RETREAT FROM TICONDEROGA. place St. Clair had retired with the army. While Gens. Fraser and Riedesel were pursuing the Americans by land, General Burgoyne himself conducted the pursuit by water. The boom and bridge between Ticonderoga and Mount Independence not being completed, were soon cut through, and by nine o'clock in the morning of the 6th, the British frigates and gun boats had passed the works. Several regiments were immediately embarked on board the boats, and the chase commenced. By three in the afternoon the foremost boats overtook and attacked the American gallies near Skenesborough, (now Whitehall,) and, upon the approach of the frigates, the Americans abandoned their gallies, blew up three of them, and escaped to the shore. The other two fell into the hands of the British. As the American force was not sufficient to make an effectual stand at Skenesborough, they set fire to the works, mills and batteaux and retreated up Wood Creek to fort Ann. Being pursued by the ninth British regiment under Colonel Hill, the Americans turned upon him and gave him battle with such spirit as to cause him to retire to the top of a hill, where he would have been soon overpowered, had not a re-enforcement come at that critical moment to his assistance. The Americans, upon this, relinquished the attack, and having set fire to fort Ann, retreated to fort Edward and joined the main army under Schuyler. ADVANCE OF THE BRITISH ARMY. Creek, a position on the Hudson, about four miles below fort Edward. At this place the hills approach very near the river on both sides, and this was selected as a favorable position to make a stand and dispute the progress of the enemy. But the army was found to be so much reduced by defeat and desertion, and the dissatisfaction to the American cause was found to be so general in this section of the country, that it was judged best to retire to Saratoga, and subsequently, to Stillwater, at which place the army arrived on the 1st day of August. The British were in the mean time bringing forward their artillery and stores, and opening the way from Skenesborough to fort Edward. But so effectually had the Americans blocked up and obstructed the road, that the British army was frequently 24 hours in advancing one mile. It was not till the 30th of July that Burgoyne arrived and fixed his head quarters at fort Edward. Nothing could exceed the joy of the British army on its arrival at the Hudson. They flattered themselves that their difficulties and toils were now ended; and that there was nothing before them but a safe and easy march to Albany, and thence to a junction with the British army at New York. The British had supposed that a large proportion of the inhabitants on the New Hampshire grants and in the northern parts of New York, were opposed to the revolution, and that it was necessary only The retreat from Ticonderoga was very to march an army into their country, and disastrous to the Americans. Their can- furnish them with arms to bring them all non, amounting to 128 pieces,-their ship-around the royal standard. Arms had ping and batteaux, and their provisions, therefore been forwarded by Burgoyne, a stores and magazines, fell into the hands proclamation was issued, addressed to the of the enemy. By this event, Burgoyne inhabitants of the country, and Burgoyne obtained no less than 1,748 barrels of was now waiting for their submission, and flour, and more than 70 tons of salt pro- for the arrival of his tents and baggage. visions; and, in addition to these, a large But notwithstanding the darkness and drove of cattle, which had arrived in the gloom which enveloped the American afAmerican camp a few days previous to fairs, very few were found, who were distheir retreat, fell into his hands. After posed to abandon the cause of their counSt. Clair had joined Schuyler at fort Ed- try for that of their king. ward, and all the scattered troops had come in, the whole American force at that place did not exceed 4,400 men. Sensible that with this force, it would be impossible to make an effectual stand, it became the chief object of the American generals to impede as much as possible the progress of the enemy by cutting down trees, blocking up the roads, and destroying the bridges. The works at fort Edward being in no condition to afford protection to the American army, Gen. Schuyler abandoned them on the 22d of July, and retired with his whole force to Moses At this period, settlements had been commenced in most of the towns in the present counties of Bennington and Rutland, and in several towns to the northward of Rutland county. But upon the advance of Burgoyne along the lake, the settlers retired towards the south, and at the time Burgoyne was upon the Hudson, very few settlers remained upon their farms to the northward of the present county of Bennington. But, that the settlers were generally true to the American cause, we are assured by the testimony of Burgoyne himself. In his private letter to Lord Germain, dated Saratoga, August GEN. JOHN STARK. EXPEDITION TO BENNINGTON. 20th, 1777, he says, "The Hampshire | vance of Burgoyne, was to hang upon his grants in particular, a country unpeopled rear and embrace every favorable opporand almost unknown in the last war, now tunity to cut off his supplies and annoy abounds in the most active and most re-him from that quarter, and therefore negbellious race on the continent, and hangs lected to obey the orders of Schuyler. like a gathering storm on my left." Schuyler complained to Congress of this want of subordination, and Congress pro other general officers of the militia are subject, whenever called out at the expense of the United States." On the 15th of July, the committee of safety of Vermont assembled at Manches-ceeded, August 19th, to adopt a resoluter, where they agreed to raise all the tion censuring the course pursued by the men they could, to oppose the enemy, New Hampshire assembly in giving to who were then advancing towards fort Stark a separate command, and requestEdward. They at the same time wrote ing them "to instruct Gen. Stark to conin the most urgent terms to New Hamp-form himself to the same rules, to which shire and Massachusetts, to send on a body of troops to their assistance. The legislature of New Hampshire immediately formed their militia into two brigades, and placed one under the command of Gen. William Whipple, and the other under Gen. John Stark. One fourth of Stark's brigade, and a portion of Whipple's, was then ordered to march imme--and that private resentment should not diately, under the command of Gen. Stark, to stop the progress of the enemy upon the north western frontier. Stark had been an officer of some reputation in the French war, and had also distinguished himself at the battle of Bunker Hill; but considering himself neglected by Congress in not being promoted, he had left the continental service, and would not accept the present command, unless left at liberty to serve, or not, under a continental officer, as he should think proper. As there was no time for delay, the assembly of New Hampshire invested him with a separate command, with orders to repair without delay to the New Hampshire grants, and act either in conjunction with the troops of the grants, or of the other states, or separately, as he should judge best for the protection of the people and the annoyance of the enemy. Agreeably to his orders, Stark hastened forward with about 800 men, and joined the Vermont troops, who were collected at Manchester under the command of Col. Seth Warner, to the number of about 600, making the united force under Stark, about 1400 men. Gen. Schuyler, wishing to collect all the American troops in front of the British army to prevent its approach to Albany, wrote repeatedly to Stark to join him with the men under his command. But Stark believed that the most effectual way of checking the ad *This letter was written just after the Benning ton Battle, and shows plainly that Burgoyne had already begun to despair of accomplishing the objects of the expedition. It may be found in the State of the Expedition, page 24 of the Appendix. The correspondence with N. H. may be found in Slade's Vt. State Papers, page 79. In the mean time Stark wrote to Schuy ler that he was willing to unite in any measures which would promote the public good-that he wished to avoid whatever was inconsistent with his own honor prevent his marching to his camp, if it was deemed necessary. He was at the same time watching for an opportunity to manifest his courage and patriotism by an attack upon some part of the British army. Nor was he obliged to wait long for the opportunity to present itself. Nearly at the same time when Congress was censuring his conduct by a public resolution, Stark and his brave followers were acquiring unfading laurels, and rendering that service to the American cause, which soon after procured for him, from the same Congress, a vote of thanks, and promotion to the rank of brigadier general in the army of the United States. From the 28th of July, to near the middle of August, the British army was constantly employed in bringing forward their batteaux and stores from lake George to the first navigable part of Hudson river. But with all his efforts and diligence, Burgoyne was unable to bring forward, with his other stores, a sufficient quantity of provisions for daily consumption, and the establishment of the necessary magazines. It was this circumstance which induced him to attempt to replenish his own stores at the expense of the Americans. Having learned that large quantities of provisions were collected together at Bennington, and designed for the American army, and that they were guarded only by militia; and, moreover, being made to believe that a majority of the people in that quarter were friendly to the royal cause, and were ready to join it, whenever an opportunity should permit, Burgoyne determined to surprise the place and secure the stores to his own army. For this purpose he detached a select BAUM ADVANCES TOWARDS BENNINGTON. FIRST BATTLE. but there were frequent skirmishes between small parties, which resulted in such manner as to afford encouragement to the Americans, and to induce the Indians, attached to Baum's army, to desert in considerable numbers; "because," as they said, "the woods were filled with body of about 500 regular German troops, | which prevented a general engagement, some Canadians and more than 100 Indians, with two light pieces of artillery, and placed the whole under the command of Col. Baum. To facilitate their operations, and to take advantage of their success, a detachment of the British army was posted upon the east bank of the Hudson, opposite to Saratoga, and anoth-Yankees." er detachment under Col. Breymen was stationed at Battenkill. This disposition being made, Baum set out with his detachment for Bennington, on the morning of the 12th of August, and arrived that day at Cambridge, which is about 12 miles north west from Bennington. This unavoidable delay of a general engagement, enabled the enemy to complete their breast works and put themselves in a favorable condition for defence. Their principal force was strongly entrenched upon a rising ground on the north side of the Walloomscoik river, where there was a considerable bend in that stream, while a corps of tories in the British service, were entrenched on the opposite side of the river, in lower ground. The river is small and fordable at all places. Stark's encampment was on the same side of the river as that of the main body of the enemy, but owing to the serpentine course of the stream, it crossed his line of march twice on his way to their position. General Stark had moved forward to Bennington on the 9th of August, with his whole force, excepting Warner's regiment, which remained at Manchester under the command of Major Samuel Safford. On the 13th of August Stark received intelligence that a party of Indians had been observed at Cambridge, and dispatched Lieut. Col. Gregg with 200 men to stop their progress; but he was soon advised by express that there was a On the morning of the 16th of August, large body of the enemies troops, with a Gen. Stark was joined by Col. Symonds train of artillery, in the rear of the Indi- with a small body of militia from Berkans, and that they were advancing to-shire county in Massachusetts, and, havwards Bennington. He immediately ral- ing reconnoitered the enemy's post, he lied his forces, made an animated call up-proceeded to carry into effect the previon the neighboring militia, and sent or-ous arrangements for the attack. Col. ders to Major Safford to join him with Warner's regiment. his rear. On the morning of the 14th Stark moved forward with his whole force towards Cambridge, and, at the distance of five or six miles, met Gregg retreating before the enemy, who were only one mile in Stark immediately halted and drew up his men in order of battle. Baum perceiving the Americans to be too strong to be attacked with his present force, also halted, commenced entrenching himself upon a commanding piece of ground and sent an express to Col. Breymen to hasten to his support. Stark, unable to draw them from their position, fell back about a mile with his main force, leaving only a small party to skirmish with the enemy, which they did so effectually as to kill or wound thirty of their number, two of whom were Indian chiefs, without any loss to themselves. Here he called a council of war, by which it was resolved that an attack should be made upon the enemy before they should receive any reenforcements. Stark, with the advice of Warner and other chief officers, having arranged his plans, gave orders for the troops to be in readiness to commence an assault on the following morning. The next day, however, proved to be rainy, Nichols was detached with 200 men to the rear of the left wing of the enemy, and Col. Herrick with 300 men to the rear of their right wing. These were to join, and then make the attack. Colonels Hubbard and Stickney were also ordered to advance with 200 men on their right, and 100 in front to divert their attention from the real point of attack. As the divisions of Nichols and Herrick approached each other in the rear of the enemy, the Indians, apprehensive of being surrounded, made their escape between the 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 Col. Nichols, and his example was quickly followed by the other divisions. Gen. Stark advanced slowly in front, till the firing announced the commencement of the attack on the rear. He then rushed forward and attacked the division of tories, and in a few moments the action became 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 PLAN OF THE BATTLE GROUND. expended, they were led on by Col. 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. Col. 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, were either killed or taken pris oners. * RESULT OF THE ENGAGEMENTS. gan slowly, but in good order, to retreat before the enemy, "disputing the ground inch by inch." The remnant of Warner's regiment, which then consisted of only 130 men, had been suffered to remain at Manchester under Maj. Safford, as already stated. When, the express arrived with orders for it to proceed to Bennington, many of the men were absent on scouts, and that, and other causes, prevented its marching till the 15th. Owing to the heavy rains on that day, it was near midnight when the corps arrived within one mile of Bennington. Here they encamped for the night, and a considerable portion of the next day was spent in putting their arms and equipments, which had been drenched by the rain, in a condition for battle. The prisoners were' now collected together and sent off under a strong guard to the meeting-house in Bennington, and Stark, unsuspicious of danger, suffered his men to scatter in pursuit of refreshments and plunder. In this state of things, intelligence was received that the re-enforcement of the enemy under Col. Breymen, with two field pieces, was rap- As soon as these were in readiness and idly approaching, and only two miles dis- they had furnished themselves with amtant. Stark endeavored to rally his ex-munition, they proceeded down the Walhausted forces; but before he could put loomscoik, and fortunately arrived upon them in a condition to make an effectual the battle-field at the very moment when resistance, the enemy advanced upon the Americans were beginning to fall them in regular order, and commenced back.* Disappointed that they had not the attack. They opened an incessant been in season to take part in the first fire from their artillery, and small arms, engagement and share in its glories, they which was for a while returned by the now advanced forward and attacked the Americans with much spirit; but, ex- enemy with great spirit and resolution, hausted by fatigue and hunger, and over- "being determined," says Ethan Allen, powered by numbers, they at length be- "to have ample revenge on account of the quarrel at Hubbardton." The enemy, which had just been exulting in the prospect of an easy victory, was now brought to a stand, and more of the scattered militia being brought forward by Stark and Herrick, the action became general. The combat was maintained with great bravery on both sides till sun-set, when the enemy gave way, and were pursued till dark. With one hour more of day light, says Stark, in his official report, he should have captured their whole force. *The following Plan of the Bennington Battle Ground is reduced from the plan drawn by Lieut. Durnford, Col. Baum's engineer, and published in Burgoyne's State of the Expedition. In these two engagements, the Americans took four brass field pieces, 12 brass drums, four ammunition wagons, and about 700 prisoners with their arms and accoutrements. The number of the enemy found dead on the field was 207: their number of wounded not ascertained. The loss of the Americans was trifling in comparison with that of the enemy. They had 30 killed and about 40 wounded. Nothing could be more encouraging to The long parallelograms denote the Americans *It has been generally supposed, and has been -the parallel lines, unconnected at the ends, the enemy-the short parallelograms are buildings-o represented in most of the accounts of the Benthe dark zig-zag lines, the enemy's breast works.ington Battle, that Col. Warner was not present T denotes the position of the tories belonging to Baum's army. The Canadians were posted in the houses near where the road from Bennington to Saratoga crosses the Waloomscoik, A, the position of the Americans at the commencement of the battle. in the first engagement; but this is doubtless a mistake. Stark says expressly in his official letter that Warner was with him several days previous to the battle and acknowledges his assistance in planning it. The mistake probably arose from the fact that Warner's regiment was not in the first engagement, but arrived just in season to decide the fate of the second, as above stated. the Americans, or disheartening to the enemy, than this splendid victory of Stark, achieved principally by undisciplined militia, over veteran regular troops. Since the fall of Montgomery, an uninterrupted series of defeats had attended the American arms in the northern department, and many of the most ardent in the cause of freedom had begun to despond. But, by this event, they discovered that their enemy was not invincible,-their hopes and their courage were revived, and volunteers from every quarter flocked to the American standard. It also enabled Stark to vindicate his attachment to the cause of his bleeding country, and to render that cause a service far more important than he could have done by joining the main army on the Hudson. After their disasters at Bennington the British army remained quietly at their camp opposite to Saratoga for some time, awaiting the approach of Col. St. Leger, who had been sent round by the way of lake Ontario, for the reduction of fort Stanwix on the upper part of the Mohawk river. But they waited in vain. That officer, after encountering many difficulties, was obliged, through the defection of the Indians belonging to his corps, to retreat without accomplishing the object of the expedition. These events had not only retarded the advance of Burgoyne, but they served to depress the spirits of the royal army, while they at the same time encouraged the Americans, and afforded Gen. Gates, who had now superceded Gen. Schuyler, time to strengthen and fortify his camp. In the mean time, Gen. Lincoln, who commanded a body of New England militia, determined to make a diversion in the rear of the enemy. He accordingly proceeded from Manchester to Pawlet, and from thence on the 13th of September, despatched Colonel Brown with 500 men to destroy the British stores and release the American prisoners, which were collected at lake George. At the same time he ordered Colonel Johnson with an equal number of men to proceed towards Ticonderoga to divert the attention of the enemy, while Brown was accomplishing his object. In addition to these, he detached Col. Woodbridge with 500 men by the way of Skenesborough and fort Ann to fort Edward. The design of these expeditions was to alarm and divide the British forces, and to cut off their supplies. Brown proceeded with such secrecy and celerity, that by the 18th of September he had surprised all the out posts between the landing place at the north end of lake George and the main fortress at BATTLE AT STILLWATER. Ticonderoga. The Americans had likewise recovered Mount Hope, Mount Defiance, 200 batteaux, one armed sloop and a number of gun boats; and they had taken 293 prisoners, and had liberated more than 100 Americans. Encouraged by this success, they summoned General Powel, the British commander of Ticonderoga, to surrender that fortress, but not being in a condition to make any effectual attempt against it, they returned in safety, and with scarcely any loss, to Lincoln's camp. General Burgoyne crossed the Hudson on the 13th and 14th of September, and advanced towards the American army, which was posted at Stillwater. On the 18th, 3000 Americans marched out with a view of attacking the enemy, but finding that the attempt would be too hazardous, they remained during the day in full view of the royal army, without commencing the attack. On the 19th, Gen. Burgoyne put himself at the head of the right wing of the British army, and advanced towards the left of the Americans. Gens. Philips and Riedesel at the same time advanced along the river towards the right. About one o'clock, some of the American scouts fell in with those of the British, and attacked them with great boldness. The firing was no sooner heard than the advanced parties of both armies pressed forward to battle. Re-enforceinents were continually sent on upon both sides and the contest soon became obstinate and general. The first attempt of the Americans was to turn the right wing of the British army and flank their line. Failing in this, they moved in regular order to the left, and there made a furious assault. Both armies were determined to conquer, and the battle raged without intermission for three hours. Any advantage on one side was soon counterbalanced by an equal advantage on the other. Cannon and favorable positions were taken, lost and re-taken in quick succession; and the two armies might be compared to the two scales of a mighty balance, trembling with equal burdens in doubtful oscillation, and, had not night put an end to the struggle, it is extremely doubtful which would have preponderated. This engagement, though undecisive, was advantageous to the Americans. The British lost in killed, wounded and prisoners, more than 500 men, while the loss of the Americans amounted to 64 killed, 217 wounded and 38 missing. But the principal advantage arose from the new impressions which were made upon the minds of the royal army. They had hitherto regarded the American army as an |