Battle of Bennington

Battle of Bennington

Battle of Bennington

This article on  the Battle of Bennington provides facts and information about this conflict between the British and American forces during the Revolutionary War:

  • What was the date of the Battle of Bennington?
  • Who were the leaders of the Battle of Bennington?
  • Where was the Battle of Bennington fought, the location of the battlefield?
  • Interesting facts and fast information about the significance of the Battle of Bennington
  • Educational resource for teachers and kids about this battle of the American Revolutionary War
Revolutionary War Timeline
American Colonies Index Revolutionary Battles

History of the Battles, Conflicts and Soldiers of the American Revolution War

The Battle of Bennington: The American Revolutionary War, the soldiers and the famous battles of the conflict

Battle of Bennington

Battle of Bennington Definition: The Battle of Bennington was a military conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in North America during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The year and date that the Battle of Bennington took place on Saturday, August 16, 1777. Bennington, a town in southern Vermont near the New York border. The battlefield in which the British and American Forces fought during the Battle of Bennington was located in along the Walloomsac River, New York. The Battle of Bennington was part of the Saratoga campaign and ended in victory for the American colonists.

The Battle of Bennington - The Plan of General John Burgoyne
Following the Battle of Princeton on January 03, 1777 the British army under General William Howe and Lord Charles Cornwallis abandoned nearly all their posts in New Jersey and retired to New York. General John Burgoyne was given command of the British forces charged with gaining control of Lake Champlain and the Hudson River valley. General John Burgoyne planned to cross Lake Champlain from Quebec and capture Ticonderoga before advancing on Albany, New York  where he would rendezvous with the British forces under General Howe coming north from New York City and a smaller force advancing from the Mohawk River valley under Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger thus dividing the colonies of New England from the southern colonies. The plan first faltered when St. Leger was forced to withdraw to Canada following the Siege of Fort Stanwix and the Battle of Oriskany. 

Overview and Summary of the Battle of Bennington
The Americans had a depot at Bennington, in Bennington County, Vermont - the battle was actually fought a few miles to the west along the Walloomsac River in New York. The depot contained vital supplies, stores and horses and was a prime target for the British. General John Burgoyne was running desperately short of supplies and provisions and sent over 800 troops through the Connecticut valley, under Friedrich Baum to capture the depot and the much needed supplies. His force consisted of British, German Hessians, American loyalists, and Indians from the Iroquois Confederacy. About 2,000 New Hampshire militia rushed to the defence of Bennington. General John Stark, who had fought gallantly at the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Trenton, took command. John Stark led the American charge against the British front, repeatedly charging up the hill where the British lay behind breastworks (temporary fortifications made of earth, thrown up to breast height to provide protection). The Battle of Bennington raged for two hours but the British force was overpowered by superior numbers and Friedrich Baum was forced to surrender. German reinforcements under the command of Heinrich von Breymann looked set to reverse the outcome but were prevented by the arrival of Seth Warner’s Green Mountain Boys, the Vermont militia that had been founded by Ethan Allen. The Green Mountain Boys drove the forces of Heinrich von Breymann away from Bennington taking over 700 prisoners and all of their arms.

Green Mountain Boys

Green Mountain Boys

The Importance and Significance of the Battle of Bennington
Significance of the Battle of Bennington: The significance of the conflict was that it reduced Burgoyne's army in size by almost 1,000 men, led his Indian support to largely abandon him, and deprived him of supplies. All of these factors, together with St. Leger's forced withdrawal to Quebec. The British were forced to proceed to Saratoga without the supplies, where they met a stunning defeat that turned the tide of the American Revolutionary War.

Facts about the Battle of Bennington
Facts about who fought in the Battle of Bennington and who were the leaders of the conflict. Facts about where the Battle of Bennington was fought, the location of the battlefield. Facts and stats about the number of troops involved in the conflict and the numbers of those who were killed, wounded, missing in action or captured. Interesting history and facts about the Battle of Bennington:

Fast Facts about the Battle of Bennington
Name of Conflict:   Battle of Bennington
 
 
Result of the Battle of Bennington:   The Battle of Bennington ended in victory for the Americans
 
 
Location of Battlefield:   The battlefield was located in Bennington, New York
 
 
Date of the Battle of Bennington:   Saturday, August 16, 1777
 
 
Combatants:   The British Army with German Hessians, American loyalists, and Indians from the Iroquois Confederacy fought against the Americans
 
 

<><><><><><><><><><>

Battle of Bennington American Colonies   British Forces  
Names of Leaders & Commanders:
 
  John Stark
Seth Warne
 
  Friedrich Baum
Heinrich von Breymann
 
Strength of Forces:
 
  2350   800 (Baum)
550-650 (Heinrich von Breymann)
 
 
Number of men killed in the Battle of Bennington:
 
  30   207  
Number of men wounded:
 
  40   0  
Number of men captured:
 
  0   700  

The following picture represents some of the early designs of the American flag. The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield and used as a rallying point for troops.


 

 

American Revolutionary war - The Battle of Bennington
The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), which included the Battle of Bennington, was the culmination of the political American Revolution, in which many of the American colonists rejected the legitimacy of the British Parliament to govern the 13 colonies without representation.

Battles in the Revolutionary War

The Battle of Bennington

  • The year and date of the Battle of Bennington

  • Facts, stats and history of the Battle of Bennington

  • Fast Facts and info about the Battle of Bennington and the Revolutionary War

  • A great history resource for kids

  • Social Studies Homework help for kids on the Battle of Bennington

Battle of Bennington - American Revolutionary War - Battlefield - Result - Significance - Importance - British - Great Britain - Colonial - Thirteen colonies - Definition - Teaching resource - Teachers - Kids - Battlefield - Summary - History and Facts about the Battle of Bennington - Battle - Conflict - History - Facts - Information - Info - Famous - Summary - History - Leaders - Events - Dates - Year - Conflict - Summary - Battlefield - Definition - Battle - Battlefield - Short - Kids - Children - Studies - US - Battlefield - 13 Colonies - America - Battle of Bennington