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Artifacts of the Battle of Bennington

Explore the collection of Bennington Museum to discover artifacts from the Battle of Bennington, including General Stark's flag and Joseph Rudd's musket. Delve into the stories behind these objects to gain insight into the battle.

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Artifacts of the Battle of Bennington

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  1. Artifacts of the Battle of Bennington

  2. Height: 22 inches Width: 18 inches Materials: Silk/Paint Collection of Bennington Museum A1042

  3. General Stark’s Flag Pieces of the green part were cut off and given out as souvenirs. Bennington Museum has some of those pieces in its collection.

  4. Height: 72 inches Length: 144 inches Materials: Oil on Canvas Leroy Williams Prisoners Taken at the Bennington Battle, August 16, 1777, 1938 Collection of Bennington Museum A2048

  5. Our flag definitely belonged to General Stark, but he may have gotten it later, while fighting in New York. Another piece of the flag - clearly not all green! Collection of Bennington Museum A4736 There were many regimental flags that looked similar to this one… later in the Revolutionary War

  6. Why was this object worth saving?What can it tell us about the Battle of Bennington?

  7. More to Think About: • General Stark’s Flag probably did not look the way we think it did. • It may not have a direct connection to the Battle of Bennington. Does this information change the importance of the object? Why or why not?

  8. Joseph Rudd’s Musket Given to the museum by his great-great-great grandson Believed to have been used by Rudd in the Battle of Bennington Height: 4.5 inches Width: 1.25 inches Length: 47 inches Materials: Wood/Metal Collection of Bennington Museum 1963.191

  9. Collection of Bennington Museum 1982.51 German sword captured by Rudd at Battle Weapon captured by Rudd at Battle – possibly from a Loyalist. Collection of Bennington Museum A39

  10. Letter from Joseph Rudd to his father, written on August 26, 1777 After my duty I take this opportunity to write to you, hoping these few lines will find you well, as through the goodness of God they leave me and my family. We met with a great deal of trouble on the 16th instant. Myself and brother John was preserved through a very hot battle. We killed and took according to the best account we can get, about one thousand of the enemy. Our loss was about thirty or forty. We marched right against their breastwork with our small arms, where they fired upon us every half minute, yet they never touched a man. We drove them out of their breastwork and took their fieldpieces and pursued and killed great numbers of them. We took four or five of our neighbors – two Sniders and two Hornbecks. The bigger part of Dutch Hoosick was in the battle against us. Collection of Bennington Museum 2009.163.259.1

  11. Why was this object worth saving?What can it tell us about the Battle of Bennington?

  12. More to Think About: • We have Joseph Rudd’s weapon, plus 2 more that he captured during the Battle of Bennington. • We have written documents describing Rudd’s participation in the Battle. How does knowing the context (story) of an object influence its importance?

  13. A Pay Roll of an Independent Company of Volunteers Composed out of the Alarm Lists of New Providence, Lanesborough, East Hoosick, and Gageborough Commanded by Col. Joab Stafford of said New Providence who Marched to and in the Battle Fought near Bennington on the 16th of August 1777 Collection of Bennington Museum A724

  14. Ledger of Isaac Tichenor Purchasing agent for the Continental Army Shows purchases made right before the Battle of Bennington Collection of Bennington Museum A1631

  15. Collection of Bennington Museum A1631 (detail) Shows the purchase of cattle. Why does the army need cattle? What other expenses would there have been?

  16. Why was this object worth saving?What can it tell us about the Battle of Bennington?

  17. More to Think About: • Soldiers were paid for their participation in the Battle. • Many supplies were needed for success in the war. How did the needs of each side, and their ability to fill them (or not!) affect the outcome of the war?

  18. Bennington the 6th day of August 1777 Honored Sir As there is a large quantity of flour in the store in this town which lies much exposed to the enemy Nothwithstanding the forward guard posted for the purpose of securing said store as the Country is wide and the in roads are many betwitxt Stillwater and Manchester and I have been informed of some Large collections of Torys to the Westward which puts Me much in fear of these stores – for which Reason I have ordered Lieut. Col. Rice who is here with three Companies to stop here a day or two until your Honor can be informed the situation of the Country And the very critical situation of said stores Which if lost will be fatal to your department The gentlemen members of the Council of Safety who are This day to wait on your Honor can better inform you. I am _____ your most obedient humble servant Seth Warner Letter written to Major General Lincoln from Colonel Seth Warner Collection of Bennington Museum 2016.22.9

  19. In this document, General Burgoyne gives his orders to Lieut. Col. Baum. It begins: “The object of your expedition is to try the affections of the country [judge loyalist support], to disconcert the councils of the enemy [spread false rumors], to mount Reidesal’s [sic] dragoons [find them horses], to complete Peter’s corps [enlist loyalists into Lt. Col. John Peter’s Provincial Corps], and obtain large supplies of cattle, food and carriages.”

  20. Why was this object worth saving?What can it tell us about the Battle of Bennington?

  21. More to Think About: • Warner really need Stark to stay in Bennington to avoid having his town fall to the British. • Burgoyne made a last-minute change to a carefully thought-out plan. How can we tell if a written document is a reliable source?

  22. Drum Captured at the Battle of Bennington Believed to have belonged to a member of the dragoons Height: 15.5 inches Diameter: 20.5 inches Materials: Wood Collection of Bennington Museum A645

  23. Drums and fifes (small, high-pitched flutes) were used to give signals to the soldiers. Drummers were often young boys whose fathers were soldiers, or older men who were not able enough to be soldiers. Image from www.mountvernon.org

  24. Why was this object worth saving?What can it tell us about the Battle of Bennington?

  25. More to Think About: • This object is decorated with British soldiers and a date. How can the decoration of an object help tell its story? • Communicating to the soldiers was important during a battle (and during the routines of camp life too). How else might musical instruments have been used during the Revolutionary War?

  26. Height: 1.5 inches Width: 3.5 inches Materials: Hand-woven linen Collection of Bennington Museum 1965.221

  27. Why was this object worth saving?What can it tell us about the Battle of Bennington?

  28. Something to Think About: • We have very little information about some objects that have been preserved. What, if anything, is the value of preserving an object like this one?

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