In August 16th, 1777, the Green Mountain Boys, aided by troops from New
Hampshire, and some few from Berkshire County, Massachusetts, under the
command of Gen. Starks, captured the left wing of the British Army near
Bennington. Soon as arrangements could be made, after the prisoners
were all collected, something more than seven hundred, they were tied
to a rope, two and two, and one on each side. Gen. Starks called for
more rope.
Mrs. Robinson, wife of Hon. Moses Robinson, said to the General, I
will take down the last bedstead in the house, and present the rope to
you, with one condition. When the prisoners are all tied to the rope,
you shall permit my negro man to harness up my old mare, and hitch the
rope to the whippletree, mount the mare, and conduct the British and
tory prisoners out of town. The General willingly accepted of Mrs.
Robinson's proposition. The negro mounted the mare and thus conducted
the left wing of the British Army into Massachusetts, on their way to
Boston. * * * *
Gen. Schuyler writes from Saratoga, July 23, 1777, to the President of
Massachusetts Bay, "That of the few continental troops we have had to
the Northward, one third part is composed of men too far advanced in
years for field service--of boys, or rather children, and mortifying
barely to mention, of negroes."
The General also addressed a similar letter to John Hancock, and again
to the provincial Congress, that the foregoing were facts which were
altogether uncontrovertible. * * * * * *
Your Humble Servant,