The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-09-19
DIR. JENNINGS ADDRESS.
(Continued from list page

nedrQ from lnG ueiu VI DSIuluStOn.
These two men soon went, each his
own way, the Colonel to the defences
about New York and the General to
Canada, where with three men, at
least who were later to become fac
tors in our story.Phillips, Riedesel
and FraZer-we find him, far from
idle, serving his King.
The intrepid Stark too, who, as a
young man, had run the gauntlet OF
his savage captors, with approval from
their aged chief who had refused to
hoe corn, because it was squaw's
work, and who had finally bought
himself with the price of an Indian
pony, with the same disregard of
danger to himself and the same keen
eye for defences, soon followed, and
we find him at Mount Independence,
on the opposite side of Lake Cham
plain from Ticonderoga, then a for
est of ancient trees, marking out and
building a fort, which was later to
figure in this campaign.
General Burgoyne having spent the
summer of rs and '76 in Canada, and
about our lake, conceived the idea
of sally from Canada, which would
put an end to the long drawn out war,
and put into active force the project
which had been a dream in the Kings
mind for many days Soliciting per
mission to return to England he set
sail in the Apollo frigate, November
5, 1916, amid the prayers of a we'll
wishing army, and we soon hear of
him as closeted with the King, devel-
oping the matter. A paper remains
to us which he laid before the minis
! try, doubtless at the Kings sugges-
| ton, which embodies his plan for this
| proposed expedition. This plan in
volved placing in his hands a tried
force of about ten thousand men, in
Guiding some Provincials Indians and
a fine park of artillery, with neces-
sary transports, wagons and horses,
and foresters as well as fighters from
Canadaa His proposition was to pro
coed by the Lakes Champlain and
George, form depots of supplies as he
went along, capture Fort Ticondero
ga, and, soon penetrating to the Hud
son, there TO meet supporting force
under St Leger, which was to be
previously despatched by the way OF
the St. Lawrence, Lake Ontario
Oswego, an dthe Mohawk and botf
soon to form a junction with LORD
Howe at Albany. The object of al
this; TO so separate the northern
colonies from their neighbors on the
west and south, that the country
might be conquered piecemeal anC
the rebellion crushed.
The Generals Thoughts for Con
Quoting the War from the Side o.
Canada, also included the sugges
ton of a diversion through "The
Grants" now Vermont and crossing
the Green Mountains, to descend the
Connecticut River. and by its threat
ening aspect to terrify the inhabi
tants. win great numbers of hesitat
ing sympathizers, and. perhaps, ulti
mately carry out his threat of the
year before, of showing the Bostoness
what the Kings troops could really
do, If they were led by Genera
who knew something about It, II Ii
true, this last thought was not put
into words. The ministry, however
took a different view of It, and cut
from this enticing program. all this
side issue. combining him TO the direct
path, and they, not the Generals
planned the war and its details
from London.
So much of our plan adopted, the
Office of Lieutenant General bestowed
upon the brigadier, and troops hired
which Cousin Kittie," Russia's Queer
altho. approached, Indignantly re
fused to supply. he set sail in the ear
ly spring of 1777, bearing in his hands
a warrant of Knighthood for Genera
Charlton, to salve his wounded feel
ings, if there should be any resent
ment at being thus superseded in 9
plan, he too had been revolving fol-
some time, as the result of his ex
periences of the proceeding year In
this neighborhood. and landed In
Quebec, in May of the eventful year
General, now Sir Guy Carlton, had
everything so advanced and prepare
tons so well made, that few trifiinl
matters, such as weather and bad
roads, unwillingness of the Canadians
to respond, and the non-arrival of the
ammunition and provision ships did
not delay Burgoyne. for he writes tc
Lord German. that he has enough
ammunition TO make an effective
showing before Ticonderoga. which
he understands is intending TO make
a stout resistance"
General Burgoyne seems to me ia
have been a favorite of fortune, uI
to this ill-starred campaign. His had
been many of her choicest and most
partial gifts; well born and trained
and favorally married, though some
what head-strong, and traduced by
later enemies. he had won renown
on the fields of war, parliment and
literature He wore on his finger q
diamond ring, the gift of the King OF
Spain for gallantry, as he had receiv
ed the commentator of the Count dc
Lippe for his bravery at D'Alcantara
his written plays had won attention
in the drawing rooms of London and
as carpet knight he had always
proved a success. Above all he was
the recipient of complimentary recog
milton from King George the 3rd.
who had promised him a red ribbon
perhaps a garter. in case of success
in this venture. He was in the prime
of his vigOr and he naturally felt that
this campaign was to blazon his name
on the scroll of history.
Ready for his conQuering march, OF
sail and march, he set forth with an
army Of some nine thousand strong
about seven thousand regulars. and
as fine a body of men as ever mus.
tered. upon the beautiful lake. which
separates New York from Vermont
at our northern border, and | suppose
of all the pageants which had dis
turbed her pristine quiet. Indian,
French or English, none had ever