp made by
Colonel Baum and his German troops
was we'll chosen for defence. A bluff
200 feet high rises from the Walloom-
sac and this bluff was the front Of
Baum's position. On his left was a
little tributary stream and on his
right was the Saratoga road. The
strength OF the position is plain when
one inspects il in person.
1t may seem strange to some that
New York should be asked to set
aside as a public park the land on
which Vermont's most important rev.
dictionary battle was fought, .but ii
must be conceded that the battlefield
was in the state of New York, just
over the boundary line. The object
of attack, however, was Bennington.
The preparations for meeting the ad-
vance of the British were begun by
Vermonters and they summoned to
their assistance General Stark and
his New Hampshire men and militia
from Massachusetts, Apparently the
only New York troops engaged were
a detachment of Hoosick Tories under
the command of Colonel Pfister, res
dent OF that town.
General Burgoyne, having captured
Ticonderoga and secured control of
Lake Champaign, after undergoing al.
most incredible hardships, had reach
ed the Hudson river at Fort Edward
on his way to Albany, where he hop
ed to be joined by General Howe
from New York. Owing to an over
sight the orders were not issued un.
iii too late to be OF service. Howe
having gone on an expedition to Ches
apeake Bay. Meanwhile Burgoyne
was finding IL an exceedingly difficult
| task to feed his army and the loyal
lists who focked to his camp. Most
Of his supplies must cross the ocean
from England ascend the st. Law
renee to Montreal and be forwarded
by way of the Richelieu river and
Lakes Champlain and George, a dis
lance of $500 miles. at time wher
there were no steamboats, or rail
roads. Learning that a depot OF sup
plies had been established at Benning
ton by the Americans, the British
commander saw the possibility Of re
lleving his desperate situation by cap
turing these stores.
In defending his conduct against al
attack made in the House of Com
mons Burgoyne said: 81 knew tina
Bennington was the great deposit o
corn, flour, and cattle, that II wal
guarded only by militia, and ever.
days account tended only TO confirm
the persuasion OF the loyalty OF on
description of the inhabitants and tn,
panic OF the others. Those VIII,
knew the country best were the mos
sanguine in their persuasion. Hat
my intelligence been worse founded
should not have hesitated to tr,
this expedition with such troops an,
under such instructions as | gave 4
the commanding officer, for so grea
purpose as that Of supply sutliC
lent TO enable the army TO follow NJ
on the heels OF a broken and discor
certed enemy. The German troop
we're OF the best had of that nal
ion. The number of British wa
small, but IL was the select Ligh
Corps OF the army, and composed q
chosen men from all regiments an
commanded by Captain Fraser, on
of the most distinguished officers 1
his line of service that ever | me
with"
IL is evident that Burgoyne depend
ed upon information given him b
: Major Skene OF Skenosborough (no'
WhitehalD regarding the loyalty q
/, the inhabitants in the vicinity 9
Bennington. and subsequent event
I showed how badly he was lnforme,
at least so far as the inhabitants {
! Vermont were concerned
That the battle was not fought
the township Of Bennington and
, the state OF Vermont was due to th
: fact that stark did not wait TO !
= attacked. but went out TO meet N
y enemy. Colonel Baum, finding n
American force stronger than he G
: pected, had fortified his camp an
= sent back for achievements. decidir
~ that for the present self preseryatic
y was a more urgent duty than the ca
" ture OF rebel provisions.
All the attendant Circumstance
justify the use OF the word Bennin
ton. as applied to the battle by DO
British and American authorities al
the splendid battle monument Is ere
ted on the site OF the depot Of on