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Battle of Bennington

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Battle of Bennington
Part of the American Revolutionary War

A 1780 map depicting the troop positions at the start of the battle
DateAugust 16, 1777
Location
Walloomsac, New York, about 10 miles (16 km) from Bennington, Vermont
Result Decisive American victory
Belligerents
United StatesUnited States United KingdomGreat Britain
Commanders and leaders
John Stark
Seth Warner		 Friedrich Baum †
Heinrich von Breymann
Strength
2,000 (Stark)[1]
350 (Warner)[2]		 800 (Baum)[3]
550–650 (Breymann)[4][5]
Casualties and losses
30 killed
40 wounded[6]		 207 killed
700 captured[7]

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The Battle of Bennington was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on August 16, 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about 10 miles (16 km) from its namesake Bennington, Vermont. An American force of 2,000 men, primarily composed of New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen, led by General John Stark, and reinforced by men led by Colonel Seth Warner and members of the Green Mountain Boys, decisively defeated a detachment of General John Burgoyne's army led by Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum, and supported by additional men under Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich von Breymann.

Baum's detachment was a mixed force of 700 composed of dismounted Brunswick dragoons, Canadians, Loyalists, and Indians. He was sent by Burgoyne to raid Bennington in the disputed New Hampshire Grants area for horses, draft animals, and other supplies. Believing the town to be only lightly defended, they were unaware that Stark and 1,500 militiamen were stationed there. After a rain-caused standoff, Stark's men enveloped Baum's position, taking many prisoners and killing Baum. Reinforcements for both sides arrived as Stark and his men were mopping up, and the battle restarted, with Warner and Stark successfully driving away Breymann's reinforcements with heavy casualties.

The battle was an important victory for the American cause, as it reduced Burgoyne's army in size by almost 1,000 men, led his Indian support to largely abandon him, and deprived him of needed supplies, all factors that contributed to Burgoyne's eventual surrender at Saratoga. The victory also galvanized colonial support for the independence movement, and played a role in bringing France into the war on the American side. The battle anniversary is celebrated in the state of Vermont as Bennington Battle Day.

Background

Main article: Saratoga campaign

After the British victories at Hubbardton, Fort Ticonderoga, and Fort Anne, General John Burgoyne's plan for the 1777 Saratoga campaign was to capture Albany and gain control of the Hudson River Valley, dividing the American colonies in half. This was part of a grand plan to separate the rebellious New England colonies from the (believed) more loyal southern colonies via a three-way pincer movement.[8] The western pincer, under the command of Barry St. Leger, was repulsed when the Siege of Fort Stanwix failed,[9] and the southern pincer, which was to progress up the Hudson valley from New York City, never started since General William Howe decided instead to capture Philadelphia.[10]

British forces

Burgoyne's progress towards Albany had initially met with great success, including the scattering of Seth Warner's men in the Battle of Hubbardton. However, his advance had slowed to a crawl by late July due to logistical difficulties exacerbated by the American destruction of a key road, and the army's supplies began to dwindle.[11] Burgoyne's concern over supplies was magnified in early August when he received word from Howe that he was going to Philadelphia, and was not in fact going to advance up the Hudson River valley.[12] In response to a proposal first made on July 22 by the commander of his German troops, Baron Riedesel,[13] Burgoyne sent a detachment of about 800 troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum from Fort Miller on a foraging mission to acquire horses for the German dragoons, draft animals to assist in moving the army, and to harass the enemy.[11] Baum's detachment was primarily made up of dismounted Brunswick dragoons of the Prinz Ludwig regiment. Along the way it was joined by local companies of Loyalists, some Canadians and about 100 Indians, and a company of British sharpshooters.[14] Baum was originally ordered to proceed to the Connecticut River valley where they believed horses could be procured for the dragoons.[15] However, as Baum was preparing to leave, Burgoyne verbally changed the goal to be a supply depot at Bennington, which was believed to be guarded by the remnants of Warner's brigade, about 400 colonial militia.[16]

File:Starklg.GIF
General John Stark

American forces

Unknown to Burgoyne, the citizens of the New Hampshire Grants territory (which was then disputed between New York and the Vermont Republic) had appealed to the states of New Hampshire and Massachusetts for protection from the invading army following the British capture of Ticonderoga.[17] New Hampshire responded on July 18 by authorizing John Stark to raise a militia for the defense of the people "or the annoyance of the enemy".[11][18] Using funds provided by John Langdon, Stark raised 1,500 New Hampshire militiamen in the space of six days, more than ten percent of New Hampshire's male population over the age of sixteen.[19] They were first marched to the Fort at Number 4 (modern Charlestown, New Hampshire), then crossed the river border into the Grants and stopped at Manchester, where Stark conferred with Warner.[17][11] While in Manchester, General Benjamin Lincoln, whose promotion in preference to Stark had been the cause for Stark's resignation from the Continental Army, attempted to assert Army authority over Stark and his men.[20] Stark refused, stating that he was solely responsible to the New Hampshire authorities.[11] Stark then went on to Bennington with Warner as a guide, while Warner's men remained in Manchester.[4] Lincoln returned to the American camp at Stillwater, where he and General Philip Schuyler hatched a plan for Lincoln, with 500 men, to join with Stark and Warner in actions to harass Burgoyne's communications and supply lines at Skenesboro. Baum's movements significantly altered these plans.[21]

Prelude

Baum's Germans left Burgoyne's camp at Fort Edward on August 9 and marched to Fort Miller, where they waited until they were joined by the Indians and a company of British marksmen that also joined the expedition. The company marched off toward Bennington on August 11.[22] In minor skirmishes along the way they learned from prisoners taken that a sizable force was in place at Bennington.[23] On August 14 Baum's men encountered a detachment of Stark's men that had been sent out to investigate reports of Indians in the area. Stark's men retreated, destroying a bridge to delay Baum's advance. Stark, on receiving word of the approaching force, sent a request to Manchester for support, and then moved his troops out of Bennington toward Baum's force, setting up a defensive line.[4] Baum sent a message to Burgoyne following the first contact indicating that the American force was larger than expected, but that it was likely to retreat before him. He then advanced a few miles further until he neared Stark's position. He then realized that at least part of his first message was incorrect, so he sent a second message to Burgoyne, requesting reinforcements.[24]

An early 20th-century map depicting the battlefield

It rained for the next day and a half, preventing battle. During this time, Baum's men constructed a small redoubt at the crest of the hill and hoped that the weather would prevent the Americans from attacking before reinforcements arrived.[4] Stark sent out skirmishers to probe the German lines, who managed to kill thirty Indians in spite of the difficulties of keeping their gunpowder dry.[25][26] Reinforcements for both sides marched out on the 15th; travel was quite difficult due to the heavy rains. Burgoyne sent 550 men under Heinrich von Breymann, while Warner's company of about 350 Green Mountain Boys came south from Manchester under Lieutenant Samuel Safford's command.[4][2]

Late on the night of August 15, Stark was awakened by the arrival of Parson Thomas Allen and a band of Massachusetts militiamen, who insisted on joining his force. In response to the minister's fiery threat that his men would never come out again if they were not allowed to participate, Stark is reported to have said, "Would you go now on this dark and rainy night? Go back to your people and tell them to get some rest if they can, and if the Lord gives us sunshine to-morrow and I do not give you fighting enough, I will never call on you to come again."[27] Stark's forces again swelled the next day with the arrival of some Stockbridge Indians, bringing his force (excluding Warner's men) to nearly 2,000 men.[1]

Stark was not the only beneficiary of unexpected reinforcements. Baum's force grew by almost 100 when a group of local Loyalists arrived in his camp on the morning of August 16.[3]

Battle

On the afternoon of August 16, the weather cleared, and Stark ordered his men to be ready to attack. Stark is reputed to have rallied his troops by saying, "There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow."[28] Upon hearing that the militia had melted away into the woods, Baum assumed that the Americans were retreating or redeploying.[29] However, Stark had decided to capitalize on weaknesses in the German's widely-distributed position, and had sent sizable flanking parties to either side of his lines.[4] These movements were assisted by a ruse employed by Stark's men that enabled them to safely get closer without alarming the opposing forces. The Germans, most of whom spoke no English, had been told that soldiers with bits of white paper in their hat were Loyalists, and should not be fired on; Stark's men had also heard this, and many of them had suitably adorned their hats.[29]

The Bennington flag was long incorrectly believed to have flown during the battle.[30]

When the fighting broke out around 3 pm the German position was immediately surrounded by gunfire, which Stark described as "the hottest engagement I have ever witnessed, resembling a continual clap of thunder."[31] The Loyalists and Indian positions were overrun, causing many of them to flee or surrender. This left Baum and his Brunswick dragoons trapped alone on the high ground. The Germans fought valiantly even after running low on powder and the destruction of their ammunition wagon. In desperation the dragoons led a sabre charge in an attempt to break through the enveloping forces. Baum was mortally wounded in this final charge, and the remaining Germans surrendered.[29]

After the battle ended, while Stark's militiamen were busy disarming the prisoners and looting their supplies, Breymann arrived with his reinforcements. Seeing the Americans in disarray, they immediately pressed their attack. After hastily regrouping, Stark's forces tried to hold their ground against the new German onslaught, but began to fall back. Before their lines collapsed, Warner's men arrived on the scene to reinforce Stark's troops. Pitched battle continued until dark, when both sides disengaged. Breymann began a hasty retreat; he had lost one quarter of his force and all of his artillery pieces.[29]

Aftermath

The Bennington Battle Monument in Bennington, Vermont

Total German and British losses at Bennington were recorded at 207 dead and 700 captured;[7] American losses included 30 Americans dead and 40 wounded.[6] The battle was at times particularly brutal when Loyalists met Patriots, as in some cases they came from the same communities.[32] The prisoners, who were first kept in Bennington, were eventually marched to Boston.[33]

Burgoyne's army was readying to cross the Hudson at Fort Edward on August 17 when the first word of the battle arrived. Believing that reinforcements might be necessary, Burgoyne marched the army toward Bennington until further word arrived that Breymann and the remnants of his force were returning. Stragglers continued to arrive throughout the day and night, while word of the disaster spread within the camp.[34]

The effect on Burgoyne's campaign was significant. Not only had he lost nearly 1,000 men, of which half were regulars, but he also lost the crucial Indian support. In a council following the battle many of the Indians, who had traveled with him from Quebec, decided to go home. This loss severely hampered Burgoyne's reconnaissance efforts in the days to come.[7] The failure to bring in nearby supplies meant that he had to rely on supply lines that were already dangerously long, and that he eventually broken in September.[35] the shortage of supplies was a significant factor in his decision to surrender at Saratoga,[36] following which France entered the war.[37]

American Patriots reacted to news of the battle with optimism. Especially after Burgoyne's Indian screen left him, small groups of local Patriots began to emerge to harass the fringes of British positions.[38] Interestingly, a significant portion of Stark's force returned home,[39] and did not again become influential in the campaign until appearing at Saratoga on October 13 to complete the encirclement of Burgoyne's army.[40]

John Stark's reward from the New Hampshire General Assembly for "the Memorable Battle of Bennington" was "a compleat suit of Clothes becoming his Rank".[41] A reward that Stark likely valued the highest was a message of thanks from John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, which included a commission as "brigadier in the army of the United States".[41]

Commemorations

August 16 is a legal holiday in Vermont, known as Bennington Battle Day.[42] The battlefield, now a New York state historic site, was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 20, 1961, and added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.[43][44] In the 1870s, the local historic society in Bennington commissioned the design and construction of the Bennington Battle Monument, which was complete in 1889 and dedicated in 1891 with ceremonies attended by President Benjamin Harrison. The Monument, an obelisk 306 feet (93 m) high, is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[44][45] Although the monument was not ready in time to mark the centennial of the battle, the 100th anniversary of the battle was marked by speeches attended by President Rutherford B. Hayes.[46]

Order of battle

The battle forces are generally described as in Morrissey.[47][5] His numbers are generally consistent with other sources on the British units, although there is disagreement across a wide array of sources on the number of troops under Breymann, which are generally listed at either approximately 550 or 650.[2][4] Morrissey is also incorrect in identifying some of the American units. He identifies William Gregg as having a separate command; Gregg apparently led several companies in Nichols' regiment.[48] Morrissey also failed to include the Massachusetts militia,[49] and misidentified Langdon's company, erroneously believing they may have been from Worcester, Massachusetts.[50] (Militia companies from the Worcester area marched on Bennington, with some companies arriving the day after the battle.)[51] Langdon originally raised his company in 1776, but it did not become a cavalry unit until 1778.[52]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Nickerson (1967), p. 247
  2. ^ a b c Nickerson (1967), p. 245
  3. ^ a b Nickerson (1967), p. 249
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Pancake (1977), p. 136
  5. ^ a b Morrissey (2000), p. 22 (British forces)
  6. ^ a b Crockett (1921), p. 135
  7. ^ a b c Pancake (1977), p. 139
  8. ^ Ketchum (1997), pp. 84–85
  9. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 335
  10. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 82
  11. ^ a b c d e Pancake (1977), p. 135
  12. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 283
  13. ^ Nickerson (1967), p. 233
  14. ^ Nickerson (1967), p. 239
  15. ^ Nickerson (1967), pp. 235–238. Contains a transcription of Burgoyne's order to Baum.
  16. ^ Nickerson (1967), p. 240
  17. ^ a b Nickerson (1967), p. 224
  18. ^ Ketchum (1997), pp. 285–287
  19. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 287
  20. ^ Nickerson (1967), p. 232
  21. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 290
  22. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 296
  23. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 297
  24. ^ Nickerson (1967), p. 243
  25. ^ Nickerson (1967), pp. 244–245
  26. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 303
  27. ^ Nickerson (1967), pp. 246–247
  28. ^ Crockett (1921), p. 125
  29. ^ a b c d Pancake (1977), p. 138
  30. ^ A history of the Bennington Flag
  31. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 307
  32. ^ Ketchum (1997), pp. 297, 325
  33. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 326
  34. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 321
  35. ^ Ketchum (1997), pp. 323, 340–341
  36. ^ Ketchum (1997), p. 418
  37. ^ Nickerson (1967), p. 411
  38. ^ Nickerson (1967), pp. 268–269
  39. ^ Nickerson (1967), p. 265
  40. ^ Nickerson (1967), pp. 385–386
  41. ^ a b Ketchum (1997), p. 327
  42. ^ Vermont State Holidays
  43. ^ NHL summary listing
  44. ^ a b National Register Information System
  45. ^ Bennington Battle Monument
  46. ^ Bartlett (1894), p. 445
  47. ^ Morrissey (2000), pp. 25–26 (American forces)
  48. ^ Griffin (1904), p. 226
  49. ^ Niles (1912), p. 337
  50. ^ Morrissey (2000), pp. 26
  51. ^ Worcester Historic Society (1881), p. 136
  52. ^ Head (1866), p. 333

References

  • Bartlett, Samuel Colcord (1894). Anniversary Addresses. Boston: Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society. OCLC 844053.
  • Crockett, Walter Hill (1921). Vermont: The Green Mountain State, volume 2. New York: The Century history company. OCLC 9412165.
  • Griffin, Simon Goodell (1904). A History of the Town of Keene from 1732. Sentinel Printing. OCLC 887449. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Head, Natt (Adjutant-General) (1866). Report of the Adjutant-General for the year ending June 1, 1866. Concord, NH: G.E. Jenks. OCLC 35852277.
  • Ketchum, Richard M (1997). Saratoga: Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 9780805061239. OCLC 41397623.
  • Morrissey, Brendan (2000). Saratoga 1777: Turning Point of a Revolution. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781855328624. OCLC 43419003.
  • Nickerson, Hoffman (1967 (first published in 1928)). The Turning Point of the Revolution. Port Washington, NY: Kennikat. OCLC 549809. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  • Niles, Grace Greylock (1912). The Hoosac Valley: its legends and its history. G.P. Putnam's Sons. OCLC 4293711.
  • Pancake, John S (1977). 1777: The Year of the Hangman. University, Alabama: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 0-8173-5112-4. OCLC 2680864.
  • Worcester Historical Society (1881). Collections of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, Volume 1. Worcester Historical Society. OCLC 10840331.
  • "A history of the Bennington Flag". Bennington Museum. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
  • "Vermont State Holidays". Vermont Department of Human Resources. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  • "Bennington Battle Monument". Bennington Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  • "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  • "Bennington Battlefield". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. 2007-09-08. Retrieved 2009-04-29.

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