eral and by provision for calling out and equipping the militia. Stark had gained credit as a leader of rangers during the second French and Indian War, and had fought with distinction at Bunker Hill and in New Jersey. In his own New Hampshire, Stark was a name to conjure with. At his call the farmers, more in number than were asked for, came with gun and powder horn to his headquarters at Charlestown by the Connecticut River.

12. Bennington.-July 30, 1777, Stark had already sent two detachments of his brigade to Manchester. Thursday, August 7, he descended the mountain from Peru to Manchester, and, August 9, he reached Bennington with his New Hampshire troops, Col. Warner and a portion of the Vermont militia. Here he organized and drilled his men while his scouts scoured the country for information. August 13, news was brought of Indians plundering in Cambridge, N. Y., and a force of two hundred men was sent to check them. They were found to be the advance guard of a larger force, and the next day Stark went forward to meet them. When Col. Baum found himself in the presence of a force nearly as large as his own he halted in an advantageous position and began to construct intrenchments, and sent to Col. Breyman for reinforcements. Stark sent for Warner's regiment which had been left at Manchester under the command of Lieut. Col. Safford, and whose equipment had been completed by the recovery of the arms of Col. Hale's men, left in the woods five weeks before. The next day was very rainy, and little was undertaken. The British strengthened their works. Stark learned the position of the British by his scouts and worried them by his skirmishers. Warner's men marched a part of the way from Manchester to Bennington. A body of volunteers from Western Massa

chusetts came in through the rain. Those from Pittsfield were led by their pastor, Rev. Thomas Allen, who wore his hair long and banged as young girls often do now, and who said to Gen. Stark, "We, the people of Berkshire, have been frequently called upon to fight, but have never been led against the enemy. We have now resolved if you will not let us fight never to turn out again."

Saturday morning, August 16, the sky was clearing, and preparations were made to attack the British in their intrenchments. The Americans had about sixteen hundred men. New Hampshire furnished half of these. The Vermont troops consisted of Warner

and his regiment, a corps of rangers under Col. Herrick, a small body of militia from the southeastern part of the State under Col. Williams of Wilmington and the militia of Bennington and vicinity. The remainder of the force was from Massachusetts. Three hundred men were sent to attack the rear of the enemy's right; and as many to attack the rear of his left. Three hundred others were to attack the extreme right of the enemy, and Stark and Warner with another force advanced in front. The battle began at three o'clock in the afternoon and continued two hours. Stark reported: "It was the hottest I ever saw." The victory of Stark and his militia was complete. Nearly all of the enemy that were not killed were taken prisoners with their arms and supplies.

The prisoners had scarcely been secured and sent away when Col. Breyman's approach became known and the scattered victors were collected to oppose him. Warner's regiment arrived as the second battle began, which lasted till sundown, when the British retreated and were pursued till dark.

Four brass cannon, one thousand muskets and seven hundred and fifty prisoners were part of the trophies of that day. The American loss in killed was about thirty, that of the British was over two hundred.

This was called the battle of Bennington because that was the headquarters of the American army and because the supplies sought by the British were stored there. The battlefield was in Hoosick, N. Y., quite near the State line. This battle was important as the first of a series that led to the surrender of Burgoyne's army. And that event was the turning point of the Revolutionary War, as it led to the recognition of the Independence of the United States by France and other European countries and to a treaty with France on account of which she assisted the new nation with money and fleets and armies. The victory of the Americans at Saratoga has been reckoned among the great battles of the world, but the victory at Bennington was preliminary to that at Saratoga, if not even necessary for it.

A monument in commemoration of the Battle of Bennington has been erected at Bennington Center, near where the Vermont Council of Safety held its sessions for several years. It is on ground about three hundred feet above the bed of the Walloomsac River, near by. Half a mile distant toward the south is Mount Anthony, more than two thousand five hundred feet in height. The monument is built on solid rock. It is thirty-seven feet six inches square at the base and is three hundred one feet ten and a half inches high. Two hundred and twenty-five feet above the base are large openings on each side with supporting pillars and protecting railings. Within, at this height, is a floor that covers the entire area. Here is the main outlook. There are other outlooks, both above and below the main one. The funds for the erection of the monument were furnished in part by private

subscription, but chiefly by the States of Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and by the federal government. The corner stone of the monument was laid Aug. 16, 1887.

13. Other Military Operations.-Other military operations in Vermont during the Revolutionary War were chiefly of local importance. In 1776, Gen. Jacob Bailey of Newbury was directed to cut a road from Newbury to Canada. But after he had reached a point a few miles beyond Peacham, the work ceased on account of the retreat of the Americans from Canada. Three years afterwards, the road was continued by

OLD HAZEN ROAD.

Gen: Hazen some fifty miles further, ending in Westfield near the Hazen Notch, a pass through the Green Mountains. This road afterward was of great use to the settlers of the towns through which it passed.

A fort was maintained at Newbury during the war. For portions of the same period forts were kept up at Peacham, Corinth, Bethel and Barnard. These mark very nearly the northern limit of settlements east of the Green Mountains during the war. West of the mountains there were forts at Pittsford, Rutland and Castleton. Few settlers remained north of these forts after the retreat from Ticonderoga in 1777.

14. The Churchills.-The Revolutionary War brought great hardships to many Vermont people. Take two examples. On the morning of the battle of Hubbardton, Col. Warner sent men to tell Mr. Samuel Churchill, who lived near Warner's camp, of his dan