View source for Battle of Bennington

{{short description|1777 engagement of the American Revolutionary War}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict    = Battle of Bennington
| partof      = the [[American Revolutionary War]]
| image       = Bennington1777Map Restoration.png
| image_size  = 300
|map_type=USA New York#USA
|map_relief=1
| caption     = A 1780 map depicting troop positions at the start of the battle
| date        = August 16, 1777
| place       = [[Walloomsac, New York]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|42|56|19|N|73|18|16|W|type:city_scale:100000_region:US|display=inline,title}}
| result      = American-Vermont victory
| combatant2  = {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Great Britain}} <br /> [[Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel|Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel]] <br /> [[Hesse-Hanau]] <br /> [[Brunswick–Lüneburg]] <br /> [[Iroquois]]
| combatant1  = {{flag|United States|1777}}<br />{{Flagdeco|Vermont|1770}} [[Green Mountain Boys]]
| commander2  = [[Friedrich Baum]]{{KIA}} <br />[[Heinrich von Breymann|Heinrich Breymann]]
| commander1  = {{flagdeco|United States|1777}} [[John Stark]]<br />{{Flagdeco|Vermont|1770}} [[Seth Warner]]
| strength2   = 800 (Baum)<ref name="Nickerson249"/><br />550–650 (Breymann)<ref name="Pancake136"/><ref name="Morrissey22"/>
| strength1   = 2,000–2,500 (Stark)<ref name="Nickerson247"/><ref name="Morrissey25_6">[[#Morrissey|Morrissey (2000)]], pp. 25–26 (American forces)</ref><br />350 (Warner)<ref name="Nickerson245"/>
| casualties2 = 207 killed<br />700 captured<ref name="ReferenceA">The Battle of Bennington: Soldiers & Civilians  By Michael P. Gabriel</ref><ref name="Pancake139"/> 
| casualties1 = 30 killed<br />40 wounded<ref name="Crockett135">[[#Crockett|Crockett (1921)]], p. 135</ref>
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox American Revolutionary War: Saratoga campaign}}
}}

The '''Battle of Bennington''' was a battle of the [[American Revolutionary War]], part of the [[Saratoga campaign]], that took place on August 16, 1777, on the John Green farm in [[Walloomsac, New York]], about {{convert|10|mi|km}} from its namesake, [[Bennington, Vermont]]. An American force of 2,000 men, primarily [[New Hampshire]] and [[Massachusetts]] [[militia]]men, led by [[General]] [[John Stark]], and reinforced by militiamen from the independent [[Vermont Republic]] led by [[Colonel (United States)|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 troops under Lieutenant-Colonel [[Heinrich von Breymann]].

Baum's detachment of 700 men consisted of [[Hessian (soldier)|Hessian]] and [[British Army]] troops, [[French Canadians|Canadian]] and [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalist]] irregulars and a number of [[Iroquois]] warriors.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> He was sent by Burgoyne to raid Bennington in the disputed [[New Hampshire Grants]] area for horses, draft animals, provisions, and other supplies. Believing the town to be only lightly defended, Burgoyne and Baum were unaware that Stark and 1,500 American 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 driving away Breymann's reinforcements with heavy casualties.

The battle was a major strategic success for the American cause and is considered one of the turning points of the war; it reduced Burgoyne's army in size by almost 1,000 men, led his Native American allies to largely abandon him, and deprived him of much-needed supplies, such as mounts for his cavalry regiments, draft animals and provisions, all factors that contributed to Burgoyne's eventual [[Battles of Saratoga|defeat at Saratoga]]. The victory galvanized colonial support for the Patriot cause, and played a key role in bringing [[Kingdom of France|France]] into the war on the American side. The battle's anniversary is celebrated in the state of [[Vermont]] as [[Bennington Battle Day]].

==Background==
{{Main|Saratoga campaign}}

With the [[American Revolutionary War]] two years old, the British changed their plans. Giving up on the rebellious [[New England Colonies]], they decided to split the [[Thirteen Colonies]] and isolate New England from what the British believed to be the more loyal [[Southern Colonies]]. The British command devised a grand plan to divide the colonies via a three-way [[pincer movement]] towards Albany.<ref name="K84_5">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], pp. 84–85</ref> The western pincer, proceeding eastward from Lake Ontario under the command of [[Barry St. Leger]], was repulsed when the [[Siege of Fort Stanwix]] failed,<ref name="K335">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 335</ref> and the southern pincer, which was to progress up the Hudson valley from New York City, never started since General [[William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe|William Howe]] decided instead to [[Philadelphia campaign|capture Philadelphia]].<ref name="K82">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 82</ref>

The northern pincer, proceeding southward from Montreal, enjoyed the most success. After British victories at [[Battle of Ticonderoga (1777)|Fort Ticonderoga]], [[Battle of Hubbardton|Hubbardton]], and [[Battle of Fort Anne|Fort Anne]], General [[John Burgoyne]] proceeded with the [[Saratoga campaign]], with the goal of capturing [[Albany, New York]] and gaining control of the [[Hudson River]] valley, where Burgoyne's force could (as the plan went) meet the other pincers, dividing the colonies in two.<ref name="K84_5"/>

===British forces===

Burgoyne's progress towards Albany had initially met with some 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.<ref name="Pancake135"/> Burgoyne's concern over supplies was magnified in early August when he received word that Howe was going to Philadelphia, rather than advance up the Hudson River valley.<ref name="K283">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 283</ref> In response to a proposal first made on July 22 by the commander of his [[Hessian (soldier)|Hessian]] troops, [[Friedrich Adolf Riedesel|Baron Riedesel]],<ref name="Nickerson233">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 233</ref> Burgoyne sent a detachment of about 800 soldiers under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel [[Friedrich Baum]] from [[Fort Edward (town), New York#Communities and locations in the town|Fort Miller]] on a foraging mission to acquire horses for [[Brunswick troops in the American Revolutionary War#Units|Prince Ludwig's Dragoon Regiment]], [[draft animal]]s to assist in moving the army, and to harass the Americans.<ref name="Pancake135">[[#Pancake|Pancake (1977)]], p. 135</ref> Baum's detachment was primarily made up of dismounted dragoons from Prince Ludwig's Dragoon Regiment. Along the way, 150 local [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]], 58 Canadian irregulars, around 100 [[Iroquois]] warriors, and 48 soldiers from the [[British Army]]'s [[List of British units in the American Revolutionary War#Infantry|Company of Select Marksmen]] joined the detachment.<ref name="Nickerson239">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 239</ref> Baum was originally ordered to proceed to the [[Connecticut River]] valley where they believed horses could be procured for the dragoons.<ref name="Nickerson235_8">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], pp. 235–238. Contains a transcription of Burgoyne's order to Baum.</ref> However, as Baum was preparing to leave, Burgoyne changed the goal to be a supply depot at [[Bennington, Vermont|Bennington]], having received intelligence reports that the town was defended only by 400 demoralized [[militia]] from Warner's command.<ref name="Nickerson240">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 240</ref>

[[File:General John Stark - Ulysses Tenney, c1790 (Manchester Hist Assoc MHA 316) crop.jpg|thumb|upright=.75|left|General [[John Stark]], by Ulysses Dow Tenney]]

===American forces===
Unknown to Burgoyne, the citizens of the [[New Hampshire Grants]] territory (now Vermont, 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.<ref name="Nickerson224">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 224</ref> 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".<ref name="Pancake135"/><ref name="K285_7">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], pp. 285–287</ref>  Using funds provided by [[John Langdon (politician)|John Langdon]], Stark raised 1,500 [[New Hampshire Militia|New Hampshire militiamen]] in the space of six days, more than 10% of New Hampshire's male population over the age of sixteen.<ref name="K287">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 287</ref> They were first marched to the [[Fort at Number 4]] (modern-day [[Charlestown, New Hampshire]]), then crossed the [[Connecticut River|Connecticut river border]] into the Grants and stopped at [[Manchester, Vermont|Manchester]], where Stark conferred with Warner.<ref name="Pancake135"/><ref name="Nickerson224"/> 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.<ref name="Nickerson232">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 232</ref> Stark refused, stating that he was solely responsible to the New Hampshire authorities.<ref name="Pancake135"/> Stark then went on to Bennington with Warner as a guide, while Warner's men remained in Manchester.<ref name="Pancake136">[[#Pancake|Pancake (1977)]], p. 136</ref> Lincoln returned to the American camp at [[Stillwater, New York|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 [[Whitehall (village), New York|Skenesboro]]. Baum's movements significantly altered these plans.<ref name="K290">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 290</ref>

==Prelude==

Baum's troops left Burgoyne's camp at [[Fort Edward (village), New York|Fort Edward]] on August 9 and marched to Fort Miller, where they waited until they were joined by the Iroquois and the Company of Select Marksmen. The company marched off toward Bennington on August 11.<ref name="K296">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 296</ref> In minor skirmishes along the way they learned from prisoners taken that a sizable force was in place at Bennington.<ref name="K297">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 297</ref>  On August 14 Baum's men encountered a detachment of Stark's men that had been sent out to investigate reports of British-allied 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.<ref name="Pancake136"/> 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.<ref name="Nickerson243">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 243</ref>

[[File:Map of Bennington battlefield.jpg|thumb|right|300px|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.<ref name="Pancake136"/> Stark sent out skirmishers to probe the Hessians lines, who killed thirty British-allied Iroquois warriors in spite of the difficulties of keeping their [[gunpowder]] dry.<ref name="Nickerson244_5">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], pp. 244–245</ref><ref name="K303">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 303</ref> 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.<ref name="Pancake136"/><ref name="Nickerson245">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 245</ref>

Late on the night of August 15, Stark was awakened by the arrival of [[Simonds' Regiment of Militia|Parson Thomas Allen]] and a band of [[Massachusetts]] militiamen from nearby Berkshire County 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."<ref name="Nickerson246_7">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], pp. 246–247</ref> 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.<ref name="Nickerson247">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 247</ref>

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.<ref name="Nickerson249">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 249</ref>

==Battle==

[[File:Battle of Bennington 1777.jpeg|thumb|right|225px|''Battle of Bennington'', {{circa|1900}}]]
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 they were here to fight for their "natural born rights as Englishmen"<ref>''The American Republic: Primary Sources'' by Bruce Frohnen, [[Liberty Fund]], 2002 p. 19 {{ISBN?}}</ref> and he added "There are your enemies, the [[Red coat (military uniform)|Red Coats]] and the [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Tories]]. They are ours, or this night [[Molly Stark]] sleeps a widow."<ref name="Crockett125">[[#Crockett|Crockett (1921)]], p. 125</ref> Upon hearing that the militia had melted away into the woods, Baum assumed that the Americans were retreating or redeploying.<ref name="Pancake138">[[#Pancake|Pancake (1977)]], p. 138</ref> However, Stark had decided to capitalize on weaknesses in the widely distributed position of the Hessians, and had sent sizable flanking parties to either side of his lines.<ref name="Pancake136"/> These movements were assisted by a ruse employed by Stark's men that enabled them to get closer safely without alarming the opposing forces. The Hessians, most of whom spoke no English, had been told that soldiers with bits of white paper in their hats were Loyalists, and should not be fired on; Stark's men had also heard this and many of them had adorned their hats with white paper.<ref name="Pancake138"/>
[[File:The Battle of Bennington by Don Troiani.jpg|thumb|The Battle of Bennington by Don Troiani]]
When the fighting broke out around 3:00 PM the Hessian position was immediately surrounded by gunfire, which Stark described as "the hottest engagement I have ever witnessed, resembling a continual clap of thunder."<ref name="K307">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 307</ref> The Loyalist and Iroquois positions were quickly overrun, causing many of them to flee or surrender. This left Baum and his dragoons trapped alone on the high ground. The Hessians fought valiantly, even after their ammunition wagon was destroyed. As their powder ran low, they resorted to hand-to-hand combat. In desperation, Baum ordered the dragoons to remount their horses and charge the Americans hoping to break through and escape. The Americans held fast and fired on the charging Hessians, killing many and shattering their morale. The remaining Hessians surrendered, while Baum soon died from a mortal wound.<ref name="Pancake138"/>

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 Hessian 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.<ref name="Pancake138"/>

==Aftermath==
[[File:Bennington Flag.svg|thumb|left|The ''[[Bennington flag]]'' was long incorrectly believed to have flown during the battle.<ref name="BenFlag">[[#BenFlag|A history of the Bennington Flag]]</ref>]]
[[File:CW memorial Bennington VT.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Bennington Battle Monument]] in [[Bennington, Vermont]]]]
Total Hessian, Loyalist and Iroquois losses at Bennington were recorded at 207 dead and 700 captured;<ref name="Pancake139">[[#Pancake|Pancake (1977)]], p. 139</ref> American losses included 30 Americans dead and 40 wounded.<ref name="Crockett135"/> The battle was at times particularly brutal when Loyalists met Patriots, as in some cases they came from the same communities.<ref name="K297_325">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], pp. 297, 325</ref> The prisoners, who were first kept in Bennington, were eventually marched to Boston.<ref name="K326">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 326</ref>

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.<ref name="K321">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 321</ref>

The effect on Burgoyne's campaign was significant. Not only had he lost nearly 1,000 men, of which half were irreplaceable regular troops, but he soon lost his Indian allies as well. In a council following the battle, the tribesmen (who had traveled with him from Quebec) gave up on Burgoyne and deserted him. This loss severely hampered the general's reconnaissance efforts in the days to come.<ref name="Pancake139"/> The failure to bring in fresh supplies resulted in even greater strain on the already overextended British supply lines from Canada, which eventually broke in September.<ref name="K340_1">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], pp. 323, 340–341</ref> The shortage of supplies was a significant factor in Burgoyne's decision to surrender at Saratoga,<ref name="K418">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 418</ref> following which France entered the war.<ref name="N411">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 411</ref>

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.<ref name="N268_9">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], pp. 268–269</ref> A significant portion of Stark's force returned home<ref name="N265">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], p. 265</ref> and did not again become influential in the campaign until appearing at Saratoga on October 13 to complete the encirclement of Burgoyne's army.<ref name="N385_6">[[#Nickerson|Nickerson (1967)]], pp. 385–386</ref>

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".<ref name="Ketchum327">[[#Ketchum|Ketchum (1997)]], p. 327</ref> 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".<ref name="Ketchum327"/>

==Order of battle==
The battle forces are generally described as in [[#Morrissey|Morrissey]].<ref name="Morrissey22">[[#Morrissey|Morrissey (2000)]], p. 22 (British forces)</ref><ref name="Morrissey25_6">[[#Morrissey|Morrissey (2000)]], pp. 25–26 (American forces)</ref> 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.<ref name="Pancake136"/><ref name="Nickerson245"/> 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.<ref name="Griffin226">[[#Griffin|Griffin (1904)]], p. 226</ref> Morrissey also failed to include the Massachusetts militia,<ref name="Niles337">[[#Niles|Niles (1912)]], p. 337</ref> and misidentified Langdon's company, erroneously believing they may have been from [[Worcester, Massachusetts]].<ref name="Morrissey26">[[#Morrissey|Morrissey (2000)]], pp. 26</ref> (Militia companies from the Worcester area marched on Bennington, with some companies arriving the day after the battle.)<ref name="WHS1881_136">[[#WHS1881|Worcester Historic Society (1881)]], p. 136</ref> Langdon originally raised his company in 1776, but it did not become a [[cavalry]] unit until 1778.<ref name="Head333">[[#Head|Head (1866)]], p. 333</ref>
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}

===American units===
;''New Hampshire Militia''
: [[Hobart's Regiment of Militia]] (150)
: [[Nichols' Regiment of Militia]] (550)
: [[Stickney's Regiment of Militia]] (150)
: [[Langdon's Company of Light Horse Volunteers]] (unknown)
: Other New Hampshire Militia units (1,000)
;''Vermont Militia''
: [[Herrick's Regiment]] (300)
: Other Vermont Militia units (200)
;''Massachusetts Militia''
: [[Simonds' Regiment of Militia]] (unknown)
;''Continental Army''
: [[Green Mountain Boys|Warner's Additional Continental Regiment]] (350)
{{Col-break}}

===British units===
;''Baum's forces''
: [[Brunswick troops in the American Revolutionary War#Units|Prince Ludwig's Dragoon Regiment]] (205)
: [[Brunswick troops in the American Revolutionary War#Units|Von Breyman's Grenadier Battalion]] (24)
: [[Brunswick troops in the American Revolutionary War#Units|Von Barner's Light Infantry Battalion]] (57)
: [[Brunswick troops in the American Revolutionary War#Units|Riedesel's Musketeer Regiment]], [[Brunswick troops in the American Revolutionary War#Units|Specht's Musketeer Regiment]] and [[Brunswick troops in the American Revolutionary War#Units|Von Rhetz's Musketeer Regiment]] (37)
: [[Hesse-Hanau troops in the American Revolutionary War#Units|Pausch's Company of Artillery]] (13)
: [[List of British units in the American Revolutionary War#Provincial Corps|Queen's Loyal Rangers]] (150+)
: [[List of British units in the American Revolutionary War#Infantry|Company of Select Marksmen]] (48)
: [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalist]] irregulars (150+)
: [[French Canadians|Canadian]] irregulars (56)
: [[Iroquois]] warriors (100+)
;''Breymann's forces''
: Von Breyman's Grenadier Battalion (353)
: Von Barner's Light Infantry Battalion (277)
: Pausch's Company of Artillery (20)
{{Col-end}}

==Commemorations==
[[File:Bennington Vermont-2c.jpg|thumb|left|upright|150th anniversary of Battle of Bennington commemorative stamp]]
[[File:Bennington Battlefield Marker.jpg|thumb|[[List of New York State Historic Markers in Rensselaer County, New York|Historic Marker]] marking the Bennington Battlefield Park]]
August 16 is a [[legal holiday]] in Vermont, known as [[Bennington Battle Day]].<ref name="BattleDay">[[#BattleDay|Vermont State Holidays]]</ref> The battlefield, now a [[Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site|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.<ref name="nhlsum">[[#NHLSUM|NHL summary listing]]</ref><ref name="nris">[[#nris|National Register Information System]]</ref> 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 of the United States|President]] [[Benjamin Harrison]]. The Monument, an [[obelisk]] {{convert|306|ft|m}} high, is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nris"/><ref name="Monument">[[#Monument|Bennington Battle Monument]]</ref> 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 of the United States|President]] [[Rutherford B. Hayes]].<ref name="Bartlett445">[[#Bartlett|Bartlett (1894)]], p. 445</ref>

Every year on [[Bennington Battle Day]] there is a firing of the Molly Stark Cannon, the oldest firing cannon in the [[United States]]. The cannon was captured at the Battle of Bennington.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Boston Historical Society |url=http://www.newbostonhistoricalsociety.com/cannon.html |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=www.newbostonhistoricalsociety.com}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==See also==

* [[List of American Revolutionary War battles]]
* {{section link|American Revolutionary War#British northern strategy fails}} - Places 'Battle of Bennington' in overall sequence and strategic context.
* {{USS|Bennington|CV-20|6}} – aircraft carrier named in honor of the battle

==Notes==
{{Reflist|24em}}

==References==
{{Refbegin|2}}
* {{Cite book|title=Anniversary Addresses|first=Samuel Colcord|last=Bartlett|publisher=Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society|year=1894|location=Boston|url=https://archive.org/details/anniversaryaddr00bartgoog|oclc=844053|ref=Bartlett}}
* {{Cite book|title=Vermont: The Green Mountain State, volume 2|first=Walter Hill|last=Crockett|publisher=The Century history company|year=1921|ref=Crockett|url=https://archive.org/details/vermontgreenmou07crocgoog|oclc=9412165|location=New York}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Battle of Bennington: Soldiers and Civilians|first=Michael P.|last=Gabriel|publisher=The History Press|year=2012|isbn=978-1609495152}}
* {{Cite book|title=A History of the Town of Keene from 1732|first=Simon Goodell|last=Griffin|author2=Whitcomb, Frank H|author3=Applegate, Octavius|publisher=Sentinel Printing|year=1904|ref=Griffin|oclc=887449|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_8ZYDEDFOQPkC}}
* {{Cite book|title=Report of the Adjutant-General for the year ending June 1, 1866|first=Natt (Adjutant-General)|last=Head|publisher=G.E. Jenks|year=1866|location=Concord, NH|ref=Head|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_3UUAAAAYAAJ|oclc=35852277}}
* {{Cite book|title=Saratoga: Turning Point of America's Revolutionary War|first=Richard M|last=Ketchum|publisher=Henry Holt|year=1997|isbn=978-0-8050-6123-9|ref=Ketchum|location=New York|oclc=41397623}}
* {{cite book|last=Logusz|first=Michael O.|title=With Musket and Tomahawk: The Saratoga Campaign and the Wilderness War Of 1777|year=2010|publisher=Casemate Publishers|isbn=9781935149538}}
* {{Cite book|title=Saratoga 1777: Turning Point of a Revolution|first=Brendan|last=Morrissey|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=2000|isbn=978-1-85532-862-4|ref=Morrissey|oclc=43419003|location=Oxford}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Turning Point of the Revolution|first=Hoffman|last=Nickerson|publisher=Kennikat|year=1967|orig-year=1928|location=Port Washington, NY|oclc=549809|ref=Nickerson}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Hoosac Valley: its legends and its history|first=Grace Greylock|last=Niles|publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons|year=1912|ref=Niles|url=https://archive.org/details/hoosacvalleyitsl00nile_0|oclc=4293711}}
* {{Cite book|title=1777: The Year of the Hangman|first=John S|last=Pancake|publisher=University of Alabama Press|location=University, Alabama|year=1977|ref=Pancake|isbn=0-8173-5112-4|oclc=2680864|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/1777yearofhangma0000panc}}
* {{Cite book|title=Collections of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, Volume 1|author=Worcester Historical Society|publisher=Worcester Historical Society|year=1881|ref=WHS1881|url=https://archive.org/details/collectionsworc04masgoog|oclc=10840331}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.benningtonmuseum.org/flag.html|title=A history of the Bennington Flag|publisher=Bennington Museum|access-date=2009-04-14|ref=BenFlag|archive-date=2010-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227051119/http://www.benningtonmuseum.org/flag.html|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.vermontpersonnel.org/htm/holiday.php |title=Vermont State Holidays |publisher=Vermont Department of Human Resources |access-date=2009-05-24 |ref=BattleDay |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423145222/http://vermontpersonnel.org/htm/holiday.php |archive-date=2009-04-23 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.bennington.com/chamber/walking/monumentdescription.html |title=Bennington Battle Monument |publisher=Bennington Chamber of Commerce |access-date=2009-04-29 |ref=Monument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413150926/http://www.bennington.com/chamber/walking/monumentdescription.html |archive-date=13 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}
* {{NRISref|2007a}}
* {{cite web
 |url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=407&ResourceType=Site
 |title=Bennington Battlefield
 |date=2007-09-08
 |work=National Historic Landmark summary listing
 |publisher=National Park Service
 |access-date=2009-04-29
 |ref=NHLSUM
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821013358/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=407&ResourceType=Site
 |archive-date=2009-08-21
 }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Battle of Bennington}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070824230629/http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/107bennington/107bennington.htm ''The Battle of Bennington: An American Victory,'' a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan]
* [https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/12/details.aspx Official Battlefield page] from New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
* [http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiRIFLEBEN;ttRIFLEBEN.html The Riflemen's Song at Bennington]
* [http://www.hmdb.org/Marker.asp?Marker=13462 Bennington Battlefield] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709031737/http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=13462 |date=2014-07-09 }} on the Historical Marker Database
{{good article}}

{{New York in the American Revolutionary War}}
{{American Revolutionary War|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Bennington}}
[[Category:1777 in the United States]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1777]]
[[Category:Bennington County, Vermont]]
[[Category:Rensselaer County, New York]]
[[Category:Battles of the Saratoga campaign]]
[[Category:Battles involving Great Britain|Bennington]]
[[Category:Battles involving the United States|Bennington]]
[[Category:New Hampshire in the American Revolution]]
[[Category:Battles of the American Revolutionary War in New York (state)|Bennington]]
[[Category:Vermont in the American Revolution]]
[[Category:Bennington, Vermont]]
[[Category:1777 in New York (state)]]