USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Derry > Willey's book of Nutfield; a history of that part of New Hampshire comprised within the limits of the old township of Londonberry, from its settlement in 1719 to the present time > Part 35
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The morning of the 15th brought a terrible storm of wind
29
ATTACK ....
LOS Of
Bridge
K
NORTH HOOBA
"Clear field 40 acres'
COL. STICKNEY
Mº
Sancos
ÍCo.
Vermont Troops
River
R
1->2
W
Stark's Troops
Baum's & Breyman's
River
208
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
and rain, which the parties were in no condition to meet. Fight- ing in such pouring torrents was out of the question. Baum's force, after a semblance of parade, cowered for partial shelter in the log-houses ; and Stark, after forming flanking parties, withdrew them and sheltered his men as well as possible in their brush huts and under the lee of fences. Tents there were none.
Surrounded by forests and concealed from each other by intervening hills, the opposing forces sent out numerous scouts who were lurking in the wet brush most of the day. The flint- lock muskets, with all care possible, were so drenched that few would explode, and by noon Fraser's marksmen, whom Baum had sent over the stream to support the Indians, withdrew to the bank and left the ground to the Americans. Our scouts now advanced. harried the enemy working on their entrench- ments and, with no loss, killed before night about thirty, includ- : ng two Indians, whose silver ornaments were brought as trophies into camp.
The scene on the ground occupied by Baum was a busy one despite the weather. The previous evening he had selected two hills by the river bank, which he proceeded at once to fortify, his troops work- ing with alacrity in the storm. The position was about half a mile west of the line dividing Vermont from New York ; the battle was thus fought in the latter state. The log-houses were partially demolished, and the lightest timbers, with logs cut on the ground, were drawn by the artillery horses or carried by the men to the highest of the two hills up the stream and placed in position, with earth filling the interstices. This was a work of difficulty, as often when the earth was banked against the logs, the rain would wash it back, rendering the labor fruitless. Nearly half a mile down the stream, on the opposite bank, the smaller of the hills was being rapidly prepared for the security of Peter's corps of Tories, under Col. Pfister. A breastwork was laid of rails, after the manner of a Virginia fence, and the whole filled in with flax pulled from an adjoining field. Slight defensive works were also built to defend the pass of the bridge and the ascent on the south of the redoubt. This labor extended far into the night of the 15th, when a short respite was given, the marksmen being called into the redoubt, and, with no fire to dry the troops, such rest taken as could be had with the wild whoops of the Indians or an occasional shot coming from the front. At mid- night a dispatch from Breyman was received by Baum, stating that help would be forthcoming the next day. Thus affairs
remained at daybreak on Saturday, the 16th. The Berkshire militia had arrived in the night, and their chaplain, Parson Allen, immediately reported at headquarters. Stark had failed to get reliable accounts of Breyman's approach, but his energy of action saved him from the effects of Baum's confident strategy. A plan of attack had been decided in council by Stark, his officers, and the Bennington committee, and with the early dawn preparations were made to carry it into effect. The rain, after fourteen hours' duration, abated in the night, and the morning broke clear and pleasant ; not a breath of wind stirred the drip- ping vegetation, and the swollen river showed by its turbid current the extent of the storm. Both camps were astir betimes preparing for the contest. It was a military axiom with Stark to strike only with a full preparation ; accordingly, orders were given for the drying and cleansing of all arms, after which rations
The First Meeting House in Vermont. Erected AD., 1763-66.
First Church of Christ, organized December 3, A.D. 1762.
were served, and a deliberate review held of the condition of the troops.
While these events are occurring, let us take a glance at the personal appearance of the belligerents. The American troops comprised eight incomplete regiments : five companies from Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Col. Simmons ; the Sixth New Hampshire, Col. Nichols ; the Eleventh New Hampshire, Col. Hobart (incorrectly given Hubbard in the reports) : the Twelfth New Hampshire, Col. Stickney ; and a hundred scouts, Col. Emerson. Vermont was represented by a small force of militia, Col. Williams ; a regiment from Bennington and the towns adjoining, Col. Brush ; and the Green Mountain Rangers, Col. Herrick. The Continentals of Warner, one hundred and forty in number, and Emerson's men, were yet several miles distant. These organizations were in process of formation, few of them being half filled. None had a distinctive uniform except the
299
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
Rangers-a body of Davy Crockett men, dressed in frocks with green facings. In the tactics of the forest these Rangers were at home, being a good match for the Indians, whose whoop they nearly imitated in their night countersign, which was "three hoots of an owl."
The commander of the Americans, with the trusty Warner at his side, moved rapidly through the camp. He was in the prime of life, forty-nine years old, dressed as a Continental brigadier, and mounted on a beautiful brown colt. His only staff officer was Warner, six- teen years his junior ; and his medical depart- ment numbered but one or two surgeons. The entire force was about 1,750, of which New Hampshire furnished about 1,000 : Vermont, 500 : and old Berkshire, 250.
Baum's force comprised about 1,000, of whom 150 were Indians, 200 Tories, roo Fraser's marksmen, 100 Canadian Rangers, 50 Chasseurs, and 370 Riedesel's dragoons, or Hessians, acting as infantry. The British prisoners and dead numbered the next day over 900, and Bur- goyne's orderly book makes his loss in the two engagements over 1,200. The disposal of Baum's force was well made : the Tories, or Peter's corps. with a small platoon of Hessians, held the small hill, the Cana- dians were posted in the log houses, a few Hes- sians were posted in the breastworks west of the bridge, the chasseurs were at the east declivity of the large hill, while the remainder of the Hessians were in the redoubt sur- rounded by the Indian scouts in the forest. The German com- mander evidently wished to avoid battle; at half past nine he withdrew his outposts, leaving the Indians only in the forest to guard against surprise.
As mid-day approached, the Americans were massed to
receive orders ; the locality was a large field, the entrance to which was by sliding bars and tall posts peculiar to the vicinity. Stark leaped to the topmost rail, steadied himself by the tall post, and harangued his troops in the well-known sentences : " Now, my men, yonder are the Hessians : they were bought for seven pounds tenpence a man. Are you worth more ? Prove it. Tonight the American flag floats over yonder hill, or Molly Stark sleeps widow !" Throwing knapsacks, jackets, and all baggage in heaps. and placing a guard over them, the force started. Col. Herrick's Rangers, with the Bennington militia, three hundred strong, were sent to make a detour to Baum's right ; Col. Nichols, with three hundred and fifty men, was sent to the rear of the enemy's left - the two forces, when joined. to make an attack: two hundred men, under Col. Stickney and Col. Ho- bart, including part of le Berkshire militia. were sent against the Tory works with direc- tions to keep concealed in a corn field near by and await the opening of the action at Baum's hill. Foreseeing that there would be close work with the Tories. who were in citizens' dress. like his own force. Stark gave directions to the attacking party that a corn husk in the hat-band should be the badge of his own men. A guard under a sergeant was posted near the bridge to prevent communication between the two wings of the enemy during the movements of the flanking parties, and the disposal of the forces was complete.
BENNINGTON BATTLE MONUMENT.
As a cover to his designs. Stark now moved forward his reserve and employed the time in marching slowly around a hill in full view of the enemy. This seemed to perplex Baum. As his servant, Henry Archelaus, afterward said : " He scanned the movement with a field-glass, and directed his artillery men to fire
300
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
on the column." This cannonade did no great harm, and the ruse was continued with a variety of movements for nearly three hours. At length, about three o'clock, the flanking parties had reached their coveted position and communicated with each
STARK RUNNING THE GAUNTLET. (See page 16.)
other. Nichols was the first to open fire. The Indians retired before the advancing line, and, panic-struck, fled to the redoubt, reporting that the forest was full of Yankees. Seeing the columns closing with a tightening coil around the hill, the savages dashed through the opening between the two detachments in single file, and, yelling like demons, made their escape, leaving a few of their number dead or prisoners. As the line pressed up to musket range, Baum opened a fire of small arms, and brought one of the cannons forward to the angle left exposed by the flight of his savage allies. The action became hot on both sides, but the assailants being sheltered by trees and brush, received little injury from the Hessian fire, delivered breast-high, without aim. New developments and attacks now rapidly ensued in every quarter ; the discharge of musketry was rapid, continuous, and obstinately maintained for nearly an hour, when an explosion occurred in the redoubt that shook the hill by its violence, sending blinding smoke and flying fragments among the combatants. Appalled at the detonation, there was a momentary lull among both parties. The tumbril, or ammuni- tion cart, of the Hessians had exploded. Comprehending
instantly the accident, the Americans, with a cheer along the whole line, made a dash for the parapet. No troops could with- stand such a tide ; it poured in at every angle with an impetu- osity that defied resistance. .
Muskets clubbed were opposed to bayonets ; sabre and pike came into full play. Baum was driven back, unable to use his artillery, and all discipline in both forces seemed lost, except where the German commander and a few sturdy Hessians charged with sabre when unable to load muskets. Part of Fraser's marksmen rushed over the parapet and, leaving a few of their number dead and wounded, escaped. Baum was mortally wounded by a shot, and the force around hin, panic- struck, fled down the hill to the south, where Stark's forces were advancing to meet them.
The action on the plain below, with the Tories under Pfister and the Canadians in the log houses, was but the san- guínary counterpart of the scene at the redoubt. At the first discharge from Nichols's column the concealed troops rushed through the corn, receiving three volleys, which they did not deign to return until they emerged from their cover upon a field of flax at the foot of the breastwork. Here girdled decayed trees gave them partial shelter, and behind these some of the men placed themselves, while others sought the cover of the rank flax and corn. A rapid and continuous fire now com- menced on both sides. A small platoon of Hessians in the breastwork delivered at rapid intervals their fire, without aim, giving way at each discharge to the Tories who, with hanker- chiefs tied as turbans, appeared, alternating their volleys rapidly with the regulars. At the explosion in the large redoubt up the stream a charge was made, with a whoop and hurrah, on the Tories. It was now corn husk against turban in a desperate death-grapple. Musket stocks supplied the place of bayonets on both sides. The enemy was pushed back ; Pfister fell,
CATAMOUNT TAVERN, BENNINGTON, VT.
mortally wounded, and the remnant around him called for quarter. The Canadians, seeing the capture of the two strong- holds, surrendered with the chasseurs, who, hemmed in, made little or no resistance. The first fight was won.
301
WILLEN'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
A hasty disposal was made of the prisoners. The Tories, numbering about one hundred and sixty, were tied by pairs to a leading rope, with a horse attached ; the remaining captives, about four hundred and fifty, were permitted the honors of war, being marched in close ranks with a strong flank guard to Ben- nington. Here they were quartered in the church.
It was now nearly six o'clock. Stark and Warner hastened to the redoubt. Baum, attended by his faithful servant Henry and a Hessian surgeon, was being removed from the field. Looking around at the fearful work made in the redoubt, Stark remarked that the Americans had fought like hell-hounds. " Truly," said Baum, " they fought more like hell-hounds than
Col. Safford and Major Rann. Halting a few moments at the river to take a hasty draught and fill their canteens, the troops pressed forward to meet the new danger. Every available man was hurried to the front.
Skene had been posted by Baum about mid-day at the Sancoic Mill to communicate with Breyman and hurry forward the relief column. As the artillery in the redoubt had been playing on Stark's reserve for several hours, Skene appears to have taken the din of the battle for a continuance of the can- nonade. Posted on the line of retreat of the few who escaped, it seems impossible that the guard at the mill should be in igno- rance of the issue of the engagement ; but Skene afterward averred
HOME OF ELIZABETH B. STARK, GEN. STARK'S GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER, MANCHESTER.
soldiers." Baum and Pfister were taken to the same house, a mile distant, in Shaftsbury, where both died the following day. The Hessian commander has always been held in great respect. The best surgical care and nursing failed to save him; but friend and foe uniformly testified that a braver man than Frederick Baum never lived.
The force now remaining on the field were somewhat separated. Random firing was heard on the Cambridge road, in the vicinity of Sancoic Mill, two miles distant, and tidings soon came that a body of Hessians, six or seven hundred in number, was advancing, with two cannon. Nearly at the same moment the drums of Warner's regiment announced its advance, with Emer- son's scouts from Bennington, the colunin being led by Lieut. -
that he knew not, when Breyman arrived, that Baum's fate had already been decided. He accordingly pressed the innocent Breyman on to the rescue.
Groups of militia now appeared in the undergrowth near the road to the left of the Hessians ; Skene declared them royal- ists, and galloped his horses into an intervening clearing, and hailed them. The answer was a volley of bullets. Instantly the column was halted, the cannon brought up to the front, and the whole force deployed across the road. The forest to the right and left now revealed bodies of militia, and both sides endeavored by flanking parties to get the vantage-ground. The Americans lacked unity of purpose in their movements, and officers were hurrying to and fro trying to form some semblance of a line of
302
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
battle ; but before this could be accomplished the troops were obliged to fall back. When they had thus been pressed for half a mile, an officer from Warner's corps dashed among them, entreating them to hold ont, for help was just at hand. Hardly were the words spoken ere a grape-shot tore the mouth of his horse ; but notwithstanding the plunging of the animal, he kept his seat and urged on the wavering line. In a moment Warner's and Emerson's men, with strong flank guards, ap- peared advancing in line of battle. This was the nucleus wanted as a gather- ing point ; it was at once made available, and a most obstinate and bloody contest ensued. A dash was made, and one of Breyman's cannon cap- tured ; a countercharge, and it was retaken. Our forces were pressed back to within three quarters of a mile of the captured redoubt ; but the earnest efforts of Stark and Warner in bringing up Baum's captured cannon with more troops now gave strength for a brilliant charge, in which Breyman again lost a cannon, and began to fall back, contest- ing every_inch of ground. In about a mile he de- ployed into a field on his left and made a desperate effort to use his remaining cannon ; but the active militia were there before him in the undergrowth, skirting the clearing. Skene galloped to the cannon to encourage the artillery men, when his horse was shot, and fell, entangling his rider. Ex- Drill Master. tricating himself, he seized one of the artillery horses, cut the traces that held the plunging animal to the pole, mounted, and fled, leaving behind him the Hessians and Breyman fol- lowing in full retreat. The second fight was practically ended, and the day was won !
Private Soldier.
HESSIAN SOLDIERS.
The fruits of the victory were four brass cannon, about one thousand stand of arms, two hundred and fifty sabres, eight loads of army supplies, four ammunition wagons, twenty horses, and the instruments of two drum corps. Two of the cannon are now in the state capitol at Montpelier, one is held at New Boston, N. H., and the fourth is lost. The prisoners, aside from officers, surgeons, and servants, were about seven hundred, nearly one hundred of whom were captured in the second action ; two hun- dred and seven of the enemy were found the next day (Sunday) dead on the field of battle. Burgoyne's instructions to Baum and Skene were among the captured papers found on the officers.
The American loss was proportionately small to that of the enemy, a large part of it being before the Tory breastwork. Stark, in his official report to the New Hampshire authorities, states that his brigade-nearly two thirds of the fighting force - lost forty-two wounded and fourteen killed. If Vermont and Massachu- setts lost in the same ratio, the aggregate would be less than one hundred.
Among the incidents of the battle not hitherto found in print is the loss of Stark's horse while he was engaged in a recon- naissance on foot during the action. Professor Butler records it, having found the advertisement in an old file of the Hartford Courant, of date Oct. 7, 1777. It is as follows:
The fugitives pressed down the road, some falling in the mud before their pursuers, and begging in their foreign speech for mercy ; others, entangled by their armor in the bushes, sur- rendered to the groups following them. The darkness had now become so great that friend could hardly be distinguished from foe. The pursuers were recalled.
[From the Connecticut Courant, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 1777.]
TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD.
S TOLE from me the fubfcriber, from Walloomfcock, in the time of action, the 16th of Auguft last, a brown MARE, five years old, had a ftar in her forehead. Also, a doe fkin feated faddle, blue houfing trim'd with white, and a curbed bridle. It is earneftly requested of all committees of fafety and others in authority, to exert themselves to recover faid thief and mare, so that he may be brought to juftice, and the mare brought to me ; and the perfon, whoever he be, fhall receive the above reward for both, and for the mare alone one half of that fum. How fcandalous, how difgraceful and ignominious muft
3º3
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
it appear to all friendly and generous fouls to have fuch fly artful, defigning villains enter into the field in the time of action in order to pillage, pilfer and plunder from their brethren when engaged in battle.
JOHN STARK, B. D. G.
Bennington, IIth Sept. 1777.
August 22, Stark sent his official report to Gates, thus recog- nizing the authority of his Continental superior officer ; but he sent no report to Congress, " thus," says Everett, in his biogra- phy (Sparks), " disdaining to make his success the instrument of a triumphant accommodation."
The day before the news from Bennington was received at Philadelphia, Congress passed a resolution censuring Stark's course with Lincoln ; shortly after, it made honorable amends by giving him his full rank as brigadier in the national forces, accompanied with a vote of thanks to himself, officers, and soldiers.
Stark left Bennington Sept. 14 with his brigade to join Gates, who had superseded Schuyler three days after the defeat of Baum and Breyman. Three days later the Northern army was again made glad by the news of the retreat of St. Leger from the investment of Fort Stanwix, and the union of Arnold's force with the garrison.
HESSIANS IN NUTFIELD.
The heroism of the force under Gen. Stark at Bennington is more apparent when it is considered that the greater part of the enemy were veterans of the seven years' war in Germany, and had been subjected to the severe discipline of the armies of Frederick the Great. The Hessians received their name from the Hesse provinces of central Germany, a mountainous region, producing a stalwart soldiery, brave and inured to the hardships of war. Seventeen thousand of these troops were obtained by King George III. at the reputed price of seven pounds tenpence a man, with a provision of further compensation to the families of such as should be killed or die of disease in the service.
The formidable part of the British force at Bennington was the Hessians, and their pertinacious bravery and efficiency might have given a different turn to the fortunes of the day if they had not been handicapped by the irregulars, who were attached to them as allies. The greater part of our prisoners were Hessians, and they were treated with due respect, being marched to Ben- nington Centre, with flank guards, while the Tories were tied in pairs to a long rope which, in front, was attached to a stout horse. The whole crowd of prisoners were taken into the village church with a relay of guards on the outside. The little edifice was not made for so large a congregation, and the floor timbers cracked ominously. A panic was created, and several prisoners rushed for the door. The guards, thinking it an attempt to escape, fired, and nine fell at the first volley. As soon as the true state of affairs was known and quiet restored in the crowd, great regret was expressed by the citizens and soldiers. The fallen prisoners were honorably buried in the church yard, and the position of their graves is still pointed out to visitors.
'The Hessians of the Bennington battle were evidently a better class of soldiers, and morally superior to the troops cap- tured by Washington at Trenton. Stark had evidently a good opinion of them, and when he returned to his own state with his
victorious troops, brought also a number of Hessian soldiers with him. Several of these formed a prosperous farming colony in Merrimack township, on the road leading to the centre of the town, and their descendants are yet living in that vicinity or in the confines of old Nutfield. The families of Longa, Ritterbusch, Schillenger, and Archelaus will be readily recalled by our older citizens. The last mentioned of these settlers, Henri Archelaus, was the body servant of Col. Baum, helped carry the wounded leader from the field, and attended him at his death the follow- ing day, Sunday, at the farmhouse hospital in the adjoining town of Shaftsbury. Archelaus lived in Weare, and died at an advanced age.
Gen. Stark sent examples of Hessian trophies, uniforms, armament, and band instruments, to the authorities of the several states represented by troops in the battle. For more than a hundred years Hessian caps, swords, drums, and muskets have been displayed in the senate chamber of Massachusetts at Boston. Two small bronze guns mounted are at the capitol in Montpelier, Vt., and one of the larger guns, " Molly Stark." as is well known, is at New Boston. Some of our old military records mention the remaining cannon, the mate of the last named, and assert that it was assigned to a privateer in the war of 1812, and lost at sea.
S TARK AT HOME .- No personality has left a deeper impress upon New Hampshire than that of John Stark. His was one of those massive, rugged, robust natures that are great of them- selves, not as the result of outward circumstances. He was one of the men who create events, not one of those who are created by events. His military career is more or less familiar to all readers, and has to some extent overshadowed the simple but interesting story of his home life, which is told by H. W. Herrick of Manchester :
The vigor and decision shown by Stark in military life are traceable in the management of his secular affairs. He was emphatically a worker, and had no patience with indolence, mental or physical. His plans for farm labor were comprehen- sive and far-reaching in results, and for the period in which he lived he effectively wielded a large capital. This good manage- ment was noticeable in the expenses he incurred for government in his military capacity. The financial cost to New Hampshire for the Bennington victory was, for mustering, mileage, rations. wages, and contingent expenses, a trifle over $$2.000 in the depreciated paper currency of the day, or $2,500 in gold. Stark did not die a rich man, in the modern understanding of the term ; he prudently used his resources, and thus answered the large demands on his hospitality and kept his estate intact. The interests of his farm and an extensive trade in lumber and tracts of woodland divided his time and labors. At one time he owned, with two partners, the present township of Dunbarton. then called Starkstown, and operated largely in lumber. The
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