Battle of Bennington, The: Soldiers & Civilians by Michael P. Gabriel

Author:Michael P. Gabriel [Gabriel, Michael P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
Published: 2012-02-19T23:00:00+00:00

Heinrich Breymann

Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich Breymann provided this version of his defeat. In the controversy that ensued over who bore responsibility for the British disaster at Saratoga, Burgoyne hinted that both Breymann and Baum shared much of the blame because of their failure at Bennington. Neither officer was able to defend himself, however. Baum died on August 18 from wounds suffered at Bennington, while Breymann was killed at Bemis Heights on October 7.

On the 13th of August, at 8 o’Clock in the morning Sr. Francis Clarke, aid de Camp to his Excellency Genl. Bourgoyne brought me the order to march immediately with the Corps under my Command, consisting of a Bataillon of grenadiers, one of Chasseurs,54 one Rifle Company & 2 pieces of Cannon to the Support of Lt. Colonel Baum.

I marched at 9 o’Clock and on Account of the Scarcity of Carts, I put two Boxes of Ammunition upon the Artillery Carts. Each Soldier Carried 40 Rounds in his Pouch.

The Troops being obliged to ford Battenscill, I was detained a considerable time by it. The number of hills, excessive bad Roads, and a continued Rain, impeded our march, so much, that we scarce made ½ English mile in an hour. Each gun & Ammunition Cart was obliged to be dragged up the Hills, one after an other. One Artillery Cart was overturned and with the greatest difficulty was put into a situation to proceed.

All these difficulties delayed us much, & notwithstanding every means was used and no trouble or labour spared, it was not possible for me to march faster. Our guide lost his way, & after a long search in vain, Major Barner was obliged to look for a Man who put us again in the right road.

All these Accidents prevented me from reaching Cambridge the evening of the 15th, & was therefore obliged to halt 7 miles this Side of it, where the men lay upon their Arms all night. Before I came to the place where I halted I wrote to Lt. Col. Baum to acquaint him with my coming to his support, Lieut. Hannemann went with this Account to Cambridge and from thence to Lt. Col. Baum’s Post, where he arrived at 11 o’Clock at night; I received an answer the next morning. Early in the morning I marched on, but as the Artillery Horses had had no feed all the day before, and very little during the night, they were so weak as to be scarce able to drag the Cannon, on which Account our march was very slow.

Major Barner with the advanced Guard was obliged to go forwards to press horses, which we immediately made use of, and we continued our march as fast as possible, till about 2 miles, on other side of Cambridge, where I halted about ½ an hour to assemble the Troops.

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