USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Bennington > Memorials of a century. Embracing a record of individuals and events, chiefly in the early history of Bennington, Vt., and its First church > Part 12
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At Manchester, Gen. Lincoln met Stark, and had orders from Schuyler, then major-general of the northern depart- ment, stationed at Albany, to conduct him and his recruits to the Hudson. Stark positively refused to go, and exhib- ited the written terms upon which he had consented to ap-
1 Butler, referring to Stevens's Papers, and Everett's Life of Stark.
2 Irving's Life of Washington.
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MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
pear in the field at all. His refusal was communicated to Congress ; and that body resolved that the Assembly of New Hampshire should be informed that the instructions they had given Gen. Stark were " destructive of military subor- dination, and highly prejudicial to the common cause ; " and the Assembly was desired " to instruct Gen. Stark to con- form himself to the same rules which other general officers of the militia were subject to whenever they were called out at the expense of the United States." Stark, however, remained immovable in his purpose to pursue an indepen- dent course, and be at liberty to use his own discretion as to where to go and when to strike.
The time upon which we now raise the curtain is antece- dent to any definite knowledge of Burgoyne's designs upon the storehouse. At the head-quarters of Gen. Schuyler, no doubt, there was profound ignorance on the subject ; for, as we have seen, he sent Gen. Lincoln to bring Gen. Stark and his militia out of New England to the Hudson. "After the disaster at Hubbardton, Gen. Schuyler's first orders were that the Vermont militia should repair to his camp ; though, when remonstrated with, he allowed them to remain for the defence of their families, and said, ' I had forgotten to give orders about the security of the people on the Grants.'" 1
Gen. Stark's superior sagacity, or better means of infor- mation, appears in this, that he wrote, on July 29, from his head-quarters on the Connecticut, that the destination of the enemy appeared to be Bennington. In fact, it was about July 29 that Major-Gen. Riedsell conceived the purpose of mounting his regiment of dragoons, and for this purpose proposed the expedition under Col. Baum .? "I am in- formed," says Stark, "that the enemy have left Castleton, with an intent to march to Bennington." How decidedly the
1 Butler's Address.
2 Burgoyne's State of the Expedition.
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COUNCIL OF SAFETY.
impression obtained that Bennington was an objective point with Burgoyne, or that his army, or any portion of it, would march through Bennington, does not appear. Up to the 13th of August Gen. Stark appeared to be still in some uncertainty whether his services would be needed in that locality, or he should rather be called at an early day to march elsewhere.
However, he came with his brigade, seven or eight hun- dred strong, to Bennington.1 He was here as early as Au- gust 9, and encamped about two miles west of the meeting- house, near the then residence of Col. Herrick, more lately known as the Dimmick place, where he remained for five days, collecting information in regard to the position and designs of the enemy, and consulting with the Council of Safety, and with Col. Warner and other officers, respecting future operations.2
As time wore on, and the designs of the enemy were dis- closed, the ever-faithful Council, holding its sessions at the Catamount Tavern, became still more anxious and alert ; issuing orders for the effects of tories to be sold for the re- plenishment of the war treasury ;3 sending swift messengers
1 Jesse Field to Gov. Hall.
2 Vermont Hist. Mag.
3 " But the new State had no funds or established credit; and to raise such a force " [" a permanent volunteer force to patrol the frontiers, and watch the domestic as well as foreign foes "], " without pecuniary means, was impossi- ble. The difficulty was at once solved by a resolution of the Council " of Safety, " that the property of those who had fled to the enemy should be made to pay the expense of defending the persons and property of those that remained. In pursuance of this resolution, the Council, on the 28th of July, appointed 'com- missioners of sequestration,' with directions to seize and dispose of the property, under certain prescribed regulations, of ' all persons in the State who had re- paired to the enemy.' A proper fund for State use being thus secured, a regi- ment of rangers was soon organized, under Col. Samuel Herrick, which did effi- cient and valuable service to the State and country. 'This,' says Ira Allen, in his history, ' was the first instance in America, of seizing and selling the property of the enemies of American independence ;' and such is believed to be the fact, though the measure was afterward pursued in all the States." - Early Hist. Vermont, p. 260.
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MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
in every direction for men and material ; even giving orders for the conduct of colonels of regiments.1
The first entry of their records as preserved, is as fol- lows : -
"Bennington. - In Council of Safety,
August 15, 1777." (The day before the battle.)
"SIR : You are hereby desired to forward to this place, by ex- press, all the lead you can possibly collect in your vicinity, as it is expected every minute an action will commence between our troops and the enemy within four or five miles of this place, and the lead will be positively wanted.
" By order of Council."
(This order was sent with all speed in different direc- tions.)
VII. MOVEMENTS BEFORE THE BATTLE. - Baum en- camped at Saratoga on August 11. That night at eleven o'clock he received a reinforcement of fifty chasseurs. On the 12th he started on his march at five o'clock in the morn- ing, and marched a mile, when a messenger from Burgoyne ordered him to post his corps at Battenkill and wait further instructions. On the morning of the 13th, in consequence of orders from Burgoyne, he marched from Battenkill to Cambridge, and arrived at the latter place at four o'clock, P. M., a distance of sixteen miles. On this day's march he was joined by several of the country people.2 During this march he also sent ahead thirty provincials and fifty savages to surprise an American army-guard with some
1 " State of Vermont .- In Council of Safety, Aug. 16, 1777. " To Col. John Williams,-
"SIR: You will proceed with your party toward the lines, and if the enemy should retreat, you will repair to the road leading from St. Cork to Hoosack, and, if you make any discovery, report to this Council; at the same time, you are to pay proper attention to the road leading from Hoosack to Pownal.
" By order of Council,
" PAUL SPOONER, D. Secretary."
2 Glick.
.
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BAUM AT SANCOIK.
cattle, of which he had received information. They took live prisoners, and continued their march, when they were fired on by a party of fifteen men, and returned the fire, the assailing party taking to the woods. At Cambridge they took some cattle, horses, carts, and wagons ; and Baum sent back from this place a dispatch to Burgoyne that he had been informed the Americans were eighteen hundred strong at Bennington.
The affair at Cambridge of the 13th was immediately re- ported to Gen. Stark, at his head-quarters, by two scouts in the employment of the Council of Safety, Isaac Clark and Eleazer Edgerton.1 At the time of their starting home- ward with this intelligence, however, the scouts were not apprised of the approach of Col. Baum, and merely an- bounced the advance of a hostile party of Indians as far as Cambridge. Gen. Stark sent out two hundred men, under Lieut .- Col. Gregg, to stop them.2
On the morning of the 14th, Thursday, Col. Baum reached Van Schaik's Mills, and found Col. Gregg's party in pos- session. We will let him tell his own story with respect to what took place there : -
" SANCOIK, Aug. 14, 1777, 9 o'clock.
" SIR : I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I arrived here at ciglit in the morning, having had intelligence of a party of the enemy being in possession of a mill, which they abandoned at our approach, but in their usual way fired from the bushes, and took the road to Bennington. A savage was slightly wounded. They broke down the bridge, which has retarded our march about an hour. They left in the mill about seventy-eight barrels of very ine flour, one thousand bushels of wheat, twenty barrels of salt, and about one thousand pounds' worth of pearl and pot ashes. I have ordered thirty provincials and an officer to guard the provis- ons and the pass of the bridge. By five prisoners here they agree
1 Father of the late Uriah Edgerton, Esq.
2 Jesse Field to Gov. Hall.
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that fifteen hundred to eighteen hundred men are in Bennington, but are supposed to leave it on our approach. I will proceed so far to-day as to fall on the enemy to-morrow early, and make such disposition as I think necessary from the intelligence I may re- ceive. People are flocking in hourly and want to be armed. The savages cannot be controlled ; they ruin and take everything they please.
" I am, etc.,
"F. BAUM. " To Gen. Burgoyne.
"Beg your Excellency to pardon the hurry of this letter; it is written on the head of a barrel."
At Sancoik, Baum began to be seriously molested. A party of Americans fired on them a good deal from the underwood, "causing them some loss in several of the most forward among the savages." "At last, however, they retreated, abandoning a mill which they had pre- viously fortified, and breaking down the bridge, and, long before the latter could be repaired, they were safe from fur- ther molestation." " The Americans, though they gave way at last, fought like men conscious of their own prow- ess, and confident in the strength of the support which was behind them ; and this, coupled with the rumors which had reached us relative to the amount of the garrison at Ben- nington, failed not to startle Col. Baum, and the boldest of his troops." 1
More complete information than the first report by the two scouts reached Gen. Stark, on the night preceding the 14th that a large body of the enemy were approach- ing in the rear of the Indians. On the morning of the 14th he rallied his brigade and what militia was at Ben- nington and vicinity ; sent to Manchester for Col. Warner's men ; issued orders for all the militia about to come to him with all speed, and forthwith marched to meet the enemy.
1 Glick.
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BAUM ON THE FIFTEENTH.
Some five miles on his way, he met Col. Gregg retreating before Col. Baum, and drew up his little army in order of battle.
When the enemy came in sight they halted on a hill or advantageous rise of ground. Gen. Stark sent out small parties in their front to skirmish with them, which had a good effect. He killed' and wounded thirty of the enemy without any loss on his side ; but the ground did not suit for a general action. He marched back about two miles and encamped ; called a council, and agreed upon a plan of attack for the next day. But it rained the 15th, and he did no more than skirmish.
We will condense from Glick's narrative. Baum judged he could not reach the place of destination (Bennington storehouse) before sunset. "We bivouacked at the farm of Walmscott" (by Walloomschoik River). The 15th, Baum's outposts were attacked and driven in. He himself was among the buildings of the locality with his regulars. He formed them into close column, and sent provincials and sharpshooters to sustain the outposts. " On seeing us, our savage allies uttered a yell, which seemed to strike panic nto the bosoms of their assailants ; for the latter instantly paused, hung back, as it were irresolute, and finally re- tired." Americans kept up skirmishing attacks all day. Baum sent back for reinforcements, and commenced to for- tify to await them. "Six or eight log-huts made up the farm of Walmscott, scattered here and there." "Baum kept the whole of his force, with the exception of a hundred men, on the north " (west) " side of the stream," "holding the road upon his flanks, and in front and rear, by the In- lians." "To complete his arrangements, he occupied the entire day and some portion of the night of the 15th." " Rain of the 15th in torrents," "to afford shelter against which human ingenuity has as yet devised no covering."
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MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
The body of provincials and marksmen, who had advanced to assist in guarding the outposts, silently withdrew and joined the regulars in the breastworks, and there passed the night.
Baum was instructed by Gen. Burgoyne to keep his ranks always in order, with military precision, and, in case of meeting an enemy that threatened to be too strong, to post his regulars in the most advantageous position for defence, and throw up entrenchments. This he did, selecting an excellent position, and making the best possible prepara- tions for defence.
He had the Walloomsac 1 River (a fordable stream, but liable to be swollen by rains) in front ; across it, in front, a cleared bottom land and slope varying in width, and wil- derness beyond, covering undulating hills, which rise to a general elevation of considerable height. Across these up- lands, and hidden from Baum by intervening hills, was Stark's encampment, some two miles distant, and reached by a circuitous road. By Durnford's map 2 it appears the country in Baum's front, east of the river, was extensively cleared, also southward over the Cambridge road, and elsewhere in portions, but the breastworks on the hill had woods immediately in front and down to the river, also on the right down to the road, with the exception of a cleared lot, and an unbroken wilderness on Baum's left to the northward, and on his rear to the westward.
The hill selected for the main defence was high and ab- rupt, rising some three or four hundred feet, and washed at its base by the river, running here very nearly south. The Cambridge, or Sancoik, road from Bennington runs here nearly eastwardly, until it has crossed the run, making
1 The same called Walmscott by Glick; Wallumscoik by others.
2 Map of Lieut. Durnford, Col. Baum's Engineer, and published in Burgoyne's State of the Expedition.
-
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GENERAL STARK'S FORCE.
nearly a right angle with the river, with a steep ascent from the road to the redoubt. Baum's main intrenchment was at the highest elevation on this hill.
According to Durnford's map, within the main fortifica- tion were Riedsell's Dragoons and a corps of Canadian Rangers ; some paces in advance, down the declivity, were also stationed some of Riedsell's Dragoons ; at the foot of the hill in front, by the river, chasseurs were posted. By the river to the right, at the bridge of the Sancoik road, and on both sides of the road, were minor fortifications, where were Canadian Rangers and German Grenadiers ; over the river, and less than a quarter of a mile distant on rising ground, were also considerable fortifications, and here Baum posted Peters' corps of Provincials. It was called the tory breastwork. Here Pfister, popularly known as Col. Pfister, a retired British lieutenant of the French War, is believed to have had immediate command.1 This tory breastwork was nearly south-east of Baum's intrenchments on the hill, and at a considerably lower elevation.
According to Durnford's map he also had Canadians at the river across the bridge; and down the hill on his right, near the Sancoik road, and a quarter of a mile west of the bridge, some grenadiers. His fortifications and breastworks are stated to have been of earth and timbers, in perfecting which he employed much of the day and night of the 15th. The precise location of the artillery and cannon does not certainly appear. They were doubtless so dis- posed as to render most effective service. One or both of the cannon was within the main redoubt on the hill during the severest part of the struggle.
These were the defences and military preparations which Gen. Stark, with the advice of Col. Warner and the other officers, determined to attack on the 16th.
1 Vermont Historical Magazine.
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MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
" His force consisted of three regiments of New Hamp- shire militia, respectively commanded by Colonels Hubbard, Stickney, and Nichols ; a small body of militia from the east side of the mountains, under Col. William Williams, of Wilmington ; a corps of rangers then forming under the authority of the Vermont Council of Safety, commanded by Col. Herrick ; a body of militia from Bennington and its vicinity, Nathaniel Brush, colonel, of which there were two companies from Bennington, the one commanded by Capt. Samuel Robinson, and the other by Capt. Elijah Dewey. He had just been joined by part of a militia regiment from Berkshire County, under Col. Simmons, making his whole force to amount, probably, to about eighteen hundred men." 1 This estimate would include volunteers. Gen. Stark speaks of his little army.
The plan of attack was as follows: Col. Nichols, with two hundred men, taking a wide circuit through the woods northward of Baum's redoubt, was to get upon the rear of his left undiscovered to the last moment possible by him. Col. Herrick, with three hundred men, taking a wide circuit southward, was to get in like manner upon the rear of Baum's right. These two to join and commence the attack. Meantime, to divert attention from that proceeding, upon the success of which everything else very much depended, Colonels Hubbard and Stickney were to get before the tory breastwork, and one hundred men to march toward the front of Baum ; Gen. Stark, with the remainder of his force, was, at the right time, to charge Baum's intrenchments in front.
VIII. THE BATTLE. - The plan appears to have been carried out with remarkable completeness. As the orders were given, and the several parties were about to enter 1 Vermont Historical Magazine.
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171
STATEMENT OF SILAS WALBRIDGE.
upon the performance of the duties severally assigned them, Gen. Stark in his saddle, pointing in the direction of the enemy, made this laconic address : "THERE ARE THE RED- COATS, AND THEY ARE OURS, OR THIS NIGHT MOLLY STARK SLEEPS A WIDOW." .
On the map before mentioned the positions severally of Stark's men before the action had commenced, or before it had proceeded far, appear to be represented. Bodies of Americans are well advanced on the road leading south- westerly to Baum's front ; another body of our troops have approached near to the tory breastwork, advancing in a north-westerly direction ; a body of Americans are also near the grenadiers and tories, a quarter of a mile back on the Sancoik road ; and Nichols on one side, and Herrick on the other, have reached the coveted position in the rear of Baum's main intrenchments. After Nichols had started for his post he sent back to Stark for a reinforcement of a hun- dred men, and they were furnished him.
Gen. Stark says, " About three o'clock we got all ready for the attack." The time previously to this must have been improved by Colonels Nichols and Herrick getting round to the rear of Baum's works ; and by manœuvres and reconnoitering of Gen. Stark in front.
Silas Walbridge, who was in Capt. John Warner's (brother of Seth Warner) company and Col. Herrick's reg- iment of Vermont Rangers, and went with Col. Herrick, says 1 . they went from Stark's encampment "west across the river (the Walloomsac flows northerly past the place of encampment, then curves westward, and soon takes a southerly direction past Baum's hill, and onward a short distance curves again westward, and so passes by Sancoik), crossed it again below Sickle's Mills (brick factory, now Austin & Patchin's paper mill, a mile and a half westward
1 MS. statement communicated to Governor Hall.
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MEMORIALS OF A CENTURY.
from Baum's Hill, on the Sancoik road), and came in on the rear of the Hessian redoubt."
" Just before we arrived at the redoubt we came in sight of a party of Indians, and fired on them. They retreated to the north- west, leaving two killed. Our men came within ten or twelve rods of the redoubt, and began firing from behind logs and trees, and continued firing and advancing until the Hessians retreated out of their works and down the hill to the south. We followed on down the hill to the level land on the river, and some pursued on fur- ther."
Jesse Field, who was in Capt. Dewey's company of mi- litia, and went also with Col. Herrick, says 1 they " crossed the river over against the camp, went over the hills, forded the river again below the enemy, and came up on their rear."
" When we came in sight of the enemy's works we halted, and it seemed that the rear of our party had been detained for some cause. We stood but a short time when the firing commenced from the party on the north. I recollect hearing Lieut. -- ex- claim, 'My God, what are we doing? They are killing our broth- ers ; why are we not ordered to fire ?' In a moment our adjutant came up and ordered us to advance. We pressed forward, and as the Hessians rose above their works to fire, we discharged our pieces at them."
Solomon Safford states 2 that he turned out with Capt. Samuel Robinson's company, and encamped with them the evening of the 15th at the bend of the river, half a mile north of Stark's encampment, and was ordered to remain behind and guard the knapsacks and other baggage during the 16th. On the morning of the battle, after the company had started off with Col. Herrick, Gen. Stark and Col. Warner rode past him on horseback, and accosted him."
Thomas Mellen, the veteran whose statement is given in Mr. Butler's address, says : ---
1,2 From MS. statements communicated to Governor Hall.
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TIME OF THE FIRST ACTION.
"Stark and Warner rode up near the enemy to reconnoitre; were fired at with the cannon, and came galloping back. Stark rode with shoulders bent forward, aud cried out to his men : Those rascals know that I am an officer; don't you see they honor me with a big gun as a salute ?' We were marched round and round a circular hill till we were tired. Stark said it was to amuse the Germans. All the while a cannonade was kept up upon us from their breastworks. It hurt nobody, and it lessened-our fear of the great guns. After a while I was sent, with twelve otli- ers, to lie in ambush on a knoll a little north, and watch for tories on their way to join Baum. Presently we saw six coming toward us, who, mistaking us for tories, came too near to escape. Wc disarmed them, and sent them under a guard of three to Stark. While I was on the hillock, I espied one Indian whom I thought I could kill, and more than once cocked my gun, but the orders were not to fire. He was cooking his dinner, and now and then shot at some of our people."
Silas Walbridge speaks of the troops at Stark's encamp- ment as parading early on the morning of the 16th for battle.
There was then no lack of activity on our side. All were on the alert from early morning, but there was little if any firing by our men until about three o'clock in the afternoon ; but the enemy kept up firing all day upon us whenever we showed ourselves to them, and where they were not deceived to think we were tories advancing to join them.
Gen. Stark says, "The action lasted two hours." He appears to mean, from the commencement of firing by Nichols until the fight ended on the plain below. The manuscript statements of Safford, Walbridge, and Field do not, perhaps, conflict with this, though they seem to make the time shorter. If there is any real discrepancy, it probably shows that to unprofessional soldiers fighting so severely and with so much at stake, the time in the recol- lection of many years afterward appeared to be shorter than it really was. They had not anticipated getting their
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work done so quickly. When the order came to go over the breastworks it was then probably but a few moments ere the Hessians were dislodged. When that was done it seemed to our men as if really all was done.
Jacob Safford, orderly sergeant in Warner's regiment, afterward ensign,1 says : --
" Should think the action at Baum's Hill one and a half hour of scattering fire, then twenty-five to thirty minutes of close work."
The onset upon all the works appears to have been simultaneous ; and the tory breastworks and other detached fortifications to have been carried early in the action, though particular accounts of this portion of the day's work are wanting. But if the outworks were carried with comparative ease, it was not so with the main intrench- ments, those on the hill, where was Col. Baum in person and his faithful veterans. They were slow to believe they were to be vanquished. They kept their cannon at work. They lined the breastworks. Nevertheless, our brave fellows, no less in earnest, pressed up upon every side.
· The instant or place of first entrance of the redoubt by our men does not now appear. It will assist to a more com- plete impression of the battle to introduce here further por- tions from Glick's interesting narrative : -
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