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It contains the statehouse, a courthouse, the jail, academy, bank, several churches, and a variety of manufactories.

and add a feature to the scenery which few landscapes can boast.

Windsor is fifty-five miles south of Montpelier, fifty-five northeast of Burlington, ninety-five northwest of Boston, and four hundred and twenty nearly north of Washington. The surface of the township, though hilly, is rich and well cultivated. The first settlement was made here in 1764. The principal street is crooked, but adorned with several handsome public and private buildings, the stateprison in the south part; and a bridge crosses the Connecticut.

The Statehouse is in a fine situation, fronting on State street, from which it is distant three hundred and twenty-five feet. A spacious gateway opens into an ample courtyard, across which leads a pathway of pounded granite, seventytwo feet wide, to three successive terraces, the ascent to which, by a few steps, gradually surmounts the elevation of thirty-two feet above the street. The main building has a front of seventy-two feet, with two wings thirty-nine feet BENNINGTON.-This is a frontiertown, each; making an entire front of one on the borders of New York, with a hundred and fifty feet. The main build-hilly surface, rich in iron mines, which ing, including the portico, is one hun- supply considerable furnaces and forges. dred feet deep, and the wings fifty. Six The village stands upon a conspicuous granite Doric columns, thirty-six feet eminence, and contains a court and an high, and six feet in diameter at the base, academy. The place derives its name support the portico. The walls of gran- from Governor Benning Wentworth, ite, from Barre, nine miles distant, are from whom it received its charter in well cut; the roof and dome are cov- 1749. The settlement was commenced ered with copper. The entrance hall in 1761, by separatists, under Samuel is thirty-two by thirty-eight feet, four- Robinson. They were the first of the teen feet high, with six Ionic granite inhabitants who resisted the authorities columns. of New York, and drove them from the The representatives' hall is sixty-sev- soil, denying her jurisdiction. en feet by fifty-seven, and thirty-one feet A range of limestone crosses Benhigh. The senate-chamber is oval, forty-nington county, which has been worked four feet by thirty, and twenty-two feet for some years, and yields good marble||| high. The governor's room and other of several different colors and qualities. apartments are commodious and in good Some lead is also found.

taste.

The expense of the whole, including the iron railing around the yard, was $132,000, of which the citizens contributed $15,000. Pop. 4,500.

WINDSOR, of which we have spoken before, is one of the most important towns in the state, as well as one of the most beautiful, both in appearance and situation. It occupies a fine piece of ground, which rises, by two graceful swells, from the western bank of Connecticut river, shut in on all sides by superior eminences, especially on the New Hampshire side, where the shore is steep and mountainous, and on the west, where the noble Ascutney, or the Two Brothers, 3,320 feet higher than the ocean, forms the background of the picture. Though about four miles distant, its sides and peak appear near at hand,

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The Battle of Bennington was an action of considerable importance, though fought by a detachment of the British army on the one side, and the militia of Vermont and the neighboring counties of Massachusetts on the other. It was brought about in consequence of General Burgoyne's despatching a strong body of Hessians, under Colonel Baum, to seize a large supply of American visions collected at Bennington. Bargoyne was at that time-viz., in the summer of 1777-preparing to move down the Hudson for Albany, and was occupied, from July 28 to August 15, in transporting bateaux, provisions, artillery, and baggage, from Whitehall (then called Skeenesbourgh) and Fort George to the Hudson. Many obstacles were in his way, General Schuyler, while on his retreat from Ticonderoga, having

thrown trees into Wood creek, and left | adopted by a council of war, which was much to be done in clearing the chan- designed to take them in the rear of nel of that stream, and in constructing both flanks, while an advance was made a log road across the sandy region, for on their front to occupy their attention. the transportation of the British artil- Colonel Nichols, with two hundred men, lery; while the European troops showed marched for their left-Colonel Herrick, great want of skill in operations so for- with three hundred, for their right; eigr to their habits. while one hundred men marched toward the centre of their line, and two hundred more, under Colonels Hubbard and Stickney, marched against the right. The first two detachments were to unite in the enemy's rear, and then fall upon

Colonel Baum set off for Bennington with five hundred regular troops, a number of Canadians, above one hundred Indians, and a few tories; while Lieutenant Colonel Brayman took post at Battenkill, with his Brunswick grena-them together. The Indians fled at the diers, light infantry, and chasseurs, to support him if necessary.

onset, but the rest of the enemy's troops stood their ground for two hours, when, after an unsuccessful attempt by the German dragoons to cut their way through with their swords, all their works were carried, and the whole body, with but few exceptions, were either killed or taken prisoners. Baum received a mortal wound.

General Stark first received information of the enemy's approach on the 13th of August; but at first was aware only of the small body of Indians, and sent an equal number of Americans to meet them, under the command of Colonel Greg. Near night, however, he was apprized that the force was The victory was so complete, that the large, when he called out his whole Americans, supposing all was over, bebrigade, and sent an express to Man- gan to disperse, when General Stark chester to inform Colonel Warner of was apprized of another large force apthe danger, while he ordered the news proaching in front. Happily, Colonel to be spread in all directions. The Warner arrived at the moment with a next morning he marched, and soon met reinforcement of Vermont regulars, who, his advance on their retreat, pursued without loss of time, pressed on to enby the enemy, then only a mile in the counter the enemy; General Stark soon rear. The Americans were immediately followed, with all the militia he could drawn up for battle; on seeing which, muster; and an obstinate engagement the enemy halted at a commanding po- ensued, which terminated at sunset, by sition, but made no demonstration of a the rout and pursuit of the invaders. further advance, thinking it prudent to The approach of darkness alone saved send back for a reinforcement. Eager the greater part of the fugitives, who for the contest, the American sharp-left behind two cannon and many woundshooters pressed the enemy with skir-ed and prisoners. mishes, and succeeded in killing and wounding about thirty, including two Indian chiefs, without suffering any loss themselves.

To secure a better position, General Stark retired to more favorable ground, about a mile in his rear; and the following day, which was stormy, was spent in skirmishing. The battle began the following afternoon, Colonel Symonds having arrived with some militia from Berkshire county, Mass. The enemy had by this time fortified themselves on a branch of Hoosick river, and were attacked according to a plan

The whole amount of the enemy's loss in these actions was two hundred and seven killed, an unknown number wounded, and about seven hundred prisoners; four brass fieldpieces, twelve basedrums, two hundred and fifty dragoon swords, and four ammunition wagons. The American loss was only thirty killed and forty wounded.

The principal advantage secured by this victory, however, was in the courage with which it inspired the army and the people, who had been exceedingly depressed by the evacuation of the fortress of Ticonderoga, and the undis

puted progress of Burgoyne onward | Provost, renowned for skill and valor on toward Albany. The resistance which many a battle-field, was to lead the he met with, a few days after, at Bemis's largest division of the formidable troops heights, on the west bank of the Hud- of Wellington. son, is supposed to have been rendered more spirited and successful by this great advantage, gained by the Vermont regulars and irregular troops, assisted by their bold and hardy neighbors.

The supreme court has five judges, annually chosen by the legislature. The county courts, likewise, have the same number, two being chosen by the legislature every year in each county, the third and chief being one of the supreme judges on the circuit. The county courts are held twice a year. The justices of the peace, also, are appointed by the legislature.

The first newspaper in Vermont was the "Vermont Gazette, or Green Mountain Newsboy," published at Westminster in 1781 by Judah Paddock Spooner and Timothy Green. Two years after, their press was removed to Windsor. In 1810, the number of newspapers in the state was ten; in 1828, twenty-one; and in 1834, twenty-six.

The Battle of Plattsburgh.-This was one of the most decisive and important engagements in the war of 1812; and like several others which we have noticed, although not fought on the soil of Vermont, was one in which many of the people of this state were engaged, and in the results of which multitudes of them were personally and most deeply interested. Having given the particulars of the naval battle of the same date in our description of New York, and not having had space for the following account of the battle on land, we may with propriety introduce it in this place. Three points of our extensive country appeared to the English to be fatally vulnerable. First, the outlet of the Mississippi, against which Pakenham was to lead an army of veterans; second, Washington-the seat of governmentwhere in August, 1814, General Ross, at the head of his victorious legions, spread fire and sword; and lastly, Lake Champlain-the great highway of invasion to the most densely-populated portion of the Union-where Sir George

On the 4th September, 14,000 troops, with their splendid uniform, and faultless discipline, and admirable bands, and waving banners, and formidable trains of artillery, having crossed the lines and marshalled at Champlain, took up their line of march for Plattsburgh. There was one regiment of these veterans, in which there was scarcely a man who did not bear a wound, and their disfigured faces, and ferocious and determined aspect, reminded one of the hundred desperate charges of the sanguinary conflicts of the peninsular war.

At Plattsburgh about one thousand regular soldiers under the command of General M'Comb, and some seven hundred militia under General Moore, were prepared to oppose the enemy. The nation, saddened and oppressed by the then recent sacking of Washington, and aware of the tremendous force of her formidable foe, looked with deep anxiety and alarm to the issue of the contest at this important point.

On Monday, September 5, 1814, the British army having advanced to Chazy and found the state-road guarded by Colonel Appling's rifle corps intrenched at Dead creek, aided by a troop of horse commanded by Captain Safford and Lieutenant Standish, they crossed to the Beekmantown road, and encamped during the night three or four miles north of the Burdick house at Beekmantown. The militia commanded by General Moore, and composed of Colonel Miller's regiment, a part of Colonel Joiner's regiment, Major Sanford's battalion, and the thirty-seventh regiment, from Essex, spent the night at Beekmantown. tween 9 and 10 o'clock at night, Gen eral Moore sent Major R. H. Walworth to the quarters of General M'Comb, who commanded at the forts, with a request that he would send a small body of infantry and a couple of pieces of light artillery, to support the militia in the attack which he intended to make on the British forces on their advance in the morning. Major Walworth ar

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rived at General M'Comb's quarters | Major Wool, until after he had received about midnight, and the general imme- notice from General Moore that a coldiately ordered a detachment of two hundred and fifty infantry under Major John E. Wool, who had previously and urgently requested such a command, and two pieces of light artillery under Captain Luther Leonard, to be ready by daylight to start for Beekmantown.

Major Walworth took a party of volunteers from Captain Atwood's company and those of Captains Cochran and Manley, marched rapidly on the bridge, and had just commenced taking off the plank, when the advanced guard of the enemy emerged from the woods within half musket-shot, and fired upon the party taking up the bridge, two of whom, belonging to Atwood's company, were severely wounded and taken prisoners.

Major Walworth and his detachment immediately fell back to the position occupied by Major Wool, who, forming in the highway and flanked by the militia, opened a deadly fire upon the head of the British column, then just in front of Ira Howe's house, and momentarily arrested its progress. Here several of the enemy were killed, and Lieutenant West, of the Buffs, and twenty privates, severely wounded. Very soon the militia broke and mostly retreated in confusion. Many, however, remained with the regulars to contest the ground, inch by inch, and retreat in order.

Meanwhile, General Moore, with the aid of other officers, had succeeded in rallying a portion of the militia, which, being ordered to join Major Wool with his detachment, awaited the approach of the enemy at Culver's hill, about four miles from Plattsburgh. This commanding position was maintained with so much obstinacy as to compel the enemy, after attaining the summit of the hill, to retire to its base with the loss of Lieutenant-Colonel Wellington, who fell while gallantly leading the Third Buffs to the charge. Here, also, Ensign Chapman fell, and Captain Westroff, of the thirty-eighth British regiment, was severely wounded; and here several of Major Wool's men, and Patridge of the Essex militia, were killed. Nor was this position abandoned by

umn of 2,000 of the enemy, advancing on the west Beekmantown road, was gaining on his rear; when the Vermont troops fell back within two miles of Plattsburg. Here Captain Leonard, with two pieces of light artillery, despatched by Genera! M'Comb, arrived to take part in the action; and the fire of the artillery, the regular infantry, and a portion of the militia, literally mowed down the enemy's advancing column.

In front of an overwhelming force, platoon after platoon delivered their fire, and fell back to load and form, in regular succession, contesting every inch of ground, and seizing every favorable point to unlimber their artillery and pour a deadly shower of grape upon the advancing enemy. After repeated contests they were driven across the river, the bridges were taken up in the retreat, a final stand was made on the southern bank of the Saranac, and the enemy driven back beyond the reach of our guns. Forty-five of our men were killed in the retreat; the British had one lieutenant-colonel, two captains, four lieutenants, and more than two hundred men, killed or wounded. Next morning the British, in attempting to cross the river a few miles west of the village, were repulsed by Capt. Vaughan. The enemy were occupied, the four succeeding days, in erecting batteries to play upon the forts, during which there were frequent skirmishes along the river; the gallant Green mountain boys, under the patriotic General Strong, were wafted to our aid by every eastern breeze, swelling our force to upward of three thousand. On the evening of the 9th, one hundred and fifty of our men crossed the Saranac, stormed and took, at the point of the bayonet, a battery defended by four hundred of the enemy, spiked the guns, and made good their retreat, without the loss of a single man. The battle of Beekmantown, the spirited resistance to the enemy's advance, and the burning of the courthouse, &c., north of the river by the hot shot from our batteries, prevented an immediate attack upon the forts, to resist which would have been fruitless.

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