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By John Page
August 16th is a state holiday that few Vermonters understand or celebrate. It used to be a common Vermont joke that you knew it was Bennington Battle Day when you went to the bank or DMV and couldn’t figure out why the door was locked. Today most banks and state offices remain open on Bennington Battle Day, and the most frequent remark one hears about the holiday is that the battle it celebrates “wasn’t even fought in Vermont!”
So why is Bennington Battle Day a state holiday, and why should a minor battle fought 240 years ago still matter to Vermonters? The answer is that Vermont probably wouldn’t exist today if not for the Battle of Bennington. August 16th is our “Independence Day.”
Vermont in the early 1770’s was a frontier region with some 10,000 inhabitants who had originally purchased their land from the colony of New Hampshire, only to have the King rule in 1764 that the land actually belonged to New York. When New York refused to recognize their New Hampshire land titles, the settlers aggressively and successfully resisted that colony’s attempts to organize a government. The leader of this political revolution was Ethan Allen, and his armed vigilante followers called themselves the Green Mountain Boys.
The expulsion of New York authority by the Green Mountain Boys created a political vacuum, and out of necessity the settlers began to create their own rudimentary forms of self-government, including a “Grand Committee” of all the towns. When the American Revolution erupted in 1775, the region sided decisively with the rebellion and thus found itself immersed in a “revolution within a revolution.” There was no effective government, no military security, and few personal loyalties to any colony or sovereign.
In 1777 a powerful British army under General John Burgoyne set out from Canada and threatened to lay waste to every home, farm and town between Lake Champlain and Albany. As the entire frontier fell into a panic and collapsed southward, the Grand Committee declared the region between the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain to be a free, independent republic that it called “Vermont.” The new state quickly adopted a constitution for self-government and frantically began military preparations to defend itself from the invaders.
Burgoyne’s army easily broke through the American defenses at Fort Ticonderoga and moved south toward the Hudson River. As the main American army retreated and left the new state undefended, Vermont’s leaders mustered the militia from throughout the state and sent urgent requests for military assistance to New Hampshire and western Massachusetts. New Hampshire quickly sent a brigade commanded by Gen. John Stark, and additional militia companies arrived from the Berkshires. Altogether the Vermonters raised a force of more than 2,000 armed men who gathered at Bennington under Stark’s command.
Bennington was Vermont’s oldest, richest and most important town. It was also the location of a large storehouse where military supplies had been collected for the retreating American army. As the British army paused on the Hudson River, less than 40 miles away, Burgoyne took stock of his badly depleted supplies and deployed nearly a quarter of his army to capture the Bennington storehouse. On August 16th Stark’s amateur soldiers attacked this professional European army a few miles outside of Bennington, just across the New York border, and virtually annihilated it. Vermont troops played a key role in the battle. Burgoyne never recovered from the loss of men and provisions, and he was eventually forced to surrender at Saratoga. Historians widely view his defeat as the turning point in the American Revolution, and the Battle of Bennington as the turning point in the Saratoga campaign.
In Vermont, the political effect of the Battle of Bennington was profound. The first responsibility of any government is to ensure the physical security of its citizens. The fledgling government of Vermont was wildly successful in meeting this responsibility despite having virtually no resources, no institutional authority and no real hold upon the loyalty of Vermonters. Had it failed to repel the British attack and allowed the British army to invade its territory with impunity, it would almost certainly have collapsed and political control over Vermont would have reverted either to the British in Canada or to the State of New York. Had the Battle of Bennington been lost, Vermont would probably have ceased to exist.
By defending its people and their homes, the new government earned legitimacy and the lasting loyalty of its citizens. Vermonters of the period understood that their victory over the British insured Vermont’s survival as an independent state, and they celebrated August 16th with the same fervor that Americans celebrated July 4th. Veterans of the battle were venerated for the rest of their lives as heroes. Although the significance of the battle itself has largely faded in popular understanding, so long as we Vermonters care that our little state is able to govern itself, and not be under the control of New York or Quebec, Bennington Battle Day matters, and it deserves to be celebrated.
The author lives in Montpelier. The retired lawyer was born in Burlington and is the brother of Vermont Daily Chronicle editor Guy Page. In addition to his law degree, he holds a master’s degree in history, specializing in Vermont history, from the University of Vermont.
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Categories: History
Bennington was once a highly historic tourist-filled little gem welcoming visitors at the border of NYS. Now it is largely a run-down drug-filled shadow of its former self with Vermont’s famed “affordable” housing scam having ushered in convicts and social service lifers that directly caused long term small businesses to shutter and violent crime to take over. “Shires Housing” now has their sight (or should that more aptly be: site) set on Manchester!!!! This, as Select Board member Jonathan West plots the building of THOUSANDS of low income housing unit for that little rural town so that “ANYONE” who desires to live there CAN!!!!!!!!
And the remaining board members obediently cave to the pressure the left demands lest they be fingered as, golly, patriotic average American citizens who believe if one wants to reach a goal – they alone are responsible for working toward it through hard work and legal means – NOT government assist!!!!!!!!!!
Jonathan West(coast). In the business of destroying Manchester, just as Bennington was destroyed in no more than a couple of short decades.
Home values in Manchester? Been falling since the project, this public housing PROJECT, was announced. Watch in real time as another VT falls to the radicals…..and btw – for those who target “outsiders” from other states as their sole culprits – Jonathan West and his mentor State Legislator Seth Bongartz are BOTH BORN N’ RAISED!!!!!!!!
Very good Kathleen, another nail in the coffin for Vermont, as a Bennington resident, agree. Need to remember the push of the thousands of low income housing units in town across Vermont and all other rural States so ‘anyone who desires to live there can’ is to open them up to people here illegally so they can tilt the voter rolls further blue so there will never be any Republicans elected to office. Just think, more drugs, more crime, fewer businesses coming to small town America.
Tis a shame by any measure. VT will be the island in America being the most corruption induced state that could be conceived. How many other states want to follow?
Bennington has a great history as Kathleen’s opening statement. Bennington was named after Benning Wentworth who disbursed lands at the orders of King George III to people in VT (and other states). Wentworth was scandalous. There’s a road in South Wolfeboro NH named after him.
Interesting program last night by The Epoch Times about the America’s Shadow Government none are elected, pushing DEI (not dead) and heavily influence state governments. If you have a chance look up a podcast or other outlet. The people in government are influenced by the Shadow Government to produce policies they want. I suspect this is what’s happening in VT, hence Bennington et al. The SG is controlling education policies for example. Ref the problems now under going in that Dept.
Agree with both Tom & Ron. That’s why I could never figure out why VDC readers/commentors were so eager to have seen the Bennington Monument torn down as opposed to raising whatever is necessary (my, my where DO our tax dollars go, by the way?) to restore it, as the structure itself is historical! A brand-new building could never substitute for the rich history and architectural magnificence that the Monument represents – especially located in the midst of beautiful Old Bennington.
What has been done to that town is criminal. And the town “fathers” aren’t anywhere near done as they likely line their deep pockets from backroom deals. As Don Keelan penned in a recent column, (unsure why VDC didn’t publish this one) a company seeking to purchase the former property of Southern Vermont College and restore the GORGEOUS campus & grounds & magnificent buildings replete with hundreds of acres encompassing breathtaking views of the Green Mountains — and OF COURSE —- the town is RESISTING the effort and throwing up as many roadblocks as can be imagined until the deal inevitably falls through & they can then plot for that historic property to be turned into low income housing (aka: “mixed” use, “workforce” housing) so that yet MORE felons and addicts can be brought into town and more of that “free”, “free”, “free” money from the feds can be thrown at Bennington.
Bring back tourism to Bennington? NO WAY! Attract people with money who will spend it in the area, promote the region, and add to the taxbase? NEVER!!!!!!!! Why, that’s racist or sexist or certainly not “woke” for Bennington’s new improved leftist image that has entirely eroded the town as she flies the LGBTQ flags and hosts gay pride parades down Main Street. So. Damn. Sad.
When I go to Alabama for winters, coming down Rt 7, there is the monument standing against the hills, impressive. I’ve sold pics to VT Life mag and have been around Old Bennington often. Great area. Robert Frost is in the adjacent cemetery. A lot of history. Can’t understand why simpletons want the destroy the monument. But that’s the way VT goes.
Excellent article John. Thank you so much for writing, and Guy for publishing, the series of events surrounding the Battle of Bennington. Unfortunately, so few Vermonters know about the facts of that very important event. I take a personal interest in this battle and this day. You see, my 5th great grandfather fought and was wounded in that battle. He was “called up” to serve once again in the New Hampshire Militia under General John Stark as one of his Lieutenants. He had already been wounded in the Battle of Bunker Hill and had returned to his farm in Alstead, New Hampshire to heal. (Note: my Dad always believed that is where our bad family luck came from, getting wounded twice in the same war.) This same great grandfather discovered how much he truly loved his spirited neighbors in this new State of Vermont so he moved his entire family to Randolph, Vermont to establish a family farm there. Vermont is where we have remained to this day. When people disparage the battle it feels very personal to me and as Mr. Page wrote, “why should a minor battle fought 240 years ago still matter to Vermonters?” Because making a great sacrifice fighting for what you believe is more than reason enough to remember once a year.
Amen to what steve597abcdefgq6789101112wxyz said!
Thank you, John Page, for that excellent and informative article. I did not know the history of the Battle of Bennington, but now after reading your article, I do.
David Barton of Wallbuilders, a historian I greatly respect, also sent out the following article today:
“THIS DAY IN HISTORY
The Battle of Bennington
On August 16, 1777, a pivotal moment in our nation’s fight for independence unfolded near Bennington, Vermont. The Battle of Bennington, fought by brave American militiamen against British forces, was not only a military triumph but also a testament to the revolutionary ideals of liberty, self-governance, and the enduring faith that shaped our founding.
The Americans at Bennington fought a British detachment sent to seize vital supplies. Brigadier General John Stark led the effort. (He was a hero of Bunker Hill, and his motto of “Live Free or Die” became New Hampshire’s state motto in 1945.) Vermont’s Green Mountain Boys under Colonel Seth Warner also joined the efforts.
The resulting victory weakened the British campaign and paved the way for the Battle of Saratoga, a turning point which secured French support for our cause.
General John Stark
Battle of Bennington
Military chaplains played a vital role throughout the War for Independence, ministering to, and even taking up arms alongside the soldiers.
At Bennington, Chaplain Thomas Allen (known as the “Fighting Parson”) led his soldiers in prayer before the battle, invoking God’s blessing for victory. Another chaplain, David Avery, participated in the engagement, embodying the courage of faith in action.
George Washington himself championed military chaplains. He issued orders to ensure their presence and noted their ability to “animate the soldiery and impress them with a knowledge of the important rights we are contending for.”
The sacrifices of chaplains and military during the War for Independence, as demonstrated in the Battle of Bennington, underscore the intertwining of faith and freedom that our Founding Fathers valued.
Read more in our article “Brave Soldiers of the Cross”!”
thank you Neil for sharing your family history! one of the reasons we show the B of B American flag on the Vermont Podcast is because that battle is a clear example of Vermont influencing a national event (Saratoga) of stupendous international importance. Without Bennington, no Saratoga. Without Saratoga, no USA. Without the USA….unthinkable