Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site

UPPER HUDSON

Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site

http://nysparks.com/historic-sites/12/details.aspx     

5181 Route 67

Hoosick Falls, NY 12090

Hours: May-Labor Day, daily 10 AM-7 PM Labor Day-Veterans Day weekends only, 10 AM-7 PM Memorial Day- Columbus Day, 1-4 p.m on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

Phone: (518) 279-1155

 

Historical Description:   Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site is the location of a Revolutionary War battle between the British forces of Colonel Friedrich Baum and Lieutenant Colonel Henrick von Breymann—800 Brunswickers, Canadians, Tories, British regulars, and Native Americans--against American militiamen from Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire under Brigadier General John Stark (1,500 men) and Colonel Seth Warner (330 men). This battle was fought on August 16, 1777, in a British effort to capture American storehouses in Bennington to restock their depleting provisions. Baum had entrenched his men at the bridge across the Walloomsac River, Dragoon Redoubt, and Tory Fort, which Stark successfully attacked. Colonel Warner's Vermont militia arrived in time to assist Stark's reconstituted force in repelling Breymann's relief column of some 600 men. The British forces had underestimated the strength of their enemy and failed to get the supplies they had sought, weakening General John Burgoyne's army at Saratoga. Baum and over 200 men died and 700 men surrendered.

 

The Site:   Hessian Hill offers picturesque views and interpretative signs about the battle.

 

Directions:   Take Route 7 east to Route 22, then take Route 22 north to Route 67. The battlefield is on the north side of Rte. 67 between Walloomsac, NY, and VT state line.