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This week's hero is...
John Stark
Live Free or Die
Intro
John Stark was born to Scottish immigrants on August 28, 1728, in Londonderry, New Hampshire. When he was eight, he and his family moved to the growing town of Derryfield (present day Manchester). At the time, Derryfield was a large farming community dangerously close to the American frontier. In 1752. Stark and a friend were abducted by Abenaki warriors. While in captivity, Stark was forced to run the gauntlet, however he angrily defied his captors at every opportunity. His defiance ultimately earned their respect and led to his adoption into the tribe. He was released in the spring of 1753 after a year in captivity. Despite his harrowing ordeal, John Stark's defiant spirit had only gotten stronger. It would become an invaluable asset to his country's future.
Part I
Stark saw combat in the French and Indian War while served as a scout for the British. After the war ended, he retired as a captain. He returned to Derryfield, married his fiancée (Elizabeth "Molly" Page), and tried live as a farmer. However, just 12 years later, John Stark was called to the army again. This time he would be fighting against the same army he had once served.
After joining up with the Continental Army, Stark was placed in command of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment. During the battle of Bunker Hill, his unit was instrumental in stopping the second British assault on the Patriot line. Stark was able to successfully predict how many redcoats would be attacking their position. He quickly placed his men in a staggered formation and waited for the British to approach. As soon as they were in close, the 1st New Hampshire laid them to waste and drove them down the hill in complete disarray. Stark and his unit successfully repulsed a total of three charges and were the only ones to not be driven from their position by the British.
Stark saw combat at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. However, upon learning that he had been overlooked for a promotion, he angrily resigned from the Continental Army on March 23, 1777. He then returned to New Hampshire. Although Stark intended to never rejoin the Continental Army, he never gave up on the Revolution and vowed to continue fighting against the British. Little did he know, he would not have to wait long.
In the summer of 1777, a large British army under the command of General John Burgoyne invaded from Canada. Their intention was to cut New England off from the other colonies by taking control of New York. After capturing Fort Ticonderoga from the patriots, Burgoyne then laid siege to nearby Fort Stanwix. However, his advance was being constantly heckled by scattered groups of patriot militia (namely the, Green Mountain Boys). He learned that they were getting their ammunition and supplies from a small town at the border of New York and the Vermont territory. It was a little town called, Bennington.
Part II
Knowing that he needed more supplies, Burgoyne quickly dispatched 1,600 soldiers to seize the town. It was a joint force of British, Hessian, and Loyalist soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum. The plan hit a snag almost immediately when Baum's artillery units became stuck in mud along the trail. Since he expected Bennington to be defended by less than 100 militiamen, Baum decided to divide his force into two groups. He left 700 behind under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich Breyman to recover the artillery. He then continued to march on Bennington with the other 900.
What Baum didn't know was that the Patriots of Vermont and New Hampshire were well aware of the former's advance. The New Hampshire Legislature quickly dispatched John Stark to raise an army. Within six days, Stark had mustered an army of 1,500 soldiers and marched into Vermont. Before departing, he sent Seth Warner who commanded Vermont's Green Mountain Boys to pick up another 400.
Instead of waiting for Baum to arrive at Bennington, Stark decided to head him off. On August 15, Stark's army arrived at the Walloomsac Heights where the British had set up camp. The following day, Stark arrayed his army in four groups. He intended to launch a pincer movement (or double envelopment) against Baum. At 3 PM, Stark gathered his men and shouted, "There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories! They will be ours tonight or Molly Stark sleeps a widow!".
Spurred on by Stark's words, the Patriots then launched their attack. They quickly overran the first fortifications and easily wiped out the Loyalist ranks. The Patriots then turned their attention to the British and Hessian fortifications. With their superior marksmanship, they picked off the officers and scattered the force. Lt. Col. Baum attempted to break out by launching a saber charge with his remaining force. But he was mortally wounded by patriot volley. The rest of his command were either killed or captured.
The Patriots began to celebrate their victory by looting the camp and gathering the prisoners. However, during their celebration another enemy force entered the battlefield. It was the other half of Baum's army under the command of Heinrich Breyman, and they were ready to fight. Stark quickly attempted to pull his men back into formation. But his army was too spread out to mount an organized defense.
Just when it seemed that the Patriots would be routed a large volume of fire ripped into British/Hessian force. It was Seth Warner and the Green Mountain Boys. Now with an army of 2,000, Stark quickly reorganized his men and launched a counter attack. Under the weight of patriot numbers, Breyman watched his army get cut down in droves. Realizing that he was in danger of being surrounded, he quickly ordered a retreat. He had lost a quarter of his army and all his artillery. After five hours of heavy fighting, the Battle of Bennington was over.
Epilogue
The British/Hessian force had been virtually annihilated. They lost 207 killed, 700 missing & captured, and nearly all were wounded. The Patriots' casualties were: 30 killed and 40 wounded. John Stark's victory at Bennington had devastating consequences for General Burgoyne. The latter had lost a significant portion of his army and his supplies. His plans to cut off New England had been ruined. Two months later, Burgoyne was decisively defeated at the Battle of Saratoga and surrendered with 8,000 soldiers.
For his part, John Stark was commended by George Washington for his excellent leadership that led to the American victory. He continued to serve with distinction until the end of the Revolution. Stark then retired as a major general and returned to his farm in Derryfield (later Manchester). In 1809, veterans of the battle returned to the sight to commemorate their victory. Although Stark wished to attend, he was in ill health and too weak to travel. Instead, he sent a letter to his former soldiers. It read, "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils".
John Stark continued to live in Manchester for the rest of his life. He died on May 8, 1822, at the age of 93. At the time of his death, he was the last living general of the American Revolutionary War. In 1945, the state of New Hampshire officially adopted the words, "Live Free or Die" as the state motto. To this day, John Stark is remembered as one of the greatest and most noble leaders of the American Revolution. His courage and patriotism continue to inspire thousands across the country. He truly is someone to be held in high regard.
https://www.benningtonbattlemonument.com/battle.html
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/bennington
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/john-stark
https://www.nhmagazine.com/john-stark-a-hero-for-his-time-and-ours/
https://www.historynet.com/general-john-stark-a-patriot-who-rose-above-rank.htm
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