The Battle of Bennington, which took place in modern-day Hoosick Falls, New York (not in Bennington, Vermont as often believed), is considered the turning point in the northern theater that led to the eventual British surrender at Saratoga in October 1777. Although the Battle of Bennington is rarely if ever discussed in American history books (especially when compared to battles such as Trenton, Saratoga, and Yorktown), a visit to the well-preserved battlefield and other historic sites is an educational experience that will bring this important battle and those who fought to life!
History
In the summer of 1777, General George Washington and his army anxiously waited to see where British General William Howe would land his massive army after leaving New York. At the same time, British General John Burgoyne and his force of nearly 8,000 soldiers were marching south through New York as part of what is now known as the Saratoga Campaign. The Battle of Bennington is considered a part of that campaign, along with the British capture of Fort Ticonderoga, the Battle of Hubbardton, and of course, the Battle of Saratoga.
Throughout the summer, General Burgoyne’s army fought its way south through New York in hopes of dividing New England from the rest of the colonies (a plan that could have been effective if General Howe had headed north to meet him from New York instead of occupying Philadelphia). As the campaign season stretched on and the British Army moved further into the wilderness, General Burgoyne realized that his army faced a serious supply problem. The solution seemed to be in Bennington, where American provisions were stored along with a great deal of horses and draft animals. By late summer 1777, Bennington became a prime target for the British army.
On August 11, General Burgoyne detached a contingent of nearly 800 troops (comprised of Canadians, Tories, British regulars, Native Americans, and German mercenary troops that many often refer to as “Hessians”) under the command of Lt. Colonel Friedrich Baum to capture the American stores at Bennington, which were believed to be lightly defended. What the British were not aware of were the 1,500 militiamen from New Hampshire under General John Stark and militia from Vermont (the Green Mountain Boys under Seth Warner) and western Massachusetts that were quickly raised to meet the threat.
On August 14, Lt. Colonel Baum learned of the sizable force gathering to oppose him and decided to dig in upon a hill approximately five miles west of Bennington (in New York) to await reinforcements from the main army. General Stark also set up camp a few miles west of Bennington (and east of the eventual battlefield), where local militia continued to gather on the 14th and 15th. After a day of heavy rain that delayed action, General Stark and his force of nearly 2,000 American militia finally had their opportunity to strike.
The Battle of Bennington began around 3pm on August 16, 1777. It was reported that prior to the battle General Stark told his men something to the effect of: “there are the redcoats and they are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow” or as author Michael Gabriel writes in his book The Battle of Bennington: Soldiers & Civilians, “tonight our flag floats over yonder hill or Molly Stark sleeps a widow.” Whatever he may have said, it was clear that General Stark was all in for the assault and his rallying cry had the intended effect. The combined American force strategically attacked the fortified British position from all sides.
The fierce fighting lasted nearly two hours, as the American militia overwhelmed the extended front of troops under Baum’s command. The “first battle” essentially ended when a last-ditch saber charge by the Brunswick dragoons failed and Lt. Colonel Baum was mortally wounded (he would later die). What is known as the “second battle” began when reinforcements under Lt. Colonel Heinrich Von Breymann arrived from the west; however, a fresh American force under Seth Warner deployed to meet this threat and drove them back, as sporadic fighting went on until sunset that evening.
The battle ended in an American victory- 207 British/Hessian soldiers were killed and around 700 taken prisoner (there were 30 American killed and 40 wounded). Following the battle, General Stark described the action as “the hottest engagement I have ever witnessed, resembling a continual clap of thunder.” The Battle of Bennington prevented the British Army from gaining much-needed supplies, slowed General Burgoyne’s advance, and stripped his army of nearly 1,000 troops and any future support from the local native tribes.
Interesting Facts
- The Bennington Flag, which has long been associated with the battle, was never actually flown during the fight
- The Battle of Bennington took place in modern-day Hoosick Falls, New York (not in Bennington, Vermont)
- Many of the Tories (who fought on the British side) and Patriot militia who fought in the battle were neighbors, which added an entirely new dynamic to the fighting
- The Bennington Battle Monument is considered the tallest structure in the state of Vermont
Our Visit & Recommendations
The Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site (NY-67, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090) is located just west of the Walloomsac River and a short distance to the Vermont state border. It was a stunning (and sweltering) summer day when we made the trek into the wilds of eastern New York to visit the battlefield and other historic sites in the area.
The entrance to the state park is well-marked and a winding drive through the woods will take you to a small parking lot, a pavilion for a picnic, and the preserved portion of the battlefield. Of note, there is a second parking lot near the top of the hill, which is ideal if you don’t desire to walk up the somewhat steep incline to see the monuments at the top.
The main portion of the battlefield that remains is the hill that Lt. Colonel Baum fortified (although there were other areas where fighting took place around the hill). There are a few monuments placed around the hill, two rebuilt fortifications, and on the very top of the hill, a flag pole and multiple signs that provide a detailed description of that day’s action. We took the time to read each sign and gain a true understanding of what happened during the fighting on that August day.
After walking the grounds and learning about the battle and disposition of the forces, we visited the small information hut that is near the base of the hill by the parking lot. This hut is not staffed, but it offers additional information about the battle, has a collection of free information pamphlets about nearby historic sites, and also has public bathrooms.
Following our exploration of the battlefield, we set off on the approximately 15 minute drive towards Bennington, Vermont. On the way we stumbled across a monument on the side of an unpaved road (Harrington Road), which marks the location of General John Stark’s camping ground from August 14-16, 1777. The expansive green field still maintains a pastoral charm and you can almost imagine the men camped out there (it also gives you a good idea of how Stark positioned his men between the Baum’s army and the American storehouse in Bennington).
Perhaps the most iconic site in the area is the towering Bennington Battle Monument, which marks the location of the American storehouse in Bennington, Vermont (a smaller monument specifically mentions the storehouse and is located near the gift shop). Standing at 306 feet 4.5 inches tall, the remarkable obelisk monument was completed and dedicated in 1891 with President Benjamin Harrison in attendance.
The nearby Bennington Battle Monument gift shop offers a fantastic variety of books, Vermont local goods, souvenirs, and colonial/historic items, along with a friendly welcome. If you wish to go to the observation deck of the monument (where you can view three different states), adult tickets can be purchased in the gift shop for $5 ($1 for children ages 6-14). If you don’t wish to tackle the towering heights of the monument, a relaxing stroll around the grounds is certainly not to be missed! Statues of John Stark and Seth Warner grace either side of the monument offering fantastic photo opportunities and the surrounding green fields are great for an afternoon picnic.
After exploring the Bennington Battle Monument and the grounds, we drove into quaint downtown Bennington for one last historic stop before lunch. The Old First Church (originally organized in 1762 with the current sanctuary dedicated in 1806) and its cemetery known as “Vermont’s Sacred Acre” are a must see when visiting Bennington. This cemetery is home to some of Vermont’s greatest leaders and innovators, to include the renowned poet Robert L. Frost.
In relation to the Battle of Bennington, this cemetery is the final resting place for at least 16 Hessian soldiers and 13 American soldiers and a monument stands in the cemetery dedicated to these men.
The day of exploring really worked up our hunger, so we decided to grab lunch in town at the delicious Madison Brewing Company Pub & Restaurant (428 Main St, Bennington, VT 05201). If you are looking for a ridiculously tasty burger and a cold beer, this is the place for you (don’t forget to try to truffle fries)! They also sell their beer in cans to go- I highly recommend the Downtown IPA and the Sucker Pond Blonde. We decided to finish off our time in Vermont with some kayaking at nearby Lake Paran. It was a great afternoon on the water and Daisy could not have been happier!
Book recommendation: The Battle of Bennington: Soldiers and Civilians, by: Michael P. Gabriel