Battle+of+Bennington

//** Battle of **// //** Bennington **//

**//g//** __** John Stark **__ (General for the Americans) llllllllll Stark served as a second lieutenant in the French and Indian War. At the outbreak of the American Revolution he accepted a [|Colonelcy] in the New Hampshire Regiment. His first action was at [|Bunker Hill] in June 1775, where he kept the British from [|flanking] on Breed ’s Hill. Stark also fought in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. Four months later, Stark joined a commission as [|brigadier general] of the New Hampshire Militia on the condition that he would not take the commands of the Continental Army authority. Later, he was ordered by Major General Benjamin Lincoln (of the Continental Army) to reinforce an army on the Hudson River. Stark refused to obey Lincoln because Stark believed he was unfairly promoted over his head. He instead went to independently fight in the Battle of Bennington. Stark won the battle which lead to the surrender of [|Saratoga]. Stark reported 14 killed and 42 wounded. Out of the other army’s 374 professional soldiers only nine escaped. For this Stark was promoted to Major General in the Continental Army in 1777. [
 * // By: Kristy LeVan //**

i **__ Friedrich Baum __** (Lieutenant Colonel for the British) llllllllli Baum was a [|Brunswick dragoon] [|Lieutenant Colonel]in the British service during the American Revolution. He was entrusted to secure food and transportation for the British army in New York during the early stages of the revolution. Later, Baum served under the support of General [|John Burgoyne]'s 1777 campaign to attack the [|Lake Champlain-Hudson River canal], which ended in Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga in October 1777. For Baum, the campaign ended at the Battle of Bennington, in August 1777, because he lost tremendously. Although Baum had served in several engagements in Europe during the [|Seven Years' War], he had little battlefield command experience. His lack of experience showed at Bennington. w

__**i**__ __** The Battle **__ llllllllll The Battle of Bennington took place on August 16, 1777, in [|Walloomsac, New York]. The American force had 2000 men, composed of New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen, led by [|General John Stark] and was reinforced by Colonel Seth Warner. The British was composed of 700 Brunswick dragons, Canadians, Loyalists, and Indians, led by [|Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum] and was reinforced by Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich von Breymann. General John Burgoyne ordered Baum to raid Bennington’s area for horses for the German dragons, draft animals, and other supplies. He believed the town would be lightly defendedand was not aware there was 1,500 militiamen were positioned there. llllllllll Baum’s army left Burgoyne’s camp at [|Fort Edward] on August 9 and marched to [|Fort Miller], where they would wait for other forces to join them. They then marched off toward Bennington on August 11. 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 fore, request to Manchester for support, then moved his troops out of Bennington toward Baum’s force, and set up a defensive line. Baum sent a message to Burgoyne after receiving information that the American force was larger than expected, but that it was likely to retreat before him. Baum advanced a few miles farther until he neared Stark’s position. Baum then realized that at least part of his first message was incorrect, so he sent a second message to Burgoyne, requesting reinforcements. It rained for the next day and a half, preventing the battle. During this time, Baum’s men constructed a small [|redoubt] and hoped the weather would prevent the Americans from attacking before reinforcements arrived. Burgoyne sent 650 men that arrived at Baum's camp on August 16. On August 15 through August 16 Stark forces grew to nearly 2,000 men from Indians and Massachusetts militiamen. llllllllll On the afternoon of August 16, the weather cleared, and Stark ordered his men to be ready to attack. When Baum heard that the militia melted into the woods, Baum assumed that the Americans were retreating. However, Stark decided to capitalize on the German’s widely distributed position, and sent flanking parties to either side of his lines. Fighting broke out around 3:00 PM. The German position was immediately surrounded by gunfire, the loyalists and Indian positions were overrun, causing many of them to flee or to surrender. This felt Baum and his Brunswick dragons 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 forces. Baum was mortally wounded in this final charge, and the remaining Germans surrendered. After the battle ended, while Stark’s militiamen disarmed the prisoners and [|looted] their supplies Breymann’s reinforcements came. Seeing the Americans were in disarray, they immediately pressed their attack. Stark’s forces tried to hold their ground against the new German fighters but began to fall back. Before their lines collapsed, Warner’s men arrived and reinforced Stark’s troops. [|Pitched battle] continued until dark. Breymann began to retreat after he had lost one quarter of his force and all of his artillery pieces. llllllllll In all, Great Britain lost 207 casualties and had 700 casualties captured by the Americans. The US Colonies lost 30 casualties and had 40 wounded. This affected Burgoyne’s campaign because he nearly lost 1000 men and he also lost Indian support. Futhermore, his failure to bring nearby supplies lead to he broke in September. This shortage helped in his decision to surrender at [|Saratoga], following which France entered the war. John Stark’s highest reward was a message of thanks from John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress. w

** w ** **__ The Battle of Bennington __** (More in depth) media type="youtube" key="HPwtOxv6qv0" width="425" height="350"