USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 8
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In the meantime the Americans had made no substantial preparations to meet an attack, not knowing, of course, the plans of the British commander. General Schuyler, who had been appointed to the command of the American army, arrived at Ticonderoga only a few days before Burgoyne reached the river Boquet, and found the defenses to be wholly insufficient to meet a deter- mined assault ; the militia, although summoned, had not arrived, and rein- forcements must be had to strengthen the place. Schuyler appointed General St. Clair to command the post and then hastened to Fort Edward for more troops and supplies.
On the 17th of June Burgoyne embarked his army at Cumberland Head, and on the next day commenced the voyage up the lake,. arriving at the Bo- quet River before named on the 21st. Here he added several hundred Indi- ans to his already large army, and on the 30th of June advanced toward Ti- conderoga and encamped a few miles from the town. The next day the whole army and fleet moved forward to a point just beyond cannon shot from the fort. On the 2d of July a strong detachment of British, under Captain Fraser, at- tacked the American picket force, compelled them to retire, and took a posi- tion along the front of the American works ; at the same time the British ad- vanced their right wing and occupied Mount Hope. General St. Clair, mistak- ing the intentions of the enemy, and supposing a general attack was at hand, ordered his men to conceal themselves and reserve their fire; but as the Brit- ish advanced an American discharged his musket, which was understood as a signal for battle, whereupon both musketry and artillery opened fire without orders. So confused and irregular was this carried on that, save one, none of the enemy were injured.
To oppose the British attack, Ticonderoga and its surroundings were garri- soned by a force of about thirty-five hundred, twenty-five hundred of which was of Continental troops, and the remainder of militia. Nine hundred of this militia force had been gathered by Colonel Warner and reached the fort on July 5. Opposite to Ticonderoga, on the Vermont side of the lake, was Mount Independence, upon which the Americans had planted a battery, but on Mount Defiance there was no force, the army of the Americans being too small to ad-
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BATTLE OF HUBBARDTON.
mit of a further division for the purpose of establishing defenses there ; more- over St. Clair did not think the British would occupy that position, but in this he was in error, for on the morning of the 5th the enemy appeared upon the mountain and commenced the construction of a battery. This commanded the American position on both sides of the lake; therefore to remain longer at Ticonderoga meant sure and disastrous defeat to the American army, and an immediate abandonment of both of their positions became imperative. Ac- cordingly, about two o'clock on the morning of the 6th of July, General St. Clair, with the garrisons, left Ticonderoga, and one hour later the troops on Mount Independence were put in motion. As far as possible the camp bag- gage, stores and ammunition were loaded on boats, and dispatched under an armed guard to Skenesboro, while the main army retreated toward Hubbard- ton. After a halt of a couple of hours' duration, St. Clair, with the main army moved on toward Castleton, leaving the regiments under Colonels Warner, Francis and Hale, at Hubbardton, to guard the retreat. Warner was made commander of the whole force. But no sooner had the Americans abandoned their works at Ticonderoga and Mount Independence than, through the im- prudence of a Frenchman, the British discovered what was being done, and immediately gave pursuit with a force of light troops under General Fraser, while a still stronger body under General Riedesel followed shortly afterward. While the rear guard commanded by Warner was at Hubbardton, on the morn- ing of July 7, they were overtaken by Fraser's command and a sharp battle ensued. Warner attacked the enemy with such determination and impetuos- ity that they were obliged to fall back; but they quickly recovered and re- sisted so fiercely that Warner's command in turn gave way, and fell back to a new position, At this juncture the Germans under Riedesel came up in force and charged the Americans, driving them from the field and compelling them to seek refuge in the woods.
The loss of the Americans in this engagement was quite heavy. The brave Francis was killed while leading his men. Hale was overtaken by a party of British, and surrendered himself and a number of his men, prisoners of war. The whole loss to the Americans in this battle was three hundred and twenty- four, thirty of whom were killed. Warner, upon taking to the woods, had or- dered his men to meet him at Manchester, to which point he proceeded as soon as possible, and where he was subsequently joined by the men. Here he went into camp at a point southwest of the village, where his command was rested and recruited for some time.
After leaving Castleton General St. Clair continued his retreat to Rutland, Dorset, Manchester, Arlington, and thence across the country to Fort Edward where he joined with the army under General Schuyler.
Some accounts have assumed to criticise the action of General St. Clair in not sending relief to Warner while the latter was in battle at Hubbardton ; but
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
it seems to have been St Clair's plan to reach the Hudson River, where ! knew Burgoyne's main army was marching, and prevent, if possible, that om. cer from laying waste the whole country. In this he divined correctly, for Burgoyne was coming down the valley, while that branch that fought Warner at Hubbardton was but a detachment from the main army. But St. Clair had no thought of leaving Vermont open to the attacks of the enemy as he had written to the Vermont convention, then in session at Windsor, and while he was at Dorset, to the effect that General Schuyler had directed that " Colonel Warner's regiment, with the militia of your State, should be left for the pro- tection of the people." This letter was written from the house of Colonel Will- iam Marsh, 1 in the south part of Dorset township, east of "Dorset Mountain."
It was the intention of General St. Clair to make his way to New York State by passing through Bennington, as his letter written from Rutland, July 7, states : "I am now on my march to Bennington, which place I am obliged to make, on account of provisions, the enemy having last night possessed them- selves of Skeensburgh, of which I got intelligence this morning," etc. But it is believed that St. Clair was provided with all necessary provisions at Man- chester, thus enabling his army to proceed directly to Fort Edward. In a postcript to this same letter, however, St. Clair says: " I must beg that all the flour that can be got may be sent forward." (to Bennington) Also, "I have wrote to the first commanding officer of the militia to take the shortest road to Bennington with directions to send the same orders to such others as may be already on this side No. 4." (Charleston, N. H.).
While these events (the evacuation of Ticonderoga, the retreat to and bat- tle at Hubbardton, the defeat of the Americans) were transpiring, the admin- istrative powers of the newly declared State of Vermont were in convention at Windsor, engaged in the work of agreeing upon and adopting a State consti- tution ; but when the news of the successive disasters to the American arms reached that body, all was confusion and disorder. The representatives from the part of the State that had been invaded were specially anxious to reach home, but an interfering thunder storm kept them back, gave them time to reflect, and enabled them to complete the business then before them, though in a somewhat hurried manner. It was ordered at this convention that Joseph Marsh, Joseph Williams and Timothy Brownson be " a committee to procure a supply of arms for the State, with instructions to draw them, if possible, from grovernment arsenals, but with authority to pledge the credit of the State to the amount of four thousand pounds, if it were found necessary to purchase."
1 At this time Colonel Marsh was altogether devoted to the cause of the Americans. He was one of the richest men of Dorset, and owned large tracts of land in Manchester also. During Burgoyne's invasion Mr. Marsh became convinced that the British would be success- ful, and thus hoping to save his property, he turned Tory. He was afterward permitted to return to the State and lived and died in Dorset. (Judge Munson's address')
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ADVANCE OF GENERAL BURGOYNE.
A council of safety was appointed to administer the affairs of the State until some other provision in that regard should be made. No list of the members of this council is to be found, but it is known that Thomas Chittenden, Ira Allen, Moses Robinson, Jonas Fay, Joseph Fay, Paul Spooner, Nathan Clark and Jacob Bayley were of the number.
On the adjournment of the convention at Windsor, July 8, 1777, the series of disasters already narrated had occurred, and Burgoyne's army was advanc- ing into New York on the western border of Vermont with all possible speed. The most energetic labors of the Council of Safety, therefore, were demanded instantly, and the board proceeded direct to Manchester, where Warner had fixed his headquarters with the remnant of his regiment. On the 1 1th of July the council communicated with the similar body in New Hampshire, a part of the communication being as follows: "You will learn the provision General Schuyler has made for the protection of this State, and you will naturally un- derstand that when we cease to be a frontier your State must take it. Would beg your advice and assistance for the good of the whole," etc.
About this same time, or just before, General Burgoyne has issued a second proclamation to the people as follows: "To the inhabitants of Castle- ton, Hubbardton, Rutland, Tinmouth, Pawlet, Wells, Granville, (N. Y.), with the neighboring districts; also the district bordering on White Creek, Camden, Cambridge, (N. Y.), etc. You are hereby directed to send from your several townships deputations, consisting of ten persons or more from each township, to meet Colonel Skeene at Castleton, on Wednesday, July 15th, at ten in the morning, who will have instructions not only to give further encouragement to those who complied with the terms of my late manifestos, but also to commu- nicate conditions upon which the persons and properties of the disobedient may be spared."
Prior to this time, and on July 4th, just upon his arrival before Ticonde- roga, the astute Burgoyne had thought to terrify the people into submission by the promulgation of a proclamation, by which his gracious protection was promised to all who should join his standard, or remain quietly at their homes ; but utter destruction was to be the lot of all who dared to oppose him. And this proclamation was not without effect upon the people who thought at that time, as well they might, that the British arms would be successful. But the second manifesto from Burgoyne was intended as a further opportunity for people to put themselves under British protection; and that it was accepted by many will be seen by the following copy from a letter of the Vermont Council of Safety to the New Hampshire council, and dated July 15, 1877. "Gentle- men, this State in particular, seems to be at present the object of destruction. By the surrender of the fortress Ticonderoga a communication is opened to the defenseless inhabitants on the frontier, who have little more in present store than sufficient for the maintenance of their respective families, and not ability 10
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
to immediately remove their effects, are therefore induced to accept such pro- tections as are offered them by the enemy. By this means those towns whic; are most contiguous to them are under necessity of taking such protection, L .. which the next town or towns become equally a frontier as the former town before such protection, and unless we can obtain the assistance of our friend- so as to put it immediately in our power to make a sufficient stand against sucl. strength as they may send, it appears that it will soon be out of the power of this State to maintain a frontier. This country, notwithstanding its infancy, seems as well supplied with provisions for victualing an army as any country on the continent, so that on that account we cannot see why a stand may not as well be made in this State as in the State of New Hampshire, and more espe- cially as the inhabitants are heartily disposed to defend their liberties. You, gentlemen, will be at once sensible that every such town as accepts protection is rendered at that instant forever incapable of affording us any further assist- ance; and what is infinitely worse, as some disaffected persons eternally lurk in almost every town, such become doubly fortified to injure their country. Our good disposition to defend ourselves and make a frontier for your State with our own, cannot be carried into execution without your assistance. Should you send immediate assistance we can help you, and should you neglect till we are put to the necessity of taking protection, you readily know it is in a moment out of our power to assist you. Laying these circumstances together will, I hope, induce your honors to take the same into consideration, and immediately send us your determination in the premises."
"IRA ALLEN, Sec'y."
"P. S. By express this moment received, we learn that between three and four thousand of the enemy are fortifying at the town of Castleton. Our case calls for immediate assistance."
This letter from the council assembled at Manchester, explains the situation of the people exactly ; and it seems to have reached a vulnerable part of the body assembled at Exeter, N. H., for on the 9th of July following, Meshech Weare, the president of the last named State, sent a letter to Ira Allen stating that "they have now determined that a quarter part of the militia of twelve regiments shall be immediately drafted, formed into three battalions, under the command of Brigadier-General John Stark, and forthwith sent into your State to oppose the ravages and coming forward of the enemy." It was furthermore stated that the troops would depend for provisions upon Vermont; and also requested that proper persons be sent to No. 3, (Charleston, N. H.) to meet General Stark, and advise with him relative to the route and disposition of his troops. At the same time of writing to New Hampshire for assistance, the council caused a general proclamation to be issued, which was as follows :
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ALARM OF THE COLONISTS.
" IN COUNCIL OF SAFETY, STATE OF VERMONT, " MANCHESTER, July 15, 1777.
"To all the militia officers whom it may concern : This is the second and perhaps the last express we may be able to send you from this post. Your immediate assistance is absolutely necessary. A few hundred military troops to be joined to our present strength would greatly add to our present encour- agement, as by late information we learn that a large scout of the enemy are disposed to take a tour to this post; the inhabitants with their families cannot be quieted without an assurance of the arrival of troops directly for their assist- ance. You will please let us know your determination without delay.
"The Continental stores at Bennington seem to be their present aim. You will be supplied with provision here on your arrival. Pray send all the troops you can possibly raise ; we can repulse them if we have assistance.
" I have the honor to be your most obed't., humb'l. serv't.,
" By order of Council.
IRA ALLEN, Sec'y."
Through the same medium, and on the same day, the council communi- cated with General Schuyler, informing him of the presence of the enemy at Castleton; but that officer seems, by his reply, to have been unable to send any relief to the distressed and frightened community. Also at the direction of the council while in session at Manchester, a letter was addressed to Samuel Her- rick, constituting him lieutenant-colonel commandant of a regiment of rangers raised within the State, and for the immediate defense thereof. Colonel Her- rick's regiment of rangers rendered effective service at the battle of Benning- ton, as subsequent pages will show.
As an evidence of some of the cares and responsibilities that devolved upon the council of safety during this period of continued trials and perplexities, reference is had to the report or writing of Ira Allen, who was one of the coun- cil, its secretary, and a person of great influence among the people at that time. Upon Ira Allen seems to have fallen his brother's mantle, though it may be stated that Ira and Ethan were quite unlike in temperament and character. Ira was more thoughtful and reasoning, and less impulsive and ambitious than his brother, but not one whit less devoted to the cause of his country and State. In summing up the leading events of the time of which we write, Ira Allen said: "The council of safety then attended to the affairs of the government, but their situation was very unpleasant, as the constitution had only declared the district to be a free State; but the government was not organized, as the con- stitution was not fully completed, and near three-quarters of the people on the west side of the Green Mountains were compelled to remove, and the rest were in great danger. It was they who principally supported the title of the New Hampshire grants against the unjust claims of New York, and their removal would expose the settlers on the east side of the Green Mountains to an inva-
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
sive war, both from the savages and the British ; besides, the late proceeding: of Congress had been partial towards New York, and against Vermont; tl :.. people of the new State had reason to expect no favor from the committee of safety of New York, as its numbers were in fact composed of the old syco- phants of the late government, which they had prudently deserted. Gain and dominion were objects of the first consequence to some of the committee of New York, and the citizens of the new State were conscious that they would take every sinister and possible step to divide the people, and would not be dissatisfied with any misfortune that befel them, even by the conimon enemy."
" The council of safety had no money or revenue at their command, their powers of credit were not extensive, and all expenses were supported at their private expense ; yet, in this situation it became necessary to raise men for the defense of the frontiers, with bounties and wages; ways and means were to be found out, and the day was spent in debating upon the subject ; Nathan Clark, not convinced of the practicability of raising a regiment, moved in council that Mr. Ira Allen, the youngest member of the council, and who insisted on rais- ing a regiment, while a majority of the council were for only two companies, of sixty men each, might be requested to discover ways and means to raise and support a regiment, and to make his report at sun-rising on the morrow. The council acquiesed, and Mr. Allen took the matter into consideration. Next morning, at sun-rising, the council met, and he reported the ways and means to raise and support a regiment, viz. : That the council should appoint commissioners of sequestration, with authority to sieze the goods and chattels of all persons who had or should join the common enemy ; and that all prop- erty so seized should be sold at public vendue, and the proceeds paid to the treasurer of the council of safety, for the purpose of paying the bounties and wages of a regiment forthwith to be raised for the defense of the State. The council adopted the measure, and appointed officers for the regiment. Samuel Herrick, esq., was appointed the colonel, and the men enlisted and the boun- ties paid in fifteen days, out of the confiscated property of the enemies of the new State. This was the first instance in America of seizing and selling the property of the enemies of American independence." 1
Continuing further, Allen says: "The council adjourned to Bennington, and about the time this regiment was raising, a party of militia from Massachu- setts arrived in the new State. General Schuyler, a citizen of the State of New York, and commander-in-chief of the northern army, no sooner heard of it than he sent orders to the militia of Massachusetts, and to Colonel Herrick's regiment, to repair forthwith to Saratoga; the militia from Massachusetts were obliged to obey, according to the regulations of the Continental Congress ;
1 On the 27th of November, 1777, Congress recommended that the other States pursue a similar policy of confiscation and sale of property for the purpose of raising funds for the con- duct of the war.
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PREPARATIONS FOR THE DEFENSE OF BENNINGTON.
but the council of safety superceded General Schuyler's orders, and gave spe- cial directions to Colonel Herrick to remain within the State of Vermont. This occasioned irrascible letters between General Schuyler and the council of safety, which were terminated by a peremptory order of the council to Colonel Her- rick not to put himself under the command of General Schuyler." Up to the time of the adjournment of the council of safety from Manchester to Benning- ton, the former place had been the central point of operations; the regiment of Colonel Warner was rendezvoused near the town, and all supplies of stores and ammunition were collected here. At Castleton, not very far distant, the British forces were assembled and threatened an invasion of the territory to the south of that place. But the decisive action of the council in providing the means, through confiscation, and the prompt assembling together of Colonel Herrick's rangers, had the effect of quieting the apprehensions of the people who feared a raid upon their country.
Many of the families upon the territory to the northward retired before the approach of Burgoyne's army and the detachment sent in pursuit of Colonel Warner, and took up their temporary abode either in the south part of the State or else in Massachusetts, still further south ; and the council in session at Bennington, on the 28th of July issued a proclamation earnestly requesting such men to return to Vermont and assist in defending the State against the ravages of the invaders. In response to this many did return, thus strength- ening the (defensive force.
Having thus raised a considerable force of men available for duty, it became necessary to establish a headquarters for military stores and supplies, also pro- visions sufficient to sustain that force for a considerable length of time. These therefore were purchased at once and stored at Bennington, where the council was in continuous session. This fact became known to the British, and Bur- goyne, their commander, decided upon a campaign against the town in order that he might become possessed of the stores, and at the same time administer to the rebellious people such salutary punishment as their action, in his estima- tion, seemed to warrant. Knowing his intentions, the council made due haste to resist and defeat him. Early in August General John Stark, with a strong force of New Hampshire militia, left Charleston and proceeded thence across the mountains, by the way of Peru, (formerly Bromley) to Manchester, at. which place he arrived on August 7th.
General Stark's movement had the effect of causing the British troops at Castleton to abandon their position, under the fear that they might be the object of a raid, and their force, being now less in strength, was not deemed sufficient to resist it successfully. They departed and joined the main branch of the army. After a brief stay for rest and recuperation at Manchester, Gen- eral Stark and his army proceeded to Bennington, where, on August 8, they went into camp. On this march Stark was accompanied by Colonel Warner,
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
the command of the latter, however, being left at Manchester for frontier duty These commanding officers, with the council of safety, were constantly in se -- sion, planning the defense of the place and watching the movements of the enemy, who were gradually moving south ward along the valley of the Hudson, and toward the city of Albany.
Having now reviewed at some length the military preparations on the part of the people of the new State, let us turn briefly to the valley of the Hudson River and note what progress the British forces were making, and what were their actions that called for all this warlike proceeding and assembling at Ben- nington.
When St. Clair left Arlington he proceeded at once to Fort Edward, where he joined forces with General Schuyler. But with t' is the combined strength of both armies amounted to only 4,400 men, which, taking into consideration the poor condition of the defenses at the place, Schuyler did not think suffi- cient to make a successful stand ; therefore, on the 22d of July, he abandoned the works and retired to Moses Creek, a point about four miles below Fort Edward, where the hills come very close to the Hudson, thus rendering it an easy position to defend. But the army was so much reduced by desertion, defeat and discouragement, that General Schuyler felt obliged to retire to Sar- atoga, and soon afterwards to Stillwater, where he arrived on the Ist of August. The British army, in the meantime, were gradually yet surely progressing southward, finding but little opposition to their passage in the matter of re- sisting force, but very much in the way of obstructions in the channel through which they were passing, so that it was not until the 30th of July that Bur- goyne arrived at Fort Edward, at which place he fixed his headquarters.
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