At first all went well. The Americans were pushed back from their
posts on the lakes, and by the end of July Burgoyne was at the
head waters of the Hudson. He had. already sent out a force,
under St. Leger, to take possession of the valley of the
Mohawk--an expedition which finally resulted in the defeat of the
British by Herkimer, and the capture of Fort Stanwix. To aid St.
Leger by a diversion, and also to capture certain magazines which
were reported to be at Bennington, Burgoyne sent another
expedition to the eastward. This force consisted of about five
hundred and fifty white troops, chiefly Hessians, and one hundred
and fifty Indians, all under the command of Colonel Baum. They
were within four miles of Bennington on August 13, 1777, and
encamped on a hill just within the boundaries of the State of New
York. The news of the advance of Burgoyne had already roused the
people of New York and New Hampshire, and the legislature of the
latter State had ordered General Stark with a brigade of militia
to stop the progress of the enemy on the western frontier. Stark
raised his standard at Charlestown on the Connecticut River, and
the militia poured into his camp. Disregarding Schuyler's orders
to join the main American army, which was falling back before
Burgoyne, Stark, as soon as he heard of the expedition against
Bennington, marched at once to meet Baum. He was within a mile of
the British camp on August 14, and vainly endeavored to draw Baum
into action. On the 15th it rained heavily, and the British
forces occupied the time in intrenching themselves strongly upon
the hill which they held. Baum meantime had already sent to
Burgoyne for reinforcements, and Burgoyne had detached Colonel
Breymann with over six hundred regular troops to go to Baum's
assistance. On the 16th the weather cleared, and Stark, who had