USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 9
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Burgoyne had supposed, erroneously however, that the greater part of the people living on the east side of Lake Champlain and the Hudson River, were opposed to the war, and that it was only necessary for him to march an army into their country, and supply them with arms in order to bring them into the service under the royal standard ; and it was this understanding on his part that induced him to issue the two proclamations heretofore referred to. In support of what he believed to be true, this royal commander found that upon his approach, and that of the several detachments sent into the eastern country, that the inhabitants retired before them, and those that remained offered little or no opposition, while some actually joined his army. But at that time General Burgoyne had not reached the thickly populated section of the State; and when he did he found perhaps more opposition to his progress than from any other quarter. So great, indeed, did he find his army opposed that, in a letter written to Lord Germain, from Saratoga, after the defeat at Bennington, he says : " The Hampshire grants, in particular, a country unpeopled and almost unknown in the last war, now abounds in the most active and rebellious race on the continent, and hangs like a gathering storm on my left."
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BATTLE OF BENNINGTON.
But notwithstanding the fact that Burgoyne made every effort to rapidly transport his baggage, military supplies and stores from the head of Lake George to the navigable waters of the Hudson, he could not carry on this work fast enough to furnish subsistence for his large and constantly increasing army. This state of things determined him upon foraging off the country ; and the fact of a large deposit of stores and ammunition at Bennington becom- ing known to him, he decided to send an expedition against the place and effect a capture of the coveted prize. For this purpose he detached a select body of about five hundred regular German troops, some Canadians and Tories, and over one hundred Indians, with two light pieces of artillery, and placed the whole under command of Colonel Baum. To facilitate the operations of this force a strong detachment of troops was stationed on the east bank of the Hudson, opposite Saratoga, while still a third took a position at Battenkill.
On the morning of August 12th, Colonel Baum commenced his march, and on the evening of the same day arrived at Cambridge, a distance of about twelve miles northwest of Bennington. The next day Baum again advanced to a point seven miles from Bennington, where he was informed that the town was strongly guarded by a well organized force of militia, upon which he at once occupied a commanding position on a hill and commenced constructing fortifi- cations. This was continued during the next day, and at the same time Baum sent a courier back to the main army requesting reinforcements. On the 15th a violent rain storm prevented any movement of the troops, but gave Colonel Baum an opportunity to strengthen his position. On the 13th word was brought to General Stark that a party of Indians had been seen at Cambridge, and thereupon Lieutenant Gregg, with two hundred men, was sent to oppose them, but was soon further advised that a large body of troops, with artillery, were in the rear of the Indians. Stark at once prepared for action. He sum- moned the militia to arms, and requested the council of safety to call for aid from other sections, all of which was done. On the 15th, notwithstanding the storm, Stark appeared in front of the enemy's works, but the occasion being unfavorable for an attack he ordered the troops to retire. A consultation was then held, and it was decided to attack the enemy's works the next morning before it was possible for reinforcements to come up. At the same time an express was sent to Major Safford, at Manchester, to start with all speed for the place.
For the succeeding events of the battle that followed we quote from Zadock Thompson's description : "On the morning of 'the 16th of August General Stark was joined by Colonel Symonds with a small body of militia from Berk- shire county, Mass., and having reconnoitered the enemy's post, he proceeded to carry into effect the previous arrangements for the attack. Colonel Nichols was detailed with two hundred men to the rear of the left wing of the enemy. and Colonel Herrick with three hundred men to the rear of the right wing-
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
These were to join and then make the attack. Colonels Hubbard and Stick. ney were also ordered to advance with two hundred men on their right a! one hundred in front to divert the enemy's attention from the real point .: attack. As the divisions of Nichols and Herrick approached each other in tir. rear of the enemy, the Indians, apprehensive of being surrounded, made the :: escape between two corps, excepting three killed and two wounded by the fire of the Americans as they passed.
"Their positions being taken, at three o'clock in the afternoon the action was commenced by Colonel Nichols, and his example was quickly followed by the other divisions. General Stark advanced slowly in front, till the firing an- nounced the commencement of the attack in the rear. He then rushed for- ward and attacked the division of Tories, and in a few minutes the action be- came general. 'It lasted,' says Stark, in his official account, 'two hours, and was the hottest I ever saw. It was like one continued clap of thunder.' The German dragoons made a brave resistance, and after their ammunition was ex- pended they were led on by Colonel Baum, and attacked the Americans, sword in hand. But their bravery was unavailing. They were finally overpowered, their works carried on all points, and their two cannon taken. Colonel Baum was mortally wounded and fell into the hands of the Americans, and all of his men, with the exception of those who escaped to the woods, wore either killed or taken prisoners.
" The prisoners were collected together and sent off under a strong guard to the meeting house in Bennington, and Stark, unsuspicious of danger, suf- fered his men to scatter in pursuit of refreshments and plunder. In this state of things intelligence was received that the reinforcement of the enemy, under Colonel Breyman, with two field-pieces, was rapidly approaching, and only two miles distant. Stark endeavored to rally his exhausted force ; but before he could put them in a condition to make an effectual resistance, the enemy advanced upon them in regular order and commenced the attack. They opened an incessant fire from their artillery and small arms, which was for awhile returned by the Americans with much spirit; but exhausted by fatigue and hunger, and overpowered by numbers, they at length began slowly, but in good order, to retreat before the enemy, 'disputing the ground inch by inch.'"
At this critical juncture, when defeat and disaster seemed inevitable, the regiment commanded by Major Safford appeared upon the scene; and morti- fied that they had not arrived sooner to have participated in the first engage- ment, they made such a fierce attack upon the enemy as to stop their advance. This second battle was carried on with great determination on both sides until sunset, when the British gave way and fled in confusion from the field. The Americans pursued them till dark, but with one hour more of daylight, says Stark's report, he should have captured their whole force. With this victory
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SUCCESS OF THE AMERICANS.
there came into the possession of the Americans four brass cannon, four am- munition wagons, and about seven hundred prisoners with their arms and ac- coutrements. The loss to the Americans was thirty killed and about forty wounded, while the British lost, in killed, two hundred and seven, who were left upon the field. Two of the captured cannon are now in the State House at the capital of Vermont, and engraved on them is this inscription : "Taken from the Germans at Bennington, August 16, 1777."
" This victory," says Governor Hall, " was the first check given to the tri- umphant march of Burgoyne from Canada, and was an unexpected example of a successful assault by undisciplined militia, armed with muskets without bayonets, upon an entrenched camp of veteran troops, defended by cannon. By its depressing effect on the spirits of the enemy, and the confidence in their own powers with which it inspired the Americans, the current of success was at once turned from the British to the American arms."
The reader will understand that when General Stark's coming to Vermont became an assured fact, General Schuyler had directed that he place himself under the authority of Continental army officers; but this the sturdy Stark re- fused to do, as it was directly understood that he was to have a command inde- pendent of the regular Continental forces, as was stated by the letter of authority sent him by President Weare, of the New Hampshire Council of Safety, in tliese words : " And there act in conjunction with the troops of that State, or any other of the States, or of the United States, or separately, as it shall appear expedient for you for the protection of the people or the annoyance of the enemy," etc. General Stark had refused to serve under the Continental officers, and this action on his part was the occasion of much adverse criticism by Gen- eral Schuyler ; as also the occasion of a resolution of Congress, passed August 19th, declaring Stark's instructions to be " destructive of military subordination and highly prejudicial to the common cause," and urging the New Hampshire council to at once revoke them, and " to instruct General Stark to conform himself to the same rules, to which other general officers of the militia are sub- ject, whenever called out at the expense of the United States." During this petty squabble General Stark wrote to General Schuyler that he was willing to unite in any measures that would promote the public good-that he wished to avoid whatever was inconsistent with his own honor, and that private re- sentment should not prevent his marching to his (Schuyler's) camp, if it were deemed necessary. But Stark was only waiting an opportunity to manifest his own patriotism, and to strike a telling blow for the American cause. He had not long to wait ; the battle of Bennington was fought, the world learned the result, and the British army had by it received its first decisive defeat.
But with the success at Bennington the Vermont soldiery did not cease their efforts in the cause of America. General Gates succeeded to the com- mand of the northern army formerly hield by General Schuyler, and, unlike
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
that officer at once proceeded to headquarters and took personal charge their operations. After his victory at Bennington, General Stark, with the C. tinental forces under him, soon joined the army under Gates, and General Li. coln was placed in command of that branch of the army that operated east the Hudson River.
On the 13th and 14th of September Burgoyne's army crossed the Hudson and advanced toward the American headquarters at Stillwater, and upon near- ing that place the latter were prepared to receive them. On the 19th the bat- tle occurred and was waged fiercely during the greater part of the day ; and although neither party could claim the victory, the American loss was only hali of that of the enemy, and the British were made to realize something of the fighting qualities of the Americans. This engagement had the effect, too, of alienating many of the Indians and Tories from the cause of the British, for they soon came by hundreds, flocking under the American standard.
From the 20th of September to the 7th of October both armies lay en- camped not far apart. The Americans were constantly increasing in strength while the British were proportionately diminishing. On the date last named Burgoyne made a movement at the head of a strong force, toward the Hud- son, with a view of determining whether he could force a passage down that stream; but Gates, hearing of this, at once gave him battle, and with such de- termination as to compel Burgoyne to retire to his camp entrenchments, and even some of these were taken by the daring Americans in a hand to hand conflict. The British loss in this engagement was severe, especially in officers of rank, General Fraser and Colonel Breyman being killed outright, while Sir James Clark and Majors Williams and Ackland were wounded and captured. The Americans captured nine cannon, a large quantity of ammunition, stores, and two hundred prisoners, while their own loss was comparatively light. These two battles have always been known as the First and Second Stillwater.
General Burgoyne's army being terribly cut to pieces and weakened by these disasters, added to which was constant desertion from his ranks, he determined to effect a return to Canada; but General Gates had provided against this means of escape, so that when it was attempted the British found themselves entirely surrounded. Annihilation or surrender were, therefore, the alterna- tives, and Burgoyne chose the latter. On the 14th of October Major Kingston was sent to Gates to settle terms of surrender, which were agreed upon the next day, but during the night of the 16th word was brought to the British that reinforcements were advancing to their assistance from down the Hudson. But it was too late, the pledge had been given ; therefore, on the 17th of Oc- tober Burgoyne's whole army of nearly six thousand men, with all arms, am- munition, camp baggage and provisions, were surrendered to the Americans. The regiment of General Stark was with the Continental army during this series of engagements, and took an active part in all that occurred. About the time
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BURGOYNE'S SURRENDER.
of the final surrender of Burgoyne General Lincoln's force, together with Col- onel Warner's Continental regiment, arrived at Gates's headquarters, and tliere witnessed the closing scenes upon that eventful occasion. But. let us turn briefly and follow the fortunes of the little army that, under General Lincoln, had been entrusted with the duty of guarding the western Vermont frontier. The army of General Lincoln included the Massachusetts militia, as well as those of Vermont, and some few, perhaps, from other States.
About the middle of September General Lincoln planned and put into ex- ecution an expedition to get in the rear of Burgoyne's army and cut off his source of supplies. To this end he marched rapidly north from Manchester to Pawlet. From thence he dispatched a strong body of troops under Colonel Brown to capture or destroy the enemy's stores at Lake George, and to effect the release of the American prisoners confined at that point. At the same time Colonel Johnson was directed to proceed toward Ticonderoga and occupy the attention of the garrison at that fort. Also Colonel Woodbridge was sent on an expedition against Skenesborough and Fort Edward. These several expeditions were undertaken with a reasonable degree of success, although Ti- conderoga was found to be too well guarded to warrant an attack. Colonel Brown did, however, after surprising every post between Lake George and Ticonderoga, make a demand of surrender upon the latter place, which was refused, and not feeling strong enough to attack the works he returned to Skenesborough. Captain Allen, with a company of rangers, effected a recap- ture of Mount Defiance. In all over one hundred prisoners were liberated, a number of the enemy, with a considerable amount of ammunition and army stores fell into the hands of the Americans.
When the fate of Burgoyne's army became known to General Carlton, that officer immediately ordered the evacuation of Ticonderoga, and other British posts south of the Canadian line. The garrison at Ticonderoga abandoned that post about the 15th of November. Herrick's rangers were unquestion- ably waiting for the enemy to get away from the protection of the fortress, for no sooner had they done so than the rangers fell upon their rearguard and took fifty of them prisoners, besides capturing many horses, cattle, and other of their supplies.
The withdrawal of the British forces from south of the Canada line ended the campaign so far as the militia of Vermont was concerned; but that branch of the combined civil and military organizations, and known as the council of safety, found an open field for operations during the entire year. They con- tinued in session until late in December, and then resumed proceedings early in January, 1778. With the success that attended the American arms the Tory element on the soil of the State became less annoying to the council, and therefore less difficult to control; and those, too, of this class that had joined the enemy, or who had aided and abetted them in any manner, were now anxious
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
to return and obtain forgiveness upon almost any terms. But the council stood firm to their position, and administered such punishment, by way of fines, etc., as the enormity or seriousness of the offense seemed to demand. The record of proceedings of the council from August 20th to the close of the year were filled with interesting incidents, sufficient for an entire chapter ; and there is found, in the records of that body, to have been numbered among the Tories the names of some of the most highly respected and influential pioneers families on the New Hampshire grants, whose descendants are living upon the soil to- day, and are as highly esteemed by the present generation of inhabitants as were their erring ancestors of a century and more ago. For this reason we make no record that mentions these names, preferring not to, in any manner, recall any of the unpleasant recollections of the past by citing individual cases of error.
CHAPTER X.
Civil Policy Pursued by the People on the Grants During the Revolution --- The Dorset Con- vention in January, 1776, -- Petition Sent to Congr .ss-Its Withdrawal-Second Dorset Con- vention in July, 1776,-Towns Represented-Resolutions Looking to State Organization- Articles of Association -- September Convention at Dorset -- Covenant Adopted-Convention at Westminster in October, 1776, and January, 1777,-State Independence Declared-Named New Connecticut-Changed to Vermont =- Adopting a Constitution -- Report and Petition to Congress-Opposition mide by New York -- Petition Dismissed -- Subsequent Proceedings- Election of State Officers -- Final Action of the Council of Safety.
D URING the period of the war for American independence, that portion of the country that, prior to 1777, was known as the New Hampshire Grants, but after that year by the name of Vermont,1 occupied a somewhat peculiar position in the civil and military history of this country ; in fact, during that war period, the authorities of the grants were acting in a double capacity - protecting their territory against the common enemy, Great Britain, and pro- tecting their territory against the usurping power and policy of the province of New York. And all their efforts were directed to the accomplishment of one object - the recognition of the disputed territory as an independent province of America. For this the people argued, for this they labored, and for this they fought, from the year 1761 until the year 1791, a period of thirty long years, when the result sought was achieved.
The breaking out of the war in 1775, for a time put an end to the aggres-
I Originally named New Connecticut, but soon changed to Vermont. See post.
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FIRST DORSET CONVENTION.
sive acts of the province of New York in endeavoring to possess the land of the grants, and likewise terminated the acts of retaliation on the part of the inliab- itants of the land. After the dreadful massacre at Westminster, and after the people on the east side of the mountains had declared that they would resist the New York authority, and by so declaring became united with the people on the west side, the feeling of excitement and hatred between the contending factions was so great as to border on open warfare; but at this critical hour the war came, and the public attention was, fortunately, for the time diverted to other events, though during the years that followed the people of the grants by no means relinquished their efforts for their cherished hope of final inde- pendence.
By the meeting of delegates representing twelve American colonies in the city of Philadelphia, on the 5th day of September, 1774, the authority of the country became vested in the Continental Congress. Therefore ignoring further appeals to the crown, as had been their wont in former years, the peo- ple upon the grants directed their subsequent efforts to this newly created and recognized power.
The first step in this direction was the warning of a meeting of the several towns of the New Hampshire Grants, to be held at the house of Cephas Kent, innholder of Dorset, on the 16th day of January, 1776. According to the tenor of the warrant, which bore.the date, " Arlington, roth Decr., 1775." the follow- ing questions or subjects (among others) were to be presented for conside- ration : "4th. To see if the said conventions will come into some proper regu- lation, or take some method to suppress all schismatic miobs that have, or may arise on said grants." " 5th. To see if they will chose an agent or agents, to send to the Continental Congress; " and "6th. To see whether the convention will consent to associate with New York, or by themselves, in the cause of America." The warrant for this convention was signed by the following com- mittee: Moses Robinson, Samuel Robinson, Seth Warner, Jeremiah Clarke, Martin Powel, Daniel Smith, Jonathan Willard.
According to the warrant the convention was assembled at Dorset on the 16th of January, 1776, and organized by the selection of Captain Joseph Wood- ward as chairman, and Dr. Jonas Fay as clerk.
A committee consisting of Dr. Jonas Fay, Captain William Marsh and Mr. Thomas Rowley was appointed to prepare a remonstrance and petition to be presented to Congress; and Lieutenant James Breckenridge, Captain Heman Allen and Dr. Jonas Fay were made a committee to prefer (present) said pe- tion.
The petition that was prepared and adopted in pursuance of the foregoing action was addressed as follows: "To the Honorable John Hancock, esq., Presi- dent of the Honorable Continental Congress, etc., etc., now assembled at Phil- adelphia."
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HISTORY OF BENNINGTON COUNTY.
"The humble petition, address and remonstrance of that part of Americ . being situated south of Canada line, west of Connecticut River, north of tir Massachusetts Bay, (State) and east of a twenty- mile line from Hudson's River, commonly called and known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, hum- bly sheweth." Then follows the text of the petition, which is far too long to be reproduced here. It refers, however, to the present alarming situation of the colonies, the designs of Great Britain against America, the nature of the New Hampshire Grants made by Governor Wentworth, the hardships of the settlers. the claims of New York and efforts to enforce them, the appeal by the settlers to the crown, the royal decree of July 24, 1767, commanding the governor of New York not to interfere with the people on the grants, and not to make fur- ther grants, and the refusal of New York to obey the decree; further the part taken by Ethan Allen and his followers during the first outbreak of the war; the capture of Ticonderoga and elsewhere, and closing in these words: "There- fore, we, your ltonours humble petitioners, most earnestly pray your honours to take our case into your wise consideration, and order that for the future your petitioners shall do duty in the Continental service, if required, as inhabitants of said New Hampshire Grants, and not as inhabitants of the province of New York, or subject to the limitations, restrictions or regulations of the militia of said province ; and that commissions, as your honours shall judge meet, to be granted accordingly ; and, as in duty bound, your honours petitioners shall ever pray."
This document was duly presented to the Continental Congress in session at Philadelphia, whereupon that body through its proper committee passed this resolution : " Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that it be recommended to the petitioners for the present to submit to the government of New York, and contribute to their assistance, with their countrymen, in the contest between Great Britain and the united colonies; but that such submis- sion ought not to prejudice the right of them or others to the lands in contro- versy, or any part of them ; nor be construed to affirm or admit the jurisdic- tion of New York in and over that country; and when the present troubles are at an end, the final determination of their right may be mutually referred to proper judges."
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