USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Hubbardton > An historical address, delivered at Hubbardton, Vt., on the eighty-second anniversary of the battle of Hubbardton, July 7, 1859 > Part 2
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Not last in the order of performances, nor least in interest, was a rep- resentation of the battle, as perfectly as could be done, in which per- formance the Allen Greys represented the British forees, while the Green Mountain Boys were represented by a company formed for the occasion. This latter company, it was said, was commanded by a gen- tleman who happened to be born on the other side of the Atlantic .- However this may be, he certainly entered into this affair with all the spirit of a Vermonter-born, not made. To us, a very interesting part of the occasion was the meeting of several of the descendants of Vermont- ers personally engaged in the battle, and among them Mr. Churchill, now ninety years of age, who was a lad of eight years at the time of the battle. We also heard of Benjamin Hickok, now living in Benson, who was taken prisoner at the time. Ilis presence was expected, but his great age prevented him from the exposure of the day, and of the ne- cessary journey. As probably the very last surviving sufferer in that day, he was honorably remembered. We ought to add that Mr. Churchill is one of the chief contributors to the monument, and in response to a toast in his honor, (we forgot to include the toasts in the programme.) he related some of his early recollections of the battle field. It was an occasion well honored also, and it will doubtless be remem- bered with pleasure, perhaps not unmingled with pride, by thousands. It will be worth one's remembering, and worth telling to his children as they read the history of Vermont, that he on that day and in that way honored the heroes, the patriots and the martyrs, who, on the 7th of July, 1777, gained those lofty titles on the field of Ihibbardton.
The battle ground is one of the thousand beautiful spots to be found among the hills of Vermont ; and it deserves rank among the very beau- tiful spots, even of Vermont scenery. It is upon the highlands of East Hubbardton-the battle ground itself a hill, lying beneath and east of a striking promontory called Mount Zion. East of the ground is a rivu- let, and then comes the mountain range over which, and through the forest, Warner and his men retreated on their way to Manchester, and successfully defied pursuit. Down the valley of the rivulet was the old military road to Castleton, by which St. Clair retreated with his army : and the whole scene-embracing the battle ground, this lovely valley and the grand mountains-is richly worth a visit, counting as nothing even the historie remembranees a visit would provoke. With the dia- gram of the field, in Thompson's Vermont, one will readily recognize the spots where the contending forces meet ; and from the neighbors the tra- ditions of the fathers can be gathered, enlivened with relies from the field. Let the Green Mountain Boys of this generation make at least one visit to the battle ground of Hubbardton.
And now a few words as to the battle. We have a suspicion that its importance is not sufficiently estimated at this day,-that even Vermont- ers do not justly appreciate the honor that is due, nor fully measure the glory that is due, to Warner and his Green Mountain Boys. We often think of and speak of, and often glorify. the audacious capture of Ticon- derog a by Allen, and Crown Point by Warner, and the brilliant victory of Bennington-for these are far more agreeable incidents in our his- tory, and have given us a name to live, wherever and as long as history shall be read. Let us then refresh the memory of the reader with an account of the battle of Ilubbardion. On the early morning of July 6, 1777, Gen. St. Clair evacuated Forts Ticonderoga and Independence, and he marched to Hubbardton on that day. Here he placed Warner in command of the rear-guard, with instructions to wait for those who were lagging behind, and to encamp a mile and a half in the rear of the army. St. Clair then marched on, but of instead of halting a mile
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and a half in advance of Warner's post at Hubbardton, or ascertaining whether the remnant of the army had come up, so that Warner conld advance, the General never halted until he reached Castleton, six miles ahead of Warner. The latter encamped at Hubbardton with a thousand men ; many of them doubtless diseased or disabled, (for he had to wait for the remnant of the army, the laggers,) and many of them but poorly armed. On the 3d of the month preceding, we find Col. Francis writing thus : " Soldiers unclothed by day, and no blankets to shield them from this cold clay soil at night." * " Several officers have lately been up for inoculation [for the small pox, of course, ] in camp, and are now on trial." *
* " With respect to the arms, it may with truth be asserted, that not more than half are fit for service." Francis was of Warner's party, and his description is doubtless true of all the conti- nental troops. Indeed, probably the very best men for service, and the best armed, were the Green Mountain volunteers and militia, of whom the President (Bowker) of the Vermont Convention, then in session in Windsor, wrote this, four days before the battle : " The militia from the State are principally with the officer commanding the continental army at Ticonderoga ; the remainder on their march for the relief of that dis- tressed post ;" and many of whom, we learn by a letter from him, War- ner had ordered to Hubbardton a few days before the battle. At five o'clock the next morning, Gen. Frazier came up with Warner's encamp- ment, leading, says Ethan Allen, two thousand British troops, from the most splendidly equiped army ever sent to Americaa by Great Britian, -- of whom " it was said by the British," (says Williams,) "that a more complete body of officers and men had never been seen in any army not more numerous than this." And Williams adds : " This army in every respect was in the best condition that could be expected or desired ; the troops, in the style of the army, were in high spirits, admirably dis- ciplined, and uncommonly healthy." This was especially true preceding the morning of Hubbardton, for they had just driven out the American army from Canada, swept Lake Champlain, and recovered Ticonderoga and Fort Independence. When, therefore, the respective forces were arrayed in order of battle at Hubbardton, at sixty yards distance, in the early morning of July 7, 1777, there were two of these splendidly equiped and thoroughly disciplined British soldiers to one halt-clad and badly armed American. And thus for two hours the parities stood, for the attack was not made until seven o'clock. These two hours decided the fate of the day. Frazier was waiting for Gen. Reidesel and his Brunswick troops, to whom he had sent to support him-and Reidesel was close in Frazier's rear, and ready to reinforce him. On the other hand, Ilaile retreated with his men withont firing a gun, leaving War- ner with but seven or eight hundred men. The force against him was therefore nearly three to one before a shot had been exchanged. St. Clair had retreated to a safe distance-Haile had retreated to a safe dis- tance, only to be captured speedily -and Warner and Francis were left alone as leaders, with five or six hundred Vermonters, and perhaps two hundred Massachusetts men. The battle began at seven, and Williams, Daniel Chipman and Ethan Allen all concur in saying that Warner was well supported by officers and men, and so impetuous was his attack, that the British troops broke and gave way. The British again formed and charged, when, says Chipman, they " were again brought to a stand." At this critical moment, the brave Col. Francis fell, and his men retreated, while, on the other side, Gen. Reidesel appeared to rein- force the British with hs advanced column, " consising of the chasseur company, and eighty grenadiers and light infantry, who were inunedi- ately led into action.""At this moment, Warner and his Green Moun-
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tain Boys were alone, and the opposing force must have been four or five to their one. But even then there was no panie-no indecent haste to follow their companions of the morning. Chipman says, "at this anxious and exciting moment, Warner saw Francis's regiment retreating, and the battle lost. This was too much, even for the nerve of Warner. He dropped down upon a log by which he stood, and poured out a tor- rent of excerations upon the flying troops ; but he instantly rose, and in a most collected manner, ordered his regiment to Manchester." And to Manchester they went. The Green Mountaineers were the boys, and the only ones who stood to the last : aye, we think there was not one of them in Ilaile's or Francis's regiments. The revolutionary rolls in the State Department purport to give the names not only of Vermonters in service, but of their commanders, and we do not find the name of either Hale or Francis in the list. The Vermonters stood, then, nutil by the withdrawal of others and the reinforcement of the enemy, there was not even a chance for accomplishing any thing by standing longer ; and then they retreated by command, and reached their rendezvous. Every way, then, the Battle of Hubbardton was honorable to Vermonters. It was not a victory to them in the fate of the day, though there were cer- tainly victories to them in the fight ; nor was it in any true sense a vie- tory to the British. No! not by them was the victory won, if victory it was, but rather by the carelessness, not to say cowardice, of St. Clair, and the retreat of the regiments of Hale and Francis : and in saying this we mean to fix the blame on St. Clair. Had Warner retreated with the entire rear guard, in the face of a force so greatly superior in numbers and equipment to his own, and superadding, to what we have already named, artillery, firing grape and chain shot, as the relics from the field attest ;* we say if all had retreated, until they came within reach of support from the main army, there is not a military man in the world who would not have justified it.
As an evidence of the vigor of Warner's assaults, we give the fatali- ties of this half-hour's fight. The Americans lost 30 killed, while the British recorded account acknowledged 183 killed and wounded, and Allen states that British officers confessed to him that they had 300 killed. Bennington battle (the first) says Stark, "lasted two hours, and was the hottest I ever saw ;" and probably the concluding fight, when Warner and his boys pitched in, "being determined to have ample re- venge on account of the quarrel at Hubbardton," with the pursuit of the flying enemy, gave two hours more: yet the Americans lost but 30 at Bennington, precisely the same number as at Hubbardton, while the enemy left two hundred and seven dead on the field of Bennington- being nearly a hundred less than Allen's statement of the British loss at IIubbardton. The brief battle at Hubbardton was, therefore, a terrible confliet, and the disparity of force against the Americans and the dispar- ity of loss against the British, with the other unfortunate incidents, by which Warner was the sufferer, all show that the Vermonters did most faithfully, most honorably, and most bravely perform their whole duty.
But Hubbardton battle was more than terrible to the enemy, and more than honorable to the Vermonters. It was an important battle : important in its influence and consequences. The year preceding was one of the greatest gloom, especially in the North. The retreat of two large armies from Canada, and the loss of nearly half of one of them by disease and hardship, not by arms-the evacuation of Ticonderoga and Fort In lependenee, which were the keys to Lake George and North
*Burgoyne's army was furnished with beautiful brass pieces, light and well calculated for swift and effective field work. Two of these pieces, trophies of Bennington, are now at Montpelier.
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River on the South, and to New England in the East-and the trium- phal entry of Burgoyne with a splendid army and buoyant expectations, for it must be remembered that he expected all the people, especially of Vermont and Northern New York, to yield at once to his magniloquent proclamation : all these filled the country with consternation and des- pair. Washington was terribly disappointed; New England was alarmed ; and as for New York and the Middle States, it appeared all but certain that Burgoyne would join the British army, then on the Hudson, and command the heart of the nation. The first gleam of hope appeared when Warner turned and sprang upon Frazier at Hub- bardton, like a tiger upon his pursuers. Then the first star twinkled to anxious eyes through the cloud that had long covered them ; and then another and another, and still another, till the Northern galaxy was full. Hope, courage, strength revived, and all was quickly gained to us. The darkness speedily fell upon the glittering hosts cf Burgoyne, and to them all was lost. Behold :
July 7, 1777-battle of Hubbardton.
August 16, 1777-victory at Bennington.
August 20, 1777-Burgoyne has made the acquaintance of the Green Mountain Boys at Hubbardton and Bennington, and thus most emphat- ically compliments them : "The Hampshire Grants in particular, a country unpeopled and almost unknown in the last war, now abounds in the most active and most rebellious race on the continent, and hangs like a gathering storm on my left."*
September 13, 1777-Gen. Lincoln visits Vermont, and from Pawlet despatches parties to capture the British posts. In five days they recov- er the command of the Northern end of Lake George, recapture Mount Hope, Mount Defiance, and all but the main fortress at Ticonderoga, with 200 batteaux, one armed sloop, and a number of gun boats ; take 293 prisoners of the army, and release 109 Americans who were held as prisoners by the British.
September 19, 1777-Battle of Stillwater.
October 7, 1777-Burgoyne worsted by Gates in a hard fight. Fra- zier, who commanded the British at Hubbardton, was killed.
October 17, 1777-Burgoyne surrendered, which put an end to the career of the British Northern army; and Gates, with his forces, was despatched for service elsewhere.
This is the history of Vermont in that crisis : for in these events, from Hubbardton to Burgoyne's surrender, Vermonters bore more-aye, infi- nitely more than their share. And what a brilliant centre piece is this in Vermont's tableau of Revolutionary incidents, with the FIRST MARTYRSt
*The effect of the Vermont victories on the country was equally as striking as upon Burgoyne. We quote from Lossing's Life of Washington: "While Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland were gazing with mingled expectations and fears on the armies under Washington and Howe, as they slowly closed on each other, and the whole country was filled with conflicting rumors, agitating and cheering by turns, the works were rapidly going up at Saratoga, from which was to recoil the veteran army or Burgoyne. Stark had dealt him a staggering blow by his victory over Banm at Bennington, white Gansevoort's gallant defence of Fort Stanwix had frustrated his plans in that direction. From every valley and momdain slope the sturdy yeomaury went pouring into Gates. their patriotism kindled into brighter glow by the shouts of victory that came rolling from Vermont, and down the Mohawk from Fort Stanwix and the bloody field of Oriskany."
¡William French and Daniel Honghton, slain at Westininster, "March ye 13th, 1775, by the hands of ernel Ministerial tools of George ye 3d." The Boston Massacre ocenrred five years before, but at that time there was hardly a deliberate purpose of coercion unto blood on the one side, and of resistance nnto blood on the other. Indeed, the Boston affair was simply murder by the
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and the FIRST VICTORIES* OF THE REVOLUTION on the one side, and the other with that keen stroke of " policy, " which by diplo- macy alonet completely protected the Northern frontier against a large British army, from 1781 to 1783.
Truly, it was right to erect a monument on the field of Hubbardton, -to mark the very spot where our fathers so gallantly "marked time" for this glorious march of victories, and to commemorate "OUR PATRIOT soldiers"-most emphatically ours,-for they, we had almost said they alone, bravely stood the test of that bloody day.
From the Rutland Herald. THE CELEBRATION AT HUBBARDTON.
As announced in our last, the anniversary of the Battle of Hubbard- ton was celebrated in the above-mentioned town, on Thursday, the 7th inst., on the occasion of the completion of the Monument recently erec- ted on the battle field there. The celebration was a highly creditable affair, and was attended by a great number of persons,-some say as many as 5000 or 6000.
James Barber, Esq., was President of the day, and IIon. C. S. Rum- sey and H. G. Barber, Esq., Vice Presidents.
The programme was as follows :
A procession was formed at about 11 o'clock, A. M., at the Church, under the escort of the Allen Greys of Brandon, who paraded as a Bat- tallion of three companies, under the command of Capt. Cook. They were accompanied by Col. Bush, Maj. Hayward, Adj. Holt, Quarter Master Dana, and Sergeant Major Carpenter, of the First Regiment, in full uniform ; and Lieutenant Roberts of the Rutland Light Guard. They were also accompanied by the Branden Cornet Band, 11 pieces, and the Rutland Band ; with Col. F. Parker, of Castleton, Chief Mar- shal.
The procession, consisting of the invited guests, Orator of the Day, Clergymen and Citizens, marched from the church to the battle ground, where a stand had been erected near the Monument.
The exercises at the stand were as follows :
Reading of the Scriptures by Rev. Dr. Thomas of Brandon.
Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Child of Castleton.
Music by the Rutland Brass Band.
Historical Sketch of the Battle of Hubbardton, by Henry Clark of Poultney.
Address by Hon. D. E. Nicholson of Wallingford.
At the conclusion of Mr. Nicholson's address, the assemblage dispersed for dinner.
Early in the afternoon the multitude again assembled at the stand to listen to an address by Hon. E. P. Walton of Montpelier ; after which, responses to toasts were made by Hon. Alanson Allen, of Fairhaven ; B. F. Bingham, Esq., Rutland ; B. F. Winslow, Esq., Pittsford; C. E.
enraged soldiery, and was discountenaneed by the civil anthority. In Vermont, however, the Whigs had determined, previous to March, 1775, "to resist and oppose all anthority that would not accede to the resolves of the Continental Congress;" they had taken possession of Westminster court house in the spirit of this declaration, and they were attacked by the Tory Sheriff, who had the legal (royal) "power of the county," and the Tory court sustained him, until the Whigs captured and imprisoned the judges, and put an end to Tory power in Vermont.
*Ticonderoga and Crown Point, May 10th, 1775.
THaldimand correspondence.
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1771765
Graves, Esq., and J. E. Manley, Rutland, and II. H. Thomas, Esq., Brandon.
Mr. Amos Churchill of Hubbardton, was presented, and gave a short but highly interest history of events connected with the battle at Ilub- bardton. Mr. Churchill will be recollected by our readers as the author of those interesting sketches of the early settlement of Hubbardton, which appeared in the Herald a few years ago. Ile is the only person now living in Hubbardton, who was an inhabitant of that town at the time of the battle. At that time, which was eighty-two years ago, he was nine years old. Ilis appearance at the celebration last week was indeed opportune, and his remarks added greatly to the interest of the occasion. We have now but few left of those who link us to the " times that tried men's souls." Among the large collection of people at the celebration, we learn of but one person who is near the age of Mr. Churchill, and that person is Mr. Child of Castleton, who is in his 90th year. He was present on the battle field last Thursday, and evinced a lively interest in the ceremonies and festivities of the day. We are in receipt of a note from Mr. Child, concerning the celebration, which we take pleasure in acknowledging here.
The speeches at the stand were listened to with much interest, not- withstanding the heat of the weather was intense, and there was no shelter whatever for the vast crowd of persons in attendance.
Among the particulars given by Mr. Clark in his sketch of the battle, are the following : It was fought on the 7th day of July, 1777, by a party of 800 Americans, under Col. Seth Warner, and a detachment of British, numbering nearly 2000. The Americans were forced, ultimately to retreat, with a loss of 340 men, among whom was Col. Haile, who was taken prisoner. The British loss was stated to be over 300.
The addresses of Hon. D. E. Nicholson, Orator of the Day, and Hon. E. P. Walton, were well worthy of the occasion, and were fully appre- ciated, if we are to judge from the close attention of the audience.
After the speaking, a sham battle was fought on the old ground, by a detachment of the Greys, under Capt. Cook, who represented the Amer- ican forees, and another detachment of the Greys, under Col. Bush, together with a party of Indians as a reserve, under James Hope, the poet painter, of Castleton. The detaement under Col. Bush moved over the hill towards the Monument, and surprised the other party, who sprang to their arms and prepared to resist the attack, upon which the British party were forced to retreat, when the party of Indians, under Mr. Hope, came to their relief, and the British then charged bayonets down the hill, and were warmly met by the opposite party, where after a short hand to hand fight, the Americans were defeated. The battle was well carried out, and but for the rush of the crowd of spectators, would have given a vivid idea of the action which occurred 82 years ago, on the same spot.
After the battle, the Greys formed a squad around the Monument and fired a few volleys. They then marched to the stand and gave three cheers for the Ilubbardton Monument Association, &c., and took up their march for home, upon which the crowd dispersed, well satisfied with the day's proceedings.
Thus elosed one of the most interesting celebrations ever witnessed in Vermont ; and we may say here that we never saw a more orderly and a better behaved assembly on any occasion. Great eredit is due to the citizens of Hubbardton generally ; and especially to James Barber, Esq., Hon. C. S. Rumsey and HI. G. Barber, Esq., for their indefatiga- ble efforts in arranging and carrying out the affair. We will add that
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the music of the Brandon Band, F. J. Farr, Leader, and our Rutland Band, G. H. Cole, Leader. who accompanied the Greys, was most admirable, and we can see no reason why our people need go abroad for good music.
The Monument, which is now finished, is of marble, 21 feet in height, and on its base, on the east side, has inscribed the following :
HUBBARDTON BATTLE, FOUGHT ON THIS GROUND, JULY 7, 1777.
[North Side.] COL. WARNER, Commanded. COL. FRANCIS Killed. COL. HAILE Captured. THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS FOUGHT BRAVELY.
[South Side.] This Monument Erected by the Citizens of Hubbardton and Vicinity.
[West Side ] The Only Battle Fought in VERMONT During the Revolution.
F843406.17
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