Brock as you know I am a native son of the Live Free or Die State but have lived all over this once great country. General John Stark has been someone I have looked up to for years. He lead learned his military trade in the French and Indian War and became a master of tactics. He took his NH Militia to reenforce the troops at the battle of Bunker Hill and surprised the British by having his men crouch down in rows of three. Traditional war fare then was then men would fire and then before they could reload their muskets their adversary would charge and it would be hand to hand and swords. Stark set his men and then went out and placed stakes in the ground to make sure none of his men fired before the enemy had passed the stakes. He had one row stand and fire and the British knew they could rush them before they could reload but as the first row ducked down to reload and the British rushed forward the second row stood and fired and then the third and by then the first row had reloaded and so the British were repelled. Although Bunker hill fell Stark's tactics held Breeds Hill and kept the number of casualties for the colonials to a minimum.
Stark left the Colonial Army because he was upset with political appointments to higher rank by inferior officers. He retired and went back to NH and at the request of the NH governor took over the NH militia on the condition that he answer only to the Governor of NH and not the Continental Army. When he was ordered by the Continental Army command to take his Militia to Fort Saratoga he instead grouped with militia from VT and Ma and attacked Fort Bennington which he knew was strategic in the supply chain to Fort Saratoga. This came as a complete surprise tot eh British and Hessian troops there and is considered by many to be the turning point of the war and lead to the fall of Saratoga. Stark lead his men into that battle with one cry, "There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!" Stark was too ill to make it to the 1809 anniversary at Bennington to meet with his serving troops and he sent a letter to them that ended with the phrase. "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils." It was used as the toast at that anniversary meeting.
Today there is a Live Free or Die bumper sticker on the back window of my truck just above the I will not forget, I will not forgive sticker. I will honor John Stark and those who have gone before me to preserve this Republic. As to the I will not forget, I will not forgive sticker that refers to both 9-11 2001 and to Lincoln's response to free states in 1861.
Brock as you know I am a native son of the Live Free or Die State but have lived all over this once great country. General John Stark has been someone I have looked up to for years. He lead learned his military trade in the French and Indian War and became a master of tactics. He took his NH Militia to reenforce the troops at the battle of Bunker Hill and surprised the British by having his men crouch down in rows of three. Traditional war fare then was then men would fire and then before they could reload their muskets their adversary would charge and it would be hand to hand and swords. Stark set his men and then went out and placed stakes in the ground to make sure none of his men fired before the enemy had passed the stakes. He had one row stand and fire and the British knew they could rush them before they could reload but as the first row ducked down to reload and the British rushed forward the second row stood and fired and then the third and by then the first row had reloaded and so the British were repelled. Although Bunker hill fell Stark's tactics held Breeds Hill and kept the number of casualties for the colonials to a minimum.
ReplyDeleteStark left the Colonial Army because he was upset with political appointments to higher rank by inferior officers. He retired and went back to NH and at the request of the NH governor took over the NH militia on the condition that he answer only to the Governor of NH and not the Continental Army. When he was ordered by the Continental Army command to take his Militia to Fort Saratoga he instead grouped with militia from VT and Ma and attacked Fort Bennington which he knew was strategic in the supply chain to Fort Saratoga. This came as a complete surprise tot eh British and Hessian troops there and is considered by many to be the turning point of the war and lead to the fall of Saratoga. Stark lead his men into that battle with one cry, "There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!" Stark was too ill to make it to the 1809 anniversary at Bennington to meet with his serving troops and he sent a letter to them that ended with the phrase. "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils." It was used as the toast at that anniversary meeting.
Today there is a Live Free or Die bumper sticker on the back window of my truck just above the I will not forget, I will not forgive sticker. I will honor John Stark and those who have gone before me to preserve this Republic. As to the I will not forget, I will not forgive sticker that refers to both 9-11 2001 and to Lincoln's response to free states in 1861.
Wonderful post and thanks.
ReplyDeleteNo need for thanks my friend and as always here is to the return to Liberty...
ReplyDelete