The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
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ii" had laid the new commonwealth open to any
punishment which Burgoyne might wish to In
flict upon it's people. Vermont called upon New
Hampshire for assistance in repelling the invaders
and urged that such forces as that state could
raise be placed under an Independent command
instead of the regular officers of the Continental
army, in whom they had no confidence. New
Hampshire raised a force Of militia and placed
Stark in command with the rank of general Off
GERS Of the Continental army resented this action
by New Hampshire and congress on August 10
passed vote of censure three days after the
victory at Bennington had been won and just
day before the news of the battle reached that
august body!
General Stark marched his troops to Man
chester, Vermont, on August Z, and was met by
General Lincoln with orders from General Schuy-
Ter to join him at Saltwater, New York He was
also met by the Vermont Council of Safety which
urged him to disobey Schuyler's orders. The
state government of New Hampshire upheld Stark
and instead of going to Saltwater, he marched to
Bennington, planning to strike Burgoyne on his
left wing. On August 10, Stark received word
of the approach of a force of British and Hes
SLAMS under Colonel Baum On the morning of
August IA, Stark and his men, accompanied by
Colonies Warner Herrick Brush and Williams,
marched out to meet Baum At the same time he
sent messengers to Manchester to summon War
ner's regiment of Continentals which had been
left there in charge of Lieutenan-Coonel Stafford,
and to rally the militia. He then set forth to
meet the enemy drew up his forces in battle
array and awaited Baums attack Baum how
ever, took up a strong position and halted So
Stark drew back about a mile, and pitched his
camp for the night within the present town of
Bennington. That Eight a body of troops, COM
manded by tho redoubtable lighting parson," the
Rev. Thomas Allen Of Pittsfeld, arrived from
Massachusetts,. The next morning, although 1t was
raining in torrents and Warner had not yet ar
rived, Stark decided to attack. For an hour and
half Stark could make little Roadway against the
entrenched enemy but at last about four-thirty
in the afternoon his men gained the crest of the
hill and after a half hour Of desperate hand-to-
hand fighting the enemy retreated, leaving in the
hands of the victors their MORALLY wounded COM
mander The house in which Baum died short
time later is still standing
After the flight of the British, Starks unds-
ciplined forces scattered the field collecting
the plumber Suddenly another force of 500 British,
commanded by Lieutenant-Coonel Breyman, who
had been marching to reinforce Baum, appeared.
Stark's men were taken by surprise and fell into
line in the greatest disorder At a critical moment
Warmers forces appeared and Breyman was de-
feated. Starks army was approximately $500 men,
composed mostly of militia and volunteers. 1t out
numbered the enemy, it is true, but that enemy
was composed of 1,40O disciplined and welltrained
troops, among them the flower of the British army
and their allies the Hessians. In one day Stark's
men fought two stubborn engagements with
loss of 80 killed and 40 wounded. The enemy
suffered loss of more than 200 killed, 700 pris-
oners 4 cannon and 900 muskets, swords and
pistols. The victory at Bennington did more than
strike blow at Burgoynes plans. More impor-
tant was the fact that it raised the morale of the
patriots after long unbroken chain of discourage
ing events The bells of Boston peaed forth in
rejoicing when the news became known. The con-
gress, which on August 10 had passed the resolu-
ton of censure, October voted its thanks
to Stark and his men and made him a brigadier
general in the United States army