The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-11-08
BATTLE OF HUBBARDTON.
Marked an Epoch in Vermont History
Says Edward Everett Hale.

The following is what Chaplain Ed
ward Everett Hale says on the battle
of Hubbardton:
Fort 1lconderoga was surrendered to
General Buroovnc by the American Gen
cral lie Clair, on July 6, l771. As the
Americans, numbering 1000 rctreatcd to
the southwest across the hills they
were pursued by the British army num-
boring several thousands. The militia
were nvertaken and made a very stub
born resistance. 1t Hubbardton on July
!, where a sanguinary battle was
fought. Brigadier General Simon Fraz-
or, Lieut.. Col. Of 2ith foot, commanded
the British.
Seth Warner commanded the Green
Mountain Boys. Colonel Nathan Hale.
then "a years old, a cousin Of the mar
tyr, who was hanged, and who was a
great uncle of Chaplain Hale, command
cd Massachusetts regiment and was
taken prisoner by the British Col.
Francis and upwards of two hundred
patriots were killed. six hundred were
wounded. The Americans lost also one
| colonel, seven captains and two hundred
and twenty other prisoners. The out
numbered American soldiers were, in
| deed, at last compelled to retreat. as at
| Bunker Hill. but only after most gal
| liant struggle.
| Chaplain Hale justly thinks it really
| pathetic that as well fought a battle as
| that Of Iiubhardton should appear in
| the popular notion of that time as a
| disgraceful retreat The disgrace of
/ IT, if any. was in the previous failure
| of st. Clair to anticipate the British IN
occupying Mount Defiance.
The British loss was one hundred
! and fifty men. Gen Stark. who after
ward commanded at Bennington
| brought up the New Hampshire militia.
| The full effect on subsequent events of
! this gallant and stubborn action of the
American militia at Hubbardton can
never be exactly estimated Like the
resolHtc action at Bunker Hill it must
| have stimulated the boldnesS and cour.
age, which, forty days later, On August
| 10, triumphed at Bennington: and on
| September l9, at Saratoga; and led to
| the surrender Of Burgoync on October
Il, 1777.
1t IS well known that the battle of
! Bennington was not really fought on
the soil of Vermont. but across the line
IN the state of New York SO that Hub.
| bardton is the only strenuous and i'm.
portant battle ever fought by white
men in the state
! Colonel Crcssy enumerates the battle
of Saratoga of which that at Hubbard
ton was really a preliminary part, as
one of the fifteen decisive battles OF
the world.
The British government was. of
course, greatly disappointed at the sur
render Of Burgoyne and made it the
subject of military investigation. The
Earl of Bacarras, and General Burgovne
III their testimony before the House OF
Lords, "spoke with admiration of the
gallant behavior of these men at Hub
barlton.
Chaplain Hale SAYS: eeThcre is not
a bit Of revolutionary reading more in.
teresting than Burgoyne 5 statement as
TO the spirit with which these men On.
gagged. He says they were not mex.
perienced peasants, but showed spirit
and courage
1t is believed that neither Rutland
county, the state, or the country al
large, have fully appreciated the battle
of tlubhardton as it was reported. more
favorablv perhaps. than was the battle
of Bunker Hill by the British com
r manders.