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Survey of
Historic Sites and Buildings

	BENNINGTON BATTLEFIELD New York
Location: N.Y. 67, near Walloomsac, Rensselaer County. Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site

Ownership and Administration (1961). State of New York, administered by New York State Education Department, Albany.

Significance. The American militia's victory at the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777, was a significant contribution to the defeat of Burgoyne's British Army at Saratoga, 2 months later. The Battle of Bennington cost Burgoyne about 10 percent of his entire strength and denied the army supplies sorely needed for the planned offensive down the Hudson River. The British defeat greatly discouraged their uneasy Indian allies and encouraged militia enlistment in the American Army.

Here at Bennington Battlefield, N.Y., American militia defeated a detachment of Burgoyne's invading army on August 16, 1777. This was a major setback to the English general's drive down the Hudson, foreshadowing the decisive American victory at Saratoga a few weeks later. (Courtesy, New York State Education Department.)

General John Burgoyne, camped near Fort Edward, N.Y., desperately needed supplies and horses for his descent upon Albany. Consequently, a force of some 800 men, mostly German mercenaries, was ordered to seize supplies stored at Bennington, Vt. Apprised of the enemy raid, Gen. John Stark aroused the countryside and on August 16 the farmers swarmed out to deal the Germans a crushing blow before they could cross the New York line into Vermont. Enemy reinforcements threatened to undo Stark's work, but timely help from Seth Warner and his Green Mountain Rangers threw back the relief column. The day's end found the foraging expedition virtually annihilated and Burgoyne's army in a more dangerous position than before. The shortage of supplies and loss of troops was to have a telling effect in the campaign around Saratoga, now about to open.

Present Appearance (1961). The 208-acre Bennington Battlefield State Park includes the scene of heaviest fighting on the high ground overlooking the little village of Walloomsac and affords a wide view of the battle terrain. A bronze relief map indicates the various units and their battle positions, while other monuments commemorate the service of the Vermont and Massachusetts volunteers and their leader, General Stark. [38]