USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Boscawen > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 22
USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Webster > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 22
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Lieut. Enoch Ge. rish,
Joshua Danford,
Thomas Carter,
Isaac Davis,
Daniel Carter,
Lt. Samuel Fowler,
John Jackman,
Dea. Joseph Hoit,
James Gerald (died),
Col. Henry Gerrish,
Joseph Pearson,
Charles Greenfield,
John Muzzy,
John Hale,
John Flanders,
Samuel Jackman,
Friend Little,
Phineas Stevens (died),
Thomas Beadle,
Nathaniel Burbank,
Joseph Atkinson,
Joseph Couch.
Nathaniel Atkinson,
NEW YORK CAMPAIGN.
Upon the evacuation of Long Island by Gen. Washington the militia were called out in the eastern colonies. Boscawen sent eight soldiers.
Capt. Peter Kimball,
Moses Morrill,
Lt. Benjamin Jackman,
Daniel Richards,
Ens. Samuel Ames,
Samuel Jackman,
Bitfield Plummer,
Cutting Noyes.
WINTER CAMPAIGN.
Boscawen furnished three soldiers for the winter campaign on the Hudson-Lieut. Winthrop Carter, John Uran, Samuel Bur- bank.
252
MILITARY HISTORY.
[1777.
Col. Henry Gerrish was in the service of the state obtaining supplies.
" Boscawen February 1, 1776.
Received of Henry Gerrish one Hundred & sixty six Blankets, Fifty seven tin Kittles & one Barrel of spirits which I promise to Deliver Majr Cavis of Rumney for Col Israel Morey.
Elisha Bean."
" Reced of Coll Henry Gerrish one Hundred and eighty one pounds, fourteen shillings L m [lawful money ] to pay Thirty Three Men which I am ordered to raise out of my Regiment to reinforce the army at New York their advance pay and Billetting, which men are to serve till the first day of March next unless sooner discharged.
December 10th 1776.
Thomas Stickney."
1777.
PREPARING FOR THE CAMPAIGN.
May. At a town-meeting held the last Monday in May, voted " to raise sixty pounds to pay the four men hired by said town to serve in the continental army for the term of three years."
A committee was appointed "to join the military officers in making draughts of men as may be wanted from time to time for the Continental service."
Voted, That the selectmen " raise a tax so large that there be sixty pounds left after the proportional part of those who have done service is abated."
The selectmen addressed a letter to the Committee of Safety :- " Boscawen May 17, 1777
Gentlemen
In consequence of Express orders, the Town of Boscawen is this Day assembled & called on by the Capt of said town that each man be im- mediately a Quipt according to law and as there is found wanting a Number of Fire Arms Ammunition &c we have Imployed Capt Samuel Atkinson and Mr. Joseph Gerrish to procure the same. We Desire your favor if thare be any guns in store to be purchased that you would give Capt Atkinson your advice & assistance & also a quantity of lead. Mr. Atkinson will be able to inform yon of the Number of arms & Quantity of lead wanted to a Quip said Town & your Favor herein will Greatly oblige your Humble Sarvents,
George Jackman
To the Committee of ?
Cutting Noyes Selectmen Safety at Exeter." S
253
MILITARY HISTORY.
1777.]
BENNINGTON CAMPAIGN.
Orders from Col. Thomas Stickney, who lived in 'Concord, reached Capt. Kimball July 1, to be ready with his company to march at a minute's warning to oppose Gen. Burgoyne, who was advancing from Canada to Lake Champlain. Capt. Kimball's company marched July 4th.
CAPT. KIMBALL'S DIARY.
"July 1st 1777 orders came from Col Stickney to me to muster and Equip one Quarter part of the Company to march at a minits warning and in consequence of the same we met to git the men.
"July 4 orders came to march 13 men Immediately to tie [Ticonder- oga].
" saterday we marcht to perrytown [Sutton] and Loged thare.
"Sunday 6 we marcht to Unity and Loged thare.
" Monday 7 we marcht to No 4 and Loged thare & drawd 4 Day al- lowance.
" tuesday 8 we marcht to Cavendysh and Loged thare.
" Wendesy 9 we marcht to No. 4 again .
" thursday 10th we marcht to Unity and Loged
"fryday 11 we marcht home."
The men engaged in this service were,-
Col. Henry Gerrish, George Jackman, Jr.,
Capt. Peter Kimball, John Morrill,
Capt. Peter Coffin,
Dea. Isaac Pearson,
Lieut. Enoch Gerrish,
Daniel Clark,
Lieut. Moses Call,
Daniel Shepherd,
Nathan Corser,
John Manuel,
Samuel Clifford,
Michael Sargent,
Dea. Jesse Flanders,
James French.
Enos Flanders,
Benjamin Sweatt,
Nathaniel Atkinson,
Moses Jackman.
Simeon Atkinson,
Men were called for to go to Coös, and six men sent as the town's quota.
Capt. Samuel Atkinson, Jeremiah Hidden, Moses Morse,
William Danford,
Jedidiah Danforth, George Jackman.
254
MILITARY HISTORY.
[1777.
These soldiers, and hundreds of others from the adjoining towns, turned about, after being out a few days, upon receipt of the news that Ticonderoga had been evacuated. They were ordered to re- turn home. The astounding news confronted Col. Gerrish's com- mand at Cavendish.
Ticonderoga was evacuated on the night of the 6th of July,- the day that the Boscawen troops were passing through Unity. The next morning, when they were on their way to Charlestown, the British advance was falling upon Col. Warner at Hubbard- ton.
The Vermont Committee of Safety, sitting at Manchester, sent a post-rider to New Hampshire.
" New Hampshire will be the frontier state if we are driven out." they said.
The N. H. Assembly had been in session at Exeter, but had adjourned. The Committee of Safety sitting there were prompt to act. The letter from Vermont was written the Sth, and on the 17th of July the New Hampshire Assembly was in session. What was to be done? The militia would turn out at a moment's no- tice,-but who would pay them? who command them? Then came the patriotic speech of John Langdon, offering all his cash, all his silver plate to be melted up, all his Tobago rum, three hundred hogsheads, to be sold. It set the Assembly on fire, kindling anew their patriotic ardor. The militia was reorganized. Whipple of Portsmouth and John Stark of Amoskeag were ap- pointed brigadiers. Orders were sent to Stark to take the field.
Stark was on his farm. He had done well for his country, but had been superseded, and had retired from the service, feeling that he had not been fairly dealt with ; but he accepted the commis- sion. His orders enabled him to act independently. He was to defend the frontier. Messengers carried his orders post haste to his subordinates.
Capt. Peter Kimball was at work on his farm at Queen street. He probably received his orders on the 22d, for his company was on the march on the 24th, the rendezvous being at Salisbury.
The next night they reached Saville (Sunapee). The fourth day they reached Charlestown. Gen. Stark was there, sending forward supplies,-directing the troops, as they came in, to move on to Manchester, Vermont. He was fretting over the want of
255
MILITARY HISTORY.
1777.]
bullet moulds. He had only one monld for the whole army, but that was kept going night and day.
A full company consisted of 60 men. Capt. Kimball marched from Boscawen with 22, but four others joined him, making 26 from Boscawen. The Concord soldiers, under Lieut. Richard Herbert, joined him on the march. The company was thus or- ganized :
Capt. Peter Kimball,
Lieut. Richard Herbert,
Ensign Andrew Pettengil,
Segt. Jesse Abbot,
Segt. Abner Flanders,
Segt. William Danforth,
Serg. Nathan Davis,
Corp. Richard Flood,
Corp. David Burbank,
Corp. John Abbot,
Corp. Theodore Farnum,
Fifer Elias Abbot,
Drummer Asa Corser,
Boscawen.
PRIVATES.
Stephen Abbot, Ezra Abbot,
66
Benjamin Ambrose,
Jonathan Ambrose,
Peter Blanchard,
Wells Burbank,
Boscawen. 66
Thomas Beedle,
Philbrick Bradley,
Jonathan Corser,
David Corser,
Daniel Carter,
66
Nathan Carter,
Abner Chase,
Simeon Danforth,
Concord. Boscawen.
Elknah Danforth, Timothy Danforth, Reuben Diamond,
Concord.
Benjamin Elliot,
James French, Jesse Flanders,
Boscawen. Concord. Salisbury. Concord.
Boscawen.
Concord. Boscawen. Concord.
Concord
Concord. Boscawen.
Boscawen. 66
256
MILITARY HISTORY. [1777.
Ephraim Fisk, Jr., Israel Glines, Solomon Gage, David George, Charles Greenfield,
Concord.
Boscawen.
John Hutchins, Samuel Hickson,
Concord.
Abial Hall, Jedidiah Hoit,
Boscawen.
Timothy Jackman,
William Jackman,
66
John Jackman, Timothy Johnson,
Concord. Boscawen.
Benjamin Little, Friend Little,
66
Samuel Morse, Isaac Pearson, John Peters,
Concord.
Anthony Potter,
Phineas Stevens,
William Symonds, Simon Trumbull,
Daniel Uran,
Gilman West,
Boscawen. Concord. [57]
Manchester, west of the Green Mountains, was the rendezvous; and the Boscawen troops reached that town on Thursday, July 31st. Col. Stickney arrived on the 3d of August, and Gen. Stark on the 6th.
A large number of the people of western Vermont were loyal to the Crown, and the property of Tories was liable to confiscation. Gen. Stark accordingly despatched Lt. Col. Emerson with a bat- talion to Rutland to obtain cattle and other supplies. Capt. Kim- ball's company formed a part of the battalion.
The expedition started on the Sth of August, marched to Rut- land, secured two hogsheads of rum, a quantity of maple sugar, and a herd of cattle.
Events were ripening. Burgoyne was at Stillwater, on the Hudson, flushed with success, and wanting only horses to enable him to push on. He accordingly directed Col. Baum to move across the state to Charlestown, go down the Connecticut to Brat-
Bennington Battle Ground.
257
MILITARY HISTORY.
1777.]
tleborough, and return through Massachusetts, and join him at Albany. His Tory friends informed him that the inhabitants were loyal, and that on the appearance of the troops they would declare their allegiance.
On the morning of the 12th, while the Boscawen troops were at Rutland, fifty-five miles north of Bennington, the expedition of Col. Baum started from Stillwater, and marched a short distance. Burgoyne's whole force was on the east bank of the Hudson. Baum's command was composed of Hessians, British, Canadians, Tories, and Indians, and numbered about 800 in all. He marched on the 13th to Cambridge, sixteen miles from the Hudson. He sent out a party, who captured fifteen Vermont men, who were tak- ing supplies to Gates,-cattle, horses, and carts,-which he sent to Burgoyne, with the information that eighteen hundred rebels were at Bennington. This was an exaggeration, Stark's force at that time being less than fifteen hundred.
Stark was ignorant of the advance of Baum. The ten men who escaped reported seeing only Indians and Tories; and Stark, on the 14th, sent Lieut. Col. Gregg towards Cambridge with two hundred men, to stop the marauders.
On the morning of the 14th, the Boscawen troops were ten miles north of Manchester, fully thirty-five miles from Benning- ton, marching southward with their rum, sugar, and cattle. At the same time Baum was breaking up his encampment at Cam- bridge, and moving on to Bennington. Gregg at the same time was going with his two hundred men to Cambridge.
Baum reached Van Schaik's mill about 8 o'clock, and encoun- tered Gregg. A few volleys were fired, and Gregg fell back, hav- ing first broken down the bridge across the Walloomsic, which Baum was obliged to rebuild. He sent a despatch to Burgoyne : "I will proceed so far to-day as to fall on the enemy to-morrow early."
Intelligence of what was going on reached Stark, who advanced to support Gregg; but not finding a good place to make a stand, he fell back to Bennington.
Baum selected a position on a hill, and went into camp, send- ing a messenger to Burgoyne for reinforcements, who detached Col. Breyman with five hundred of his best troops and two pieces of artillery, to aid him.
17
258
MILITARY HISTORY.
[1777.
On the evening of the 14th, while Baum is in camp, the Bos- cawen troops are at Manchester, twenty-five miles distant. The remnant of Col. Warner's Vermont regiment, which fought nobly at Hubbardton, is also at Manchester, though Warner himself is at Bennington. At this same moment, a few Berkshire militia- about 150-under Symonds, accompanied by Rev. Mr. Allen of Pittsfield, are on the march from Williamstown.
August 15. The rain pours in torrents, but the Boscawen men are making the twenty-five miles between Manchester and Ben- nington. We may imagine them toiling along the forest road, reaching Bennington at night, hungry, weary, drenched. Almost at the same time the Berkshire troops arrive, and Parson Allen hastens to Gen. Stark's tent.
" General," says the bluff preacher, "the people of Berkshire have frequently been called upon to fight, but never have had a chance ; and we have resolved, if you will not let us fight now, never to turn out again."
" Do you want to go now, in the rain, at midnight ? "
" No."
" Well, if the Lord gives us sunshine once more, and I don't give you fighting enough, I won't ask you to turn out again."
The morning of the 16th was calm and serene, the sky without a cloud. The Boscawen soldiers dried their clothes, and prepared for the battle.
Stark, Warner, and Ashley reconnoitre Baum's position. Warner is a citizen of Bennington, and is familiar with every locality.
Noon comes. Stark is a mile or more east of Baum's entrench- ment, on the east side of the Walloomsic river. He sends Stick- ney and Hobart with two hundred men to attack one hundred Tories, entrenched on a hillock by the river to hold the bridge which crosses the stream.
He sends Col. Herrick with three hundred men to the rear of Baum, to attack from the west. Col. Nichols marches with three hundred men to attack from the north. Stickney and Hobart will attack from the south, and Stark himself from the east.
Three o'clock. Herrick has made a long march through the woods, but has reached his position. Stickney, with the Bos- cawen, Concord, Loudon, Salisbury, Hopkinton, and Henniker
J'OSITION of the DETACHMENT under
WAMS COCK near BENNINGTON Shewing the Attacks of the Enemy on the 16th August 1177. Drmura by Lieut! Darnfard Engineer Engraved by W~ Faden 1780.
Road from Sarating
Kever
References
A. Reidesels Dragoons. B. Rangers. C. American Volunteers. D). Cerman Grenadiers.
K. Chasseurs.
F. Houses. Posts of Canadians,
STALF. OP PATIES_
-
C. Bodies of the Enemy,
260
MILITARY HISTORY.
[1777.
troops, is emerging from the woods in front of the Tories. Each man has a corn-husk in his hat, for the Tories, like themselves, are in citizens' dress, and every man with a corn-husk in his hat is a friend ; all others are foes.
Beyond Stickney are the Plymouth, Bridgewater, and New Chester men, under Hobart.
Then comes a rattle from Herrick's guns. Nichols takes it up. The Boscawen men, emerging from the cornfield, confront the Tories behind the breastwork by the bridge. Stark, with the main body, comes out into an open field. We hear his laconic speech : "There are the red-coats. They must be ours before night, or Molly Stark sleeps a widow !"
No need to repeat the household story-how the battle waxed hot and fierce ; how Stickney drove the Tories from their shelter; how the patriots pressed on, undaunted by the roar of Baum's cannon ; how, at last, destitute of bayonets, they charged up the hill, leaped over the breastworks, seized the cannon, overwhelm- ing the Hessians, trampling them beneath their feet !
On what page of history can there be found a counterpart to their heroism ?- farmers, knowing nothing of war, destitute of bayonets, armed only with muskets and fowling-pieces, charging the veteran troops of England and Germany in their entrench- ments !
The troops disperse to collect plunder. Only a handful of the enemy have escaped. Baum is mortally wounded. The troops are exulting over the victory. They are filling their canteens with rum, from a cask which Stark has ordered up, when there is a sudden change of scene. Breyman, with his five hundred fresh troops and two pieces of cannon, appears, stung to the quick over the disaster. They open with their cannon. Not a regi- ment nor a company of Stark's command is in line. But there is quick rallying. Men do not stop to find their companies, but fall in where they are. The battle begins, fiercer than ever. The Americans are driven ; but at last Warner's men, one hundred and forty in number, appear upon the field. They are smarting over their defeat at Hubbardton. Their coming turns the scale. The British ranks waver, and finally break. A panic seizes the soldiers, who flee, throwing away their guns and equipments. The Americans follow them till night, and then return to gather up the spoils.
261
MILITARY HISTORY.
1777.]
The British loss is two hundred and seven killed and wounded, seven hundred prisoners, seven hundred stand of arms, four can- non, and a great amount of plunder,-in all, a loss of about one thousand men. The American loss was thirty killed and forty wounded.
Historians, in these later years, recognize Bennington as the turning-point of the American Revolution. Burgoyne's fate was decided there. With the failure of his expedition came the alli- ance of the United States with France,-resulting in the inde- pendence of the colonies.
So, on that historic field, twenty-six citizens of Boscawen aided in securing to the world the right of man to self-government.
CAPT. PETER KIMBALL'S DIARY.
" July 24th marcht to Salsbury with 22 men and Loged in order for No. 4 [Charlestown].
" fryday 25th we marcht to sevil and Loged thare.
" Saturday 26th we marcht to Mr. Grout's at No 4 Loged thare.
"Sunday 27th we marcht to town [Charlestown] and Drawd 4 Days allowance.
" Monday 28 we marcht about 4 mile and Loged at Rockingham.
" tuesdy 29 we marcht to Kent and Loged thare.
" Wendsdey 30 we marcht to Brumley & Loged at Capt Kelleys.
' thursdey 31 we marcht over the green mountains to manchester to Head Quarters & Loged thare.
" fryday august 1st we Drawd 2 days allowance. Nothing extraor- dinary hapened this Day.
" saterdy 2 the scouts beat in a Drove of cattle. A rainy Day.
" sunday 3d Col Stickney came into camp in the Rain.
" Mondey 4th nothing extraordinary hapened this Day. Abner Chace joined our company.
" tuesdy 5th sim Danford come in and joined us.
' Wendsdy 6th general Stark come in.
"thursdy 7 orders came for a scout to go to the crick [Otter Creek]. Lt Col [Emerson] 1 Capt [Kimball] 4 sub 83 officers [privates ?] en- cluded paraded at the generals at 7 o'clock evening. Dismist & ordered to meet at 7 oclock in the morning.
" frydy Sth marcht about 100 men for the crick. Col Emerson com- manded. marcht 10 or 12 miles campt at Danbury.
" Saterdy 9th marcht about 3 miles and Brakfast at a tory house then marcht to Dedham & campt.
262
MILITARY HISTORY. [1777.
" Sandy 10th we marcht to Rutland took 2 hogsheads of Rum & marcht back to Dedham and Loged thare.
" monday 11th sent a party & found 2 barrels of rum & some shugar " tuesdy 12th we marcht to fisks and Loged. Alarm was made.
" Wendsdy 13 we marcht and campd with the Drove and carg ).
"thursdy 14th we marcht to Manchester
" frydy 15 we marcht to Bennington
" Saterday 16 we formed the Brigade & had a battle with the enemy in which I Received a slite wound.
" Sundy 17 I went & viewed the ground where the Battle was & re- turned to camp, and Laid in camp all Day.
" Mondy 18 we Lay in the camp sent out scouts Berried some Dead
" tuesday 19th I went to town to see the sick & wounded. Rote a Letter to send home.
" wensday 20 we Lay in our camp & I went & viewed the ground where the battle was.
" Thursdy 21 we left the Lines & marcht about 2 mile & Quartered in a barn at one abbots.
" fryday 22 we Lay in the barn. Nothing extraordinary hapened this Day.
" Saterdey 23 I went to town to see the sick and wounded.
" Sunday 24th I went to see the sick to town the afternoon went to meeting.
" monday 25th I went to town to the Vandue of the plunder.
"tuesday 26 sarch was made for plunder in the company.
" Wensday Ang 27 I went to Vandue.
" thursday 28 Nothing extraordinary hapened this day.
" fryday 29 I went to Vandne.
" Saterday 30 I went to see the ground where the battle was with It Center & Dr flanders, & the soldiers come in from Boscawen [another company that arrived after the battle].
" Sunday 31 major Head Died about Sun Rise. Burried at Evening.
"Sept Monday Ist we built a Booth to drink tody in.
" tuesday 2 timothy Johnson had a discharge from the army
" wensday, 3d timothy Johnson went of home
" thursday 4th I went to Vandue & bot a hatian [Hessian] gun for 49 shillings
" frydey 5 ordered to be ready to march to Ranzelers mills, and I went to town and saw the Baymen [Breymen prisoners] march for manchester.
" Saterdey 6 we marcht to st Coyce & Barrickt [barracked] thare.
" Sunday 7th I went to Head Quarters and Drank some whiskey at Ranclyes seller [Rensselaer's cellar ].
263
MILITARY HISTORY.
1777.]
" Monday 8th nothing extraordinary hapened this Day.
" tuesdey 9th orders came to hold ourselves in Rediness to march to- morrow morning by Sun Rise for Still water.
" wendsdey 10th we marcht to Cambridge and Loged
" thursday 11 we marcht to Still water and campt the East side of North River Thare I saw Nehemiah Carlton
"fryday 12 we marcht over the River and campt on the West side.
" saterdey 13 orders came to march and we swnng our packs and marcht about 3 miles & joined the continental army & campt in the wood.
" Sundy 14th I went through the Encampment to see my acquaint- ance. thare I saw Nehemiah Carlton and in the afternoon Mr. Ilibbert preacht a sermon.
" Mondey 15th orders came to parade the Regt & accordingly we was paraded & Col Ashley told us that it was the Desire of Genl Gates that we should stay one month Longer & he would give ten Dollars a man & the men seemed Not inclined to stay on that consideration & at night General Stark came into camp.
" tuesdey 16th Nothing extraordinary Hapened this Day.
" Wendsday 17 we Lay in our camp
"thursdy 18 I Left the camp & marcht to Benningtown & Loged at Mr Abbot's.
" frydey 19. I went to town & gut the plunder money for the com- pany £1-13-7-0 which was in the Benningtown fight of my com- pany
" Saterdey 20th marcht to Shaftsbury & gut Brakfast from thence to Manchester & gut dinner then to the mountains & Campt
" Sundey 21 marcht to Capt Ritty's gut Brakfast then to Kint [Kent?] at Dr acons & Loged thare
" mondey 22d we marcht to No 4 & Loged at Col Hunts.
" tuesdy 23d I marcht to Unity and Loged at Capt Huntoon's
" Wensdy 24 I marcht to Perrytown and Loged thare.
" Thursdy 25 I gut home.
" The plunder money at Bennington Divided to 2250 men.
" A Return of the killed & wounded General Starks Brigade in ye ac- tions at Benningtown.
" Col Hubbert Regt 3 killed 7 wd
" Col Nichols Regt 9 killed 13 wd
': Col Stickney Regt 2 killed 18 wd
- "total 14 killed 38 wd -
264
MILITARY HISTORY.
[1777.
"ITEMS.
"Charlestown July 28 1777
£ s. p.
" paid for clove water for the company
0-10-6
paid for brandy 0-9-0
0- 1-0
Lieut Harbert paid for Bread Capt paid for Bread
0-1-0
" Benningtown August 31 0-12-0
"Capt Webster Dr to Paid to Daniel Uran."
This was Capt. Ebenezer Webster of Salisbury, father of Dan- iel and Ezekiel.
£ s.
" Paid for Sargt Abbot
0-3-0-0
Elk. Danford Dr 0-3-6
Asa Corser Dr 0-6-0)
WVm Jackman Dr 0-6-0
paid for Lieut Harbert 0-1-1
paid Ensign Bohonnon Lieut. Harbert
0-9-0
"Benningtown-5 1777
" this Day settled our mess & find that our expenses at mr Abbot is 0-13-2, paid by Lieut Harbert.
" 11 Batches of Bread Baking 16s .- 6 for the company 2s .- 0 to each mess of the - [regiment ?] for Baking 8-5-7-0 4 Bakings 0-6-0
" Sept 1777 S
" Lent to Elknh [ Elkanah ] Danford
12-6
£ s
Lent to Capt Webster
0-1-0-0"'
Although Boscawen had sent twenty-six men to Bennington, although several of the citizens were in the Continental line, there were others ready to leave at a moment's notice. The news of the victory was soul-stirring. There is no evidence that any orders were received for additional troops, only the general re- quest for everybody to turn out. On the 24th of August, twelve men started for Bennington, to join Capt. Kimball's company.
265
MILITARY HISTORY.
1777.]
Nathaniel Burbank,
Joseph Flanders,
Bitfield Plumer,
Ezekiel Flanders,
Benjamin Atkinson,
Jeremiah Eastman,
Joseph Pearson,
Jeremiah Hidden,
John Flanders,
Nathan Corser,
David Flanders,
Capt. Peter Coffin.
Lieut. Col. Henry Gerrish was not in the battle. He raised a battalion, which went into service a few days later under General Stark.
At a sale of plunder, held at Battenkill, October 18, 1777, Col. Henry Gerrish was chosen clerk, and Capt. Sears, vendue mas- ter. Capt. Sears was undoubtedly Capt. Sears of Bennington.
Where the " plunder " was obtained is not quite clear. There was a large amount of dry goods, watches, knives, and elothing. The note-book of Col. Henry Gerrish is badly blurred. A few ex- tracts are given :
" At a vendue held at Battenkill Octob 18th 1777 Henry Gerrish chosen Clerk Capt Moulton[?] to assist him Capt Sears Vendue Mas- ter: Capt Ford the Highest bidder S p
1 gun
1 gun
£3-3-3 3-9
Job Moulton one white horse
6-6- 0
Col Henry Gerrish one watch
8-14-0
Capt Ford 1 watch
11-14 -- 0
Capt Sear Sword
3-18-0
David Danford 1 coat 15-0
John Coffin 1 set curtains
4-13-0
Ensign Morrill cambrick
2-11-0
Enoch Coffin white Holland
2-11-0
David Danford two towels and remnant of Holland 1-1-0
Joseph Tules pair sheets
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