Bennington Battle Day celebrates the battle that didn't happen in Vermont

Burlington Free Press

The Bennington Battle Monument memorializing the battle that never was in the Green Mountain state, in Bennington, VT, August 15, 2019.

One day every summer, the state of Vermont takes the day off to commemorate a battle named after a southern Vermont town — that didn't happen.

There was a battle during the Revolutionary War called the Bennington Battle, but it wasn't actually fought in the Vermont town.

The battle was fought just over the border in New York. The objective of the British army was to reach the Continental Army's arms depot in Bennington.

Nonetheless, the entire day has become immortalized as a holiday when state offices are closed and entrance to state historic sites are free.

A little history lesson

Hand drawn map of the Battle of Bennington, Aug. 16, 1777, by M. Hillard Hall.

In August of 1777, British Gen. John Burgoyne was marching his troops towards Albany, New York, following recapturing Fort Ticonderoga from the Americans in July.

But Burgoyne and his men needed supplies and loyalists in Canada were too far to reach him. So Burgoyne set his sights on a patriot munitions depot in Bennington.

British Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne (1722-1792) by Joshua Reynolds, circa 1766.

Burgoyne sent 800 men toward Bennington under the command of German Col. Friedrich Baum. On Aug. 14 a group of American militia skirmished with the British force but lost.

In response, Vermont Brig. Gen. John Stark reinforced the Americans beaten back by the British.

Position of the detachment under Lieut't Col'l Baum, at Walmscock near Bennington; shewing the attacks of the enemy on the 16th August 1777. Made by Desmaretz Durnford and William Faden.

Baum quickly realized he was outnumbered. He ordered the British forces to dig in where they were near Wallomsac, New York, and requested reinforcements from Burgoyne.

A statue of Gen. John Stark is seen on the Statehouse lawn in Concord, N.H.

Early on Aug. 16, Stark ordered his men to attack the British lines. The British fought until they ran out of ammunition and then surrendered.

The victory served as a morale boost to colonial troops.

Celebrations throughout the state

Across the state, the battle victory is marked with free entrance to historic sites like the Hubbardton Battlefield, the site of the only Revolutionary War battle in Vermont, according to the Vermont Division of Historic Preservation.

Most state offices will be closed as will Burlington city offices.

If you have the day off and want to spend the day in Burlington, parking in city lots and garages are free all-day.

Learn more about the day's festivities in Bennington here: https://www.bennington.com/battleday.

Contact Sawyer Loftus at 802-660-1860 or sloftus@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @sawyerloftus18.