If you drive into Bennington, Vermont, today, you can’t miss the monument. It’s this massive, 306-foot stone obelisk that looks a bit like the Washington Monument’s rugged cousin. But here’s the funny thing: the Battle of Bennington VT didn’t actually happen in Vermont.
It happened about ten miles down the road in Walloomsac, New York.
History is messy like that. We call it the Battle of Bennington because the whole point of the fight was a British attempt to seize a massive supply depot located in Bennington. Basically, the British were hungry, their horses were tired, and they thought Vermont was full of loyalists who would hand over cattle and wagons with a smile. They were wrong. Dead wrong.
What followed on August 16, 1777, wasn't just a minor skirmish in the woods. It was the beginning of the end for the British Empire in North America. Honestly, without this specific fight, the United States might not exist. That sounds like hyperbole, but when you look at the logistics of the Saratoga campaign, Bennington was the domino that knocked over the Crown.
The Desperation of John Burgoyne
To understand the Battle of Bennington VT, you have to understand "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne. He was a British General with a big plan and a very expensive taste in wine. He was marching south from Canada, trying to cut the colonies in half by taking the Hudson River.
It was a nightmare.
The terrain was thick, swampy, and miserable. His Hessian mercenaries—mostly Germans from Brunswick—were wearing heavy wool uniforms and carrying massive sabers in the August heat. They were exhausted. Burgoyne heard there were supplies in Bennington: horses, flour, and livestock. He sent Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum with about 800 men to go grab them.
He thought it would be a cakewalk. He really did.
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Burgoyne believed the locals were mostly Loyalists waiting for a chance to join the King. Instead, he sent his troops into a hornet's nest of pissed-off farmers who had spent the last few years arguing over land titles and were more than ready to shoot at anyone in a fancy uniform.
Enter John Stark
While Baum was marching toward Bennington, a guy named John Stark was getting a militia together. Stark was a veteran of the French and Indian War. He was cynical, tough, and had a bit of a chip on his shoulder regarding the Continental Congress. He refused to report to the Continental Army, insisting his New Hampshire militia would only answer to New Hampshire.
This kind of "don't tread on me" attitude is basically the DNA of Northern New England.
Stark’s force was a mix of New Hampshire men, the "Green Mountain Boys" from Vermont led by Seth Warner, and some Massachusetts militia. They weren't professional soldiers. They were guys who knew how to hunt. They knew the woods.
The Rain That Changed Everything
August 14 and 15 were a washout. It poured.
This is one of those tiny weather details that actually changes the course of nations. Baum and his Hessians were stuck in the mud, digging in on a hill overlooking the Walloomsac River. They were building "dragoons' redoubts"—basically dirt and log walls—while their gunpowder got damp.
The delay gave Stark more time.
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It also gave the local militia time to trickle in. By the time the clouds cleared on the 16th, Stark had nearly 2,000 men. He outnumbered Baum more than two-to-one. Stark famously told his men, "There are your enemies, the Redcoats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!"
Whether he actually said that or it's just great PR from the 18th century, it set the tone. This wasn't a gentleman's war. It was personal.
The Tactical Chaos of the Fight
Stark wasn't a fan of the traditional European "stand in a line and get shot" method. He split his forces. He sent groups to wrap around Baum’s flanks, effectively surrounding the hill.
The Hessians were confused.
Because many of the American militia members weren't in uniform, the Germans initially thought they were the Loyalists they had been told would join them. By the time Baum realized the guys coming out of the woods were aiming for his head, it was too late.
The fighting was brutal. Stark later described it as "one continuous roar" of musketry that lasted two hours. It was house-to-house, tree-to-tree combat. The Germans fought bravely—Baum actually died from his wounds—but they were overwhelmed.
Just as the first fight ended and the Americans were starting to celebrate (and loot the British supply wagons), a British reinforcement column under Colonel Breymann arrived. The Americans were scattered and tired. They almost lost the day right then and there. But then, Seth Warner’s Green Mountain Boys arrived, fresh and ready. They pushed Breymann back, and the British retreat turned into a rout.
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Why Bennington Was the Turning Point
People often point to the Battle of Saratoga as the "Turning Point of the American Revolution." That’s true. But Saratoga doesn't happen without the Battle of Bennington VT.
- Loss of Manpower: Burgoyne lost nearly 1,000 men he couldn't replace. That was almost 15% of his total force.
- Psychological Collapse: The British realized the "loyalist" support in the colonies was a myth. The locals weren't coming to save them; they were coming to kill them.
- The French Factor: News of the victory at Bennington reached Europe. It helped convince the French that the Americans could actually win a stand-up fight.
Without French money and ships, the Revolution fails. Period.
Visiting the Site Today: What You Actually Need to See
If you're heading to the area to see where the Battle of Bennington VT went down, don't just go to the monument. You'll miss the best parts.
The Bennington Battle Monument
Located at 15 Monument Circle in Bennington. It’s the tallest structure in Vermont. You can take an elevator to the top, and on a clear day, you can see three states. It marks the site of the supply depot, but it’s mostly a great spot for photos and a small museum.
Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site
This is across the border in New York (Route 67 in Walloomsac). This is where the actual fighting happened. You can walk the "Hessian Hill" where Baum made his last stand. There are interpretive signs that explain where the different units were positioned. Standing on that hill in August, when the air is thick and humid, gives you a visceral sense of how miserable that fight must have been.
The Bennington Museum
This place is a gem. They have the "Bennington Flag," which is one of the oldest American flags in existence (though historians argue if it actually flew during the battle). They also have "Molly," a brass cannon captured from the British during the fight.
Common Misconceptions About the Battle
I've talked to a lot of people who think this was a fight between Americans and the British. Technically, it was mostly Americans fighting Germans and other Americans (Loyalists).
- It wasn't just "Redcoats": A huge chunk of the Crown's force were Brunswickers. They spoke German. They were confused by the terrain.
- The "Vermont" thing: Vermont wasn't even a state yet. It was the "New Hampshire Grants," a disputed territory that had declared itself an independent republic just weeks before the battle.
- The Stakes: This wasn't a minor border dispute. If the British had taken the supplies in Bennington, Burgoyne might have made it to Albany, linked up with other British forces, and successfully cut New England off from the rest of the colonies.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you're planning a trip to experience the history of the Battle of Bennington VT, here is how to do it right:
- Timing: Go in mid-August. The state usually holds "Battle Day" festivities around August 16th. It’s hot, but the atmosphere is unbeatable with re-enactors and parades.
- The Drive: Take Route 7A (the Shires of Vermont Byway). It’s one of the most beautiful drives in New England and passes right through the heart of the historic district.
- Eat Like a Patriot: Stop by the Blue Benn Diner. It’s a classic 1940s railcar diner. It has nothing to do with the 1770s, but it's a Bennington staple and the food is fantastic.
- The Museum First: Visit the Bennington Museum before you go to the battlefield. It gives you the context you need to visualize the chaos when you're standing on the hills in Walloomsac.
- Check the Borders: Remember that your GPS will take you into New York for the battlefield. If you’re a history buff, make sure you have both the New York State Historic Site and the Vermont Monument on your itinerary.
The Battle of Bennington VT is a reminder that history isn't just made by kings and generals in far-off palaces. It's made by farmers who decide they’ve had enough. It's made by a rainy Tuesday that ruins a general's gunpowder. And it's kept alive by the people who still climb that 306-foot monument to look out over the hills where the world changed.